Cornelius Ryan was renowned for his immersive approach to chronicling wartime events. His works are characterized by meticulous research, often involving interviews with participants from all sides of conflicts. Ryan focused on the human element of war, highlighting the experiences of individuals caught within its scope. His ability to translate vast historical occurrences into compelling narratives cemented his legacy as a significant war correspondent and historian.
This deluxe collector's edition commemorates the 75th anniversary of D-Day by bringing together two significant works of military history. It offers readers an in-depth exploration of the events surrounding this pivotal moment in World War II, highlighting the strategies, battles, and personal stories that defined the day. The edition is designed for enthusiasts and collectors alike, providing a rich historical context and an engaging narrative that captures the bravery and sacrifice of those involved.
The classic account of the final offensive against Hitler's Third Reich.The Battle for Berlin was the culminating struggle of World War II in the European theater, the last offensive against Hitler's Third Reich, which devastated one of Europe's historic capitals and marked the final defeat of Nazi Germany. It was also one of the war's bloodiest and most pivotal battles, whose outcome would shape international politics for decades to come.Cornelius Ryan's compelling account of this final battle is a story of brutal extremes, of stunning military triumph alongside the stark conditions that the civilians of Berlin experienced in the face of the Allied assault. As always, Ryan delves beneath the military and political forces that were dictating events to explore the more immediate imperatives of survival, where, as the author describes it, “to eat had become more important than to love, to burrow more dignified than to fight, to exist more militarily correct than to win.”It is the story of ordinary people, both soldiers and civilians, caught up in the despair, frustration, and terror of defeat. It is history at its best, a masterful illumination of the effects of war on the lives of individuals, and one of the enduring works on World War II.
The unparalleled, classic work of history that recreates the battle that changed World War II—the Allied invasion of Normandy. The Longest Day is Cornelius Ryan’s unsurpassed account of D-Day, a book that endures as a masterpiece of military history. In this compelling tale of courage and heroism, glory and tragedy, Ryan painstakingly recreates the fateful hours that preceded and followed the massive invasion of Normandy to retell the story of an epic battle that would turn the tide against world fascism and free Europe from the grip of Nazi Germany. This book, first published in 1959, is a must for anyone who loves history, as well as for anyone who wants to better understand how free nations prevailed at a time when darkness enshrouded the earth.
Shortly before the inevitable Allied assault on Fortress Europe in 1944, Field-Marshal Erwin Rommel remarked to an aide The first 24 hours of the invasion will be decisive... For the Allies, as well as for Germany, it will be the longest day.
