Customer Reviews

Six Armies in Normandy: From D-Day to the Liberation of Paris; June 6 - Aug. 5, 1944; Revised

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Few contemporary authors have had such an illustrious or successful career so late in life as had British scholar and historian John Keegan. Mr. Keegan, much like his American counterpart, Stephan Ambrose, has become a sort of one-man cottage industry pouring out literate tomes on a variety of historical subjects, dealing in the main with the subject of 20th century war and its warriors. In each case, Keegan brings a singular understanding of the nature of war itself as well as what it means for the soldier on the ground. Thus, while other authors tend to concentrate more exclusively on what national and military leaders do and how each of the associated counties strategize, Mr. Keegan tends to emphasize the meaning of these conflicts and circumstances as they apply to the man in the field, and this refreshing approach to be more realistic and more relevant to the experience of the common man makes him both entertaining and educational to read. This particular book, "Six Armies In Normandy", represents a superb effort to summarize the events surrounding the Allied invasion of France in June 1944 and its aftermath all the way to the liberation of Paris later that year.

As such it presents a thrilling and wonderfully readable account of how one of the most momentous clashes of the century began and unfolded on the beaches, along the coastline, and then on into the bucolic fields, villages, and countryside of France itself. Like an afternoon's excursion into Hell itself, one quickly becomes embroiled in the vision of battle across the face of Normandy, watching as a cauldron of murder and mayhem pours itself onto the face of France, witnessing the Allies as they successfully beat back the counter-offenses by the German panzer divisions. Keegan focuses on specific engagements, brilliantly recreating the atmosphere of conflict and chaos such as the fabled 101st Airborne drop into several Normandy villages along the coastline, being furiously chewed up by German ground forces even as they attempt to land.

Keegan's approach here is to show that the landing was just the beginning of the liberation of France, and as any serious student of the war along the Western Front can attest, the Germans were tenacious and dogged in their defense, and the road to Paris and the liberation of all of France was one both hard-fought and well sprinkled with the blood of both combatants and non-combatants alike. Far from being a beaten force that was to be run over by the Allied machine, the German Wehrmacht still had the discipline, the determination, and a ready reservoir of self-reliance and battle experience to use in fighting the invaders. The battle for France was anything but a cakewalk, and herein the author handlily demonstrates the extraordinary degree to which each of the six armies used everything possible that was at their disposal to fatefully influence the eventual result. This is a wonderful book, one that both entertains and edifies. It is also one that I have read several times, and I recommend it for anyone who wants to take a wonderful look at the nature of the battle of France from the foot soldier's perspective.

I would scarcely have believed that a detailed account of a single campaign could be so moving and so detailed simultaneously. His account of his wartime childhood in the West Counties is heartbreakingly poignant, and at the same time keenly insightful; this first chapter is among the most evocative and beautiful personal accounts of the war which I've ever read.

His analytical method (I hesitate to call it a 'device' because it is not the least bit artificial or awkward) compares the national historical character of each combatant nation with the decisive phase of the campaign in which each struggled. He compares the dashing (and desperate) courage of American paratroopers compares to the savage, sacrificial bravery of the Free Polish tank corps, in a way that no historian I've read has done before.

Mr. Keegan is a writer and historian of the first rank. Each of his many books is among my all-time favorite works of non-fiction; my only regret is that his erudite, rigorously scholarly output cannot possibly meet my voracious demand!

Keegan's contribution to the field of history (the weight, variety, and evenly superb quality of his work) makes one compare him inevitably to Sir Kenneth Clarke. Perhaps those in charge of making Britons into 'Sirs' will take notice of this fact and reward him accordingly.

Three cheers for Sir John!

