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Bloody victory: Canadians and the D-Day campaign, 1944
Book by Granatstein, J. L
240 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1994
19 people want to read
About the author
J.L. Granatstein
77 books19 followersJack Lawrence Granatstein is a Canadian historian who specializes in Canadian political and military history. Granatstein received a graduation diploma from Royal Military College Saint-Jean in 1959, his Bachelor of Arts degree from the Royal Military College of Canada in 1961, his Master of Arts degree from the University of Toronto in 1962, and his Doctor of Philosophy degree from Duke University in 1966.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 9, 2022
Fantastic photos and paintings from the Normandy campaign showing the somewhat overlooked efforts of the Canadian soldier. A great read too, nicely broken down.
June 6, 2022
D-Day and the struggle of Break out of Normandy are epics in several cultures. The French, the British, the Germans and the Americans all make the story theirs- but there was another Army in those Summer fields of fury. Bloody Victory by J.L. Granatstein, and Desmond Morton, two Soldier -Academics, and veterans of the campaigns themselves, give you the oft-forgotten (by the other Combatant Countries- the Canadians have NEVER forgotten their sacrifice for the Empire/Commonwealth) Canadian story. In WWI, Canada had contributed a Corps- Four Divisions of Infantry-in 1944, three Infantry divisions, and an Armoured Division would form the Canadian, two Corps Army- with a Polish Armoured division thrown in for added bulk. As totally mechanized formations- they had many assorted units added to each division-many with the wonderful Canadian Territorial (National Guard like local units) names- my favourite the Regina Rifle Regiment . Landing at Juno Beach- A division at a time- and working out wards into the Bocage countryside- the Canadians held the right flank of the British push into Caen. Then in the "Breakout" stage- the "Race to Falaise- the Canadian Armour with their Polish Armoured allies had to "close the Ring"- with incomplete success.
For an American reader, raised on BOTH the "Monty took on all the Armour to free up the Yanks" British Narrative AND the "The Brits just were not aggressive enough in Normandy" American Narrative of the Struggle of the Beachhead, it was Refreshing to get this Third POV. After telling the story of the buildup, training and beach assault with wonderful anecdotes and historical perspective- Granatstein and Morton take on the story of the Breakout- showing with clear maps and narration how difficult that struggle was -the "British" story, told in simple North American English. As an American with British, Canadian and American roots- I came away with the idea that War is just Hard- and this Campaign was a hard lesson in Modern Industrial War for ALL the Soldiers of Democracies, who were not raised and propagandized to be soldiers, like the Fascist kids had been. But once they got the hang of it, and understood their Technological Edge (constant comment by the All mechanised soldiers of their enemy's use of Horse Transport), those very same kids from BC, the Prairie, the Maritimes, or anywhere in the Provinces were a lethal force that would go on to liberate the Netherlands and the Scheldt Estuary. This book makes that story compelling by adding an Amazing Galley of great photos , colour plates of period war art, and good maps and diagrams of the action for a strong package.
The straightforward text and plethora of Pictures and Maps make this a fine book for the Junior reader of about 11 up, especially those with Canadian Roots or interests. For the Gamer/Modeller /Military Enthusiast , this is a wonderful resource. There are Canadian Orders of battle and Maps of the Breakout that I just have not seen- the kind of things a Bolt Action/Flames Of War/BattleGroup Canadian player- or a gamer that plays as a Canadian will just want as a reference. The photo collection, Command Narrative and cool informal anecdotes are manna to the Military Enthusiast who might have noticed a scarcity of information on the "Other" Army in Normandy. It's just a glorious feast to focus on the Canadians alone- and I feel the better and more informed for the opportunity.
For an American reader, raised on BOTH the "Monty took on all the Armour to free up the Yanks" British Narrative AND the "The Brits just were not aggressive enough in Normandy" American Narrative of the Struggle of the Beachhead, it was Refreshing to get this Third POV. After telling the story of the buildup, training and beach assault with wonderful anecdotes and historical perspective- Granatstein and Morton take on the story of the Breakout- showing with clear maps and narration how difficult that struggle was -the "British" story, told in simple North American English. As an American with British, Canadian and American roots- I came away with the idea that War is just Hard- and this Campaign was a hard lesson in Modern Industrial War for ALL the Soldiers of Democracies, who were not raised and propagandized to be soldiers, like the Fascist kids had been. But once they got the hang of it, and understood their Technological Edge (constant comment by the All mechanised soldiers of their enemy's use of Horse Transport), those very same kids from BC, the Prairie, the Maritimes, or anywhere in the Provinces were a lethal force that would go on to liberate the Netherlands and the Scheldt Estuary. This book makes that story compelling by adding an Amazing Galley of great photos , colour plates of period war art, and good maps and diagrams of the action for a strong package.
The straightforward text and plethora of Pictures and Maps make this a fine book for the Junior reader of about 11 up, especially those with Canadian Roots or interests. For the Gamer/Modeller /Military Enthusiast , this is a wonderful resource. There are Canadian Orders of battle and Maps of the Breakout that I just have not seen- the kind of things a Bolt Action/Flames Of War/BattleGroup Canadian player- or a gamer that plays as a Canadian will just want as a reference. The photo collection, Command Narrative and cool informal anecdotes are manna to the Military Enthusiast who might have noticed a scarcity of information on the "Other" Army in Normandy. It's just a glorious feast to focus on the Canadians alone- and I feel the better and more informed for the opportunity.
January 6, 2025
Everything about Canada on D-Day in one book.
Desmond Morton and J.L Granatstein—two legendary authors on Canada in WWII—showed their academic prowess once again in this 1994 work, detailing D-Day and its preparations, execution, controversies, and planning.
Further, both authors wrote specifically wrote of Canada's role on Juno Beach, the offensives against French towns like Le Mesnil, the struggles against the 12th SS Panzer Division led by Kurt Meyer, casualties and controversies, and legacies. Simultaneously, the two incorporated various pictures of Canadians in combat, resting, in the field hospitals, moving to battle, and more. From this, Granatstein and Morton wrote and demonstrated the subject well with words and pictures.
If you are a fan of WWII and Canadian military history, I recommend this book to you.
Desmond Morton and J.L Granatstein—two legendary authors on Canada in WWII—showed their academic prowess once again in this 1994 work, detailing D-Day and its preparations, execution, controversies, and planning.
Further, both authors wrote specifically wrote of Canada's role on Juno Beach, the offensives against French towns like Le Mesnil, the struggles against the 12th SS Panzer Division led by Kurt Meyer, casualties and controversies, and legacies. Simultaneously, the two incorporated various pictures of Canadians in combat, resting, in the field hospitals, moving to battle, and more. From this, Granatstein and Morton wrote and demonstrated the subject well with words and pictures.
If you are a fan of WWII and Canadian military history, I recommend this book to you.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews