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Omaha and Utah Beaches
Omaha Beach: D-Day, June 6, 1944
"Balkoski's depiction of 'Bloody Omaha' is the literary accompaniment to the white-knuckle Omaha Beach scene that opens Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan ." -- John Hillen, New York Post
"Balkoski is sometimes referred to as the finest living D-Day historian. For my money, the title fits. Anyone who wants to know anything about Omaha Beach, where the fighting was heaviest and bloodiest, must begin with this foundational book by a true maestro of original history. The research is unparalleled and comprehensive enough to satisfy even the most skeptical scholar, yet the story is absorbing. The carnage of Omaha Beach comes to life with vivid contemporary descriptions from participants and witnesses, while the whole tale is deftly steered along by Balkoski's steady narration and his sense of the battle's larger significance. 'History can provide at least a little solace that there was some meaning to it all,' he writes movingly. 'D-Day was the decisive chapter of a twentieth century Iliad.' Indeed it was--and Balkoski is its Homer." -- John McManus, Wall Street Journal
In this unforgettable narrative of D-Day, Joseph Balkoski describes the minute-by-minute combat as it unfolded on Omaha Beach, allowing soldiers to speak for themselves as they recall their attempts to maneuver bombers through heavy cloud cover, the claustrophobic terror aboard transports, and the relentless fire that greeted them on the beach. Equal parts oral history and meticulous reconstruction, Omaha Beach is the closest the modern reader can get to experiencing the Normandy landings firsthand."
"Balkoski is sometimes referred to as the finest living D-Day historian. For my money, the title fits. Anyone who wants to know anything about Omaha Beach, where the fighting was heaviest and bloodiest, must begin with this foundational book by a true maestro of original history. The research is unparalleled and comprehensive enough to satisfy even the most skeptical scholar, yet the story is absorbing. The carnage of Omaha Beach comes to life with vivid contemporary descriptions from participants and witnesses, while the whole tale is deftly steered along by Balkoski's steady narration and his sense of the battle's larger significance. 'History can provide at least a little solace that there was some meaning to it all,' he writes movingly. 'D-Day was the decisive chapter of a twentieth century Iliad.' Indeed it was--and Balkoski is its Homer." -- John McManus, Wall Street Journal
In this unforgettable narrative of D-Day, Joseph Balkoski describes the minute-by-minute combat as it unfolded on Omaha Beach, allowing soldiers to speak for themselves as they recall their attempts to maneuver bombers through heavy cloud cover, the claustrophobic terror aboard transports, and the relentless fire that greeted them on the beach. Equal parts oral history and meticulous reconstruction, Omaha Beach is the closest the modern reader can get to experiencing the Normandy landings firsthand."
432 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
352 people are currently reading
900 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Balkoski
28 books48 followersJoseph Balkoski is one of the world's leading authorities on the D-Day invasion of Normandy. He currently serves as Command Historian for the Maryland National Guard and for more than thirty years has chronicled the WWII history of the 29th Infantry Division.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
March 12, 2018
Having read and enjoyed the author's book on Utah Beach last year, I had high hopes for this one. I was not disappointed. This is a very excellent book on the Omaha Beach portion of the D-Day invasion in 1944.
There's an old adage about how no plan ever survives contact with the enemy. The planning for Omaha Beach, while extensive and detailed, did indeed fall apart in its implementation, but not solely due to German influences. The aerial bombardment of the invasion beaches was a total bust, the use of amphibious tanks (the Duplex Drive Shermans) was largely a failure, the pre-invasion naval bombardment was too short and barely removed any German fortifications and the Germans were present in greater numbers (and skill) than intelligence estimates had come up with. Throw in Mother Nature's influence of difficult tides and weather conditions and you have what sounds like a recipe for a Grade A military disaster.
But it wasn't.
