The Night Before D-Day
General Eisenhower’s experience and the Allied troops’ preparations were finally put to the test on the morning of June 6, 1944. An invasion force of 4,000 ships, 11,000 planes, and nearly three million soldiers, marines, airmen, and sailors was assembled in England for the assault. Prior to sending troops out on the invasion of Normandy on D-Day, General Dwight Eisenhower wrote two notes — one to rally the troops to victory, the other written in case the invasion of Normandy failed.
Read and analyze these two documents. Note the similarities and differences in style, tone, message.
Using both documents, answer the following questions:
- How does Eisenhower describe the invasion?
- How does Eisenhower describe the troops?
- How does Eisenhower describe the enemy?
- How does Eisenhower describe his role in the invasion?
- Based on your analysis, what are the major similarities and differences between these two different documents. Focus on aspects such as style, tone, audience, message, etc.
- How does Eisenhower describe the enemy?
- How does Eisenhower describe his role in the invasion?
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