Meaning of the 'D' in D-Day

Domo · 20 Mar 2006 at 09:54

A few of us were talking about WWII yesterday. We came to realise not one of us knew what the 'D' in D-Day represented. I asked a few people at work this morning and they didn't either!

So for anyone else who doesn't know..

"In English military parlance, D-Day is a term often used to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. Whilst the initial D in D-day is not an abbreviation of anything, it is taken from the word day and represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will or has occurred"

Basher · 20 Mar 2006 at 09:57

Domo said:
A few of us were talking about WWII yesterday. We came to realise not one of us knew what the 'D' in D-Day represented. I asked a few people at work this morning and they didn't either!

So for anyone else who doesn't know..

"In English military parlance, D-Day is a term often used to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. Whilst the initial D in D-day is not an abbreviation of anything, it is taken from the word day and represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will or has occurred"

I shall make a note for future pub quizes

Stringy · 20 Mar 2006 at 10:00

I thought this was going to be a thread where fools discuss what the D stood for, before someone shot them down with the real meaning.

However the real meaning was in the first post, making this a poopy thread to read if you already knew.
Bah.

Pickers · 20 Mar 2006 at 10:08

D for "dat-will-show-em" ?

Arcade Fire · 20 Mar 2006 at 10:10

D for DOMINATE!!!

StixxUK · 20 Mar 2006 at 10:11

I think I was taught at school it was for Deliverance...

Arcade Fire · 20 Mar 2006 at 10:14

D for damager, power to the people?

Borris · 20 Mar 2006 at 10:28

Arcade Fire said:
D for damager, power to the people?

I see you're back once again, with the ill behaviour.

Mat · 20 Mar 2006 at 12:12

Also use T as the time variable...

Phantom · 20 Mar 2006 at 12:16

Mat said:
Also use T as the time variable...

T-time on D-Day... make mine crumpets and shortbread please.

Ciba · 20 Mar 2006 at 12:19

Wikipedia says:

In English military parlance, D-Day is a term often used to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. Whilst the initial D in D-day is not an abbreviation of anything, it is taken from the word day and represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will or has occurred

Stringy · 20 Mar 2006 at 12:27

Ciba said:
Wikipedia says:

In English military parlance, D-Day is a term often used to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. Whilst the initial D in D-day is not an abbreviation of anything, it is taken from the word day and represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will or has occurred

Well thats cleared that up then.

noginn · 20 Mar 2006 at 12:32

I already knew this, I must have watched too much UKTV History

Noxis · 20 Mar 2006 at 12:41

Urrr.... I was under the impression that the D-Day military term is used as such BECAUSE of D-Day in WW2.

The actual reason that back in WW2 that D-Day was used was because there was also a A-Day, B-Day (giggles) and C-Day (+ E-Day... F-Day etc...). The required criteria for launching the attack actually occured on D-Day.

pyro · 20 Mar 2006 at 12:45

Doom Day? Doughnuts Day?

ElRazur · 20 Mar 2006 at 13:04

Arcade Fire said:
D for damager, power to the people?

Nah more like D for Dr Dre! *haaaayhaay ayyy ayyyye........smoke weed everyday*

WillyNelson · 20 Mar 2006 at 13:13

Noxis said:
The actual reason that back in WW2 that D-Day was used was because there was also a A-Day, B-Day (giggles) and C-Day (+ E-Day... F-Day etc...). The required criteria for launching the attack actually occured on D-Day.

That's how I understood it too. Also, to maintain secrecy during the planning and preparation it was always stated that the Allied invasion of Europe was to be launched at H-hour on D-day.

Wryel · 20 Mar 2006 at 13:21

Borris said:
I see you're back once again, with the ill behaviour.

Borris said:
with the ill behaviour.

etc

nastyhead · 20 Mar 2006 at 13:36

Ciba said:
Wikipedia says:

In English military parlance, D-Day is a term often used to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. Whilst the initial D in D-day is not an abbreviation of anything, it is taken from the word day and represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will or has occurred

It's pretty clear

D = Day

Day Day

MastermindUK · 20 Mar 2006 at 13:36

Noxis said:
Urrr.... I was under the impression that the D-Day military term is used as such BECAUSE of D-Day in WW2.

The actual reason that back in WW2 that D-Day was used was because there was also a A-Day, B-Day (giggles) and C-Day (+ E-Day... F-Day etc...). The required criteria for launching the attack actually occured on D-Day.

I've been told that too.

The French call it (the actual event) Jour-J though, which is either trying to be the equivalent of D-Day itself or refers to the explanation in the first post.