Normandy ’44: D-Day and the Battle for France (paperback)

James Holland presents an entirely new perspective on one of the most important moments in recent history, unflinchingly examining the brutality and violence that characterised the campaign, and totally recalibrating our understanding of this momentous event.

D-Day and the 76 days of bitter fighting in Normandy that followed have come to be seen as a defining episode in the Second World War. Its story has been endlessly retold, and yet it remains a narrative burdened by both myth and assumed knowledge. In this re-examined history, James sets out to challenge what we think we know. Moving into the paperback version, James makes more observations about the Royal Navy and introduces several new characters to his cast (including a flamethrower). He draws on unseen archives and testimonies from around the world, introducing eye-witness accounts from foot soldiers to bomber crews, sailors, civilians and resistance fighters.