Customer Reviews

Breakout at Normandy: The 2nd Armored Division in the Land of the Dead

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

An excellent book, with many pictures I've never seen before. Bando interviewed hundreds of veterans for this book, and I think it's his best work yet. I'm an avid History Channel watcher, and I'd never heard of the battle that Bando researched for this book, despite the fact that it was one of the most terrifying of the war. The book's best attribute is it's anecdotal aspect. Bando does a good job describing the courage displayed by both sides in this confict through the words of men who fought it. The detective work is great, and Bando even catches more well known historians in several errors.

Well written, and probably the most highly researched and documented book I have ever read on actual combat. Bando has captured the personalities and battle actions of the men and officers of the 2nd Armored Division in a little known but one of the most pivotal and successful campaigns on a European battlefield in World War Two. The author brings to light the how and why of the beginning of this campaign and the bloody battles of the 2nd Armored Div. that followed, miles behind enemy lines in "The Land of the Dead." Studded with rare photos and documented with personal interviews by the author with surviving combatants of both sides. A must book for readers, students and historians who want the truth in history as it happened. Donald R. Burgett, Author of three highly acclaimed books on World War Two.

From start to finish Breakout at Normandy is a solid account of the experiences of Combat Command B of the US 2nd Armoured Division during the COBRA offensive in July 1944, leading up to the cauldron for German SS armour at Roncey & St.Denis le Glast - a forshadowing of what was to come at Falaise.

Potential readers should be aware that whilst the actions of Maurice Rose`s Combat Command A are included, they are glossed over and quite frankly better handled in Martin Bluemson`s Breakout & Pursuit.

From a Combat Command B perspective, there are many personal accounts from both the Americans and Germans who slugged it out in the Normandy hedgerows and dozens of interesting b/w and colour photos which have not been published before to my knowledge.

However, the limited scope of the book, and the fact that it doesn`t include any strategic, operational or tactical maps means that it cannot be read in isolation to gain the full value of Mark Bando`s research.

Despite this handicap, General Bradley`s strategically important COBRA offensive launched at the end of July 1944, which busted open the German hold on the Normandy bridgehead has been neglected by military authors of late, so Breakout at Normandy is a welcome addition to anyone`s library.

The author covers a great story about a seldom noted battle in WWII. His research is first rate. I have 2 problems with the book. First, there are no maps at all! In setting up the story of how fate brought these 2 opposing armies together, the author gives detailed verbal accounts of the movements of each side. Without maps, it is difficult to envision these movements. His accounts mention small French cities and roads such as "D39, D610, and D238". I was lost as to where each side was, but enjoyed the first hand accounts of what happened when they met. Second, I would like to see a chart of each side. The book mentions parts of both armies, but it is hard to envision their place in their armies. A listing of the weapons each side used would have been helpfull too. Overall, I did enjoy this book. The research, photos and story are great. I hope the author revises his book to include maps, charts and weapon listings. If so, I would buy the second edition, even though I have read the first.

Breakout at Normandy: The 2nd Armored Division in the Land of the Dead is a wonderfully crafted and riveting story that fills a nearly complete void in one of the most heralded Allied actions of the post-D-Day period of World War II. While many know of the hard fought battles through the hedgerow-bocage country of western Normandy in June-July of 1944, and the subsequent breakout and sprint to the Seine in August (with most credit generally going to Patton's Third Army), little has been accurately written about the breakthrough that lead to this shift in action. Historian-author Mark Bando has done considerable research to bring this story to the reader. Breakout at Normandy is not the kind of re-hashed history so commonplace with many of today's more "popular" authors in the genre. Instead of relying on other historians for the majority of his information, Bando engages in the "historical ground battles" himself, interviewing veterans on both sides (American and German), consulting and researching official military documents (again from both sides), touring the battlegrounds, and collecting photographic support for the story he tells. Too few authors in the WWII genre are also historians in the same sense as Bando. This guy takes his profession seriously!

Breakout at Normandy is separated roughly into four major parts: 1) pre-breakthrough background (Chapters 1 and 2); 2) the actions of the 2nd Armored Division to generate the breakthrough (Chapters 3-12); 3) the wildly successful defense of the breakthrough against retreating German forces (Chapters 13-18); and 4) breakout and post-breakout actions (Chapters 19 and 20). The second and third sections make up the bulk of the book and represent a significant piece of research. Components of the first and last sections are more well known but help to place the actions of the 2nd Armored to generate the conditions for the Breakout understandable and historically placed. Bando's research has clarified several points of misinformation that had been previously associated with Operation Cobra - Bradley's First Army (of which 2nd Armored Division was a component) operation to free themselves from the hedgerows. First and foremost, Bando drives home the fact that the breakthough in Normandy was the result of First Army actions not Patton's Third Army (to which so much is often credited), and that without the combat actions of First Army, and notably 2nd Armored, Patton's breakout, which is now legend, would not have occurred. Another example of the author's ability to clarify previous historical inaccuracies can be found in his discussion of the death of SS-Obersturmbannführer Christian Tychsen. While the not all of the missing time associated with the death of Tychsen has been accounted for, Bando does an admirable job recounting the most likely sequence of events. In fact, as the author states in his Acknowledgements, the strange and confused history of Tychsen's death is what initially drew him to the story of Operation Cobra. Bando weaves this and many other intriguing and profound combat stories into a gripping prose that both holds the readers attention and teaches as well.

