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How the Times Covered D-Day in the Paper of June 6, 1944 How the Times Covered D-Day in the Paper of June 6, 1944
(about 11 hours later)
PARIS — As 160,000 Allied soldiers began to swarm the Normandy beaches on June 6, 1944, an ocean away New York Times editors scrambled to put out a special 6 a.m. edition heralding a seminal moment of World War II.PARIS — As 160,000 Allied soldiers began to swarm the Normandy beaches on June 6, 1944, an ocean away New York Times editors scrambled to put out a special 6 a.m. edition heralding a seminal moment of World War II.
“Allied Armies Land in France in the Havre-Cherbourg Area,” the banner headline on the new front page said. “Great Invasion is Under Way.”“Allied Armies Land in France in the Havre-Cherbourg Area,” the banner headline on the new front page said. “Great Invasion is Under Way.”
The news was illustrated with a mazelike map of the landing area in northern France, but it was announced with a simple sentence: “The invasion of Europe from the west has begun.”The news was illustrated with a mazelike map of the landing area in northern France, but it was announced with a simple sentence: “The invasion of Europe from the west has begun.”
The article detailed how “in the grey light of a summer dawn,” a great force under the command of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower and comprising troops from the United States, Britain and Canada had begun landing on the northwest shore of Europe.The article detailed how “in the grey light of a summer dawn,” a great force under the command of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower and comprising troops from the United States, Britain and Canada had begun landing on the northwest shore of Europe.
In what was perhaps a sign of the haste with which the paper had been put together, an article reporting the Supreme Court’s decision that large insurance companies were subject to the Sherman Antitrust Act remained prominently displayed on the front page, where another article reported that King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy had yielded the throne to his 39 year-old son, Crown Prince Humbert.In what was perhaps a sign of the haste with which the paper had been put together, an article reporting the Supreme Court’s decision that large insurance companies were subject to the Sherman Antitrust Act remained prominently displayed on the front page, where another article reported that King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy had yielded the throne to his 39 year-old son, Crown Prince Humbert.
The invasion report noted that Eisenhower’s first communiqué was purposely “terse” to avoid alerting the enemy. “Allied naval forces, supported by strong air forces, began landing Allied armies this morning,” the communiqué said, without saying exactly where. Only later, the paper reported, was it made clear that the landing beaches were in Normandy.The invasion report noted that Eisenhower’s first communiqué was purposely “terse” to avoid alerting the enemy. “Allied naval forces, supported by strong air forces, began landing Allied armies this morning,” the communiqué said, without saying exactly where. Only later, the paper reported, was it made clear that the landing beaches were in Normandy.
The article, which continued inside the paper, observed that news of the long-awaited invasion was reported in Britain as “war-weary Londoners” were commuting to work, and caught many Britons by surprise because there had been no announcement of the attack in the BBC’s daily 7 a.m. news broadcast.The article, which continued inside the paper, observed that news of the long-awaited invasion was reported in Britain as “war-weary Londoners” were commuting to work, and caught many Britons by surprise because there had been no announcement of the attack in the BBC’s daily 7 a.m. news broadcast.
Raymond Daniell, who covered the story for The Times from the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Forces, observed that reporters were officially notified of the invasion in an undramatic setting, summoned by a phone call to a room whose walls were plastered with maps. They arrived already knowing what was happening, because the German news agency DNB had quickly reported the attack. “To maintain the initiative in battle, it was necessary to surrender the initiative in the war of words,” Mr. Daniell wrote.Raymond Daniell, who covered the story for The Times from the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Forces, observed that reporters were officially notified of the invasion in an undramatic setting, summoned by a phone call to a room whose walls were plastered with maps. They arrived already knowing what was happening, because the German news agency DNB had quickly reported the attack. “To maintain the initiative in battle, it was necessary to surrender the initiative in the war of words,” Mr. Daniell wrote.
Despite the tight deadline for the special edition, The Times managed to capture some of the drama of the battle, including German reports that Nazi shock troops had been dispatched to confront Allied airborne units as they landed behind the beaches. The first eyewitness account of the invasion was provided by Wright Bryan of the National Broadcasting Company. Mr. Bryan, who accompanied airborne troops, said the first arriving paratroopers were met with only light enemy fire as they landed in “dark and quiet” fields.Despite the tight deadline for the special edition, The Times managed to capture some of the drama of the battle, including German reports that Nazi shock troops had been dispatched to confront Allied airborne units as they landed behind the beaches. The first eyewitness account of the invasion was provided by Wright Bryan of the National Broadcasting Company. Mr. Bryan, who accompanied airborne troops, said the first arriving paratroopers were met with only light enemy fire as they landed in “dark and quiet” fields.
