The capture of Pointe du Hoc on 6 June 1944 stands as one of the most spectacular events of D-Day. Two hundred and twenty-five highly trained American soldiers were entrusted with "the toughest mission," in the words of General Bradley: to scale cliffs more than thirty metres high, storm a heavily defended German position and destroy six guns capable of pouring devastating fire onto the Utah and Omaha Beach landing areas. Here is the complete account of that event. We begin with the distant origins of the Rangers at the very start of the seventeenth century and the first settlers of America. Following the formation of this elite corps of soldiers in 1942, we discover their long and gruelling training in the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as their first engagements at Dieppe, in North Africa, in Sicily and in Italy. Then comes the landing of 6 June 1944. A highly detailed account of the bombardments on Pointe du Hoc allows us to grasp the full scale of the destruction inflicted on the strongpoint in preparation for the assault. The complete account of the Rangers' incredible sea crossing to the beaches of Normandy then plunges us swiftly into the heart of Overlord. It then gives way to the fierce fighting up to 8 June, on Pointe du Hoc itself, but also all the engagements on Omaha Beach. Numerous moving testimonies, from soldiers as well as Norman civilians, allow us to enter into the very soul of the battle. After the capture of Pointe du Hoc, the future of the Rangers in Europe is revealed, along with the singular fate of some of them after the war. More than two hundred and seventy photographs, many of them previously unpublished and in high definition, together with clear maps, allow the reader to find their bearings on the battlefields. A detailed account of the bombers, landing craft and the countless equipment used in the fighting further provides a fascinating perspective for immersing oneself in the event and answering in depth many of the questions it raises.
