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D DAY Through German Eyes #2
D DAY Through German Eyes 2
The first book of ‘D DAY – Through German Eyes’ has fascinated readers around the world with its insight into the German experience of June 6th 1944. Now, Book 2 contains a completely different set of astonishing German testimonies from the same archive.
These newly translated eyewitness statements by German veterans show the defenders to be determined but psychologically insecure, often deluded in their thinking and all too human in their shock at the onslaught which they faced.
These unique interviews with German soldiers are a historical treasure trove of new insights, heart-stopping combat stories and glimpses of wartime psychology which will absorb anyone with an interest in WW2.
These newly translated eyewitness statements by German veterans show the defenders to be determined but psychologically insecure, often deluded in their thinking and all too human in their shock at the onslaught which they faced.
These unique interviews with German soldiers are a historical treasure trove of new insights, heart-stopping combat stories and glimpses of wartime psychology which will absorb anyone with an interest in WW2.
189 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 23, 2015
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August 13, 2015
I borrowed this book using Kindle Unlimited and had not read the previous book in the series. Holger Eckhertz, the editor of the book came across transcripts of interviews that his father had carried out with German veterans who had been in service in Normandy or surroundings at the time of D-Day. The interviews had been held ten years after the fact, and his father had been a propaganda writer for the Germans during the war so had some knowledge of what was happening at the time. When his son found the transcripts he felt the were important as they gave another viewpoint to the allied landings than most readers typically are exposed to. He had them translated into English for publication.
The interviews in this volume (8 in total)were with veterans in different jobs varying from men in Panzers, Military Police, Infantry, Airborne troops and Luftwaffe pilots to name a few. I found them very interesting as I did not know much about the average German soldier or his thoughts and perspectives on the war. There were several themes that came out from the interviews - one of these was the understanding that these German soldiers had that they were "protecting France" and helping maintain a United Europe. They also all seemed overwhelmed with the firepower of the Allies and the aggression that they showed towards the Germans. One of the men interviewed suggested that all Russians serving in the German army who were captured on D-Day were immediately handed over to the Russians who later had them shot. There are no footnotes that back this up or further research on the matter, but these were intended to be straight transcriptions of interviews and not to go beyond that.
I read one interview on Amazon that was extremely negative and accused the author of faking these interviews. I don't have the background knowledge to know if there was any truth to that (and the reviewer didn't support his comments) but I felt that I learned a lot from reading these interviews. I would recommend them to anyone who would like another viewpoint of what it was like to survive D-Day.
The interviews in this volume (8 in total)were with veterans in different jobs varying from men in Panzers, Military Police, Infantry, Airborne troops and Luftwaffe pilots to name a few. I found them very interesting as I did not know much about the average German soldier or his thoughts and perspectives on the war. There were several themes that came out from the interviews - one of these was the understanding that these German soldiers had that they were "protecting France" and helping maintain a United Europe. They also all seemed overwhelmed with the firepower of the Allies and the aggression that they showed towards the Germans. One of the men interviewed suggested that all Russians serving in the German army who were captured on D-Day were immediately handed over to the Russians who later had them shot. There are no footnotes that back this up or further research on the matter, but these were intended to be straight transcriptions of interviews and not to go beyond that.
I read one interview on Amazon that was extremely negative and accused the author of faking these interviews. I don't have the background knowledge to know if there was any truth to that (and the reviewer didn't support his comments) but I felt that I learned a lot from reading these interviews. I would recommend them to anyone who would like another viewpoint of what it was like to survive D-Day.
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January 7, 2017Interviews with ex Nazis, about their experience during D day. Very interesting perspectives.
September 3, 2019
Book 2 of the German viewpoint follows on Book 1's interviews, except where book 1 covers each invasion beach, book 2 covers other miscellaneous stories from all over. It has the same Q&A style which I rather like in these books and most of these stories brings something new to the series. The stories are not as good as the first book's stories though. The real problem which I have with this book, is the last story of the officer with the so called wonder weapon, Taifun B. I can understand that in 1955 the original interviewer could have fallen for such absolute rubbish told by a chancer, but I cannot understand why the publisher of the book would have included this in 2015 when the book was brought out when it was known that such a story was fabricated, which brought a great series of stories to a very disappointing end.
May 12, 2019
The second book, with experiences with some German soldiers during the D-day landings
Compared with the first part, this book clearly contains some interviews that were not deemed to be good enough for the first part. There are interviews with soldiers that were on the beaches itself, but also some other soldiers, such as the militairy police (Feldgendarmerie) and pilots. The book ends with a bizarre interview with a member of an experimental unit, that claims that he was prevented of blowing up a complete Allied armoured division, assembled as preparation for operation Cobra, with an experimental weapon called "Taifun B" ("Typhoon B").
Compared with the first part, this book clearly contains some interviews that were not deemed to be good enough for the first part. There are interviews with soldiers that were on the beaches itself, but also some other soldiers, such as the militairy police (Feldgendarmerie) and pilots. The book ends with a bizarre interview with a member of an experimental unit, that claims that he was prevented of blowing up a complete Allied armoured division, assembled as preparation for operation Cobra, with an experimental weapon called "Taifun B" ("Typhoon B").
July 14, 2018
This book is actually a continuation of the first book and deserves the same 4 star rating. The first book only used 5 interviews while this one uses 8 and I can see why these interviews were not used until after the success of the first book was demonstrated. Much of the same ground is covered in this book as was done in the first but the second book reveals matters not generally known and which may have proven embarrassing to people, peoples, and nations. One thing some of these German veterans repeat is that popular information about D-Day is incomplete and that there is another story to be told. The veterans in these interviews used this opportunity to tell at least part of that other story. While the ordeal of Allied troops on D-Day is well known and documented I couldn't help but sympathize with some of these soldiers that were just trying to do the job their government demanded of them after filling their minds with propaganda that they were not equipped to question.
To begin with it was clearly revealed that duty on the Atlantic Wall was regarded as a cushy assignment in the German Army and certainly preferable to the Eastern Front. There was no combat, living conditions were ideal, and food was both plentiful and delightful. Consequently, Germany sent their least able-bodied troops to man the beach defenses. These troops were part of the Static Infantry and were composed of burned-out vets from the Eastern Front, disabled and unfit for regular duty people, and surprisingly a large contingent of Russians that switched sides after being captured in the East. This Russian contingent is mentioned several times and only speculation is offered as to their fate after they were captured and returned to Russia. The general opinion was that the Allies returned them to the Russian military who then took them home to be executed. These were the types of soldiers that the Allies faced on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. While their weapons were devastating their general ability and morale was questionable. The German Army clearly regarded them as expendable and knew that they would be overrun when an invasion came. Their job was simply to slow down the invasion, warn of the invasion's commencement, and give the regular Mobile Forces time to plan and execute the counterattack. The interviews used in both of these books is primarily with these Static Infantry expendables and what they endured on June 6, 1944 and it was just as horrific as what was endured by the soldiers storming the beaches and maybe worse.
The scale of the invasion was clearly unanticipated as was its location. The German Army assumed that for an invasion to be successful the Allies needed to capture a port city to insure the necessary chain of supply an invading force would require. For this reason the beaches of Normandy were never regarded as a likely invasion point and much of the defenses there were incomplete and lacking planned for guns or guns at all. Most of the major defenses were distributed to the primary invasion sites around the Channel port cities like Calais. The troops at Normandy were therefore lacking in expected support and reinforcements but there is even a question if such support was ever intended since the beach forces were only needed to delay the invasion and not to stop it. Stopping the invasion was going to be the task of the Mobile Army in a counter offensive which ultimately faltered and failed because of the massive scale of the invasion and the resources devoted to it. Clearly these German soldiers are correct in stating there is another story or at least another side to the story of D-Day.
Now why these particular interviews were initially omitted in the first book is interesting because the reasons add another facet to the story of that day and, indeed, to that war. Some of these soldiers reveal how cooperative the French civilians were with the German forces. The French had no problem selling the Germans food, wine, etc and then socializing with them. The French were also helpful with giving the Germans information. The German soldier was under the misunderstanding that they were in France to protect it and the notion of Unified Europe from the corrupt forces of England and the U.S. who were being manipulated by Stalin. Under this belief the average German soldier viewed the cooperating Frenchman as a believer in this concept of a Unified Europe and didn't question the motivations of these French. Of course as an occupied people that didn't know when or if liberation would come it can be understood why these civilians would do what was necessary to survive the war. Nevertheless, such revelations could have proven rather shameful to a French reader of the book so these interviews were omitted. It is also revealed in these talks, however, that some of these old soldiers still harbored traces of National Socialism and national superiority to their conquered populations. None of these soldiers ever questions Germany's assumption of the position of Guardian of "Unified Europe" or the fact that neither France nor any other conquered nation asked Germany for this protection. These were enlisted personnel and junior officers and not upper echelon members of the German Army or government so their opinions and beliefs lack a depth of understanding and experience. These opinions, however, could certainly have hinted at an undercurrent of beliefs held by the German people at the time of the interviews and thus not helpful to Germany's war recovery. The reasons for their omission is understandable but reading them is certainly interesting and enlightening and does add a different perspective to a pivotal event of Western history.
