This order was issued by Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower to encourage Allied soldiers taking part in the D-day invasion of June 6, 1944. Against a tense backdrop of uncertain weather forecasts, disagreements in strategy, and related timing dilemmas, Eisenhower decided before dawn on June 5 to proceed with Overlord. Later that same afternoon, he scribbled a note intended for release, accepting responsibility for the decision to launch the invasion and full blame should the effort to create a beachhead on the Normandy coast fail. Much more polished is his printed Order of the Day for June 6, 1944, which Eisenhower began drafting in February. The order was distributed to the 175,000-member expeditionary force on the eve of the invasion. Listen to or read the order below; but put yourself in the boots of the men reading it prior to D-Day when you do.
Adapted from: www.archives.gov/historical-docs/todays-doc/?dod-date=606
Adapted from: www.archives.gov/historical-docs/todays-doc/?dod-date=606
General Eisenhower's Order of the Day (1944)