President Franklin Delano Roosevelt asks the country to pray on the morning of June 6, 1944.
“They fight not for the lust of conquest, they fight to end conquest.”
On June 6, 1944, 156,000 American, British, Canadian, and French troops began “Operation Overlord” to liberate Western Europe from Adolph Hitler and Nazi Germany. Known as D-Day, this day ultimately ended with Germany’s surrender on May 8, 1945.
The soldiers on D-Day landed on 50 miles of beaches code-named Gold, Juno, Sword, Utah, and Omaha in the Normandy Region of France. By day’s end, approximately 4,500 Allied soldiers were killed and thousands more wounded. On Omaha Beach, American casualties numbered over 2,000.
The individual stories of D-Day are too numerous to list. There were incredible acts of bravery. Americans faced a formidable German army that was fighting from entrenched positions. But after brutal combat, Allied soldiers succeeded in establishing a beachhead. Their success led to more months of combat and hardship for American soldiers, but it also led to the liberation of millions from the great evil of Nazi Germany. All Americans need to appreciate this sacrifice.
9,387 American soldiers are buried at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial overlooking Omaha Beach in France. These soldiers died on D-Day or subsequent missions.
Here is General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Order of the Day for June 6, 1944:
SUPREME HEADQUARTERS
ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE
Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!
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. 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 beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.