To begin with it was clearly revealed that duty on the Atlantic Wall was regarded as a cushy assignment in the German Army and certainly preferable to the Eastern Front. There was no combat, living conditions were ideal, and food was both plentiful and delightful. Consequently, Germany sent their least able-bodied troops to man the beach defenses. These troops were part of the Static Infantry and were composed of burned-out vets from the Eastern Front, disabled and unfit for regular duty people, and surprisingly a large contingent of Russians that switched sides after being captured in the East. This Russian contingent is mentioned several times and only speculation is offered as to their fate after they were captured and returned to Russia. The general opinion was that the Allies returned them to the Russian military who then took them home to be executed. These were the types of soldiers that the Allies faced on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. While their weapons were devastating their general ability and morale was questionable. The German Army clearly regarded them as expendable and knew that they would be overrun when an invasion came. Their job was simply to slow down the invasion, warn of the invasion's commencement, and give the regular Mobile Forces time to plan and execute the counterattack. The interviews used in both of these books is primarily with these Static Infantry expendables and what they endured on June 6, 1944 and it was just as horrific as what was endured by the soldiers storming the beaches and maybe worse.
The scale of the invasion was clearly unanticipated as was its location. The German Army assumed that for an invasion to be successful the Allies needed to capture a port city to insure the necessary chain of supply an invading force would require. For this reason the beaches of Normandy were never regarded as a likely invasion point and much of the defenses there were incomplete and lacking planned for guns or guns at all. Most of the major defenses were distributed to the primary invasion sites around the Channel port cities like Calais. The troops at Normandy were therefore lacking in expected support and reinforcements but there is even a question if such support was ever intended since the beach forces were only needed to delay the invasion and not to stop it. Stopping the invasion was going to be the task of the Mobile Army in a counter offensive which ultimately faltered and failed because of the massive scale of the invasion and the resources devoted to it. Clearly these German soldiers are correct in stating there is another story or at least another side to the story of D-Day.
Now why these particular interviews were initially omitted in the first book is interesting because the reasons add another facet to the story of that day and, indeed, to that war. Some of these soldiers reveal how cooperative the French civilians were with the German forces. The French had no problem selling the Germans food, wine, etc and then socializing with them. The French were also helpful with giving the Germans information. The German soldier was under the misunderstanding that they were in France to protect it and the notion of Unified Europe from the corrupt forces of England and the U.S. who were being manipulated by Stalin. Under this belief the average German soldier viewed the cooperating Frenchman as a believer in this concept of a Unified Europe and didn't question the motivations of these French. Of course as an occupied people that didn't know when or if liberation would come it can be understood why these civilians would do what was necessary to survive the war. Nevertheless, such revelations could have proven rather shameful to a French reader of the book so these interviews were omitted. It is also revealed in these talks, however, that some of these old soldiers still harbored traces of National Socialism and national superiority to their conquered populations. None of these soldiers ever questions Germany's assumption of the position of Guardian of "Unified Europe" or the fact that neither France nor any other conquered nation asked Germany for this protection. These were enlisted personnel and junior officers and not upper echelon members of the German Army or government so their opinions and beliefs lack a depth of understanding and experience. These opinions, however, could certainly have hinted at an undercurrent of beliefs held by the German people at the time of the interviews and thus not helpful to Germany's war recovery. The reasons for their omission is understandable but reading them is certainly interesting and enlightening and does add a different perspective to a pivotal event of Western history.
October 5, 2017
This second volume of recently discovered interviews with German soldiers who participated in the battle of Normandy on June 6, 1944, is as illuminating and fascinating as the first volume. It contains verbatim interviews with 8 German fighting men (one of them a Luftwaffe pilot) about their experiences on D-Day as the Allied forces invaded France. As with the first volume, some surprises are found. German propaganda had done a good job of inculcating in its Wehrmacht troops (though probably not in the Waffen SS) the fantasy that Germany was not the aggressor but the defender of France and a united Europe, and that the Allies, comprising American and British banking interests and Russian Bolsheviks, were in an aggressive war to overthrow the democracies of Europe. That so many soldiers on the German side seemed to believe this (during the war; most of the men interviewed revealed that they now understood the truth about their country's lies and atrocities) is remarkable. Also surprising are the reports from these soldiers that the French populace was primarily allied with the Germans in many ways, often (in the weeks following the invasion) spying on Allied positions and reporting back to German forces. Perhaps most surprising, though, are reports of a remarkable super-weapon known as Taifun 2 (Typhoon 2) which supposedly was capable of massive (though definitively less than atomic) destruction, and the fact that while German prisoners of war were shipped to England and the U.S. and treated well, Russian defectors who joined the German forces were, when captured, apparently turned over to the Russians for mass execution. Each man interviewed speaks straightforwardly about the terrors of combat, the shock at the overwhelming force and resources of the Allies, and each reveals an aspect of World War II history that has been known by comparatively few students of history in the Allied nations. This, like its predecessor, is a genuinely remarkable book.
