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The First Wave: The D-Day Warriors Who Led the Way to Victory in World War II
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Alex Kershaw, New York Times bestselling author of Against All Odds, returns with an utterly immersive, adrenaline-driven account of D-Day combat. “Meet the pathfinders plunging from the black, coxswains plowing the whitecaps, bareknuckle Rangers scaling sheer rock . . . Fast-paced and up close, this is history’s greatest story reinvigorated as only Alex Kershaw can.”—Adam Makos, New York Times bestselling author of Spearhead and A Higher Call Beginning in the predawn darkness of June 6, 1944, The First Wave follows the remarkable men who carried out D-Day’s most perilous missions. The charismatic, unforgettable cast includes the first American paratrooper to touch down on Normandy soil; the glider pilot who braved antiaircraft fire to crash-land mere yards from the vital Pegasus Bridge; the brothers who led their troops onto Juno Beach under withering fire; as well as a French commando, returning to his native land, who fought to destroy German strongholds on Sword Beach and beyond. Readers will experience the sheer grit of the Rangers who scaled Pointe du Hoc and the astonishing courage of the airborne soldiers who captured the Merville Gun Battery in the face of devastating enemy counterattacks. The first to fight when the stakes were highest and the odds longest, these men would determine the fate of the invasion of Hitler’s fortress Europe—and the very history of the twentieth century. The result is an epic of close combat and extraordinary heroism. It is the capstone Alex Kershaw’s remarkable career, built on his close friendships with D-Day survivors and his intimate understanding of the Normandy battlefield. For the seventy-fifth anniversary, here is a fresh take on World War II's longest day.Praise for The First “Masterful... readers will feel the sting of the cold surf, smell the acrid cordite that hung in the air, and duck the zing of machine-gun bullets whizzing overhead. The First Wave is an absolute triumph.”—James M. Scott, bestselling author of Target Tokyo“These pages ooze with the unforgettable human drama of history's most consequential invasion.”—John C. McManus, author of The Dead and Those About to Die
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 14, 2019
596 people are currently reading
4805 people want to read
About the author
Alex Kershaw
23 books929 followersAlex Kershaw is the author of the widely acclaimed best sellers Against All Odds, The First Wave, The Bedford Boys, The Longest Winter, The Few, #TheLiberator, the basis for the Netflix drama, and Escape from the Deep, as well as biographies of Jack London, Raoul Wallenberg and Robert Capa. His latest book is Patton's Prayer, published May 2024.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 284 reviews
March 29, 2022
An epic book by Alex Kershaw following the men who spearheaded the first wave of the Normandy landings. The books' protagonists are mostly officers and NCO's and he follows them from the build up through to the end of their epic journeys on D-Day. Mr. Kershaw covers all the significant events of the day from the British airborne operations on the eastern flank. through all the landing beaches, including Pointe du Hoc to the American airborne landings on the western flank, and in between stories of pilots and the German defenders. The book also flows chronologically and the story is fast paced and well told. Highly recommended and glad this was my D-Day 75 read!!
June 23, 2022
“The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.” (4.5 stars)
I have only read two Alex Kershaw books to date, but he is quickly becoming one of my favorite people writing about WW II. I have more of his work already on my “to read” pile.
THE FISRT WAVE is about D-Day, and most of the text focuses mainly on June 5th and 6th, 1944. The text flits between all aspects of the invasion-sea, air, and the 5 beaches where troops made landfall. As a result of this format it focuses on British, American, and Canadian forces, and specifically highlights individuals who fall into all of the aforementioned categories.
I picked up this text on the 78th anniversary of the events it depicts, and it seemed appropriate.
One of the great strengths of THE FIRST WAVE are the numerous moments of humanity that unexpectedly move the reader as you take this journey: General Eisenhower watching every plane carrying the 101st Airborne take off as the invasion starts, soldiers in a Horsa glider singing bar hall songs as they near France, a Canadian chaplain walking among the death and carnage of Juno Beach giving last rites to the dying, the jaws of defeat being forced shut by small pockets of men fighting inland at Omaha Beach, a kilted solider playing the bagpipes as British commandos land at Sword Beach…
I could go on.
Some quotes:
• “It was 12:15 A.M., June 6, 1944. The most important day of the twentieth century. The first Americans had arrived in France.”
• “Against the longest odds, in the worst imaginable circumstances, their courage and initiative had made a critical difference when it mattered most.
• “…that pride and a sense of responsibility were what really allowed men to carry on, to function, to not give up.”
• “In grief there is not always good sense.”
• “I can remember trying to pray- to thank God for bringing me back alive- but instead, I put my head in my hands and wept.”
I appreciate this book because it gives the personal account of D-Day, not the overarching historical overview. And as a result I see the people, not the “history”. Thus it is much more impactful.
Some other standout moments in the text include a soldier’s description of artillery shelling. It is simultaneously terrifying and beautiful. A stunning piece of writing. Also powerful are the reflections of officer Ace Parker as the war ends. It is sobering, and decimates the reader. His honest account of a soldier’s war ending is a highlight of the text, for many reasons.
The Epilogue, “In Memoriam”, is deeply moving. The generation this book depicts was my grandfather’s generation, and now they are gone. As I look around I have to ask, “When comes such another?”
THE FIRST WAVE is a first rate book. It is a book of stories about men who did an incredible thing. Read it!
I have only read two Alex Kershaw books to date, but he is quickly becoming one of my favorite people writing about WW II. I have more of his work already on my “to read” pile.
THE FISRT WAVE is about D-Day, and most of the text focuses mainly on June 5th and 6th, 1944. The text flits between all aspects of the invasion-sea, air, and the 5 beaches where troops made landfall. As a result of this format it focuses on British, American, and Canadian forces, and specifically highlights individuals who fall into all of the aforementioned categories.
I picked up this text on the 78th anniversary of the events it depicts, and it seemed appropriate.
One of the great strengths of THE FIRST WAVE are the numerous moments of humanity that unexpectedly move the reader as you take this journey: General Eisenhower watching every plane carrying the 101st Airborne take off as the invasion starts, soldiers in a Horsa glider singing bar hall songs as they near France, a Canadian chaplain walking among the death and carnage of Juno Beach giving last rites to the dying, the jaws of defeat being forced shut by small pockets of men fighting inland at Omaha Beach, a kilted solider playing the bagpipes as British commandos land at Sword Beach…
I could go on.
