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On June 6, 1944, the Western Allied forces invaded the beaches of Normandy in Operation Overlord, the West’s last ditch effort to curb the reign of terror orchestrated by Nazi Germany. That fateful day spearheaded the fall of the Third Reich and the victory of the Allies, becoming a part of military history remembered as D-Day. This is the historical account of the events leading to and culminating in Operation Deadstick, the story of the men who prevailed in the face of insurmountable odds. This is the story of The Longest Day. Summary of the Book In 1944, the Allies decided to take the war to the Germans. They orchestrated a plan which would either ruin them entirely or win them the war. It was kept secret and was put into motion on June 6, 1944. The Allies aimed to land troops along five different beaches in Normandy, France. The area was densely populated by German troops who had set up heavy bunkers to stand up to any invasion. The British troops were to land on Sword Beach and needed an exit eastwards to allow them to mobilize almost immediately after securing the beach. However, there were only two road bridges which could let them across the River Orne and the Caen Canal. Both bridges were heavily guarded by German troops and rigged to blow. The mission was named Operation Deadstick, and it was one of the most critical steps related to Operation Overlord, the famous Normandy landings. This operation was entrusted to the men of 'D' Company, 2nd (Airborne) Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, part of the 6th Airborne Division. The forces consisted of a reinforced company of six infantry platoons and an attached platoon of Royal Engineers. They had to use six Airspeed Horsa gliders to fly from the South of England to Normandy in a great exhibition of aerial prowess to complete the plan. This is their story, and the story of human triumph against crippling odds. About Cornelius Ryan Cornelius Ryan was an Irish journalist and military historian. Among his other notable books are The Last Battle and A Bridge Too Far. This book was adapted into a 1962 war film starring John Wayne, Robert Ryan and Richard Burton. The film won Academy Awards for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White and Best Effects, Special Effects. It was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White and Best Film Editing.