National Content: United Kingdom

‘D-Day” poem by Vansittart

SourceThe Times, June 7th 1944
Event referred to6th June 1944: D-Day
Technological characteristicsText file from scanned in microfiche printout
Description of the sourceNewspaper article in English. Accessed through library microfiche archives of Times newspaper.
Contextualisation of the sourceThe Times is a long established British newspaper, conservative in nature. This poem was part of a range of articles which appeared on the landings on June 7th 1944.
Interpretation of the sourceThe inclusion of this poem in the Times, amongst a range of articles which looked at the tactics of the invasion and the actual events could have been to rally support in France. Not only does it make reference to having left France four years earlier and the bravery of the French during the German occupation, it suggests that a new dawn is breaking and that those who left France are returning to support her again. This rallying, impassioned call to the French is positive in tone and supports the positive nature of the other articles. There is an heroic element to the description of the poem which echoes the other reports.
Original Contents
Original Contents (English Translation)