D-Day
Source: http://www.army.mil/d-day/
On June 6, 1944, more than 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline, to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which, “we will accept nothing less than full victory.” More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by day’s end, the Allies gained a foot-hold in Continental Europe. The cost in lives on D-Day was high. More than 9,000 Allied Soldiers were killed or wounded, but their sacrifice allowed more than 100,000 Soldiers to begin the slow, hard slog across Europe, to defeat Adolf Hitler’s crack troops.
Here is what Eisenhower said to the Allied forces under his command in the hours leading up the invasion:
Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Forces:You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely.But this is the year 1944. Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned. The free men of the world are marching together to victory.I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory.Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.
Thank you for the great remembrance.
ReplyDeleteReminded me of one of my uncles who was a POW for 26 months starting 4/5/1943 in Stalag 3b Furstenberg Brandenburg Prussia. He was a Private in the Army Air Corps.
'Hope he made it home safely. See if you can find his name here:
Deletehttp://www.ww2pow.info/index.php?
We need another General Eisenhower now.
He lived to be 89 but never talked about it that I know of.
ReplyDeleteThe website you reference is where I found the details. Thanks. My brother has a couple of letters our grandfather wrote to him while he was in captivity. I need to get copies.
Glad he made it home to your family. Try to get copies of the letters. It's a part of history that should be preserved.
DeleteOur troops and our leaders knew they needed God ....We can be proud of our Veterans and very thankful to them for their services!
ReplyDeleteOh how true, Mamahen! A lot of people think we don't need Him anymore, but we do. More than ever.
DeleteThanks for remembering. My father served the entirety of World War II.
ReplyDeleteI am grateful to all who have served and are serving for our freedom.
Your very welcome, Gail. It's so important to remember the sacrifices these men and women made!
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