80 Years Ago

• 80 Years Ago

On June 6 of this year, the world commemorated the 80th anniversary of the D-DAY Landings in 1944. Allied forces stormed the coast of France and changed the course of history. More than 130,000 troops — mostly from the United States, United Kingdom and Canada — landed on the shores of Normandy to combat Axis forces led by the Germans. There were many deaths on both sides, but over several weeks, the Allies began to turn the tide of the conflict. Germany surrendered less than a year later. D-Day was regarded as the largest amphibious invasion in military history. I was born after World War II, but as a student of history, I find these stories fascinating.

Looking back, one might think that the success of D-Day was a foregone conclusion -- it was anything but. As the UK and its allies launched the most daring military operation, there was no certainty of victory, nor could anyone predict and control events leading up to and on D-Day. There were huge logistical challenges to consider plus the timing of the landing. If the invasion had happened later, the invasion forces could have been destroyed in England by the V-1 flying bombs and V-2 rockets, launched from bases in France. Mid-1944 was, with hindsight, the only possible time for success.

Then there was the timing of the landing, which mattered immensely. The landings had to be at dawn, so that the Channel crossing would be in darkness. Some moonlight was needed for the air attacks, but a full moon was dangerous. Weather would play a critical factor.

Beaches had been strewn with half a million obstacles and six-and-a-half million mines. There had to be a half tide coming in to allow the specialized tanks and the engineers to deal with these obstacles.

In late spring and early summer of 1944, the only days left were the first days of May and the first and third weeks of June as possible dates to launch the invasion. The British RAF had to command the skies. This would not have been possible if, in 1943, Hitler had authorized a new Messerschmitt 262 fighter plane. This had a cruise speed of 520 miles per hour – 120 miles per hour faster than any Allied plane. Instead, Hitler wanted a bomber, and it could not be converted. When the new fighter plane was finally produced at the end of the war, it ran rings round Allied fighters and bored holes in bombers. If these planes had been ready by D-Day, the result could have been catastrophic.

In my opinion and to many theologians and historians, prayer played a crucial role in the success of D-Day. World leaders, military leaders and army chaplains prayed with troops. On Sunday, June 4, there was a prayer vigil attended by 400 officers and men of the Second Army HQ, where the final prayer included the following: “As we stand upon the threshold of the greatest adventure in our history, let us now offer to Almighty God all our powers of body, mind and spirit, so that our great endeavor may be thoroughly finished.”

Commanders trusted in God. General Montgomery’s message to be read out to all troops before the invasion included the following: “To us is given the honor of striking a blow for freedom which will live in history; and in the better days that lie ahead men will speak with pride in our doings. We have a great and righteous cause. Let us pray that ‘The Lord Mighty in Battle’ will go forth with our armies, and that His special providence will aid us in the struggle.”

General Eisenhower’s echoed this: “… The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you … let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.”

In the evening of D-Day, King George VI broadcast to his peoples, saying: “I hope that throughout the present crisis of the liberation of Europe there may be offered up earnest, continuous and widespread prayer… At this historic moment surely not one of us is too busy, too young or too old to play a part in a nation-wide, a world-wide vigil or prayer as the great crusade sets forth. If from every place of worship, from home and factory, from men and women of all ages and many races and occupations, our intercessions rise, then, please God, both now and in a future not remote, the predictions of an