This is copied from the original Front Page of the Mason county's Daily Newspaper -- Point Pleasant West Virginia Tuesday June 6, 1944.
You are reading exactly what your parents and/or grandparents read in the newspapers across America on this day in history.
EXTRA POINT PLEASANT REGISTER EXTRA
Greatest Military Plan In History Beginning Today To Free Enslaved Europe
by West Gallagher
SUPREME HEADQUARTERS, ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, JUNE 6 (AP) - Allied Forces landed in northern France early today in history's greatest overseas operation designed to destroy the power of Hitler's Germany and wrest enslaved Europe from the Nazis.
The German radio said the landings were made from Le Havre to Cherbourg, along the north coast of Normandy and the south side of the bay of the Seine.
Allied headquarters did not specify the locations, but left no doubt whatever that the landings were on a gigantic scale.
Ringing in their ears, the American, British, and Canadian Forces who made the landings had these words from their supreme commander, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower.
"You are about to embark on a great crusade. The eyes of the world are upon you and the hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people go with you.
"We will accept nothing less than full victory."
The German radio filled the "air with invasion flashes for three hours before the formal allied announcement came at 7:32 A.M. Greenwich Mean time (3:32 A. M., Eastern War Time)
It acknowledge deep penetrations of the Cherbourg peninsula by allied parachute and glider troops in great strength.
the assault was supported by gigantic bombardments from Allied warships and planes which the Germans admitted set the coastal areas ablaze.
A senior officer at Supreme Headquarters said rough water caused "Awful Anxiety" for the sea borne troops but that the landings were made successfully although some soldiers were undoubtedly seasick.
The sun broke, through heavy clouds periodically this morning after daybreak shower. the wind had blown fairly hard during the night but moderate somewhat with the dawn. The weather outlook remained somewhat unsettled.
Supreme Headquarters first communiqué was this single sentence:
"Under the command of General Eisenhower, Allied Naval Forces supported by strong Air Forces began landing Allied Armies this morning on the Northern Coast of France ."
It was announced moments later that Britain's Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery, hero of the Eighth Army victories in North Africa, Sicily and Italy , was in charge of the assault.
A Senior Officer at headquarters said the times of the landing varied to take advantage of the various tide stages at different beaches. Except fo the Airborne Troops, te first landing times varied from 6 A. M. to 8:25 A. M., British double summer time (midnight to 2:25 A. M. Eastern War Time)
Although the Germans almost immediately announced that the grand assault had started. Eisenhower delayed his announcement, in order to make absolutely certain the landings had taken hold before saying anything.
