OT: Books on the Normandy campaign

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KenchiSulla
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OT: Books on the Normandy campaign

Post by 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


AKA Cannonfodder

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AlessandroD
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RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign

Post by AlessandroD »

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]
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Encircled
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RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign

Post by Encircled »

Beavors is good to be fair.

Max Hastings "Overlord" is good as well
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m10bob
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RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign

Post by 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.

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patrickl
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RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign

Post by patrickl »

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

Glad your dad made it. The LCI was sinking.[X(][:(]
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Macclan5
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RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign

Post by Macclan5 »

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.

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RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign

Post by jmalter »

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).
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RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign

Post by m10bob »

ORIGINAL: patrickl

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

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.
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patrickl
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RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign

Post by patrickl »

Wars are terrible. Your dad served America well.
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KenchiSulla
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RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign

Post by KenchiSulla »

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

Who wrote Cross Channel Attack?
AKA Cannonfodder

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krishub1492
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RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign

Post by krishub1492 »

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

https://www.amazon.com/Decision-Normand ... 1568522606
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RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign

Post by warspite1 »

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.
Now Maitland, now's your time!

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m10bob
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RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign

Post by m10bob »

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-Stor ... bert_F.htm
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LargeSlowTarget
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RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign

Post by LargeSlowTarget »

Older but good : "The longest day" by Cornelius Ryan.
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CaptBeefheart
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RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign

Post by CaptBeefheart »

ORIGINAL: m10bob

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-Stor ... bert_F.htm

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

Cheers,
CC
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KenchiSulla
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RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign

Post by KenchiSulla »

ORIGINAL: m10bob

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-Stor ... bert_F.htm

Thanks, I'll save the link
AKA Cannonfodder

"It happened, therefore it can happen again: this is the core of what we have to say. It can happen, and it can happen everywhere.”
¯ Primo Levi, writer, holocaust survivor
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RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign

Post by Uncivil Engineer »

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.
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RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign

Post by HansBolter »

I recommend one written from the perspective of the Germans:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/12th-SS-Divisi ... 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.
Hans

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rustysi
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RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign

Post by rustysi »

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.
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RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign

Post by oaltinyay »

ORIGINAL: Encircled

Beavors is good to be fair.

Max Hastings "Overlord" is good as well


Second that... Good starter.
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