"Glorious, horrifying..."D-Day" is a vibrant work of history that honors the sacrifice of tens of thousands of men and women"
-"Time"
Ant... read full description
-"Time"
Ant... read full description
reviews
Oct 06, 2011
Brad
rated it: 
One of the most comprehensive accounts of the invasion I have ever read. Beevor objectively recounts the action from multiple perspectives---American, British (GB), and German. The story is told from a broad perspective covering command decisions, strategic analysis and battle descriptions. That doesn't mean that he ignores the human perspective--that's definitely key to the story. Beevor details the difficult and often contentious internal relationships (political and personal) among commanders
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Jun 25, 2011
Robert
rated it:
Another excellent historical work by Anthony Beevor. It covers everything from the pre-event planning till just after the liberation of Paris. Like all Beevor book, it is easy to read and full of detailed information about the events and the people who played a part.
The book gives you a real sense of what it was like for both the common soldier and the commanders. It highlights the frictions experienced between different nationalities and different arms of the service. Importantly, i More...
The book gives you a real sense of what it was like for both the common soldier and the commanders. It highlights the frictions experienced between different nationalities and different arms of the service. Importantly, i More...
Feb 23, 2011
Ann
rated it:
Antony Beevor has to be the premier WWII military historian! His books are readable, not too heavy on the military terms, and packed with informative stories and explanations. I've read his "The Fall of Berlin," which was also excellent. Karen and I went to Normandy when we were in Paris in '09 and were moved, surprised and intrigued. How I wish I had read this book first!
It's amazing that the Allies landed on Normandy on June 6 and were in Paris by mid-August. Beevor does a More...
It's amazing that the Allies landed on Normandy on June 6 and were in Paris by mid-August. Beevor does a More...
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Feb 22, 2011
Bob
rated it: 
This book was recommended my my son Russel who picked it up while traveling in Asia. It is a very detailed account of the Normandy invasion up to the capture of Paris. Beevor has written it from original documents and first hand accounts. It is extremely detailed giving the movements and actions down to company levels. It deals equally with the Allied and German activities.
What I found most interesting was the mention of small details. For instance that many of the American soldi More...
What I found most interesting was the mention of small details. For instance that many of the American soldi More...
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Dec 16, 2010
Joe
rated it: 
Beevor is one of the few modern writers of WW2 history that can take a subject that is (to me) old and shelf-worn and make it fresh and exciting again. He does it again with this one, making me forget that I've read (and viewed and been schooled on) D-Day since Ryan's The Longest Day was still considered the latest thing. In his usual style, Beevor describes events from a wide range of perspectives, from the grand strategies of the leaders down to the experiences of ordinary soldiers and civili
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Dec 01, 2010
William
rated it:
Noted WWII author Antony Beevor brought much to bear in his previous works on the Battles of Stalingrad and Berlin, but comes up a bit short in his most recent work, "D-Day--The Battle for Normandy." Perhaps the author had too much ground to cover in too little time. The book is still a good read, but may gloss over parts of the story that have gotten more attention in other works.
Correctly, Beevor scales his work to cover more than just the June 6th landings. He takes in the More...
Correctly, Beevor scales his work to cover more than just the June 6th landings. He takes in the More...
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Aug 23, 2009
Espen
rated it:
After having read a number of Steven Ambrose's books on the battle for Normandy, Anthony Beevor's version is a relief in that it has much cooler analysis, more maps (which every book on warfare should have more of) and manages to include the German, Canadian, Polish and French side of the equation to a much larger extent. (for instance, he points out that more French civilians died as a result of the war in Normandy, particularly the bombing and shelling, than died during the blitz in London). B
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Jul 09, 2011
I haven't read a history of D-Day since Cornelius Ryan's The Longest Day which I read in 1985, but I'm familiar with the general outline of events from pushing tiny cardboard divisions around maps of Normandy and playing lots of video games. I read this while driving around Normandy, visiting the American invasion beaches, Pointe du Hoc, and St. Mere Eglise, where a dummy American paratrooper hangs from the village church by his parachute.
