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KenchiSulla -> OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (7/25/2016 11:53:20 AM)

Hey guys... Please allow me to tap into the collective knowledge of this forum.. Any recommendations on mentioned subject? I've got a few weeks of vacation [8D]

The only book I own on the subject:

D-Day: The Battle for Normandy
by Antony Beevor




AlessandroD -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (7/25/2016 12:38:47 PM)

I really like these books, D-Day Then and Now vol. 1-2, also the Market Garden ones are very enjoyable.

Not so handy if you want to travel although [:D]



Encircled -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (7/25/2016 2:02:18 PM)

Beavors is good to be fair.

Max Hastings "Overlord" is good as well



m10bob -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (7/25/2016 2:21:49 PM)

Joseph Balkoski wrote a series of books covering the deeds of the 29th Infantry Division, (which had 2 RCT's land on Omaha Beach.)
I am proud to say my dad is mentioned in the series and he did of course survive that terrible campaign.

Just go to Amazon.com and search by his name.
IMHO he is WAY more accurate on the subject than was Mr Ambrose, (another fine writer).

Here is the LCI 91 my dad rode most of the way that morning.

[image]local://upfiles/7909/2B668A7E36F745CFA276A9D98967A30A.jpg[/image]



patrickl -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (7/25/2016 2:32:16 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: m10bob

Joseph Balkoski wrote a series of books covering the deeds of the 29th Infantry Division, (which had 2 RCT's land on Omaha Beach.)
I am proud to say my dad is mentioned in the series and he did of course survive that terrible campaign.

Just go to Amazon.com and search by his name.
IMHO he is WAY more accurate on the subject than was Mr Ambrose, (another fine writer).

Here is the LCI 91 my dad rode most of the way that morning.

[image]local://upfiles/7909/2B668A7E36F745CFA276A9D98967A30A.jpg[/image]


Glad your dad made it. The LCI was sinking.[X(][:(]



Macclan5 -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (7/25/2016 2:41:57 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Encircled

Beavors is good to be fair.



Yes.. agreed.. and you actually captured my thoughts perfectly

Anthony Brevor - D Day the Battle for Normandy.

Enjoyed the book. Well organized. Nice detail. Not a lot of new insights. A chapter about the plot against Hitler is woven into the narrative vis a vis Cobra / Goodwood. Fair character assessments of Monty / Patton.

It was 'good' to be fair. Not spectacular but good.

I had read Breavor's book following D day by Stephen Ambrose and it covers a lot of the same ground.

Of course Ambrose's book focused slightly on the Airborne and there was a lot more detail about the challenges of the 82nd and the 101st. Ambrose's D Day book would form the tentative basis leading into Band of Brothers i.e. post Normandy so if you read Ambrose follow through with Bank of Brothers i.e the Book - not just the DVD video.

Both are interesting and worth a read ~ not spectacular but good.




jmalter -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (7/25/2016 2:43:01 PM)

Try 'Cross Channel Attack', by Gordon Harrison.

My copy is a republication by Konecky & Konecky of the USArmy official history, w/ very decent maps. I got it cheap from a remainder store.

Good strategic overview of Allied & German planning, the pre-invasion bombing campaign & the airborne assault, but only on the USArmy (Utah/Omaha) efforts. It covers operations up to 01 July 44 (fall of Cherbourg).



m10bob -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (7/25/2016 2:46:42 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: patrickl


quote:

ORIGINAL: m10bob

Joseph Balkoski wrote a series of books covering the deeds of the 29th Infantry Division, (which had 2 RCT's land on Omaha Beach.)
I am proud to say my dad is mentioned in the series and he did of course survive that terrible campaign.

Just go to Amazon.com and search by his name.
IMHO he is WAY more accurate on the subject than was Mr Ambrose, (another fine writer).

Here is the LCI 91 my dad rode most of the way that morning.

[image]local://upfiles/7909/2B668A7E36F745CFA276A9D98967A30A.jpg[/image]


Glad your dad made it. The LCI was sinking.[X(][:(]

Yes, he went swimming that morning, under fire from where you see the LCI to the beach in the background.
Within a week or so, most of the D Day vets of his division were dead.



patrickl -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (7/25/2016 3:07:16 PM)

Wars are terrible. Your dad served America well.



KenchiSulla -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (7/25/2016 4:42:16 PM)

What was your dads name M10Bob? First purchase I made is beyond the beachhead by Joseph Balkoski..

Who wrote Cross Channel Attack?



krishub1492 -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (7/25/2016 7:15:46 PM)

I would suggest Carlo D'Este's book about the Normandy campaign.

https://www.amazon.com/Decision-Normandy-Carlo-DEste/dp/1568522606



warspite1 -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (7/26/2016 1:27:43 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: KenchiSulla

Hey guys... Please allow me to tap into the collective knowledge of this forum.. Any recommendations on mentioned subject? I've got a few weeks of vacation [8D]

The only book I own on the subject:

D-Day: The Battle for Normandy
by Antony Beevor


warspite1

Six Armies In Normandy (Keegan)

Many years since I read it but this, iirc, is pretty damn good.



m10bob -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (7/26/2016 3:11:13 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: KenchiSulla

What was your dads name M10Bob? First purchase I made is beyond the beachhead by Joseph Balkoski..

Who wrote Cross Channel Attack?



I've shared this in past:

http://29infantrydivision.org/WWII-Stories/Clark_Robert_F.htm



LargeSlowTarget -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (7/26/2016 8:13:46 PM)

Older but good : "The longest day" by Cornelius Ryan.



CaptBeefheart -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (7/27/2016 3:50:05 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: m10bob


quote:

ORIGINAL: KenchiSulla

What was your dads name M10Bob? First purchase I made is beyond the beachhead by Joseph Balkoski..

