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OT: Books on the Normandy campaign
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2016 8:53 am
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
RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2016 9:38 am
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]
RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2016 11:02 am
by Encircled
Beavors is good to be fair.
Max Hastings "Overlord" is good as well
RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2016 11:21 am
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.

RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2016 11:32 am
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.
Glad your dad made it. The LCI was sinking.[X(][:(]
RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2016 11:41 am
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.
RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2016 11:43 am
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).
RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2016 11:46 am
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.
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.
RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2016 12:07 pm
by patrickl
Wars are terrible. Your dad served America well.
RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2016 1:42 pm
by KenchiSulla
What was your dads name M10Bob? First purchase I made is beyond the beachhead by Joseph Balkoski..
Who wrote Cross Channel Attack?
RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2016 4:15 pm
by krishub1492
I would suggest Carlo D'Este's book about the Normandy campaign.
https://www.amazon.com/Decision-Normand ... 1568522606
RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2016 10:27 pm
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.
RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign
Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2016 12:11 pm
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
RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign
Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2016 5:13 pm
by LargeSlowTarget
Older but good : "The longest day" by Cornelius Ryan.
RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign
Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 12:50 am
by CaptBeefheart
Great story. We owe a lot to those men who landed on June 6, 1944.
Cheers,
CC
RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign
Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 7:47 am
by KenchiSulla
Thanks, I'll save the link
RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign
Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 9:54 am
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.
RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign
Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 10:19 am
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.
RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign
Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2016 8:14 pm
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.
RE: OT: Books on the Normandy campaign
Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2016 4:00 am
by oaltinyay
ORIGINAL: Encircled
Beavors is good to be fair.
Max Hastings "Overlord" is good as well
Second that... Good starter.