October 1, 2015
I wrote about my attraction to this fascinating book in my review of the first volume. At the age of 12 or so I was fascinated, even obsessed with how this war had happened, especially since it effected my father so profoundly.
I became fascinated with WWII and how it happened and how did this one diminutive man almost achieve world domination? I read so many books on WWII but never had the chance to read things from the German side. This book is the 2nd of two volumes of interviews with soldiers who were on the German front during D Day. The actual interviewer was the father of the man who edited these books.
He did an excellent job. If you are a student of history, this is a must. They say the history books are written by the victors, but this book and its companion volume present a compelling view of what it was like to suddenly see this enormous armada coming onto the beach, to hear of the terror that offshore shelling by Allied battleships and cruisers unleashed for hours before and during the assault. Many of the interviewees are quite honest in how frightened and confused they were. In volume one, some even speak of what happened when they were captured and taken as prisoners. It turns out that many were sent to England and/or the United States, were treated very well, and some even stayed! In volume 2, the few who spoke of being captured were not captured on D Day, but later in the war and say they were not treated very well. I have no reason to doubt them.
No bones about it, as with the 1st volume this is not a book for the squeamish. There are very graphic descriptions of the damage done to humans and even animals as a result of the assault. There is also, from some, a begrudging admiration for the creativity and tenacity of the Allied forces. The interviews were conducted in 1954, and at that time, a small few of those interviewed still held that "only if" certain things had happened they would have repulsed the assault. I read this book and its companion volume very quickly. It is well organized and is not edited down to make it a "nice" read. This book is about the horror of combat, the confusion of war and the bravery of men on both sides The reader can almost hear the explosions, smell the cordite and sweat in the bunkers. Highest recommendation, but not for the squeamish.
I became fascinated with WWII and how it happened and how did this one diminutive man almost achieve world domination? I read so many books on WWII but never had the chance to read things from the German side. This book is the 2nd of two volumes of interviews with soldiers who were on the German front during D Day. The actual interviewer was the father of the man who edited these books.
He did an excellent job. If you are a student of history, this is a must. They say the history books are written by the victors, but this book and its companion volume present a compelling view of what it was like to suddenly see this enormous armada coming onto the beach, to hear of the terror that offshore shelling by Allied battleships and cruisers unleashed for hours before and during the assault. Many of the interviewees are quite honest in how frightened and confused they were. In volume one, some even speak of what happened when they were captured and taken as prisoners. It turns out that many were sent to England and/or the United States, were treated very well, and some even stayed! In volume 2, the few who spoke of being captured were not captured on D Day, but later in the war and say they were not treated very well. I have no reason to doubt them.
No bones about it, as with the 1st volume this is not a book for the squeamish. There are very graphic descriptions of the damage done to humans and even animals as a result of the assault. There is also, from some, a begrudging admiration for the creativity and tenacity of the Allied forces. The interviews were conducted in 1954, and at that time, a small few of those interviewed still held that "only if" certain things had happened they would have repulsed the assault. I read this book and its companion volume very quickly. It is well organized and is not edited down to make it a "nice" read. This book is about the horror of combat, the confusion of war and the bravery of men on both sides The reader can almost hear the explosions, smell the cordite and sweat in the bunkers. Highest recommendation, but not for the squeamish.
April 7, 2017
I've been looking for a book that gave insights into the German mindset of the war for some time and stumbled across this one.The interviews were conducted in the 1950s by the author's grandfather. He has translated and assembled them but offers no analysis - letting interviewer and subject speak for themselves. There are some interesting themes esp that they considered this a fight for a united Europe against the forced of communism. The coments about relations with the french were interesting as well and varied from they were collaaborators to they were all in the resistance. Definitely worth a read. I am going to read the first one now.
July 27, 2017
Truly a must-read
As with the first book, the reader is presented with a diverse set of interview transcripts that have been produced many decades ago when the memories of D-Day were still fresh to German servicemen. The accounts provided in this book will move the reader and shock them with strands of history that have seldom been examined. History is so often delivered through the eyes of the victor and moulded by a subconscious bias, where undesirable facts are filtered away until the perspective drifts to a shallow point. This book gives the reader profoundly enhanced insight into the entirely human thoughts & feelings of those on the receiving end of the Allied invasion of France.
As with the first book, the reader is presented with a diverse set of interview transcripts that have been produced many decades ago when the memories of D-Day were still fresh to German servicemen. The accounts provided in this book will move the reader and shock them with strands of history that have seldom been examined. History is so often delivered through the eyes of the victor and moulded by a subconscious bias, where undesirable facts are filtered away until the perspective drifts to a shallow point. This book gives the reader profoundly enhanced insight into the entirely human thoughts & feelings of those on the receiving end of the Allied invasion of France.
