Here is an objective and skillful account of the invasion of western Europe, one of the greatest military operations in history. Written by a trained historian who as a soldier witnessed the magnitude of "Overlord," it provides a military as well as a layman's grasp of the strategic, logistical, and tactical problems involved and the bearing of each problem upon the others.
The book begins with a searching analysis of the strategy-diplomacy of "Overlord" and the issues that arose between the American and British planners, showing the traditional national concepts that influenced their positions. The work clearly delineates a phase of the war that has had little attention heretofore: The detailed planning and preparations that occupied large and complex staffs for several years. The reader is then taken to the beaches of Normandy where he sees the hard fight for the lodgment area, the drive inland, the climactic breakout, and the pursuit of the broken German forces to Paris and the Seine.
Unlike official accounts, the reader will find in Dr. Norman's book, based on much original documentary material, a study of the roles played by each nation in the Western alliance. The approach is that of the military campaign itself and the problems it posed. D. Norman shows how these problems were solved, both in the war room and on the battlefield.
This is a complete and balanced study of a campaign whose outcome was greatly to influence both the war itself and postwar history. It will serve well both the solider and non-military student who wants to understand World War II and the much-debated problem of the "Second Front."