With first-hand accounts from both sides, vivid photographs and specially commissioned maps of the landing areas and combat zones, this book is a comprehensive examination of the first 24 hours of the liberation of Europe. - Nearly 7,000 ships landed over 132,000 US, British and Canadian troops on the beaches of Normandy on 6 June 1944 and, had the landing failed, the course of the war would have been altered. - This book gives the dramatic history of the first 24 hours of the Normandy landings and explains in detail the events that occurred in each landing zone. - It starts with an overview of the preparations for the landings and the disposition of German forces around Normandy, then gives a dedicated chapter to the airborne and glider landings which preceded the main assault and each of the individual beach landings. - Includes first-hand accounts of combat on the Normandy beaches. - Detailed timelines give a breakdown of events on each of the five beaches codenamed Utah and Omaha for the US beaches and Gold, Juno and Sword for the British and Canadian. - Specially commissioned maps show the areas of operation and movement of forces.