The author, Joseph Balkoski, does a great job of going over all the plans for the invasion, and then of how they fell apart. While there were forces at work which were beyond what the Allied planners could manage successfully, there were some pretty major failures of intelligence, planning and implementation which the author pulls no punches in pointing out and assigning blame where possible. However, all of that is just a prelude for the real heart of the book: the invasion itself. Balkoski's narrative is very "big picture" and gives the reader a great understanding of where things were happening and how they impacted other parts of the invasion area. Along the way, he gives lots of "little picture" moments as the recollections of various American soldiers, sailors and airmen (along with a few Royal Navy sailors and even a few Germans) are included to give the reader a much better sense of what it was like to be there. Since the U.S. Army's 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions were the ones doing the invading, they get the lion's share of the individual recollections, but there's a really good variety: infantrymen, tankers, medics, engineers, SeaBees, landing craft personnel, bomber pilots, command officers and many others. Balkoski endeavored to use primary sources which came from interviews and reports issued shortly after the battle, or within a few years at least, in order to be sure the memories weren't clouded by the ravages of time. Very solid work.
Some of the best features of this book are the many maps which are sprinkled throughout and which have various parts of the narrative marked on them. Actions of individual units and/or soldiers are understood more easily when shown in relation to the German defenses, adjacent units and various terrain features. I've read lots of books on World War II and often had to scratch my head over where a particular action was taking place in relation to others due to a lack of maps. Didn't happen in this book.
There are quite a few excellent photographs included throughout, many of which I've never seen before. Very nice the author didn't just throw in a bunch of standard pictures which have been used dozens and dozens of times.
Definitely add this one to your reading list and/or library--you won't be disappointed.
There's an old adage about how no plan ever survives contact with the enemy. The planning for Omaha Beach, while extensive and detailed, did indeed fall apart in its implementation, but not solely due to German influences. The aerial bombardment of the invasion beaches was a total bust, the use of amphibious tanks (the Duplex Drive Shermans) was largely a failure, the pre-invasion naval bombardment was too short and barely removed any German fortifications and the Germans were present in greater numbers (and skill) than intelligence estimates had come up with. Throw in Mother Nature's influence of difficult tides and weather conditions and you have what sounds like a recipe for a Grade A military disaster.
But it wasn't.
The author, Joseph Balkoski, does a great job of going over all the plans for the invasion, and then of how they fell apart. While there were forces at work which were beyond what the Allied planners could manage successfully, there were some pretty major failures of intelligence, planning and implementation which the author pulls no punches in pointing out and assigning blame where possible. However, all of that is just a prelude for the real heart of the book: the invasion itself. Balkoski's narrative is very "big picture" and gives the reader a great understanding of where things were happening and how they impacted other parts of the invasion area. Along the way, he gives lots of "little picture" moments as the recollections of various American soldiers, sailors and airmen (along with a few Royal Navy sailors and even a few Germans) are included to give the reader a much better sense of what it was like to be there. Since the U.S. Army's 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions were the ones doing the invading, they get the lion's share of the individual recollections, but there's a really good variety: infantrymen, tankers, medics, engineers, SeaBees, landing craft personnel, bomber pilots, command officers and many others. Balkoski endeavored to use primary sources which came from interviews and reports issued shortly after the battle, or within a few years at least, in order to be sure the memories weren't clouded by the ravages of time. Very solid work.
Some of the best features of this book are the many maps which are sprinkled throughout and which have various parts of the narrative marked on them. Actions of individual units and/or soldiers are understood more easily when shown in relation to the German defenses, adjacent units and various terrain features. I've read lots of books on World War II and often had to scratch my head over where a particular action was taking place in relation to others due to a lack of maps. Didn't happen in this book.
There are quite a few excellent photographs included throughout, many of which I've never seen before. Very nice the author didn't just throw in a bunch of standard pictures which have been used dozens and dozens of times.
Definitely add this one to your reading list and/or library--you won't be disappointed.
July 30, 2021
A positive surprise. I'm not big fan of books where there are trillions of eyewitness accounts but Balkoski makes it work. He separates all accounts from the main body of the text and uses text style so one gets a fluent experience of reading those accounts yet one also gets the information who or what was the source. This way he also avoids the trap where writers sometimes give way too much personal info about a person we're not about to see ever after.
