

Photo: Into the Jaws of Death - taken by Robert F. Sargent, July 6th 1944

On June 6th of 1944, five long years into World War II, more than 150,000 Allied troops descended on the beaches of Normandy, France in a long, meticulously planned, and ultimately successful effort to liberate Mainland Europe from the grip of Nazi Germany. The evening prior, General Dwight D. Eisenhower prepared for failure by writing a speech–a succinct and illuminating four sentences in which he takes full responsibility for the operation’s shortcomings. This sheet of notepaper, mistakenly dated July 5, then remained in Eisenhower’s wallet for a month, its words forever unspoken.

Eisenhower later remarked to an aide that similar speeches were prepared before every military operation during World War II. This is the only one he kept.



Image: National Archives

Speech prepared by General Dwight D. Eisenhower on June 5th, 1944