BLUF: A very good book with an ambiguous title, it presents an excellent "one over the world" view of the battle for France.
Caveat: I'm 3/4 of the way through the book.
The book is well written and researched with two surprising/ interesting themes. The first is his coverage of "battle shock" or PTSD or shell shock or whatever we want to call the problem. He devotes more than a passing glance at how the British and Americans treated those with PTSD during the battle for France. He even compares the percentages of those returned to the front vs. those requiring additional treatment. I don't recall anything like it in other books on WWII.
The second is tactical airpower and our JTAC's may appreciate those nuggets. He devotes passages and vignettes on how it was employed, air-ground coordination, and the effectiveness or role of airpower in the drive across France. Interestingly, Allied estimates of damage varied widely from post-war examination and conclusions, but the Germans would side more with the Allies' contemporary conclusions. The role of airpower in blunting or breaking up attacks was tremendous and the Germans were absolutely terrified to see Typhoons or Thunderbolts overhead.
The book's main problem is the title. The book covers the invasion until the Falaise pocket with the section on the invasion taking up roughly 30% according to my Kindle. If you're looking for a book on D-Day, this isn't it, but if you want a very good book on post-invasion France then pick up a copy. Unless something more contemporary is available, Ryan's The Longest Day is probably your best bet for a book on D-Day.
Caveat: I'm 3/4 of the way through the book.
The book is well written and researched with two surprising/ interesting themes. The first is his coverage of "battle shock" or PTSD or shell shock or whatever we want to call the problem. He devotes more than a passing glance at how the British and Americans treated those with PTSD during the battle for France. He even compares the percentages of those returned to the front vs. those requiring additional treatment. I don't recall anything like it in other books on WWII.
The second is tactical airpower and our JTAC's may appreciate those nuggets. He devotes passages and vignettes on how it was employed, air-ground coordination, and the effectiveness or role of airpower in the drive across France. Interestingly, Allied estimates of damage varied widely from post-war examination and conclusions, but the Germans would side more with the Allies' contemporary conclusions. The role of airpower in blunting or breaking up attacks was tremendous and the Germans were absolutely terrified to see Typhoons or Thunderbolts overhead.
The book's main problem is the title. The book covers the invasion until the Falaise pocket with the section on the invasion taking up roughly 30% according to my Kindle. If you're looking for a book on D-Day, this isn't it, but if you want a very good book on post-invasion France then pick up a copy. Unless something more contemporary is available, Ryan's The Longest Day is probably your best bet for a book on D-Day.