Some quotes:
• “It was 12:15 A.M., June 6, 1944. The most important day of the twentieth century. The first Americans had arrived in France.”
• “Against the longest odds, in the worst imaginable circumstances, their courage and initiative had made a critical difference when it mattered most.
• “…that pride and a sense of responsibility were what really allowed men to carry on, to function, to not give up.”
• “In grief there is not always good sense.”
• “I can remember trying to pray- to thank God for bringing me back alive- but instead, I put my head in my hands and wept.”
I appreciate this book because it gives the personal account of D-Day, not the overarching historical overview. And as a result I see the people, not the “history”. Thus it is much more impactful.
Some other standout moments in the text include a soldier’s description of artillery shelling. It is simultaneously terrifying and beautiful. A stunning piece of writing. Also powerful are the reflections of officer Ace Parker as the war ends. It is sobering, and decimates the reader. His honest account of a soldier’s war ending is a highlight of the text, for many reasons.
The Epilogue, “In Memoriam”, is deeply moving. The generation this book depicts was my grandfather’s generation, and now they are gone. As I look around I have to ask, “When comes such another?”
THE FIRST WAVE is a first rate book. It is a book of stories about men who did an incredible thing. Read it!
June 6, 2019
Mr. Kershaw again delivers a fascinating look at World War II. With this narrative, Mr. Kershaw tells the story of the first men into Normandy as well as well as a look at their enemies. Well known events such as the British Glider landing at Pegasus Bridge and the US Ranges at Pointe Du Hoc are told. More obscure events are also included in the narrative. This includes the story of the 101st Abn Div’s pathfinders, who the first American's into Normandy, shortly after midnight. The stories of the first people onto and off the beaches are the bulk of the narrative.
In addition to the airborne/glider landings on each flank of the beachhead, he tells the story of the first people both on and off the respective beaches. This includes the story of the 8th INF Regt on Utah Beach which landed about 1 mile from their designated landing beach. The author tells the story of who actually made the decision “to start the War from right here” rather than try to go to the correct location
The story of the 2nd Rangers at Pointe Du Hoc is also well told. Again as with the Pegasus Bridge story, not much new related. However, as with the rest of the narrative, the story is very well written and reinforces what I already knew about the men who climbed those cliffs.
The Omaha Beach story is told through the eyes of the 16th INF Reg't of the US 1st Inf Div, who landed on the left side of the beach. The chaos and slaughter on that morning is well illustrated and a word of warning for the weak of heart, it is a bit graphic. Mr. Kershaw brings to life the small unit leadership that got the men off the killing field that was Omaha beach and up the draws. Surprisingly, Mr. Kershaw does not tell the story of what was happening on the other side of Omaha Beach with the 29th Inf Division's 116th INF Reg't. That was the subject of a previous book, “The Bedford Boys: One American Town's Ultimate D-Day Sacrifice.” I understand it was a deliberate choice on his part.
The British and Canadian landing are not given short shrift. The author tells their story through the experiences of the Green Howards and the Commandos of Lord Lovat. Of all the stories Mr. Kershaw tells, Lord Lovat is one of the most memorable. The author relates both his battle experience, his calmness under pressure and his outstanding combat leadership qualities. In addition to Lord Lovat, Mr. Kershaw tells the story of his personal piper who in spite of being so conspicuous survived both D-Day and the War. Lord Lovat had him playing almost from the moment they stepped ashore.
Almost all of the major works on D-Day tell the story of the glider landings at “Pegasus Bridge”, so most of what Mr. Kershaw writes about this part of the battle I knew. Still, this is a very good recounting of those events and I esp liked the part where Lovat apologizes for being 2 minutes late in reliving the forces on the bridge.
Finally, Ike makes an appearance. The stress he was under is well illustrated, and the fact that he couldn’t sit in his HQ after he made the decision to go. This led to his visit to the men of the 101st and the famous photo.
In addition to telling the Allied soldiers stories, Mr. Kershaw also relates many of the defenders stories.
All in all this is a fantastic read and well deserves a place in D-Day Canon. About the only problem I had with it are some minor errors of gun calibers. That kind of stuff should have been caught in proof reading and knocks a half star off the rating for me. Still this is a 4.25 star read from me on GR
In addition to the airborne/glider landings on each flank of the beachhead, he tells the story of the first people both on and off the respective beaches. This includes the story of the 8th INF Regt on Utah Beach which landed about 1 mile from their designated landing beach. The author tells the story of who actually made the decision “to start the War from right here” rather than try to go to the correct location
The story of the 2nd Rangers at Pointe Du Hoc is also well told. Again as with the Pegasus Bridge story, not much new related. However, as with the rest of the narrative, the story is very well written and reinforces what I already knew about the men who climbed those cliffs.
The Omaha Beach story is told through the eyes of the 16th INF Reg't of the US 1st Inf Div, who landed on the left side of the beach. The chaos and slaughter on that morning is well illustrated and a word of warning for the weak of heart, it is a bit graphic. Mr. Kershaw brings to life the small unit leadership that got the men off the killing field that was Omaha beach and up the draws. Surprisingly, Mr. Kershaw does not tell the story of what was happening on the other side of Omaha Beach with the 29th Inf Division's 116th INF Reg't. That was the subject of a previous book, “The Bedford Boys: One American Town's Ultimate D-Day Sacrifice.” I understand it was a deliberate choice on his part.
The British and Canadian landing are not given short shrift. The author tells their story through the experiences of the Green Howards and the Commandos of Lord Lovat. Of all the stories Mr. Kershaw tells, Lord Lovat is one of the most memorable. The author relates both his battle experience, his calmness under pressure and his outstanding combat leadership qualities. In addition to Lord Lovat, Mr. Kershaw tells the story of his personal piper who in spite of being so conspicuous survived both D-Day and the War. Lord Lovat had him playing almost from the moment they stepped ashore.
