Starred review from April 29, 2019
This hefty, scrupulously balanced history of the Allied invasion of northern France goes beyond some of the well-known events of D-Day, thanks to Holland’s meticulous research and clear-eyed view of the big picture. Holland (Big Week), a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and prolific military historian, covers the entire 77 days of the bruising fight for Normandy, presenting a unified Allied effort—rather than focusing on the landing at Omaha Beach—with dramatic flair. Extensive use of German sources gives a full picture of the tactical errors and constraints imposed by Hitler on his army commanders and debunks various myths, including the idea that the German defenders at Omaha were elite troops. Holland describes the fighting in terrible, chilling detail, from the landings to the final collapse of the German defense and the Allied dash across northern France in early August. And he clearly defines the context of this extraordinary feat of arms, from the Allies’ air superiority to the self-destructive approach of German counterattacks. Holland also convincingly rebuts previous criticisms of the British and Canadian troops’ progress in fighting toward Caen and argues that superior logistics and materiel made the outcome certain from the first minutes of the battle. This is an excellent and engrossing new look at the Normandy invasion. Agent: Patrick Walsh, PEW Literary.
May 1, 2019
A fine account of the familiar but eternally fascinating 1944 Normandy landing and campaign. Veteran military historian Holland (Big Week: The Biggest Air Battle of World War II, 2018, etc.) knows the drill but doesn't hesitate to wander from the script. He begins with the massive planning of the invasion, emphasizing that previous Allied seaborne landings were disasters (Dieppe), near disasters (Salerno), or disorganized efforts against weak opponents (North Africa, Sicily). According to Allied intelligence, Normandy would be a far greater operation against a prepared enemy. "Ensuring enough men and materiel were landed quickly enough...before any concentrated enemy counter-attack could be mounted was the absolute number-one priority," writes the author. In fact, Germany lacked the resources to fortify more than 1,000 miles of Atlantic coast, and Holland delivers an expert account of their efforts. German Gen. Erwin Rommel, the commander in Northern France, wanted to fight at the beaches; his superiors, including Hitler, wanted an organized defense inland. Since historians usually prefer Rommel to Hitler, they look kindly on his plan, but it's unlikely either would have worked. The Allies achieved complete surprise, and success was never in doubt. Historians concentrate on the carnage at Omaha Beach; Holland points out that the defenders inflicted terrible casualties from their bunkers, but all they could do was shoot. They had no tanks or reinforcements for a counterattack, and Allied naval gunnery pounded them mercilessly; they were doomed. Focusing on the landing, the Allies paid little attention to what might follow, and it took nearly two more months of bloody fighting before the Wehrmacht collapsed. A skillful writer, Holland delivers the occasional jolt, such as a mild rehabilitation of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery. Even contemporaries criticized his careful preparation and slow advances, but the author points out that this took maximum advantage of superior Allied resources and saved lives. Far from the first but among the better histories of the Allied invasion of Europe.
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Starred review from June 1, 2019
The largest seaborne invasion in history began on June 6, 1944, when more than 150,000 troops landed on the beaches of Normandy, France. For the next 76 days, British, American, and Canadian soldiers and airmen slowly fought against a retreating but not yet defeated German army. Codenamed Operation Overlord, the Battle of Normandy was a brutal but ultimately successful retaking of Europe from Nazi control. Historian Holland (Big Week; The Rise of Germany) thoroughly describes the tactical events leading up to and immediately following D-Day, as well as the many challenges, mistakes, and myths surrounding the battle itself. Personal narratives from both Allied and German officers and air and ground troops, along with technical descriptions of weapons manufacture and use, provide an absorbing perspective on one of the most significant events in modern military history. VERDICT Meticulous attention to large and small detail combined with a conversational writing style make this World War II chronicle accessible for most general readers.--Linda Frederiksen, formerly with Washington State Univ. Lib., Vancouver
Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
June 1, 2019
Among the numerous books published to commemorate the seventy-fifth anniversary of D-Day, Holland's reappraisal of the battle of Normandy will take its rightful place, with earlier accounts by Stephen E. Ambrose, Max Hastings, and others, at the head of the platoon. The terrain, from the beaches through the hedgerow-dominated fields of Normandy, has been well trod, of course, but Holland?using the narrative technique of focusing on a small group of individual soldiers on both sides of the conflict and following the action from their varying perspectives?offers a strikingly personal and, at times, horrifically vivid recounting of the various campaigns and the appalling carnage they produced. In addition, he offers a careful reconsideration of various positions taken by decades of military historians?especially regarding Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery's slowness in taking the city of Caen and achieving the much-sought-after breakout into the heart of Normandy. Yes, it took Montgomery much longer than planned to break out, and, yes, Monty was often insufferably arrogant, but, Holland argues, he should be lauded for his determination to win with as few casualties as possible. From Omaha Beach to the Falaise Gap, this is thoughtful, crisply written military history.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)