[June 5, 2019] The thumbnail to this article shows General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander, speaking with paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division before their jump into France on this date, June 5, 1944. The day before D-Day, originally planned for this date but delayed due to poor weather, the great juggernaut of more than 1.5 million troops prepare for the largest amphibious landing in history.
“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 hope and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.”
Addressed to the Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! This letter was written by Eisenhower himself on this date, June 5, 1944. That day, he also wrote a lesser known letter accepting full responsibility for the failure of the invasion. Like any good leader, he knew that only he should shoulder all blame.
“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! The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to victory!”
This was, of course, a prophetic statement. The German war machine was tactically among the best in the world. They were, however, at an overall strategic disadvantage as the Allies had more men, machinery, and supply resources. Combat would be between two adversaries that would give no quarter and would accept nothing short of victory.
“I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory!”
D-Day was the beginning of the end of Nazi Germany and their fascist ideology known as Nationalsozialismus (National Socialism). Like all socialist ideologies, it requires dictatorial powers given to the few so that the ‘masses’ remain compliant and obedient.
“Good luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.”
… and so it was a noble undertaking. Today, the most famous battle in modern times occurred tomorrow, 75 years ago. The invasion was an all-out effort. There was no Plan B.
We should also relearn those important lessons of WW2 and of D-Day. The number one lesson is that anything can be accomplished with unity.
D-Day 75th Anniversary – 2019
Compiled by DDAY.CENTER, the most comprehensive list of events to remember D-Day and the Battle of Normandy
http://www.dday-anniversary.com/
Thanks Willie, I went there. Great website. Highly recommended.
Thanks Georgie. I thought people who are regular readers at Gen. Satterfield’s leadership blog might like this site. It is a great resource and keeps you informed on what’s happening now. It is dedicated to those who were killed on D-Day and the days following. I’ve bookmarked it.
🙂 🙂 🙂 Good job Willie. Appreciate you tracking this down for us. I’ll be sending the link out to my family. My grandfather fought in WWII and my dad in Korea. Let’s honor their sacrifice.
French President Macron condemned for snubbing Juno Beach D-Day anniversary ceremony. And rightly so. The French continue to be weak and, mostly cowards.
I wouldn’t be so condemning of the French president. He is just being French.
Real men don’t make excuses for the stupidity but the French President Macron does. Why? He’s French.
“The D-Day invasion was the beginning of the end of Hitler’s horrors | Opinion”
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2019/06/the-d-day-invasion-was-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-hitlers-horrors-opinion.html
Good article worth reading on D-Day.
Although in previous wars, Corps commanders were well known and received great attention, that was not generally the case in World War II. However, the two Major Generals who oversaw Utah and Omaha Beaches were among the best. J. Lawton, “Lightning Joe,” Collins commanded VII Corps on Utah Beach while Leonard, “Gee,” Gerow and his V Corps were on Omaha Beach.
Go to this article in USA Today for a good picture of D-Day and the sacrifices.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/06/04/d-day-75th-anniversary-marks-normandy-world-war-ii/1192014001/
Loved your article interspersed with the speech (or was it a letter) by Gen Eisenhower; hero of the war.
War is something the vast majority of people neither know about or understand. They have no reference to understand and often don’t care to. What war does is exactly what was done in WWII, it stops horrible men from terrorizing the world. We could argue that Nazism and Japan’s attempts to conquer the world were fantasies but that goes too far into dreamland. Suffice it to say, it was a good thing we had great leaders at the time.
You are spot on with this comment Mr. Kennedy. Great to see you reading Gen. Satterfield’s pages. I would like to see another article by you soon. I’m one of your biggest fans.
Me too. Great stuff by Mr. K.
Yes, more articles soon.
Great comment.
Communist Russia was having their butt kicked by the Nazi army at the time. Too bad they didn’t fall first before the free world intervened.
Fascism, communism, socialism all have one thing in common. They must be run by those who believe they are morally superior and are thuggish enough to force their ideas on the masses. All forms of these similar ideologies end the same way, a brutal dictator and his eventual destruction. But … many must die and suffer before that happens.
This was likely the most famous and most important day of the 20th Century.
You are so right. The Western world came together on that day to destroy a brutal ideology; fascism. Too bad folks today don’t understand fascism, or its socialist roots.
Well said, let’s just hope others don’t forget.
Yes, and will forever be seen as the best day of humanity and of free men.
I agree. Looking back, I didn’t read about any harrassed lesbians on the beaches.
… or college snowflakes.