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4th out of 18 books
—
12 voters
Pegasus Bridge
In the early morning hours of June 6, 1944, a small detachment of British airborne troops stormed the German defense forces and paved the way for the Allied invasion of Europe. Pegasus Bridge was the first engagement of D-Day, the turning point of World War II. This gripping account of it by acclaimed author Stephen Ambrose brings to life a daring mission so crucial that,...more
Paperback, 199 pages
Published
November 15th 1988
by Simon & Schuster
(first published 1985)
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In the early morning hours of June 6, 1944, a small detachment of British airborne troops stormed the German defense forces and paved the way for the Allied invasion of Europe. Pegasus Bridge was the first engagement of D-Day, the turning point of World War II. This gripping account of it by acclaimed author Stephen Ambrose brings to life a daring mission so crucial that, had it been unsuccessful, the entire Normandy invasion might have failed. Ambrose traces each step of the preparations over m
...more
Pegasus, the winged horse of Greek mythology, is proudly displayed on the berets of the British paratroopers and is as iconic as their blue head covering. On June 6, 1944, the largest sea invasion in history took place on the beaches of Normandy and Pegasus lead the way and was the first to land in enemy territory. The conduit near Ranville, France was codenamed Pegasus Bridge and was of immense importance to the success of the D Day invasion as it protected the attackers flank. Although the ope...more
This book is only about 150 pages short but it is long on information and eyewitness accounts of one of the most pivotal battles of D-Day.
The British 6th Airborne was tasked with the mission to secure the left flank (the easternmost flank) of the Normandy Beachhead. Major John Howard and 181 members of the 2nd Ox and Bucks Regiment were ordered to capture and hold a bridge over the Orne River and an adjacent canal. It was the key strongpoint in defending this flank.
This is the story of how Howa...more
The British 6th Airborne was tasked with the mission to secure the left flank (the easternmost flank) of the Normandy Beachhead. Major John Howard and 181 members of the 2nd Ox and Bucks Regiment were ordered to capture and hold a bridge over the Orne River and an adjacent canal. It was the key strongpoint in defending this flank.
This is the story of how Howa...more
Apr 22, 2010
Mahlon
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone interested in Military History
Recommended to Mahlon by:
Fan of Ambrose
Pegasus Bridge is a lesser-known Ambrose gem, and a classic of the D-Day genre. It tells the story of one company(D company of the Ox and Bucks British Light Infantry) and their commander, Major John Howard. They were tasked with capturing and holding two key bridges, that according to Ambrose would ensure the success of the entire Normandy invasion. Landing in gliders in the pre-dawn hours of June 6th, they became the first allied soldiers to set foot on French soil.
Good historical account
This isn't the greatest of Stephens Books, but it is worthy of any collector and historian. The book recalls the men and eventsthat allowed the British Glider and Parachute regiment to capture the all important bridge crossing the Orne and adjacent canal in order to prevent the 21st Panzer Division from disrupting and possibly defeating the landings at Sword, Juno and Gold Beach.
The scene is well documented in the movie "The Longest Day." Remember the famous lines, "hold...more
This isn't the greatest of Stephens Books, but it is worthy of any collector and historian. The book recalls the men and eventsthat allowed the British Glider and Parachute regiment to capture the all important bridge crossing the Orne and adjacent canal in order to prevent the 21st Panzer Division from disrupting and possibly defeating the landings at Sword, Juno and Gold Beach.
The scene is well documented in the movie "The Longest Day." Remember the famous lines, "hold...more
I read "Pegasus" in a tent at night on a Himalayan trek. It was a great escape from sore legs and unfortunately bad weather. However, I did not find it at the same standard as Ambrose's other works I've enjoyed. It seemed a bit thrown together. Although, Ambrose clearly loved telling the story and held great admiration for the men of D Company Ox and Bucks.
"Pegasus Bridge" relates the story of the battle for the so-named bridge, which was the initial action of the D-Day invasion of France by the...more
"Pegasus Bridge" relates the story of the battle for the so-named bridge, which was the initial action of the D-Day invasion of France by the...more
This is the story of one company's effort in the vanguard of D-day. It tells the story in excellent detail, how they were developed into elite soldiers, how their competitive edge was honed, and how they led the assault to take and hold 2 vital bridges.
The story is beautifully told, with great detail and character. D Company were warned in the briefing that they must not tell anyone about the nature of their training or mission on pain of being discharged from the mission - that night Wally Par...more
The story is beautifully told, with great detail and character. D Company were warned in the briefing that they must not tell anyone about the nature of their training or mission on pain of being discharged from the mission - that night Wally Par...more
"At a maximum, failure at Pegasus Bridge might have meant failure for the invasion as a whole, with consequences for world history too staggering to contemplate."