Beevor does a convincing job arguing that th More...
Beevor does a convincing job arguing that th More...
Jul 26, 2011
Matti
rated it:
Kiinnostava ja kansantajuisesti kirjoitettu sotahistoriallinen järkäle kertoo Normandian maihinnoususta ja sen jälkeisistä taisteluista aina Pariisin vapauttamiseen saakka. Monista vastaavista kirjoistaan tunnettu Beevor käsittelee Normandian tapahtumia molempien osapuolien näkökulmasta, ulottuen aina pääesikunnista tavallisiin sotamiehiin.
Beevorin sota ei ole aiinoastaan divisioonien siirtelyä kartalla, vaan myös verta, irronneita ruumiinjäseniä, omiin kohdistuvaa tulitusta, sekasort More...
Beevorin sota ei ole aiinoastaan divisioonien siirtelyä kartalla, vaan myös verta, irronneita ruumiinjäseniä, omiin kohdistuvaa tulitusta, sekasort More...
Oct 05, 2011
Christopher
rated it:
I have read most of Anthony Beevor’s WW2 history books and they have been of consistent high quality. There is no change in quality with this book. Excellent read which provides a clear picture of the high strategy down to the thoughts of individual soldiers/citizens caught up in the conflict. Recently, the trend WW2 books/ documentaries has been the highlighting of the differences between the Allies (USSR/USA/UK/France) and Beevor continues this theme and it is amazing to think that the Allies
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Aug 09, 2011
Natxo
rated it:
En la línia d'altres obres de Beevor (Berlín o Stalingrado). Molt documentat i detallat. No obstant, la impressió final que se'n té és que estem davant d'una mescla entre la descripció estratègica de les operacions militars que van del desembarcament a les platges fins a l'alliberament de París i extractes de dietaris de soldats, oficials i comandaments, amb la seva peculiar forma de veure la guerra (d'altra banda, la única autoritzada, segurament...), entre els que destaca el del general Patton
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Jul 30, 2011
John
rated it:
A very readable account of the build up to and execution of Operation Overlord that not only provides an insight to the precarious timing of the invasion but reveals the friction that existed between the Allied commanders; the arrogance of De Gaulle; everybody's apparant frustration with Montgomery; and even the tension between the US Commanders. It also explains the lengths the Allies went to in order not to reveal their knowledge of the German codes and explains the differing attitudes toward
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Sep 05, 2010
Little Man
rated it:
I've always admired the "greatest generation" for their toughness and quiet self-sacrifice ridding the world of fascist scum. Though I knew the basic details of D-Day, after recently re-watching Steven Spielberg's amazing "Saving Private Ryan" and the underrated biopic "Patton," I decided to head to the library for a full history of the Normandy invasion.
This hefty (592 pages) book, by award-winning British military historian Antony Beevor, perfectly fit More...
This hefty (592 pages) book, by award-winning British military historian Antony Beevor, perfectly fit More...
Jul 23, 2011
Dale
rated it:
“Tous aux barricades!” A remarkably sobering and viscerally honest rendering of D-Day and the early European front, which probably could not have been released before this decade. This is no black and white account of saintly Allies versus bloodthirsty Nazis but a granular and nuanced account; and the 527-page tome is for the WWII-phile rather than those casually interested in the subject. Beevor makes Band of Brothers look like Hollywood, and as a fan of the BOB book and mini-series, that is
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Aug 06, 2011
A fascinating read giving huge insight into this battle. Full of military history and detail as well as many small human interest stories as well as observations into the strategy and allied relationships. There was much here that I didn't know - for example the intensity of the battles and the losses on both sides. For years, the assumed wisdom was that the eastern front was the most intense in terms of losses, but for the period June to August the western front was even worse. On the down side
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Feb 16, 2010
Travis
rated it:
Another excellent and very detailed account of the slog through Normandy. More accounts of the French suffering than other D-Day books which seems appropriate for obvious reasons. Very detailed, almost to the point of being cumbersome, accounts of individual maneuvers by the Americans, British and other Allied powers to dislodge the Germans from the Norman countryside. While historically accurate and interesting it removes to a minor extent the gritty and remorseless toll it took on the "
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Dec 08, 2009
Here is a book that deals with the organization of D.Day and gives one a behind the scenes picture of all the personalities Churchill, De Daulle, Mac Arthur, Patton the list goes on and makes one wonder did they really care about the death toll of thousands of young women and men whose life they were playing with, as obviously they were safe in their bunkers, castles, trains being taking care of by their staff, they were so ego-centric that there was friction between them, a perfect example of w
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Jul 09, 2010
Susie
rated it:
Started 6/19/10.
