Operation Overlord: 70 Years Later

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon a 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, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory!

Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

-- Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower

Today commemorates the 70th Anniversary of the Allied invasion and liberation of Normandy, codename Operation Overlord, better known as D-Day. This invasion is the largest amphibious invasion in military history and it's also the most iconic --- I think. When most people think of WWII, D-Day is probably the first thing that comes to mind.

Although D-Day occurred on June 6, 1944, the Allies actually began planning this invasion in 1943! This invasion required meticulous planning, as it required the coordinated cooperation of various branches of the military and of the various Allied nations. One critical component of Overlord was a deception mission, codename Operation Bodyguard. This covert operation was design to misguide the Germans into thinking that the Allied Invasion of France, which would be led by General Patton, would occur at Calais. The ruse was a success. The Germans mobilized their forces and prepared to defend Calais and not Normandy.

Gen. Eisenhower and his SHAEF (Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Forces) staff

The leaders in this photograph (clockwise from top left):

Lieutenant-General Omar Bradley, Commander, 1st US Army

Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay, Naval Commander-in-Chief

Air Chief Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory, Air Commander-in-Chief

Lieutenant-General Walter Bedell Smith, Chief of Staff

General Sir Bernard Montgomery, Commander, 21st Army Group (of all Allied Forces)

General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander

Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder, Deputy Supreme Commander

D-Day is everywhere, so I won't recount the events. I'm sure you all know what happened that fateful day. What I do want to say is: Four years ago, I had the honor of visiting Normandy. I toured the towns, the beaches, and ended my journey at the American cemetery. This was one of the most tragically beautiful places I have every visited. Although 70 years have passed, Operation Overlord will always be remembered. 

On that note, I want to send a heartfelt thank you to those brave soldiers then and now who risk their lives to defend our nation. 

Note: Except for the final photograph, I do not own these images. They were taken from Google.