D-Day as They Saw It

by Jon E. Lewis

It was going to be the greatest amphibious operation of all time claimed Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay, the naval commander of the Allied invasion of Normandy. He did not exaggerate, for the Allied fleet consisted of over 5,000 craft and had by the end of 'the longest day' landed 156,000 men and breached Hitler's much vaunted defensive wall. Yet dramatic and historic though the events of D-Day were, they were just the opening round of a much bigger and equally remarkable battle for the whole of Normandy that followed for the next ten weeks. Sixty years on, this collection of rare, first-hand accounts tells the story of D-Day and the subsequent battle, in the words of soldiers and civilians on both sides of the war. There are classic soldiers' accounts from the likes of Rommel and Bradley, together with front line reports by the best war correspondents such as Hemingway and Alan Melville.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II

339 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Jon E. Lewis is a historian and writer, whose books on history and military history are sold worldwide. He is also editor of many The Mammoth Book of anthologies, including the bestselling On the Edge and Endurance and Adventure.

He holds graduate and postgraduate degrees in history. His work has appeared in New Statesman, the Independent, Time Out and the Guardian. He lives in Herefordshire with his partner and children.

From: Constable & Robinson

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really a collection of diary and journal entries, remembrances, and official records from the weeks leading up to D-Day, D-Day itself, and the weeks afterwards. It includes references from the British, American's, Canadians, the French, the German's, and even a few non-German's fighting with the Nazi's. A very interesting read!

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating read from the people who lived it. Well put together to show the chronological progression from before the invasion until well after from the people who lived it, the allies, Germans and the people of France.