The First Wave: The D-Day Warriors Who Led the Way to Victory in World War II
The First Wave: The D-Day Warriors Who Led the Way to Victory in World War II by Alex Kershaw captures the gripping and emotional stories of the soldiers who fought on June 6, 1944. It details the harrowing experiences of both paratroopers and infantrymen during the Normandy landings. Kershaw provides a powerful narrative that combines history with personal accounts, illustrating the bravery and sacrifices of the men involved. He paints vivid pictures of the chaos of battle, including the landings at Omaha Beach and the efforts to capture vital targets behind enemy lines.
Kershaw's writing style is compelling and immersive, allowing readers to feel as if they are right alongside the soldiers. He utilizes quotes from veterans to bring their experiences to life and provides context for the events that unfolded. The book also discusses the months following the invasion and reflects on the long-term impact on these courageous men. With its attention to detail and heartfelt storytelling, Kershaw's work is a tribute to those who fought and reminds readers of the scale of their heroism.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include graphic depictions of war, violence, and death, given the subject matter of D-Day.
From The Publisher:
NATIONAL BESTSELLER
Alex Kershaw, New York Times bestselling author of Against All Odds, returns with an utterly immersive, adrenaline-driven account of D-Day combat.
"Meet the assaulters: pathfinders plunging from the black, coxswains plowing the whitecaps, bareknuckle Rangers scaling sheer rock . . . Fast-paced and up close, this is history's greatest story reinvigorated as only Alex Kershaw can." -Adam Makos, New York Times bestselling author of Spearhead and A Higher Call
Beginning in the predawn darkness of June 6, 1944, The First Wave follows the remarkable men who carried out D-Day's most perilous missions. The charismatic, unforgettable cast includes the first American paratrooper to touch down on Normandy soil; the glider pilot who braved antiaircraft fire to crash-land mere yards from the vital Pegasus Bridge; the brothers who led their troops onto Juno Beach under withering fire; as well as a French commando, returning to his native land, who fought to destroy German strongholds on Sword Beach and beyond. Readers will experience the sheer grit of the Rangers who scaled Pointe du Hoc and the astonishing courage of the airborne soldiers who captured the Merville Gun Battery in the face of devastating enemy counterattacks. The first to fight when the stakes were highest and the odds longest, these men would determine the fate of the invasion of Hitler's fortress Europe-and the very history of the twentieth century.
The result is an epic of close combat and extraordinary heroism. It is the capstone Alex Kershaw's remarkable career, built on his close friendships with D-Day survivors and his intimate understanding of the Normandy battlefield. For the seventy-fifth anniversary, here is a fresh take on World War II's longest day.
Praise for The First Wave :
"Masterful... readers will feel the sting of the cold surf, smell the acrid cordite that hung in the air, and duck the zing of machine-gun bullets whizzing overhead. The First Wave is an absolute triumph." -James M. Scott, bestselling author of Target Tokyo
"These pages ooze with the unforgettable human drama of history's most consequential invasion." -John C. McManus, author of The Dead and Those About to Die
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