Richard Holmes

Imperial War Museum (Great Britain)

Written by one of Britain’s best known and most respected military historians, The D-Day Experience graphically captures the planning and execution of the Allied invasion, which ultimately led to victory. More than 30 facsimile items of rare memorabilia thrust readers right into the heart of history: they’ll have the unique opportunity to relive this momentous event by holding and examining facsimiles of rarely or never-seen maps, diaries, letters, secret memos and reports, posters and logbooks. Many of these have, up until now, remained filed or exhibited only behind glass in the Imperial War Museum and other collections worldwide. Memorabilia highlights include: U.S. Airborne secret maps showing drop zone from parachutist's eye view Omaha Beach Intelligence message book with minute-by-minute reports German radio signal log at 4:15 am on D-Day which reads “Thousands of ships tracked. They’re coming.” The Wednesday, June 7, 1944, edition of Stars and Stripes Gold Beach Infantryman's handwritten diary from June 4–June 17, 1944, describing landings, the move inland, and battlefield promotion. Propaganda leaflets dropped on Allied troops by night-flying German pilots Juno Beach Canadian infantryman's letter written to his wife on the Channel crossing on the eve of D-Day. He survived D-Day but was killed later in Holland. And more!

Books like The D-Day Experience

Your next favorite book is out there