Operation Cobra 1944: Breakout from Normandy

Osprey Campaign #88

by Steven J. Zaloga, Tony Bryan (Illustrator)

One of the most decisive months of World War II (1939-1945) was the 30 days between 25 July and 25 August 1944. After the success of the D-Day landings, the Allied forces found themselves bogged down in a bloody stalemate in Normandy. On 25 July General Bradley launched Operation Cobra to break the deadlock. US forces punched a hole in the German frontline and began a spectacular advance. As Patton's Third Army poured into Brittany and raced south to the Loire, the German army was threatened with encirclement. By the end of August German forces in Normandy were utterly destroyed, and the remaining German units in central and southern France were in headlong retreat to the German frontier. In this title Steve Zaloga explains how the breakout from Normandy came about.

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

96 pages, Paperback

First published August 25, 2001

About the author

Steven Zaloga is an author and defense analyst known worldwide for his articles and publications on military technology.  He has written over a hundred books on military technology and military history, including “Armored Thunderbolt: The US Army Sherman in World War II”, one of the most highly regarded histories of the Sherman Tank.  His books have been translated into Japanese, German, Polish, Czech, Romanian, and Russian. He was a special correspondent for Jane’s Intelligence Review and is on the executive board of the Journal of Slavic Military Studies and the New York Military Affairs Symposium. From 1987 through 1992, he was the writer/producer for Video Ordnance Inc., preparing their TV series Firepower.  He holds a BA in history from Union College and an MA in history from Columbia University.

Mr. Zaloga is also a noted scale armor modeler and is a host/moderator of the World War II Allied Discussion group at Missing-Lynx.com, a modelling website. He is a frequent contributor to the UK-based modeling magazine Military Modelling. He is a member of the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society.

Reviews

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fortunate to be able to travel to Normandy, stand on Omaha Beach, look out from the German gun implacements on Pont du Hoc, visit the American Cemetery, and the museum at Arronmach, the site of the mulberry harbor. I enjoyed this book about the early struggles of the Allies to maintain and advance their foothold in France. Kristi & Abby Tabby

[Sean Chick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good Zaloga volume in the Osprey series.

[Lucius18 H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Missed some more info about Patton, but the rest was quite nicely done

[Rob Humphrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good "once over the world" description of operation cobra. I found the maps and the initial orders of battle very helpful in understanding how things unfolded.