D-Day Statement to Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force (1944) by Dwight D. Eisenhower
D-Day Statement to Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force (1944)
Soldiers, Sailors&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 hopes&prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.In company with our brave Allies&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&security for ourselves in a free world.Your task will not be an easy one.Your enemy is well trained, well equipped&battlehardened.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&their capacity to wage war on the ground.Our HomeFronts have givAen us an overwhelming superiority in weapons&munitions of war&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&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.