"Normandy Campaign Book Recommendations?" Topic

I enjoyed Max Hastings Overlord overview of DDay and the Normandy campaign to the breakout. I would like to read more detailed accounts of specific battles of the Normandy campaign. I am particular interested in reaading more about…

1. The Omaha beach landings
2. The British operations to enlarge and/or breakout of the beachhead (Epsom, Windsor, Charnwood, Goodwood, Bluecoat).
3. The American breakout at St. Lo

Any TMPers have any good books they can recommendation on any of those topics?

Much appreciated!

Hi

Tour book style would be the battleground series from Pen & Sword.

link

Also the Hardcover big books by hemidel are very good

link

I am reading James Holland's "Normandy '44" which I find enjoyable to read and informative. It is more of an overview of the campaign from the fighting in the hedgerows to the breakout. It draws on primary sources for the British, American and German perspectives.

For the Omaha landings, the relevant sections of Peter Caddick Adams 'Sand and Steel' are pretty good.

I can't recommend strongly enough the 'Over the Battlefield' series by Ian Daglish there's three: Epsom, Bluecoat and Goodwood. Nice detailed accounts supported by lots of contemporary aerial reconnaissance photos. Unfortunately, the author has passed away so the series stopped there.
There's a fascinating reinterpretation of the v. Luck story suggesting it was friendly fire.

There's a fascinating reinterpretation of the v. Luck story suggesting it was friendly fire.

You are left to work out what Daglish was trying to say without him actually coming straight out and saying it. He clearly thinks von Luck has overemphasized his part in the days events and try though he did he was unable to find a single piece of evidence to validate the presence of a Luftwaffe Flak Unit in the area

Another recommendation for the "Over the Battlefield" series.

Books by Joseph Balkowski have been good for me on the American actions at Omaha and Utah and after. So many in the British sector but the Over the Battlefield are good to follow along. Also have a look at the series by Mark Zuehlke on the Canadians – has three volumes on their efforts in Normandy.

I remember thinking Hill 112 by JJ How was an excellent fairly detailed study of operations immediately following the landings around Caen. It was one of my favourite books when I was in to that kind of thing.

link

That was quite a long time ago so suggestions are for old books.

There is also an excellent chapter in Panzergrenadier on the Canadians clashing with 12th SS. I remember reading that chapter whilst walking around Buron (south of Caen) back in the day. It might be by T. Anderson.

Caen Anvil of Victory has a good overview. Was that by Mackee? I still have a copy of that I'd let you have for the postage but I'm in the UK. You can probably pick it up second hand in the States for less.

Joseph Balkowski who wrote fantastic books on the US landings also did an outstanding boardgame depicting the attack on St Lo by the 29th and 35th Division. A game that shows the depleting nature of combat on a fighting units combat ability. It has been re released and updated with a beautiful map and counters by Compass Games.

And a free pdf on the Breakout and prusuit with some great maps link

The Battle of St Lo
link

The site has some fantastic company battle reports and great books all for free as pdfs and some you can order as printed material.

Opps missed the British part.

Pen and Sword publishing have a fantastic series on the British battles. The best ones are written by Ian Dalglish. The reason I love these is not just the great written account but lots of maps and the icing on the cake is there are often period aerial photos of the areas shown in the military maps. So as a wargamer I get a great idea of what the terrain actually looked like.

link

I have not read any of their books, but Pen & Sword DVDs on Normandy and Bulge, Arnhem, etc. are a great watch! On DVD, you can get an view of terrain that is often missing from still pics.
Without visiting battlefields, about as good as you can get for an 'impression'.
Presentation Team pretty good… sometimes repeat info… but thoroughly recommend.
link

Without visiting battlefields, about as good as you can get for an 'impression

For France you can 'walk' most of the roads on Google Maps Street view

For zoomable period air views use this

link

click the dates at top and then zoom in and right-click on the yellow dots to open the images

Hill 112 by JJ How

Caen Anvil of Victory

battleground europe series by pen and sword

For pictorial:
'The Normandy Battlefields-Bocage And breakout'
Simon Forty, Leo Marriott, George Forty
Casemate Publishers

Period photos with Modern pics which show stone colours, etc. and some overviews of combat sites.

(Picked up at a show stall. Not detailed, but a good find.)