THE LIGHT OF BATTLE

A new biography of Dwight Eisenhower that concentrates on the months leading up to June 6, 1944, when Allied forces landed at Normandy.

Human rights lawyer Paradis, author of Last Mission to Tokyo, begins his meticulously documented book in the previous fall when, under Eisenhower’s leadership, Allied armies had taken longer than expected to defeat the Wehrmacht in North Africa and were now stalled after the invasion of Italy. The author writes that the buildup for a spring 1944 invasion of Europe was already underway, but its commander remained a matter of debate. Most readers know how it turned out, and Paradis does not attempt to compete with authoritative biographies by Stephen Ambrose or Carlo D’Este, but he capably narrates a compelling story of the maddening months during which Eisenhower oversaw the organization of Operation Overlord. During this period, he did not command forces in the field, but the author’s vivid account of his fierce battles over logistics, personnel, and the expansion of his authority shows how Eisenhower possessed more talent than he demonstrated in combat—and may explain his chain-smoking, insomnia, nightmares, and “trying to keep up with Churchill’s drinking.” Eisenhower also dealt with French leader Charles De Gaulle, even as Franklin Roosevelt was “suspicious that Churchill was intent on installing De Gaulle as a kind of Cromwell for France.” Unlike Roosevelt, Churchill energetically promoted his military ideas which, when accepted, were often disastrous. Everyone believed that four years of Nazi occupation had produced enormous, deadly “Atlantic Wall” defenses, so even a massive effort might fail. In reality, despite difficulties at Omaha Beach, landings at the other locations proceeded smoothly, and there was less planning and more difficulties in the weeks afterward. Paradis is an engaging guide to this key period in both U.S. and European history.

An ingenious look at perhaps the most important six months in Eisenhower’s career.