“In the navigator’s dome in the flight deck of a C-47, I rode across the English Channel with the first group of planes from the United States Ninth Air Force Troop Carrier Command to take our fighting men into Europe,” Mr. Bryan was quoted by the paper as saying. He said he had seen 17 American paratroopers jump with their weapons, ammunition and equipment into German-occupied France.“In the navigator’s dome in the flight deck of a C-47, I rode across the English Channel with the first group of planes from the United States Ninth Air Force Troop Carrier Command to take our fighting men into Europe,” Mr. Bryan was quoted by the paper as saying. He said he had seen 17 American paratroopers jump with their weapons, ammunition and equipment into German-occupied France.
He said he had been living with a squadron of airmen as they prepared to fly the transport planes that would carry paratroops for the invasion. Their mission was heralded on Monday evening, June 5, he said, with the shrill sound of a whistle blown by their commander, Maj. Kenneth D. Richardson of Salina, Calif. After pilots, co-pilots, and radio operators gathered around him, Major Richardson asked, “Do you know your stuff?” and said, “I think this is it — Good luck,” according to Mr. Bryan’s account. He said he had been living with a squadron of airmen as they prepared to fly the transport planes that would carry paratroops for the invasion. Their mission was heralded on Monday evening, June 5, he said, with the shrill sound of a whistle blown by their commander, Maj. Kenneth D. Richardson of Salinas, Calif. After pilots, co-pilots, and radio operators gathered around him, Major Richardson asked, “Do you know your stuff?” and said, “I think this is it — Good luck,” according to Mr. Bryan’s account.
As the crews began to file out of the briefing room, Mr. Bryan related, the major said to his men: “You want to get back, don’t you? Then dammit, get in there and fight.”As the crews began to file out of the briefing room, Mr. Bryan related, the major said to his men: “You want to get back, don’t you? Then dammit, get in there and fight.”
The Times, citing a BBC broadcast, reported that Eisenhower had asked that, whenever feasible, French towns that were to be bombed first receive a warning through leaflets dropped from planes. The leaflets, in some cases dropped less than an hour before the planned attack, warned civilians to leave the area as quickly as possible on foot and to stay away from vulnerable targets like roads, railways and bridges.The Times, citing a BBC broadcast, reported that Eisenhower had asked that, whenever feasible, French towns that were to be bombed first receive a warning through leaflets dropped from planes. The leaflets, in some cases dropped less than an hour before the planned attack, warned civilians to leave the area as quickly as possible on foot and to stay away from vulnerable targets like roads, railways and bridges.
The Times carried another momentous war report on its front page, by The Associated Press, relating that Rome had fallen to the Allies without major damage after a 25-day assault. The article described in harrowing detail how Allied forces in the Italian capital, with the support of fighter-bombers, were destroying the battered and beleaguered German defenders. (Italy had signed an armistice with the Allies in September 1943 and was no longer fighting on the German side.)The Times carried another momentous war report on its front page, by The Associated Press, relating that Rome had fallen to the Allies without major damage after a 25-day assault. The article described in harrowing detail how Allied forces in the Italian capital, with the support of fighter-bombers, were destroying the battered and beleaguered German defenders. (Italy had signed an armistice with the Allies in September 1943 and was no longer fighting on the German side.)
The enemy was “tired, disorganized and bewildered,” the report said, as Allied aircraft raked the highways around the city to prevent German troops from escaping. Blazing vehicles blocked the roads and dead and wounded Germans littered the surrounding fields, the article said.The enemy was “tired, disorganized and bewildered,” the report said, as Allied aircraft raked the highways around the city to prevent German troops from escaping. Blazing vehicles blocked the roads and dead and wounded Germans littered the surrounding fields, the article said.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt hailed the capture of Rome, the first of the three major Axis capitals to be liberated, as a “great achievement” on the road toward victory in the war. “One up and two to go,” he was quoted as saying.President Franklin D. Roosevelt hailed the capture of Rome, the first of the three major Axis capitals to be liberated, as a “great achievement” on the road toward victory in the war. “One up and two to go,” he was quoted as saying.
The Times noted that the president’s speech, broadcast on the radio, was devoid of triumphalism as Mr. Roosevelt detailed the difficult challenge still ahead to defeat Germany and Japan.The Times noted that the president’s speech, broadcast on the radio, was devoid of triumphalism as Mr. Roosevelt detailed the difficult challenge still ahead to defeat Germany and Japan.
Battle-hardened American troops on the Italian front were too weary to celebrate much as they swept into Rome on foot, in jeeps and in tanks, a small article noted on an inside page of the paper. Private Frank Balcor of New York City was quoted as saying that it was a “great feeling to walk into this place.” But Private Ed Cambra, also of New York, was less than gleeful as pretty girls and other Romans cheered the arriving Allies. “My feet are just about swelled up,” he told the paper. “That’s about all.”Battle-hardened American troops on the Italian front were too weary to celebrate much as they swept into Rome on foot, in jeeps and in tanks, a small article noted on an inside page of the paper. Private Frank Balcor of New York City was quoted as saying that it was a “great feeling to walk into this place.” But Private Ed Cambra, also of New York, was less than gleeful as pretty girls and other Romans cheered the arriving Allies. “My feet are just about swelled up,” he told the paper. “That’s about all.”