The invasion of Normandy was the most significant victory of the Allies in the Second World War. By 1944, over 2 million troops from over 12 countries were in Britain in preparation for the invasion. These forces consisted primarily of American, British and Canadian troops but also included Australian, Belgian, Czech, Dutch, French, Greek, New Zealand, Norwegian, Rhodesian and Polish naval, air or ground support. The operation was codenamed "Overlord" which saw the largest invasion fleet ever assembled, before or since, landing 156,000 Allied troops on five beach-heads on D-Day 6 June 1944. These forces established a foothold on the shores of Northern France, and broke out into the French interior to begin a headlong advance. D-Day was originally set for June 5 but had to be postponed for 24 hours because of bad weather. The forecast was so bad that the German commander in Normandy, Erwin Rommel, went home to give his wife a pair of shoes on her birthday. He was in Germany when the news came. British factories increased production and in the first half of 1944 approximately 9 million tonnes of supplies and equipment crossed the Atlantic from North America to Britain. Bagpiper, Bill Millin struck up 'Hieland Laddie' as soon as he jumped into the shallows and then walked up and down the beach playing the pipes. German prisoners later admitted that they had not attempted to shoot him because they thought he had lost his mind. The British infantryman was paid GBP3 15s a month, the Americans got GBP12. A naval bombardment from seven battleships, 18 cruisers, and 43 destroyers began at 5am and went on until 6.25am. On the night of the invasion only around 15% of paratroopers landed in the right place. New gadgets designed for D-Day included a "swimming tank" and a flame throwing tank called "the crocodile". There were even collapsible motorbikes. The morning after D-day the police raided a brothel, which French women had set up in a wrecked landing craft. 1,900 Allied bombers attacked German lines before the invasion began. Seven million pounds of bombs were dropped that day. A total of 10,521 combat aircraft flew a total of 15,000 sorties on D-Day. All this and much more is uncovered in a range of informative and detailed events spanning this most significant event in military history; biographies, fun facts, myth busters and illustrated throughout with infographics and contemporary photographs.

How much can you really find out about the Weapons of the First World War in five minutes? This handy little history book will surpass all your expectations and leave you well versed on all you wish to know, and maybe even a little bit more... What was the deadliest weapon? Why did officers refuse to carry pistols? How was gas fired at the enemy? And how successful was it? How did tanks get their name? Jam-packed with facts and first-hand accounts of the action, all woven together in an accessible way by an expert in the field, this 5 Minute History is a valuable addition to anyone's bookshelf, ready to be delved into at a moment's notice.

These are the stories of fourteen men whose lives were changed the day that telegram arrived. In 1914 they were accountants, shopkeepers and labourers. When they were called to arms they became soldiers, sailors and airmen, fighting in the mud of the trenches, navigating the high seas or flying in the very first aerial war. Miles from their homes and families, they were pushed to their very limits and forever changed by what they experienced. Not all of them came back again. In Heroes of World War I Scott Addington tells the long-forgotten stories of fourteen brave men who rallied for their country. The voice of the ordinary soldier is typically overlooked by memories and histories of the First World War, and so this book is a tribute to them.

This guide has been written specifically for people with little or no prior knowledge of the First World War and will be an ideal introduction to what can be a very complicated and daunting subject. Written in an engaging way, this is more like a chat down the pub rather than a heavy historical text, and with short, sharp chapters it is very easy to dive in and out without having to re-read the previous five pages in an effort to remember where you were last time. For anyone looking for an entertaining and informative overview of The First World War, this Layman's Guide provides just enough detail to gain a good grounding of knowledge and understanding, without the reader becoming overwhelmed with detail and complexity