"The WWII invasion of Allied troops into German-occupied Europe, known as D-Day, was the largest military endeavor in history. By the time it occurred on June 6, 1944, Hitler and the Axis powers had a chokehold grip on the European continent, which the Allies called "Fortress Europe." Behind enemy lines, Nazi Germany was engaged in the mass extermination of the Jewish people and the oppression of civilians across Europe. The goal of D-Day was no less than the total defeat of Hitler's regime--and the defense of free democracies everywhere. Knowing they had to breach the coast, the United States, Great Britain, and Canada planned the impossible. D-Day was an invasion not for conquest, but for liberation. The vast operation would take years to plan and required complete secrecy in order to maintain the advantage of surprise. Once deployed, Operation Overlord involved soldiers, sailors, paratroopers, and specialists, and a heart-breaking number of casualties on both sides. The major players of D-Day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, and countless others, have gone down in history. Acclaimed author Deborah Hopkinson details not just their accomplishments, but the courageous contributions of commanders, service members, African-Americans, women, journalists, and others to this critical battle. Her incredible research and masterful weaving of official documents, personal and eye-witness accounts, and archival photos into a clear and compelling narrative thread brings the European arena of WWII to vivid, thrilling life."-- Read Less