After defeating the Germans, the two rescue French civilians whom the Nazis have trapped inside a burning church. He helps many wounded soldiers, including Dee’s friend Sid.ĭee and Sid push on inland with their fellow soldiers, where German forces ambush them in a village. He has experienced discrimination because of his race throughout his service in the army, but he maintains a caring and friendly demeanor to everyone he encounters.

Henry Allen is a 20-year-old Black American medic. Dee has a revelation about his underlying loyalty to America, and he is determined to become a US citizen if he survives the war. However, he pushes on with his fellow soldiers, and they eventually are able to leave the beach where they landed. The chaos and unexpected obstacles the Allies encounter when they begin the invasion make Dee despair of their efforts succeeding, and he wonders whether he will survive the day. However, Bill is tragically killed when the tank explodes, and Dee mourns his death. Bill meets Dee when Dee’s unit takes shelter underneath Bill’s tank.

Bill is also enamored with the idea of seeing the Bayeux tapestry in the city of Bayeux, which depicts his namesake, William the Conqueror, invading England from Normandy in 1066. James encounters French citizens whom the Nazis have been holding, which motivates him to continue on with his efforts in the war.īill Richards is a 19-year-old British tank driver who is intent on getting to the French city of Amiens to add his name beside his father’s, who served in the city in World War I. He and his fellow troops improvise an attack on a compound of buildings being held by the Nazis, and he distinguishes himself in the effort. James McKay is a 19-year-old Canadian paratrooper whose unit lands off-target from their destination. After the Nazis capture her mother, Samira helps the resistance fighters derail a Nazi train. She helps her mother deliver a message about the upcoming invasion to the French resistance fighters who are trying to sabotage the Nazis.

Samira Zadine is an 11-year-old Algerian immigrant who came to France with her parents. Dee has conflicting feelings about his heritage and worries about what his friends will think about him if they discover he’s German. Dee’s parents brought him to America after the Nazis captured his uncle. Dee is harboring a secret from his fellow soldiers: He was born in Germany and is still a German citizen. The book’s protagonist is Dee Carpenter, an American soldier from Philadelphia. This study guide refers to the Scholastic Press edition.Īllies follows six adolescent/teenage characters as they take part in the historic events of “D-Day”-June 6, 1944, the first day of the Ally forces invading German-occupied France.

Gratz allies