This study describes not only what happened from the D-Day landings in June 1944 to the surrender of Germany eleven months later, but why it happened. While an enormous amount has been written about this campaign, most of it focuses on a single army or an individual battle. Levine stresses a truly integrated approach that combines both strategy and tactics and covers the land, sea, and air efforts of both Allies and Axis. Levine deals extensively with the German side, particularly morale issues, and he includes the role played by Canadian forces - a topic usually neglected in American accounts.