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By Stephen E. Ambrose - Pegasus Bridge
In the early morning hours of June 6, 1944, a small detachment of British airborne troops stormed the German defense forces and paved the way for the Allied invasion of Europe. Pegasus Bridge was the first engagement of D-Day, the turning point of World War II. This gripping account of it by acclaimed author Stephen Ambrose brings to life a daring mission so crucial that, had it been unsuccessful, the entire Normandy invasion might have failed. Ambrose traces each step of the preparations over many months to the minute-by-minute excitement of the hand-to-hand confrontations on the bridge. This is a story of heroism and cowardice, kindness and brutality -- the stuff of all great adventures.
Paperback
First published May 1, 1984
About the author
Stephen E. Ambrose
144 books2,483 followersStephen Edward Ambrose was an American historian and biographer of U.S. Presidents Dwight Eisenhower and Richard M. Nixon. He received his Ph.D. in 1960 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In his final years he faced charges of plagiarism for his books, with subsequent concerns about his research emerging after his death.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 411 reviews
February 22, 2024
Historia muy interesante de lo que fue el primer enfrentamiento en suelo europeo el día D, el día del gran desembarco en Normandía.
Fue un puñado de valientes de la compañía aerotransportada la que tomó, sin casi bajas, 2 puentes levadizos de vital importancia, tanto para evitar la llegada de refuerzos blindados y acorazados de tanques alemanes a la playa que tenía asignados los ingleses, como para el posterior paso de los mismos por dichos puentes, en su paso para tomar la ciudad de Caen y el siguiente paso, liberar Paris.
Muy amena y curioso tener testimonios, tanto del bando ingles como del alemán.
Valoración: 7.5/10
Sinopsis: En las primeras horas del día 6 de junio de 1944, un pequeño destacamento de las tropas aerotransportadas británicas asaltó las defensas alemanas en Normandía, preparando el terreno para la invasión Aliada de Europa. El Puente Pegasus fue la primera cita del Día D, un momento decisivo de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. De su captura dependía el éxito del desembarco en las playas normandas. Una historia de heroísmo y cobardía, de bondad y brutalidad, los ingredientes de todas las grandes aventuras.
Fue un puñado de valientes de la compañía aerotransportada la que tomó, sin casi bajas, 2 puentes levadizos de vital importancia, tanto para evitar la llegada de refuerzos blindados y acorazados de tanques alemanes a la playa que tenía asignados los ingleses, como para el posterior paso de los mismos por dichos puentes, en su paso para tomar la ciudad de Caen y el siguiente paso, liberar Paris.
Muy amena y curioso tener testimonios, tanto del bando ingles como del alemán.
Valoración: 7.5/10
Sinopsis: En las primeras horas del día 6 de junio de 1944, un pequeño destacamento de las tropas aerotransportadas británicas asaltó las defensas alemanas en Normandía, preparando el terreno para la invasión Aliada de Europa. El Puente Pegasus fue la primera cita del Día D, un momento decisivo de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. De su captura dependía el éxito del desembarco en las playas normandas. Una historia de heroísmo y cobardía, de bondad y brutalidad, los ingredientes de todas las grandes aventuras.
February 2, 2026
"“We were eager,” he remembers, “we were fit. And we were totally innocent. I mean my idea was that everyone was going to be incredibly brave with drums beating and bands playing and I was going to be the bravest among the brave. There was absolutely no doubt at all in my mind that that was going to be the case.”"
D-Day WWII was not simply the storming of the beaches on July 6, 1944. According to Ambrose and others, the “coup de main” for two inland bridges may have been the difference between success and failure of the entire operation. Ambrose takes us way back with Major John Howard to the meticulous preparation for that attack which involved moving many men by gliders in the dead of night.
"“I’m Major John Howard.” “How do you do?
How do you do?” I (Ambrose) exclaimed, pumping his hand. “What a thrill and honor to meet you.” He asked if “my chaps” would like to hear a word or two about what had happened here. Indeed they would, I assured him, and dashed to the bus to get everyone out. We gathered around Major Howard, who stood on the embankment, his back to the bridge. Nearly every one of us on the tour was a hopeless addict for war stories—consequently we were all experts. All of us agreed afterward that never had we heard such good war stories, so well told. The next year, Howard was a featured speaker for my tour group, telling in more detail about the events of June 6, 1944." Eventually this became Pegasus Bridge.
"Pegasus fit perfectly. A company in action does not produce much in the way of documentary evidence, but it does create vivid memories—meaning my sources would be interviews with survivors, rather than surviving documents. As to length, one day in the life of one company would obviously be much, much shorter than the seventy-eight years of Ike’s life. Finally, Pegasus would let me get down to the level of a company commander and his men, where the action is."
Major Howard’s D Company knew it was going to have a special mission and Howard drove them to be ready for it. "D Company continued to work at a pace that bordered on fanaticism in order to earn the right to be the first to go."
The preparation was intense and demanding: "The training flights for operation Deadstick were hellishly difficult. Colonel Chatteron had the pilots landing beside a small L-shaped wood, a quarter of a mile long down the long end, and a few yards along the angle. The pilots landed with three gliders going up the L and three on the blind side, carrying cement blocks for a load. In daylight, on a straight-in run, it was a snap. But next Chatteron started having them release at seven thousand feet, then fly by times and courses, using a stopwatch, making two or three full turns before coming in over the wood. That was not too bad either, because—as Wallwork explains—“in broad daylight you can always cheat a little.” Next Chatteron put colored glass in their flying goggles, which turned day into night, and warned his pilots, “It is silly of you to cheat on this because you’ve got to do it right when the time comes.” Wallwork would nevertheless whip the goggles off if he thought he was overshooting. “But we began to play it fairly square, realizing that whatever we were going to do it was going to be something important.”"
