Operation Dragoon: The Allied Invasion of the South of France [Paperback]

William Breuer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1996

The full dramatic story of the largest operation of its kind in the European War: an Allied seaborne and airborne assault that eventually involved a million troops.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Another popular history from Breuer. The book focuses on the first day of the Allied invasion of southern France, and on the airborne and commando troops who spearheaded the attack. Breuer integrates the stories of veterans of these forces into a fast-paced narrative that reestablishes war as the province of confusion, particularly in the context of a nighttime air assault. The victory that emerged from the chaos of Dragoon's first hours owed less to planning than to the fighting spirit and fighting power of these men. The book complements Alan Wilt's The French Riviera Campaign (Southern Illinois Univ. Pr., 1981) and compares with S.L.A. Marshall's Night Drop (Battery, 1982. reprint). Recommended for general collections. Dennis E. Showalter, History Dept., Colorado Coll., Colorado Springs
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Presidio Press (June 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891416013
• ISBN-13: 978-0891416012
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,690,247 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reporting of the Allied invasion of South France., July 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Operation Dragoon: The Allied Invasion of the South of France (Paperback)

This is a pretty good book. The author, William Breuer, does a fine job in creating a story that encompasses both the technical and the human sides of the Allied invasion of the French Riviera just after the Allied Normandy invasion of the western coast of France. Breuer also creates just enough background as to where we are in the campaign's action, and then fills in those scenarios with human figures, both American, German, and French Resistance.

The book has several phases, all of which are well done. The first is the preparation for the invasion by the Allies and all the problems that went along with it, plus the concern by the German Generals that an attack was likely. The second portion deals with the airborne troops landing in the dead of night, and the adventures that went along with such a risky undertaking. This portion is perhaps the most interesting and installs in the reader some of that Walter Middy feeling.

The author then goes on with the landing of the gliders, the beachhead bombings, attacking the beaches by assault troops, and continues on until the campaign is considered a success by the Allied forces.

Although the book is comprehensive, it is not boring reading but rather some very positive reporting. What is exceptional about the book is that the author has written it from the serviceman's level rather than from the general's level. The author therefore presents us with a lot of answers that we, as lowly privates and corporals want to know.: how G.I.'s got hurt jumping out of airplanes; what Axis Sally told the troops on the radio; how the Germans acted; how the French Resistance acted; how two soldiers walked up to a hospital in German territory and banged on the door, and then, discovering their mistake when a German opened the door, bluffed and demanded that the Germans surrender or their invisible Allied force surrounding the building would fire on them. The bluff worked!

Very enjoyable reading. Provides a thorough understanding of the southern France invasion.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Solid read if not particularly flush with new information or insights, March 16, 2006

By 

Mannie Liscum (Columbia, MO United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Operation Dragoon: The Allied Invasion of the South of France (Hardcover)

William B. Breuer's "Operation Dragoon: The Allied Invasion of the South of France" is an easy to read tale of the first days of the oft maligned ANVIL/DRAGOON combined airborne-amphibious invasion of the Cote d'Azur. Breuer's writing style is certainly appealing and he picks good combat stories to highlight action. The big picture provided by Breuer of Operation Dragoon is not particularly new, having been drawn largely from a handful of previously published books. Yet, Breuer's prose and use of many personal accounts of the foxhole-level events compiled from interviews the author conducted of surviving participants provides the reader with enough to merit the books' reading. It is worth noting that Breuer takes a quite liberal (almost plagiaristic) approach to retelling certain events that have been presented elsewhere. For example, Breuer `borrows' heavily from Adelman and Walton's "Champagne Campaign", so much so that this reviewer felt as if he were re-reading portions of the latter book. Breuer does cite "Champagne Campaign" in the bibliography so the previous authors are getting credit for providing Breuer with information, yet the way material is liberally rehashed is a bit disturbing to someone in academics.

The aforemention caveats aside, "Operation Dragoon" is a solid read, containing ample information, worthy of a read by those interested in an interesting portion of the fight for Fortress Europa in 1944. 3.5 Stars.

5.0 out of 5 stars OUTSTANDING!!!!!!, August 9, 2010

By 

Roslyn M. Santay "Roz" (Gettysburg, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Operation Dragoon: The Allied Invasion of the South of France (Paperback)

I purchase books like this one to entertain my retired husband. While he has always enjoyed this genre, he was extremely well pleased with Operation Dragoon. He was "Sorry to have finished this book." He would highly reccommend it.