GerryCMBB Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 Hello All: So far I have read 2 books on Normandy. One was by Beevor and I am able to handle the detail level in that. I wished there were more maps. I would like to do some reading for the commonwealth module and especially for the 2 campaigns that Wodin pointed to. I wonder if I get books that go down to the level of one operation, as in Operation Epsom, if the detail will be overwhelming? The only reference I have for you is the Beevor book to help me in terms of detail level. 1) What are good reads for Epsom? I have seen these 3 at Amazon. Any thoughts on these or others? Operation Epsom (Battle Zone Normandy) by Lloyd Clark OPERATION EPSOM - OVER THE BATTLEFIELD by Ian Daglish OPERATION EPSOM (Battleground Europe) by Tim Saunders 2) What are good reads for Falaise? 3) Are there single books that treat most of what is in the area of the commonwealth module? Thanks in advance, Gerry 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Emrys Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 Not about Epsom, but No Holding Back: Operation Totalize, Normandy, August 1944 by Brian Reid would be hard to beat. Several books recommended in another recent thread also would merit your attention. Tank! by Ken Tout is one of them. The Guns of Normandy: A Soldier's Eye View, France 1944 by George G. Blackburn is another. Those three should get you started. Michael 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombat_of_war Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 I just uploaded a handbook on the British army wrote by the americans in 1942.. a lot of the information should still be valid. the large section on translating british and american terms i do find funny https://sites.google.com/site/groggygamer/home/world-war-2/world-war-2---commonwealth 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Teacher Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 Try looking at the stackpole books on Amazon, alot of really good stuff. I've just finished reading the history of the 12 SS Hitler Jugend Division. Alot of details about small engagments down to companies and platoons. I believe they also have books about various operations. cheers 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GerryCMBB Posted December 3, 2011 Author Share Posted December 3, 2011 I just noticed another series on Amazon, named "Battle Zone Normandy". It has books on Epsom and Falaise Pocket. Anyone have any experience with this series? Thanks, Gerry 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mord Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 I just noticed another series on Amazon, named "Battle Zone Normandy". It has books on Epsom and Falaise Pocket. LOL. Hey at least you got side tracked onto something that has to do with what you are looking for...I go there for a couple things and end up in left field every time...talk about attention deficit! Me and books...it's like mixing crack, heroin and a bag full of boobies. Mord. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gpig Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 I can second "No Holding Back," by Brian Reid. Excellent book. I also own the "South Alberta Regiment" by Donald Graves. Incredible book that follows the 29th armd recce regiment (The South Alberta Regiment) from it's creation in Alberta, through training in B.C., and then on to England, and all the battles in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. Some real amazing stuff in there. Including the battles for the Falaise Pocket (St. Lambert Sur Dives, for instance). The real pointy end of the stick. (The SAR was one of the few units in the area attempting to hold back the flood of retreating Germans.) Gpig 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frogsfriend Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 I very much enjoyed all of the Battleground Europe series, but particularly the books covering the British and Commonwealth sectors of Normandy. There's lots of detail at all levels and plenty of plans, maps and photos. Highly recommended. I didn't find the books covering the American sectors to be quite as detailed or well written. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aragorn2002 Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 The 'Over the Battlefield'-series by Ian Dalgliesh are among the best books on Normandy. Buy them without hesitation. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pagskier Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 For Canadian Juno to Falaise: Terry Copp Fields of Fire, I really like this author. http://www.amazon.ca/Fields-Fire-Canadians-Terry-Copp/dp/0802037305 and mark Zuehlke 3 books on normandy: Juno Beach, Holding Juno and Breakout from Juno Those 2 authors have book covering the whole Canadian front 1944-1945 a good movie about Verriere ridge(free legal streaming): http://www.nfb.ca/film/In_Desperate_Battle_Normandy_1944 http://www.zuehlke.ca/Canadian-Battle-Series/ Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War, I'm not a big fan, but can find some usefull infos. http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/Canada/CA/Victory/index.html 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergei Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 OPERATION EPSOM - OVER THE BATTLEFIELD by Ian Daglish I haven't read Epsom but Daglish's book on Goodwood is excellent. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c3k Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 The 'Over the Battlefield'-series by Ian Dalgliesh are among the best books on Normandy. Buy them without hesitation. I would add a similar sentiment. Ian Daglish did a great job combining actual combat photo recce footage with detailed topo maps and combat reports to create the 3 books in his "Over the Battlefield" series. Depending on your knowledge of Normandy, they may be too tactical in outlook; you may benefit from studying strategic and operational level books, first. Regardless, you WILL regret not having these three books on your shelf at some point in your life. Buy them. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kozure Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 I had noticed this video on YouTube: The intro is a little long, but it contains quite a number of very valuable resources/references and how to access them. Highly recommended. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Emrys Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 I haven't read Epsom but Daglish's book on Goodwood is excellent. I just finished the one on Bluecoat and found it quite to my liking. Highly recommended. I'm now starting the one on Goodwood. Michael 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Childress Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 I find it amazing that books on WW2, or any military conflicts, continue to sell well considering that War as a subject has disappeared from the curricula of American universities. Even the military academies, or so I've heard. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verulam Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 " Breaking The Panzers" by Kevin Baverstock. The 2 day battle of Raury July 1944. Superb blow by blow account of the 9th SS counter attack against the Tyneside Scottish, 24th lancers and 2nd Kensingtons (HMG) Regiment. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GerryCMBB Posted January 5, 2012 Author Share Posted January 5, 2012 Anyone read "The Battle of the Generals: The Untold Story of the Falaise Pocket-The Campaign That Should Have Won World War II"? Any thoughts (other than that's a long title)? Thanks, Gerry 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankster65 Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 I would recommend Steel Inferno: 1st SS Panzer Corps in Normandy. It covers in very good detail the British side of things along with the Germans. It is a very good read. http://www.amazon.com/Steel-Inferno-Panzer-Corps-Normandy/dp/1885119445?tag=duckduckgo-d-20 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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