For the first few years of World War II, Germany and the Nazis seemed nearly unstoppable. By 1942, they had conquered most of Western Europe, including France, Poland, Austria, and of course Holland, where Anne Frank and her family were hiding for their lives.

At the beginning of 1943, though, Hitler's luck began to turn. His invasion of Great Britain had failed, he was facing tough fights in North Africa and Italy, and the Russians had finally handed him his first major defeat in Stalingrad. By 1944, almost everyone knew it was over for Hitler's Third Reich. For people like Anne, though, there were still many months of anxious waiting to see when liberation would come, and what it would look like.

In the summer of 1944, the largest fighting force ever assembled in history, commanded by General Dwight D. Eisenhower, prepared to invade Europe and drive the German forces out of the countries they occupied. June 6th, 1944—the day the Allies came across the English Channel, landing by the thousands on the beaches of Normandy, would come to be known as D-Day.

On the morning of the invasion, General Eisenhower delivered a now-famous Order of the Day to his troops. This pep talk is an excellent example of an inspirational speech. The video below provides a recording of Eisenhower's speech along with images of the D-Day invasion. As you listen, notice how Eisenhower tries to inspire confidence and bravery in his audience on the morning of the biggest day of their lives—and also one of the most influential days in the history of the modern world.