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Summary: This is required reading for students of World War II
Review: Like many of Ambrose's books, I found this one hard to put down until I finished it. And it reads so wonderfully. This book is a must for anyone who wants to know more about D-Day. I would put this book right in between Ryan's "Longest Day" and the more military college texts like D'Este's "Decision in Normandy," because it does more than scratches the surface but makes tactics and the often dizzying amount of info on a major campaign more understandable without requiring the reader to be Student of the art of warfare. I thoroughly enjoyed its pro-American slant, especially in a field that tends to be pro-British or pro-German. "Ham and Jam, Ham and Jam!"
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Summary: Fake review under a false name.
Review: Earlier this year a deliberately foolish review was posted on this site, seemingly sent in by a person with a Princeton email address. This review was in fact written by myself, in an irresponsible and unkind attempt to play a 'joke' on a friend. All reaction to this review should be addressed to me at the above address. I apologise for the considerable hurt that I caused.
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Summary: A truley remarkable book on D-Day
Review: Stephen Ambrose's book is the best written book I have read about D-Day. He explains everything as if you were actually at Omaha, Utah, Sword, Gold, or Juno beaches. He puts lots of detail into it.The book is mainly about Omaha Beach but, it gives a good imput on the British and Canadian beaches and the British and American paratroopers. Some of the reviews I have read say this book is anit-British, yet this is a American author so he's mainly going to write about Omaha and Utah. Also, Omaha was probably the most important beach. Otherwise, this a great book which I couldn't put down. This is a book you don't want to miss reading.
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Summary: The Greatest Book on D-Day
Review: Stephen Ambrose's D-Day June 6, 1944: The Climatic Battle of World War II, is the greatest D-Day book out there. He writes as if you were actually at Omaha Beach, with shells flying around and machine gun fire everywhere. This a number 1 choice for anyone intersted in D-Day.
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Summary: Picks up where "The Longest Day" left off
Review: Ambrose has truly contributed to the world's knowledge by his work. This book was my introduction to the works of Steven Ambrose, but I have since read almost all of his books still in print. Having read scores of histories of The Second World War, including Cornelius Ryan's classic account of D-Day, I can honestly say that Ambrose's "D-Day" told me quite a bit that I didn't know. And, Dr. Ambrose is a gripping writer; his books are impossible to put down. While all his works are highly readable, this book is perhaps his best to this point, though Citizen Soldiers and Band of Brothers are also outstanding. The real significance of "D-Day" is that it tells us just how brutal the assault at Omaha really was for the men of that generation. No account prior to this has been willing to expose the slaughter of the first waves of assault troops on Omaha. D-Day also tell us the personal stories of some of the average citizen soldiers placed into the horrible crucible of combat. Many times histories focus on strategies, officers, and overall accomplishments. This book gives us a compelling view of the rank and file who did the work of winning the war. Those who survived, and those who didn't, confronted and ultimately conquered what should have been an insurmountable fixed defense; they did their duty in a way that should make us all proud and grateful. Most veterans interviewed by Dr. Ambrose were quite modest about their accomplishments, but their quiet heroics---doing that which human beings find so hard to do---literally saved the world from a terrible tyranny---make no mistake about that! This book offers a compelling account of the price that was paid by average men (our fathers, uncles, and grandfathers), for the freedom we now take for granted.
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Summary: This was very interesting telling the soldiers stories.
Review: I really enjoyed this book it told me a lot of historical facts and I learned about the invasion on 6 June 44.fubar116
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Summary: Left me speachless
Review: When i began reading D-Day i thought i already knew pretty much everything that had gone down on June 6, 1944. I was wrong. The personal stories of the men who were thier are truly amazing. I felt as if i was actually thier, hitting the beaches or jumping out of a plane into Fortress Europe. After finishing the book I gave it to my grandfather. He had fought in World War Two with the 48th Highlanders of the Canadian Army. He fought through Italy before being wounded. Though he did not take part in Operation OverLord, he knew many of his friends who did, some who never returned to Canada. He liked the book but he said it was very pro-american. He believed that the role of Britain and Canada in the invasion was under estimated. The soldiers who landed on Juno Beach pushed farther inland then any other of the allied armies, and they did it agianst the heaviest german counter-attacks other then on Omaha Beach. However, none of that matters. The book is really a testiment to the men who fought and died that day and no matter where a man fought, Juno, Omaha, Utah, Gold, or Sword, he is a hero.
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Summary: What a waste of life!
Review: This incredable book was not easy to put down. I finished the book in five days. Realistic accounts of the horrors of a landing force going up against fixed fortifications. What a sacrafice.
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Summary: Meticulous, hard-hitting...
Review: I really enjoyed this book. However, some of the criticisms I've seen below make me pause. Firstly: One could argue whether D-Day was the climactic battle of WWII all day long. The fact is, it was a definite turning point. Yeah, we ARE winning now, but remember: the Soviet Union was ALLIED WITH HITLER until 1941. You could rationalize the turning point of the war was the invasion of the USSR by Germany. Had that not happened, then D-Day WOULD have been the turning point...and so on and so on ad infinitum ad nauseum...Secondly: I definitely did not see any "racism" against the British on Ambrose's part. From the research I've done, Ambrose's take on Britain's military disposition by the time of D-Day is pretty on-target. It may hurt to admit it, but Britain WAS tired and drained from two years more war than the USA, and it WAS somewhat more cautious. I don't think Ambrose meant to impugn the bravery or integrity of the British military. Fact is, ultimately, this is a good book that gets people talking about history. IF YOU OBJECT TO THE VIEWPOINTS IN THIS BOOK, NOTHING PREVENTS YOU FROM DOING RESEARCH AND WRITING YOUR OWN. ESPECIALLY those very critical of it, who apparently are quite knowledgeable about it themselves.
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Summary: A MUST read for all WWII History enthusiasts
Review: A gripping read. Fantastic narrative throughout. Mr Ambrose has written the definitive account of D-Day June 6, 1944. from the pre-planning to the aftermath of the Invasion of Normandy, Mr. Ambrose brought the events to life for me. I felt that I was there with those heroes of Normandy. I also felt the fear of the German defenders of Utah and Omaha beach as well. I sincerely hope that Mr. Ambrose writes a "follow-up" account of the invasion from the Axis side as well. Too little has been written about the German soldiers perspective of the battle. These soldiers, NOT Nazi's also deserve to have there actions written down as well. A FINE READ!!!
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