Volume 16 , Issue 20

Operation Overlord

General Dwight D. Eisenhower, supreme commander of Allied Expeditionary Forces in WWII, launches Operation Overlord, 6 June 1944, known as D-Day, while Gen. Patton was used as a ruse to keep the enemy forces off-guard. Back in America, President Franklin Roosevelt waited for word of the invasion's success.



The first week of June 1944, Nazi Germany controlled most of Western Europe. 156,000 Allied forces were posed to travel by ship or plane over the English Channel to attack the German army dug in at Normandy, France, on June 5, 1944.

Eisenhower had a window of only four days of decent weather in which an invasion would be possible. Bad weather hit the channel on June 4, 1944, as Eisenhower wrestled with the idea of postponing Operation Overlord. It was predicted that weather conditions would worsen over the next two weeks and Eisenhower had thousands of personnel and thousands of tons of supplies that were in his words, "hanging on the end of a limb." It was after a promising but cautious report from his meteorologist at 9:45 p.m. on June 5, 1944, Eisenhower told his staff, "Let's go."

Ike (Eisenhower) composed a solemn, inspirational statement that was delivered the next day as a letter into the hands of every soldier, sailor and airman set to embark on Overlord. Eisenhower displayed the confidence and leadership skills, reminding the men that the eyes of the world were upon them and that their opponents would fight savagely. Exhorting his men to be brave, show their devotion to duty and accept nothing less than victory. Eisenhower wished his troops good luck and sought the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking. Eisenhower had also scrubbed a note in which he accepted all blame in case the mission failed. The note remained crumpled up in his pocket.

President Roosevelt sat in his office waiting for word of Operation Overlord, writing on a speech that was turned into a prayer entitled Let Our Hearts be Stout. First lady Eleanor tried to go about her daily business, but felt suspended in space. At 3 a.m. Eastern time on June 6, Roosevelt received the call that the invasion had commenced. He notified the nation by radio that night, saying at this poignant hour I ask you to join with me in a prayer.

FDR's D-Day Speech June 6, 1944:



It was on 8 June 1944, after years of planning, preparation and placating egos among his military peers, Eisenhower was able to report that the Allies had made a harrowing and deadly, but ultimately successful, landing on the beaches of Normandy.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

---