Books on D-Day & Overlord

[Kenneth]

D-Day: Piercing the Atlantic Wall

There's also this one. Don't know if it's been mentioned. Kershaw is great at getting both sides of the story in equal balance.

[Kenneth]

...and now I've also found this one too. Where am I going to get the time??

Normandiefront: D-Day to Saint-Lo Through German Eyes

[carl]

we have mentioned that book before but don't recall anyone having read it yet. it's definitely on my tobuy list.


'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I have seen that book mentioned before Kenneth and I'm glad you mentioned it again. Do you know how many pages it is?


[bookcover:WN 62 - A German Soldier's Memories of the Defence of Omaha Beach..."

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Another one:

"Twelve-year-old Peter McElhinney is standing in a Portsmouth street watching the troops march by. A young GI empties all his money and cigarettes out of his pockets and pushes them i..."

Good quotes Rick, including the one of the DLI.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I thought you might like the one about Ernest Bevin :)

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I have not read about this incident before:


"On the top of Juno Beach, Captain Daniel Flunder of 48 Commando is looking back towards the sea. He can see scores of Canadian and British wounded on the sand. Suddenly he sees that a tank with its turret closed is blindly running over wounded men. 48 Commando's padre is lying injured and can't move, and the tank is heading his way.
Flunder sprints down the beach shouting, 'They're my men! They're my men!'
He reaches the tank and starts bashing it with his walking stick to try and get it to stop, but it keeps going. In desperation, Flunders pulls the pin out of an anti-tank grenade and wedges it in the sprockets of one of the wheels. Flunders backs away, and the grenade blows the tank's track off. It comes to a halt before it hits the helpless padre."

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Nor me Rick. I did find this when Googling the officer. It seems he was a temporary acting lieutenant, temporary captain (he was the unit's adjutant) and was awarded a military cross for his work in Normandy and the advance to the river Seine (not gazetted until 20th Feb 1945): http://caribbeanrollofhonour-ww1-ww2....

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

He survived the war as he is a signaturee on a commemorative 50th anniversary D-Day first day cover:

6RN11ca Operation Overlord The Navies D Day double Signed 6 Jun 94 Portsmouth FDI postmark on 25p D Day Stamp. Operation Overlord D Day. Personally Signed by Major D.J.Flunder OBE,MC,VRD,RMR Served as Captain and Adjutant in 48 Commando RM during the - Day landings, and came ashore at Juno beach west of St Aubin - Sur - Mer.and Reginald J Bettiss RM ( Rtd ) served as a Marine ( Signalman) with 46 Commando,Royal Marines, which came ashore at Juno (Nan Red ) beach near Bemieres on D Day + 1 Certified Copy of 250. details 4 Black & white photo

The link where I found the info is here: http://www.wing-fields.co.uk/acatalog...

He is also mentioned and quoted in the Battleground Europe Series volume Walcheren: Operation Infatuate where 48 RM Commando capture Zoutelande (page1 117-121 with a photo of him on page 119).

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Thanks for those links Geevee, he sounds like a pretty interesting soldier.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Here is a funny story concerning Lord Lovat that occurred after the war:

"Working in 1961 as an advisor on the D-Day film The Longest Day, Lord Lovat fell asleep in a cab heading into Caen. He woke up to find the car heading towards a group of German soldiers. Instinctively, he dived out of the moving car and into a ditch. Emerging from the ditch, he realised they were just film extras."

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Bet that surprised the cabbie.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I'm sure it did, lost another fare from a Brit on holidays :)

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

LOL...what you sayin' mate?

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I aren't saying nuthing :)

[Dj]

He might not say it, but I will. Watch Hetalia, Axis Powers. It has some great sterotypes for the WWII powers. I still love it when Switzerland tells Japan to 'Man up or I will hit you with my Peace Prize.'


Geevee wrote: "LOL...what you sayin' mate?"

[happy]

Just finished McManus' book on Omaha Beach and the 1st ID -



excellent read - He focus almost solely on the 1st IDs part of the battle. I picked up some tidbits of information that I didn't know - in spite of being fairly well read (I like to think) on the battle

Highly recommended. I gave it 4.25 star if allowed and it might go up as I mull it over. I'll type up my thoughts more fomally as I get the time

[Bev]

I just finished reading D DAY Through German Eyes BOOK 2 - More hidden stories from June 6th 1944 edited by Holger Eckhertz

There was one person who really trashed this in their review on Amazon so I would be curious to know if anyone else has read it and what they thought about it.

My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Good review Bev, sounds worth a read.

[Dimitri]

Parachuting dogs on D-Day was a thing :

http://www.spiegel.de/international/z...

[Marc]

happy wrote: "Just finished McManus' book on Omaha Beach and the 1st ID -



excellent read - He focus almost solely on ..."

Yeah, this was really an excellent book. Looking forward to your review.

