The Normandy Campaign: 6 June-25 August 1944 [Hardcover]

Victor Brooks (Author)

Book Description

Series: Great Campaigns | Publication Date: June 4, 2002

To defeat Nazi Germany, the Allies had to mount the largest amphibious attack in history. Nothing like it in size and scope had ever been attempted. Failure would mean, at best, prolonging the war. At worst, it would give Germany the chance to develop the "wonder weapons" they had been talking about for so long. Despite all of the mistakes and miscues of the Allied armies, as well as the great cost in lives, they secured the beaches with heroic determination and moved on to defeat Germany. The much-celebrated Allied landing at Omaha and the other Normandy beaches on D-Day was just the beginning—the success of the landing was secured only after another two months of hard fighting, bravery, and death. The Normandy Campaign describes in broad strokes the movements of the armies as they fought their way to Paris and presents a complete picture of the campaign through France. Brooks details his narrative with firsthand accounts from the soldiers who were in the dunes and hedgerows of Normandy. The reader comes to understand both the strategic situation and the human drama of war that made the Normandy campaign the incredible story it is.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Victor Books teaches at Villanova University. He is the author of several Great Campaigns books, as well as African-Americans in the Civil War. He resides in Pennsylvania. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Victor Brooks teaches at Villanova University and is the author of several books (available from Da Capo), including The Normandy Campaign and The Boston Campaign. He lives in Pennsylvania.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press; First Edition edition (June 4, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306811499
• ISBN-13: 978-0306811494
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,839,337 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

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4.0 out of 5 stars A brief but competent summary of Normandy, November 21, 2009

By 

Dave Schranck "Dave" (Anaheim Ca) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: The Normandy Campaign: 6 June-25 August 1944 (Hardcover)

Victor Brooks, a college professor and author of several other books, has written an informative overview of the beginnings of the US-British alliance, the planning of Neptune and Overlord and the actual campaign of Normandy up to the liberation of Paris. As an overview, it will not have the detail level of the books by Joseph Balkoski but its still a creditable and informative read.

The author begins his story by describing the setbacks of the British, like Dunkirk, and the complete ill preparedness of the US services in 1940. The size of the US Army in 1940 was comparable to the British force saved at Dunkirk and it certainly couldn't contend with one German Army Group. The narrative moves on to discuss war planning by the US and then the joint planning of the US-British Alliance to retake Europe and defeat Germany. A part of this planning will include the friction that developed between the two Allies. The German side is also mentioned along with the frictions that developed between Rommel, Rundstedt and Hitler as well as covering the problems they encountered in defending the Atlantic Wall.
The progress made in planning Operation Neptune and Overlord is briefly discussed and includes Air and Naval participation in the invasion. I particularly liked the author mentioning that the firepower of the Allied Fleet was modest for the size of the invasion, especially compared to the Okinawa invasion. The air assault prior to the landings is discussed as well as the parachute and glider landings on the eve of the big invasion closes out the introduction.
Chapter six begins the actual landings and each landing site merits its own chapter. - Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. After the landing, there are chapters for Villers-Bocage, Cherbourg, Operation Epsom, St Lo, Operation Goodwood, Operation Cobra, Operation Luttich(Mortain), Falaise and the liberation of Paris.

The author completes his book with an appraisal with some interesting insights, the cost of both sides of the Normandy Campaign, a reading guide and Index. There are no footnotes or a Bibliography.
In addition to the narrative are many photos, eight maps and 20 sidebars. Much of the sidebar coverage deals with the leading personalities of both sides and their working relationship with each other. It also covers the organization of the three major combatants and includes weapons, uniforms, ranks and atrocites.
If your looking for a concise, informative overview of Normandy, you should put this on your short list of candidates.