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 D-Day
was JUNE 6, 1944.
Over 160,000 troops from America, Britain,
Canada, free France, Poland, and other
nations landed along a 50-mile stretch of
the Normandy coast of France.
It was the largest amphibious invasion force
in world history, supported by 5,000 ships
with 195,700 navy personnel and 13,000
aircraft.
On that day, the sea along the heavily
fortified beaches of Omaha, Utah, Gold,
Juno, Sword and Pointe du Hoc ran red with
the blood of almost 9,000 killed or wounded.
It was a major turning point in World War
II.
The steps which led up to D-Day deserve
serious examination.
After World War I, Germany's economy
suffered from depression and a devaluation
of their currency.
On January 30, 1933, Adolph Hitler was
elected Chancellor of Germany by promising
hope and universal healthcare.
Less than a month later, on February 27,
1933, a crisis occurred - the Rheichstag,
Germany's Capitol Building, was suspiciously
set on fire.
Hitler was quick to use this crisis as an
opportunity to seize emergency powers,
suspend basic rights, and accuse his
political opponents of conspiracy.
He ordered mass arrests followed by
executions, even ordering his SS and Gestapo
secret police to murder rivals, as during
the Night of the Long Knives.
Hitler confiscated guns, forced old German
military leaders to retire, and swayed the
public with mesmerizing speeches.
Using diplomatic intimidation, deception,
and Blitzkrieg 'lightning' attacks, Hitler's
National Socialist Workers' Party proceeded
to take control of:
Austria, The Sudeten Region, Bohemia,
Moravia, Poland, Denmark, Norway,
Luxembourg, Belgium, Holland, France,
Monaco, Greece, The Channel Island (UK),
Czechoslovakia, the Baltic states, Serbia,
Italy, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia,
Finland, Croatia and more.
The National Socialist Workers Party
operated over 1,200 concentration camps
where an estimated 4,251,500 people lost
their lives.
Church leaders who spoke out in opposition
to Hitler were arrested and executed.
Shortly after D-Day, a courageous German
resistance movement was formed which
attempted to assassinate Hitler, but he
survived and retaliated by killing over
7,000 Germans.
In his D-Day Orders, JUNE 6, 1944, Supreme
Allied Commander General Dwight Eisenhower
sent nearly 100,000 Allied troops marching
across Europe to defeat Hitler's National
Socialist Workers Party:
"You are about to embark upon a great
crusade... The eyes of the world are upon
you.
The hopes and prayers of liberty loving
people everywhere march with you...
...You will bring about...the elimination of
Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of
Europe...
Your task will not be an easy one. Your
enemy is well trained, well equipped and
battle hardened, he will fight savagely...
And let us all beseech the blessings of
Almighty God upon this great and noble
undertaking."
President Franklin Roosevelt stated JUNE 6,
1944:
"My 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...
I ask you to join with me in prayer:
Almighty God, Our sons, pride of our
Nation, this day have set upon a mighty
endeavor, a struggle to preserve our
republic, our religion, and our
civilization...
Give strength to their arms, stoutness to
their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.
They will need Thy blessings. Their road
will be long and hard.
For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back
our forces... We know that by Thy grace, and
by the righteousness of our cause, our sons
will triumph...
Some will never return. Embrace these,
Father, and receive them, Thy heroic
servants, into Thy kingdom..."
FDR concluded:
"Help us, Almighty God, to rededicate
ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this
hour of great sacrifice...
I ask that our people devote themselves in a
continuance of prayer. As we rise to each
new day, and again when each day is spent,
let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking
Thy help to our efforts.
Give us strength...and, O Lord, give us
Faith. Give us Faith in Thee... With Thy
blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy
forces of our enemy...
And a peace that will let all of men live in
freedom, reaping the just rewards of their
honest toil. Thy will be done, Almighty God.
Amen."
Eleven months after D-Day, the war in Europe
ended with an Allied victory on May 8, 1945.
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