Ambrose’s descriptions are almost as good as a fine novel: "Howard could hear the tanks. He was desperate to establish radio communication with Fox, but could not. Then he saw a tank swing slowly, ever so slowly, toward the bridge, its great cannon sniffing the air like the trunk of some prehistoric monster. “And it wasn’t long before we could see a couple of them about twenty-five yards apart moving very, very slowly, quite obviously not knowing what to expect when they got down to the bridges.” Everything was now at stake and hung in the balance. If the Germans retook the canal bridge, they would then drive on to overwhelm Sweeney’s platoon at the river bridge. There they could set up a defensive perimeter, bolstered by tanks, so strong that the 6th Airborne Division would find it difficult, perhaps impossible, to break through. In that case, the division would be isolated, without antitank weapons to fight off von Luck’s armor. It sounds overly dramatic to say that the fate of the more than ten thousand fighting men of the 6th Airborne depended on the outcome of the forthcoming battle at the bridge, but we know from what happened to the 1st Airborne in September 1944 at Arnhem that that was in fact exactly the case."
I believe that Ambrose found a “lesser-known” (at least to American readers) incident and intentionally elevated its presence and found his new “band of brothers” to write about. It may not have the impact for his readers that Band of Brothers had. But, it is an excellent military history.
Sergeant Thorton uses the only “tank gun” available and fires a bullseye at the lead German tank. "Through the night, the lead tank smoldered, right across the T-junction, thus blocking movement between Bénouville and Le Port, and between Caen and the coast. An argument can therefore be made that Sergeant Thornton had pulled off the single most important shot of D-Day, because the Germans badly needed that road. Thornton himself is impatient with any such talk. When I had completed my interview with him, and had shut off the tape recorder, he remarked: “Whatever you do in this book, don’t go making me into a bloody hero.” To which I could only think to reply, “Sergeant Thornton, I don’t make heroes. I only write about them.”"
D-Day WWII was not simply the storming of the beaches on July 6, 1944. According to Ambrose and others, the “coup de main” for two inland bridges may have been the difference between success and failure of the entire operation. Ambrose takes us way back with Major John Howard to the meticulous preparation for that attack which involved moving many men by gliders in the dead of night.
"“I’m Major John Howard.” “How do you do?
How do you do?” I (Ambrose) exclaimed, pumping his hand. “What a thrill and honor to meet you.” He asked if “my chaps” would like to hear a word or two about what had happened here. Indeed they would, I assured him, and dashed to the bus to get everyone out. We gathered around Major Howard, who stood on the embankment, his back to the bridge. Nearly every one of us on the tour was a hopeless addict for war stories—consequently we were all experts. All of us agreed afterward that never had we heard such good war stories, so well told. The next year, Howard was a featured speaker for my tour group, telling in more detail about the events of June 6, 1944." Eventually this became Pegasus Bridge.
"Pegasus fit perfectly. A company in action does not produce much in the way of documentary evidence, but it does create vivid memories—meaning my sources would be interviews with survivors, rather than surviving documents. As to length, one day in the life of one company would obviously be much, much shorter than the seventy-eight years of Ike’s life. Finally, Pegasus would let me get down to the level of a company commander and his men, where the action is."
Major Howard’s D Company knew it was going to have a special mission and Howard drove them to be ready for it. "D Company continued to work at a pace that bordered on fanaticism in order to earn the right to be the first to go."
The preparation was intense and demanding: "The training flights for operation Deadstick were hellishly difficult. Colonel Chatteron had the pilots landing beside a small L-shaped wood, a quarter of a mile long down the long end, and a few yards along the angle. The pilots landed with three gliders going up the L and three on the blind side, carrying cement blocks for a load. In daylight, on a straight-in run, it was a snap. But next Chatteron started having them release at seven thousand feet, then fly by times and courses, using a stopwatch, making two or three full turns before coming in over the wood. That was not too bad either, because—as Wallwork explains—“in broad daylight you can always cheat a little.” Next Chatteron put colored glass in their flying goggles, which turned day into night, and warned his pilots, “It is silly of you to cheat on this because you’ve got to do it right when the time comes.” Wallwork would nevertheless whip the goggles off if he thought he was overshooting. “But we began to play it fairly square, realizing that whatever we were going to do it was going to be something important.”"
Ambrose’s descriptions are almost as good as a fine novel: "Howard could hear the tanks. He was desperate to establish radio communication with Fox, but could not. Then he saw a tank swing slowly, ever so slowly, toward the bridge, its great cannon sniffing the air like the trunk of some prehistoric monster. “And it wasn’t long before we could see a couple of them about twenty-five yards apart moving very, very slowly, quite obviously not knowing what to expect when they got down to the bridges.” Everything was now at stake and hung in the balance. If the Germans retook the canal bridge, they would then drive on to overwhelm Sweeney’s platoon at the river bridge. There they could set up a defensive perimeter, bolstered by tanks, so strong that the 6th Airborne Division would find it difficult, perhaps impossible, to break through. In that case, the division would be isolated, without antitank weapons to fight off von Luck’s armor. It sounds overly dramatic to say that the fate of the more than ten thousand fighting men of the 6th Airborne depended on the outcome of the forthcoming battle at the bridge, but we know from what happened to the 1st Airborne in September 1944 at Arnhem that that was in fact exactly the case."
