D-Day

Sowing, we are planting the wheat seeds this autumn.

We hope that when the summer comes,

In the magnificent heat of our cloudless skies

We will harvest freedom.

--Thiery Hollier Larouse, French resistance agent

Omaha Beach 2012

The plans for the invasion of Normandy, also known as Operation Overlord, began in 1942. For the next two years, under the leadership of Dwight Eisenhower, the combined forces of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, France, Belgium, and Holland planned the invasion of the Normandy coast. The day the invasion began, June 6, 1944, is now known to all as D-Day.

According to noted historian Stephen Ambrose, Time magazine reported on June 12 (1944) that "as far as the U.S. Army can determine, the first use of D for Day, H for Hour was in Field Order No. 8, of the First Army, A.E.F., issued on Sept. 20, 1918, which read 'The First Army will attack at H-Hour on D-Day with the object of forcing the evacuation of St. Mihiel salient." (p.491)

All that said, up until the attack on 6 June ’44, the use of the letter “D” to mark the start of an operation was not reserved for the invasion of Normandy. Since 6 June ’44 it stands for nothing else but.

Because of an elaborate ruse with all apparent evidence indicating that Gen. George Patton would lead the inevitable charge, the Germans were prepared for just such a thing to occur at Calais, further north than the eventual attack. The German miscalculation left them unprepared for the orchestrated attack of paratroopers, troops in gliders, resistance fighters, and a landing force of over 175,000 men. The five beaches—code names: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Sword, and Juno—became the setting of military history. Never before or since has an attack of such epic proportions been attempted. On June 6, 1944 Hell opened its gates and the free world marched in.

Eisenhower speaking to the troops

The battle began with the command order from Gen. Eisenhower, which included the immortal words: We are about to embark on a great crusade…the eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.