The first of two books in the 18-volume official British History of the Second World War dealing with D-Day and its consequences: the liberation of German-occupied western Europe in 1944-45. This volume begins by describing the origins and development of Operation Overlord - the ambitious Anglo-American plan to invade Normandy. With subsidiary sections on such subjects as the French Resistance, attempts to assassinate Hitler, and new technology, - including the artificial Mulberry harbours, - the authors describe D-Day itself with its airborne assaults, naval bombardment and seaborne landings on Gold, Juno, Sword, Utah and Omaha beaches. They narrate the hard fighting as the Allies secure their bridgehead and push inland, capturing Cherbourg and Caen, and enveloping the main German defending armies at the battle of the Falaise Gap. The book culminates with the liberation of Paris at the end of August, and ends with Eisenhower and Montgomery poised to cross the Rhine. Supported by ten appendices on the forces engaged, the book is lavishly illustrated with 5 general maps, 20 situation maps, 26 sketch maps and diagrams, and 63 photographs.