Almost all of the major works on D-Day tell the story of the glider landings at “Pegasus Bridge”, so most of what Mr. Kershaw writes about this part of the battle I knew. Still, this is a very good recounting of those events and I esp liked the part where Lovat apologizes for being 2 minutes late in reliving the forces on the bridge.
Finally, Ike makes an appearance. The stress he was under is well illustrated, and the fact that he couldn’t sit in his HQ after he made the decision to go. This led to his visit to the men of the 101st and the famous photo.
In addition to telling the Allied soldiers stories, Mr. Kershaw also relates many of the defenders stories.
All in all this is a fantastic read and well deserves a place in D-Day Canon. About the only problem I had with it are some minor errors of gun calibers. That kind of stuff should have been caught in proof reading and knocks a half star off the rating for me. Still this is a 4.25 star read from me on GR
May 18, 2019
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher in expectation of a fair review. I have read three of Alex Kershaw's books prior to this one and enjoyed every one. "The First Wave" stands up nicely with his previous works. Kershaw brings us the stories of the individual participants before, during and after D-Day. Mostly the Allied side of the day is told but there are a few Germans (and Poles, Russians forced to fight) stories as well. Pointe du Hoc, Pegasus Bridge, and other well known events are covered but so are some other less-well known stories. You will meet some great characters in the air, ground and sea combat arenas. New stories and more information on what you think happened. The book reads fast and don't skip the notes in the back, some good information there too. Some apparent typos on various weapon characteristics did not take anything away from the book. Overall highly recommended. 4 Stars
April 28, 2019
Note that I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A tremendous first hand account in the vein of George Koskimaki's 101st Airborne trilogy with one major exception - Alex Kershaw weaves multiple individual narratives together into a cohesive on the beaches and in the trenches account of the D-Day invasion of Europe. Mr. Kershaw once again demonstrates his ability to tell a personal story on a grand stage. All variety of units are covered in this D-Day epic from the Pathfinders of the airborne divisions and the gliders landing at Pegasus Bridge, to the Rangers at Pointe du Hoc, infantry from the 1st and 4th Infantry Divisions, the Green Howards, British Commandos and their French volunteers not to mention personal accounts from General Eisenhower. For those who survived the war Mr. Kershaw continues to follow their lives into peacetime following combat. For most it was a sad history that reminds me of the troubles our young men have today re-integrating with civilian life. This incredibly told story is fast pace, engaging and vivid. You'll be tempted to read this all in one go. I recommend not letting it sit too long between reads as there are so many units and people involved you won't want to forget for a moment who you are reading about.
A tremendous first hand account in the vein of George Koskimaki's 101st Airborne trilogy with one major exception - Alex Kershaw weaves multiple individual narratives together into a cohesive on the beaches and in the trenches account of the D-Day invasion of Europe. Mr. Kershaw once again demonstrates his ability to tell a personal story on a grand stage. All variety of units are covered in this D-Day epic from the Pathfinders of the airborne divisions and the gliders landing at Pegasus Bridge, to the Rangers at Pointe du Hoc, infantry from the 1st and 4th Infantry Divisions, the Green Howards, British Commandos and their French volunteers not to mention personal accounts from General Eisenhower. For those who survived the war Mr. Kershaw continues to follow their lives into peacetime following combat. For most it was a sad history that reminds me of the troubles our young men have today re-integrating with civilian life. This incredibly told story is fast pace, engaging and vivid. You'll be tempted to read this all in one go. I recommend not letting it sit too long between reads as there are so many units and people involved you won't want to forget for a moment who you are reading about.
March 4, 2020
Heroes all.
June 24, 2024
The 80th Anniversary of D-Day. Thank you to Alex Kershaw for helping me appreciate and celebrate that occasion by writing this excellent book.
My main take aways: (in no certain order)
-I can NOT imagine the stress that Eisenhower endured.
-Men were so willing to serve/volunteer.
-Lord Lovat to his piper: 'Can you play us a tune?'
-the unbelievable amount of planning/preparation that went into this
-the sadness I experienced reading about the 'own goals'. For example, men wearing heavy packs being dropped off in deep water instead of closer to the shore where they could run to the beach. They drowned.
-the weather. A small window of favorable conditions made this all possible.
-I now know how important the initial glider landings were.
I listened to this book on my daily walks. There were times that I cried as I walked either because of hearing of someone's sacrifice or listening to the story of their bravery and willingness to fight for freedom. Alex Kershaw made me feel like I was there. I was tired, hungry, dirty, and I swear I had sand in my shoes - which is to say that this book provided facts and circumstances to help me understand and appreciate the heroes of D-Day. Thank you, Mr. Kershaw.
My main take aways: (in no certain order)
-I can NOT imagine the stress that Eisenhower endured.
-Men were so willing to serve/volunteer.
-Lord Lovat to his piper: 'Can you play us a tune?'
-the unbelievable amount of planning/preparation that went into this
-the sadness I experienced reading about the 'own goals'. For example, men wearing heavy packs being dropped off in deep water instead of closer to the shore where they could run to the beach. They drowned.
-the weather. A small window of favorable conditions made this all possible.
-I now know how important the initial glider landings were.
I listened to this book on my daily walks. There were times that I cried as I walked either because of hearing of someone's sacrifice or listening to the story of their bravery and willingness to fight for freedom. Alex Kershaw made me feel like I was there. I was tired, hungry, dirty, and I swear I had sand in my shoes - which is to say that this book provided facts and circumstances to help me understand and appreciate the heroes of D-Day. Thank you, Mr. Kershaw.
June 11, 2020
Kershaw A does it again. At first you feel mildly disappointed to thread the same ground as every other D-Day book with its focus on Omaha, Pegasus & the Pointe. Lovat and his piper. The Rangers. Howard at the Bridge. Roosevelt and Cota urging on those about to die.
Then he starts to "walk with the men" , descending from the lofty history of the invasion to the grit of five senses in a bridgehead that seemed to expand at the cost of a company per hedge and ready to collapse under Panzer tracks for a month. By the end you want to have a pint in Sergeant Hollis' Green Howard pub, because you've smelled the sunny stench, cupped your balls under mortar fire, seen men on fire and corpses propping each other upright by dagger and bayonet.