I believe that Ambrose found a “lesser-known” (at least to American readers) incident and intentionally elevated its presence and found his new “band of brothers” to write about. It may not have the impact for his readers that Band of Brothers had. But, it is an excellent military history.
Sergeant Thorton uses the only “tank gun” available and fires a bullseye at the lead German tank. "Through the night, the lead tank smoldered, right across the T-junction, thus blocking movement between Bénouville and Le Port, and between Caen and the coast. An argument can therefore be made that Sergeant Thornton had pulled off the single most important shot of D-Day, because the Germans badly needed that road. Thornton himself is impatient with any such talk. When I had completed my interview with him, and had shut off the tape recorder, he remarked: “Whatever you do in this book, don’t go making me into a bloody hero.” To which I could only think to reply, “Sergeant Thornton, I don’t make heroes. I only write about them.”"
January 23, 2019
This is my first experience with Ambrose, other than his Band of Brothers DVD set. I have to say that I really enjoyed the book and his style. If I didn’t know the taking of Pegasus Bridge was real I would have thought the story fiction with wonderful character development and plot twists and turns. Highly recommended for history buffs.
October 29, 2022
Didn't find it as gripping or as cohesive as his 'Band of brothers' book but still very detailed.
May 30, 2018
Fresh off his Eisenhower biography*, Ambrose was looking for a short and sweet subject. He found it and gives it to us short and sweet, without pulling any 'Ambroses'. It is most touching to see friendships develop between a few former adversaries. Also, in spite of the just resentment by the French civilian population, it's hard to be hard on young, conscripted Poles who relished wine and women more than weapons drill, wisely taking to their heels when confronted with devilishly blackened elite attackers. The bravado inherent to Airborne units lends a surreal touch to many of the tense accomplishments during the two-day holding operation.
*
by
Stephen E. Ambrose
*
by
Stephen E. Ambrose
August 19, 2024
I find the story of D-Day at Canal Bridge (now called the Pegasus Bridge) incredibly moving. The bravery of the men who undertook the mission, the luck at key points along the way (like a bomb dropped perfectly on target by the Germans, but which failed to detonate), and the sheer craziness of the attempt is remarkable.
I read the edition from 2017, and Ambrose did the world a service by sharing first-hand interviews with, and insight on, the soldiers from both sides.
At a couple points he also talks about how reality diverged from the film, The Longest Day. (For instance, the Germans hadn’t actually rigged the bridges to blow, and Mme Gondree most certainly did not have German soldiers staying at her Inn when the British attacked.)
I read this story alongside The Cartiers, it’s a stark contrast of the men and women who put their lives on the line during a war, and the people with cushy desk jobs who have the connections to stay safe.
Overall, a colourful addition to the story of D-Day.
I read the edition from 2017, and Ambrose did the world a service by sharing first-hand interviews with, and insight on, the soldiers from both sides.
At a couple points he also talks about how reality diverged from the film, The Longest Day. (For instance, the Germans hadn’t actually rigged the bridges to blow, and Mme Gondree most certainly did not have German soldiers staying at her Inn when the British attacked.)
I read this story alongside The Cartiers, it’s a stark contrast of the men and women who put their lives on the line during a war, and the people with cushy desk jobs who have the connections to stay safe.
Overall, a colourful addition to the story of D-Day.
December 1, 2009
Although dated this is still a very good account of Major John Howard and the men of Company D, the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry Regiment of the British 6th Airborne Division, and their role in capturing and holding the bridge over the Caen Canal at Benouville on the night of 5/6th June 1944.
The book (HB edition) is only 160 pages of narrative but it’s a great story and it’s hard to put it down once you have started. I found it full of interesting and at times funny first-hand accounts and although this is a serious story of men at war it still has moments of typical British humour. This is a great account of some of the first men to land on D-Day. Thanks to the author for providing a detailed and interesting account of this amazing action.
June 16, 2017
-Casi periodismo.-
Género. Ensayo (en realidad es más una crónica o un reportaje, pero no tengo esa clasificación en el blog).
Lo que nos cuenta. Acercamiento a la operación aerotransportada británica para la toma de unos puentes sobre el canal de Caen con la intención de facilitar la penetración inmediata de las tropas que estaban a punto de desembarcar en Normandía durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, pero acercamiento también a los que participaron, a sus vidas e incluso a la gestión del propio libro.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Ensayo (en realidad es más una crónica o un reportaje, pero no tengo esa clasificación en el blog).
Lo que nos cuenta. Acercamiento a la operación aerotransportada británica para la toma de unos puentes sobre el canal de Caen con la intención de facilitar la penetración inmediata de las tropas que estaban a punto de desembarcar en Normandía durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, pero acercamiento también a los que participaron, a sus vidas e incluso a la gestión del propio libro.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
May 8, 2025
A remarkable retelling of the capture of two vital bridges on D-Day by D Company of the British Airborne Brigade .
I really appreciated that the author based his book on interviews that he himself carried out with veterans from both sides.
This gave Pegasus Bridge an authentic and vivid insight into the realities of combat and what our veterans experienced.
A fitting tribute to the best of British 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧 ( one of the veterans , RSM Thornton, remonstrates with Stephen into not "making me into a bloody hero," to which the author replies "I don't make heroes sir, I just write about them"). Perfect.
I really appreciated that the author based his book on interviews that he himself carried out with veterans from both sides.
This gave Pegasus Bridge an authentic and vivid insight into the realities of combat and what our veterans experienced.
