Article: A Remarkable Piece of History: Eisenhower’s Signed D-Day Order
A Remarkable Piece of History: Eisenhower’s Signed D-Day Order
We are proud to offer a deeply significant addition to our collection: a signed printing of General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s legendary D-Day “Order of the Day.” Originally distributed to the 175,000 members of the Allied Expeditionary Force on the eve of D-Day, June 6, 1944, this stirring message marked the beginning of Operation Overlord, the largest seaborne invasion in history. This particular printing was excised from Eisenhower’s limited edition memoir Crusade in Europe, published by Doubleday in 1948, and is boldly signed at its conclusion in black fountain pen, “Dwight D. Eisenhower.”
Eisenhower’s D-Day order was far from his routine communication. Written months in advance in February 1944 and also pre-recorded for radio broadcast in May, it was crafted as a powerful message of determination and resolve: “You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade... The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.”
A particularly powerful section of the speech recognized the massive, coordinated effort that had brought the Allies to this turning point in the war. Eisenhower declared, “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 war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned!” These lines served not only to reinforce the progress already made on the battlefield but also to remind the troops that they were part of a much larger and increasingly successful global campaign. The speech also connected the efforts of soldiers on the front lines with those of civilians and workers at home, emphasizing the full force of united democratic nations standing together against Nazi tyranny. He ends with the bold proclamation: “We will accept nothing less than full Victory!”
The D-Day invasion of June 6, 1944, saw over 156,000 troops from the United States, Britain, Canada, and other Allied nations land along a fifty-mile stretch of the Normandy coast. The assault, supported by thousands of ships, landing craft, and aircraft, began with a daring night-time parachute drop and was followed by naval and aerial bombardments before infantry stormed the beaches. Fighting was especially fierce at Omaha Beach, but by nightfall, the Allies had secured a critical foothold in Western Europe.
This signed order is more than a collectible. It is a powerful artifact from one of the most pivotal moments of the 20th century, offering a tangible connection to the courage and sacrifice of D-Day.
Explore More Highlights from our WWII Collection:
A Soldier's Story, Signed and Inscribed by Omar Bradley, First Edition, 1951
"The Marines Have Landed!" Vintage WWII Poster by James Montgomery Flagg, 1942
Bolt of 48-Star American Flags with a Union Jack, Printed on Cotton, Circa 1945
