75 years ago, the Allied forces began the invasion of Europe. The leader of the forces, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, sent a message to the troops.
It was a monumental event, and would be difficult to pull off today. Did the Allies get lucky? Maybe that did play into it. But without the bravery of those that stormed the beaches — those that made it through and those that died on that day — the world would be a very different place.
“We should thank God that such men lived.” — General George S. Patton
In hind-sight, there was no way the invasion was going to fail. But no one knew that at the time. Nor did they understand what a hollow shell Germany had become, resources wise. So, no, I don’t think we were “lucky”, just gutsy and prepared to do what was needed. The Allies were expecting casualties much, much higer than actaully happened. I believe they expected Omaha level casualties on every beach along with 60%+ casualties in the airborne units. In short, they were all prepared to do whatever was needed to defeat the Nazi’s. My hat’s off to all of them, from the Tommy’s & GI’s on the beaches to the highest level. With leadership now so concerned about what the “press” will say, I can’t see anyone making the decisions now that were needed back then.
Brave, brave young men. I heard the local talk radio host paint this picture this morning. He was discussing the initial wave that hit the beach on D-Day. As they got closer to the beach, German bullets were ricocheting of the front of the Higgings Boat. The soldiers in the front had to know that once the front of their landing craft dropped, they were going to die.
I can’t even fathom what was going through the minds of everyone that participated in the invasion. It brought tears to my eyes just thinking about it. He got choked up as well.
If it did fail we had alternatives. We did invade Southern France later and we could have supported coming up through Italy and the Balkans as Churchill advocated. How the end game played out for Germany would have been different but it would have been an end game none the less. The only real danger, as it always is for any coalition, is that the immediate problems might have lead to a break up of the coalition over strategy and tactical applications or, worse still a “Peace at any cost” lobby breaking out that would have lead to an “Accommodation” with Germany leaving the Nazis in power. And before you can say it wouldn’t happen remember what happened after the first Gulf war and the appeasement brigades that dominate the Democrat party in the war of Islamic Terrorism even today.
In any event we did succeed and it was because of the these young men’s dedication and training up to including what Lincoln termed their “Last full measure of devotion”. Nothing should ever diminish that nor should we ever forget it.
“Accommodation” with Germany leaving the Nazis in power. And before you can say it wouldn’t happen . . .
Churchill, for one, knew it could happen. He strongly believed that if the invasion was launched too early and was met with bloody repulse and defeat, the defeatists would win power, and (even worse) the people in England (and thus probably those in America) would lose their determination, and would accept a truce with Hitler.
Churchill’s memoirs for 1942 and 1943 are a long record of his resisting pressure from the U.S. and Soviets, and his cabinet, to open a second front on the west coast of Europe, rather than Africa or Italy. His judgement was that the Allies just were not ready yet. It’s incredible how he managed to stand up to the pressure, both military and diplomatic, to charge right in before June, 1944. Only he could have achieved that.
I watch “Midway” yesterday and I am gong to watch “The Longest Day” tonight. They ain’t perfect but they do capture a good sense of what happened all those long years ago.
Band of Brothers, Saving Private Ryan (especially the beginning)
Never been able to really handle the beginning of Saving Private Ryan. It hurts too much.
I absolutely agree that “We should thank God that such men lived.” — General George S. Patton
I also think we should thank God.
He created, preserved and protected our beloved country and our freedom. That day…and everyday.
He lets us choose. Those brave men chose wisely, and we all reap the blessings of their sacrifice every single day.
We must remember them.
We must also remember Him.
He gave us our freedom – conditionally – our freedom cannot endure when we defy the very source of its power.