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Newspaper Coverage of the Invasion at Normandy
War News Summarized
June 6th 1944 | New York Times
The invasion of western Europe began this morning.
General Eisenhower, in his first communique from Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force, issued at 3:30 am, said that “Allied naval forces supported by strong air forces began landing Allied armies this morning on the northern coast of France.”
The assault was made by British, American, and Canadian troops who, under command of Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery, landed in Normandy. London gave no further details but earlier Berlin had broadcast that parachute troops had landed on the Normandy Peninsula near Cherbourg and that invasion forces were pouring from landing craft under cover of warships near Havre. Dunkerque and Calais were being heavily bombed, the Germans said.
Later announcements from Berlin said that there was fighting between Caen and Trouville and that shock troops had swung into action to halt the invasion.
General Eisenhower, in an order of the day to each member of the “great crusade” told his men the enemy would fight savagely: “We will accept nothing less than full victory! Good luck.” In a broadcast to the “Peoples of Western Europe,” he said the day would come when he would need their full help.
A special word to France added that Frenchmen would rule the country. Almost simultaneously it was announced that General de Gaulle had arrived in London.
The liberation of Rome in no way slowed the Allied pursuit of the tired and disorganized German armies in Italy yesterday. Armored and motorized units sped across the Tiber River to attack upon the retreating enemies' heels. Five hundred heavy bombers joined with lighter aircraft to smash rail and road routes leading to northern Italy and to add to the foe’s demoralization. The Eighth Army, despite heavy opposition, especially northeast of Valmontone, captured a number of strategic towns.
General Clark said that parts of the two German armies had been smashed. He doubted the ability of the Germans Fourteenth to put up effective opposition, and felt the Allied victory would come soon.
President Roosevelt warned the people of the United States in a radio talk last night not to overemphasize the military significance of the liberation of Rome. “Germany has not yet been driven to surrender,” he said. “Victory still lies some distance ahead… it will be tough and costly…”
