Operation Cobra (Battle Zone Normandy) [Hardcover]

Christopher Pugsley (Author)

Book Description

Series: Battle Zone Normandy | Publication Date: March 3, 2005

Operation Cobra, launched at the end of July 1944, was designed to open a decisive gap in the German defenses facing the American forces in Normandy. General Omar Bradley, commanding the First US Army, decided to use aerial saturation bombing to destroy the German defenses and create a breach. An initial attempt on July 24th proved disastrous, as the bombers dropped some of their payload on the American front lines, killing or wounding 150 men. Despite this, the bombing continued the next day. For three hours, 1,500 B-17 and B-24 bombers pummelled the target, supported by medium bombers and fighter bombers attacking with napalm. The few, shell-shocked German survivors either surrendered without a fight or fled. Even so, fierce fighting continued as the Americans strove to open up a passage for the armoured vehicles. On 26 July, VII US Corps advanced ten kilometers after crossing the Coutances-Saint-Lo road. Cracks started to appear in the German front and it collapsed the next day. The American armored divisions swept southwards and westwards. Entire German units were encircled, while others simply fell apart.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Christopher Pugsley is a senior lecturer in the Department of War Studies at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. He specialises in the role of the New Zealand armed forces in twentieth century conflicts.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Sutton Publishing (March 3, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0750930152
• ISBN-13: 978-0750930154
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,617,284 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice Summary of the Normandy Breakout,, July 29, 2009

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

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This review is from: Operation Cobra (Battle Zone Normandy) (Hardcover)

The books in the Battle Zone Normandy series are part history lesson and part tour guide. My original interest was solely the history section but it turns out the tour guide is also of interest for it contains maps and photos as well as additional battle info when the affected towns are discussed in the tour.

The chapters in the history section are:
Introduction
Background to Cobra
The German Forces
First US Army
Cobra Begins
The Breakout
The Drive on Avranches
The Mortain Counterattack

As background data, the author describes the slow process of expansion of the beachhead the first month of the invasion and then moves on to the liberation of Cherbourg and the attempted breakout of the Contentin Peninsula by 1st Army. Mr Pugsley continues the background explaining the terrain features and how it favors the Germans. The boundaries of the attack zone are then described.
The German comanders - Kluge, Hausser, Choltitz and even Dollman - are covered followed by the strengths of individual components of 7th Army and where they will be deployed on the battlefield.

On the American side, Bradley and his Corps commanders are discussed and a more thorough description of the attack plan is explained with special emphasis on 7th Corps involvement. A very nice map shows the paths of attacks and objectives. An Order of Battle is included. The author includes a section on the advantage of defensive firepower the Germans had with the use of the MG42 gun. It was very interesting.
Author describes the massive aerial bombing that starts the offensive and the slow start the Corps made. The 7th Corps begin to wear down the enemy and begin to make greater gains until they accomplish their breakout. The summary of this breakout is adequate but more would be better. While 7th Corps drives through the center, the 8th and 19th Corps work the flanks and the author includes action of 8th Corps as it drives toward Avranches which prevents the Germans from sending reinforcements to help stop Collins' advance. There is another nice 2 page map showing 8th Corps advance on the western flank.
The battle action concludes with the German counterattack on Mortain. The combatants of this battle are described as well as the initial gains made by the Germans and then their eventually halt and retreat. Special attention is given to the action at St Barthelemy and Hill 317. A very good 2 page map, probably the best map in the book, shows the defenses and movements of this battle.

The tour section gives additional maps, photos and battle action of certain towns.
While this is not my main book on Operation Cobra, its still a nice book and am glad to have it in my collection. This is the 12th book in the 14 book Normandy series. It has 192 pages including Index and a nice Further Reading list. The history section is 96 pages. If you were going to visit France and used the Tour section, this book would be a 5 star book.