What do you think?
Rate this book
Forgotten Voices of D-Day: A New History of the Normandy Landings
A powerful history of the one of the most remarkable days in British military history, told by those who were there.
6 June 1944: Allied forces cross the Channel and begin fighting their way into Nazi-occupied Europe.
"Bullets just came at you like raindrops. You could hear them whistling and passing you and hitting the ground near you but you just kept going on." --Private William Edward Lloyd, 2nd Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment
This is the compelling story of the Normandy Landings told by the paratroopers and commandos who were first on enemy territory, the intelligence officers who planned the assault, the crewmen who piloted the landing craft to the beaches, and the ordinary soldiers who waded ashore under fire.
Codenamed Operation Overlord, D-Day was one of the biggest military operations ever attempted. Planned over three years in the greatest secrecy it involved 3.5 million soldiers, sailors and airmen from all the Allied countries, who all shared the same to liberate Europe from the Nazi occupation. Almost four years to the day since the last of the disordered and defeated British Army was rescued from the beaches of Dunkirk, D-Day may have only been the start of the long fight to Berlin, but it was also the beginning of the end of the long and bloody conflict.
Featuring a mass of previously unpublished material, Forgotten Voices of D-Day is a powerful record that tells what it was really like to be involved on that fateful day, which finally and decisively turned the tide of the Second World War.
6 June 1944: Allied forces cross the Channel and begin fighting their way into Nazi-occupied Europe.
"Bullets just came at you like raindrops. You could hear them whistling and passing you and hitting the ground near you but you just kept going on." --Private William Edward Lloyd, 2nd Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment
This is the compelling story of the Normandy Landings told by the paratroopers and commandos who were first on enemy territory, the intelligence officers who planned the assault, the crewmen who piloted the landing craft to the beaches, and the ordinary soldiers who waded ashore under fire.
Codenamed Operation Overlord, D-Day was one of the biggest military operations ever attempted. Planned over three years in the greatest secrecy it involved 3.5 million soldiers, sailors and airmen from all the Allied countries, who all shared the same to liberate Europe from the Nazi occupation. Almost four years to the day since the last of the disordered and defeated British Army was rescued from the beaches of Dunkirk, D-Day may have only been the start of the long fight to Berlin, but it was also the beginning of the end of the long and bloody conflict.
Featuring a mass of previously unpublished material, Forgotten Voices of D-Day is a powerful record that tells what it was really like to be involved on that fateful day, which finally and decisively turned the tide of the Second World War.
416 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2009
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 6, 2011
The Forgotten Voices series are a collection of transcripts of oral histories stored in the Imperial War Museum, this one contains the memories of some of those who took part in the Normandy landings (mostly British, but some other Allied servicemen and indeed some Germans) and civilians who were involved or who witnessed events.
I've read several in the series and have adored them all, this was no different. These are very personal stories and contain fascinating, and sometimes grim, details about the events that occurred.
I've read several in the series and have adored them all, this was no different. These are very personal stories and contain fascinating, and sometimes grim, details about the events that occurred.
July 1, 2022
A nicely balanced view of the British on D-Day
My grandad was a Royal Marine Commando and was driving an LCI on D-Day before moving up on the 7th to rejoin his unit. He never spoke about the war to anyone except me, and that's only because I have experienced it. Even then he said very little. Well, in this book I read about things that his unit went through. It left me sobbing my heart out, the day being recalled so openly and fully by men my grandad would have known. So many voices recalling, so calmly, what must have been both the worst and the most important of all days. This goes a good way to righting the view popularised by Hollywood that America did it all alone. I suggest that this is read by anyone who has interest in this conflict. It would have made Grandad proud.
My grandad was a Royal Marine Commando and was driving an LCI on D-Day before moving up on the 7th to rejoin his unit. He never spoke about the war to anyone except me, and that's only because I have experienced it. Even then he said very little. Well, in this book I read about things that his unit went through. It left me sobbing my heart out, the day being recalled so openly and fully by men my grandad would have known. So many voices recalling, so calmly, what must have been both the worst and the most important of all days. This goes a good way to righting the view popularised by Hollywood that America did it all alone. I suggest that this is read by anyone who has interest in this conflict. It would have made Grandad proud.
October 7, 2026
I have read many of the "Voices" series based mostly on oral recordings of people who were there at ( and survived) some of the most extreme experiences faced by human beings. This collection is one of the best books of its kind. So many courageous and fearful episodes, laden with much stoicism and no little humour in evidence.
This book lays bare the full spectrum of emotion in gripping detail in circumstances of extreme physical and mental stress. It covers the brilliant planning and organisation stage and progresses through the wondrous execution of events in Northern France that had a major impact in changing the course of World War 2 and in history.