[Edgar]

If anyone is interested, I wrote an essay review of McManus' _The Dead and Those About To Die_ in volume 3 of _U.S. Military History Review_. It is located at https://docs.google.com/a/usmhg.org/v...

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Thanks for posting the link Edgar, I'm sure a few members will check out your review.

[happy]

Nice review Edgar!

[Dimitri]

Impressive Edgar ! Will you also post this on the book's GR page ? I know what to buy next June.

[Jonny]

Dimitri wrote: "Parachuting dogs on D-Day was a thing :

http://www.spiegel.de/international/z..."

There's a "rough day at work" pick me up story if ever I read one. Thanks Dmitri.

[Colin]

When I was on active duty we had some free falls with dogs, they were amazing creatures.

[zed]

Interesting read.

https://theconversation.com/dunkirk-s...

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Thanks for sharing that link 4triplezed

[Dimitri]

So after link: Manray's review for the disappointing Air War Normandy by Richard Townshend Bickers, does anyone have better suggestions about the aerial aspect of D-Day/Normandy ? Neptune on wings, chasing away the solitary pair of planes the Germans got airborne in the movie.

I contribute D-Day Bombers: The Veterans' Story by Stephen Darlow...

[Marc]

Dimitri wrote: "So after link: Manray's review for the disappointing Air War Normandy by Richard Townshend Bickers, does anyone have better suggestions about the aerial aspect of D-D..."

I have D-Day Bombers, but have yet to read it. I can't think of any other books which specifically cover the air war over the Normandy beaches, so hopefully others can help out.

[carl]

Defending Fortress Europe has an Appendix that covers the Luftwaffe for D-Day month , so not much, but interesting how many sorties the Luftwaffe did manage and some success here and there.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Dimitri wrote: "So after link: Manray's review for the disappointing Air War Normandy by Richard Townshend Bickers, does anyone have better suggestions about the aerial aspect of D-D..."

I can't think of any at the moment Dimitri but you may find this web site quite interesting on the subject. There are four pages, here are the links:

http://www.bergstrombooks.elknet.pl/n...

http://www.bergstrombooks.elknet.pl/n...

http://www.bergstrombooks.elknet.pl/n...

http://www.bergstrombooks.elknet.pl/n...

[Dimitri]

Just something nobody hereabouts seems to have mentioned yet:

Cracking Hitler's Atlantic Wall: The 1st Assault Brigade Royal Engineers on D-Day by Richard C. Anderson Jr.

Synopsis:
Landing with the British and Canadians in Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944, was the 1st Assault Brigade Royal Engineers, a specialized armored unit tasked with removing obstacles and mines from Gold, Juno, and Sword Beaches. To support this mission, the engineers modified their tanks with ingenious innovations, such as replacing the main gun with a giant mortar or attaching a steamroller-like device to flatten a path in the sand. In the early hours of D-Day, the brigade landed under fire, and took serious casualties in some areas, but achieved many of its key objectives and cleared the way for the infantry.Refreshingly different perspective on the momentous events of D-Day Nuts-and-bolts narrative of how the landings were carried out along with details on the unique British armored vehicles used in the invasion The controversy over the U.S. refusal to use these vehicles, which may have contributed to bloody American losses on Omaha Beach

[Jonny]

Hobart's Funnies? Sound like one to keep an eye out for...

[Dimitri]

For the alternative history fans:

Disaster at D-Day: The Germans Defeat the Allies, June 1944by Peter G. Tsouras

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sweetwilliam]

D DAY Through German Eyes: Book One and Book Two

I just started this book the other night. It seems to be a series of interviews with Germans defending the beaches. There appears to be six interviews. It is an audio book and I have listened to the first two interviews twice. So far, the interviews have been riveting. The first interview is a German in a tobruk off Utah Beach and the 2nd is a 55 minute interview of a German soldier on Omaha Beach. If this keeps up, I can tell you that this book is going to get a five star rating from me.

The soldier defending Omaha Beach was wondering why there wasn't more of a preparatory air bombardment on the beach. He said that there were plenty of fighters that could have done quite a bit of damage but they alway flew more inland. Also, he said the preparatory naval bombardment was devastating but too short. He said that the naval guns took out one of three 88's in his sector and he observed a bunker near him take a direct hit. He saw pieces of body and concrete fly high in the air. He said that the bunker he was in cracked and his eyes were bleeding. He wondered about the balance of secrecy and the preparatory bombardment etc. It sounded as if he believed that the allies would have been much better off with a greater preparatory bombardment from air and sea even at the sacrifice of secrecy. The soldier also said that for a moment he thought that they would of repelled the invasion force in his sector if it weren't for the arrival of the tanks and the resurgence of the naval gunfire. He said it was like a shooting gallery until the tanks arrived and the naval guns started to fire again.

