Customer Reviews

The Germans in Normandy (Stackpole Military History Series)

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Richard Hargreaves, a newcomer to the genre, has done a masterful job in knitting together a variety of primary sources that provides for the first time the definitive account of the Normandy Campaign from the viewpoint of the ordinary German soldier, or Landser. Though there have been previous attempts to cover the fighting from the German perspective, such as Paul Carell's "Invasion - They're Coming!" and many individual unit histories, this one hits all the bases - expertly weaving each man's story into the overall background of the fighting as well as providing the necessary context that outlines the course of the campaign. The hope, the determination, the fear and the final crushing discouragement that marked each stage of the German soldier's experience are extremely well portrayed here, made all the more compelling by the author's translations that lend weight to the genuine "feel" of each account. Especially illuminating were excerpts from the recent book by Heinrich Severloh, the machine gunner of Grenadier Regiment 916, who stubbornly held out at Strongpoint WN62 at Omaha Beach on D-Day until he was captured. Fast-paced and well written, Hargreaves has done an enormous service to those who study this campaign but have not been able to find a balanced protrayal from the German perspective. This book, along with the upcoming operational history of the German Seventh Army in Normandy by Mark Reardon, should be mandatory reading for all who desire to gain a greater understanding of one of the greatest battles in Western European history.

I've had this book on my Amazon wish list for over a year now, and it is about time it is available. Now, will TOTENKOPF by Trang ever show up in print?

Though many books have been written on D-Day this is one of very few from the German side. The letters and other writing extracts from the German participants offer clearer insight to what many of the German participants were thinking, planning, and enduring.

Though the book highlights many aspects, one of the more important is the role that allied air power played in subduing the German attempt to counter our landings, especially concerning the Panzers. Each day the 'lansers' would look to the sky, asking "where is our airforce", for throughout the battle the Luftwaffe was missing over Normandy. Daily shelling from the allied navies, and land artillery, combined with complete lack of any countering German airpower, the Germans were not only being pushed back, but also began to realize they were not going to win the battle for France.

Being not a simple rehash of books that have gone before, this is an excellent addition to any WWII Normandy library. The bookshelf of anyone interested in France from June 6, 1944 onward, cannot afford to be without the book.

Semper Fi.

"Death Reaped a Terrible Harvest," is the sub-title of Richard Hargreave's amazing book, "The Germans in Normandy," that lucidly tells the story of the Germans' buildup and defense of Normandy to the D-Day invasion in June 1944, through the breakthrough by the Allies and the carnage of the Falaise Gap, to the retreat to the Reich in August 1944.

The story is comprehensively told, apparently for the first time, primarily from the point of view of the German defenders, especially the common soldiers on the ground, the "Landser" (German enlisted men). (For those wanting strictly a more strategic viewpoint, a more lofty and ponderous view can be found in "The German Army at D-Day", a collection of post-war reports by captured German generals for their American captors that is rife with fingerpointing and based solely on their selective memories.)

Perhaps more importantly, the story is clearly told in an engaging and informative writing style that pulls the reader in so that one is given a good sense of what it was like for the German forces during this period.

The author does this by cogently interspersing the already well-known "big picture" of what was going on (e.g., the Fuhrer's directives, the lack of air support/defense for the German forces, the failure to put in skilled troops as first-line defenders, the ferocity of the defense put up by the 12th SS Panzer Division - the Hitlerjugend - and other elite forces) and the exploits of familiar names (e.g., tank ace Michael Wittman, the actions of Kurt "Panzer" Meyer) with personal accounts, including fascinating quotations from diaries and correspondence, of common soldiers.

The result is an unparalled must read for anyone interested in D-Day, the Wehrmacht (including the Waffen-SS), the Third Reich, the Second World War in Europe, World War II, or even military historians interested in the impact on command and control of an army in retreat. The dust jacket claims the author spent 15 years researching this book. It was time well spent.

The book also includes a section of 16 photos which appear to be previously unpublished. (Most are from the author's private collection.)

[P.S. My edition of the book was printed in England and was released before the American edition. The cover features Erwin Rommel prominently (his actions are discussed throughout the book) and the book itself is 271 pages, not the 256 listed here, although I have no reason to believe the contents are any different from the edition published state-side.]

This is a superb book that is well researched & examines the battles fought in Normandy in 1944 from a German stance. The author explains how the Allied invasion was seen as the last opportunity to turn the tide & how Rommel made great strides in his short time in 5-6 months to strengthen the defences. However, the author does not just cover off the strategic & key high command personalities but more importantaly he looks at the Normandy battles from the common fighting German soldier (Landser)& has drawn on many first hand accounts, letters, diaries etc. The book examines how the German soldiers fought on despite been overwhelmed by the Allied material superiority & air supremacy. The Allies command of the air was a key factor in the German defeat as all German movement by day was effectively paralysed & soul destroying to the troops. But as the author points out 'despite the Allied material supremacy, tank for tank, gun for gun, the Wehrmact was more than a match for its enemies'. Unfortunately for the Germans, their losses incurred in men & material could no longer be made good. This is the story of the German soldier & how he fought & endured those battles in the West in 1944 (especially around Caen & Falaise), been driven on by their comradeship for one another. Highly recommended reading.

I found this book to be remarkable - both in its story and the research required by the author. This book helps illuminate the German build-up and response to the D-Day landings; a subject that has previously not been covered in this kind of detail.

