Nothing less than victory: an oral history of D-Day

by Russell Miller

Book by Miller, Russell

Genres: History, World War II, War, Nonfiction, Military Fiction

496 pages, Hardcover

First published July 25, 2000

About the author

Russell Miller (born c. 1938) is a British journalist and author of fifteen books, including biographies of Hugh Hefner, J. Paul Getty and L. Ron Hubbard. While under contract to The Sunday Times Magazine he won four press awards and was voted Writer of the Year by the Society of British Magazine Editors.

Reviews

[Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a book on D-Day full of strategy, plans, tactics, and logistics...this is not the book for you. There is a little bit of each, but the primary focus of this book is the personal recollections and experiences of those who were there: German soldiers, French civilians, soldiers and sailors from both Britain and the U.S., British civilians. The soldiers come from a variety of ranks, from the lowliest private to top generals, and from a wide range of services: infantry, armor, paratroops, engineers, medical, transport, and commandos (with probably a few others I've missed as well).

The stories cover a wide range of experiences, with all five invasion beaches covered (some more than others). There is humor, sadness, terror, bravery, sacrifice, desperation...and oftentimes a mixture of these. If you have read extensively on D-Day, many of the places will be familiar to you, which is good because the book is lacking maps of any sort. There are some good photos as well, several of which have been published many times previously. You might recognize a few names here and there, such as a few members of the American 101st Airborne Division's "Easy" Company (from the book "Band of Brothers"), many famous generals, and a few men who later wrote books about their experiences.

Overall, a fantastic "you are there" book on D-Day.

[Lindsay Erwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compilation from letters, diaries, action reports and newsmen about the D Day landings. There are stories from both sides, from all levels of command, and from the local people as well. The book starts with the preparatory phase with some clearly retrospective articles from the German side - they knew an invasion was planned but not when. The confusion, random bad luck and minor miracles are detailed, quite cooly in some cases - one RAMC officer was hit in the buttocks by a shell splinter "but it hit nothing important..so I went on". Some of the German staff thought they could repel the invasion, some just wanted it over. Included is the eye witness account with the immortal quote "look Pluskat are you really sure? - when he sights the invasion fleet. The format of the book gives you a real feel for the foot soldiers on the ground - some brave, some terrified, all hoping to survive.

[Greg Schloesser · Rating 4 out of 5]

World War II is sort of my passion and specialty. I even obtained my Master's Degree in History (with a concentration on WWII) just because I enjoy the subject so much! So, I tend to read just about anything relating to that topic.

Russell Miller's "Nothing Less Than Victory" is an oral history of the D-Day invasion. The author has collected oral testimonies from a wide range of participants on both sides of the monumental conflict. This not only includes soldiers, but nurses, doctors, planners, folks on the home front and more. The stories begin with the preparation for the operation and run through the actual invasion.

Some of the stories related are harrowing and frightening. The horror and terror experienced by those storming and defending the beaches is unimaginable. That the operation actually succeeded in the face of such death and destruction is nothing short of a miracle.

I really appreciated the author's efforts to include stories from both sides of the conflict, as well as those who were not actually soldiers. The result is a tome that gives some fascinating perspectives into this historical event ... one that changed the world forever.

[Nick Boldrini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the book to read if you wan't to learn how D day was planned and executed, but if you want to know what it was like for those who took part - this is the book. Accounts from all side - civilian, German and Allied - proving very much the old saw horse that a battle looks different to everyone involved. Some accounts involve brutal combat, others seem more banal as people hid and slept. Well worth a read.

[James Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent compilation of personal accounts from all ranks and services from both sides and the home front. This book has all the little details of personal experiences and thoughts recounted that are not generally available in most histories written by people after the fact.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. Miller organizes first-person narratives and memoranda to create a story with no extraneous text. Very powerful, especially after spending time in Normandy.

[Mary'SU32class]

Nothing less than victory by Russell miller is a great book on the invasion of normandy.

The writing style is very different in it uses diaries and logs from soldiers and civilians, and it shows what was going thru thier minds in the wake of the invasion.