After D-Day: Operation Cobra and the Normandy Breakout (Stackpole Military History Series) [Paperback]

James Jay Carafano (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 10, 2008

After storming the beaches on D-Day, June 6, 1944, the Allied invasion of France bogged down in seven weeks of grueling attrition in Normandy. On July 25, U.S. divisions under Gen. Omar Bradley launched Operation Cobra, an attempt to break out of the hedgerows and begin a war of movement across France. Despite a disastrous start, with misdropped bombs killing hundreds of GIs, Cobra proved to be one of the most pivotal battles of World War II, successfully breaking the stalemate in Normandy and clearing a path into occupied France.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"After D-Day is a great study of combined arms warfare ... a significant contribution." -- Field Artillery Journal

"An excellent step-by-step analysis of Operation Cobra, the code name for Allied breakout from the attrition-style battles in Normandy." -- Choice

"Captures all the intensity and realism....The reader benefits from the author's superior ability to fashion the imagery of battle." -- Parameters

"Carafano demonstrates what carried the battle was effective leadership by field grade officers...who seized initiative and took decisive action." -- Booknews.com

"This book is a valuable addition to any library on World War II or modern military history." -- Journal of Military History --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

31 b/w photos, 10 maps

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Stackpole Books (July 10, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811734870
• ISBN-13: 978-0811734875
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,119,267 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars accessible history, March 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: After D-Day: Operation Cobra and the Normandy Breakout (The Art of War) (Hardcover)

James Carafano has succeeded in writing a very interesting and accessible history of a battle much ignored until now. I think even non-historians will find his easy reading style and revealing insights a pleasure. Former WWII soldiers should find it especially exciting to read. The book has been so thoroughly researched that it could be used as a guide for retracing the battle in France. I would recommend it to anyone planning a visit to Normandy. I wish the maps were a bit more complete and pictures had been included but all in all, Carafano's imagery makes up for that.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A well researched, systematic study and a critical analysis of Operation Cobra, July 22, 2009

By 

Dave Schranck "Dave" (Anaheim Ca) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: After D-Day: Operation Cobra and the Normandy Breakout (Stackpole Military History Series) (Paperback)

The author has weaved the strategic, operational and tactical aspects of Cobra and produced a single, connected, cohesive, analytical narrative. For me this was an enjoyable, educational book to read for it had the most detailed coverage and the most honest appraisal of this key battle and the commanders who controlled it than previously read.
The author begins by stating the conditions on the ground since the landings and the predicament General Bradley was in, in trying to find a way to breakout of Normandy without destroying his Army. He was the initiator of the operation and with the help of his staff the full operation was born. The author takes us through the step by step process of this plan in chapter 4.

The third chapter, "A Measure of Power" was especially helpful for it described the organizational structure of the US Infantry and Armored Divisions highlighting the strength and weaknesses of each structure and weapons available in 1944. The author then compares the US structure with the German equivalent pointing out advantages and disadvantages to each system.

From chapter 5, the author spends the rest of the book in describing the strategic and tactical operation. The center piece would be VII Corps with VIII and XIX Corps on the flanks. The author separates the action into division, regiment and battalion level operations in a study of such detail that is equal to and usually better than anything I have read before.
At the end of each chapter, the author analyzes and critiques the action of each field unit for this six day battle. In the last chapter, the author summarizes the impact of the battle for both sides and completes his criticism of Bradley, Collins and a few others.

I found this to be a great operational read and have very little to criticize. However, one thing to point out would be the black and white maps. The biggest thing about the maps would be the author displays too much land area that has nothing to do with the operation and consequently the towns, few roads, units and movements are proportionally too small. The descriptive information is there in legend form, next to the map, and its not as conveinent as it could be and it takes time to study and understand the action.

If you haven't read a detailed story of Operation Cobra or are unhappy with what you have already read about the operation, I strongly suggest this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An in depth analysis of Operation Cobra; excellent bibliography, October 4, 2009

By 

Brian Hawkinson (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: After D-Day: Operation Cobra and the Normandy Breakout (Stackpole Military History Series) (Paperback)

Most people hear D-Day and automatically think Allied success that pushed the Germans from France, summed up at least. And in part this is so but what is not so well known is that D-Day was the Allied success at establishing a beach head on the continent but from there they could not press farther inland. For a while they languished away, trying on several occasions to break the German defensive line and move towards Paris. It wasn't until Operation Cobra that the Allies, and more pointedly the Americans, were able to break the Germans and push them back. After D-Day is an in depth analysis and revisionary history of this all so important Operation of WWII.

Carafano does a wonderful job in giving the history to that point of Allied success in France and what had been done to that point in the reinvention of the US Army when they were attacked by the Japanese and forced in to war. How the Army was shaped and grew to immense proportions and yet still was having troubles breaking the Germans. Importantly it was the terrain that held the Allies up as they had to contend with the hedgerows, where the Germans had conveniently set up their lines of defense. Previous operations by the British and Canadians were a disaster with high casualty rates and very little gain. The German army itself was a beaten down army of tired veterans from the Eastern Front and young German boys. By no means a mean fighting machine, but add the terrain and they could more than hold their own. Carafano does a great job in portraying all sides to the operation, using sources from both the Americans and the Germans. He gives a wonderful picture of the top brass of the American Army and where they stood in relation to not only one another but in the Army. Notably, of course, is Bradley, with mention of Patton, Eisenhower and the numerous generals underneath Bradley's command of the 1st Army, as well as Britain's Montgomery. Seeing what each thought of each other painted a picture of where they were and what they were doing. Bradley, of course, was the brains behind Operation Cobra, but Patton and other notable generals had doubts in the operation as well as in Bradley's command. All of this, Carafano notes, was immediately put in doubt at the beginning of the operation when the American Fighter Pilots' bombs fell short and killed many Americans.

All this was the beginning and background to the Operation. Carafano goes into a lot of detail of which divisions, regiments, battalions and so on took part in everything. This is perhaps one of the reasons I couldn't rate 5 stars, because at times it would seem like he was just listing all those involved with nothing to show forth except 1/3 of a page gone and wasted, skipped over because, ultimately, they are too numerous to really remember who they were and what they were doing. Page after page of listing generals and commanders, of listing divisions, regiments, battalions and so on dragged this down some. But, of course, this was meant as a military history and analysis of the Operation, so in that sense it was very accurate for those looking for this type of analysis. For the laymen it would drag the story down.

Over all I was very impressed with this look at the important Operation. I came to understand what Bradley had intended, its shortfalls and its successes, which is a strong point by Carafano. That despite the numerous failures and blunders of the the Army in this Operation, they were able to recuperate and learn from their lessons and apply it against the Germans. The ultimate result was the breakout of Normandy and in to Brittany, ultimately leading to the liberation of Paris. Furthermore, his bibliography has proved invaluable to me in finding other books on WWII and has proved a great resouce. Anyone looking for a closer, more in depth analysis of D-Day and WWII should definitely give this a read.

4 stars