In 11 chapters, nine military historians here deliver descriptions and analyses of the Allied actions that marked the turning point in Hitler's occupation of Europe. Determined German resistance could not stop the overwhelming tide of men and machines coming onto French beaches, and some of the bitterest fighting of the war occurred here. Mixed throughout the text are copious maps, charts, and color and black-and-white illustrations of uniforms, equipment, documents, and a host of other items laid out in museum fashion. These artifacts lend haunting reality to the words, making this work more significant that just a historical account of the conflict. The effective combination of approaches gives the reader a vivid picture of this vast military event.
