A brilliant reconstruction of the struggle that ravaged Normandy throughout the summer of 1944 in the wake of the D-Day landings, this work culls personal accounts of those who took part in the fighting, both Allied and German, and of the French civilians caught in one of the most terrible and heroic episodes of the Second World War. With fearful losses on both sides and unspeakable suffering for the French, who had to endure constant massive bombardments from the air, this acclaimed account re-creates a vivid portrait of the action and feelings felt by all involved. A major commemoration of the role played by the common soldiers--those who witnessed the landings and experienced the Battle for Caen--this edition includes revisions and new material and is further enhanced by archival photographs.