Letters From War Wednesday: World War II – Dwight Eisenhower.

Hey, I just realized that we’ve got a Falaise Gap / Chambois, France  / World War II theme running this week.  Let’s keep it going.

This week’s Letters From War Wednesday is courtesy of Supreme Allied Commander, Dwight Eisenhower.  In August 1944, with combined American, British and Polish forces closing in on the retreating German Seventh Army, General Eisenhower penned a note to his soldiers, stressing the importance of the moment.

Commander Dwight Eisenhower examines the carnage at the Falaise Gap, near Chambois, France - August 1944. (U.S. Army Signal Corps, Courtesy National Archives)

“… To all soldiers, sailors, and airmen – through your combined skill, valor and fortitude, you have created in France a fleeting but definite opportunity for a major Allied victory. One whose realization will mean notable progress toward the final downfall of our enemy. … Because the victory we can now achieve is infinitely greater than any it has been so far possible to accomplish in the West and because this opportunity may be grasp only through the utmost zeal, determination, and speedy action, I make my present appeal to you more urgent than ever before. I request every airman to make it his direct responsibility that the enemy is blasted unceasingly by day and by night and is denied safety either in flight or in plight. I request every sailor that no part of the hostile forces can either escape or be reinforced by sea and that our comrades on the land want nothing that guns and ships and ship’s companies can bring them. I request every soldier to go forward to his assigned objective with a determination that the enemy can survive only through surrender. Let no foot of ground once gained be relinquished nor a single German escape through a line once established.

“With all of us resolutely performing our special tasks, we can make this week a momentous one in the history of this War; a brilliant and fruitful week for us, a fateful one for the ambitions of the Nazi tyrants.

Signed;

“Dwight D. Eisenhower”

Leave a Reply

Search this Site

Purchase the Books

Blog

Privacy Policy