Debarquement

Débarquement is a French term meaning landing or disembarkation. In general usage it refers to the act of moving people or goods from a vessel onto land. In military contexts, it designates amphibious landings, where forces are landed on a coastline from ships or landing craft. The word is commonly used in English-language discussions to describe large-scale coastal assaults, particularly those conducted by Allied forces during World War II.

In military history, débarquement is associated with major coastal operations. The Normandy landings of June 6, 1944 are frequently described in French as le Débarquement en Normandie. The term also appears in reference to other Allied landings in the war, such as those in North Africa (opérations Torch) and in the Italian campaign, as well as to similar amphibious operations in different theatres.

Beyond military usage, débarquement can refer to civilian disembarkation from ships or aircraft and the unloading of goods at a port. In this sense, it denotes the moment when passengers leave a vessel or when cargo is transferred from water to land.

Etymology-wise, débarquement derives from dé- (a reversal prefix) combined with barque, a type of ship, reflecting the historical sense of moving from sea to shore. Today the term covers both formal, coordinated sea-to-land military operations and everyday disembarkation processes, depending on context.