[TommyGunn]

Just to remind everyone, today is June 6th -- D-DAY! 71 years ago today our Army Rangers climbed Point Du Hoc. They stormed Normandy.
A day the German General Rommel would refer to as "der lengst tag;"

THE LONGEST DAY​

"Many men came here as soldiers;
many men will pass this way.
Many men will count the hours
as they live The Longest Day.
Many men are tired and weary;
Many men are here to stay.
Many men won't see the sunset,
when it ends The Longest Day.
The Longest Day, The Longest Day,
This will be The Longest Day.
Filled with hope and filled with fears,
Filled with blood and sweat and tears.
Many men the mighty thousands
Many men to victory.
Marching on right into battle
in The Longest Day in history."

 

[bearcat6]

As usual there wasn't the slightest mention of this in our local fish wrapper. They are very caught up in banning smoking in city parks and mandatory sick leave for all people working in the city, etc.

 

[SpecialEd]

As fitting as it was, is there any evidence that Rommel ever actually said that or is it just dialogue from the movie script?

 

[TommyGunn]

I'm not sure. I've always assumed he had said it, as the movie was a documentary from a book.
I am fairly sure that Rommel did inspect the defense installations in Normandy.
I will try to look into it later.

 

[bearcat6]

In the book The Longest Day by Cornelias Ryan he quotes Rommel as having said that before the landings. It was some thing like when they come it will be the longest day. It was a prediction.

 

[stand watie]

SpecialEd,

Fwiw, 1LT Karl M. Voss of the German Army mentions that famous comment by Rommel in his "wartime diary".
Voss was SERIOUSLY "star-struck" by Rommel & frequently recounted the Field Marshal's sayings in his diary, thus I presume that Rommel said it.
(I've wondered if that was "the source" of Cornelias Ryan's use of that "Rommelism".)

yours, sw

 

[SpecialEd]

Not hard to be star-struck by Rommel he was one of the greats. I know that Ryan became an expert on all things D-Day when researching his book and from all perspectives (American, British, German, etc.) but that quote never felt right to me. It's an off year anniversary so nothing is being said on the news, not like last year. If I were home I'm sure my wife and I would again watch the hours and hours of documentaries I have accumulated over the years and maybe even another go-round of BoB.

Tommy, I am generally curious, I was in no way disparaging your post.

 

[TommyGunn]

Not hard to be star-struck by Rommel he was one of the greats. I know that Ryan became an expert on all things D-Day when researching his book and from all perspectives (American, British, German, etc.) but that quote never felt right to me. It's an off year anniversary so nothing is being said on the news, not like last year. If I were home I'm sure my wife and I would again watch the hours and hours of documentaries I have accumulated over the years and maybe even another go-round of BoB.

Tommy, I am generally curious, I was in no way disparaging your post.

I didn't take it as disparagement, SpeccialEd.
I believe Rommel said something like, "on the day the allies invade, it will be for both the invader and defender, the longest day." Of course he said it in German (in the movie too),and I don't remember the whole thing.......

It is at the beginning of the film, for those who have the DVD or VHS.

 

[dfariswheel]

To see how a REAL President made speeches, take another look at Ronald Reagan's "Boys of Point Du Hoc" speech.

We all owe a sizable tab to some old men that can never be repaid.
A lot of them are still young, still at Normandy, and will be for eternity.

They say we don't make men like that anymore.
BS!!
Look to Kandahar, Ramadi, Fallujah, Tora Bora, and a hundred other places in the last 15 or so years.

 

[TommyGunn]

to see how a real president made speeches, take another look at ronald reagan's "boys of point du hoc" speech.

we all owe a sizable tab to some old men that can never be repaid.
A lot of them are still young, still at normandy, and will be for eternity.

They say we don't make men like that anymore.
Bs!!
Look to kandahar, ramadi, fallujah, tora bora, and a hundred other places in the last 15 or so years.

Amen!​

 

[Skeptic49]

From the West Point Glee Club:

Geoff
Whose relatives were mostly in the Pacific.

 

[TommyGunn]

Thanks, skeptic49.....I have the CD of that.
Now excuse me.......there's something in my eye .... must go take care of it.��

 

[SpecialEd]

Since I have nothing but time...

I decided to read the book: It is indeed stated as a confirmed quote from Rommel to his aide "Lang."

"The war will be won or lost on the beaches. We'll have only one chance to stop the enemy and that's while he's in the water … struggling to get ashore. Reserves will never get up to the point of attack and it's foolish even to consider them. The Hauptkampflinie [main line of resistance] will be here … everything we have must be on the coast. Believe me, Lang, the first twenty-four hours of the invasion will be decisive … for the Allies, as well as Germany, it will be the longest day."

Ryan, Cornelius (2010-02-09). The Longest Day: The Classic Epic of D-Day (pp. 27-28). Simon & Schuster. Kindle Edition.