Beyond the Beachhead: The 29th Infantry Division in Normandy [Paperback]

Joseph Balkoski (Author), Stephen E. Ambrose (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 26, 1999

"If you want to know what it was like, from Private to General, from rifle to tank, from beginning to end, this is the book for you." --Charles M. Schultz

Editorial Reviews

Review

Magnificent.' - Stephen Ambrose 'If you want to know what it was like, from Private to General, from rifle to tank, from beginning to end, this is the book for you.' - Charles M. Schulz, creator of Peanuts --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Joseph Balkoski is Command Historian of the Maryland National Guard and one of the world's leading authorities on D-Day. He lives in Baltimore. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Stackpole Books; 2 Sub edition (January 26, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811726827
• ISBN-13: 978-0811726825
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,534,533 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born in NYC and graduated from Vassar College in 1975. I also gained an M.A. in history at New York University. I moved to Baltimore in 1981 and have been here ever since. As soon as I moved here I became fascinated with the US Army's 29th Infantry Division because so many of my neighbors served in it. I have been very honored not only to know past members of the division well, but also its current members, since I serve as Historian for the Maryland National Guard. Both the old and young soldiers are fabulous people and always keep my life interesting. In my spare time, I play the piano and participate in various sports activities as much as I can.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Balanced research and reading that flows well, January 8, 2006

By 

Sci-fi and history reader (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond The Beachhead: The 29th Infantry Division in Normandy (Stackpole Military History Series) (Paperback)

A well researched book that flows extremely well. The author describes the division's formation, training, and preparations for the invasion of Normandy. The author also describes the German 352nd Infantry Division (primary opponent of the 29th Infantry Division in Normandy) it's background and formation. The author then compares the commanders, each nation's tactics, and overall battle strategy for the Normandy invasion.

The description of the initial assaults into Omaha landing zone is sobering, whole companies annihilated. As the author describes the follow-on landings and the eventual US breakthrough, the author goes into a "what if" analysis. What if the German high command and Division commander followed Rommel's strategy to place more troops on the beach zones. What if one extra German infantry battalion or regiment had been defending the landing zones, would the US troops been able to move inland? What if one panzer regiment was in proximity to counterattack the first day?

The author then writes of the deadly fighting in the hedgerows in trying to capture St. Lo. This becomes a very sobering point. The author notes that the 29th Infantry Division spent 8 weeks in Normandy, and took in 15,000 replacements to maintain the fighting strength of the 14,000 soldier Division.

The 82nd Airborne Division (approx. 8500 troops) spent 4 weeks in Normandy and took approx, 45% casualties (according to official records). Quite the comparison in roles and casualties suffered when not being able to pulled from the front line to receive and integrate replacements. The similar is described in The Battle for the Hurtgen Forest (Charles MacDonald) where the US took 28,000 casualties in series of deadly infantry attacks in a deep forest that reduced whole US Infantry Divisions, including the 1st and 28th.

In the Band of Brother (Ambrose) Easy Company spent years training, as did the 29th Infantry Div, jumped into Normandy, and was pulled off the fighting line to refit while the Infantry Divisions fought straight on. Ambrose considers that Easy Company was the best in Europe in late 1944. But when one compares Easy Company (part of the 101st Airborne Division) to those in the 29th Infantry as described in this book, the 29th had it much harder trying to maintain its proficiency and effectiveness due to the time spent in the front lines. Easy company was also more fortunate not to have been a landing boat in the 1st wave into Omaha where entire companies were lost or reduced to a handful of soldiers.

One note the author makes is the different leadership styles of the commanders along with the differences and initial bias against the Reserve and National Guard officers by the active duty, West Point graduate, Division Commander. Once the campaign wore on, several ineffective active duty officers were replaced, sometimes by National Guard officers. The point of the matter, where a person gains their commission is not important as to how a person performs their role and successfully accomplishes the mission while caring for their troops. Note: Colin Powell is an ROTC graduate and achieved success based on his performance, not on where he received his commission.

Good book and different perspective that is balanced and offers good comparisons on the combatants involved.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my Favorites!, June 13, 2000

By 

Mitch Reed (Washington DC, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beyond the Beachhead: The 29th Infantry Division in Normandy (Paperback)

I could not put this book down. I can never read enough about the Normandy Invasion. Out of all the titles, I liked this one the best (sorry Mr Ambrose), it tells the story of the "Blue and Gray" division, as well as the bloody assault on Omaha Beach. It breaks down the formation of a US infantry division in great detail. Detail, is also the best word to describe the way Balkoski re creates one of the most heroic days in US Military history. If you have a tatse for Normandy books, read this last, all the rest will not measure up after.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dedicated to the 29th, January 28, 2000

By 

Scott Anderson "Sharpsburg" (Shepherdstown, WV) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beyond the Beachhead: The 29th Infantry Division in Normandy (Paperback)

At the onset of World War II, men and machines were ill prepared to fight in an overseas campaign against the Axis powers. Yet, the 29th, rose up from a National Guard unit, to a unit representing states all across our great land. Officers were replaced and men were shuffled in and out of duty until the proper man was found for the job.

Men such as General Cota, took it upon themselves to lead charges off the beach and into a hail of bullets. As he leaped and dashed across the road, he yelled for others to follow his example. In doing so his bravery trickled down to the lowest private in line and moved them off the beach! Cota's story and many others truly complete this book.

"Beyond the Beachhead" was hard to put down. In describing the maintaining of spotless jeeps to the specifcs and rigors of training to 20 July 1944, when the 35th Division took over for the 29th for a well deserved eight-day rest; Mr. Balkoski's attention to detail takes you to the point of actually smelling spent powder from the bangalore torpedos as they exploded under the wire.

This book is a must for anyone interested in World War II history, and goes far towards revealing what happened, not only on the beach, but beyond! Thank you Mr. Balkoski for all your time and effort, it's been wonderful reading!