The soldier defending a tobruk just off Utah had a very interesting ordeal during his retreat. He spoke of driving around a corner and witnessing several American airborne men lying on the ground dead with their hands tied behind their backs, execution style. He said that he suspected that this was the work of the SS soldiers. There were several SS "boys" as he called them that attempted to retreat with him. He also said that he never heard of the atrocities and that rocket attacks from Allied fighters may have inadvertently destroyed the evidence.

Also, the soldier defending Utah said that the Atlantic Wall would not have been penetrated had Hitler not declared war on the United States. He said after Pearl Harbor and after the United States declared war on Japan, all the soldiers on the Atlantic Wall said good. Germany has nothing to do with this. 48 hours later, Hitler announced the declaration of war on the United States and the same soldiers said "What is he doing?" He said that Canada and GBR could have never penetrated the Atlantic wall and that had not Germany declared war on the US, the Wehrmacht could have concentrated on defending Germany against the Soviets. He said to the interviewer that you do not know how many lives were altered by this stupid decision by Hitler.

I can't wait to listen to the rest of the interviews of this book but I am going to stretch this one out a bit. It is that good. I am going to savor this one.

[Dimitri]

Peter Caddick-Adams just revealed cover art for his D-Day book, sheduled for the 75th anniversary.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Looks good, its a definite purchase for me after his excellent account of the Battle of the Bulge.

[John]

Wow, another one for the must buy list. I still need to read his Battle of the Bulge book but this one will certainly be joining it on the shelf.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I am sure you will enjoy his book on the Bulge.

Snow and Steel: The Battle of the Bulge, 1944-45 by Peter Caddick-Adams

[Dimitri]

It's an awesome book, as solid as Charles B. MacDonald but written with greater elegance. I bought my hardcover copy in the Bastogne barracks during the 2015 commemoration. A moment of perfection.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Dimitri wrote: "It's an awesome book, as solid as Charles B. MacDonald but written with greater elegance. I bought my hardcover copy in the Bastogne barracks during the 2015 commemoration. A moment of perfection."

That's a nice touch Dimitri, a very personal connection to history!

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I have read about this account in other books covering D-Day but figured I'd post the story here again in case other members may not have heard it. Its in relation to when two British commando's were captured off the Normandy beaches and later taken to Rommel's HQ:

"Several other high-ranking officials joined them at the table, including General Hans-Georg von Tempelhoff (Army Group B’s chief of staff) and Captain Helmut Lang (Rommel’s aide-de-camp). Once all were seated, Rommel turned to address Lane. ‘So you are one of these gangster commandos, are you?’ Lane waited for this to be translated into English before feigning indignation. ‘Please tell His Excellency that I do not understand what he means by gangster commandos. Gangsters are gangsters, but the commandos are the best soldiers in the world.’ Rommel seemed to appreciate the answer for a brief smile swept his face. ‘Perhaps you are not a gangster,’ he said, ‘but we’ve had some very bad experiences concerning commandos.’"

D-Day: The Soldiers' Story by Giles Milton

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I loved this story from the book; "D-Day: The Soldiers Battle" about the British glider landings to capture the Bénouville (Pegasus Bridge) Bridge:

"And then, in a terrifying shower of sparks and debris, the crippled remnant of the glider slammed itself to a violent halt. The two pilots were pitched forward with such force that their seats were sheared off the floor bolts. They shot through the cockpit screen and into the field, thereby earning themselves the distinction of being the first Allied troops to land in France on D-Day. It was unfortunate that they were scarcely conscious."

Pegasus Bridge:
http://www.pegasusarchive.org/normand...

[happy]

Good story AR!

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

happy wrote: "Good story AR!"

I got a chuckle out of it :)

[Mike, Assisting Moderator US Forces]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I loved this story from the book; "D-Day: The Soldiers Battle" about the British glider landings to capture the Bénouville (Pegasus Bridge) Bridge:

"And then, in a terrifying shower of sparks and ..."

The landing is always the hardest part of flying....

[Manray9]

Mike wrote: "'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I loved this story from the book; "D-Day: The Soldiers Battle" about the British glider landings to capture the Bénouville (Pegasus Bridge) Bridge:

"And then, in a terrifying..."

Isn't landing easy? But a landing you can walk away from is the hardest part?

[Mike, Assisting Moderator US Forces]

True, I always assume walking away is part of the checklist.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I liked this story from Giles Milton's book "D-Day" about the bombing raid against the beaches that failed to hit their targets and dropped miles inland behind the German defences:

"The 329 B-24 bombers targeting Omaha Beach dropped 13,000 bombs in that pre-dawn period. Virtually all of them exploded in the cliff-top pastureland, killing cows and damaging farms but leaving the German coastal defences completely untouched. They didn't scour a single crater into the beaches, as was intended, in order to provide cover for the infantry soon to land.

'The Air Corps might just as well have stayed in bed,' commented one American officer watching the bombing raid from a few hundred yards offshore. An English captain was equally damning. 'That's a fat lot of use,' he said. 'All it's done is wake them up'."

D-Day: The Soldiers' Story by Giles Milton