A stunning, breathtaking memorial to the many thousands of brave people who gave us a chance of the freedoms that we take for granted. They should not be forgotten voices.
This book lays bare the full spectrum of emotion in gripping detail in circumstances of extreme physical and mental stress. It covers the brilliant planning and organisation stage and progresses through the wondrous execution of events in Northern France that had a major impact in changing the course of World War 2 and in history.
A stunning, breathtaking memorial to the many thousands of brave people who gave us a chance of the freedoms that we take for granted. They should not be forgotten voices.
October 24, 2021
Forgotten Voices of D-Day: the day allied forces landed in Normandy. Compiled from the recordings of the eyewitnesses, this tells a compelling story of the turning point of the second world war. From the build up, Countdown, and the details of Airborne and Seaborne assault, this makes for a compelling read. The introduction by Winston S Churchill captures the words of the Kohima epitaph: " For your tomorrow, we gave our today" and a poignant message from the parents of a nineteen-year old, who had died on D-Day:
" To the World he was One......
To Us he was the World"
" To the World he was One......
To Us he was the World"
June 17, 2024
It was fitting to start reading this on the 80th anniversary of DDay - it’s an account that everyone should read. It’s heartbreaking and sad to read of the huge, devastating impact the Normandy invasion had on the Allied forces, the brutality, death and chaos that young soldiers, sailors and airmen experienced. It’s an account of war that acts a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice and the long term mental and physical scars that a generation borne to give us the freedoms we take for granted today.
January 2, 2024
I believe this is a must read for anyone. Never has a book affected me as much as this one. The hope in human beings, felt through soldiers and their real accounts of D-day, transcribed in the book, is really quite incredible. I highly recommend this book, I will never forget it.
July 6, 2019
Good read
Absolutely brilliant, you are there with them in your head, we owe so much to these generations of men, their story is imperative
Absolutely brilliant, you are there with them in your head, we owe so much to these generations of men, their story is imperative
August 13, 2019
Fantastic selection of accounts by those whe were there. Possibly the best book on ww2 history I have read.
December 29, 2020
Interesting enough. Learned a lot from a range of perspectives. The book focuses on the Allied perspective - I'd be interested in the perspectives of German soldiers on the same events too.
June 21, 2013
If you are to read this you need a general view of what happened on D-Day (6th June 1944 on the Normandy coast) but if you have that this book is a little gem. These are the voices all the way from Mountbatten to ordinary privates, all telling about their experiences - both in preparations for it to the end of the day. It is the voices of the Brits and it is the voices of the survivors (of course - but quite of few of them were injured). It is well organized and easy to follow - and very well describes the chaos and (quite frankly) hell that was the landing.
The only thing that I would have liked was a better glossary - there is one at the back of the book (don't miss it when you read it), but it could have been much longer because this is a book with a lot of military jargon...
The only thing that I would have liked was a better glossary - there is one at the back of the book (don't miss it when you read it), but it could have been much longer because this is a book with a lot of military jargon...
January 24, 2015
Another great book from the Forgotten Voices series. Follows the same format of eye witness accounts this time of D Day, great chronological layout from build through execution split into airborne and seaborne then pushing inland. Easy read for all ages from teens up, great for a little human insight and to use for history projects.
May 15, 2011
Found this an insightful book looking at D Day's events told by those who were there. Reading some of the things these young men saw and did horrifies and amazes me. Worth a read if interested in this part of history.
March 29, 2013
I have read many D-Day books and this one is up there with the best. I found it addictive and couldn't put it down. It's good to hear the British account of D-Day as apposed to a fictional American work of art.
November 20, 2013
It wasn't as interesting as I had thought it to be. The commentaries made no sense in the beginning and there wasn't a real conversational tone to it, though I guess it was tried to be made that way. The chronology also seemed a bit weird and somehow the whole effect was lost on me.
September 12, 2011
Not bad.
Read
January 15, 2012I am looking forward to read this. I can't imagine what it would be like to board a ship for the start of this invasion. Many were ill. Few slept. Most were terrified.
March 20, 2012
Completely enthralling
February 7, 2015
D-Day
This was a very good book. It tells a lot of what went on that day.
All of the good and bad that the soldiers did and saw.
This was a very good book. It tells a lot of what went on that day.
All of the good and bad that the soldiers did and saw.
April 19, 2017
Such an amazing insight into what they felt and went through.
May 25, 2018
History told by the people who were part of D Day.
I have read a lot of books about D Day and I am always drawn to the forgotten voices because they are not talking about historical facts it is just the way it was.
I have read a lot of books about D Day and I am always drawn to the forgotten voices because they are not talking about historical facts it is just the way it was.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews