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D-Day
- Narrated by: Giles Milton
- Length: 15 hrs and 47 mins
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D-Day
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Summary
Almost 75 years have passed since D-Day, the day of the greatest seaborne invasion in history. The outcome of the Second World War hung in the balance on that chill June morning. If Allied forces succeeded in gaining a foothold in northern France, the road to victory would be open. But if the Allies could be driven back into the sea, the invasion would be stalled for years, perhaps forever.
An epic battle that involved 156,000 men, 7,000 ships and 20,000 armoured vehicles, the desperate struggle that unfolded on 6 June 1944 was, above all, a story of individual heroics - of men who were driven to keep fighting until the German defences were smashed and the precarious beachheads secured. Their authentic human story - Allied, German, French - has never fully been told.
Giles Milton's bold new history narrates the day's events through the tales of survivors from all sides: the teenage Allied conscript, the crack German defender, the French resistance fighter. From the military architects at Supreme Headquarters to the young schoolboy in the Wehrmacht's bunkers, D-Day: The Soldiers' Story lays bare the absolute terror of those trapped in the frontline of Operation Overlord. It also gives voice to those hitherto unheard - the French butcher's daughter, the Panzer Commander's wife, the chauffeur to the General Staff.
This vast canvas of human bravado reveals 'the longest day' as never before - less as a masterpiece of strategic planning than a day on which thousands of scared young men found themselves staring death in the face. It is drawn in its entirety from the raw, unvarnished experiences of those who were there.
Critic reviews
"Compellingly authentic, revelatory and beautifully written. A gripping tour de force." (Damien Lewis)
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What listeners say about D-Day
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Schunowho
- 27-04-19
Good details of what happened that day. We all know the story but it’s brought to life here.
The guys voice takes a bit of getting used to but he does a fair job of telling of this epic day.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 31-05-22
Outstanding
Giles Milton's narrative is luminous and compelling. The momentous events of D Day relayed with an explosive clarity and intensity.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 11-03-19
graphic and informative
it was a very informative and ultimately brutally graphic telling of an oft glamourised event.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mike
- 01-10-23
Enjoyable
Enjoyed this, always find that books narrated by their authors to just come across better. Found this to be an equal coverage book, as in all sides are covered, the British, Canadian, Americans and the Germans.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- SEATON BURN
- 15-11-20
Mr Milton needs to realise that less is more.
Mr Milton cannot be faulted for his research, which has unearthed a wealth of material from the personal stories of men and women from all sides, and which brings to life the appalling human cost of D-Day to both victors and vanquished. His writing up of the material doesn't always match up to its quality, however, being inclined to reach too readily for the hackneyed and shopworn phrase, and, occasionally lapsing into the cliches of the novelette. When your story is itself almost beyond belief, dealing in human behaviour in the extreme tensions and fear of close combat, the tone of your writing cannot possibly match these hyperbolic demands, nor should it try to, but Mr Milton does try; and sometimes misses by a mile. That is why the best D-Day histories - Ryan, Hastings, d'Este - are told in a level, cool, even slightly detached tone of voice. which, paradoxically, adds to the horror of the facts. Any teacher will tell you that to get the best attention from a class you need to speak as quietly as possible: shouting at them is asking to be ignored. Mr Milton will write better histories of battle when he learns this.
His reading of the book is dreadful, for similar reasons. It's not Mr Milton's fault that he sounds like Paul Merton, but his over-wrought and shouty delivery is, as are his ludicrous attempts at working class accents. Ironically, his delivery highlights the faults of his book outlined above very accurately, which is a pity. I see that he has written several other war histories, read in Audible by professional actors who are used to making the best of uneven material. I hope someone will persuade Mr Milton to leave any subsequent recordings to these professionals. And it is a horrendously elementary error to read RundstAt for RundstEdt
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- mark
- 28-11-18
Very good
Thank you for such a well written book the telling of the story was very good
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- David Brown
- 17-02-19
Incredible
I have listened to many WWII books, including ones told by the soldiers however this is the pinnacle of them all. This isn't a book that is simply filled with small stories but one that flows throughout making each chapter relevant to the previous. Highly reccomend this book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Dianalu
- 18-01-24
Outstanding!
Such an interesting take on this subject. The viewpoints from both sides of the same occurrence was a great idea and something I'd never heard before. Sometimes graphic in content but never gratuitous.
Giles Milton is a skilled historical writer who makes history live again.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- christopher ward
- 18-01-19
Spoiled a bit by the narrator
Didn't think much to the narrator, he tried to be dramatic but ended up just being annoying, would have done better with a proper actor. Apart from that really enjoyed it.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Graham Taylor
- 21-03-21
well done
good morning read International background research just like the film. good narrative easily accessible 😀
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