Battle for Cherbourg (Battle Zone Normandy) [Hardcover]

Robin Havers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 6, 2004

In order to reinforce and expand the D-Day bridgeheads won on 6 June 1944, the Allies needed a port to bring in troops and vital supplies. Cherbourg, at the northern end of the Cotentin peninsula, was therefore the first priority for the American VII Corps, under the command of Major General J. Lawton 'Lightning Joe' Collins. After establishing a firm beachhead, elements of VIII Corps moved west across the base of the peninsula to isolate the 40,000-strong Cherbourg garrison, dug in behind concrete and field fortifications in dominating hill positions. Collins then sent divisions north to Cherbourg but maintained units facing south as well to prevent any German reinforcement.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robin Havers is a lecturer at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, specialising in the Second World War. He is the recipient of a visiting Fulbright professorship in the United States.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Sutton Publishing (November 6, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0750930063
• ISBN-13: 978-0750930062
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,440,024 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great history of little known battle, September 9, 2009

By 

G. Nasuti (somewhere near D.C.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Battle for Cherbourg (Battle Zone Normandy) (Hardcover)

The Normandy campaign has been written about exclusively for the past sixty-five years now. Some of its lesser known battles have not received the attention that the fighting on beaches such as Omaha has. The Battle of Cherbourg is one of these battles. Hoping to secure the city of Cherbourg, located at the tip of the Cotentin Peninsula in France, as a port to bring in troops, vehicles, and supplies needed by the Allies, the Americans began an assault in June 1944 against the Germans still holding out there (as per Hitler's orders). The US Army's Ninth Infantry Division raced across the Cotentin, replacing the hapless 90th ID. Having effectively been cut off from the rest of their forces, the Germans had no choice but to do what he ordered, until General von Schlieben surrendered the city to the American army.

The writing is good and the photos also well done. There is a good mix of photos taken during the battle and photos that show the same areas today. The book is not overly long, but gives a good concise history of how Cherbourg fit into the overall picture in the campaign and is an easy read. Maps are also well done and give the reader a good sense of where the action the author discusses is occurring. My grandfather fought with an infantry regiment in the 9th, and through this book I was able to follow him as he fought his way across France. I highly recommend it to those looking for a history on just one of those many smaller battles that made up the great campaign in Normandy.