“The Longest Day” by Cornelius Ryan Essay Example

barbed wire, machine gun nests, and beach obstacles. Ryan (1994) explains that the invasion was prompted by the need to quickly overcome obstacles and invade the coast. According to Ryan's account, over 550,000 men landed on the Normandy beaches after June 6th, illustrating the magnitude of the operation and the support provided to combat troops. The author also delves into the complications faced during the invasion. Additionally, Ryan (1994) examines accounts from individuals to shed light on the five landings.The author's use of personal accounts in recounting the events serves as evidence that supports the overall narrative. These accounts align with other scholars' perspectives on the invasion, such as "GI's War" and the "Poker Game." While the text lacks coherence and context regarding the reasons behind the invasion's success, it successfully weaves together various stories to provide a solid depiction of the battle's timeline. One notable strength is that the author introduces readers to the soldiers who offer their firsthand experiences of the war. Through a thorough analysis of Ryan's work, it becomes evident that he provides a detailed account of the invasion, utilizing firsthand testimonies from soldiers present at the war. Additionally, Ryan collaborated with other researchers who conducted extensive research to contribute to the book. Although footnotes are not extensively provided, references are made to acknowledge the sources of information, enhancing the completion of the narrative.Historical records indicate that researchers devoted nearly four years to locating survivors of the D-Day invasion, in order to gather their firsthand testimonies for Ryan’s work. Consequently, the researchers had to reach out to survivors from various countries including Great Britain, Germany, France, and the United States. Noteworthy

individuals who assisted the author with his documentation of the invasion include Richard Nelson Gale, Maxwell D. Taylor (a general), Frederick E. Morgan (a Lieutenant General), and James M. Gavin (also a Lieutenant General). Among the German officers who collaborated with the author were Franz Halder, Gunther Blumentritt, and Hellmuth Lang. Examining the book’s bibliography indicates that the author conducted extensive research by consulting war diaries, post-action reports from Germany, official records, and histories. There are several reasons why I consider the sources used by the author to be of high quality. Firstly, the utilization of firsthand accounts from survivors lends credibility to the narrative; those providing their accounts could not fabricate stories, and any conflicting information could be verified through questioning multiple survivors. Secondly, the author relied on sources such as bibliographies and histories, which provided authentic accounts from individuals involved in the invasion. Additionally, some of these bibliographies were composed based on firsthand experiences.The author's sources, which include war diaries and post action reports from Germany, are stored by governments and thus provide a reliable account of what happened during the invasion. The book, "The Longest Day" by Cornelius Ryan, delves into the events of the first day of WWII and the invasion of Normandy. Ryan begins by introducing Field Marshall Erwin Rommel, who played a crucial role in repelling the invasion at the "Atlantic Wall". The book reveals that 550,000 men landed on the Normandy beaches after June 6th. Using first-hand accounts, the author describes the five landings that occurred at different regions during the invasion, emphasizing the vast scale and involvement of people, artillery, and armored vehicles. By relying on these

first-hand accounts, the author ensures that the information is authentic. Extensive research was conducted to acquire accurate information about the invasion.In addition to first-hand experience, the author incorporates information from other sources such as war stories, reports from Germany, bibliographies, and histories. This demonstrates the author's dedication to their work and lends credibility to the accounts being presented. It is worth noting that the author's depiction of the war aligns with what is commonly found in other historical texts, further validating the accuracy of their accounts. For readers seeking a genuine understanding of the invasion of Normandy, this book is highly recommended.