D-DAY The Oral History: The Turning Point of WWII By the People Who Were There

by Garrett M. Graff

A LANDMARK NEW ACCOUNT OF THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT DAY OF WW2, IN THE WORDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED IT

'A sprawling history of D-Day from the point of view of participants on both sides.' -Kirkus

'A masterpiece of oral history. Stirring, surprising, grim, joyous, moving and always riveting.' -Evan Thomas

On 6th June 1944, the Allied invasion began. For hours, wave after wave of soldiers, sailors, and airmen crossed the channel and stormed the Normandy coast, fighting to gain a foothold in Nazi-occupied Northwest Europe. It was the largest combined air and seaborne invasion ever, involving over 150,000 Allied troops on the ground, and its eventual success became a critical turning point in the war, spelling the beginning of the end for the Third Reich.

As the events of that day fade from living memory, it's more important than ever to understand what it felt like to be there and to live through it, on both sides. In this definitive work, Garrett M. Graff, the bestselling author of The Only Plane in the The Oral History of 9/11, compiles over 600 US, Canadian, UK, French and German voices to tell the full story of exactly how that historic day unfolded, in visceral detail - as well as the weeks and months leading up to it. From paratroopers to fighter pilots to nurses, generals, French villagers, German Defenders to Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt, this is the most intimate re-telling of D-Day published to date.



Praise for THE ONLY PLANE IN THE

"The most moving and chilling oral history you will read." The Times

"Incredibly evocative and compelling." The Washington Post

"A hugely powerful new book." Dan Snow

"Astonishing book about an astonishing, terrifying atrocity, relived in real time by those who were there. I read it in one sitting & was utterly gripped from start to finish." Piers Morgan

Genres: Nonfiction

752 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 23, 2024

About the author

Garrett M. Graff, a distinguished magazine journalist and historian, has spent more than a dozen years covering politics, technology, and national security. He’s written for publications from WIRED to Bloomberg BusinessWeek to the New York Times, and served as the editor of two of Washington’s most prestigious magazines, Washingtonian and POLITICO Magazine, which he helped lead to its first National Magazine Award, the industry’s highest honor.

Graff is the author of multiple books, including "The First Campaign: Globalization, the Web, and the Race for the White House," which examined the role of technology in the 2008 presidential race, and "The Threat Matrix: The FBI At War," which traces the history of the FBI’s counterterrorism efforts. His next book, "Raven Rock," about the government’s Cold War Doomsday plans, will be published in May 2017, and he's currently on an oral history of September 11th, based on his POLITICO Magazine article, "We're The Only Plane in the Sky."

His online career began with his time as Governor Howard Dean’s first webmaster, and in 2005, he was the first blogger accredited to cover a White House press briefing. Today, he serves as the executive director of the Aspen Institute’s cybersecurity and technology program.

Reviews

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was probably more of a solid three point five read for me. I didn't enjoy it as much as I did the other oral history I've read from this author, The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11. I think a lot of that has to deal with the scope of what Graff was trying to cover.

The body of the history is taken from interviews, diaries, letters, speeches and journals of the participants, of which there was many, it's hard to keep track of so many figures. The book is set out in three sections. First is A World At World which deals with the context of the war and the planning that went into D-Day. This section dragged on quite a bit for me, though it was fascinating. The chapter devoted to the just the weather predictions alone! The second section is The Landing which obviously deals with the actual events of D-Day and the third, last and smallest section is The End of D-Day, mostly summary follow up of how the day ended for those who experienced it. Whether they be digging in for the night, passing the night wounded or heading back on a ship.

Between the tedious planning details, the grim reality of the landings and the overwhelming experience of the soldiers involved are the smallest of sparks of truth and humour. A paratrooper talks of landing in the field solo, frozen in the grass as something moves up ahead... a German? No. A cow. A flood of relief. A field with a cow would not be mined. Though another paratrooper struggled to stand upright and rid himself of his shoot as he had landing in fresh manure. One man spoke of a wild eyed soldier running up to him in the dark, only briefly pausing to ask if he was alright and continue on his way when he received an affirmative reply. The man telling this story said "So far as I know, he is still running somewhere through Europe." Two Italian men straightening defensive poles in a field as the Allied soldiers watched on because if the Germans came back in the morning they would be punished for not doing their work. The French man with eighteen bottles of champagne buried in his backyard that he chose to dig up while helping an injured soldier and his friend to celebrate.

But there are many grim realities. Walking over a beach littered with bodies. Limbs crushed. The soldier next to you disappearing in a shot. Coming across bodies in a foxhole. The screams of drowning men. It's a hard thing that Graff has tried to cover and compress into a comprehensive narrative. I don't think even a one thousand page book would deal with all the details of D-Day. Unfortunately it's something that sort of separates and isolates you in your reading of this. But it is a fascinating read.

Of the last words shared, there is this from Pvt. Frank Palys, "I was just a young kid, like the rest of them, trying to free the world from the Nazis. We did that, but we still haven't learned a damn thing."