A fitting tribute to the best of British 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧 ( one of the veterans , RSM Thornton, remonstrates with Stephen into not "making me into a bloody hero," to which the author replies "I don't make heroes sir, I just write about them"). Perfect.
June 23, 2012
Good historical account
This isn't the greatest of Stephens Books, but it is worthy of any collector and historian. The book recalls the men and eventsthat allowed the British Glider and Parachute regiment to capture the all important bridge crossing the Orne and adjacent canal in order to prevent the 21st Panzer Division from disrupting and possibly defeating the landings at Sword, Juno and Gold Beach.
The scene is well documented in the movie "The Longest Day." Remember the famous lines, "hold until relieved?" That is exactly what these men did.
What I enjoyed the most was the training the soldiers endured to become one of the elite. The years of training was brutal and tiresome. Many men were broken either mentally, physically or both. Imagine training for over two years before applying your craft and still able to maintain at a "razor's edge."
The story isn't so much about the invasion on June 6, it is more about the men who partook in the action.
Mr. Ambrose does an excellent job of honoring the men and woman who were the first allied soldiers to trigger the end of "Fortress Europa," and pave the way final victory.
This isn't the greatest of Stephens Books, but it is worthy of any collector and historian. The book recalls the men and eventsthat allowed the British Glider and Parachute regiment to capture the all important bridge crossing the Orne and adjacent canal in order to prevent the 21st Panzer Division from disrupting and possibly defeating the landings at Sword, Juno and Gold Beach.
The scene is well documented in the movie "The Longest Day." Remember the famous lines, "hold until relieved?" That is exactly what these men did.
What I enjoyed the most was the training the soldiers endured to become one of the elite. The years of training was brutal and tiresome. Many men were broken either mentally, physically or both. Imagine training for over two years before applying your craft and still able to maintain at a "razor's edge."
The story isn't so much about the invasion on June 6, it is more about the men who partook in the action.
Mr. Ambrose does an excellent job of honoring the men and woman who were the first allied soldiers to trigger the end of "Fortress Europa," and pave the way final victory.
December 27, 2015
Stephen E. Ambrose is a master storyteller. He makes it so easy, interviewing people then write about them. Imagine the editing works, placing one story after another, in the way that the readers would better understand and imagine. Pegasus Bridge is not as special as Citizen Soldiers or Band of Brothers (BoB), but it still delivers.
The story is about a gliderborne unit of the British Ox and Bucks Light Infantry Regiment, 6th Airborne Division, commanded by Major John Howard, who captured two bridges (one rechristened Pegasus) between Bénouville and Ranville, Normandy, and held them until reinforcements came. This is claimed to be the first assault by the Allies as well as the first combat engagements between the opposing parties in Normandy during D-Day. The troops were the first who liberated a French home (whose owners were spies working for the Resistance) and one of its platoon leaders was the first casualty from the Allies side in D-Day. Yes, Howard’s D Company indeed scored many ‘firsts’.
I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed when I read the first pages of the book. I thought I was going a read a book about paratroopers. Blame my silly infatuation on paras due to BoB. I was a bit indoctrinated as well by the impression in BoB that gliderborne troopers were not as qualified and disciplined as the paras. Well, that is not the case with Howard’s men. It surely took lots of courage to surrender your fate on a Horsa whose movement and bearing were not entirely up to your own pilot, but the bomber towing your glider. Paras are more mobile because they have their own chutes.
Along with the glider pilots, the sappers, the paras, Howard and his troopers managed to surprise the Germans who, just like what happened during the D-Day sea invasion, showed a very lousy and ineffective chain of command and communication. It sometimes frustrates me (seriously) to read their ridiculous mistakes in D-Day (thanks to the Fuhrer) whereas they had legendary field marshals like Rommel and Von Rundstedt to lead.
This feat was very influential to the outcome of D-Day, since it blocked the way of a strong panzer division, whose counterattack could destroy the advancing seaborne invaders.
The training part of the book was a bit boring unfortunately. [Ambrose used the same formula with BoB and his other book Wild Blue, i.e. giving many details about the training phase:] I’d like to read more about the action part but it only covers half of the book. I noted that Howard’s D Company was the toughest SOBs in the whole airborne division due to their fanaticism over sports and physical endeavors, but that’s about the only interesting fact I found. More detailed actions, please.
Apparently, this story appeared a bit in the movie version of The Longest Day. Hell, I dislike the movie so much I can not remember anything (but the book is super excellent, mind you). The actor who played John Howard was in fact a part of the operation, a member of the 7th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment who reinforced the British troops in the area.
Anyway, this is still recommended for military buffs, especially the ones who want some light reading or curious about events that are not (presumably) widely covered by other battle accounts.
The story is about a gliderborne unit of the British Ox and Bucks Light Infantry Regiment, 6th Airborne Division, commanded by Major John Howard, who captured two bridges (one rechristened Pegasus) between Bénouville and Ranville, Normandy, and held them until reinforcements came. This is claimed to be the first assault by the Allies as well as the first combat engagements between the opposing parties in Normandy during D-Day. The troops were the first who liberated a French home (whose owners were spies working for the Resistance) and one of its platoon leaders was the first casualty from the Allies side in D-Day. Yes, Howard’s D Company indeed scored many ‘firsts’.
I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed when I read the first pages of the book. I thought I was going a read a book about paratroopers. Blame my silly infatuation on paras due to BoB. I was a bit indoctrinated as well by the impression in BoB that gliderborne troopers were not as qualified and disciplined as the paras. Well, that is not the case with Howard’s men. It surely took lots of courage to surrender your fate on a Horsa whose movement and bearing were not entirely up to your own pilot, but the bomber towing your glider. Paras are more mobile because they have their own chutes.
