What If the D-Day Invasion had Failed?

                                                    Watch interesting discussion below about the question from PJTV

Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces General Dwight D. Eisenhower planned to take full personal responsibility if the massive force landed at Normandy failed to establish a strong foothold. Eisenhower and Churchill agreed that in such a catastrophic failure the allied forces would be withdrawn rather than have them fight to the death. However, the invasion was a success despite the loss of 4900 lives that first day. By the end of that first
day over 150,000 troops were on shore and in full control of 80 square miles of the Normandy coast. The success opened the path to  the liberation of Europe and the German surrender less than a year later.

In a hastily scribbled note on the eve of the invasion Eisenhower wrote, in part; ",,,My decision to attack at this time and locale 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."

Below is the image of Eisenhower's note:

                                          General Eisenhower speaking to Airborne Troopers before they board 
                                          planes and gliders that will drop them behind German lines during the 
                                          night of June 5/6.

                                      17 more D-Day photogaphs

Audio of Eisenhower's address to the troops on the eve of D-Day.

New Veteran's Memorial Proposed for Downtown Middletown

A new addition to Washington Terrace the site of the Veteran's Memorial is being proposed. The design will be reviewed tonight by the Historic Preservation and Design Review board which meets at City Hall at 6:00 pm.The site currently has memorials honoring veteran's of  the wars in Vietnam, Korean  WWI & II Veterans and Civil war veterans. This memorial will be etched with an epitaph to remember more recent war veterans in the Gulf War, the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, and Kosovo.The public is welcome to attend the meeting.

D-Day - June 6, 1944 - Remember This Day

Today marks the 69th Anniversary of the Allied Invasion of France; the Beginning of the End for the Germans in occupied Europe

                                                    President Roosevelt's D-Day Prayer

U.S. World War II veteran Clarence "Mac" Evans, 87, from West Virginia, who landed in Normandy on June 6, 1944, with the 29th Infantry Division, walks among the graves at the Colleville American military cemetery in Colleville sur Mer, western France, on June 6, before the start of the ceremony commemorating the 68th anniversary of the D-Day. Evans was searching for the tombs of 17 of his fellows who died on D-Day.

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!

You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.
Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-1941. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory! I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!

Good Luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

Signed….Dwight D. Eisenhower

But he (Eisenhower) also wrote something more telling of the character of true leadership. Had the invasion failed, he had already penned another note:

“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.” (See the hand written note here.   Source