[Paula Learmouth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book filled with diaries, journals, letters, interviews from those that were there and speeches. The book is set out in three parts, A World at War, The Landing and The End of D-Day, each has chapters relating to the parts it is in. Along with all the writing Garrett has added photos and pictures, Garrett has also included Source Listings, Source Notes, Index and Image Credits. The book begins with the planning for D-Day, which wasn't just a few days before hand, the planning had started well before. I found the book very interesting and at times it does make you think just how those on the front line, especially those in Company A 'Suicide Wave' must of felt. The stories come from Privates to Generals, civilians, as well Germans on the defensive.
Coming from a military family on both sides, made me feel so proud of those who were prepared to give their life for others. This is a must read, especially since schools don't include these important events.

[Joshua S Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is difficult to categorise or review. In theory, because of the content being majority oral history, and done well at that, it would warrant 5 stars.

Sadly, Graff is sorely in need of a wider understanding of D-day. There are a number of historical inaccuracies in his sporadic commentary, a number more stereotypical biases and assumptions about certain events and participants, and the book is wildly weighted towards an American-centric experience - even down to the number of pages dedicated to American vs British/Canadian beaches and American vs British/Canadian voices chosen to participate in the books Epilogue.

Similarly, even the choice of oral accounts included, missing as they do a wise and learned hand at the till, creates a very one-sided and American-biased interpretation of the events leading up to and including D-day.

As such, weighting my own review towards the soldiers' voices included over the authors inadequacies, this book gets 4/5.

[Fatguyreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having a keen interest in all aspects of history, including World War II history, this is just my type of read, and it certainly lived up to my expectations.

It's an incredibly fascinating, emotional, moving and chilling account from over 600 people who were there.

Very well timed for the 80th anniversary of the landings in Normandy, it's impactul, it's immotive, it's astonishing.

At 448 pages, it's quite a hefty tome, but it's so utterly engrossing that it doesn't seem that long at all and I read this in two sittings.

Told from the perspectives of both sides, it's an important book and quite comprehensive. It's a read that will stir many emotions within you from joy to sadness and it'll have you gripped from start to finish.

A huge 5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.

[Hannah Symonds · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know much about D Day which is rather embarrassing, but now I feel as though I have a lot more knowledge and understanding. Garrett has written an impressive novel with people from the different countries voicing their opinions on what actually happened from their point of view. I found it fascinating and much more interesting whilst reading about each side. It is a huge book but the photos in the middle break it up. I always find history books with photos much more intimate and thought provoking. A great novel for a history buff or for someone who wants to learn more.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audible version of this book and I am glad I did, the format of this book lends itself to be read beautifully by a collection of voice actors.

I loved the format of this book, the diary excerpts, interviews and reports is a unique and engaging way to tell the story of D-Day by those who were there. Not just the generals or those in charge, but those on the ground both allied and axis.

This is a must read for anyone interested in this subject, you go through a range of emotions and helps you to feel connected to the past.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 : I was a bit disappointed during the reading of the book. It's gathering testimonies of Allied soldiers who took part of Normandy landing. But none of the information given by the witnesses had been checked.(Do people still believe in 2025 that Sainte Mère Eglise was the 1st town liberated in France during WW2?!)

There is the story of only one African American soldier...

Very light chapter about the capture of Juno Beach...

I was expecting MUCH more.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the audiobook a little hard to follow once we got to the chapters about the events of D-Day itself. I also didn't think the audiobook narration was quite on point.

I otherwise appreciated the subject matter and think this is an important collection of stories from those who were there.

[Peter Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

History with a human face

I've read several books on the story of D-Day, but this one was different because it was almost all first hand reporting, with just enough narration for the beginner.

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“D-Day The Oral History” - and my, what an incredible, fascinating and emotional journal of memories from over six hundred people, recounting the single most important day of World War 2. Perfectly timed for the eightieth anniversary of the Normandy Landings, any history buff will adore this hefty tome and with Father’s Day approaching, it will make the perfect gift to keep a loved one engrossed in the many pages, for a long, long time.

Written by a Pulitzer Prize finalist, Garrett M. Graff has left no stone unturned in his quest to publish this holy grail of a history book that quite frankly, astounded me in its intensively researched content. With some brilliant photographs, newspaper articles, relevant information and quotes and retellings from people from dozens of nations, different walks of life and all sides of the conflict, this books reads like a novel it’s been so cleverly crafted and once picked up it’s hard to put it down!

Set in three parts; ‘A World at War’, ‘The Landing’ and ‘The End of D-Day’ this book is a powerful reminder of the 160,000 troops who stormed the Normandy beaches and the near 20,000 allied and axis combatants/civilians who died that day. It goes without saying this a five star read, it would be impossible to give it less and if the subject appeals to you, I GUARANTEE you won’t be disappointed.

#DDayTheOralHistory - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️