‘We cannot afford to fail.’ So spoke the Supreme Commander, General Eisenhower, on June 6th, 1944 - the day the greatest Armada the world has seen sailed for the beaches of France. D-Day is a major reassessment and vivid chronicle of one of the most decisive moments in history, a day that signaled the end of Hitler's Europe and the emergence of the United States as a major military power. D-Day was a close run thing. In the face of unthinkable risks, more than 130,000 men were landed across the five beaches. By the end of June, an army of almost a million had been built up inside the beachhead held against the fury of German counterattacks. Now, 30 years later, the propaganda has faded and secret planning papers, official documents, and reports have been released. They have enabled this writing team to piece together the full story. D-Day is also drawn from the memoirs and diaries of the leaders from both sides and on the recollections, especially obtained for this book, of thousands of ordinary men and women. -- From the book jacket.

Foreword by Lord Mountbatten.

‘We shall go back’ -- Forging the alliance, 1942 -- The torch is lit -- COSSAC -- Festung Europa -- SHAEF -- the enemy observed -- engineering an invasion -- Tougher than D-day -- Master plan -- ‘O.K., let's go’ -- The second front: a record in color -- H-hour approaches -- Dawn assault -- Utah -- Omaha -- Gold -- Juno -- Sword -- Day of destiny -- Race against time -- Break out to victory.