Voices from D-Day: Eyewitness accounts from the Battles of Normandy

by Jon E. Lewis

The extraordinary and compelling story of the 6th of June, 1944, and the Battle for Normandy is told here through first-hand testimonies from civilians and soldiers on both sides. It features classic accounts by soldiers such as Rommel and Bradley, together with frontline reports by some of the world's finest authors and war correspondents, including Ernest Hemingway and Alan Melville. Highlights of this unique collection include the break-out from Omaha beach as told by the GI who led it, a French housewife's story of what it was like to wake up to the invasion, German soldiers' accounts of finding themselves facing the biggest seaborne invasion in history, a view from the command post by a member of Eisenhower's staff, combat reports, diaries and letters of British veterans of all forces and services, and accounts of the follow-up battle for Normandy, one of the bloodiest struggles of the war.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, World War II, War, Military History, Military Fiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published April 3, 2014

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

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an important insight to what happened in the days leading up, the day of, and the weeks after. I highly recommend it be read by all. Bless those that fought. x

[Paul Lunger · Rating 5 out of 5]

With "Voices from D-Day: Eyewitness Accounts From the Battle for Normandy", Jon E. Lewis takes a vast collection of personal accounts & correspondence from the days leading up to the June 6, 1944 invasion & puts we the reader in the with the troops getting a first hand view of just what transpired on that day of infamy in world history. From the various anecdotes from the participants on both sides, we are put into the nerves of the participants in the lead up to the invasion, day of & then the aftermath for control of Normandy. The accounts keep this tale as an almost random jumble of things, but it works especially since there is info from both the allied & axis sides of things. It also helps that Lewis in some cases interjects small clarifying statements to keep we the reader informed of certain aspects of things day of & thereafter. Overall, a very poignant book to read especially for this reader as we approach the 74th anniversary of the invasion next week.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The thing about oral histories is that they will invariably lack a consistent tone, and rely often on the reader already knowing all the major events of the narrative; the reader takes pleasure from the tidbits, the odds'n'ends, the little details that escape the larger, known story. While this book does have occasional nuggets, most of the narrators are not particularly eloquent; making it somewhat dry going. Compiled from found material, it does not maintain any kind of narrative throughline to engage the reader.

My biggest takeaway is that it wasn't really an even fight - the invasion force was dramatically larger and superior in every possible way, and simply overwhelmed the somewhat unprepared Axis forces; that the Germans delayed the Allies in Normandy as long as they did is equal or greater heroism than the actions of the attackers.

A bloody and awful event that really isn't well documented or honored by this patchwork affair. Recommended only for diehard WWII readers.

[Darren Togwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was unsure going into this how easily it’d read being that it’s made entirely of first hand recollection snippets from allies and German personnel alike. But it read fabulously.

The nature of the short snippets landed themselves to a very well paced read. And even with some being just a few lines, every single one felt like it deserved its place in this book.

The odd interjection from the author helped knit the whole thing together and gave quite a unique account of this formidable date in history.

I thought I’d read every style and genre of retelling the story of DDay and the subsequent battle of Normandy, but I was wrong. This is a worthwhile read for those looking for something easy to read but a little different.

[Gary Loewy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grow up in the 60s and 70s, my favorite comics where the Victor and Commander. Full of larger then life heroes.
I have always been interested in the second world war, my father (who was 20 years older then my mother) flew in Wellington bombers in the middle east during the war.
So I wanted to read something more personal.
How these men from mostly working class back grounds did what they did is totally beyond me.
I do wonder how I would have coped if I'd been there.
I have nothing but gratitude for what they did.
Its a shame this subject is taught at schools .

[John A Friesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

lest we forget

One of the best accounts of the defeat of German forces in Europe I have read, the accounts of those who were there and fought so valiantly. We owe them so much. I was newly born in 1940 when my father, a German speaking Mennonite who came to Canada from Russia, voluntarily joined the Canadian army. He contacted pleurisy during training and thus was spared losing his life at the battle of dieppe.

[Daniel Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an interesting read. Reading first hand accounts of the lead up to D-Day, D-Day itself and the Battle of Normandy afterwards is extremely eye-opening. Details that seem minute or even unknown to the common person are actually massive details in the scheme of war.

A great read and highly recommended.

[Themistocles · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really greatr read. Reading it I could actually feel the salt of the sea, the coolness of the summer dawn and the mayhem that ensued.

The stories are chosen with great care as to show a cross-section of the front and the units involved, but I have to subtract one star because there are just too few stories from the German side, which would really add to the whole.

[William Whitman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a different view of D Day. I had read about the American version but had never heard of any British or German views. This swapped from American, British and German but I wasn't confused by that. Notes and diary logs were very informative.

[Dylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good compilation of first hand accounts, knitted together to give a good chronological look at this major battlefield event. Very good read.

[Colin Conway · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have read other books about D-Day and are looking for a book that gives you an insight into how it was for the average soldier (English, American or German) then I highly recommend this book.

[Darryl Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very redundant

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. There’s some jargon I didn’t understand but overall it painted a very good and graphic picture of the Battle of Normandy beyond what we’ve seen of the beaches.

[Sic Transit Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives many eyewitness accounts on all sides of D-Day from all occupations, from Allied privates to Axis generals to non-combatant civilians.

If you really want to get personal with the men who engaged in D-Day, than this book is for you. If you want to learn the really small but interesting details of D-Day, than this book is for you. If you like focusing entirely on the tactics or machines of D-Day and don't care about the men who fought and died there...than this book is especially for you.

[Diane Condon-Boutier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book allows incredible insight into The Day. As the title indicates, the words of those who were there, either as Allied soldiers, local french civilians and German soldiers of various ranks bring to life this event. Every point of view is well represented, offering unique perspective on a incredible period in history.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal read...real fortunate that Ernie Pyle, war correspondent, was featured in this book. The book is descriptive, insightful, and real.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book about the experiences on and after D-Day. There were some grammar errors, but those might have been intentional.

[T Hayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read for those that want to experience D-Day from view of those that lived it.

[A.L. Slade · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm really not a fan of non-fiction and historical fiction, so my review is based solely on the fact that books like these are simply not for me.

[Ubikuberalles · Rating 4 out of 5]

For an historical event as grand as D-day with so many simultaneous events going on, it is hard to get a good sense of what it's actually like on the Beaches of Normandy in that day and the days that follow. "Voices" makes an excellent attempt to put you there to know what's it like. Hearing the words from French villagers and German soldiers during that day gives you a different perspective of the battle. Compelling read.