He also makes a point in the prologue of the book, that his focus is accounts that can be verified and are written down as close to the day as possible. This makes the accounts he uses feel more reliable. His focus isn't just the gore and explosions but he uses accounts to explain different situations on different sectors of the beach. These quotes include generals still on their ships but also boatswains, fliers etc. It gives you the feeling that the writer has done some actual work in his usage rather than just putting every piece of interesting quote in there.
I'm giving it a five star because recently I've read books where the plenitude of first hand accounts make the 'story' almost impossible to follow. Balkoski makes this thing work in a way that is enjoyable and I think other historians going in that direction should take note.
He also makes a point in the prologue of the book, that his focus is accounts that can be verified and are written down as close to the day as possible. This makes the accounts he uses feel more reliable. His focus isn't just the gore and explosions but he uses accounts to explain different situations on different sectors of the beach. These quotes include generals still on their ships but also boatswains, fliers etc. It gives you the feeling that the writer has done some actual work in his usage rather than just putting every piece of interesting quote in there.
I'm giving it a five star because recently I've read books where the plenitude of first hand accounts make the 'story' almost impossible to follow. Balkoski makes this thing work in a way that is enjoyable and I think other historians going in that direction should take note.
July 6, 2017
In preparation for my trip to Normandy I wanted a refresher on the battle. This was a good selection. The term D-Day always conjures up the iconic images of young men disembarking an amphibious assault on a beach in which enemy fire was strategically dished out from cliffs above. But, the battle is so much more than. It was the first of its kind and was intended to have various stages, almost all of which fell apart immediately. What Balkoski excels at is showing how all of these individual "disasters" added to the psychological stress of the men storming the beach. Already afraid and seasick, when the disembarked and realized the air and naval assault had unsuccessfully weakened the German defense the task ahead was even more daunting. Even though I'm an avid history reader I don't have a good mental map. Sometimes it is hard for me to read about battles in a place I've never been. Balkoski writes in a way that is simple and easy to follow.
I was disappointed, that once again, almost completely left out the Canadian's role. I always feel bad for the Canadians. I also thought the editors could have done a better job in selecting the first hand accounts included in each chapter. The selections didn't always advance the narrative.
Overall, a great look at one of the most notable battles in war history.
I was disappointed, that once again, almost completely left out the Canadian's role. I always feel bad for the Canadians. I also thought the editors could have done a better job in selecting the first hand accounts included in each chapter. The selections didn't always advance the narrative.
Overall, a great look at one of the most notable battles in war history.
November 23, 2022
3.75 stars
This is a detailed account, much of it using primary sources, of the invasion of Omaha Beach in Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944. It was primarily American soldiers who landed here; Canadian and British soldiers landed on other beaches that day.
I actually liked the author’s narration a bit better than the many primary source quotes he used to illustrate (and expand on) the things he was talking about. Partly, that may have been the smaller font of the quotes vs my (getting older) eyes! I tended to sometimes skim over some of those quotes. But the amount of detail and research that went into this is amazing. Very much like Cornelius Ryan’s account of D-Day as a whole (published in 1959, and used in Balkoski’s research, as well).
This is a detailed account, much of it using primary sources, of the invasion of Omaha Beach in Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944. It was primarily American soldiers who landed here; Canadian and British soldiers landed on other beaches that day.
I actually liked the author’s narration a bit better than the many primary source quotes he used to illustrate (and expand on) the things he was talking about. Partly, that may have been the smaller font of the quotes vs my (getting older) eyes! I tended to sometimes skim over some of those quotes. But the amount of detail and research that went into this is amazing. Very much like Cornelius Ryan’s account of D-Day as a whole (published in 1959, and used in Balkoski’s research, as well).
September 10, 2021
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This book is the most concise and readable account of the Normandy invasion I have ever read. The story of 1st and 29th infantry division and their ensuing slaughter on Omaha beach are featured prominently. The pre-invasion bombing by the air corps was a failure. The initial bombardment was hardly anymore successful and the amphibious tanks either sank or were easy prey for German Gunners. Bullets like rain, move or die, so many deaths and casualties. "Every plan is good until the first shot is fired."(Carl von Clausewitz)
What makes this book stand out and deliver the magnitude and horror of the battle is the way in which Balkoski sprinkles in actual witness accounts to correspond with actual events that took place. Page after page the voices jump right at you and you can't help but wonder how it ever worked. Many of the first person accounts Balkoski uses have a long history of literary inclusion, with many already appearing in Cornelius Ryan's "The Longest Day"(1959) and Stephen Ambrose's "D Day June 6,1944. "(1994) I never get tired of oral history by participants of this battle. Balkowski's research has been extremely thorough. His unique writing format blending the participants words with his own background information on the events described, makes for a seamless, chronological, easy follow narrative. We all know the outcome of the invasion but reading witness accounts provides almost a fly on the wall aspect to the battle of Omaha beach.