You can't forgive the Germans at a reunion and you wonder why you're one of the original few to survive when "all forward movement ceases" on may 7th while so many who slugged Normandy didn't make it.
Then he starts to "walk with the men" , descending from the lofty history of the invasion to the grit of five senses in a bridgehead that seemed to expand at the cost of a company per hedge and ready to collapse under Panzer tracks for a month. By the end you want to have a pint in Sergeant Hollis' Green Howard pub, because you've smelled the sunny stench, cupped your balls under mortar fire, seen men on fire and corpses propping each other upright by dagger and bayonet.
You can't forgive the Germans at a reunion and you wonder why you're one of the original few to survive when "all forward movement ceases" on may 7th while so many who slugged Normandy didn't make it.
November 18, 2021
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Liberator and Avenue of Spies returns with an utterly immersive, adrenaline-driven account of D-Day combat: The First Wave: The D-Day Warriors Who Led the Way to Victory in World War II by Alex Kershaw.
Beginning in the predawn darkness of June 6, 1944, The First Wave follows the remarkable men who carried out D-Day's most perilous missions. The charismatic, unforgettable cast includes the first American paratrooper to touch down on Normandy soil; the glider pilot who braved antiaircraft fire to crash-land mere yards from the vital Pegasus Bridge; the brothers who led their troops onto Juno Beach under withering fire; as well as a French commando, returning to his native land, who fought to destroy German strongholds on Sword Beach and beyond. Readers will experience the sheer grit of the Rangers who scaled Pointe du Hoc and the astonishing courage of the airborne soldiers who captured the Merville Gun Battery in the face of devastating enemy counterattacks. The first to fight when the stakes were highest and the odds longest, these men would determine the fate of the invasion of Hitler's Fortress Europe--and the very history of the twentieth century.
The result is an epic of close combat and extraordinary heroism. It is the capstone Alex Kershaw's remarkable career, built on his close friendships with D-Day survivors and his intimate understanding of the Normandy battlefield. For the seventy-fifth anniversary, here is a fresh take on World War II's longest day.
Beginning in the predawn darkness of June 6, 1944, The First Wave follows the remarkable men who carried out D-Day's most perilous missions. The charismatic, unforgettable cast includes the first American paratrooper to touch down on Normandy soil; the glider pilot who braved antiaircraft fire to crash-land mere yards from the vital Pegasus Bridge; the brothers who led their troops onto Juno Beach under withering fire; as well as a French commando, returning to his native land, who fought to destroy German strongholds on Sword Beach and beyond. Readers will experience the sheer grit of the Rangers who scaled Pointe du Hoc and the astonishing courage of the airborne soldiers who captured the Merville Gun Battery in the face of devastating enemy counterattacks. The first to fight when the stakes were highest and the odds longest, these men would determine the fate of the invasion of Hitler's Fortress Europe--and the very history of the twentieth century.
The result is an epic of close combat and extraordinary heroism. It is the capstone Alex Kershaw's remarkable career, built on his close friendships with D-Day survivors and his intimate understanding of the Normandy battlefield. For the seventy-fifth anniversary, here is a fresh take on World War II's longest day.
June 10, 2024
I've read several of Kershaw's books and enjoyed them all. While he seems focused on WWII history which is not a favorite area of my reading I still enjoy his work. What sets him apart for me is that he presents history from the POV of those that lived it and not so much those that caused it. Since this book is about D-Day that means we have a history from the perspective of the people that stormed the beaches and those that tried to keep them from storming ashore. What is even more appealing about Kershaw is that he is even handed in his coverage of the story. In this book you will learn of the experiences of the Americans, the British, the Canadians, and the French and then even the Germans and the Polish and Russian POWs that the Germans forced to fight on behalf of the Germans.
Kershaw's telling of the story of D-Day won't alter anybody's beliefs about this particular history but it can add to your knowledge and appreciation of what happen there at that time and in the days immediately following June 6,1944. One thing that I learned that totally changed my perspective of this event was that the Normandy landing beaches stretched for 50 miles. The length of the landing zones was something that never occurred to me before and I can't explain why. I have seen maps of the landing areas on numerous occasions but I don't recall ever seeing a map scale with any of these maps. Add to this that paratroops and landing craft frequently dropped their troops miles from their planned destination and soldiers getting completely lost and disconnected with their units and leadership makes you wonder how in hell this landing managed to succeed. Further, the story of D-Day is usually just one day long with virtually no follow up story. Kershaw provides that follow up. He tells you what happened once the sun set on June 6 and then what happened on the days immediately following D-Day and it wasn't a simple mopping up assignment. This is an excellent piece of important story telling and well worth reading. Enjoy.
Kershaw's telling of the story of D-Day won't alter anybody's beliefs about this particular history but it can add to your knowledge and appreciation of what happen there at that time and in the days immediately following June 6,1944. One thing that I learned that totally changed my perspective of this event was that the Normandy landing beaches stretched for 50 miles. The length of the landing zones was something that never occurred to me before and I can't explain why. I have seen maps of the landing areas on numerous occasions but I don't recall ever seeing a map scale with any of these maps. Add to this that paratroops and landing craft frequently dropped their troops miles from their planned destination and soldiers getting completely lost and disconnected with their units and leadership makes you wonder how in hell this landing managed to succeed. Further, the story of D-Day is usually just one day long with virtually no follow up story. Kershaw provides that follow up. He tells you what happened once the sun set on June 6 and then what happened on the days immediately following D-Day and it wasn't a simple mopping up assignment. This is an excellent piece of important story telling and well worth reading. Enjoy.
February 9, 2020
I don't believe that any written description of the events on D-Day will ever be able to do justice and accurately impart to any reader the magnitude of the death, destruction, heroism, scale, logistics, and importance of the operation. That being said, I salute the authors who have tried to do just that – because it is so important that we who were not there at least get an inkling of the sacrifices that were made by so many for the benefit of so many more. I also need to shout out to Steven Spielberg for the superb job he did of capturing the horror and urgency of D-Day in the movie Saving Private Ryan.
