The date for the Normandy invasion code named Overlord was set for June 5, 1944, which was to be known as D-day. However, on the night of June 4, they received word that bad weather would make the invasion nearly impossible to carry out. Eisenhower and the other generals decided to postpone the attack for 24 hours. The next morning the sea had improved a little but the weather was still bad. Air cover would be difficult. If the invasion were postponed any longer, the current would not be right. They would not be able to proceed until June 19. As supreme commander, Eisenhower had to make the decision of whether or not to go through with it. After giving it some thought he exclaimed, “Ok let’s go”. So on June 6,1945, the most powerful invasion in history was underway. The Germans, who figured an invasion was impossible in that weather, were taken completely by surprise. The invasion was a grand success because of Eisenhower’s good judgment.
Another example of the general’s cunning initiative was seen at the Battle of the Bulge. At the start of the Germany’s final attempted invasion at the Ardennes forest, nobody had any idea of the power behind the nazi attack. None of the leaders felt it was of any great urgency. However general Eisenhower figured that this was probably an all out attack by Hitler. He immediately sent reinforcements to that part of the lines. Eisenhower turned out to be correct. The reinforcements were able to contain the attack force somewhat, which prevented a complete breakthrough in the Allied lines.
Dwight D. Eisenhower, who had been promoted to a five star general, made one of his final decisions of the war during the battle of Germany. As the Allies charged through Germany, the seemingly obvious move would be to head directly for Berlin. However, he knew that the Germans would defend their capital to the very end, inflicting heavy casualties. The Allies had just come off the deadliest battle in American history at the Bulge, so Eisenhower decided to instead direct his attention to the scattered military remnants throughout Germany. He let the Russians go for Berlin. Thousands of Russians ended up dying in the taking of the German capital.
At the close of the war, General Eisenhower, known as Ike, was celebrated as one of the greatest heroes of the war. This fame was well deserved for he had led the Allies to victory, defeating probably the greatest evil empire the world has ever known. Dwight D. Eisenhower is- to this day- revered as a hero and he is someone the American people will never forget.