In any military operation throughout history, few 24-hour periods have been as crucial as that of June 6 of 1994. Nearly 7000 ships landed over 132,000 US, British and Canadian troops on the beaches of Normandy in the biggest amphibious landing ever attempted. During that first day the allied forces were at their most vulnerable to German counterattack. Had the landings failed, the course of the war would have been altered. With the aid of specially commissioned maps, D-Day The First 24 Hours narrates the dramatic history of the first 24 hours of the Normandy landings, and explains in detail the events that occurred in each landing zone. With first-hand accounts from both sides, vivid color photographs, and specially commissioned maps of the landing areas and combat zones, D-Day The First 24 Hours is a comprehensive examination of the first 24 hours of the liberation of Europe.

Includes index. Includes maps of: [Overview of Attack Plan and German Defenses]; Allied Landings; Bombardment; German Defences; British Mulberry Harbour; British Flank Landings; Utah Airborne Assault; Utah Beach; Pointe Du Hoc; Omaha Beach; Cross Section of Omaha Beach; Gold Beach; Naval Fire Support; Juno Beach; Sword Beach; [U.S. and British Lines, 30 JUN 1944].

1.Road to Operation Overlord 6 -- 2. Intelligence and Resistance 30 -- 3. Logistics and Technology 46 -- 4. Special Operations 76 -- 5. H-Hour 94 -- 6. Utah Beach 114 -- 7. Omaha Beach 128 -- 8. Gold Beach 146 -- 9. Juno Beach 156 -- 10. Sword Beach 166 -- 11. Price 78 -- D-Day Order of Battle 188.