D-Day: The Greatest Invasion - A People's History - Hardcover

Dan Van Der Vat; John S. D. Eisenhower

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1582343144 ISBN 13: 9781582343143

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA, 2003

Synopsis

It was the greatest invasion of all time. Early on the morning of June 6, 1944, thousands of Allied soldiers landed on the beaches of Normandy-not only streaming from the sea but also sweeping in from the air-and launched a massive assault on Nazi-occupied France. In sixteen unforgettable hours, these heroic men succeeded in breaching the Third Reich's impregnable defenses, leading the way to the liberation of Europe.

As the sixtieth anniversary approaches, those who remember that epic invasion are rapidly dwindling in number. Now, their gripping eyewitness accounts-most of them never before published-are woven into an authoritative new look at that unforgettable "longest day" by distinguished military historian Dan van der Vat. This book captures and preserves for a new generation all the human drama and heroism that marked D-Day. Richly illustrated with hundreds of historical photographs-many from private photo albums-as well as personal artifacts, dramatic paintings by the many war artists on the scene, and modern color photographs, this is the definitive history of one of the most important dates of the twentieth century.

About this title

About the Author:

Dan van der Vat is a noted historian and expert on modern warfare, as well as the author of Pearl Harbor: The Day of Infamy-An Illustrated History. He lives in London.

John S.D. Eisenhower is the son of Dwight D. Eisenhower and a retired Brigadier General in the US Army. A distinguished historian, he is the author of Agent of Destiny, So Far From God, A Bitter Wood, Yanks: The Epic Story of the American Army in World War I and General Ike, which will be published in June 2003. He lives in Trappe, Maryland.

From Publishers Weekly:

This fluently written and lavishly illustrated volume on the Normandy invasion and campaign covers ground that will be familiar to many readers, but offers many details (such as the different weather requirements of different services) that some longer books slide over. It also shifts with ease from grand strategy to tactics, from individual memoirs (frequently accompanied by photographs of the narrators, looking incredibly young in June 1944) to logistics (including such aspects of that essential subject as the Mulberry artificial harbors). The author keeps his promise to tell a "warts and all" story of the campaign and also exhibits admirable balance among the Allies' contribution (the Canadians are honored ) and on such controversial questions as Field Marshal Montgomery's strategy and tactics. All this is done in few enough words to leave room for an exceptional array of graphic material, including highly readable maps, classic war paintings and abundant photographs, few of them overused. As an introduction by John S.D. Eisenhower puts it, the book "recognizes that the everyday solider really occupies center stage."
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 1582343144
• ISBN 13: 9781582343143
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 176