Overall, the book is a tremendous tribute to the men who fought and ultimately prevailed with great sacrifice on Omaha beach.
This book is the most concise and readable account of the Normandy invasion I have ever read. The story of 1st and 29th infantry division and their ensuing slaughter on Omaha beach are featured prominently. The pre-invasion bombing by the air corps was a failure. The initial bombardment was hardly anymore successful and the amphibious tanks either sank or were easy prey for German Gunners. Bullets like rain, move or die, so many deaths and casualties. "Every plan is good until the first shot is fired."(Carl von Clausewitz)
What makes this book stand out and deliver the magnitude and horror of the battle is the way in which Balkoski sprinkles in actual witness accounts to correspond with actual events that took place. Page after page the voices jump right at you and you can't help but wonder how it ever worked. Many of the first person accounts Balkoski uses have a long history of literary inclusion, with many already appearing in Cornelius Ryan's "The Longest Day"(1959) and Stephen Ambrose's "D Day June 6,1944. "(1994) I never get tired of oral history by participants of this battle. Balkowski's research has been extremely thorough. His unique writing format blending the participants words with his own background information on the events described, makes for a seamless, chronological, easy follow narrative. We all know the outcome of the invasion but reading witness accounts provides almost a fly on the wall aspect to the battle of Omaha beach.
Overall, the book is a tremendous tribute to the men who fought and ultimately prevailed with great sacrifice on Omaha beach.
July 11, 2019
Every year I read a book about DDay to coincide with June 6th. This year I wanted to learn about what happened in the bloodiest sectors on the most tragic beach.
A lot of books give the most lip service to the 29th Infantry but Balkoski does a good job of striking a balance with the 1st Infantry as well. He also does a great job of introducing situations and givng background info. However, this contextual info he gives evaporates further and further into the book. I think he assumes the reader is familiar with weapons, names, battles, pivotal moments, etc. While I have read extensively about DDay, not everything always rings a bell and I found myself having to look up a lot of things. Not the biggest gripe, but I wish the book read a little easier.
I think the book was a good maginifying glass into one part of DDay. Of course, I wouldn’t call the battles surrounding Omaha beach a “small slice” of DDay and it’s still a general overview at a 20,000 feet flyover. I want to read an even narrower account in the future but I feel like this book was a great stepping stone.
A lot of books give the most lip service to the 29th Infantry but Balkoski does a good job of striking a balance with the 1st Infantry as well. He also does a great job of introducing situations and givng background info. However, this contextual info he gives evaporates further and further into the book. I think he assumes the reader is familiar with weapons, names, battles, pivotal moments, etc. While I have read extensively about DDay, not everything always rings a bell and I found myself having to look up a lot of things. Not the biggest gripe, but I wish the book read a little easier.
I think the book was a good maginifying glass into one part of DDay. Of course, I wouldn’t call the battles surrounding Omaha beach a “small slice” of DDay and it’s still a general overview at a 20,000 feet flyover. I want to read an even narrower account in the future but I feel like this book was a great stepping stone.
June 12, 2015
Omaha Beach: D-Day, June 6, 1944 by Joseph Balkoski is a WWII aficionado's dream. It is packed full of information, from the planning of the D-Day invasion, to the landing on Omaha Beach in the early morning hours of June 6, 1944.
It is also a very personal look at many of the soldiers who gave their lives that day, as well as the officers and others who lead the charge. I have read several WWII related books, but Omaha Beach offers a perspective of the immense scope and sacrifice the D-Day effort required. Reading this book brought the loss of life for our freedom home to me in a new and very real way.
