Black Bull

by Patrick Delaforce

From-the-turret story of a British tank division in World War II Follows the division through the Normandy campaign, the liberation of Amiens and Antwerp, flank protection during Operation Market Garden, and the final drive into Germany Raw firsthand accounts from commanders, riflemen, bombardiers, and tank crews Reveals what life was like at the sharp end of the Allies' war effort

Genres: World War II, History, Nonfiction, Military Fiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Suanne Laqueur]

I need an "oops" shelf. I downloaded this thinking it was about the 11th Armored Division of the US Army, which liberated Mauthausen.... and 5% in I realized it's about the 11th Armoured Division of the British Army, which liberated Bergen-Belsen. "Armoured" should've tipped me off.

We'll just pretend this never happened.

[Reginald Neil Squire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found that having read this book, it has given me a comprehensive understanding of British armoured and infantry battles from D-Day to victory in Europe.

In particular, it clearly addressed the inadequate performance of allied tanks against superior German tanks.

It is the first book that I have read which has left me asking why our governments and senior military figures send so many brave young men to their deaths or injury whilst already knowing that our armour was so inferior. Surely we or the Americans were capable of manufacturing better tanks than the ones supplied to our forces?

[Ian Willey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patrick Delaforce has written some good WWII unit and formation histories and this can be counted amongst them. Typical of Delaforce the writing is clear and allows the reader to follow the narrative with ease. Maps are OK though the photos in some cases are not as clear as could be but acceptable.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A workmanlike history of the Black Bull doing exactly what the title of the book says.

Could have done with less specific detail of units, and more of the extracts from diaries and recollections, because those were where this really shone.

[Fred Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a historically accurate account of the exploits of the 11th Armoured Division from landing in Normandy in June 1944 to the disbanding of the Division in 1946.

Patrick Delaforce gives some gripping first hand accounts of the carnage and personal tragedies he witnessed.