On May 8, 1945, the day of Germany’s unconditional surrender, Supreme Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower issued this farewell message to the Allied Expeditionary Force. Distributed across Europe, it expressed his gratitude for their courage and sacrifice, reminding them that their victory had freed millions from tyranny and restored hope.
The letter marked the end of a campaign that began with the D‑Day landings on June 6, 1944. In the following months, Allied forces fought through France and Belgium, crossed the Rhine, and finally joined Soviet troops to bring down the Third Reich. Eisenhower’s words served as both a farewell and a tribute, assuring the troops their efforts would be remembered for generations.
This copy belonged to Mr. Fred B. Chapman, who joined the 101st Airborne Division in England about four to five weeks after the Normandy invasion. Serving overseas for 18 months, he spent 45 days on the front lines in three major battles. On the reverse side of the letter, Chapman added a handwritten note, and on several accompanying photographs he wrote personal remarks—together offering a poignant record of a young paratrooper’s service and sacrifice alongside Eisenhower’s official farewell.
