“战胜第三次世界大战的唯一方法,就是阻止它。”
——德怀特·大卫·艾森豪威尔
德怀特·大卫·艾森豪威尔(Dwight David Eisenhower,1890年10月14日-1969年3月28日),是美国陆军五星上将和第34任总统(1953年-1961年)。第二次世界大战期间,他担任盟军在欧洲的最高指挥官。1943年6-8月指挥西西里战役,11月在德黑兰会议,决定在1944年开辟第二战场。1944年1月驻伦敦组建盟军远征军最高司令部;6到8月指挥霸王行动,进行诺曼底登陆。9月移驻法国正式接管蒙哥马利的地面部队指挥权,指挥攻占德国。二战结束,曾担任驻德占领司令官,其后晋升为陆军五星上将。1945年接替退休的马歇尔任陆军参谋长。1951年又出任北大西洋公约组织部队最高司令。
各位联合远征军的海陆空战士们:
你们马上就要踏上征程去进行一场伟大的圣战,为此我们已精心准备了数月。全世界的目光都注视着你们,各地热爱和平的人们的期望与祈祷伴随着你们。
你们将与其他战线上的英勇盟军及兄弟一起并肩战斗,摧毁德国的战争机器。推翻压在欧洲人民身上的纳粹暴政,保卫我们在一个自由世界的安全。这是一个艰巨的任务。你们的敌人训练有素,装备精良,久经沙场。他们肯定会负隅顽抗。但是现在是1944年。与纳粹1940、1941年连连取胜时大不相同。联合国在正面战场予以德军迎头痛击空军削弱了德军的空中力量和陆上战斗能力;后方弹药充足、武器精良、部署得当、后备力量丰富。潮流已经逆转,全世界自由的人们正在一起向胜利迈进。我对你们的勇敢、责任心和作战技巧充满了信心,我们迎接的只会是彻底的胜利。
祝你们好运,并让我们祈求万能的上帝祝福这伟大而崇高的事业获得成功。
Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Forces:
You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.
Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely.
But this is the year 1944. Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned. The free men of the world are marching together to victory.
I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory.
Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.