Fire Mission!: The Siege at Mortain, Normandy, August 1944

by M S W Robert Weiss MSW

In August 1944, a few hundred men defended a hill near Mortain, France, against a massive German counterattack. For most of the six days and nights of fighting, the Americans were cut off from supply lines, fighting for survival without adequate food, water, medical supplies, or ammunition. The decisive artillery defense, much of which was launched by forward observer Robert Weiss, has been credited with making the difference in this pivotal battle of the Normandy invasion. With only one radio, powered by dying batteries, Weiss and his team brought down a rain of brutal iron that time after time turned back the German offensive.

Genres: World War II, Military Fiction

Paperback

First published July 17, 2002

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely outstanding account of a forward observer at the center of one of WW2’s most pivotal battles, Mortain.
It includes remarkable detail and maps; as well as scans of the fire direction center notes taken during the battle and the author’s own post battle report typed right after the events. The original documents make for great references of the battles events and understanding of them.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book fascinating for a number of reasons. The first is that Weiss provides a description of the role of his role as a forward observer and in the process gives the reader a better understanding of the role of the artillery forward observer and the artillery in WW2. The second is that I learned about the battles around Mortain that were critical to blunting the German counterattack against Allied forces in the Normandy campaign. Weiss opens up about the thoughts, emotions, and struggles that he and the men around him faced as they besieged and watched supplies such as food, medical supplies, and radio batteries (which were key to maintaining artillery support that preserved their position) all dwindle. Weiss offers a clear-eyed, well-written view of this battle and broader insights into the forward observer role.

[Clyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best memoirs to come out of Big2. With detailed descriptions, documents, and photos, it tells the story of six very hard days in the summer of 1944.