Overlord: D-Day and the Battle for Normandy

Time has provided necessary perspective on Operation Overlord. Max Hastings' brisk narrative of D-Day and the battle for Normandy takes advantage, with a blunt assessment of the performances of the leaders and the armies in that battle. For example, British Field Marshal Montgomery is properly lauded for his leadership, under the severe constraint from his government of limiting British casualties. At the same time, he is taken to task for his tendency to overpromise and under-deliver. The narrative notes the astonishing resilience of the German Army in Normandy, and the price paid for inexperience, and for burnout, by various U.S. and British combat formations.The book is concise at just over 300 pages, immensely readable, and includes a useful selection of maps and photographs. Above all, it features the author's relentless need to dispose of legend in favor of sometimes uncomfortably hard fact. His basic thesis, that the battered German Army fought better than the Allies, is a continuing subject of academic controversy. Very highly recommended to the general reader and to the student of the Second World War.

I've been studying DDay and WWII for a number of years and just read this. The perspective is very British. Very British. It also assumes that the reader has a LOT of prior knowledge of the background to DDay, the landings, the players, the breakout, etc. If you haven't studied those things in fair detail, don't start with this book, or you'll miss much of the context and also get a very stilted view of events. If you're interested in the American presence, particularly Omaha Beach or the 1st Infantry Division, skip this book altogether -- they hardly get a mention on DDay or thereafter, as if they were somehow unimportant players. You'll learn much more about the the 12th Panzer and the German officers than most of the key American divisions or personalitiesThis book is more a reflection on the personality of Montgomery and his interactions with others and how that impacted the battles. It attempts to humanize and also to rehabilitate Montgomery. To that extent it is valuable and interesting. It offers interesting insights about what the Germans were experiencing, and reconsiders some of the historic assumptions made about the various armies. The basic premise is that the German's were pound for pound (American usage) better fighters than the Brits or Americans and with better weapons; the Allies won because of American production and ability to replace lost men and equipment. A valid point. And to make that point the book ignores the Allied fighters it says were the equals of the Germans, such as the 101st Airborne and the Fighting First.This is a good book only for someone who is already knowledgeable about the landings and the various units involved. For that person this will add some refinements of perspective and useful insight. To someone new to this subject, start elsewhere.

If there is one book you should read on WWII, this one might be IT - especially for non-academians. Max Hastings applies his rare talent of distilling complex military operations to the heart of the matter to one of the most complex military operations in our country's history: the coordination with the U.K and the rest of the Allies for a massive attack on Hitler's Occupied France. The logistics and politics of this endeavor were staggering, yet Mr. Hastings conveys the mammoth undertaking in 400ish pages. There are fiction novels at 600-800 pages which don't convey as much.The book is not for everyone - it's non fiction, and an historical account of how the U.S. organized itself, got massive troops over to the UK, trained them in the British countryside, and then, ultimately, stormed the beaches of France in the infamous D-Day assault on June 6, 1944. The implications of the Allies defeating the Axis are long and dark. The story of how such stark alternative timelines were avoided is one of commitment, creativity, cooperation and, ultimately, passion. The heroes of the war range from the high-level generals to the in-the trenches brave soldiers who put their lives on the line for democracy. I wept at times when I read this book. For anyone who is interested in history, military history, and/or WWII, this is one of the best books on D-Day around (for laymen LOL).

This book essentially covers the Operation Overlord Normandy invasion and events up to the envelopment of German forces several months later at Falaise. Hastings has bitten off quite a lot here . . . not more than he can chew, but perhaps more than the casual WWII reader can.The author does a fantastic job of covering the entire campaign, with extensive coverage of both Allied and German details, largely through anecdotes.The book suffers somewhat—and this is a nit—from the author’s apparent entrenchment in WWII writing. It is assumed that all readers know what “H-hour” means and what “mulberries” are. (The first refers to the airborne invasion preceding the D-day landing[s]. The second refers to planned albeit makeshift structures off the French shore to offload supplies etc.What’s especially great about the book is the honesty about the soldiering from various national perspectives. Bottom line: Germany had better soldiers, better tanks, 88mm’s and hardcore Hitler-youth types ... true believers.Hastings brings out that the Normandy invasion was essentially overcoming the enemy with a seemingly limitless supply of Allied forces, mostly American.I’m not a big reader of military history, but I have watched movies like “Patton,” “Battle of the Bulge,” “The Longest Day,” etc., miniseries such as “Greatest Events of WWII” and played the video game “Company of Heroes.”. Believe it or not, all those have drummed into my head information that helped me understand some of what was going in in Hastings’s viok.

An authoritative, well-researched, and very readable account of the historic events of D-Day and its aftermath, this book is an essential read for anyone interested in the campaign in north-west Europe. Fair and balanced coverage is given to all sides - perhaps almost too fair to the Germans, who receive praise for their fighting qualities. But isn't that only to be expected, given that they were the aggressors? That quibble aside, the book is excellent.

This took me back to the 2nd World War when as a child I saw the arrival of the GIs in England with their smart uniforms and their generosity to us kids. 'Got any gum chum?' was our cry. This kind of immediacy runs throughout this book.Hastings deals with Overlord with great conviction and fairness. The difficulties on the Allied side are not glossed over. He acknowledges that the German army was the outstanding fighting force of the Second World War: even in its much reduced capacity it put up a very stubborn resistance in Normandy. Hitler's contribution to defeat through a series of tactical errors is given due attention.The variable quality of the Allied forces and their leadership is explored. The failure to integrate fully the objectives of the Allied air forces and armies was crucial. 'Bomber' Harris, for example, paid lip service to ground support believing - wrongly - that the bombing of German cities would bring an end to hostilities without the need for ground intervention. But the evidence from German documentation is clear: bombing focussed on petrol supplies and on oil installations would quickly have brought the German army to its knees.Written over 30 years, but ago this account still carries weight. The main criticism I have of the Kindle version is that the maps are unreadable, even on a Kindle HD. Highly recommended nevertheless.

A superbly written unbiased view of D-Day and beyond. I’ve read several accounts of the events and back history behind strategies, none have been as open to either compliment or criticism for the right reasons as this account. Max Hastings is a fabulous author.

Like his other war books, Hastings combines a clear factual account with the personal contributions of participants. A balanced set of judgments about the generals, particularly Bradley, Patton and Montgomery, and an insightful evaluation of the national armies. It is amazing that the egregious behaviour of Montgomery was tolerated by Eisenhower and the national leaders. Best account that I have read.

Yet another of Max Hastings wonderful, insightful books. Sad that it destroyed so many childhood thought or ideas of the second world war though. He tells the truth, whether you like to hear it or not, and some of it I didn't. Things like the poor leadership qualities of the British army, and even of some of the soldiers. But the truth cannot be covered forever, and when Max explains these shortcomings, he doesn't just say "and so be it", he explains the circumstances behind the shortcomings, and whilst not defending anyone, he explains the circumstances that cause4d them, and makes them understandable. So many, too many, perhaps, childhood illusions taken from me!