Along with the glider pilots, the sappers, the paras, Howard and his troopers managed to surprise the Germans who, just like what happened during the D-Day sea invasion, showed a very lousy and ineffective chain of command and communication. It sometimes frustrates me (seriously) to read their ridiculous mistakes in D-Day (thanks to the Fuhrer) whereas they had legendary field marshals like Rommel and Von Rundstedt to lead.
This feat was very influential to the outcome of D-Day, since it blocked the way of a strong panzer division, whose counterattack could destroy the advancing seaborne invaders.
The training part of the book was a bit boring unfortunately. [Ambrose used the same formula with BoB and his other book Wild Blue, i.e. giving many details about the training phase:] I’d like to read more about the action part but it only covers half of the book. I noted that Howard’s D Company was the toughest SOBs in the whole airborne division due to their fanaticism over sports and physical endeavors, but that’s about the only interesting fact I found. More detailed actions, please.
Apparently, this story appeared a bit in the movie version of The Longest Day. Hell, I dislike the movie so much I can not remember anything (but the book is super excellent, mind you). The actor who played John Howard was in fact a part of the operation, a member of the 7th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment who reinforced the British troops in the area.
Anyway, this is still recommended for military buffs, especially the ones who want some light reading or curious about events that are not (presumably) widely covered by other battle accounts.
September 6, 2018
Very quick and entertaining read on the British airborne assault of Pegasus Bridge. Being familiar with only the HBO adaptation on Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest (which is PHENOMENAL) I was curious to check out Ambrose's writing. I have Simon & Schuster to thank for the free copy of this one, simply for going through the trouble of signing up for their mailing list. Anyways, Ambrose clearly does his research and it shines through during this retelling of the events leading up to, during, and after D Company assaulted the bridge. I would have appreciated maybe a little more depth and detail of the assault itself, but it's a minor complaint. What is in here is good stuff, I just wish there was more of it.
September 18, 2025
Pegasus Bridge by Stephen E. Ambrose is a riveting, hour-by-hour account of one of the most daring and pivotal missions of D-Day, where British airborne troops seized control of a vital bridge in Normandy on June 6, 1944. This operation was the first engagement of D-Day, setting the stage for the Allied invasion of Europe, and Ambrose brings it to life with his signature combination of rich detail and human storytelling.
The book focuses on the men of the 6th Airborne Division, led by Major John Howard, who were tasked with capturing and holding Pegasus Bridge to prevent German reinforcements from reaching the beaches. Ambrose meticulously traces the months of planning, training, and preparation leading up to the raid, showing the extraordinary commitment and courage of these soldiers. The narrative builds toward the thrilling, minute-by-minute recounting of the battle itself, where Howard’s team faced fierce resistance but managed to accomplish their mission against all odds.
Ambrose’s writing shines in how he captures the personalities of the soldiers involved, from the fearless leadership of Howard to the camaraderie and grit of the men under his command. He humanizes the story, showing not just the tactical brilliance but the emotional stakes of the operation. You get a real sense of the bravery, fear, and sacrifice these men endured, as well as the brutal reality of war.
The book also emphasizes the significance of Pegasus Bridge in the larger context of D-Day. Ambrose makes it clear that had this mission failed, the entire Normandy invasion could have been jeopardized. This adds weight to the story, making readers appreciate just how critical the operation was to the success of the Allied forces.
While the book is gripping and informative, some readers might find it slightly less dynamic than Ambrose’s other works, like Band of Brothers. It’s more focused on a specific mission than a sweeping narrative, which means it’s incredibly detailed but less broad in scope. Still, for anyone interested in WWII history, especially the events of D-Day, this book is a must-read. Ambrose’s passion for the subject and his ability to weave history into compelling storytelling make it stand out.
Pegasus Bridge is an inspiring and meticulously detailed account of heroism and strategy. It’s perfect for readers who want to understand the human and tactical side of D-Day’s opening moments.
The book focuses on the men of the 6th Airborne Division, led by Major John Howard, who were tasked with capturing and holding Pegasus Bridge to prevent German reinforcements from reaching the beaches. Ambrose meticulously traces the months of planning, training, and preparation leading up to the raid, showing the extraordinary commitment and courage of these soldiers. The narrative builds toward the thrilling, minute-by-minute recounting of the battle itself, where Howard’s team faced fierce resistance but managed to accomplish their mission against all odds.
Ambrose’s writing shines in how he captures the personalities of the soldiers involved, from the fearless leadership of Howard to the camaraderie and grit of the men under his command. He humanizes the story, showing not just the tactical brilliance but the emotional stakes of the operation. You get a real sense of the bravery, fear, and sacrifice these men endured, as well as the brutal reality of war.
The book also emphasizes the significance of Pegasus Bridge in the larger context of D-Day. Ambrose makes it clear that had this mission failed, the entire Normandy invasion could have been jeopardized. This adds weight to the story, making readers appreciate just how critical the operation was to the success of the Allied forces.
While the book is gripping and informative, some readers might find it slightly less dynamic than Ambrose’s other works, like Band of Brothers. It’s more focused on a specific mission than a sweeping narrative, which means it’s incredibly detailed but less broad in scope. Still, for anyone interested in WWII history, especially the events of D-Day, this book is a must-read. Ambrose’s passion for the subject and his ability to weave history into compelling storytelling make it stand out.