March 18, 2016
What a remarkable book on D Day. Very rarely do you get to know the other side of the story, specially from the losing side. History, in general, is written by those that win the war. This is the first hand account of some of those that were on the losing side.
"The British are the most calculating and cynical people on earth" is the view of one of the combatants from the other side. They are also critical of their own leaders as well : "Ribbenthrop, that damned foreign minister of ours, the one who got us into the war" and that " Goering himself dies of heroin overdose".
One may disagree with what gets stated but these indeed are different points of view on a variety of aspects of the war that shook the world. There is a candid admission of the mistakes committed : "Everything I believed during the war was a mistake". There was also that mistaken belief that "Western allies were in the pay of the Bolsheviks".
"The British are the most calculating and cynical people on earth" is the view of one of the combatants from the other side. They are also critical of their own leaders as well : "Ribbenthrop, that damned foreign minister of ours, the one who got us into the war" and that " Goering himself dies of heroin overdose".
One may disagree with what gets stated but these indeed are different points of view on a variety of aspects of the war that shook the world. There is a candid admission of the mistakes committed : "Everything I believed during the war was a mistake". There was also that mistaken belief that "Western allies were in the pay of the Bolsheviks".
February 12, 2016
Fascinating read about D day.
So many things in this that I would never have expected: the fact that at the time of dday most ordinary German troops thought of themselves as the protectors of France, that the scale and ingenuity of the Allied invasion (time and time again there is mention of how the Germans couldn't conceive of landing so many tanks on the beaches directly), and the observation that the English and German troops would attempt to first repair something that broke during the war whereas the Americans would simply get a new one. Great and quick read if you're interested in WWII history.
So many things in this that I would never have expected: the fact that at the time of dday most ordinary German troops thought of themselves as the protectors of France, that the scale and ingenuity of the Allied invasion (time and time again there is mention of how the Germans couldn't conceive of landing so many tanks on the beaches directly), and the observation that the English and German troops would attempt to first repair something that broke during the war whereas the Americans would simply get a new one. Great and quick read if you're interested in WWII history.
February 5, 2017
Like its predecessor, this e-book has eye-opening insight into the German mindset and strategy around D-Day. Through first-person interviews, several German soldiers reveal the motivational stories/propaganda their leaders fed them, their thoughts about Allied aggression on a military and personal level, and much more. The most amazing interview is last, as an officer explains that the Germans were minutes away from unleashing a devastating weapon that may have turned the tide of the European theater. It's a jaw-dropping story that is a superb finale to a book that's a must-read for WWII buffs.
February 20, 2018
Fascinating!
Another great book that is a collection of interviews of German soldiers who fought in France in D-Day. The absolute frankness and raw honesty of how these men perceived their role in the war, Germany's objectives, and the actions that took place is enlightening, at times shocking, and even repugnant at times.
This is a book that will linger in my thoughts, and will deserve a re-read.
Another great book that is a collection of interviews of German soldiers who fought in France in D-Day. The absolute frankness and raw honesty of how these men perceived their role in the war, Germany's objectives, and the actions that took place is enlightening, at times shocking, and even repugnant at times.
This is a book that will linger in my thoughts, and will deserve a re-read.
February 25, 2018
Both books in this series are superb reads. If you like history told by the people who were actually there, you will love these. It will put a whole new perspective on your view of the D-Day landings.
December 13, 2018
Very interesting first person German narratives on their experiences during D-Day and surrounding times. A must read for WWII history buffs and a great companion read to The Good War by Studs Terkel. Very nearly a 5 star book.
July 21, 2020
A very interesting read showing a different side to the Normandy invasion
The book gives a good insight into the German soldier mentality. The stories are a fascinating read and give an impression that history was not yet decided on D-Day.
The book gives a good insight into the German soldier mentality. The stories are a fascinating read and give an impression that history was not yet decided on D-Day.
October 2, 2018
These 2 books are very informative. The Germans had some weird thoughts on the war in general. Most in this book told their thoughts then and then 10 years after when interviewed. One in particular was pretty upset about the whole thing (as he should be). Again as with the first book the authors summary at the end really concludes the common themes very well.
Some of the people interviewed get a little "crabby" when asked certain questions. Some of them elude to some further (pretty bad) things.
Some of the people interviewed get a little "crabby" when asked certain questions. Some of them elude to some further (pretty bad) things.
June 14, 2017
Wow! Somehow I picked up Book 2 before Book 1, but I do not think it matters. This is a collection of interviews, raw interviews, translated from German to English and published. Fascinating, captivating and powerful perspective. Incredible insight to the German static forces who were guarding that area of France from an invasion. I enjoyed the format, of the raw interview with no interpretation from the author or interviewer. Allowed me to garner my own interpretation and piece together a picture of the times and experience by these men. Incredible.
