FRANCE: Parachutists jumping from World War II-era planes hurled themselves today into now peaceful Normandy skies where war once raged, heralding a week of ceremonies for the fast-disappearing generation of allied troops who fought from D-Day beaches 80 years ago to Adolf Hitler’s fall, helping free Europe of his tyranny.

All along the Normandy coastline — where then-young soldiers from across the United States, Britain, Canada and other allied nations waded ashore through hails of fire on five beaches on June 6 1944 — French officials, grateful Normandy survivors and other admirers are saying “merci.”

GERMANY: Flooding, high river levels and heavy rain led to the death of a firefighter and disrupted train travel in southern Germany today.