This was one of my mother's favorite books and it came to me in 1986 when she died. I read it for the first time some years later and also enjoyed it, but I am not the history buff Mum was and our house is overflowing with books, so I am letting it go. It contains numerous black and white pictures and some maps.
One of my favorite parts is the one about how a number of highly sensitive code words (including Omaha) appeared in the Telegraph (newspaper) crossword puzzles:
"...the M.I.5 man pulled a list out of his pocket and said, 'We are particularly interested in how you came to choose this word.' He pointed to the list. The prize competition crossword in the Telegraph for May 27 included the clue (11 across), 'But some big-wig like this has stolen some of it at times.' This mystifying clue through some strange alchemy made sense to Dawe's (the paper's senior crossword compiler's) devoted followers. The answer, published just two days before on June 2 (the Normandy invasion was to be on June 6), was the code name for the entire Allied invasion plan--'Overlord.'"
One of my favorite parts is the one about how a number of highly sensitive code words (including Omaha) appeared in the Telegraph (newspaper) crossword puzzles:
"...the M.I.5 man pulled a list out of his pocket and said, 'We are particularly interested in how you came to choose this word.' He pointed to the list. The prize competition crossword in the Telegraph for May 27 included the clue (11 across), 'But some big-wig like this has stolen some of it at times.' This mystifying clue through some strange alchemy made sense to Dawe's (the paper's senior crossword compiler's) devoted followers. The answer, published just two days before on June 2 (the Normandy invasion was to be on June 6), was the code name for the entire Allied invasion plan--'Overlord.'"
I picked this up for the bookshelf at the old soldiers and sailors' home. Most of us read it years ago--it sold well and was excellent to be turned into a film.
"...not a military history but the story of people: the men of the Allied Forces, the enemy they fought, and the civilians who were caught up in the confusions of the the battle."
The author is justifiably proud of his research. He interviewed participants, carefully identified photos, and was the first to root through some of the German archives.
Note the appendix that offers a list of 'D-Day Veterans--What They Do Today.' The greatest generation!
Bibliography, index.
"...not a military history but the story of people: the men of the Allied Forces, the enemy they fought, and the civilians who were caught up in the confusions of the the battle."
The author is justifiably proud of his research. He interviewed participants, carefully identified photos, and was the first to root through some of the German archives.
Note the appendix that offers a list of 'D-Day Veterans--What They Do Today.' The greatest generation!
Bibliography, index.
