Normandy: From D-Day to the Breakout: June 6-July 31, 1944

Over the past seventy years, the D-Day landings carried out by Allied forces on the beaches of Normandy have become perhaps the most famous component of World War II history. Mentions of Operation Overlord immediately conjure up images of Higgins boats, cliff-top snipers, paratroopers, and utter chaos. But the critical events that preceded WWII’s most telling battle—the German occupation of Normandy, the construction of the Atlantic Wall by Erwin Rommel, the Nazis’ mounting defense of the French Coast—are too often overlooked. Similarly excluded are the Allied preparations, such as their rigorous training exercises in England and the extensive aerial planning implemented by the U.S. Air Force. In Normandy, French military historian Dominique François illuminates this tense buildup from both the German and Allied perspectives, moving effortlessly between the two sides to craft the first complete illustrated history of the Allied invasion of France, from its early development all the way to its conclusion at the end of August 1944. A rare collection of remarkable period photographs—many of them never before published—accompany François’ lucid descriptions, placing you directly in the middle of wartime action. From the Dieppe Raid to the tragedy at Slapton Sands, from the night drops and the beaches to the breakout and race across France, this expertly narrated volume makes a crucial moment in WWII history real for all readers and all times.