People of Western Europe: A landing was made this morning on the coast of France by troops of the Allied Expeditionary Force. This landing is part of the concerted United Nations plan for the liberation of Europe, made in conjunction with our great Russian allies…. I call upon those who love freedom to stand with us now. Together we shall achieve victory.

— Radio address by General Eisenhower, 6 June 1944

January 31, 2012, 5:04pm / 17

Of all the many talks I had in Washington, none gave me such pleasure as that with you. There were two reasons for this. In the first place, you are about my oldest friend. In the second place, your self-assurance and to me, at least, demonstrated ability, give me a great feeling of confidence about the future…and I have the utmost confidence that through your efforts we will eventually beat the hell out of those bastards—”You name them; I’ll shoot them!

—

General George S. Patton in a letter to General Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1942.

Eisenhower’s reply? “I don’t have the slightest trouble naming the hellions I’d like to have you shoot; my problem is to figure out some way of getting you to the place you can do it.”

December 08, 2011, 4:00pm / 19

Our landings have failed and I have withdrawn the troops.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 could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone.

— General Dwight Eisenhower’s speech for the worst case scenario, the failure of Overlord. Written on June 5, the original invasion date, many of the top brass were not completely convinced that Overlord would give the Allies the necessary foothold in Europe, however we know that Overlord did, and these words were never heard by the public.

April 02, 2011, 6:48pm / 32