Pegasus Bridge is an inspiring and meticulously detailed account of heroism and strategy. It’s perfect for readers who want to understand the human and tactical side of D-Day’s opening moments.
September 26, 2022
‘In the early morning hours of June 6, 1944, a small detachment of British airborne troops stormed the German defense forces and paved the way for the Allied invasion of Europe. Pegasus Bridge was the first engagement of D-Day, the turning point of World War II.
This gripping account of it by acclaimed author Stephen Ambrose brings to life a daring mission so crucial that, had it been unsuccessful, the entire Normandy invasion might have failed. Ambrose traces each step of the preparations over many months to the minute-by-minute excitement of the hand-to-hand confrontations on the bridge. This is a story of heroism and cowardice, kindness and brutality—the stuff of all great adventures.’
This book was fantastic.
After having read; and loved, both Band Of Brothers and The Victors by Stephen E. Ambrose, I was excited to dive into this book. I am happy to save that it didn’t disappoint.
With so many different battles taking place during the course of WWII, I am sad to say that before reading this book I had never heard of Pegasus Bridge and its significance to the success of D-Day and the war as a whole.
One of the things I love most about Stephen E. Ambrose’s books is the amount of detail he goes into and this book was no different. Readers get to learn virtually everything about this battle from its conception through to the actual battle and the aftermath. This kind of detail is what made this book so great.
Stephen E. Ambrose has complemented the information in this book with his compelling writing and emotional connection to the soldiers whose story he is telling. Where some military history books can be slow and at times weighed down by numbers and statistics, Ambrose has managed to keep the human element of the battle at the forefront which makes it very difficult to put this book down.
Pegasus Bridge by Stephen E. Ambrose is a must-read for anyone interested in military or WWII history.
Geramie Kate Barker
gemsbooknook.wordpress.com
This gripping account of it by acclaimed author Stephen Ambrose brings to life a daring mission so crucial that, had it been unsuccessful, the entire Normandy invasion might have failed. Ambrose traces each step of the preparations over many months to the minute-by-minute excitement of the hand-to-hand confrontations on the bridge. This is a story of heroism and cowardice, kindness and brutality—the stuff of all great adventures.’
This book was fantastic.
After having read; and loved, both Band Of Brothers and The Victors by Stephen E. Ambrose, I was excited to dive into this book. I am happy to save that it didn’t disappoint.
With so many different battles taking place during the course of WWII, I am sad to say that before reading this book I had never heard of Pegasus Bridge and its significance to the success of D-Day and the war as a whole.
One of the things I love most about Stephen E. Ambrose’s books is the amount of detail he goes into and this book was no different. Readers get to learn virtually everything about this battle from its conception through to the actual battle and the aftermath. This kind of detail is what made this book so great.
Stephen E. Ambrose has complemented the information in this book with his compelling writing and emotional connection to the soldiers whose story he is telling. Where some military history books can be slow and at times weighed down by numbers and statistics, Ambrose has managed to keep the human element of the battle at the forefront which makes it very difficult to put this book down.
Pegasus Bridge by Stephen E. Ambrose is a must-read for anyone interested in military or WWII history.
Geramie Kate Barker
gemsbooknook.wordpress.com
December 29, 2020
I play a well known gateway board game called Memoir '44. Players use cards, dice and tiny plastic soldiers on a fold out map board to mimic famous WWII battles, using strategies and a bit of luck to outpace the real life officers and men who fought and died in these places. The first scenario reenacts the famous "Pegasus Bridge" incident in which British special forces (before special forces was a thing) to take control of two bridges leading up to the coast of Normandy, thereby preventing the Germans from being able to supply mobile reinforcements to the defenders of the coast during the famous invasion.
As I find Stephen E. Ambrose's writing transports me to the mud, blood, snow, anguish, and weariness of war like no other writer does. I was anxious to delve into this book with a bit of foreknowledge gleaned from my experiences with my board game. Ambrose did such a remarkable job of giving traits, personalities and backstories to these men. Ambrose tells both sides of the story in an almost real time recount that it reads like a movie being played out. One gets the feeling there weren't really any good guys or bad guys. The Brits were all volunteers and with the exception of a few zealous Nazis, the Germans were there under duress, many of them conscripted from other nation's armies the Germans had conquered.
The biggest surprise of all is how after the war many of these British and German men who had faced each other and shot at each other became lifelong friends in the years that followed, some of them looking at each other and joking about what terrible shots they were.
The next time I play this scenario in Memoir '44 it will be with more seriousness, and I'll see it much more than a collection of tiny plastic soldiers.
As I find Stephen E. Ambrose's writing transports me to the mud, blood, snow, anguish, and weariness of war like no other writer does. I was anxious to delve into this book with a bit of foreknowledge gleaned from my experiences with my board game. Ambrose did such a remarkable job of giving traits, personalities and backstories to these men. Ambrose tells both sides of the story in an almost real time recount that it reads like a movie being played out. One gets the feeling there weren't really any good guys or bad guys. The Brits were all volunteers and with the exception of a few zealous Nazis, the Germans were there under duress, many of them conscripted from other nation's armies the Germans had conquered.
The biggest surprise of all is how after the war many of these British and German men who had faced each other and shot at each other became lifelong friends in the years that followed, some of them looking at each other and joking about what terrible shots they were.
The next time I play this scenario in Memoir '44 it will be with more seriousness, and I'll see it much more than a collection of tiny plastic soldiers.
