Bennett collects oral histories from men of three United States regiments that participated in the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. The 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment was the most widely scattered of the American parachute infantry regiments to be dropped on D-Day. However, the efforts of 180 men to stop the advance of an SS Panzer Grenadier division largely have been ignored outside of France. The 116th Infantry Regiment received the highest number of casualties on Omaha Beach of any Allied unit on D-Day. Stationed in England through most of the war, it had been the butt of jokes while other regiments did the fighting and dying in North Africa and the Mediterranean; that changed on June 6, 1944. And the 22nd Infantry Regiment, a unit that had fought in almost every campaign waged by the U.S. Army since 1812, came ashore on Utah Beach quite easily before getting embroiled in a series of savage fights to cross the marshland behind the beach and to capture the German heavy batteries to the north. Each participant's story is woven into the larger picture of the assault, allowing Bennett to go beyond the largely personal viewpoints yielded by traditional oral history but avoiding the impersonal nature of studies of grand strategy. In addition to the interviews and memoirs Bennett collected, he also discovered fresh documentary evidence from American, British, and French archives that play an important part in facilitating this new approach, as well as archives in Britain and France. The author unearths new stories and questions from D-Day, such as the massacre of soldiers from the 507th at Graignes, Hemevez, and elsewhere. This new material includes a focus on the regimental level, which is all but ignored by historians, while still covering strategic, tactical, and human issues. His conclusions highlight common misperceptions about the Normandy landings. Questions have already been raised about the wisdom of the Anglo-American amphibious doctrine employed on D-Day. In this study, Bennett continues to challenge the assumption that the operation was an exemplary demonstration of strategic planning.

The fateful days and weeks surrounding 6 June 1944 have been extensively documented in histories of the Second World War, but less attention has been paid to the tremendous impact of these events on the populations nearby. The Lost Paratroopers of Normandy tells the inspiring yet heartbreaking story of ordinary people who did extraordinary things in defense of liberty and freedom. On D-Day, when transport planes dropped paratroopers from the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions hopelessly off-target into marshy waters in northwestern France, the 900 villagers of Graignes welcomed them with open arms. These villagers – predominantly women – provided food, gathered intelligence, and navigated the floods to retrieve the paratroopers' equipment at great risk to themselves. When the attack by German forces on 11 June forced the overwhelmed paratroopers to withdraw, many made it to safety thanks to the help and resistance of the villagers. In this moving book, historian Stephen G. Rabe, son of one of the paratroopers, meticulously documents the forgotten lives of those who participated in this integral part of D-Day history.

The story of one of Germany's most renowned panzer commanders. Based on Eberbach's own papers and writings. Details on the armored opponent the Allies faced after D-Day.

Landmark study of the Canadians' first major operation in Normandy New revelations on the death of German panzer ace Michael Wittmann Handsomely illustrated with maps, photos, and diagrams On August 8, 1944, the Canadian Army launched Operation Totalize, a massive armored and mechanized infantry attack that aimed to break through enemy defenses south of Caen and trap the German Army in Normandy by linking up with Patton's Third Army.

Extraordinary story of a Dutch volunteer in the Waffen-SS. Vivid details on SS training and combat on the Eastern Front. Account of the little-known siege of Breslau in early 1945.

Covers raids from J. E. B. Stuart's 1862 ride around McClellan's army to James Wilson's crashing raids in Alabama and Georgia in 1865.

Magnificent Gothic architecture, sophisticated seaside resorts, lush countryside and fabulous food are just a few reasons to love this bucolic corner of northern France. Your DK Eyewitness Top 10 travel guide ensures you'll find your way around Normandy with absolute ease. Our regularly updated Top 10 travel guide breaks down the best of Normandy into helpful lists of ten - from our own selected highlights to the best museums and galleries, restaurants, unspoiled villages, areas of natural beauty, as well as spas and resorts. You'll discover: - Six easy-to-follow itineraries, perfect for a day trip, a weekend, or a week - Detailed Top 10 lists of Normandy's must-sees, including comprehensive descriptions of Mont-St-Michel, the Bayeux Tapestry, Honfleur, Abbaye de Jumièges, Cathédrale Notre-Dame, Rouen, Étretat, Deauville and La Côte Fleurie, D-Day Beaches, Pays d'Auge, and the Claude Monet Foundation in Giverny - Normandy's most interesting areas, with the best places for discovering history, the great outdoors, and the most authentic local food and drink - Inspiration for different things to enjoy during your trip - including World War II sites, forests, festivals, and things to do for free - Streetsmart advice: get ready, get around, and stay safe DK Eyewitness Top 10s have been helping travelers to make the most of their breaks since 2002. Looking for more on the country's culture, history and attractions? Try our DK Eyewitness France.

A Journey into Flaubert's Normandy, a fascinating, lively, and informative book - richly illustrated with 19th-century art, modern and archival photos, and custom-designed street maps - allows both tourists and armchair travelers to visit the novelist's homes, some of which are now museums, and to discover the locations that featured prominently in his controversial work and colorful private life. Susannah Patton takes the reader to Rouen, with its stunning cathedral; to the resort town of Trouville and its much-painted beach; to Croisset, where Flaubert's riverside house gave him the refuge to write; to the quiet country town of Ry, where the real Madame Bovary lived and died; and to pastoral Pont L'Eveque.

Make the most of your trip to Normandy with DK Eyewitness Top 10. Planning is a breeze with our simple lists of ten, covering the best Normandy offers and ensuring you get everything. The pocket-friendly format is light and easily portable, the perfect companion while out and about. Inside, you'll find: Top 10 lists of Normandy's must-sees, including Mont-St-Michel, the Bayeux Tapestry, Deauville and La Côte Fleurie, Étretat and the D-Day Beaches Normandy's most interesting areas, with the best places for sightseeing, food and drink, and shopping Themed lists, including the best outdoor activities, forests, villages, local dishes and much more Easy-to-follow itineraries, perfect for a day trip, a weekend, or a week A laminated pull-out map of New England, plus six full-colour area maps DK Eyewitness's Top 10s have been helping travellers make the most of their breaks since 2002. DK is the world's leading illustrated reference publisher, producing beautifully designed books for adults and children in over 120 countries. Looking for more on France's culture, history and attractions? Try our DK Eyewitness France.