What were the Allies goals after invading the European mainland? Today we discussed D-Day on June 6, 1944 was preceded by Allied landings in Sicily in 1943. These troops fought their way up the boot of Italy against Italian and Nazi forces to gain access to southern Germany. The the soldiers who landed in Nazi occupied France on D-Day were tasked with liberating France and moving east towards Germany. Cameron's great grandfather fought in WWII. He asked that we view one more scene from "Band of Brothers" and he was very attentive and interested.