A "Mighty Endeavor:" D-Day
As dawn broke on June 6, 1944, German soldiers defending the French coast at Normandy beheld an awe-inspiring sightâthe largest amphibious invasion force in history massed in the waters of the English Channel. The long-awaited invasion of northwest Europe was underway.
The giant invasion had taken years to organize. Hundreds of thousands of men and millions of tons of weapons and equipment were transported across the Atlantic Ocean to Britain in advance of the operation. The invasion force consisted chiefly of Americans, Britons, and Canadians. But troops of the Free French and many other nations also participated.
The invasion was the culmination of Franklin Rooseveltâs Grand Strategy, especially his decision to pursue a âGermany Firstâ policy and his insistenceâin the face of Churchillâs preference for a peripheral strategyâthat the operation go forward in 1944.
The Normandy invasion established a solid âSecond Frontâ in Europe. Its success left Hitlerâs armies trapped in a vise, fighting the Red Army in the East and an expanding Anglo-American-Canadian force in the West.
During the tense early hours of the invasion, FDR monitored reports from the front. That evening, he delivered a statement to the American people. It took the form of a prayer, which he read on national radio.
âMy fellow Americans: Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.
And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayerâŚâ
To learn more:Â https://fdrlibrary.org/d-day
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