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The Americans at D-Day

The American Experience at the Normandy Invasion

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The Americans at D-Day

Written by: John C. McManus
Narrated by: Joe Barrett
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About this listen

June 6, 1944, was a pivotal moment in the history of World War II. On that day the climactic and decisive phase of the war in Europe began. Those who survived the intense fighting on the Normandy beaches found their lives irreversibly changed. That day ushered in a great change for the United States as well, because on D-day America began its march to the forefront of the Western world.

By the end of the Battle of Normandy, almost one out of every two soldiers involved was an American, and without American weapons, supplies, and leadership, the outcome of the invasion and ensuing battle could have been very different.

In the first of two volumes on the American contribution to the Allied victory at Normandy, John C. McManus examines, with great intensity and thoroughness, the American experience in the weeks leading up to D-day and on the great day itself. From the buildup in England to the night drops of airborne forces behind German lines and the landings on the beaches at dawn, from the famed figures of Eisenhower, Bradley, and "Lighting Joe" Collins to the courageous, but little-known privates who fought so bravely and under terrifying conditions, this is the story of the American experience at D-day. What were the battles really like for the Americans at Utah and Omaha? What drove them to fight despite all adversity? How and why did they triumph? Thanks to extensive archival research, and the use of hundreds of firsthand accounts, McManus answers these questions and many more.

Impressively researched, engrossing, lightning quick, and filled with human sorrow and elation, The Americans at D-Day honors those Americans who lost their lives on D-day, as well as those who were fortunate enough to survive.

©2013 John C. McManus (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Wars & Conflicts Military War Thought-Provoking US Air Force Submarine Air Force
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Great Effort.. just a Little Too Ambitious

John C. McManus strives for what every author of books of this type (History written for a Casual Audience) aims for: a balance between fastidiously accurate names & dates and on-the-ground experiences that bring the events to life. The research into the goals/execution of Operation Overlord is punctilious, the anecdotes are compiled nicely, and the writing is competent - but McManus struggles to weave voluminous accounts (from such diverse sources as paratroopers, fighter pilots, bombardiers, infantrymen, sailors, communications officers, and dozens of others) into the overall tale without overwhelming the overall chronicle. He paints a pinpoint accurate picture of what life was like for the tens of thousands of Americans who participated in the campaign, but you are forgiven if your eyes go blurry at the sheer magnitude of information. This book needs an aggressive editor (small wonder McManus had to write his Normandy book in Two Volumes).

Unfortunately, average narration from Joe Barrett contributes to my "respectable" rating of the book. Barrett's diction, timbre, cadence, and tone are commendable but his performance is nothing special (I recommend listening to this recording at 1.20X to make up for a plodding pace, for example).

Overall, 'The Americans at D-day' (Part One of an exhaustive exposé) rates 7.5 stars out of 10. If you can get it as part of the 'Plus' initiative (as I did), it's well worth a download - but spending a Credit on it would be arguable. Regardless you may end up wanting to read McManus's continuation focussing on Omaha Beach.

[Incidentally, the dedication of these men when they merely thought they were fighting a war and answering their country's call is amazing. It would be another year before they found out that they were fighting actual EVIL]

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