Eighty years ago, the President of the United States led the American people in prayer. He is the only Commander-in-Chief in American history to do so in a time of war. It was common before then (and for a few years afterward) for Presidents to call upon the American people to pray, but it was rare for a President himself to lead the country to prayer. But FDR did it. And he picked one of the most monumental events in history to do so.
Prior to D-Day, Nazi Germany had captured most of Europe and had launched an invasion of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). By 1943-1944, the Soviets had started winning back territory and the Allies had invaded Italy, but the outcome of World War II was still very much in play.
On June 6, 1944, Allied forces launched the largest amphibious invasion and one of the largest military operations in history. Codenamed “Operation Overlord,” the Allied invasion of France was planned under the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, an American general who had supreme command over all Western Allied forces. The planning involved extensive deception strategies to mislead the Germans about the time and place of the invasion and the operation itself included forces and equipment from across the Allied nations, including over 156,000 American, British, Canadian, and other Allied troops.
Total Allied casualties on D-Day were estimated to be around 10,000, with around 4,414 confirmed dead. Nevertheless, it was a resounding victory and it sealed the ultimate fate of Nazi Germany. Hitler could not win what was now a 3-front war.
Allied victory in Europe would come in May 1945, followed by victory in the Pacific in August. For the European front, D-Day was the major turning point. Without it, World War II may have ended in a stalemate with tens of millions of Europeans languishing under Nazi rule. And who knows how history would have turned out from there?
The stakes were high in June of 1944, and the risks were great. That’s why Franklin D. Roosevelt led the American people in prayer. I encourage you to read that prayer by clicking this link (or by listening to it below).
We should be forever grateful to all those who served the Allied cause in World War II? Writing as an American, I’m thankful for all those service members (like my Grandpa) who served in the American armed forces during that conflict. To all World War II veterans and family members of World War II veterans, I honor your service and commend you for your sacrifice.
To the rest of us, we must remember that just because something happened decades ago (or even before we were alive) doesn’t make it any less real or important.
And…
This 80th anniversary of D-Day should serve to remind all of us of something else.
Would the Allied invasion of Normandy, France (which, again, sealed the ultimate fate of Hitler and Nazi Germany) have been successful without FDR leading the American people in prayer?
I can’t answer that for sure, but I’m glad I don’t have to. I’m glad we had an American President in 1944 who understood that, while we can plan, prepare, and work hard, ultimately, we must trust in God. As the psalmist wrote 3000 years ago…
“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” (Psalm 20:7, KJV)
Indeed.
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