This book is why I think that John Keegan is one of the greatest historians of our times. As I write this, the 56th anniversary of the landings is but two days away and we are also very close to the opening of the D-Day memorial. This book, written in Keegans wonderful narative style shows us what all of these celebrations are really for. While Keegans writing style does not use the same overly dramatic touches that Stephen Ambroses' style does, he always manages to keep you entralled in the subject that he is presenting. And the subject that he is presenting is done infinitely better than in any other contemporary novel. He not only gives us the normal tales of the Americans and British and Germans, but we also get to see the contributions of the Free Polish and French divisions that landed after the intial wave. Being an American, I am used to seeing D-Day memorials to the British, Canadian and American forces involved. We tend to forget that other countries also had a hand in the victory involved there, and Keegan shows us this magnificently. He does this in the best way possible. He has devoted an entire chapter to each country, which gives us a chance to see each countries story presented uninterrupted and in my opinion paces the book wonderfully. This book is a must read for anybody who really wants a good, unbiased look at one of the pivotal moments in the worlds history. Highly recommended.

While I have found most of Keegan's works to be dry and difficult reads, Six Armies in Normandy is well-written and enjoyable. The book focuses on the armies of various nationalities that fought in Normandy in the months after D-Day. One of the exceptional features of this history is that Keegan covers more than just the British, French, and Germans. I found his depiction of the Polish armored division that tried to plug the Falaise-Argentan gap to be fascinating and visceral. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in the European theater of World War II.

I usually stick to war novels like "The Triumph and the Glory" because fiction is such a powerful medium for portraying the harsh reality of war. But I always read John Keegan because he is John Keegan, the master military historian of our age. Six Armies in Normandy is his best book, I hope you read it.

I admire the way Keegan looks for similarities and contrasts through the years or across the services of different countries. This book is a fascinating account of the liberation of France in 1944 told episodically through the eyes of the different armies involved.

While the table of contents makes this book seem like a gimmick, the different armies are carefully delimited and their exploits examined in the time period investigated, and the parts fit together seamlessly. I greatly admire Keegan for his ability to step back and see things as a whole.

For a more comprehensive look at D-Day itself, go to Ryan's Longest Day. For an interesting survey across the spectrum of nations involved and for a less detailed, longer-ranged investigation, I highly recommend this book.

As usual, an extremely well-written and balanced book by Mr. Keegan. Here, as elsewhere, he shows a subtle appreciation of political, economic, and social, as well as military, factors that played their part in the great invasion and its aftermath. One of his chief gifts is an ability to make plain both the larger context of battle and its very real human element. I thought his chapter on the Polish at Chambois was particularly good on this point, taking care as it did to draw parallels with the siege of Warsaw. I also appreciate his style, not only the prose, but the manner, which is very understated. As a casual student of history, I find his insights always keen, and I recommend this work highly.

this is the best book ive read about d-day since the longest day. because it takes an inside look at the main countries that invaded france in 1944.what makes the book interesting is how all the countries went about comprising their forces and the people who made them up. my favorite chapter invovles the first polish armoured division and their heroic battle at " the mace" during the operation to close the falaise pocket.

I found this book very informative and historically accurate. The chapter that fascinated me most was the chapter dealing with the "Closing of Falaise Gap". I found Keegan's descriptions chilling and real. After reading the chapter you felt like you had witnessed the battle firsthand. It left me with a clear understanding of the desperate challenges the heroic poles faced in closing the "Falaise Gap" in August 1944.

Six Armies in Normandy: From D-Day to the Liberation of Paris, June 6 - Aug. 5, 1944, John Keegan, Penguin Books, 366 pp., notes, bibliography, index, b/w illustrations,maps, revised edition, 1994, $16.00.

Noted military historian John Keegan doesn't offer a comprehensive narrative of the Normandy invasion and the six armies progress to Paris. The chapters at times stand alone and offer aspects of the inception, planning, command and control of the armies, air forces and navies. There are some fine descriptions of personalities and combat. There are some digressions that tell incomplete stories, in particular regarding French, Polish and Canadian troops.

Keegan at times reveals his background knowledge of British military history. For some readers it may be a distraction. Also, it at times is British-centric and carries a bit of condescension towards the French and Americans. But Six Armies is a fine narrative that readers with a background in the European Theatre may enjoy. First time readers in the field may put this aside as being dense.