Description
Book SynopsisEver since Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy, the men who survived have sought to return, to honour their dead, and to teach others of what they went through to liberate Europe.
Soldier Keith Nightingale has conducted terrain walks in Normandy for over forty years with veterans, active-duty military, and local French civilians. Over the decades Nightingale conducted dozens of formal interviews and informal conversations with many of the principals of the day, including Generals Bradley, Collins, Gavin, Ridgway and Hill. Added to this rare, new primary material from the top brass are numerous conversations with lower-ranking vets who did the heavy lifting, many of which took place as they actually walked the battlefield with Nightingale – Major Howard of Pegasus Bridge; LTC Otway of Merville Battery; Captain Piper of La Fière Bridge; LTC Vandervoort, CO of the 2-505/82d; Cpt Raeen of the 5th Rangers; Lt Dick Winters of Brécourt Manor; PFC Marcucci of Omaha Beach; and SSG Lem Lomell of Pointe Du Hoc.
This unique approach to D-Day combines the author's discussions with veteran and civilian participants in D-Day, his personal reflections on Operation Overlord, and the insights that occur – often at the very site of a battle. Interspersed with veterans' remarks, Nightingale's personal essays are inspired by specific discussions or multiple interviews. Taken together, the succinct, human observations of these participants illuminate the hard facts to create a unique work of long-lasting interest that will attract specialists, military history buffs, armchair generals, and general readers alike.
Trade ReviewKeith’s personal essays are inspired by specific discussions or multiple interviews. Taken together, the cogent human observations of these participants who assisted him further expand and illuminate our depth of understanding of what it must have been like to be pinned down under intense fire and must do something heroic to get out of it. * ARGunners.com *
Table of ContentsI. THE BASICS: THE NORMANDY CAMPAIGN Chapter 1: Why Normandy? Chapter 2: The Airborne Controversy Chapter 3: The Final Organization Chapter 4: The Tactical Plan II. PRE-INVASION PLANNING AND TRAINING Chapter 5: Eisenhower as Leader Chapter 6: Pre-assault Training: III. EXECUTION Chapter 7: The Normandy Landings Chapter 8. Key Sites, Key Fights Chapter 9. The Civilian Experience IV: THE AFTERMATH Chapter 10. Post-War Reflections APPENDICES
