Normandy 1944: Allied Landings and Breakout (Campaign)

Normandy 1944: Allied Landings and Breakout (Campaign) Review

Osprey's Campaign title for the Normandy campaign of World War II (1939-1945). D-Day, 6 June 1944, saw the largest amphibious landing operation in history. From ports and harbours on the southern coast of England, an armada of troopships and landing craft launched the Allied return to mainland Europe. Stephen Badsey provides a concise account of the Normandy campaign, from the fiercely contested landings, to the struggle to capture Caen, the 'Cobra' offensive and the dramatic pursuit of the Germans to the River Seine. This was the crucial campaign of the Western theatre: after the Battle of Normandy the only question was how soon the war would end, not who would win it.

Fighting the Breakout: The German Army in Normandy from COBRA to the Falaise Gap (World War II German Debriefs)

Fighting the Breakout: The German Army in Normandy from COBRA to the Falaise Gap (World War II German Debriefs) Review

This fascinating volume charts the progress of the Allied breakout of Normandy through German eyes. Beginning with Operation COBRA and ending with the offensive which led to the liberation of Paris, this critical phase of the war in the west is examined and described by senior German officers. These, from staff officers at OKW to divisional generals on the ground, critique their performance, examine Allied superiority, and evaluate their own efforts to contain Allied forces in Normandy. They look at such key events as the counter-attack at Mortain, the American offensive, British and Canadian efforts and the sequence of events that led to the fighting around the Falaise gap. The German officers originally submitted the reports presented here to Allied intelligence efforts as part of post-war debriefing sessions. The current volume, which follows on from Fighting the Invasion and Fighting in Normandy, consists of carefully selected and edited material. Fighting the Breakout gives a broad picture of German hopes balanced with the realisation that they could not hope to contain the Allied efforts for long. With supplementary material by David C. Isby, Fighting the Breakout is a fascinating glimpse into how a defeated army sought hard to turn the tide of defeat.

Breakout at Normandy: The 2nd Armored Division in the Land of the Dead

Breakout at Normandy: The 2nd Armored Division in the Land of the Dead Review

Author Mark Bando has interviewed more than 250 members of The 2nd Armored Division, a.k.a. Hell on Wheels-the group that broke through only to find themselves trapped in one of the most terrifying, confusing, and carnage-filled battles of World War II.

Normandy: Breaching the Atlantic Wall: From D-Day to the Breakout and Liberation

Normandy: Breaching the Atlantic Wall: From D-Day to the Breakout and Liberation Review

 

Told in full, in never-before-seen detail, this is the first complete illustrated history of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of France.  The book’s on-the-ground and behind-the-scenes accounts of both the attacking Allies and the defending Germans offer a uniquely broad perspective on the Normandy landing and subsequent battles.  Dominique Francois, a noted expert on D-Day and Normandy, begins with the German’s occupation of the region, the building of the Atlantic Wall by Rommel, and preparations for the defense of the French Coast.  Moving back and forth between the Germans and the Allies, he captures the tension of the buildup on both sides, the training in England, and the aerial preparation of the battle field by U. S. Air Forces.  

 

The Dieppe Raid, the tragedy at Slapton Sands, the drama of the embarkation, the night drops, the landing--all of these are depicted in remarkable photographs and descriptions that put readers in the middle of action.  From the beaches to the breakout and race across France, this expertly told and illustrated volume makes a critical moment in WWII history real for all readers and all time.