A chronicle of the first twenty-four hours of the D-Day invasion shares the perspectives of a diverse range of Allied, German, and French contributors to explore the conflict's strategic mastery and human realities.

Part I: Know thy enemy. Behind enemy lines ; Atlantic wall ; The weather report ; Codebreaking -- Part II: Midnight. The midnight hour ; At German headquarters ; Landing by moonlight -- Part III: The night. Sainte-Mère-Église ; Night assault ; First light -- Part IV: Dawn. On Utah beach ; In coastal waters ; Omaha ; Easy red -- Part V: Foothold. Gold ; Juno ; Cliff-top guns ; The mad bastard -- Part VI: Towards noon. Deadlock on Omaha ; Cracks in the wall ; Race to the bridge -- Part VII: Afternoon. The bombing of Caen ; Counter-attack ; Victory at Omaha -- Part VIII: Win or lose. Frontier fighting ; Panzer attack ; Twilight ; Night.