This book does a pretty good job of telling the story of D-Day from the perspective of just a few of the warriors who were part of the first wave. Their individual stories are all somber and significant. More than anything this book has instilled in me a desire to learn more and, especially, to go to France and visit the historical sites at Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword Beaches.
This book does a pretty good job of telling the story of D-Day from the perspective of just a few of the warriors who were part of the first wave. Their individual stories are all somber and significant. More than anything this book has instilled in me a desire to learn more and, especially, to go to France and visit the historical sites at Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword Beaches.
October 18, 2019
Available in paperback May 2020
July 11, 2025
When writing this review America will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of D-Day. The least vestiges of the Greatest Generation are upon us. I wonder how many veterans exist from D-Day? We will be more at risk when we forget this great moment and who was there if books are not there to record it? The First Wave by Alex Kershaw will help us remember that day. Kershaw has focused his book on a few soldiers from different armies U.S., British, and Canadians their struggles and challenges over the first few days of the invasion. The oral history approach is very interesting. What better way then to record the history of that day by the people that were there. The oral history approach is used in Cornelius Ryan's novel on D-Day The Longest Day and Stephen Ambrose's D-Day with similar results. The reader is introduced to stories that are personal and add a personal uniqueness to the D-Day invasion. This is not a traditional history book of strategies involving generals plotting their next move. No Kershaw presents individual accounts of the experiences as the first wave of people to invade and liberate France. The stories are great and I believe any novel that is written about these heroes who endured the events are worth reading.
November 23, 2020
Really, really good book. I think a lot of people think all D-Day was, was the US storming the beaches of Normandy but there was so much more to it. This book goes into detail about the Canadian troops, the British troops and the US troops and their firsthand detail of the night before the invasion, what happened during the invasion and what happened afterward.
I only gave it 4 stars bc it does get kind of boring at times but I do highly recommend this book for history buffs.
I only gave it 4 stars bc it does get kind of boring at times but I do highly recommend this book for history buffs.
August 30, 2019
What some people did on our behalf during World War II is breathtaking. Kershaw captures their deeds with precision and feeling.
September 4, 2020
I don’t know if it is because I did the Normandy staff ride with some Brits this year or what, but - I just really really loved this book. I loved that it approached D-Day from different units/nations perspective, it talked about the Canadians and Pegasus Bridge, which I didn’t know much about until preparing for our staff ride, and that it gives some closer on key individuals at the end. Absolutely would recommend reading, and the audiobook was equally well read!
March 15, 2019
Thank you Penguin/Berkley for the advanced copy. In Herman Wouk’s, War and Remembrance, there is a section in which he pulls himself out of the fictional narrative, and lists the names of the torpedo bomber squadron that sacrificed their lives in a heroic attack on Japanese aircraft carriers during the battle of Midway. Wouk said something like, and I paraphrase, after we’ve bombed ourselves back to the caves, when we tell tales of historic deeds, we’ll remember heroes like these. I feel this way about this book and the way the Kershaw captures and tells the story of how the heroes of the First Wave, assured the success, at great costs, of the Normandy invasion. This exceptional work joins the author’s The Bedford Boys in my Normandy collection.
May 26, 2019
Effectively Presents D-Day as an Allied Effort …
This book was reviewed as part of Amazon's Vine program which included a free copy of the book.
D-Day is arguably the most documented event in military history. With the 75th anniversary of the Normandy landings approaching, Alex Kershaw offers a book that presents the operation through the eyes of those who spearheaded the attempt to liberate Western Europe. Even with the vast number of D-Day books available, I found THE FIRST WAVE to be a refreshing read.
Sadly, after 75 years, it is logical to assume that most all of those who participated in the first wave of the Normandy landings have passed and with that, we lose the opportunity to hear their individual experience of that event. This is one reason why I’m always receptive to new books on the subject matter … the individual may be gone, but their story has yet to be told.
Unfortunately, D-Day is superficially presented as a seaborn invasion (popularly illustrated as Americans landing on Omaha beach) and not the complex, precarious, multi-faceted Allied operation it really was. Before troops hit the beaches, airborne and glider-borne troops landed in occupied territory to conduct extremely dangerous and simultaneous operations that would determine the success of the beach landings. Kershaw deftly presents these stories in a collective manner that gives readers an idea of all things happening at once. Too many books divide the events of D-Day into chapters that depict British, Canadian, American and French efforts as individual/separate events. By presenting these experiences as they happened (simultaneously), we get a much better understanding how easily D-Day could have resulted in failure. At first, I found the lumping together of all these individual accounts a little confusing, but quickly adapted and appreciated how effect it was to tell the story in this manner … to generate the chaos and uncertainty.
The individual accounts are interesting, colorful and unique. As an American, I found the stories of the British and Canadian efforts quite interesting. One of my favorite storylines in THE FIRST WAVE was the account of the Scottish soldier being ordered to play his bagpipes in the thick of battle and how it impacted morale at a moment of desperation … I get chills just thinking about it. Some of the accounts may be familiar (Pegasus Bridge and Point du Hoc, for example), but they are presented as merely critical elements of the much bigger picture. I’ve read numerous books about D-Day and never felt as if I was re-reading events covered elsewhere … Kershaw keeps things moving at a fast pace and you are never stuck with one storyline too long before you’re thrust into another. This “foxhole-to-foxhole” perspective across the entire Normandy front keeps things moving and as I approached the last quarter of the book, I realized only a few days of D-Day had been covered.
With the success of Operation Overlord assured, the individual accounts presented in THE FIRST WAVE do not end. Kershaw graciously summarizes what these men experienced toward the wars end and beyond. With this, we see the impact the war had on these men … both good and bad.
I own numerous D-Day books; I found THE FIRST WAVE to be a refreshing read and not a re-hashing of other books. By presenting so many individual accounts in a simultaneous manner, readers should get a better understanding of how the entire D-Day operation hinged on the success of small groups achieving objectives prior to the beach landings. These individual accounts of those experiences prove to be a gripping and memorable read.
This book was reviewed as part of Amazon's Vine program which included a free copy of the book.
