Tales from the Morgue: D-Day: News of the invasion reaches home

Arizona Daily Star ^ | Johanna Eubank

[SandRat]

When D-Day occurred on June 6, 1944, the Arizona Daily Star had the news in the paper of the same date thanks to time differences. The news of the invasion came over the wire, and a two-page extra was printed.

The main headline couldn't fail to attract attention: ALLIES LAND IN FRANCE. Other headlines called it the greatest military action in history. All of the headlines had a winning tone to them including "Allied paratroopers strike first blow at Axis vitals" and "Berlin acknowledges deep penetrations by glider-borne troops."

Much of the news came from the Germans:

The Germans said the landing extended between Le Havre and Cherbourg along the south side of the bay of the Seine and along the northern Normandy coast.

Parachute troops descended in Normandy, Berlin said.

Berlin Announcement

Berlin first announced the landings in a series of flashes that began about 6:30 a.m. (10:30 p.m. mountain war time).

The Allied communique was read over a trans-Atlantic hookup direct from General Eisenhower's headquarters at 1:32 MWT designated "Communique No. 1."

A second announcement by SHAEF said that "It is announced that Gen. B. L. Montgomery is in command of the army group carrying out the assault. This army group includes British, Canadian, and U.S. forces."

The Allied bulletin did not say exactly where the invasion was taking place, but Berlin earlier gave these details:

Warship Bombardment

Allied naval forces, including heavy warships, are shelling Le Havre. "It is a terrific bombardment," Berlin said.

Allied parachute troops floating down along the Normandy coast were landing and being engaged by German shock troops.

Other Allied units were streaming ashore onto Normandy from landing barges.

In a special order of the day issued to all soldiers, sailors and airmen under his command, Gen. Eisenhower said:

"We will accept nothing except full victory."

American were warned not to trust information that came from the Germans:

OWI WARNS OF NAZI 'STORIES'

Davis Advises Americans To Be Wary Of Axis Battle Reports

WASHINGTON, June 6—(AP)— Director Elmer Davis of the Office of War Information, advised Americans today to be wary of Axis reports on the progress of invasion fighting.

"Anything the Axis radio puts out, is in their own interest," Davis told a handful of correspondents gathered in his office in early morning hours.

As soon as General Eisenhower's first communique was received, 17 of OWI's 28 transmitters, including those in London, started bombarding the airwaves in 22 languages.

The chronology published in the Star that day (by the Associated Press):

10:37 p.m. (Mountain War Time)—German News Agency Transocean broadcast that Allied invasion has begun.

11:00 p.m.—German DNB agency broadcasts Le Havre being bombarded violently and German naval craft fighting Allied landing craft off coast.

11:56 p.m.—Calais radio says "This is D-Day."

12:31 a.m.—Spokesman from Gen. Eisenhower in broadcast from London warns people of European invasion coast that "a new phase of the Allied air offensive has begun" and orders them to move 22 miles inland.

1:29 a.m.—Berlin radio says "First center of gravity is Caen," big city at base of Normandy peninsula.

1:32 a.m.—Supreme headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force, announces that Allied armies began landing on northern coast of France.

1:40 a.m.—Shaef announces Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery is in command of assault army comprising Americans, British, Canadians.

[SandRat]

Photos

[Art in Idaho]

The First Duty is to Remember. . .

[unkus]

Thank you, SandRat.

[dfwgator]

Lots of links to D-Day Radio broadcasts here

http://www.archive.org/details/WWII_News_1944

[ScottinVA]

Imagine, for a moment, if we’d had to fight WWII under today’s politically correct ROE. No way, no how could we have won that war.

[milagro]

CNN would be on Normandy Beach with lights shining on all the troops advancing—and the fact that the landing WAS NOT in Calais would have been leaked to the NYTimes in an “exclusive interview” with an “unnamed Pentagon official”.

[SunkenCiv]

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[SunkenCiv]

The jackoffs running Google have opted instead to make a tribute to Dennis Gabor.

[metesky]

bttt

[PowderMonkey]

JUNE 6, 1944

“He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son…”


Uncle Ralph
Operations Overlord and Market Garden


Dad
OSS – E.T.O.
Dedicated in loving memory and with eternal gratitude. We will never forget. Thanks, Dad. Thanks, Uncle Ralph. At ease, fellas. Bravo Zulu.

[Tainan]

This article might interest you - D-Day, Tales from the morgue.

[colorado tanker]

Thanks. D-Day and the troops deserve all the remembrances.

I've always felt, however, that because of it's proximity to the D-Day anniversary, Midway doesn't get its due.

[SandRat]

Come see this David vs. Goliath: Moment a tiny Tommy disarmed a German giant during the Battle of Normandy