September 10, 2012
This book is only about 150 pages short but it is long on information and eyewitness accounts of one of the most pivotal battles of D-Day.
The British 6th Airborne was tasked with the mission to secure the left flank (the easternmost flank) of the Normandy Beachhead. Major John Howard and 181 members of the 2nd Ox and Bucks Regiment were ordered to capture and hold a bridge over the Orne River and an adjacent canal. It was the key strongpoint in defending this flank.
This is the story of how Howard's men trained and trained and executed the plan with a daring glider assault, landing only yards away from the bridge. How they seized this bridge and held on until reinforced is the stuff of legend.
The book is fully indexed, well sourced and contains the original orders given to Major Howard. Not much has been written about this exploit so this is a must read for anyone curious about the battle of Pegasus Bridge.
One can only wonder what might have happened at Arnhem if a group of gliders had dared to land as close to "the bridge too far".
The British 6th Airborne was tasked with the mission to secure the left flank (the easternmost flank) of the Normandy Beachhead. Major John Howard and 181 members of the 2nd Ox and Bucks Regiment were ordered to capture and hold a bridge over the Orne River and an adjacent canal. It was the key strongpoint in defending this flank.
This is the story of how Howard's men trained and trained and executed the plan with a daring glider assault, landing only yards away from the bridge. How they seized this bridge and held on until reinforced is the stuff of legend.
The book is fully indexed, well sourced and contains the original orders given to Major Howard. Not much has been written about this exploit so this is a must read for anyone curious about the battle of Pegasus Bridge.
One can only wonder what might have happened at Arnhem if a group of gliders had dared to land as close to "the bridge too far".
January 20, 2010
"At a maximum, failure at Pegasus Bridge might have meant failure for the invasion as a whole, with consequences for world history too staggering to contemplate."
~Stephen E. Ambrose
Pegasus Bridge is a lesser known book by Ambrose on a lesser known battle on D-Day. It is likely lesser known to me because the British are the heroes of this story. This book tells of the British airborne troops that landed in gliders in the early hours of D-Day. They were the first to arrive on this historical day. They took over this bridge as it was a key bridge for the Nazi army. The Brits' mission was to seize the bridge to protect the Allied flanks on the beaches. If the Nazis would have been able to cross that bridge with their tanks they could have just parked on the beaches and made life a lot worse for the Allied forces. It was also a key bridge to bring the Allied forces deeper into France so they had to take it without it being destroyed.
As usual, Ambrose's writing style is superb. His account reads like a story or even a movie script. The armies on both sides had been training for two years for this very day. The Nazis had the better guns and artillery and they had already deeply entrenched themselves ready for an attack. The Brits had two key advantages: the element of surprise and a just cause. I heartily recommend this book on heroism and true grit. I have read a handful of Ambrose books and none have disappointed. I plan to eventually read them all.
Pegasus Bridge is a lesser known book by Ambrose on a lesser known battle on D-Day. It is likely lesser known to me because the British are the heroes of this story. This book tells of the British airborne troops that landed in gliders in the early hours of D-Day. They were the first to arrive on this historical day. They took over this bridge as it was a key bridge for the Nazi army. The Brits' mission was to seize the bridge to protect the Allied flanks on the beaches. If the Nazis would have been able to cross that bridge with their tanks they could have just parked on the beaches and made life a lot worse for the Allied forces. It was also a key bridge to bring the Allied forces deeper into France so they had to take it without it being destroyed.
As usual, Ambrose's writing style is superb. His account reads like a story or even a movie script. The armies on both sides had been training for two years for this very day. The Nazis had the better guns and artillery and they had already deeply entrenched themselves ready for an attack. The Brits had two key advantages: the element of surprise and a just cause. I heartily recommend this book on heroism and true grit. I have read a handful of Ambrose books and none have disappointed. I plan to eventually read them all.
June 23, 2026
4.72 ⭐️
I love these personable stories, in my opinion they are so much more enjoyable than the nameless general overview. The connections between the Longest Day book and movie and book was a huge epiphany for me, especially how this main character acted in the movie! The Longest Day and this were both my fav, amazing stories. 🙌🏻
I love these personable stories, in my opinion they are so much more enjoyable than the nameless general overview. The connections between the Longest Day book and movie and book was a huge epiphany for me, especially how this main character acted in the movie! The Longest Day and this were both my fav, amazing stories. 🙌🏻
October 17, 2016
This is a good book on the battle, though i felt when he went to the overall aspect he failed short, such as saying that Goodwood intended to liberate Paris which is an outright lie, or saying that the british remained static until goodwood, or saying that Eisenhower chose normandy, which clearly it wasnt him, or saying that the british industrial output was smaller than the german, which was a misconception as well. In fact the production of tanks in britain was very similar to the german, and you can see it when you compare the production of both.
Coudnt help but wonder that all these mistakes were part of that good old tradition to diminish the british overall war effort, specially on normandy. Considering that on the intro Ambrose is all about Eisenhower and etc), i take it as correct.
His writing on the action and the preparation for pegasus bridge was good though, and the battles very well told. Id give it a 4 star but not for those issues i raised, which given the small size of the book, are also a small portion.
Coudnt help but wonder that all these mistakes were part of that good old tradition to diminish the british overall war effort, specially on normandy. Considering that on the intro Ambrose is all about Eisenhower and etc), i take it as correct.
His writing on the action and the preparation for pegasus bridge was good though, and the battles very well told. Id give it a 4 star but not for those issues i raised, which given the small size of the book, are also a small portion.
