JUNE 6TH [UNCLASSIFIED]

Gents,

Saturday, June 6th is the 65th anniversary of the D-Day invasion at Normandy,
France. 160,000 Soldiers from nine Infantry Divisions (American, British and
Canadian) landed along 50 miles of French coastline to crack the 'Atlantic
Wall'. This was the start of the final push to liberate Europe from Nazi
Germany.

Friday, June 5th, 1944 (the day before D-Day) the 45th Infantry Division completed combat operations in Italy by crossing the Tiber River on the outskirts of Rome. During 11 months of combat the 45th had conducted three amphibious assaults since landing in Sicily on July 10th, 1943.


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General Eisenhower's message to his troops:

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
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