First Wave

'History’s greatest story reinvigorated as only Alex Kershaw can' — Adam Makos, New York Times bestselling author of A Higher Call

'An absolute triumph' — James M. Scott, Pulitzer Prize Finalist and national bestselling author of Target Tokyo and Rampage

'The unforgettable human drama of history's most consequential invasion' — John C. McManus, author of The Dead and Those About to Die: D-Day—The Big Red One at Omaha Beach

Beginning in the pre-dawn darkness of June 6, 1944, The First Wave follows ten men attempting to carry out D-Day's most critical missions. Their actions would determine the fate of the invasion of Hitler's Fortress Europe.

The ten make a charismatic, unforgettable cast. They include the first American paratrooper to touch down on Normandy soil; the only British soldier that day to earn a Victoria's Cross; the Canadian brothers who led their decimated troops onto Juno Beach under withering fire; the colonel who faced the powerful 150mm guns of the Merville Battery; as well as a French commando who helped destroy German strongholds on Sword Beach. The book will give authentic voice to the invaders' enemies, the German enlisted men and officers tasked with destroying the Allies as they hit the beaches.

The result is an utterly immersive, adrenaline-driven drama, an epic of close combat and extraordinary heroism. It is the capstone of Alex Kershaw's remarkable career, built on his close friendships with D-Day survivors and his intimate understanding of the Normandy battlefield. For the seventy-fifth anniversary, here is a fresh take on the Second World War's longest day.

Praise for Alex Kershaw:

‘From the opening pages, when Kershaw...drops us into the invasion of Paris, we know that we are in good hands. This is classic narrative nonfiction, constructed and written like a thriller.’ — Chicago Tribune

‘Exceptional.... balances evocative prose with attention to detail and is a worthy addition to vibrant classics of small-unit history like Stephen Ambrose's Band of Brothers.’ — Wall Street Journal

‘Kershaw's writing is seamless. He incorporates information from a vast array of sources, but it works—you get a sense of the different voices coming into the story....A gripping read.’ — Minneapolis Star Tribune