Sunday, June 5, 2016

D-Day, June 6, 1944 - Churchill's Remarks to Parliament

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced the D-Day allied European invasion on the Normandy beaches in uncharacteristically stripped down remarks to Parliament the morning of June 6, 1944. Even the great orator Churchill seemed overwhelmed by the sheer size and daring of the feat. Here are Churchill's D-Day remarks to Parliament. ~~~~~ "I have to announce to the House that during the night and the early hours of this morning the first of the series of landings in force upon the European Continent has taken place. In this case the liberating assault fell upon the coast of France. An immense armada of upwards of 4,000 ships, together with several thousand smaller craft, crossed the Channel. Massed airborne landings have been successfully effected behind the enemy lines and landings on the beaches are proceeding at various points at the present time. The fire of the shore batteries has been largely quelled. The obstacles that were constructed in the sea have not proved so difficult as was apprehended. The Anglo-American Allies are sustained by about 11,000 first line aircraft, which can be drawn upon as may be needed for the purposes of the battle. I cannot, of course, commit myself to any particular details. Reports are coming in in rapid succession. So far the Commanders who are engaged report that everything is proceeding according to plan. And what a plan! This vast operation is undoubtedly the most complicated and difficult that has ever occurred. It involves tides, wind, waves, visibility, both from the air and the sea standpoint, and the combined employment of land, air and sea forces in the highest degree of intimacy and in contact with conditions which could not and cannot be fully foreseen..There are already hopes that actual tactical surprise has been attained, and we hope to furnish the enemy with a succession of surprises during the course of the fighting. The battle that has now begun will grow constantly in scale and in intensity for many weeks to come and I shall not attempt to speculate upon its course. This I may say, however. Complete unity prevails throughout the Allied Armies. There is a brotherhood in arms between us and our friends of the United States. There is complete confidence in the supreme commander, General Eisenhower, and his lieutenants, and also in the commander of the Expeditionary Force, General Montgomery. The ardour and spirit of the troops, as I saw myself, embarking in these last few days was splendid to witness. Nothing that equipment, science or forethought could do has been neglected, and the whole process of opening this great new front will be pursued with the utmost resolution both by the commanders and by the United States and British Governments whom they serve." ~~~~~ To those brave, fearless, self-sacrificing men of Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword beaches, we can only say thank you, and to those who died on those beaches 72 years ago, we offer a humble prayer. Their heroic deeds will live forever.

2 comments:

  1. D-Day, the day that the Allied Forces turned WW II around and started the end of the madness.

    Although we were all late in admitting what the 3rd Reich was all about, we came together and stop the savagery.

    Thank you all who answered tghe call.

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  2. When I look around and see people just coming and going living their lives as they wish, I get a feeling of normalcy. I drive by the local school and kids are a ray of colors not all dark green uniforms looking like little would be soldiers. An American flag is flying at the Fire Station, and police helping motorists with a flat tire.

    Then I think (today especially) what would it have been like if Hitler won? What if D-Day was just a wild idea that some strategist thought of and that’s as far as it went?

    What would America and the rest of the world been like if …?

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