World War Two History Article: Normandy Landings Failure Letter - 1 views
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Rita Hennessey on 06 Jun 10" A small insight into the pressure Esienhower was under in the final days prior to the landing might best be summarised by the contents of a second shorter speech that Eisenhower had written in advance, should the landings have failed. Long after the successful landings on D-Day and the BBC broadcast of Eisenhower's brief speech concerning them, this never-used second speech was found in a shirt pocket by an aide. It read: 'Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops.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 and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt, it is mine alone.'"