Finished 7.8.10.
Wow. This was an excellent book. It took me three weeks to read it, though, because I'm sort of military illiterate. It was a very slow read for me, because I don't even understand the basics of American military hierarchy, nevermind when you start adding all of the 15-letter German terms to the mix. So keeping up with the tactical maneuvers was sort of a challenge for me, and took me some extra time. All of that aside, I really enjoyed this More...
Finished 7.8.10.
Wow. This was an excellent book. It took me three weeks to read it, though, because I'm sort of military illiterate. It was a very slow read for me, because I don't even understand the basics of American military hierarchy, nevermind when you start adding all of the 15-letter German terms to the mix. So keeping up with the tactical maneuvers was sort of a challenge for me, and took me some extra time. All of that aside, I really enjoyed this More...
Jul 20, 2011
Kevin
rated it:
This was a great book! It covers a period of WWII from just prior to the invasions of the Normandy Coast on June 6, 1944, to the liberation of Paris (Silly French think that their army liberated Paris). Beevor has done a thorough job researching and retelling stories of the campaign for Normandy. This time period is one of my favorites from WWII. Not that war is a good thing, or enjoyable. War brings out the best and worst in people. It is the stories when people are at their best that I enjoy.
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Apr 12, 2010
Lucas
rated it:
It would be helpful to read this book with a large map of Normandy and a constantly updating display of the cast of characters of the Allied and German armies. A glossary of military terms and lists of division, regiments and battalions wouldn't hurt either. I probably am not giving this book it's full due, because it's obviously meticulously researched, but most of the time I was bogged down trying to keep maps and people in my head. I just plowed through so I missed a lot I'm sure. There are m
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Jun 05, 2011
Chris
rated it:
I picked this up because I felt I ddin't know enough about D-Day.
Beevor can write. While the book is a miltary history, Beevor keeps intersting for none miltary historians by including touching little stories and details (like the hairstyle of American troops). He focuses not just on the armies but on the French civilians caught in the battle.
The book focuses on the whole battle to free most of France, it ends with the liberation of Paris. Beevor details the power stru More...
Beevor can write. While the book is a miltary history, Beevor keeps intersting for none miltary historians by including touching little stories and details (like the hairstyle of American troops). He focuses not just on the armies but on the French civilians caught in the battle.
The book focuses on the whole battle to free most of France, it ends with the liberation of Paris. Beevor details the power stru More...
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Jan 06, 2011
Garth
rated it:
This book continues my good experiences with Beevor’s histories. Although I’ve read of the Normandy campaign before this adds new colour and light .
There’s a huge amount of information in this book. I put it down with three major new perspectives:
• Some commanders (Patton and other) openly chose some expensive objectives (in terms of casualties) not for their military value, but for the glory they thought they would bring;
• both Patton and Montgomery (like MacArthur in the Paci More...
There’s a huge amount of information in this book. I put it down with three major new perspectives:
• Some commanders (Patton and other) openly chose some expensive objectives (in terms of casualties) not for their military value, but for the glory they thought they would bring;
• both Patton and Montgomery (like MacArthur in the Paci More...
Oct 31, 2011
Mike
rated it:
Phenomenal, objective historical work! I'd no idea how important the British and Canadians were in Normandy. I've really only seen or read coverage of the American contribution to Normandy, especially the bloodbaths at Utah and Omaha beaches.