It is also a very personal look at many of the soldiers who gave their lives that day, as well as the officers and others who lead the charge. I have read several WWII related books, but Omaha Beach offers a perspective of the immense scope and sacrifice the D-Day effort required. Reading this book brought the loss of life for our freedom home to me in a new and very real way.
June 13, 2015
If you like history, mainly world war II military history, this book is for you. I had to really pay attention, as this book was meant to be just that, a book talking of military history, with all of the military terms and things in it. However, it shows how it really was for these men! It brought things home to me that I'd really never thought of much. I read about D day in school, but when you read a book like this you learn just how bad it was for the men coming ashore on D day, and just how hard it was to survive, as many did not. for people that like this type of thing, I totally recommend this book!
July 17, 2024
Torn about this review. A "3" seems too low, but a "4" seems too high.
I really appreciate the first-hand accounts. That Balkoski focuses on accounts more near to the event really adds weight to them. Some accounts are taken from unit histories, but others are harrowing entries into personal diaries or journals that pull the reader back to that moment.
There are many great maps within. Every year or so, I play the board game D-Day at Omaha Beach, published by Decision Games. The maps within Omaha Beach help add context to that game (as do the accounts, of course) and aid my study of the battle.
And while a minor or maybe even obvious addition, an account of the close of the day of the invasion and leading into the morning of June 7 was educational. A lot of pop culture suggests that once the boys got out from behind the shingle and over the bluff, the day was won. There was actually a lot of confused fighting with a patchwork of German and American positions late into the night with little in the way of a front line.
There is also a copious bibliography for anyone wanting to get closer to the source material.
Paradoxically, a big knock against the book for me is also one of its strengths: the first-hand accounts. Again, for me it created a fragmentary reading experience. I am not a quick reader, and this tonal and occasional context shift slowed me down. It is a minor knock, but it probably means I will not be rereading Omaha Beach. It is a great reference, however, and I will be keeping it in my library.
I really appreciate the first-hand accounts. That Balkoski focuses on accounts more near to the event really adds weight to them. Some accounts are taken from unit histories, but others are harrowing entries into personal diaries or journals that pull the reader back to that moment.
There are many great maps within. Every year or so, I play the board game D-Day at Omaha Beach, published by Decision Games. The maps within Omaha Beach help add context to that game (as do the accounts, of course) and aid my study of the battle.
And while a minor or maybe even obvious addition, an account of the close of the day of the invasion and leading into the morning of June 7 was educational. A lot of pop culture suggests that once the boys got out from behind the shingle and over the bluff, the day was won. There was actually a lot of confused fighting with a patchwork of German and American positions late into the night with little in the way of a front line.
There is also a copious bibliography for anyone wanting to get closer to the source material.
Paradoxically, a big knock against the book for me is also one of its strengths: the first-hand accounts. Again, for me it created a fragmentary reading experience. I am not a quick reader, and this tonal and occasional context shift slowed me down. It is a minor knock, but it probably means I will not be rereading Omaha Beach. It is a great reference, however, and I will be keeping it in my library.
September 27, 2017
This book is a deep, even granular, dive into the story of "Bloody Omaha", the only close-run part of the D-Day landings of June 6 1944. Balkoski weaves a myriad of personal accounts and official narratives to give an almost a minute by minute timeline of activities ashore in Normandy, as the American army tried to gain a solid toehold in Europe. We get a quick look at the frantic preparations for the invasion and then we are into the actual action, sailing with the invasion fleet. Then the mistakes and unfortunate occurrences begin to add up fast. Between blunders and an active and seasoned enemy, Omaha became a very difficult fight that took the cohesive efforts of every soldier on the beach to persevere. Balkoski gives everyone a voice and ties their narratives together in a way that gives the reader a really good idea of both the size of the challenge and the effort need to overcome it. This is a good addition to the canon of D-Day literature and will be an good and entertaining read for readers of any age. Military Enthusiasts/Modellers/Gamers will find the book a font of ideas for Scenarios/Dioramas of all kinds.