D-Day is arguably the most documented event in military history. With the 75th anniversary of the Normandy landings approaching, Alex Kershaw offers a book that presents the operation through the eyes of those who spearheaded the attempt to liberate Western Europe. Even with the vast number of D-Day books available, I found THE FIRST WAVE to be a refreshing read.
Sadly, after 75 years, it is logical to assume that most all of those who participated in the first wave of the Normandy landings have passed and with that, we lose the opportunity to hear their individual experience of that event. This is one reason why I’m always receptive to new books on the subject matter … the individual may be gone, but their story has yet to be told.
Unfortunately, D-Day is superficially presented as a seaborn invasion (popularly illustrated as Americans landing on Omaha beach) and not the complex, precarious, multi-faceted Allied operation it really was. Before troops hit the beaches, airborne and glider-borne troops landed in occupied territory to conduct extremely dangerous and simultaneous operations that would determine the success of the beach landings. Kershaw deftly presents these stories in a collective manner that gives readers an idea of all things happening at once. Too many books divide the events of D-Day into chapters that depict British, Canadian, American and French efforts as individual/separate events. By presenting these experiences as they happened (simultaneously), we get a much better understanding how easily D-Day could have resulted in failure. At first, I found the lumping together of all these individual accounts a little confusing, but quickly adapted and appreciated how effect it was to tell the story in this manner … to generate the chaos and uncertainty.
The individual accounts are interesting, colorful and unique. As an American, I found the stories of the British and Canadian efforts quite interesting. One of my favorite storylines in THE FIRST WAVE was the account of the Scottish soldier being ordered to play his bagpipes in the thick of battle and how it impacted morale at a moment of desperation … I get chills just thinking about it. Some of the accounts may be familiar (Pegasus Bridge and Point du Hoc, for example), but they are presented as merely critical elements of the much bigger picture. I’ve read numerous books about D-Day and never felt as if I was re-reading events covered elsewhere … Kershaw keeps things moving at a fast pace and you are never stuck with one storyline too long before you’re thrust into another. This “foxhole-to-foxhole” perspective across the entire Normandy front keeps things moving and as I approached the last quarter of the book, I realized only a few days of D-Day had been covered.
With the success of Operation Overlord assured, the individual accounts presented in THE FIRST WAVE do not end. Kershaw graciously summarizes what these men experienced toward the wars end and beyond. With this, we see the impact the war had on these men … both good and bad.
I own numerous D-Day books; I found THE FIRST WAVE to be a refreshing read and not a re-hashing of other books. By presenting so many individual accounts in a simultaneous manner, readers should get a better understanding of how the entire D-Day operation hinged on the success of small groups achieving objectives prior to the beach landings. These individual accounts of those experiences prove to be a gripping and memorable read.
June 6, 2019
In remembrance of the 75th anniversary of D-Day I read this well written account of D-Day. I added this to my shelf, because I want to learn more about World War 2 and the lives that were lost and the families who lost their family members. The first thing that jumped out to me about this book is how it’s mostly told in first person viewpoints, so you feel like your right there with them feeling their fear, terror and confusion and their shock of the violence around them. The warriors/hero’s that are featured in this book are rangers who climb the cliff at Point du Hoc, the Canadians on Juno Beach, General Theodore Roosevelt Jr at Utah Beach, Glider Troops and Lord Lovats commandos at Pegasus Beach, The Pathfinders and 101st Airborne parachuting into the pitch black night. Everyone in this book is a hero playing their part to win this bloody war some who didn’t make it home. I didn’t feel like this was a straight history book but a wonderful account of these brave men who sacrificed a piece of themselves or even their life for our freedom. I could tell immediately that the author did his research it showed so much in his writing. I cannot imagine arriving at the beach of Normandy and immediately being hit by the enemies fire. Every man that was there who made it out alive or didn’t is a hero to me the courage they showed is unbelievable. So I give this five stars!
October 13, 2019
If you want to crawl into a foxhole, fly in a Spitfire, storm the beach in a Higgins Boat then pick up a book by Alex Kershaw. Alex has written another good one. The only negative thing I can say about finishing a Kershaw book is waiting for him to publish the next one.
October 23, 2019
Good personal recounting of what might be the most important day of the 20th Century. Well done.
December 27, 2019
2019 marks the 75th Anniversary of one of the most storied and epochal events dotting the annals of global and military history. The colossal Allied invasion at Normandy (“D-Day”) that set in motion the defeat of the greatest racial bigots that humanity had the misfortune to be associated with, has become immortal not just for the supreme sacrifices made by thousands of brave soldiers, but also for the lessons it imparted for the very future of mankind. As may be expected this momentous Anniversary has spawned a deluge of books on the subject. One book that stands apart for its unsparing prose and distinctiveness is “The First Wave – D-Day Warriors Who Led the Way to Victory in World War II” by Alex Kershaw. Mr. Kershaw views the invasion of Normandy standing upon the shoulders of a unique set of individuals. The first wave of soldiers to be air dropped, flown and shipped to the Northern French region to face the merciless onslaught of Hitler’s abominable albeit powerful Nazis. These are the shoulders that neither drooped nor sagged nor complained. They may have creaked with the physical burdens entailed by the rigours of a ruthless combat, but creak was all they did.
On the 6th of June, 1944, an armada the likes of which was never seen before and has never been spotted since set sail from the shores, and took off from the skies of Britain. Destination: France. Mission; to liberate Europe from the clutches of the sadist Adolf Hitler. The phalanx consisted of 5,333 Allied ships and landing craft embarking nearly 175,000 men. The British and Canadians put 75,215 troops ashore, and the Americans 57,500, for a total of 132,715. Adding to this tally were 20,000 Airborne troops. Waiting for these troops on the highly fortified beaches of Normandy were steely German soldiers all set to mow down the invaders.
