World History

Thunderbeast

(3,549 posts) Mon Apr 1, 2024, 03:28 PM Apr 2024

Curious if national newspapers printed a coded message before Normandy landing

I recently looked at some historic newspapers saved by my in-laws. Included was a copy of the Detroit Free Press dated June 5, 1944. It was an historic day because the allies had captured Rome (a big dang deal!).

In the bottom corner of the front page was a short weather forecast for the English Channel... Something unusual to post for Michigan readers. Of course, this was the DAY BEFORE the Normandy landings.

My speculation is that this posting was coded advanced notice for stateside individuals who might have a need to know of the invasion timing.

I am wondering if anyone in this forum has any knowledge of this post, and if papers around the country also had this copy printed on D-DAY minus 1.

Just curious...

2 replies

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Curious if national newspapers printed a coded message before Normandy landing (Original Post) Thunderbeast Apr 2024 OP

Everyone knew a landing was imminent marybourg Apr 2024 #1

The weather had been bad for at least three days before the landing. Irish_Dem Apr 2024 #2

marybourg

(13,213 posts)

1. Everyone knew a landing was imminent

Reply to Thunderbeast (Original post)

Mon Apr 1, 2024, 03:37 PM

Apr 2024

and was very dependent on the weather in the Channel. Weather reports like that one had probably been printed for several days in order to satisfy people’s extreme interest and desire to guess at the timing.

Irish_Dem

(59,688 posts)

2. The weather had been bad for at least three days before the landing.

Reply to Thunderbeast (Original post)

Mon Apr 1, 2024, 05:15 PM

Apr 2024

Eisenhower had a small window or D Day would have to be postponed for months due to the tides.
The allies had tricked Hitler into thinking it would occur at another location at a later date.

I would think that there may have been some interest stateside.
After all there were over 133, 000 allied troops on D Day and by the end of June over 850,000 troops.
So probably rumors had been floating around.

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