After a prolonged naval and aerial bombardment of German defenses on the Channel coast of France and the Low Countries, the Alliedinvasion of Normandy began in the early morning hours of June 6, 1944. Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower issued this statement as his order of the day:
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 oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.
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