Draft of Eisenhower’s D-Day “Order of the Day” (1944)

Date: No Date

Created By: Dwight D. Eisenhower

Original or Replica: Original

Era: D-Day and the Normandy Invasion, The General

Collection: Eisenhower Presidential Library

Citations: Ray W. Barker Papers, 1942-46, Box 1, Papers Pertaining to COSSAC and SHAEF, 1942-1945 (1); NAID #12010107

This document is General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s hand-edited draft of his famous “Order of the Day,” distributed to Allied forces participating in the D-Day invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. After months of planning for the invasion, Eisenhower prepared this message for the soldiers, sailors, and airmen who would take part in one of the largest military operations in history.

Eisenhower’s handwritten revisions provide a unique opportunity to examine how he carefully constructed his message. One of the most famous passages was originally located later in the draft before Eisenhower moved it closer to the beginning, giving it greater prominence. He also strengthened his description of the enemy from “You may expect him to fight savagely” to the more direct “He will fight savagely,” emphasizing the difficult fighting Allied forces would face.

Other revisions demonstrate Eisenhower’s attention to Allied unity and the qualities he wanted servicemembers to demonstrate. He replaced “We and our Allies” with “The United Nations,” presenting the invasion as a united international effort against Nazi Germany. He also replaced “hardihood” with “devotion to duty,” emphasizing commitment and responsibility.