October 28, 2015
As good as volume 1, maybe better. I'm not sure why Eckhertz held back on publishing these in the first volume but maybe that's because the idea of collaboration/cooperation seem like old news to me 70 years on. And the fact that some French would hate the USA or GB because of collateral damage from the Allied bombing is entirely understandable. Unfortunately, grandfather Eckhertz did not interview any civilians in 1955 to see how their view of the war had changed so we're left to guess.
June 23, 2016
I liked this book almost as well as I liked the first one. Maybe the best accounts were put in the first book and maybe (probably) I wasn't as excited about the accounts as I was when I first discovered them. This book still kept me up at night reading though. I read these books when I was in France. Discussing WWII with French people is a very enlightening experience, along with actually seeing where all the events happened. Very sobering.
September 20, 2017
Memoirs of events and the moral landscape to German soldiers
The most interesting part of this was reading how the ordinary soldiers viewed the political and moral issues of the war. It showed how effective the Nazi propaganda was to their soldiers. They had no problem rationalizing that the occupation of France was a "partnership". They had finally enabled peace by uniting Europe.
The most interesting part of this was reading how the ordinary soldiers viewed the political and moral issues of the war. It showed how effective the Nazi propaganda was to their soldiers. They had no problem rationalizing that the occupation of France was a "partnership". They had finally enabled peace by uniting Europe.
November 26, 2017
Where are all the horses?
The Germans defending on the Atlantic wall did not understand their enemy. They assumed that allied mobility would be limited because there was no way to transport and feed horses needed to move an army.
Understanding the war through the eyes of the enemy is in many ways more illuminating than the eyes of the victor. I wish there were more books of this type, especially about our most recent wars.
The Germans defending on the Atlantic wall did not understand their enemy. They assumed that allied mobility would be limited because there was no way to transport and feed horses needed to move an army.
Understanding the war through the eyes of the enemy is in many ways more illuminating than the eyes of the victor. I wish there were more books of this type, especially about our most recent wars.
August 23, 2015
Outstanding description of attitudes of men in combat
I found these descriptions of the attitudes and performance of German EM and company grade officers extremely interesting sting. Proves soldiers are the same, despite uniform and across generations. Would love to read more accounts.
I found these descriptions of the attitudes and performance of German EM and company grade officers extremely interesting sting. Proves soldiers are the same, despite uniform and across generations. Would love to read more accounts.
August 17, 2016
The victors write the history books, or so the saying goes. This book looks at the opposite. What was life like in Northern France leading up to the invasion? Who were the soldiers stationed there? What was it like during the early hours of June 6th, 1944? If you are a WWII history buff, this is a must read.
December 21, 2017
Excellent account
This book is a very good book to further the understanding of the German soldiers mindset during the invasion. In all my reading and watching documentary's, I never gave it a thought that the Germans were unsure of the purpose on the D-Day actions.
This book is a very good book to further the understanding of the German soldiers mindset during the invasion. In all my reading and watching documentary's, I never gave it a thought that the Germans were unsure of the purpose on the D-Day actions.
May 15, 2019
In 1994, Dieter Eckhertz, a German military journalist, visited several locations on the Atlantic Wall and interviewed some of the troops. Later, in 1954, he tracked down some of the soldiers he interviewed and others who were at locations he had previously visited to discuss with them their memories of June 6, 1944. His plan to compile these recollections into a book was foiled by his death in 1955, but his grandson Holger Eckhertz worked to turn that plan into a reality. This book, the second of two books compiled by Mr. Eckhertz, consists of the interviews of eight soldiers:
• A soldier assigned to a concrete panzer, a disabled panzer encased in concrete, its gun used as an Atlantic Wall defense
• A ME-109 pilot who flew a scouting mission over Utah beach. Of the three pilots on this mission, he was the only one to survive.
• A rifleman at an observation station near Utah beach
• A military policeman inland of Juno and Sword beaches
• A rifleman inland of Juno beach
• A combat engineer inland of Omaha beach
• A gunner in a Sturmgeshutz III self-propelled gun south of Sword beach
• A special weapons officer
While I noticed various points Mr. Echertz hoped to make with these selected interviews, I would prefer to focus on some points that claimed my attention.