Who wrote Cross Channel Attack?



I've shared this in past:

http://29infantrydivision.org/WWII-Stories/Clark_Robert_F.htm


Great story. We owe a lot to those men who landed on June 6, 1944.

Cheers,
CC



KenchiSulla -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (7/27/2016 10:47:39 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: m10bob


quote:

ORIGINAL: KenchiSulla

What was your dads name M10Bob? First purchase I made is beyond the beachhead by Joseph Balkoski..

Who wrote Cross Channel Attack?



I've shared this in past:

http://29infantrydivision.org/WWII-Stories/Clark_Robert_F.htm


Thanks, I'll save the link



Uncivil Engineer -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (7/27/2016 12:54:38 PM)

Two books I have and thought very interesting, dealing ONLY with the 24 hours of D-Day are:

Omaha Beach, by Joseph Balkoski, and
Utah Beach, same author.

I bought the first at the West Point bookstore; not sure where I got the other.



HansBolter -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (7/27/2016 1:19:44 PM)

I recommend one written from the perspective of the Germans:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/12th-SS-Division-Stackpole-Military/dp/0811731995

It was written by the Chief of Staff of the division.

In fact I highly recommend all of the Stackpole series written by former German soldiers.
Very enlightening material:

Grenadiers: The story of Waffen SS General Kurt "Panzer" Meyer
Michael Whittman and the Waffen SS Tiger Commanders of the Leibstandarte in WW II (volumes 1 & 2)
Tigers in the Mud
Panzer Aces One and Two
Infantry Aces


Disclaimer: These cover more than Normandy

Also recommend Forging the Thunderbolt. Another Stackpole release that tells the story of US tank development 1917-1945.



rustysi -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (8/3/2016 11:14:32 PM)

Just found this book recommended by Robert M. Citino, hope its not too late. Normandy 1944 German Military Organization, Combat Power and Organizational Effectiveness, Niklas Zetterling. "You can't discuss German performance in any real sense unless you have read Normandy 1944. This one is for the hard core only." According to Mr. Citino.



oaltinyay -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (8/4/2016 7:00:16 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Encircled

Beavors is good to be fair.

Max Hastings "Overlord" is good as well



Second that... Good starter.



Panther Bait -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (8/4/2016 3:04:55 PM)

Steel Inferno by Michael Reynolds

It's more about the British attempts to take Caen and breakout from Normandy than the actual invasion and centered around the role of the 1st SS Panzer Corps. Overall, I liked Reynolds writing style a lot.

P.S. Bring your own maps though. From what I remember, the maps in the book were pretty sparse/bad. Not as big a deal these days, as you can have better maps open on a tablet or other device while you read.



HansBolter -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (8/4/2016 3:16:09 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Panther Bait

Steel Inferno by Michael Reynolds

It's more about the British attempts to take Caen and breakout from Normandy than the actual invasion and centered around the role of the 1st SS Panzer Corps. Overall, I liked Reynolds writing style a lot.

P.S. Bring your own maps though. From what I remember, the maps in the book were pretty sparse/bad. Not as big a deal these days, as you can have better maps open on a tablet or other device while you read.



I'm a big fan of Reynolds work and highly recommend it.

He was a commander of NATO troops stationed in Belgium and developed and interest in the battles that took place there, deciding to write about them.

His books that cover the Bulge are excellent.

I highly recommend the following titles by him:

Men of Steel
Sons of the Reich
The Devil's Adjutant



m10bob -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (8/4/2016 3:16:17 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Panther Bait

Steel Inferno by Michael Reynolds

It's more about the British attempts to take Caen and breakout from Normandy than the actual invasion and centered around the role of the 1st SS Panzer Corps. Overall, I liked Reynolds writing style a lot.

P.S. Bring your own maps though. From what I remember, the maps in the book were pretty sparse/bad. Not as big a deal these days, as you can have better maps open on a tablet or other device while you read.



I can also recommend Steel Inferno...Great writing and these poor guys immediately came under fire from German Tiger 88's.



HansBolter -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (8/4/2016 3:20:50 PM)

Here is one by Reynolds that I haven't read, but appears to be just what you're looking for:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1126304.Eagles_and_Bulldogs_in_Normandy_1944



KenchiSulla -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (8/4/2016 9:27:14 PM)

Finished beyond the beachhead. Enjoyed it. Purchased the volume on the Brest campaign which is equally impressive. What a slugfest... i have six armies on standby. I will have to look into a few books from the german perspective



Panther Bait -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (8/5/2016 3:48:02 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Here is one by Reynolds that I haven't read, but appears to be just what you're looking for:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1126304.Eagles_and_Bulldogs_in_Normandy_1944


Thanks Hans, I've never heard of that one. Men of Steel, Sons of the Reich, and Devil's Adjutant have been on my reading list for a while. Now I have another addition.

Mike



Reg -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (8/6/2016 1:38:28 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Six Armies In Normandy (Keegan)

Many years since I read it but this, iirc, is pretty damn good.



This one came recommended when I went went looking a while back...




bush -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (8/10/2016 4:02:01 AM)

Another vote for Steel Inferno.



JDL -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (8/11/2016 10:33:47 PM)

For a view from the other side try Panzer commander by hans von luck. It covers his whole war service which included the Normandy campaign.



sprior -> RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign (8/12/2016 1:13:13 PM)

This is a good back about the British experiences around Caen: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Caen-Anvil-Victory-Alexander-McKee/dp/028563559X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471003934&sr=8-1&keywords=caen+anvil+of+victory

As an fyi he was also involved in the raising of the Mary Rose.



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