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skyeye
06-06-2010, 11:07 AM
Normandy Landings Failure Letter

This is an interesting footnote to the D Day landings and throws light on how precarious the invasion was. Here's the note written in advance by Ike accepting responsibility if the landings failed. I'm posting this in the history section so as not to derail the Operation Overlord thread.

'Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based on the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt, it is mine alone.'

Article continues:

Sunday, 16 August 2009 17:19
(The article is from a year ago, the 65th anniversary of the invasion.)

FROM HISTORYTIMES.COM:
http://www.historytimes.com/fresh-perspectives-in-history/military-history/world-war-2/325-normandy-landings-failure-letter

rgjbloke
06-08-2010, 08:55 AM
Well, I'm certainly very happy that he didn't have to use it.

Johnny_H02
06-09-2010, 08:35 AM
Another interesting piece of Normandy trivia is the open letter/message to the German troops resisting the invasion from Adolf Hitler which was ordered destroyed later on. I'd have to wait until I got home but its in Heinze Gunther Gudarians book 'With the 116th Panzer Division from Normandy to the Ruhr" in the appendices.

Its really neat.

jklv
06-12-2010, 08:33 PM
It'd be interesting if you managed to share it with us. Thanks.