Friday marked 81 years since Allied Forces launched the largest amphibious invasion in history, taking the first steps on a journey that would ultimately wrest Europe from the occupation and control of Nazi forces.
Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower — who would later be elected the 34th President of the United States — wrote two letters in the hours before 156,000 troops (primarily American, British, Canadian, and Australian) swarmed a 50-mile stretch of beaches near Normandy, France. One, delivered to the men preparing to march into the jaws of death, expressed his confidence in his men and his prayers for their victory. The second was a handwritten note, in which Eisenhower said that he alone would shoulder the blame if the mission were to fail.
Left: Eisenhower’s D-Day letter: “You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade” & “Let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great & noble undertaking.”
Right: Eisenhower’s in-case-of-failure letter: “If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone.” pic.twitter.com/qBNjmHOu8T
— Jerry Dunleavy IV ???????? (@JerryDunleavy) June 6, 2025
“Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!” Eisenhower opened the first of the two letters. “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.”
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“Your task will not be an easy one,” the general warned. “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!” he concluded. “Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.”
The second letter was much shorter — and was misdated “July 5,” likely due to stress — and scribbled in the general’s own hand. It was the message he intended to deliver if Operation Overlord failed:
“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.”
But 81 years later, the world remembers the bravery and dedication of the men who charged those beaches amid a hail of machine-gun bullets and mortars to deliver first France, and then the rest of Europe, from Nazi control.
Eighty-one years ago, our nation's bravest stormed the beaches of Normandy.
We will never forget their sacrifice. pic.twitter.com/eiwNDhBTHG
— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) June 6, 2025
RIGHT NOW in 1944, this is the scene in Normandy. The liberation of France is underway #DDay pic.twitter.com/0LUQIImNJp
— Military History Now (@MilHistNow) June 6, 2025
“Here the allies stood & fought against tyranny in a giant undertaking. … These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the heroes who helped end a war.”#DDay pic.twitter.com/kcFUv9wllA
— Jerry Dunleavy IV ???????? (@JerryDunleavy) June 6, 2025
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered remarks commemorating the 81st anniversary, saying, “Eighty-one years ago, Hitler thought his Atlantic wall was impenetrable … He clearly had not met enough Americans.”
. @SecDef “Eighty-one years ago, Hitler thought his Atlantic wall was impenetrable.
He clearly had not met enough Americans.” pic.twitter.com/pmf4WQK0G7
— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) June 6, 2025