Antony Beevor's new book

Thanks for the review Richard...another library order I feel rather than purchase..

having read a number of French accounts (in particular "Histoires extraordinaires du Jour-J", a collection of personal accounts from 6 June) there tends to be - in general terms - almost a feeling of acceptance/resignation at the destruction inflicted - the French recognised it was a necessary price to pay, they knew it was coming, there was certainly no rancour towards the Allies. As for the scale of the destruction, it tends to be the Allied participants themselves who are the most struck by it...

 

currently on offer in Waterstones as their 'book of the month' - half-price. Thats cheaper than amazon

 

I got from amazon for £12 odd less than the RRP of £24 odd.

 

personally another book on Normandy covering what we already know seems a tad boring doesn't gents. almost like 20 more books on Kursk or Stalingrad

I'll pass plus there is no more room in the cave ~ how about a book specifically designed to cover the night air-war over Normandy ............. hmmmmmmmmmmm that is something that has not been covered at all in detail

 

David M. Glantz released volume 1 of his massive Stalingrad epic recently. Part one covers the summer operations.

 

THIS is something to look for...

 

Normandy veterans attack Antony Beevor D-Day book - Telegraph

In his latest book, ‘D-Day – The Battle for Normandy’, Antony Beevor quotes a Canadian major as saying the 51st Highland Division threw down their weapons and fled.

He also cites a memo from Field Marshal Montgomery stating the division was not battle worthy during a critical moment in the invasion of France.

But surviving veterans said they were “disgusted” by the interpretation and accused Mr Beevor of “lazy research” by relying on secondary sources rather than their recollections.

They argued the fierce fighting by the Division's Black Watch, Seaforths, Camerons, Gordons, and Argyll and Sutherland soldiers in the first week after landing at Normandy was their “finest hour”.

Dr Tom Renouf, a Black Watch veteran who served in Normandy, is the secretary of the 51st Highland Division Veterans Association, which is demanding Mr Beevor make a formal apology.

He said: “This myth that the 51st Highland Division had lost its bottle must not be propagated.

“Our committee is very angry that as we remember all of our comrades who lost their lives in Normandy, their memory is being tarnished by this misconception, and we've decided we must do something about it.”

Mr Beevor said: “The fighting was indeed ferocious, far more than has been recognised, and that was one of the main themes of my book.

“But many of its battalions were badly shaken, and it took several weeks and a new commander, before its fighting spirit was restored.

“The 51st Highland Division went through a bad patch, but its morale and fighting ability was rapidly restored in late July as I emphasise in my book.”

 

Interesting to see if Beevor made an error, Kai.

 

While Beevor is correct in saying that the 51st HD's morale was at its lowest, there being a feeling of "Not us again". What he does not explain is the fact that the 51st did not fight as a division during June. As an example, my Father's regiment alone, 5th battalion Queens own Cameron Highlanders, were not at full strength until 30th June. There landing schedule was to be in 3 sets. D+1, D+7 & D+14. D+1 actually landed during the night of 6th/7th June. D+7 party arrived 24th June, 10 days late and D+14 party arrived 30th June, 9 days late. Beevor criticises them for not even being able to take the village of St Honorine on 13th June. At the time the rifle companies were only 60 men strong and had only 5 light machine guns each, no tank support and only three, 6 pounder anti tank guns.
The rest of the Highland regiments were in much the same state as regards man power during June.