Book on the battles in Normandy

[Txema]

Hi everybody!!!

I am looking for a good book on the battle of Normandy. I want it to cover the fighting from D-Day to the Falaise pocket, including good maps and photographs. I am interested in the Allied point of view and also in the German point of view of the battle. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance !!!


Txema

[Adam Parker]

Imo there is no one best book as this campaign is so widely written about. The last 3 years have seen a vast addition to the topic too, so much so that fresh publications may offer information building on classics such as Carlo D'Este's "Decision in Normandy" - a very broad but strategic overview of the planning and execution of the campaign itself.

If you really want to get into the nuts and bolts of the campaign I can't more strongly recommend Niklas Zetterling's "Normandy 1944: German Military Organization, Combat Power and Organizational Effectiveness" ISBN 0921991568, which when published in 2000, blew the lid off the Normandy debate, even refuting the impact of the carpet bombing of Panzer Lehr. A true Grognard's tome.

For an exciting read also try Michael Reynold's "Steel Inferno" 1885119445 covering the SS PzK - now very affordable in softback and the old classic by Paul Carell (not his real name) "Invasion They're Coming!" 0553241648, which gives a view from the German side of the bocage in his famously evocative style.

Lot's to choose from and once you get started plenty to add.

Adam.

[John Pancoast]

Best one I've ever read, was this one, http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... 33-7506454?

Outstanding book, from all sides, good read, and very informative.

Never cared for Carrell(his office in the Nazi party biased his writing) and have read Steel Inferno, good read, but suffers from the same ailment many books of this era do imo; infatuation with the German military of the era.

[sprior]

Try also Max Hastings Overlord:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... ce&s=books

And "Caen: Anvil of Victory" an excellent Tommy's-eye view of fighting.

[Txema]

Thanks for your advice !!!

Does "Overlord" by Max Hasting include maps and photographs?

How many maps? Are they good maps? I really like to have good maps to follow the action.

Thanks again,


Txema

[ladner]

Txema...yes on both counts. One slight disclaimer I don't recall the maps being particularly spectacular; however, Hasting's book is one of the best on the subject in my opinion. John Pancoast and Sprior have both posted links to order from Amazon, I am planning on adding this back to my World War II library, this book is a must have in my opinion. I made the mistake of loaning the book, to a person of low character who subsequently kept the book.

[sprior]

ORIGINAL: ladner
. I made the mistake of loaning the book, to a person of low character who subsequently kept the book.

Ditto...

[John Pancoast]

ORIGINAL: Txema

Thanks for your advice !!!

Does "Overlord" by Max Hasting include maps and photographs?

How many maps? Are they good maps? I really like to have good maps to follow the action.

Thanks again,


Txema

Yep, there are maps, but they show just troop movements, not terrain, etc. Different, but also very informative.

Lots of pics too, and since a large part of the book is made up of narratives of those who were there, each character who has comments in the book, has his wartime pic there too, which I always like; match the face to the info, i.e.

Still have my copy around here somewhere. Came out in the '80s I think ?

[Adam Parker]

If its maps you want another advanced choice could be a brand new book: "The D-Day Atlas: Anatomy of the Normandy Campaign" by Charles Messenger, Publisher: Thames & Hudson; (April 2004) ISBN: 0500251231...

"This groundbreaking study of D-Day and the subsequent campaign charts the gradual evolution of the invasion plan, encompassing the intelligence efforts, the Anglo-U.S. strategic debate over where the Allies should attack, and the elaborate deception put in place to fool the Germans about the true D-Day objective. The buildup culminates in an hour-by-hour and day-by-day account of the landings by air and by sea on the beaches of Normandy—Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword—and the subsequent grim struggle for six weeks to break through the German defenses."

[Txema]

Thank you very much for your kind help !!!


Txema

[MrBoats]

If I may add two indispensible books I've gotten:

"Cross Channel Attack" by Gordon Harrison and "Breakout and Pursuit" my Martin Blumenson. They are both part of the Army's official history series (the "Green Books"). I found both of them in online used book stores for about $40 apiece. Be sure to get volumes that have the maps -- both books have many detailed maps in a pocket inside the back cover. Don't get the later reprints. They both also have a wealth of photos.

John Keegan's "Six Armies in Normany" is an excellent overview of the campaign.