~Stephen E. Ambrose
Pegasus Bridge is a lesser known book by Ambrose on a lesser known battle on D-Day. It is likely lesser known to me because the British are the heroes of this story. This book tells of the British airborne troops that landed in gliders in the early hours of D-Day. They were the first to arrive on this historical day...more
Pegasus Bridge is a lesser known book by Ambrose on a lesser known battle on D-Day. It is likely lesser known to me because the British are the heroes of this story. This book tells of the British airborne troops that landed in gliders in the early hours of D-Day. They were the first to arrive on this historical day...more
I'm not normally a fan of war books as I think there are so many around they are often just variations on a very limited theme, so i was pleasantly surprised by this book as it was something new I hadn't heard of before.
I've read many books on D-Day and the beach landings, but 'Pegasus Bridge' looks at the very start of the day and the landing of 6 gliders in France and the operation to secure a key route for the allies. The book takes us through the preparation for the day and the operation its...more
I've read many books on D-Day and the beach landings, but 'Pegasus Bridge' looks at the very start of the day and the landing of 6 gliders in France and the operation to secure a key route for the allies. The book takes us through the preparation for the day and the operation its...more
I found this story to be very clean and to the factual point. Ambrose didn't throw his opinions in anywhere, he just told the story as it came from the soldiers that experienced it.
I like that you get a true feel for the way these guys (on both sides) were thrown into this war and were only kids, some still teenagers and that after all the fighting and killing, British and German soldiers understood that and many actually became friends over time.
A great story that doesn't get clouded over in p...more
I like that you get a true feel for the way these guys (on both sides) were thrown into this war and were only kids, some still teenagers and that after all the fighting and killing, British and German soldiers understood that and many actually became friends over time.
A great story that doesn't get clouded over in p...more
Nov 30, 2009
'Aussie Rick'
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-military,
ww2
Although dated this is still a very good account of Major John Howard and the men of Company D, the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry Regiment of the British 6th Airborne Division, and their role in capturing and holding the bridge over the Caen Canal at Benouville on the night of 5/6th June 1944.
The book (HB edition) is only 160 pages of narrative but it’s a great story and it’s hard to put it down once you have started. I found it full of interesting and at times funny first-hand accounts and altho...more
Stephen Ambrose is my favorite historian of World War II and his Pegasus Bridge does not disappoint. This book tells the story of the first engagement of D-Day and of the men on both sides who participated in it. Ambrose is wonderfully able to make history come to life. Reading Pegasus Bridge made me once again think on the incredible sacrifices that my grandfather's generation (my was with Patton’s Sixth army in Europe) was called upon to make. I’m not one to elevate those who were called upon...more
The story of the British gliderborne troops who landed in Normandy ahead of the main D-Day landings with the mission of capturing (and holding) two vital bridges east of the landing beaches. Denying use of these bridges to the German forces meant a long detour for reinforcements sent to counterattack the Allied landings.
Ambrose tells the story well, I got a clear understanding of what happened when and of the characters involved. At times he gets dangerously close to fanboy-like levels of admira...more
Ambrose tells the story well, I got a clear understanding of what happened when and of the characters involved. At times he gets dangerously close to fanboy-like levels of admira...more
Stephen E. Ambrose is a master storyteller. He makes it so easy, interviewing people then write about them. Imagine the editing works, placing one story after another, in the way that the readers would better understand and imagine. Pegasus Bridge is not as special as Citizen Soldiers or Band of Brothers (BoB), but it still delivers.
The story is about a gliderborne unit of the British Ox and Bucks Light Infantry Regiment, 6th Airborne Division, commanded by Major John Howard, who captured two b...more
The story is about a gliderborne unit of the British Ox and Bucks Light Infantry Regiment, 6th Airborne Division, commanded by Major John Howard, who captured two b...more
1 like · like · see review
A book that gives some insight into what our grandfather's went through. Both mine were in the forces. One in the RAF took his camera, I have over 200 negatives from his time in India. My paternal grandfather was a desert rat, he never talked about it. I know he was in a tank that was shelled and recieved a head injury. He lost his memory for a while and the British army didn't know who he was, Grandma was notified that he's been killed in action. Big shock when he returned home a few months lat...more
My favorite of all Ambrose's books. My copy is signed by four of the major players, Major John Howard, German Colonel Hans von Luck, pilot Jim Wallwork and Private Wally Parr, all of whom, together with Ambrose, presented one of the most fantastic history classes I've ever attended. Those gentlemen made history come alive, and for a few hours back in the 1980s, forty years dropped away and we were transported back in time to the hedgerows of Normandy. Pure magic, indeed.