Kershaw’s heroes make for an eclectic mix of the refined and the rough; the grizzled and the gentle and the rustic and the refined. But all of these indomitable warriors were bound as brothers in their objective, intent and action. The fast paced, adrenaline pumping and extraordinarily emotional book recounts some of the memorable heroics that will forever stand the test of time. Staff Sergeant Jim Wallwork, of the British Glider Pilot Regiment, demonstrated incredulous feats of airmanship. With only a stop watch, map, and compass as navigation tools, this legendary pilot landed his glider with a precision bordering on the perfection right next to a bridge whose capture was the objective of Major John Howard and his company. Captain Frank Lillyman of New York and the 101st Airborne Division executed his duties as a ‘pathfinder’ and during the course of discharging his duties faced some hair raising trysts with mortality. Then there was the incredible Brigadier Simon Christopher Joseph Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat and 4th Baron Lovat, DSO, MC, TD, JP, DL. Lord Lovat, described by Winston Churchill to Joseph Stalin as, “the mildest mannered man that ever scuttled a ship or cut a throat” was one of the most endearing, enduring and egregious characters to have participated in the Normandy offensive. Assuring a green eared twenty-one-year-old bag-piper Bill Millin that the latter would be a part of the “greatest invasion in the history of warfare”, Lord Lovat rendered friends and foe alike dumbfounded when he ordered a dazed Millin to play the pipe while carnage was being wrecked on the beaches of Normandy. For his exploits, Lord Lovat was awarded the Légion d’honneur and the Croix de Guerre by the French in addition to a Distinguished Service Order (“DSO”).
The Allies concentrated their assault on five beaches code named Utah, Omaha, Juno, Sword and Gold. Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt exhibited a degree of unparalleled courage and composure at Utah Beach. Wielding a cane and a revolver, Roosevelt ailing from heart disease and arthritis, admirably helped his troops from being maimed and mutilated by the German gunners.
While the British troops along with their Canadian counterparts landed at the beaches of Gold, Juno, and Sword. But as Mr. Kershaw points out, the most abysmal carnage was reserved for Omaha Beach. “In all, the United States had landed some 55,000 men on D-Day. By far the greatest losses had been suffered on Omaha, where more than nine hundred were killed. For their heroism on Omaha beach, 153 men would receive the Distinguished Service Cross, America’s second highest award for bravery.” The losses would have been much higher, but for the breathtaking feats and razor sharp decisions made by the likes of Lieutenant John Spalding, Captain Joe Dawson and Sergeant Streczyk. Mr. Kershaw also highlights in agonizing detail the political shenanigans that deprived many a brave warrior from getting his due accolade. “Some of the medals received for extraordinary courage on Omaha should have been Medals of Honour – without doubt in both Spalding’s and Streczyk’s cases – but army officials far from the maw and horror on the front lines worried that ‘too many men would get the highest award for bravery and its significance would somehow be diminished.’” Blood boiling travesty! The failure at Omaha Beach was courtesy an astonishing intelligence blunder. The attacking forces were blissfully unaware of the fact that the 716th German Division was replaced by the more formidable and experienced 352nd Division.
To rub salt into the wounds, Omaha Beach also boasted some of the best prepared defenses of the entire Normandy coastline, with massive fortified bunkers filled with artillery, mortars, and machine guns that could sweep the landing areas with a vengeful crossfire.
But Mr. Kershaw’s best and most haunting narratives are reserved to describe the agonizingly lingering combat state of mind for many of the survivors. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (“PTSD”), survivor’s guilt, unfortunate suicides and restless bouts of living all constituted a heavy price to pay for these patriotic lion hearts who gave it all for humanity in an uncomplaining, untiring and undiminishing manner.
Mr. Kershaw does a yeoman service by bringing to our attention the sacrifices made by those who survived as well as those who were scythed down, just so that generations in future can lead a life of tranquility, peace and bliss. History however would never allow the unsuspecting to remain that way, and rightfully so. There would be intrepid souls like Mr. Kershaw to revive the spirits of the dead and bring to light their thrilling and selfless exploits. Exploits in performing which these magnificent men and women adopted an attitude that was chillingly eschatological!
The world is perennially indebted to these incomparable souls. LEST WE FORGET!
On the 6th of June, 1944, an armada the likes of which was never seen before and has never been spotted since set sail from the shores, and took off from the skies of Britain. Destination: France. Mission; to liberate Europe from the clutches of the sadist Adolf Hitler. The phalanx consisted of 5,333 Allied ships and landing craft embarking nearly 175,000 men. The British and Canadians put 75,215 troops ashore, and the Americans 57,500, for a total of 132,715. Adding to this tally were 20,000 Airborne troops. Waiting for these troops on the highly fortified beaches of Normandy were steely German soldiers all set to mow down the invaders.
Kershaw’s heroes make for an eclectic mix of the refined and the rough; the grizzled and the gentle and the rustic and the refined. But all of these indomitable warriors were bound as brothers in their objective, intent and action. The fast paced, adrenaline pumping and extraordinarily emotional book recounts some of the memorable heroics that will forever stand the test of time. Staff Sergeant Jim Wallwork, of the British Glider Pilot Regiment, demonstrated incredulous feats of airmanship. With only a stop watch, map, and compass as navigation tools, this legendary pilot landed his glider with a precision bordering on the perfection right next to a bridge whose capture was the objective of Major John Howard and his company. Captain Frank Lillyman of New York and the 101st Airborne Division executed his duties as a ‘pathfinder’ and during the course of discharging his duties faced some hair raising trysts with mortality. Then there was the incredible Brigadier Simon Christopher Joseph Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat and 4th Baron Lovat, DSO, MC, TD, JP, DL. Lord Lovat, described by Winston Churchill to Joseph Stalin as, “the mildest mannered man that ever scuttled a ship or cut a throat” was one of the most endearing, enduring and egregious characters to have participated in the Normandy offensive. Assuring a green eared twenty-one-year-old bag-piper Bill Millin that the latter would be a part of the “greatest invasion in the history of warfare”, Lord Lovat rendered friends and foe alike dumbfounded when he ordered a dazed Millin to play the pipe while carnage was being wrecked on the beaches of Normandy. For his exploits, Lord Lovat was awarded the Légion d’honneur and the Croix de Guerre by the French in addition to a Distinguished Service Order (“DSO”).
The Allies concentrated their assault on five beaches code named Utah, Omaha, Juno, Sword and Gold. Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt exhibited a degree of unparalleled courage and composure at Utah Beach. Wielding a cane and a revolver, Roosevelt ailing from heart disease and arthritis, admirably helped his troops from being maimed and mutilated by the German gunners.
