Keegan, John. Six Armies in Normandy: From D-Day to the Liberation of Paris; June 6 - Aug. 5, 1944. 1994. 365p. ISBN 9780140235425. Available at 940.53 KEE on the library shelves.
On June 6, 1944, two massive armies met on Europe's doorstep. An invasion force composed of Americans, British, Canadians, French, Polish, and other European expatriates landed in Normandy and found themselves against what was dubbed the impenetrable Fortress Europe guarded by the Germans. The Second World War had started almost five years earlier, and Nazi Germany had swiftly conquered most of Western Europe before Hitler had turned his hungry eyes towards Russia.
Over the years, knowing an invasion attempt would take place, the Atlantic littoral was fortified, and the Germans dug in to offer a stiff resistance and the hope that such an attempt would be crushed on the beach. When troops landed, the Germans were prepared but unable to throw the Allies back in the water. Their forces had been depleted on the Eastern Front, and what remained behind were second-tiered divisions. These still fought doggedly, preventing the Allies from achieving the breakthrough they had hoped for.
Military forces are examined, engagements are described, and the composition and history of each of the national armies that participated is presented. Military strategies are analyzed, and the lives of various leaders are explored. D-Day and the Battle of Normandy remains important today, as they, more than any war since, show what a European conflict between Russia and the United States would look like. Fans of history will appreciate this incredibly detailed work.
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