Breaking Walls

BW - EP152—015: D-Day's 80th Anniversary—King George VI's Famous Speech And More Invasion Updates


Listen Later

At 3PM The British King George VI issued a D-Day speech. The Transcription is below.
Four years ago, our Nation and Empire stood alone against an overwhelming enemy, with our backs to the wall. Tested as never before in our history, in God's providence we survived that test; the spirit of the people, resolute, dedicated, burned like a bright flame, lit surely from those unseen fires which nothing can quench.
Now once more a supreme test has to be faced. This time, the challenge is not to fight to survive, but to fight to win the final victory for the good cause. Once again what is demanded from us all is something more than courage and endurance; we need a revival of spirit, a new unconquerable resolve. After nearly five years of toil and suffering, we must renew that crusading impulse on which we entered the war and met its darkest hour. We and our Allies are sure that our fight is against evil and for a world in which goodness and honor may be the foundation of the life of men in every land.
That we may be worthily matched with this new summons of destiny, I desire solemnly to call my people to prayer and dedication. We are not unmindful of our own shortcomings, past and present. We shall ask not that God may do our will, but that we may be enabled to do the will of God: and we dare to believe that God has used our Nation and Empire as an instrument for fulfilling his high purpose.
I hope that throughout the present crisis of the liberation of Europe there may be offered up earnest, continuous and widespread prayer. We who remain in this land can most effectively enter into the sufferings of subjugated Europe by prayer, whereby we can fortify the determination of our sailors, soldiers and airmen who go forth to set the captives free.
The Queen joins with me in sending you this message. She well understands the anxieties and cares of our womenfolk at this time and she knows that many of them will find, as she does herself, fresh strength and comfort in such waiting upon God. She feels that many women will be glad in this way to keep vigil with their menfolk as they man the ships, storm the beaches and fill the skies.
At this historic moment surely not one of us is too busy, too young or too old to play a part in a nationwide, perchance a worldwide, vigil of prayer as the great crusade sets forth. If from every place of worship, from home and factory, from men and women of all ages and many races and occupations, our intercessions rise, then, please God, both now and in a future not remote, the predictions of an ancient Psalm may be fulfilled: "The Lord will give strength unto his people: the Lord will give his people the blessing of peace."
By this time, Allied reinforcements from Britain had already arrived in Normandy. Ground troops linked up with the paratroopers further inland and pressed on toward Caen. However, the allies wouldn’t capture the city for more than a month.
Once King George VI’s speech was over, CBS switched back to Alan Jackson with a news update.
At 4:40PM the just-heard John Daly, Bill Shirer, and Quincy Howe took to CBS’ airwaves with more news updates.
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Breaking WallsBy James Scully

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

105 ratings


More shows like Breaking Walls

View all
The Best of Car Talk by NPR

The Best of Car Talk

16,499 Listeners

X Minus One Podcast by Humphrey Camardella Productions

X Minus One Podcast

357 Listeners

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio| Daily Mystery Dramas by Adam Graham|Old Time Radio Detective Host

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio| Daily Mystery Dramas

1,907 Listeners

Gunsmoke | OTRWesterns.com by Andrew Rhynes

Gunsmoke | OTRWesterns.com

418 Listeners

Sherlock Holmes Presented by the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio by Adam Graham

Sherlock Holmes Presented by the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

301 Listeners

The Great Detectives Present Yours Truly Johnny Dollar (Old Time Radio) by Adam Graham Radio Detective Podcast

The Great Detectives Present Yours Truly Johnny Dollar (Old Time Radio)

905 Listeners

Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives) by Mean Streets Podcasts

Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)

1,027 Listeners

Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast by Starburns Audio

Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast

3,905 Listeners

This Day in Jack Benny by John Henderson

This Day in Jack Benny

390 Listeners

Stars on Suspense (Old Time Radio) by Mean Streets Podcasts

Stars on Suspense (Old Time Radio)

427 Listeners

Pod Save America by Crooked Media

Pod Save America

86,508 Listeners

Old Time Radio Mystery, Suspense, & Horror by Dakoda Black

Old Time Radio Mystery, Suspense, & Horror

685 Listeners

The Bulwark Podcast by The Bulwark

The Bulwark Podcast

11,618 Listeners

Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio by Choice Classic Radio

Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio

166 Listeners

Uncharted: Crime and Mayhem in the Music Industry by Curiouscast

Uncharted: Crime and Mayhem in the Music Industry

90 Listeners