Today's Beautiful Gem: An entry from Anne Frank's Diary

"Tuesday, 6 June, 1944: Dear Kitty, `This is D-Day', came the
announcement over the English news and quite rightly, `this is
the day'. The invasion has begun.

"The English gave the news at 8 o'clock this morning: Calais,
Boulogne, Le Havre, and Cherbourg, also the Pas De Calais (as
usual), were heavily bombarded. Moreover, as a safety measure
for all occupied territories, all people who live within a radius
of 35 km from the coast are warned to be prepared for bombardments.
If possible, the English will drop pamphlets one hour beforehand.

"According to German news, English parachute troops have landed
on the French coast, English landing craft are in battle with
the German navy, says the BBC. We discussed it over the `Annexe'
breakfast at 9 o'clock: Is this just a trial landing like Dieppe
two years ago? English broadcast in German, Dutch, French, and
other languages at 10 o'clock: `The invasion has begun!'-- means
the `real' invasion. English broadcast at 11 o'clock, speech by
the Supreme Commander, General Dwight Eisenhower. The English
news at 12 o'clock in English: `This is D-Day.' Genl Eisenhower
said to the French people: `Stiff fighting will come now, but
after this the victory. The year 1944 is the year of complete
victory; good luck.'

"Great commotion in the `Secret Annexe'! Would the long-awaited
liberation that has been talked of so much, but which still
seems too wonderful, too much like a fairy tale, ever come true?
Could we be granted victory this year, 1944? We don't know yet,
but hope is revived within us; it gives us fresh courage, and
makes us strong again. Since we must put up bravely with all
the fears, privations, and sufferings, the great thing now is
to remain calm and steadfast. Now more than ever we must clench
our teeth and not cry out. France, Russia, Italy, and Germany,
too, can all cry out and give vent to their misery, but we haven't
the right to do that yet!

"Oh, Kitty, the best part of the invasion is that I have the
feeling that friends are approaching. We have been oppressed
by those terrible Germans for so long, they have had their
knives so at our throats, that the thought of friends and delivery
fills us with confidence! Now it doesn't concern the Jews anymore;
no, it concerns Holland and all occupied Europe. Perhaps, Margot
says, I may yet be able to go back to school in September or
October. - yours, Anne.

"P.S. I'll keep you up to date with all the latest news!"

Note: Anne didn't go to school, but to the concentration camp and
died in March 1945 in the camp at Bergen-Belsen, two months
before Holland was liberated.

Om Santih! Peace! - J. K. Mohana Rao

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