Neptune: The Allied Invasion of Europe and the D-Day Landings

Naval historian Symonds (The Battle of Midway) makes an important contribution to the historiography of the 1944 Allied invasion of Normandy with his newest, which focuses on two areas not fully explored in similar works: the strategy that led to the landings and the naval operation that landed the troops on the beach, Operation Neptune. The first half of the book concentrates on high-level planning. The second and more interesting half looks at the massive and little-known naval operation that transported the force onto the beaches of Normandy. This portion describes with great clarity the myriad specialized amphibious landing craft, equipment, skills, and training necessary to make the largest invasion in history feasible. The prose is distinguished by the author’s ability to simultaneously present an academic history supported by excellent research while captivating the reader with the individual narratives of soldiers and sailors who participated in the operation. Symonds has crafted an enjoyable and informative read for anyone interested in the history of WWII. (May)