Some D-Day Reading

Posted on June 6, 2011 by Smithsonian Digital Library

Here are some featured titles from the National Museum of American History Library for the 67th anniversary of D-Day.

D-day: the Battle for Normandy. Antony Beevor. Viking, 2009.

Summary:

From critically acclaimed world historian Antony Beevor, this is the first major account in more than twenty years to cover the whole invasion from June 6, 1944, right up to the liberation of Paris on August 25. It is the first book to describe not only the experiences of the American, British, Canadian, and German soldiers, but also the terrible suffering of the French caught up in the fighting.

Contents:

The decision — Bearing the cross of Lorraine — Watch on the Channel — Sealing off the invasion area — The airborne assault — The armada crosses — Omaha — Utah and the airborne — Gold and Juno — Sword — Securing the beachheads — Failure at Caen — Villers-Bocage — The Americans on the Cotentin Peninsula — Operation Epsom — The battle of the Bocage — Caen and the Hill of Calvary — The final battle for Saint-Lô — Operation Goodwood — The plot against Hitler — Operation Cobra : breakthrough — Operation Cobra : breakout — Brittany and Operation Bluecoat — The Mortain counter-attack — Operation Totalize — The hammer and anvil — The killing ground of the Falaise pocket — The Paris uprising and the race for the Seine — The Liberation of Paris — Aftermath.

Subject:

World War, 1939-1945 — Campaigns — France — Normandy.

Normandy (France) — History, Military — 20th century.

D756.5.N6 B387 2009

D-day : Operation Overlord: from the landing at Normandy to the liberation of Paris, foreword by Winston S. Churchill. Smithmark, 1993.

Subject:

World War, 1939-1945 — Campaigns — France — Normandy

Operation Overlord

World War, 1939-1945 — Campaigns — France

Normandy (France) — History, Military

q D756.5.N6 D45 1993X

Library Journal: In 11 chapters, nine military historians here deliver descriptions and analyses of the Allied actions that marked the turning point in Hitler's occupation of Europe. Determined German resistance could not stop the overwhelming tide of men and machines coming onto French beaches, and some of the bitterest fighting of the war occurred here. Mixed throughout the text are copious maps, charts, and color and black-and-white illustrations of uniforms, equipment, documents, and a host of other items laid out in museum fashion . These artifacts lend haunting reality to the words, making this work more significant that just a historical account of the conflict. The effective combination of approaches gives the reader a vivid picture of this vast military event. Recommended for public libraries.– Mel D. Lane, Sacramento, Cal.

Dawn of D-day: these men were there: June 6, 1944. David Howarth; with a new introduction by Stephen Howarth. Skyhorse Pub., 2008.

Publisher description http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0660/2004444397-d.html

Subject:

World War, 1939-1945 — Campaigns — France — Normandy.

World War, 1939-1945 — Personal narratives, American.

Normandy (France) — History, Military.

D756.5.N6 H694 2008

—Chris Cottrill

“Remember Pearl Harbor”

Posted on December 7, 2010 by Smithsonian Digital Library

Today is Pearl Harbor Day. The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History Library has many items in its collections about this fateful day. We included some in our post, Pearl Harbor Day, last year. We'd like to share a few others from the collection this year, as well:

Resurrection: salvaging the battle fleet at Pearl Harbor, Daniel Madsen. [It concerns the enormous task of ship salvage and rebuilding the base.]

Long day's journey into war: December 7, 1941, Stanley Weintraub. [It reports each hour of December 7th in Hawaii and around the world.]

—Chris Cottrill and Elizabeth Periale

Image: Remember Pearl Harbor Lapel Pin, from The Price of Freedom: Americans at War.

After the 7 December 1941 bombing of the military base at Pearl Harbor, Americans rallied around the war effort with the patriotic cry, "Remember Pearl Harbor." Thousands of buttons or lapel pins were distributed to remind Americans of the tragic event and to solidify the war efforts.

D-Day the Sixth of June

Posted on June 6, 2010 by Smithsonian Digital Library

Belt Life Preserver, Armed Forces History, Division of History of Technology, National Museum of American History, Master Tire and Rubber Company (Manufacturer)