While the British troops along with their Canadian counterparts landed at the beaches of Gold, Juno, and Sword. But as Mr. Kershaw points out, the most abysmal carnage was reserved for Omaha Beach. “In all, the United States had landed some 55,000 men on D-Day. By far the greatest losses had been suffered on Omaha, where more than nine hundred were killed. For their heroism on Omaha beach, 153 men would receive the Distinguished Service Cross, America’s second highest award for bravery.” The losses would have been much higher, but for the breathtaking feats and razor sharp decisions made by the likes of Lieutenant John Spalding, Captain Joe Dawson and Sergeant Streczyk. Mr. Kershaw also highlights in agonizing detail the political shenanigans that deprived many a brave warrior from getting his due accolade. “Some of the medals received for extraordinary courage on Omaha should have been Medals of Honour – without doubt in both Spalding’s and Streczyk’s cases – but army officials far from the maw and horror on the front lines worried that ‘too many men would get the highest award for bravery and its significance would somehow be diminished.’” Blood boiling travesty! The failure at Omaha Beach was courtesy an astonishing intelligence blunder. The attacking forces were blissfully unaware of the fact that the 716th German Division was replaced by the more formidable and experienced 352nd Division.
To rub salt into the wounds, Omaha Beach also boasted some of the best prepared defenses of the entire Normandy coastline, with massive fortified bunkers filled with artillery, mortars, and machine guns that could sweep the landing areas with a vengeful crossfire.
But Mr. Kershaw’s best and most haunting narratives are reserved to describe the agonizingly lingering combat state of mind for many of the survivors. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (“PTSD”), survivor’s guilt, unfortunate suicides and restless bouts of living all constituted a heavy price to pay for these patriotic lion hearts who gave it all for humanity in an uncomplaining, untiring and undiminishing manner.
Mr. Kershaw does a yeoman service by bringing to our attention the sacrifices made by those who survived as well as those who were scythed down, just so that generations in future can lead a life of tranquility, peace and bliss. History however would never allow the unsuspecting to remain that way, and rightfully so. There would be intrepid souls like Mr. Kershaw to revive the spirits of the dead and bring to light their thrilling and selfless exploits. Exploits in performing which these magnificent men and women adopted an attitude that was chillingly eschatological!
The world is perennially indebted to these incomparable souls. LEST WE FORGET!
November 13, 2021
A well researched, easy to read book by Alex Kershaw on the events of D-Day in Normandy, 1944. Kershaw follows the lives of about 10 people as they storm the beach in different ways on the morning of June 6. You hear stories about what happened at Omaha, Utah, Sword, Juno and Gold. Hearing the stories over and over through the lives of one person at a particular area makes the stories a little more difficult to read as the stories are so sad, although inspiring at the same time. I can't imagine to have done what these courageous people did that day. A perfect book to read around Veterans Day. The sixth book I've read by Kershaw and they are all good.
September 15, 2022
This book is an historical account of the D-Day liberation of Europe. Mr. Kershaw is a journalist and a best selling author of World War Two books. His accurate account of the brave men who stormed those beaches under intense fire from the Germans is remarkable. Mr. Kershaw has been described as a "Master storyteller." It is appropriately named, in my opinion. Each page oozes with drama and power for the reader.
July 8, 2020
It was so well-written, and read more like a fiction or historical fiction than a true history book. I devoured it over Memorial Day Weekend. It was well-researched, characters were well described, and the overall military plan was demonstrated and made easy to understand and remember. Definitely one of my favorite WWII books.
February 12, 2021
Excellent account of the first soldiers to land in Normandy on D-Day.
October 29, 2020
A very good and informative account of D-Day and beyond. Very easy to read. The level of heroism from so many men is unfathomable. I especially like how Kershaw tells of what happened to many of the characters after the war. I always wonder how deeply the events of that day and the ensuing battles impacted the men who fought. My one criticism is that I wish Kershaw had stopped and saved the post-D-Day events for another book. The Battle of the Bulge, invasion of Germany, and liberation of concentration camps and occupied countries could be books unto themselves.
April 27, 2020
I can get lost in a Kershaw book for hours. The jumping between nations, armies, and individuals was completed flawlessly.
January 17, 2020
On a date that is well, and familiar -6 June1944, after receiving the order to proceed with the invasion after several months of intense planning, and rehearsal, the Allied Army moved towards its objective.
What was written in this piece is about the men of were the inital assault be it either by air or sea, and the maelstrom they faced against a well prepared German Army.
In the movie "Saving Pvt. Ryan" the opening scene is said to resemble what our soldiers, British soliders, and Candian soldiers faced in the opening gambit. GA Bradley had grave concerns about it; he even contemplated withdrawing. Yet, because of the junior officers, and noncommissioned officer rose to the occasion, and by their initiative achieved some of objectives.
The British seizing two bridges by glider borne assault, and their stout defense until Col. Lord Lovet relieved them in place with the pipes playing.
It a story that needed to be told, and is one that will inspire all about the meaning of all gave some, some gave all. May we remember their noble sacrifice made that day.
What was written in this piece is about the men of were the inital assault be it either by air or sea, and the maelstrom they faced against a well prepared German Army.
In the movie "Saving Pvt. Ryan" the opening scene is said to resemble what our soldiers, British soliders, and Candian soldiers faced in the opening gambit. GA Bradley had grave concerns about it; he even contemplated withdrawing. Yet, because of the junior officers, and noncommissioned officer rose to the occasion, and by their initiative achieved some of objectives.
The British seizing two bridges by glider borne assault, and their stout defense until Col. Lord Lovet relieved them in place with the pipes playing.
It a story that needed to be told, and is one that will inspire all about the meaning of all gave some, some gave all. May we remember their noble sacrifice made that day.
May 31, 2020
Another fantastic book by Kershaw! This is the fourth of his books that I’ve read. I’ve enjoyed all of them immensely.
It follows several soldiers, paratroopers and commandos from all aspects of the First Wave of D Day. Great maps which were very helpful in following the narrative.
It follows several soldiers, paratroopers and commandos from all aspects of the First Wave of D Day. Great maps which were very helpful in following the narrative.
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