IT was the most massive, complex and spectacular amphibious assault ever attempted, the long-awaited turning point in the bloodiest and most savage war in history.

But when 7,000 ships, 11,000 aircraft, and 150,000 troops converged on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944, the outcome of the attack, code-named "Operation Overlord", was far from certain.

In his book D-Day, one of the foremost historians of the 20th century, Martin Gilbert, provides an incisive and dramatic account of the strategic planning, in-fighting, invention, deception, and hard work that led up to that momentous day. Through first hand accounts of the battle, he also captures the horror and heroism of D-Day, from daring paratrooper attacks behind enemy lines, to grim determination under withering fire on the beachheads.

Gilbert offers a wealth of new and detailed information on the Allies' use of double agents and phantom armies to fool Hitler and his generals into believing that the Normandy invasion was a mere diversion in preparation for a bigger assault elsewhere.

In D-Day, Gilbert also introduces us to many of the extraordinary people whose confidence, ingenuity and courage were crucial to the success of the mission.

Complete with 27 especially prepared maps, D-Day offers a fascinating and inspiring account that sheds new light on one of the greatest achievements in military history.

After D-Day the advances were won in bitter battles through the beaches, and towns of Normandy, which left a permanent mark on the land. Today, coastal Normandy is still dotted with German bunkers and anti-tank devices which formed part of their Atlantic Wall defences.

In D-Day: Normandy Revisited, 100 haunting modern photographs of D-Day landmarks are contrasted with archival images - shot in the immediate aftermath of the landings. This pictorial record is complemented by Richard Bougaardt's observations and historical commentary.

In Normandy 1944: The Road to Victory by Richard Doherty we are again reminded that D-Day was much more than a day-long operation. He looks at how the Allied Liberation Armies were created and trained in Britain, the logistical build-up, the huge armada needed to take the armies to France and the co-ordination of support from the air forces. The scale and timing of it all is still awesome 60 years later.

Despite the immense bravery of those who hit the beaches on D-Day, there was only one Victoria Cross winner - Company Sergeant Major Stanley Hollis who was, uniquely, twice recommended for this coveted award on that day. Mike Morgan's book D-Day Hero: CSM Stanley Hollis VC looks at the military career and actions of the man behind the medal.

From D-Day fact to D-Day fiction and Peter Tsouras's book Disaster at D-Day: The Germans Defeat The Allies, June 1944. It's a gripping story of what might have been and how the outcome we all know about could so easily have gone the other way if things like the weather had been worse, certain units had been repositioned, orders misjudged and German top commanders like Rommel had been able to act more effectively.

D-Day by Martin Gilber (Wiley, £13 99)

D-Day: Normandy Revisited by Richard Bougaardt (Chaucer Press, £20)

Normandy 1944: The Road To Victory by Richard Doherty (Spellmount, £25)

D-Day Hero: CSM Stanley Hollis VC by Mike Morgan (Sutton, £16 99)

Disaster at D-Day: The Germans Defeat The Allies, June 1944 by Peter Tsouras (Greenhill Books, £12 99).