Normandy 1944: Allied Landings and Breakout (Praeger Illustrated Military History)

D-Day, 6 June 1944, saw the largest amphibious landing operation in history. From ports and harbors on the southern coast of England, an armada of troopships and landing craft launched the Allied assault on the mainland of Europe. Stephen Badsey provides a concise account of the Normandy campaign, from the fiercely contested landings, to the struggle to capture Caen, the 'Cobra' breakout, and the dramatic pursuit of the Germans to the River Seine. Included are a large number of black and white photos and several color maps.D-Day, 6 June 1944, saw the largest amphibious landing operation in history. From ports and harbors on the southern coast of England, an armada of troopships and landing craft launched the Allied assault on the mainland of Europe. Stephen Badsey provides a concise account of the Normandy campaign, from the fiercely contested landings, to the struggle to capture Caen, the 'Cobra' breakout, and the dramatic pursuit of the Germans to the River Seine. This was the crucial campaign of the Western theater--after the Battle of Normandy, the only question was how soon the war would end, not who would win it. Badsey investigates the circumstances that led to this great Allied victory.Air superiority, numbers, and the initiative all greatly aided the British and Americans in their struggle against the Germans, as did the latter's disorganization at their highest level of command. Troops and equipment are discussed, as is the terrain that they had to operate in. Badsey clarifies the problems that the bocage caused for offensive armored operations and shows how the Allies overcame them to eventually surround the Germans in the Falaise pocket. Included are a large number of black and white photos and several color maps, all of which serve to illustrate Allied progress and give the reader a sense of the soldier's experience in Normandy.