June 6, 1944 - D-Day

[oggbashan]

Sixty-nine years ago today, thousands of Allied troops went ashore in Normandy to continue the Liberation of Europe, from France.

The US troops attacking Omaha Beach had the worst casualties.

On D-Day, Allied troops had taken Sicily and were already fighting their way up through Italy. The Soviet Union's troops were advancing from the East.

D-Day wasn't the start of the Liberation of Europe and would not have been possible without the soldiers in Italy and the massive Soviet attacks in the East.

I thank them all whether in Normandy or elsewhere. All of them helped to liberate Europe.

 

[PennLady]

Here is a transcript of Eisenhower's message sent out to Allied forces just before the invasion:

Transcript:

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon a 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 the 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 blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

-- Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower

http://www.army.mil/d-day/message.html

 

[oggbashan]

What Eisenhower had prepared to say if things went wrong:

“Our landings have failed and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based on the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that bravery could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone.”

D-Day was a dangerous gamble. The weather was barely acceptable and if the Germans had realised that Normandy and NOT the Pas-De-Calais was the objective, the invasion could have failed.

General Patton was the commander of a mythical army based in East Anglia supposedly to invade the Pas-De-Calais. His presence there, and the massive deception plan, made the Germans believe, even days after the D-Day landings, that Normandy was a massive feint attack prior to the REAL invasion in the Pas-De-Calais. They couldn't believe that Patton could be left out.

 

[Saxon_Hart]

I was always fascinated by the mis-information fed to known Nazi spies leading Hitler to believe we were going to invade Pas-de-Calais instead of Normandy.

 

[Handley_Page]

Let us not forget the RAF lads that went in on Omaha Beach to sort out a RADAR system.