March 20, 2023
I had the privilege of visiting Normandy in 2014. I saw the American sites and hope to return to see the British and Canadian sites one day. I saw Omaha Beach on the second day of my visit. My knowledge of this beach at the time was the opening of Saving Private Ryan and small articles I had read. I wanted to learn more about what had happened on June 6th, 1944. I have read several books and Joseph Balkoski's is the best.
What I liked about his book was his usage of primary sources. He described what was happening and then a quote from a person who was present during the attack on Omaha Beach would be used to continue the narrative. The book is detailed but readable. What those men experienced on that beach was absolutely horrifying, but their bravery and sacrifices prevailed. Respect to all of them and to Joseph Balkoski for writing this book.
What I liked about his book was his usage of primary sources. He described what was happening and then a quote from a person who was present during the attack on Omaha Beach would be used to continue the narrative. The book is detailed but readable. What those men experienced on that beach was absolutely horrifying, but their bravery and sacrifices prevailed. Respect to all of them and to Joseph Balkoski for writing this book.
July 26, 2022
I have read a number of books about D-Day, but Omaha Beach is the best. Joseph Balkoski did amazing research to create an hour-by-hour, indeed, sometimes minute-by-minute account of what exactly took place on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. And I do mean "exactly." Excellent maps provide the locations of German pillboxes and movements, not just by regiments or battalions, but by companies. Balkoski often uses excerpts from original sources, especially after-action reports and company histories, but this does not slow down the narration as is so often the case when such material is frequently cited. Indeed, it takes the reader onto the beach in ways that even the movies cannot convey. I look forward to reading his companion book on Utah Beach.
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
June 2, 2024
Use of carefully collected primary sources provides an immediacy; deeper background and a look "at the other side of the hill" would offer even more depth. Author's unreflective use of the 116th Infantry Regiment's "Stonewall Brigade" nickname, which is historically contextual but, even when this book was published 20 years ago, would benefit from at least some commentary, needlessly diminishes from the goal of honoring the sacrifice of those who died in service to, not against, the United States; a quoting of Nathan Bedford Forrest could similarly be edited out to greater effect. Still, a needful reminder that Omaha Beach was not "Saving Private Ryan:" it was much, much worse and the ultimate, hard-fought victory there even more remarkable.
August 8, 2024
A must-read for anyone interested in WWII history, especially D-Day, this book had everything I could desire in such a work. The author conducted meticulous research, then presented it in an engaging narrative that kept my attention. Though he went into finite detail, the book never became tedious - not an easy task. He included helpful maps to show the progression of the battle into the surrounding area. He shared fascinating tidbits about key players as well as rank-and-file soldiers, giving the reader a sense of connection, even camaraderie, with them. This skill instilled a vested interest on the part of the reader. I was keenly aware that these were not just characters in a book; they were real people. I cheered their success (and survival!) and grieved their sacrifice. At once thrilling, frustrating, heart-breaking, and inspiring, I felt like I was an observer of the battle every treacherous step of the way. I have read a lot of war history, especially books on WWII. This one is at the top of the list, one of the finest I have ever had the pleasure of reading.
June 10, 2024
Must Read book of D Day
I picked this book up on sale as I wanted to read more about D Day and what happened. I am a big history fan, and had a Great Uncle who landed at H Hour with Company A, 116th Infantry, 29th Division. This book was extremely detailed and well written. It is amazing how things went that day and how close to it being a failure if not for many Americans on that beach who found ways around unimaginable obstacles. I highly recommend this book to any history or WWII fan.
I picked this book up on sale as I wanted to read more about D Day and what happened. I am a big history fan, and had a Great Uncle who landed at H Hour with Company A, 116th Infantry, 29th Division. This book was extremely detailed and well written. It is amazing how things went that day and how close to it being a failure if not for many Americans on that beach who found ways around unimaginable obstacles. I highly recommend this book to any history or WWII fan.
September 16, 2019
Excellent book, well organized and paced. The narrative is smooth and descriptive.
