{"product_id":"normandy-the-sailors-story-a-naval-history-of-d-day-and-the-battle-for-france-9780300281095","title":"Normandy: The Sailors' Story: A Naval History of D-Day and the Battle for France","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"Nick Hewitt has achieved the impossible. He has re-told the story of D-Day in a way that transforms our understanding of that Day of Days.\"--Dan Snow\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"A superb account.\"--Simon Heffer, \u003ci\u003eTelegraph, \u003c\/i\u003eBest History Books 2024 \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e The first account of the Allied navies' vital contribution to the success of the D-Day landings and the Normandy campaign \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e The Allied liberation of Nazi-occupied Europe is one of the most widely recognised events of modern history. The assault phase, Operation Neptune, began with the D-Day landings in Normandy--one of the most complex amphibious operations in history, involving 7,000 ships and nearly 200,000 men. But despite this immense effort, the wider naval campaign has been broadly forgotten. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Nick Hewitt draws on fascinating new material to describe the violent sea battle which mirrored the fighting on land, and the complex campaign at sea which enabled the Allied assault. Aboard ships ranging from frail plywood landing craft to sleek destroyers, sailors were active combatants in the operation of June 1944, and had worked tirelessly to secure the Seine Bay in the months preceding it. They fought battles against German submarines, aircraft, and warships, and maintained careful watch to keep control of the English Channel. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Hewitt recounts these sailors' stories for the first time--and shows how, without their efforts, D-Day would have failed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNick Hewitt\u003c\/b\u003e is a naval historian working for Orkney Islands Council. Formerly head of collections and research at the National Museum of the Royal Navy, he is the author of \u003ci\u003eFiring on Fortress Europe\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eCoastal Convoys\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThe Kaiser's Pirates\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Yale University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51259897348370,"sku":"9780300281095","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_e7fe41a7-bd9c-4706-b83d-8bd005163381.jpg?v=1746631659","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/normandy-the-sailors-story-a-naval-history-of-d-day-and-the-battle-for-france-9780300281095","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}