Books : The Germans in Normandy

Rating: - From Landsers to Panzers
As a professional battlefield Guide I am always searching for information on the German `enemy' as too often history (as ever) is told by the victors. This is a very good addition to the view from the other side and gives a comprehensive insight into tactical and operational considerations in Normandy (strategic being necessarily a matter for Berlin).
The main focus is on the situation in 1944 and as well as including many invaluable personal accounts of individual soldiers, gives us the command problems of the senior officers. The fallacy that the Atlantic Wall could be adequatly defended by second rate garrison troops when a key component of the defence plan was to deny the landings on the beaches, is clearly shown in the frustrations of the local commanders. That the German Landser fought as well as he did, and indeed the elite formations fought beyond expectations, is clearly brought out in the book. In my opinion a first class reference that is invaluable for understanding Normandy and the German role in one of the deciding campaigns of the war.


Mike McCarthy
Editor, "The Battle Guide"
Guild of Battlefield Guides

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Rating: - Unique achievement
The epic story of D-Day and the battle of France has been told many times before - but not from the German soldiers' point of view.

Now British author Richard Hargreaves has filled the gap with his extraordinary debut The Germans in Normandy.

Using a wide array of sources, the former war correspondent ranges easily between the frontline and centres of military and political power to give a blow by blow account of events.

He tells the story largely in the words of the men who fought - and in many cases, died - in the campaign, as well as those of the German leadership.

It is a first rate, possibly unique, achievement, and the result of 10 years trawling the archives (Hargreaves taught himself German).

Moreover it provides plenty of ammunition for the book's central theme - that the Germans were ultimately defeated by the Allies' massive air superiority.

Almost every soldier quoted by Hargreaves - from generals to Landsers (the German equivalent of Tommies) - lived in fear of the constant air attacks.

German official reports tell how forces racing towards the D-Day beachheads were mauled by fighter bombers - at times the "Jabos" would chase individual soldiers - while the outnumbered and demoralised Luftwaffe was a virtual bystander.

So great was the threat units would often only move at night. Rommel was a casualty when an enemy plane caught his staff car during daylight, leaving the Germans leaderless at a crucial time in the campaign.

And Hitler believed the main counterattack in Normandy failed because it was launched a day too soon - the general gave the order because his forces were being decimated by Allied planes as they gathered for the advance.

It is hard to argue against so much meticulously researched eyewitness evidence. It is this which makes The Germans in Normandy an important book.