D-Day Day by Day: The planning, the landings, the battles

by Anthony Hall

The hardcover reference titles in the Day by Day series examine the evolution of conflicts and wars in a chronological timeline, from the first skirmish to the last battle—and everything in between. These books are a historical companion to each major war in the nineteenth and twentieth century. The fate of soldiers, battalions, armies, can change in the blink of an eye—with this comprehensive book readers can follow the conflicting sides in their strategy, weaponry, and policies. Day by Day is a chronological approach to the operation, allowing the reader to see at a glance the preparations made for the invasion of Normandy, as well as the key actions on the beaches and further inland. While the major actions dominate the text, eyewitness accounts and other stories are used to highlight actions of individual bravery and courage that, although they may not have been defining moments in the invasion, were an integral part of the overall effort, and provide an excellent guide to the human sacrifices made in order to achieve final victory. In addition to the blow-by-blow account of the action during these crucial days, the book features boxes on all the key personalities involved, including Eisenhower and Montgomery. There are also descriptions of the decisive weapons used by both the Allies and the Germans, and the key actions that were pivotal in the early days of the invasion.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published April 10, 2012

Reviews

[Harron68 · Rating 4 out of 5]

For anyone, the story of the planning, logistics and finally the invasion all tell of one of the free world's greatest accomplishments. The cost in lives and resources was immense, but to have lost the battle and victory would've spelled decades, if not centuries of continued holocausts against any minorities the Nazis chose.
What that armada and those people, those who made and transported the materiel, and the men who designed the gigantic operation did ought to be recognized by the world. The U.S. alone should designate a day to honor all who worked and fought for freedom. The story is fading into the fog of the past. Those who did all they could are nearly all gone. Before more years pass, we owe them and the memory of fighting against oppression, torture and mass murder a day of honor.

[Thomas Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book navigates the meticulous planning on both sides of the confllict, retelling in exceptional detail the decisions of SHAEF, General Eisenhower, and Churchill as well as those of Von Runstead and Rommel. Even as an avid fan of WWII history, this text still uncovered a wealth of details, eye witness accounts, and personal anecdotes I was completely unaware of. An excellent and gripping read that details the planning from as early as December, 1943.