I own and will be reviewing the Pen & Sword Military edition (2006) as originally published in hardback and printed in England. As noted by a previous reviewer this edition has a photo section and is 271 pages in length.

A very good popular fiction read that is in my opinion superior to the standard work (from the German viewpoint) Paul Carell's "Invasion - They're Coming!". I found this volume to be more enjoyable with a better narrative flow. According to the end flap Mr. Hargreaves spent 15 years researching this book and it shows. The author relied heavily on such primary sources as Hans von Luck (Panzer Commander), Kurt Meyer (Grenadiers), Helmut Ritgen (Western Front 1944-1945), and others. The book is well balanced and excellently referenced with footnotes at the end of each chapter. I prefer this than having to contiuoulsly flip to the back of the book. The German perspective of the airborne assault, beach landings, breakout, and fighting at Cherbourg, Caen, St Lo and Carentan, etc is well described. I also liked the author's attention to the German Navy and Air Force efforts (such as they were) during the battles. I especially thought the material regarding the closing of the Falaise Pocket and the German efforts to hold the shrinking gap to be well done. Real horror of war narrative here told from the perspective of the German fighting man with some fresh gritty first person accounts. As good of a narrative on this action as I have read.

I would liked to have seen a greater detail and number of maps to help frame the narrative. The author also mistakenly refers to Meyer's 25th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment as the 25th SS Panzer Regiment on a couple of occasions. I was also somewhat distracted by the lengthy (at least 20 page) coverage of the June 20th, assasination attempt of Hitler and putsch. Although I understand there is a nexus to the Western Front and the attempt on Hitler's life impacted the fighting there; I thought this section could have have been shortened. It is however well written and informative. Lastly, I am a little puzzled that many of the photos are attributed to the "author's private collection" although most are well known and previously published in other works.

A great read here that will deliver something to the novice or the well seasoned military historian. I would have no hesitation in recommending this work along with Hasting's "Overlord" and d'Estes "Decision in Normandy" to anyone looking to understand the Normandy Campaign.

I have read many books on Normandy, most from the German point of view. Richard Hargreaves did an excellent job covering Hitler's lost reality that lead to the Falaise pocket, the failed bomb plot, and relating German public opinion. I found his book fair, balanced, and well written. If you want to learn or learn more about the Germans in Normandy, this is an excellent book to read. His writing style and excerpts from real people who were there is wonderful. Too bad I can't write as well as him.

The only mistakes I noted were minor typos that he is aware of.

Appendix Waffen SS ranks

Oberführer below Standartenführer and Hauptscharführer had an r where the t should have gone.

"The Germans in Normandy" is a thorough and well written account of the Axis response to the Allied landings in Normandy. Hargreaves makes use of first person accounts to give an "I was there" feel to his history. If you're new to this aspect of World War II history, this book is a very good one volume summary. If you're already well versed in this history, the book will seem repetitive.

It is refreshing to read an account purely from the German side of this monumental campaign. Although I have recently finished Antony Beevors D Day, where he does cover from both sides but primarily the Allied forces, hearing from a good selection of participants, from the man in the trench, to officers commanding the battles gives a good personal perspective to the events unfolding.
The absolute devestation and deprivation suffered by the Axis forces is mind boggling and a true testament to their tenacity and belief, rightly or wrongly, in their cause. It continues to show that man for man the German Army contained highly motivated and quality troops compared to those the Allied armies possessed (bar Paratroops and Commando forces).It again highlights that this was a campaign with an atrocious body count that bled both Allied and Axis alike. It was a close run thing as the British came close to not being able to replace their losses.
This book highlights, in numerous references, the mantra that "those who control the skies, control the battlefield." The overwhelming superiority of airpower the Allies enjoyed is shown clearly here. Although recent research (or recently released research) shows that some claims made by both Air Forces regarding their 'body counts'of tanks and armoured vehicles were sometimes exagerated, the psychological effects it had on the ground troops was unparallelled. In saying this the air campaign waged against the Axis was massive and contributed heavily to a successful outcome to the Normandy campaign through deprivation of supplies (or having to take massive detours to the front) or restriction of movement by panzer units.More acknowledgment of the role of artillery could have been made as it had devestating effect on a number of counter attacks by the Germans and saved a number of Allied units from being overrun.
Overall a worthy addition to this heavily written about period of WWII. Very readable and an easy refrence for further study. Some facts may need to be cross referenced for accuracy as perceptions tend to be presented as fact in certain cases but a book I am glad I purchased and read.

This book compiled for the most part from original sources such as diaries and letters depicts the struggle in Normandy from the German viewpoint with emphasis on the grunts doing the fighting. But, the book transcends the viewpoint of either side. It relates in detail the receiving end of what students of military history now describe as industrial warfare. Many of the first person descriptions repeat the overwhelming material advantage the Allies possessed. German tanks especially Panthers and Tigers, "88" caliber guns, their equivalent to our bazookas, and machine guns were far superior to the Allies. Their soldiers were confident until faced with the massed airpower, artillery, navel gunfire, and the strangling of their supply lines by the allied strength in the air. Still, they fought a courageous and skillful retreat except for the trap at Falaise. The book reminds one of the amazing job the American Army did in putting divisions with no combat experience in the line and succeeding in attack without catastrophic losses. Despite the massive literature on the Normandy campaign, I recommend this book to those interested in military history, WWII, students, military professionals, and libraries.