First, the ME-109 pilot had an interesting perspective on the failure of the Luftwaffe to effectively fight the allied air forces. In A Higher Call, by Adam Makos, the BF-109 (and later ME-262) pilot featured in the book described German resentment at the Luftwaffe for its failure to stop the bombers. He considered this unfair because the Luftwaffe fighter pilots had a greater than 90% mortality rate in the war. In other words, they were outnumbered and overmatched; although they fought skillfully and bravely, they kept getting killed. General Simon Bolivar Buckner once said, “You can’t win a war with dead Marines.” Well, you can’t win an air war with dead pilots. In contrast, the ME-109 pilot featured in this book discussed logistics. Without fuel, lubricants, spare parts, ordinance, etc., you can’t fly. The air raids on manufacturing and transportation produced shortages of these items at the airfields and often prevented German fighters from flying. It is quite a vicious cycle. Because of air raids on your supply chain, you cannot fly to combat the next air raids on your supply chain. Better them than us.
Second, the combat engineer had been tasked with designing coastal defenses associated with the Atlantic Wall. Although the static infantry assigned to the beach defenses were under orders to drive any invaders back into the sea, the engineer indicated that the overall strategy was to allow as many invaders as possible to land and build up in a pocket. The beach defenses were nothing more than a speed bump intended to weaken the invaders as much as possible. Inland defenses he was actively constructing were intended to force invasion ground forces into killing fields with the intent to maximize casualties such that the invasion attempt would fail, prompting the allies to negotiate for peace and not attempt another cross-channel invasion. This engineer had been hoping for another month of preparation time. It is so much the better that he did not get it.
Third, the special weapons officer described a weapons system that anticipated the fuel air bombs used by coalition forces against Republican Guard forces in Kuwait during the 1991 Gulf War. The Typhoon B system dispersed kerosene in aerosol form and then ignited it, producing a massive blast. Although this officer didn’t explain the physics, air-kerosene interface area is what matters. A higher interface area produces a higher reaction rate. His unit was equipped with a Typhoon B system designed to destroy the port of Calais, the entire port. Once it became evident that the Normandy landings were not merely a diversion, his unit was tasked with deploying the weapon against American tanks massed for the Operation Cobra breakout at St. Lo. A last-minute artillery bombardment destroyed the vehicle with the kerosene cannisters, producing the equivalent of a fuel dump fire and foiling him. Had this not happened, he might have destroyed or disabled as many as four hundred Sherman tanks with a single blast. Imagine the psychological impact of that! He also thought that the V-1 would have been an ideal delivery system for Typhoon B. It is a good thing that he was not in a position to turn that idea into action. Fuel-air blasts over London might have shaken even Winston Churchill to the core.
The combat engineer and special weapons officer thought that Germany had a reasonable shot of winning the battle in Normandy. I don’t know that I would go that far but fully recognize that circumstances prevented them from inflicting a much higher cost in American, British and Canadian lives. Some may disagree, but I see the hand of God there. Without a successful landing in France, the liberation of labor and death camps would not have been possible. Yes, many German soldiers sacrificed their lives defending their homeland, but regrettably, their deaths were necessary to stop Hitler and his evil ways.
• A soldier assigned to a concrete panzer, a disabled panzer encased in concrete, its gun used as an Atlantic Wall defense
• A ME-109 pilot who flew a scouting mission over Utah beach. Of the three pilots on this mission, he was the only one to survive.
• A rifleman at an observation station near Utah beach
• A military policeman inland of Juno and Sword beaches
• A rifleman inland of Juno beach
• A combat engineer inland of Omaha beach
• A gunner in a Sturmgeshutz III self-propelled gun south of Sword beach
• A special weapons officer
While I noticed various points Mr. Echertz hoped to make with these selected interviews, I would prefer to focus on some points that claimed my attention.
First, the ME-109 pilot had an interesting perspective on the failure of the Luftwaffe to effectively fight the allied air forces. In A Higher Call, by Adam Makos, the BF-109 (and later ME-262) pilot featured in the book described German resentment at the Luftwaffe for its failure to stop the bombers. He considered this unfair because the Luftwaffe fighter pilots had a greater than 90% mortality rate in the war. In other words, they were outnumbered and overmatched; although they fought skillfully and bravely, they kept getting killed. General Simon Bolivar Buckner once said, “You can’t win a war with dead Marines.” Well, you can’t win an air war with dead pilots. In contrast, the ME-109 pilot featured in this book discussed logistics. Without fuel, lubricants, spare parts, ordinance, etc., you can’t fly. The air raids on manufacturing and transportation produced shortages of these items at the airfields and often prevented German fighters from flying. It is quite a vicious cycle. Because of air raids on your supply chain, you cannot fly to combat the next air raids on your supply chain. Better them than us.
Second, the combat engineer had been tasked with designing coastal defenses associated with the Atlantic Wall. Although the static infantry assigned to the beach defenses were under orders to drive any invaders back into the sea, the engineer indicated that the overall strategy was to allow as many invaders as possible to land and build up in a pocket. The beach defenses were nothing more than a speed bump intended to weaken the invaders as much as possible. Inland defenses he was actively constructing were intended to force invasion ground forces into killing fields with the intent to maximize casualties such that the invasion attempt would fail, prompting the allies to negotiate for peace and not attempt another cross-channel invasion. This engineer had been hoping for another month of preparation time. It is so much the better that he did not get it.