The Band of Brothers author writes a short 200-page book about one very important WW2 battle that Ambrose calls instrumental to the Allies' overall D-Day success. Ambrose takes the reader from initial planning to the minute-by-minute events of the day to the reunion a half century later. This short but detailed book illustrates how important thorough planning, preparation, technology, and each individual soldier's action can have on the outcome of a battle and a war.
I know more about WWII, the invasion of Normandy and the importance of reading non fiction because of this book. Ambrose knows how to keep the reader interested. This book reads like and adventure story while supplying the BASIC info about the invasion of Normandy. It's also interesting how he loves the pathos of war but also condemns it. He makes a point of showing how members of the American army befriended members of the German army post war. He does a great job of painting the human side of...more
Aug 05, 2011
Nicola
added it
Came across Pegasus Bridge itself a couple of years ago whilst holidaying in the North of France. Didn't know its story at the time, and even though I've never read war stories before, it got me interested in reading this book by Ambrose. Factual, interesting and engrossing (read in two days), I think a wide cross-section of people would enjoy this. I'll be looking for other Ambrose books in future.
An American writing about a British company on d-day? I wasn't sure as most of the American films show the British as an also ran, I couldn't be more wrong.
This is a facinating acount of the day and the problems of the task given to D company. It is well writen and gives a very accurate acount and doesn't miss out the German side.
Only downside is that it is not the best book for detail.
This is a facinating acount of the day and the problems of the task given to D company. It is well writen and gives a very accurate acount and doesn't miss out the German side.
Only downside is that it is not the best book for detail.
Loved this book. As Americans, we learned about D-Day from the American viewpoint. Interesting to know along with out heroes, the English heroes were brave as well. When in Normandy, with my niece, we went to Pegasus Bridge and visited the English museum there honoring their heroes. Purchased the book at the Cafe near the bridge. Always good to hear someone else's point of view.
This was a great book. I had previouly read D-day by Stephan Abmrose so this was a good follow up to that. It is about the first and most successful action on D-day. The british took and held two key bridges preventing the Germans from counter-attacking with thier armoured divisions. I would highly recommend thia to anyone who is interested in the history of WW II.
Ambrose recognized that he made a mistake by not running his manuscript by the veterans before publishing... otherwise I would have given this a 5 star rating. Still it was a fascinating glimpse into the amount of training that went in to one mission that boiled down to one shot with a junk weapon... that potentially saved the day for the American soldiers on the beaches.
This one is good, but not as good as other works by Ambrose. One of the issues is that it a small, yet imporatant event is used to fill a whole book. A lot of what was added to create th ewhole story was interesting, but not to the same degree as one would find in Band of Brothers. In a sense, a lot of material seemed like filler.
This is shorter, written earlier, and lesser known than Band of Brothers, but it is a very similar read. Pegasus Bridge is the story of the British glider company that was the very first to see action in the invasion of France. They had to capture Pegasus Bridge for it to be a success. Great read if you like WWII history.
Clear, documented and very well written, it depicts the struggle and heroic first battle of the invasion. Without going too much into the characters and actors, it permeates the sense of hope, despair, urgency and camaraderie shared among them soldiers who were the spearpoint. I highly recommend it.
A buddy gave this to me as a present for being in his wedding. Awesome present! I read the whole thing in one sitting (that should tell you it was before I had kids!). I really enjoy Ambrose's style of telling real history as a story. This book had me from the beginning.
Not really sure why I picked up one of my husband's books when I have plenty of my own sitting about waiting to be read. But, I'm glad I did. This was the very interesting story of British troops who landed in huge gliders in France on D-day to secure a bridge.
This was one of the best World War 2 books that I've read. The author, Stephen Ambrose, managed to interview a number of soldiers from D Company and Germans who told their story of what happened. When you are reading, it feels as if you are almost there with the soldiers attacking the bridge. I felt as if these men deserved more recognition for what they did. Everything from Howard's leadership to them countering the tanks with their single Piat was outstanding. I would suggest this to anyone wh...more
1 like · like · see review
Really interesting detailed account of the first couple of days for the troops sent in first at Normandy.
For me showed how things can turn on a piece of luck - good or bad.
Just so glad I was born at a time and place where I was not in danger of having to go through experiences like this.
For me showed how things can turn on a piece of luck - good or bad.
Just so glad I was born at a time and place where I was not in danger of having to go through experiences like this.
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Stephen Edward Ambrose was an American historian and biographer of U.S. Presidents Dwight Eisenhower and Richard M. Nixon. He received his Ph.D. in 1960 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
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May 07, 2010 08:25am