My favorite aspect of this book is how well detailed and organized the book reads. The author weaves a remarkable story, describing the events and characters at all levels without burdening the reader. Buy it
My favorite aspect of this book is how well detailed and organized the book reads. The author weaves a remarkable story, describing the events and characters at all levels without burdening the reader. Buy it
August 7, 2020
Just read this book. To quote the author: “The D-Day epic will be preserved, told and retold for as long as there are people who are devoted to their ancestors-and to freedom”. Pay special attention to the quotes from 1st Lt. Jack Shea as they repeatedly capture the subject and tone of the relevant chapter.
August 6, 2023
Ever American Needs to Read This
Recently returned from visiting Omaha Beach in Normandy. This book added greatly to my understanding of the “bigger picture” of that fateful day: June 6, 1944. A few visionary “higher ups” who acted directly in the field lead the charge from a plan that nearly failed to save the day.
Recently returned from visiting Omaha Beach in Normandy. This book added greatly to my understanding of the “bigger picture” of that fateful day: June 6, 1944. A few visionary “higher ups” who acted directly in the field lead the charge from a plan that nearly failed to save the day.
July 20, 2024
New respect for the men of WW2
I have had the honor to visit Omaha Beach twice-it is hallowed ground. The accounts of the men who were there are captivating…a miracle anyone survived. We have a trip planned for France in 2025…plan to visit WW1 locations with a new reverence. If you like European history, this is a must read.
I have had the honor to visit Omaha Beach twice-it is hallowed ground. The accounts of the men who were there are captivating…a miracle anyone survived. We have a trip planned for France in 2025…plan to visit WW1 locations with a new reverence. If you like European history, this is a must read.
April 23, 2025
This is one volume of two that discussed the invasion of Europe by the Allied forces in WWII. The book relates the story with an intriguing mixture of personal accounts and the authors descriptions. There are plenty of maps and photos to support the text and make the reader understand the content. Great read and I recommend this and his other volume on Utah Beach.
June 30, 2017
The finest book I have read about D-Day. Does not have the grand sweep of Ryan's "The Longest Day," but in focusing so intensely on one segment of that day, Balkoski gets us closer to what it was really like.
August 29, 2017
An exceptional account of the action on Omaha Beach, packed full of first-hand accounts. Difficult to read at times when considering the utter brutality of the events and individual sacrifices made that day.
September 20, 2021
A Top Notch History
Without a doubt this is one of the best military history books I have ever read. The author's narrative is clear and easily followed. The numerous reports and fist hand accounts of the soldiers and sailors present at Omaha Beach on X-Ray are riveting.
Without a doubt this is one of the best military history books I have ever read. The author's narrative is clear and easily followed. The numerous reports and fist hand accounts of the soldiers and sailors present at Omaha Beach on X-Ray are riveting.
April 5, 2022
Excellent from start to finish!
I wish the younger generations would be more interested in history rather than social media!
I personally would highly recommend this book! Excellently written!
I wish the younger generations would be more interested in history rather than social media!
I personally would highly recommend this book! Excellently written!
May 15, 2023
WW2TV’s Paul Woodadge described this book as the bible for Normandy tour guides. I can believe it. It tears away the mythological cover of the events of June the 6th on “Bloody Omaha”, telling the reader what it was truly like. It’s a tale of horror, heroism, confusion, but ultimately triumph.
November 18, 2023
This is a must read if you are a WWII history junkie. The author is a respected historian and the account is vivid and compelling reading. There is a lot of first hand accounts from soldiers who participated in the landing and excellent maps of the various beach heads that enhance the writing.
February 2, 2024
Excellent read from my Band of Brothers reading list. Very detailed history of the 24 hours of D-Day with excellent prologue of activities going into preparation for the invasion of Europe. Lots of first person accounts of soldiers involved in the battle.
March 5, 2025
Good hour by hour and front-line units description of the battle for Omaha Beach. Does not get into the big-picture view of Operations Overload or Neptune except as necessary to explain the fire-fights on the beach. Rare. Most books deal with the more glamorous big picture.
November 13, 2025
Incredible
It was amazing reading what those great men went through and what they accomplished. It's almost hard to understand how they accomplished so much under such horrible circumstances.
It was amazing reading what those great men went through and what they accomplished. It's almost hard to understand how they accomplished so much under such horrible circumstances.
August 9, 2017
Superb analysis, with some of the most useful maps I've seen of the battlefield.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews