Remembering The Heroes Of D-Day June 6th 1944

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#1

Cant believe this hasn’t been mentioned yet.

To all who took part - And to the ones who gave it their all that day may they never be forgotten!

"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 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 and 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.

SIGNED: Dwight D. Eisenhower"

#2

You guys should be ashamed of yourself’s all you WWII buffs and not one mention or reply…sad very sad

#3

There had been only American Heroes - no others! …

#4

Where does he say that?

#5

The title of this topic and the following quote.
Just a point of view who the heroes are, but excluding the opponents is not a fair way of thinking in my opinion.

#6

Dont see your point on the title or the quote. The quote is directed at all allied soldiers going to Normandy.

On the otherhand it wasnt limited to the Allied side just cause it were their success. Feel free to list Axis heroes of Normandy

BTW Mike thats one reason I made the calendar so that it shows up on the site when something big has happened on that day. :wink:

#7

http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=2031

Scroll down and read the history of Pionier Pelzmann under the picture of Kurt Spengler.
He defended his lone post, but he knew when to stop - some sort of heroism, that he didn’t ran away and let them shoot him in the back.

#8

I’m with Splinter54.

The second line in the OP is (my bold)

To all who took part- And to the ones who gave it their all that day may they never be forgotten!

German mothers and wives and siblings and friends of the fallen still alive aren’t any less grief-stricken by the loss of their men in Normandy than American or British or Canadian mothers and wives and siblings and friends. As were the mothers and wives and siblings and friends of the fallen men at the time. On both sides.

One of the things that is remarkable at reunions of former enemies is the recognition of the common experiences and emotions they shared, and usually a desire to avoid it happening again. Many of them have deeper experiences in common with their former enemies than they do with their countrymen who never went to war.

More than sixty years later, can’t we get past the nationalistic aspects and at least acknowledge the sacrifice of men on both sides?

No nation has a monopoly on courage.

All men who show courage are entitled to respect.

Including Germans who fought courageously, and honourably, in Normandy, regardless of what the Nazis might have been doing elsewhere.

#9

I thought I was clear when I said ALL. Of course this is to include the German soldier doing what his country told him to do and the Russian soldier and so on. This was a wish for ALL HONORABLE soldiers to never be forgotten.

#10

Hey mike, they are not forgotten. I’ve been posting reminders on other forums, too. Sadly, with each year’s passing, I see less and less of a remembrance. The flames of history are being weakened as more children are not being taugh this in schools.

#11

Well on this site we really have talked about Normandy and D-day quite alot. On Wed it was on my mind but I didnt expect much post about it. When I first came to the site it seemed like all we talk about for awhile.

Any props to Mike for being the only member to bring up the topic. :wink:

#12

My respects to the veterans of the D-day, allied and germans alike.