Customer Reviews

Normandy 1944: Allied Landings and Breakout (Campaign)

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As with most Osprey books, Normandy 1944 offers a concise description of its namesake. I was disappointed, however, with the POV of the author -- decidly British, thus focusing on General Montgomery and Caen. I recommend it for those who wish to learn about the battle outside of the Omaha and Utah beacheads.

Excellent Osprey book, however it is a reprint of the 1990 campaign series book with a new cover. If you have never bought this book before under the old title it is worth buying. Very detailed maps and drawings along with good quality photographs.

We are taking a group of graduate students and professors to Normandy this year for a staff ride of the D-Day landings. This will be the required book for everyone, but supplemented by a long list of more detailed books. It is fabulous for a quick overview of what happened, and my favorite thing about Osprey books is the maps. The maps are worth the price by themselves. Not as good as other Osprey books I have used but still well worth the price as a visual supplement to your further readings.

Veteran British military historian Stephen Badsey does the honors for "Normandy 1944", a nice hardcover edition of the 1990 Osprey campaign series entry of the same name. In under one hundred pages, "Normandy 1944" provides a concise introduction to the decisive campaign in the West in the Second World War.

Badsey steps efficiently through introductions of the origins of the battle, the opposing commanders, the opposing armies and the opposing plans, before describing the actual battle. His narrative covers the 06 June 1994 D-Day landings, the allied buildup, the various attempts at breakout, and the succesful end of the campaign in late August 1944. Along the way, he works in some good details on command relationships and a few of the lingering controversies of the battle. Badsey writes from a British perspective, which may be a refreshing change for some American readers.

"Normandy 1944" is highly recommended as a introduction to the battle for the general reader looking for a quick synopsis, augmented by a very nice selection of photographs, maps, graphics and illustrations.

This book details the campaign for Normandy from Operation Overlord & the fiercely contested landings to the struggle to capture Caen, the Cobra offensive & the dramatic pursuit of the Germans to the Seine River. Includes many color maps & historical b&w photos