American GIs heading toward the shoreline of Omaha Beach around June 7, 1944. (Photo Courtesy of The National WWII Museum)
Today marks the anniversary of D-Day—Operation Overlord—the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944.
If you’ve never listened to how the news broke here in the U.S., the Internet Archive hosts a remarkable collection of recordings from that historic day. It’s fascinating to hear the unfolding coverage in real time—an extraordinary window into the role of radio during one of the most pivotal moments in history.
Thanks for the hint! I enjoyed the broadcasts.
Allow me to share this today …
D-Day … June 6th, 1944 – A Remembrance … (unfortunately the first two minutes are a commercial).
https://www.audacy.com/wcbs880/articles/man-mission-preserve-firsthand-accounts-ww2
Bob Abate
Internet Archive has the full broadcast day from both CBS and NBC on June 6, 1944. These recordings are a fascinating listen on so many levels.
The CBS broadcasts start out doubting the initial reports (from German sources). Then at 3am Bob Trout (who covered Presidents from Hoover to Clinton, and who coined the phrase “Fireside Chats” for FDR) takes an impromptu tour of the CBS newsroom in New York and paints a vivid word picture of the ecitement building. They continue to hedge their bets that this may be enemy propagandabut its clear that its probably not. Trout leaves the microphone briefly and Ned Calmer is clearly stretching and mentions its an “exciting night”. Trout returns and almost immediately throws to London for the first communique from Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF).
As the day progresses you hear Eisenhower, FDR, King George VI, DeGaulle, Montgomery and others. All via shortwave. Later in the day there are samples of shortwave broadcasts in other languages from the infant Voice of America and BBC. Between times you even get to hear regular programs ranging from Soaps to Comedy (George Burns and Gracie Allen) to some pretty cool live music from around the country.
We know how it ends, they didn’t so there is often trepidation. A young second term Congressman named Albert Gore (you may have heard of his son) recounts being up all night in his office listening to the radio. Another Congressman named Jerry Voorhis gives his impressions. Two years later Voorhis would lose his seat to a young fella named Nixon.
These recordings are great if you love radio and history and are packed with so many noteworthy moments.
If you go to youtube you will find a number of accounts which have edited these broadcasts down and in some cases mashed the CBS and NBC broadcasts together. The audio on youtube I find in some cases to be marginally better. And some of the youtube ones have added actual footage from D-Day to watch as you listen.
I often”get my geek on” and go down this rabbit hole for hours at a time. Its fascinating.