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Books, Films and Podcasts

Many people like to watch and read relevant material before their visit to enhance their understanding – pre Normandy “homework”! You are spoilt for choice – if your favourites are missing form our list please let us know about them by using the CONTACT form page.

Books, booklets and leaflets

Little stories around DDay and the Battle of Normandy

To mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings and the Battle of Normandy, Normandy Tourism has produced a guide book featuring 80 short original and surprising stories about life in 1944, including key places linked to the D-Day landings and the extraordinary destinies of men and women who came out of the shadows.

World War II Waterproofing and Wading in Weymouth:  Mike & Ann Jones

This publication details  activities preparing the vehicles for the D-Day landings on the Normandy beaches during WW2.
Ted served as a project sergeant at M.E.13 No.1 Experimental Workshop R.E.M.E. (Wading) Weymouth during WW2, where he and a team of over 50 men, had sole responsibility for experimental trials and the waterproofing of wheeled military vehicles. My wife and I have launched the book this year to specifically commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings on the Normandy beaches.
 There are no other books in the marketplace or in museums that specifically cover the precise detail of the role of M.E.13 No.1 Experimental Workshop R.E.M.E. (Wading) Weymouth during WW2. This is the first book to cover the detailed, specific, and important role that M.E.13 No.1 Experimental Workshop R.E.M.E. (Wading) Weymouth performed during WW2.
Renowned World War Two historian James Holland and our MVT Patron presents an entirely new perspective on one of the most important moments in recent history, unflinchingly examining the brutality and violence that characterised the campaign, and totally recalibrating our understanding of this momentous event.
Overlord by Max Hastings’ acclaimed account overturns many traditional legends in this memorable study. Drawing together the eyewitness accounts of survivors from both sides, plus a wealth of previously untapped sources and documents, Overlord provides a brilliant, controversial perspective on the devastating battle for Normandy.

Books - US Airbourne operations:

Currahee!: A Screaming Eagle at Normandy - By Donald R. Burgett
The author, a member of the Screaming Eagles of the 101st Airborne Division, describes his experiences in Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge and the close combat under difficult winter conditions and a lack of supplies. 
Tonight We Die As Men: The untold story of Third Battalion 506 Parachute Infantry Regiment from Tocchoa to D-Day - By Ian Gardner
The exploits of the 3rd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment have long been overshadowed by those of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion. Yet the actions of the 3rd Battalion during the D-Day landings were every bit as incredible. This is the astounding story of how, after suffering many immediate casualties on landing, the surviving paratroopers fought on towards their objective against horrendous odds. ​
Various Books - By Mark Bando
101st specialist

Films:

For a really useful critique of the best and worst DDay films ranked by historians try this article from Sky
Band of Brothers – The HBO miniseries that immortalised Richard Winters and Easy Company – Episodes 2 “Day of Days” and Episode 3 “Carentan” feature Normandy but Episode 1 sets the scene and gives a vital insight into the training and preparation – and the personalities of the men.

Websites:

Atlantik wall -best source of information about the Wall and especially WNs - if you use their search bar - the normal menu is not user friendly

Podcasts:

We Have Ways of Making you Talk

3 phone apps to help you discover  DDAY

There are  3 free web applications with dozens of audio testimonies, archival images and videos, to help you make the most of your visit: .

  • D-Day App is a free app to visit the Normandy Landing Beaches through thirty points of interest. From Utah Beach to Sword Beach, discover the history of the D-Day with a complete audio guide and a retrospective map
  • In their Footsteps : Their names are Léonard, Thomas and Françoise. They tell their memories of 1944: the occupation, the wait for the landing, the sounds and smells of D-Day, the meeting with the Canadian soldiers…
  • Remem’ Bernières : About thirty photos of time on external supports mark out the 2 geolocalized circuits : ” They disembarked ” and ” they liberated our village “. An arrowing in the commune makes it possible to follow step by step the course of the soldiers in Bernières-sur-Mer.
If you have any recommendations please contribute to our community and let us know