Breakout: Drive to the Seine

Ballantine's Illustrated History of World War II / the Violent Century: Campaign #4

by David Mason

Six weeks after D-Day the Allies were still entangled in the Normandy hedgerow country. Then the American VII Corps mounted Operation Cobra, and on July 27th. 30th Division's commander could say jubilantly - 'This thing has busted open. We may be the spearhead that broke the camel's back'.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, World War II

160 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1969

About the author

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Reviews

[Dan McCarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of in depth information packed into a small book!

[Martin Koenigsberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Allies had successfully come ashore in Normandy- only to seem to get trapped in attritional warfare. The British had the bulk of German Armour arrayed against them in the East, the Americans had the claustrophobic Bocage country and strong German infantry formations in the west. After the British tried a series of large scale attacks that were only partially successful, SHAEF HQ in London began to worry that this seeming impasse might have political implications. David Mason, a journalist turned military historian sets the tone for this critical point in the Alliance against Fascism, with a taut driving account accompanied by the great collection of b/w pics, maps, and drawings in the style of the Ballantine's Illustrated History of World War II.

The answer was provided by the US Army Air Corps, the 8th Air Force lending the GI Joes a hand with their Heavy and Medium bombers . The move was costly in far too many blue on blue/fratricide casualties , but it did punch a beaten zone across several Nazi Divisional fronts . Once they had negotiated the torn up roads and countryside, and cleared a few untouched strong points - the American divisions, totally motorized, found themselves free and clear into France - with little to stop them. Within days they were covering ground that threatened the Panzer forces opposing the British- and the Falaise Pocket was beginning to form... This intense little book is a good way for any WWII reader- from serious history buff to strict casual - to learn about this episode.

There are no adult themes, save politics, and no graphic injury passages, so this is a good read for the Junior Reader over about 10/11 years with a historical interest. For the Gamer/Modeler/Military Enthusiast this a great short explanation of a key campaign. For Gamers this is more about understanding the whole campaign rather than any one action. For Modelers, a good book to get into a period, but I think more colour resources might be called for. The Military Enthusiast scores again with a key period of WWII in the west explained in good detail. General audience readers will appreciate a spare telling of an Allied triumph.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great telling of a part of the Normandy campaign that is not often discussed. Highlights include Patton being given command of Third Army and his push to Paris, the Canadians in the Faliase pocket, dealing with different styles and command from both sides in the conflict, Hitler's backseat commanding from a distance when he is not there to know what the situation is and this part of the campaign ending with the French army being more of a hindrance than a help in the capture of Paris. Mason did an excellent job of laying out the campaign and the struggles and strategies they had to overcome to push out from the Normandy beaches and try to maintain the initiative they had from that landing.

[George Kasnic · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent history of the breakout to the Seine. It captures the hedgerow fighting and the breakout, detailing the Falaise pocket, and the liberation of Paris. It loses focus there, choosing to spend time in the minor squabbling around getting Free French units as the initial units entering Paris then going on an anti-French riff which the British writers of this series - and most British writers - consistently demonstrate an Achille’s heel towards. Then they choose to spend time justifying Montgomery’s effort as a commander, another Anglophile weakness. Other than that misstep, the book is solid.

[John Hillestad · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Mason has done a great job bringing together the many facets of this part of the Western front. He handles the personalities and behaviors of the senior leadership (both Allied and Axis) well and does not get mired in legend and cliche, rather more direct.
Having said that, I feel that the debate on broad front versus "dagger thrusts" could use a little more attention. I did enjoy the interplay between General Eisenhower and Field Marshal Montgomery, the lack of clear expectations and the resulting loss of opportunities, had Montgomery not focused so much drawing the reserves away from Gen Bradley and coordinated his army's capabilities to match the more open terrain to his front, manpower shortages that only turned in to costly dispersed attacks that did not ultimately pen in the Axis forces.
All in all a very satisfying work.

[Michael Bistrica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is part of Ballantine's History of World War 2 and they are some of the best books written about the war. I read this book the during the late 1970s. For those that don't know the covers were color coded. The Breakout Drive to the Seine cover was gold. Gold meant that the book covered a campaign with a time frame of several weeks or months. This book gives the reader a look at breakout for St Lo and the Normandy hedgerows and the drive to the Seine River. It covers both sides Allies and Germans their plans and what they did during the campaign. These books are about 200 pages or so in length, so they do not also go into as much detail as other accounts, but if you want a quick look and a reasonable length read; these are for you. They may be hard to find as they were published in the 1970s. They are worth it though.

[Jeff Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of all the authors in the Ballantine series, I believe David Mason is my favorite. He’s able to take the complexities of the battles he writes about and break them down into an easily followed story.

This one is no different. Is this an all inclusive work? No. But when Ballantine took this project on, it was an intro for readers who weren’t familiar with World War Two.

The overview of Operation Goodwood, The Falaise Pocket and Cobra give the reader just enough to pursue other works that go into more detail. In the end, isn’t that what reading is all about? Wanting to learn more?

Four stars