IKE'S SELF-FLAGELLATION

Supreme Allied Forces Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower was probably feeling a little stress on June 5, 1944 when he determined that the weather conditions would be adequate to risk sending 156,000 troops to invade Normandy and ultimately liberate Europe from the Nazis. This large-scale operation, in the planning stage for years, was by no means guaranteed to be a success. All other things equal, the defenders in an invasion generally enjoy a huge advantage to start with. And, these were not pushover defenders. Say what you will about the corrupt and evil Nazi leadership, the battle-hardened German soldiers in 1944 were very skilled at their profession of dealing death. The officer in charge of the German defenses was not some Nazi political hack but was instead Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel, a professional soldier who was recognized by most friends and foes alike as the most competent military figure of the time. The Germans knew that an invasion was inevitable and had a long time to prepare for same. Add to these facts the uncertain nature of the weather and the fact that it is impossible to anticipate all the possible millions of things which could go wrong in an operation of this magnitude (including the distinct possibility that the Germans had not been misled by the Allied efforts at deception and had figured out the actual site of the upcoming invasion). Ike was very aware that the fate of the free world was in his hands and that his plans could end up in disaster with the Allied forces thrown back into the sea.

As a good commander should, Eisenhower tried to prepare for every contingency. Consequently, he drafted on June 5, 1944 a handwritten statement he intended to release if the invasion was a failure. Specifically, Ike wrote as follows:

"Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based upon the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone." 

As evidence of the pressure on Eisenhower, he mistakenly dated the note "July 5" instead of June 5.

Accepting the blame for a failure was not a token polite gesture. An invasion disaster with the butcher's bill associated with same would cause such an uproar in the Allied nations that the welkin would ring, and there is little doubt that Ike's courageous offer to assume the responsibility for the catastrophe would cause him professional, public, and personal devastation. 

One wonders how some of our current public figures might have responded had they been in Eisenhower's shoes in 1944 and needed to report a failed invasion. Perhaps like this:

"It is FAKE NEWS that our troops have failed their mission in the Cherbourg-Havre area.

Our troops were going against the Nazis. Now, I know that you have some very bad people in that group, but you also have people that are very fine people, on both sides. 

Because of all the losers and suckers who were killed, I had no choice but to suspend the operation. It is also the fault of those captured. They are not war heroes. I like people who weren't captured.

The fault was not with my plan. MY PLAN WAS BEAUTIFUL. IT WAS A PERFECT PLAN.

Besides, America should not foot all of the expenses it does for the war. We should let Hitler (who by the way is a GENIUS and SAVVY) do whatever the hell he wants if our allies are not paying their FAIR SHARE."