The definitive telling of the Normandy campaign
After previously looking at the Eastern Front with the superb Stalingrad and Berlin, D-Day is Antony Beevor's first look at WWII in Western Europe. Beevor does not confine himself to D-Day as 6 June alone, but closes the book with the liberation of Paris by French mechanized forces (using, of course, equipment provided by the US, and landed from the UK). It is, of course, remarkably readable and wonderfully accurate.

Beevor is a remarkably evenhanded historian, for instance noting the caution and errors of Montgomery in his consistent failure to capture Caen, while pointing out that the British under Monty did, in fact, have a hard road to hoe in the calibre of opponent they faced. Caen, and Monty, is usually a point of difference between Anglo-US historians, and Beevor finds a way to show both sides of the story.

D-Day looks first at the airdrop landings, and each beach in turn, and then moves on to the camapaign in Normandy. The role of the French resistance and collaboration is discussed, and atrocities committed by both sides are brought forward (although nothing can compare to the deliberate massacre in Oradour sur Glane by the SS). There are touches of humanity - and even humour - amidst the war. There is little "new" here - these facts are known, and have been for the last 65 years for the most part - but the clarity of the presentation is excellent.

As well the conflict itself, the political dimension to D-Day is not ignored, and the role of de Gaulle in the liberation of France made clear. It is hard to see de Gaulle as anything other than a delusional grasping opportunist constantly biting the hands that fed him, while at the same time understanding that if de Gaulle was not the answer, then a civil war in France was a possible outcome. To treat France as other than a vanquished enemy (similar to the treatment of Italy in 1944-45) was to treat with de Gaulle.

Another example of the political background is the bringing to the fore of the plot against Hitler by the German Generals, and how this was brought on by D-Day and then affected the subsequent response. The difference between the SS and army is also emphasized, with the SS the Nazi State military, and the Army simply the army of Germany. SS units were better equipped and had fanatical morale.

If there is a quibble with this book, it is that the main title is misleading: it is about far more than D-Day, and does not have the depth of focus on the 6th of June, 1944 that one might expect. But is it a superb telling of the campaign in Normandy, and the beginning of the end of the Third Reich.

A great book to read
I bought this book for my Grandson who is studying the second world war at school.

ANTONY BEEVOR D DAY - POOR
I found this book very poor. I really enjoyed Stalingrad which I thought provided a real insight into the Russian mindset during the war, and the dilemmas faced by some Germans too, but D-Day wasn't in that league. For a start little seemed new though Beevor is good with small details, he missed completely the great sweep of the battle and Montgomery's great strategy grinding down and destroying the German Army on the British and Canadian fronts while building up and breaking out on the American side.All the time completely hoodwinking the Germans as to the real intention of the Allies until the last moment.

Indeed the book seemed so anti-British I wonder if it was not deliberately written that way for the American market. There are a completely unjustified number of criticisms of the British commanders especially Monty, in respect of whom Beevor cannot bring himself to utter a single word of praise. Montgomery in fact is NEVER mentioned unless in critical terms. Montgomery did fail to deliver on some pre battle intentions but the great strategy for Normandy - including the American breakout, was his, set out at St Pauls School before the campaign and delivered in crushing style putting the allies on the Seine at D plus 90 just as Montgomery had predicted. This is the indisputable truth and Beevors work gives no sense whatever of this. Bradley of course did the detailed planning for Cobra, but the Strategic concept and direction was Montgomery's.Even Bradley who later fell out with Monty over the Ardennes gave Monty full credit for his performance in Normandy.

This aspect is so bad - even personal that I began to believe one of Beevor's relatives must have been slighted by Montgomery in some way, perhaps sacked or treated badly, to elicit such hostility. I thought there must be some sort of deeper explanation.

Wow
In the usual Beevor tradition this book is an excellent, well researched tome. A book to be kept for reference.

A ghastly episode from which we should learn
I can't say I loved it because how could one love reading about 1000-bomber raids on French villages to winkle out an enemy unit? Unless you're a speed reader you'll need a week's holiday to get through this one, but it's a tremendous achievement by Beevor with numerous personal stories and a very objective approach to the war.

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