The D-Day Address Eisenhower Never Gave

[See also Part 1: Remembering D-Day and Part 2: Bedford D-Day Memorial Remembrance.]

The Supreme Allied Commander, Dwight D. Eisenhower, had the following message transmitted to every participant on June 5th, the eve of Operation Overlord:

“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 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 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 blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.”

Eisenhower began drafting this address in February 1944, months before D-Day. It was optimistic and full of soaring statements of ideals and noble purposes. But many people do not know something that was not lost to historians: Eisenhower was full of doubt and worry about the success of the Normandy Invasion. He fretted over details for months before the invasion, losing sleep and becoming increasingly irritable, especially towards those subordinates who attempted to reassure him with predictions of success.

The proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back almost came on June 5th when the meteorologists on Eisenhower’s staff gave him the glum news that the weather prediction for June 6th in the English Channel and on the Normandy coast was far from optimal. Delaying until the weather cleared meant delaying almost a month since the landings were timed to coincide with the most favorable tide conditions.

Eisenhower, believing that the operational security of Overload could not be maintained for an additional month, gave the order to proceed. In the late hours of June 5th, Eisenhower hand-wrote a second message “in case of failure”:

“Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based upon the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that Bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone.”

This, of course, was the D-Day address that Eisenhower never gave.

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell at National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia