“Soldiers, sailors and airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!”
Thus began General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s 1944 “Orders of the Day” memorandum, issued on June 5, 1944, the eve of the momentous D-Day invasion of Normandy, France, during World War II.
According to the National Archives, copies of the letter, which Eisenhower himself meticulously drafted, were distributed to members of the Allied forces beginning in February of that year.
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To this day, it remains one of the most important documents in military history.
Here is the rest of his message, powerful words that are still worth remembering 80 years later:
“The eyes of the world are on you. The hopes and prayers of every freedom-loving people are with you,” Dwight D. Eisenhower wrote to Allied forces on the eve of the Normandy landings on June 5, 1944. Eighty years later, his words were recalled by best-selling author Jack Carr (inset), a former Navy SEAL commander and sniper who served in Afghanistan and Iraq. (Getty Images/Jack Carr)
“You are about to embark on the great crusade for which we have been working for so many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of freedom-loving people throughout the world go with you,” Eisenhower said.
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“Together with our brave allies and comrades on other fronts, we will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and our own security in a free world.”
As Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, the Allied Navy engaged in Operation Overlord landings. (US National Archives/AFP via Getty Images)
Eisenhower continued, “Your task will not be easy. The enemy is well trained, well equipped, and battle-hardened. You will fight hard.”
“But it’s 1944 now! A lot has happened since the Nazi victory of 1940-41.”
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“The United Nations has inflicted a heavy defeat on Germany in personal battle on the field,” he wrote.
“Our air attacks have significantly degraded the enemy’s air and ground combat capabilities.
U.S. Army soldiers crowd aboard a Navy infantry landing craft during the Normandy landings in France, June 6, 1944. (U.S. Navy/Getty Images)
“Our home front has given us an overwhelming superiority in arms and munitions and has placed at our disposal a large reserve of trained fighting men.
“The tide has turned! The free people of the world are marching together to victory!”
“Let us pray for the blessings of Almighty God on this great and noble undertaking.”
Eisenhower then continued, “I have the utmost confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and fighting skill. We will accept nothing less than a total victory!”
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He further added, “Good luck! And may the Almighty God bless this great and noble undertaking.”
General Eisenhower (center) listens as a U.S. Army lieutenant interrogates freed slave laborers at the liberated Ohrdruf prison camp, Germany, April 4, 1945. (Photo12/UIG/Getty Images)
The memo was signed simply “Dwight D. Eisenhower.”
Follow Jack Carr on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jackcarrusa.
About D-Day, June 6, 1944
Operation Neptune, the naval component of Operation Overlord, was the largest invasion operation in history.
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Approximately 156,000 Allied soldiers stormed into Normandy, France, by sea and air to liberate Western Europe from Nazi Germany.
The successful invasion of northern France on D-Day, June 6, 1944, was one of the greatest events in U.S. naval history.
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About 11 weeks later, Allied forces marched from Normandy and Brittany and liberated Paris – nearly two months ahead of schedule, as noted by the Naval History and Heritage Command.
Germany surrendered unconditionally on May 7, 1945 during World War II.
