- Hardcover: 288 pages
- Publisher: The History Press Ltd (1 May 2011)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0752459783
- ISBN-13: 978-0752459783
- Product Dimensions: 25 x 17.2 x 2.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 323,274 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
You probably already know the basic story of what happened on D-Day - but it is almost certain that your knowledge is based upon books written from the Allied perspective. "Normandie Front" provides a fresh and unique exploration of the greatest seaborne invasion in history. It also explains just why the Americans on Omaha beach suffered the Longest Day of all. As the ramps went down and the Amis plunged into the water, their commanders expected them to face just one battalion of mediocre occupation troops - but the veterans and the new recruits of the 352nd Division were waiting instead. Authors Vince Milano and Bruce Conner have interviewed the surviving members of that formidable fighting force - at the same time amassing a collection of German and Allied photographs and documents, many of which are published here for the first time. The fight to get off the beach and then the seemingly interminable struggle through the bocage - from hedgerow to hedgerow, as the German line fell back only to reform and counter-attack time and time again, all the way to the ruins of St Lo - was one of the most intense ever experienced by any army. General lieutenant Dietrich Kraiss' deployment of his men is a fascinating military case study in itself. The General, responsible for the stretch of coastline that included Omaha beach and part of Gold beach, was an Eastern Front veteran, as were many of his men. He was therefore used to facing an adversary who outnumbered and outgunned his forces and was well versed in the tactics of defence and counter-attack. The division actually expected to be sent East any day and had been trained for it. Denied the use of one third of his division during the crucial first hours of the invasion that had been held in reserve by higher commands, he tenaciously held his ground until they were released and then mounted a skilful defensive campaign. The reinforcements needed to contain the Allied breakout from the beachhead never came - partly because German High Command refused to accept that Normandy really was the main invasion target and not Pas de Calais. As the authors point out, 'Any Grenadier in the 352nd could have told them differently'. With over 200 photographs and those priceless interviews with German veterans, "Normandie Front" is an important addition to the literature of World War II, telling as it does the story of how one German division changed the course of the invasion and almost the entire war.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a very comprehensive account of 352 Infanterie Division which held the line at Omaha and was eventually crushed six weeks later at St Lo. Roughly half the book is devoted to the run-up to and fighting on D-Day, the rest of the volume is devoted to the battles inland.
It's copiously illustrated and packed with first-hand accounts which bring the men to life. There are also scores of images from private collections - most of them you won't have seen before.
If you're interested in D-Day/Omaha Beach/German Army/Normandy, it's a must and fills in one more piece of the important jigsaw of the men defending the beaches.
It's copiously illustrated and packed with first-hand accounts which bring the men to life. There are also scores of images from private collections - most of them you won't have seen before.
If you're interested in D-Day/Omaha Beach/German Army/Normandy, it's a must and fills in one more piece of the important jigsaw of the men defending the beaches.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Vince Milano and Bruce Conner's book titled Normandiefront was a superior narration of the common soldier in combat. As a professional soldier and educator it was a pleasure to read a new perspective based on what the common soldier saw and accomplished. Normandiefront has amazing depictions, pictures and references from the veteran's perspective that I have never seen in print prior until this writing. It was refreshing to read a work that was not regurgitated material retold by the Ph.D crowd. Many new conclusions and insights that I often pondered were verified through the statements from the veterans themselves. Bravo, well done, Keep up the good work!
Ssg. Jonathan J. Byron M.ed. (Ret.) USA.
Ssg. Jonathan J. Byron M.ed. (Ret.) USA.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book describes the fighting retreat, after D=Day, of the German 352 Division on an almost day to day basis. For me the most interesting part are the personal accounts of German soldiers. Especially the bitter fighting near the invasion beach, the terror caused by the dreaded American Jabos (Jagdbombers) and artillery, the stress and strain the Germans experienced durin the intense fighting, the problems with the `Volksdeutscher` and the fighting in St Lo. This is the `through German eyes` part for which I am glad I bought the book. For me the big problem is the total lack of any maps and a story of the fighting retreat which is interesting, but certainly not encapsulating.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Normadiefront
A really insightful book, very well written and a gripping read from the German infanty point of view. Read more
Published 4 months ago by 2.8iman
Normandyfront - simply a must read book
This is a book that should have been written years ago when more of the primary source material - ie the veterans, were still around. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Gusbucket13
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