6 June 1944. In the grey light of dawn the landing craft carrying the assault wave of two US divisions as well as the Engineers and the Rangers, advanced towards the beach that was their assigned objective, code named Omaha. Exhausted by the crossing and suffering from seasickness, the assault units were convinced, however, that the German defenses had been crushed by the aerial and naval bombardment. In fact, sheltering in their coastal fortifications which they had still been working to improve the evening before, the German infantry waited until the Americans reached the shoreline before opening fire. 0630 hours. The landing craft of the first wave beached and lowered their ramps that was the moment the enemy was waiting for and on the beach soon called bloody Omaha, all hell broke loose. This volume will allow you to discover that page of history. The first part introduces the forces on both sides, presents the American plan and explains in detail the German defensive positions. In the second part the book evokes the landing of the successive waves followed by a blow-by-blow account of the GI 's on the beach under a hail of fire in the middle of the anti-invasion obstacles. Overall it explores and words and images all the violence and horror of the fighting. -- From the back cover.

From the chapter headings :Part one. Omaha beach, dawn, 6 June. Omaha beach: the objective -- the German defences -- The assault forces -- The final hours -- Part 2. Bloody Omaha. 12 miles before the coast -- Hell on the beach -- 0700 hours : the second wave -- The assault on the heights -- An initial bridgehead -- Towards the interior of the plateau -- Towards the evening -- Appendices. The American cemetery at Colleville -- The rememberance -- Mulberry harbor A. From the table of contents : Part one. Omaha beach, dawn, 6 June. Omaha beach: the objective -- the German defences -- The assault forces -- The last hours -- Part 2. Bloody Omaha. 12 moles from the shore -- Hell on the beach -- 0700 hours the second wave -- The assault on the high ground -- An initial bridgehead -- Inland onto the plateau -- As evening fell -- Appendices. The American cemetery at Colleville -- The memories -- Mulberry harbor A.