Beevor is highly insightful and critical of all stages and of all sides (French, American/British, and German). More than anything, I was looking for an objective coverage of D-Day, and Beevor hit it out of the park.
You'll finish thi More...
Beevor is highly insightful and critical of all stages and of all sides (French, American/British, and German). More than anything, I was looking for an objective coverage of D-Day, and Beevor hit it out of the park.
You'll finish thi More...
Feb 04, 2010
Carl
rated it:
I enjoyed this audio book but it is hard to follow the battles and strategies without maps (or a much better knowledge of French geography than I'll ever have) I believe that I read somewhere that Antony Beevor was a student of John Keegan. I have appreciated everything I've read by either of those authors. A few main points I took away from this book:
The Airborne division soldiers were far superior to the 'regular' American soldiers.There was more shooting of Nazi prisoners than you migh More...
The Airborne division soldiers were far superior to the 'regular' American soldiers.There was more shooting of Nazi prisoners than you migh More...
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Aug 11, 2011
Jeff
rated it:
It's been a long time since I've read Cornelius Ryan and other D-Day authors, so I have a difficult time saying how this book compared to others. I found it difficult to get through at times. The names and places overall meant nothing except for the REALLY big names like Eisenhower, Patton, Bradley, Montgomery. Found some interesting nuggets I'd never heard of before, such as the amount of civilian casualties inflicted on the French by the Allies prior to and during the Normandy campaign. Al
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Aug 07, 2011
This guy just has a way with these types of books making them easy to read and hard to put down. . The battle details are wonderfully woven into a narrative that makes it so easy to read. There is also a real feel that he is trying to be as balanced and objective as possible when reviewing battles and particularly the actions of the generals (some of which are "heroes" of last century). Perhaps lacking the impact that 'Stalingard' had but still brilliant. The only gripe I have is that
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Jun 18, 2011
Caroline
rated it:
Antony Beevor's speciality is taking singular events of WWII and examining them in depth, from all angles. I highly recommend his books on the Battle of Stalingrad and the fall of Berlin, and now can add D-Day to the list. I've read the Steven Ambrose books and enjoyed D-Day as seen through popular culture (Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers, especially), but even the books I've read portrayed bits and pieces of the story, and almost exclusively from the American perspective. The beauty of
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Mar 02, 2010
Xon
rated it:
Good read on D-Day and the march to Paris. My only complaint is trying to keep up with which U.S., Polish, British, French, or Canadian army corp, army brigade, army infantry, armored division, royal navy, royal air force, airborne corps, wafffen ss and panzer ss divisions are fighting on which fronts, hills or french city. Couple that with trying to remember the leaders of all these military groups and the impossibily lengthy names of anything German, makes this a slower read than I was expec
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Feb 02, 2012
Edmole
rated it:
I have now read all of Beevor's amazing WWII books. I found reading about the constant metal clamour and horror exhausting, so what can it have been to have been in it?
It struck me about two thirds through that, great as it was, I might have been reading it as a kind of horror-pornography, getting off on all the grinding pain and metal shard deaths, and what does that make me? Is it like reading all those Child Called It misery memoirs? These books are brilliantly written, and have a More...
It struck me about two thirds through that, great as it was, I might have been reading it as a kind of horror-pornography, getting off on all the grinding pain and metal shard deaths, and what does that make me? Is it like reading all those Child Called It misery memoirs? These books are brilliantly written, and have a More...
Aug 06, 2011
[audio book] A great work of popular history. Covers both military engagement as well as the softer "cultural" stuff. A lot of the details about the French are new information to me so it's quite welcome (more French civilian died from Allied bombing than Brits killed in Battle of Britain, who'd known?). A lot of the culture clash between Anglo-Saxons and DeGaulle is priceless.
The narrator is a Brit and tries to do all the accents when narrating. The American accent is hilarious, the More...
The narrator is a Brit and tries to do all the accents when narrating. The American accent is hilarious, the More...