The only aspect of Breakout at Normandy that is disappointing is the curious lack of maps. This reviewer has learned from the author that in fact several made were generated (hand-drawn by the author himself) and produced for the book but the publisher - in his/her infinite wisdom - told the author "they were not necessary"!! This is a truly unfortunate thing for Bando since Breakout at Normandy should be required reading for thee serious students of WWII and such a grave omission by his publisher (MBI Publishing Inc) has likely contributed to the book being lost to the masses. Thankfully Bando's recent chronicle of the 101st Airborne, Vanguard of the Crusade, was published by a top-notch outfit, Aberjorna Press, who recognize the value of research and use of various media results from that research (e.g., maps, photographs, etc) and allowed Bando to tell a complete self-standing story.

Bando has a unique gift for research and compilation of information, and it is indeed sad that his work is not being read more widely. Fortunately other historians recognize his talents as they use his material (and thus HIS research) to create their own stories. Breakout at Normandy is a 5 star book that will engage the reader, and although currently out of press, those wanting a solid piece of historical literature should seek out a copy! If you see Mark Bando's name cited by other authors recognize that he is one of a group of historian-authors who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty or feet bloodied in pursuit of accurate history - and has done so without popular accolade. We should all give guys like Mr. Bando a nod for their hard work at preserving history not simply writing popular stories.

This highly engaging book is a "must-have" for anyone interested in combat in Normandy. Mr. Bando's research is impeccable. The severity of the fighting and its terrible cost (that extended beyond the war) really comes through. I had never read an account of this particular battle despite reading several good books on Normandy. The photos are great, many I had not seen before. I had served with "Hell on Wheels" during Desert Storm and it was fascinating reading about my Alma Mater. The courage, sacrifice, and terror of the American and German soldiers is superbly conveyed by the author. This book has encouraged me to read even more about Normandy and its participants.

My dad is one of the WWII vets interviewed for, and pictured in, Mr. Bando's book. He called me with such excitement when he heard it had been published! The timing was perfect as his buddy from the service, also interviewed, was coming for a visit after 10 yrs. I ordered each of them a copy, as well as one for my siblings. Hats off to Mark Bando for making two old war buddies proud!! They devoured this book, both with laughter and tears. They marveled at stories that were new to them, and bickered over accounts that they remembered differently. Thanks for making Ed Fogarty and John Ponczynski of the 2nd Armored, 41st Infantry smile!!!

I won't attempt to retell the engagement told in this outstanding work by Mark Bando, instead I'll try to tell you why you have to own this book.

I'm a reader who wants to pick up a book that deals with a particular battle and packs its telling with lots of detail both textual and photograhic. And Bando's book does that and more as it details the frantic attempt of SS Panzergrenadiers trying to escape the closing trap of the Falaise Pocket. These unfortunates find themselves running headlong into the 2nd US Armored Division and the result is catastrophic for the Germans.

Bando's prose is informative, factual and exciting as he presents the details of this incredible engagement between US and SS armored forces. I am reminded of the scene in Patton, where George C. Scott walks among the German and American dead of a head-on night battle. This is exactly what you get as you read this book.

The personal stories, the event specific pictures (ncluding some great color shots) combined with a compelling mystery concerning the death of SS Lt. Col. Christian Tychsen make this a must read book.

A word of caution regarding the pictures. There are a few shots that are not for the faint of heart. They show the true horror of what American G.I.'s and German grenadiers experienced as they fought toe to toe in the Land of the Dead.

I believe this book will be a memorable read for you long after you have turned the last page.

I take the point of other reviewers that there is a lack of maps in this book, but the stunningly evocative text and great photos more than make up for this. Operation Cobra and the ensuing campaigns have been covered in monster sized volumes in the past, but this book has a delightfully narrow scope - really just one week of fighting and two enemy forces. The American 2nd Armored Divsion and the German Das Reich SS. The author cleverly skirts around the topic of SS atrocities, events that are well covered elsewhere and concentrates on the two combat forces as they almost circled each other like boxers in the "ring" that was the labyrinth of hedgerowed lanes that typify southern Normandy.

It's a hard to find book, but well worth searching out.

A very good book but I am biased. I'm very interested in the Cobra breakout and both of the main divisions discussed- US 2nd Armored Div and 2nd SS Panzer Div. I found much information that I'd been looking for but the lack of maps is a frustrating. I finally went to Google maps and printed off a few, just to follow the narrative. Unfortunate in an otherwise great book.