July 23, 2009
This is the story of one company's effort in the vanguard of D-day. It tells the story in excellent detail, how they were developed into elite soldiers, how their competitive edge was honed, and how they led the assault to take and hold 2 vital bridges.
The story is beautifully told, with great detail and character. D Company were warned in the briefing that they must not tell anyone about the nature of their training or mission on pain of being discharged from the mission - that night Wally Parr was telling his wife the news on the phone. The story is told from several viewpoints - Major John Howard tells that the men were greatly cheered by the delivery 2 days before D-day of escape packs (hidden compasses, etc) and French Francs. Wally Parr notes that the Francs were all gambled away within a couple of hours.
I thoroughly enjoyed this - a very approachable book on a very complex event.
The story is beautifully told, with great detail and character. D Company were warned in the briefing that they must not tell anyone about the nature of their training or mission on pain of being discharged from the mission - that night Wally Parr was telling his wife the news on the phone. The story is told from several viewpoints - Major John Howard tells that the men were greatly cheered by the delivery 2 days before D-day of escape packs (hidden compasses, etc) and French Francs. Wally Parr notes that the Francs were all gambled away within a couple of hours.
I thoroughly enjoyed this - a very approachable book on a very complex event.
September 5, 2013
Ningún plan de combate resiste al primer contacto con el enemigo, esta es una máxima militar que cualquier aficionado al género habrá leído muchas veces. La historia del puente Pegasus es la de una pequeña escaramuza que posiblemente cambió el destino del desenlace del Día D, contada a partir de los relatos de los supervivientes de los dos bandos, incidiendo tanto en la pericia de los paracaidistas entrenados para la misisón y los golpes de suerte que, de un modo u otro, son los que deciden el resultado de la batalla.
Sigue el ejemplo de Cornelius Ryan en la forma de narrar la batalla y sus preparativos, aunque no llega a estar a su nivel. Aún así es mucho más ameno que otras obras de historia bélica.
Sigue el ejemplo de Cornelius Ryan en la forma de narrar la batalla y sus preparativos, aunque no llega a estar a su nivel. Aún así es mucho más ameno que otras obras de historia bélica.
September 22, 2017
I love this book. It is one of Ambrose's best works. It moves very quickly and is quite clear. I own an eBook, I've owned a trade paperback, and I own the audiobook. He is good enough to point out some of the problems with the segments in the film, The Longest Day, covered by this book. It is long enough to get a sense of the key players. I will fault his description of the poor quality of British firearms. First, no Western Allie had a real answer to the German MG-42. The MG-42 was about the best light machine gun used during the war. I don't know if I'd make the same claim for the German K98 vs the British Enfield. None the less, a fine work.
June 22, 2022
The need to capture the Pegasus bridge was of supreme importance in the Allied effort to free Europe. I have read a great deal of WWII history, but have never come across any discussion of this mission. Ambrose, as usual, does an excellent job of detailing the importance of the bridge to the success of D-Day and beyond. The book provides an almost minute-by-minute account of a 24-hour period as the British soldiers prepare, launch, and complete the mission. They were brave men who were going into the unknown behind enemy lines, knowing that they were all that stood between the Nazis controlling the bridge and the Allies having a clear path into enemy territory. An exciting read.
January 10, 2013
This was one of the best World War 2 books that I've read. The author, Stephen Ambrose, managed to interview a number of soldiers from D Company and Germans who told their story of what happened. When you are reading, it feels as if you are almost there with the soldiers attacking the bridge. I felt as if these men deserved more recognition for what they did. Everything from Howard's leadership to them countering the tanks with their single Piat was outstanding. I would suggest this to anyone who enjoys a war story or World War 2.
September 3, 2008
I'm a glider pilot and fascinated at how precisely the Glider Pilot Regiment was able to land the troops at the target. Especially considering what ungainly monsters these WWII gliders were. The stories here cover both sides of the battle and are standard Ambrose, humorous, poignant, interesting. He was a favorite historian. The Brits in combat are unequaled in their coolness under fire. They also tell great stories. A very good read.
April 22, 2010
Pegasus Bridge is a lesser-known Ambrose gem, and a classic of the D-Day genre. It tells the story of one company(D company of the Ox and Bucks British Light Infantry) and their commander, Major John Howard. They were tasked with capturing and holding two key bridges, that according to Ambrose would ensure the success of the entire Normandy invasion. Landing in gliders in the pre-dawn hours of June 6th, they became the first allied soldiers to set foot on French soil.
August 23, 2018
Two bridges gave access to the British left flank at Normandy. These bridges need to be seized and held for the success of the invasion. The book is about the men of Company D of the British Airborne who were the first allied soldiers to land in Normandy, and they took and held those bridges. While it is a story of heroics, it is also a storey of planning and leadership. It is also about free men fighting those who are not.
February 16, 2025
Ambrose really does bring to life the story of this crucial element of D Day. Despite him using a few Americanisms in his writing I throughly enjoyed the way he brings to life the real life heroes. Like his previous books he writes in such a way that the reader becomes invested in the characters and their stories.
August 26, 2025
Pegasus Bridge is a heroic story but who’s impact couldn’t be greater. Holding down the east flank of the Normandy Invasion was told with great detail and definitely worth reading. The accounts are vivid and told clearly which makes me want to visit the site one day. This book pairs brilliantly with Band of Brothers.
May 24, 2020
Incredible insight into just how different the outcome of D-Day could have been but for the brilliance, bravery and on occasions, sheer luck of the 181 men of D Company who took and held Pegasus Bridge in the first moments of the Invasion of Europe.
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