Third, the special weapons officer described a weapons system that anticipated the fuel air bombs used by coalition forces against Republican Guard forces in Kuwait during the 1991 Gulf War. The Typhoon B system dispersed kerosene in aerosol form and then ignited it, producing a massive blast. Although this officer didn’t explain the physics, air-kerosene interface area is what matters. A higher interface area produces a higher reaction rate. His unit was equipped with a Typhoon B system designed to destroy the port of Calais, the entire port. Once it became evident that the Normandy landings were not merely a diversion, his unit was tasked with deploying the weapon against American tanks massed for the Operation Cobra breakout at St. Lo. A last-minute artillery bombardment destroyed the vehicle with the kerosene cannisters, producing the equivalent of a fuel dump fire and foiling him. Had this not happened, he might have destroyed or disabled as many as four hundred Sherman tanks with a single blast. Imagine the psychological impact of that! He also thought that the V-1 would have been an ideal delivery system for Typhoon B. It is a good thing that he was not in a position to turn that idea into action. Fuel-air blasts over London might have shaken even Winston Churchill to the core.
The combat engineer and special weapons officer thought that Germany had a reasonable shot of winning the battle in Normandy. I don’t know that I would go that far but fully recognize that circumstances prevented them from inflicting a much higher cost in American, British and Canadian lives. Some may disagree, but I see the hand of God there. Without a successful landing in France, the liberation of labor and death camps would not have been possible. Yes, many German soldiers sacrificed their lives defending their homeland, but regrettably, their deaths were necessary to stop Hitler and his evil ways.
February 25, 2019
I am uncomfortable with giving a 5* to a book for some of the same contextual reasons that I am with giving 1* ratings. You always need to leave room to move, for better (and worse) performances.
So, let's actually say that this book deserves something a bit more than 4*, but something less than 5* (or how about 7-8* out of 10*, but I suppose this is bordering on a little ridiculous?).
As advertised, a look from another point of view. "Refreshing" perhaps is not the exact word you want to use in the context of the book's subject matter. But the material in this book fosters a heightened state of ambivalence and a more sophisticated understanding of some things that have been bothering me when reading accounts of this period. I welcome the addition of new parts of the puzzle that the information that both this book and its predecessor have made available.
This volume is as good as the first one, perhaps better. It possibly feels a little less finished, less predictable and less polished, a little rougher, but more nuanced and interesting because of this.
Having read quite a bit recently on WWII and the interwar era, from various authors like Shirer, Kershaw, Evans, Hastings, Churchill, Keegan, etc, I have to admit, I was becoming a little familiar and comfortable with Victors' Viewpoints on History.
These two volumes to a certain extent have helped to remove some fuzziness and false intellectual security and kicked me out of this cumbersome mental comfort zone.
As with the previous volume (see my short review elsewhere on Goodreads), I believe that there has been a certain amount of creative narrative-fill administered in this book. It appears to me that artistic license has been displayed and taken in these narratives. However, this fact did not decrease my enjoyment of the book, on the contrary it has probably increased its readability. But, I was distinctly aware of it and probably Eckhertz could have been a little cleaner and less disingenuous here.
This review applies to the Audible edition of the book, which I found it quite well narrated, despite some of the criticism of German accents by other reviewers, a criticism that I didn't share.
Recommended for those fascinated by history and students of human nature.
So, let's actually say that this book deserves something a bit more than 4*, but something less than 5* (or how about 7-8* out of 10*, but I suppose this is bordering on a little ridiculous?).
As advertised, a look from another point of view. "Refreshing" perhaps is not the exact word you want to use in the context of the book's subject matter. But the material in this book fosters a heightened state of ambivalence and a more sophisticated understanding of some things that have been bothering me when reading accounts of this period. I welcome the addition of new parts of the puzzle that the information that both this book and its predecessor have made available.
This volume is as good as the first one, perhaps better. It possibly feels a little less finished, less predictable and less polished, a little rougher, but more nuanced and interesting because of this.
Having read quite a bit recently on WWII and the interwar era, from various authors like Shirer, Kershaw, Evans, Hastings, Churchill, Keegan, etc, I have to admit, I was becoming a little familiar and comfortable with Victors' Viewpoints on History.
These two volumes to a certain extent have helped to remove some fuzziness and false intellectual security and kicked me out of this cumbersome mental comfort zone.
As with the previous volume (see my short review elsewhere on Goodreads), I believe that there has been a certain amount of creative narrative-fill administered in this book. It appears to me that artistic license has been displayed and taken in these narratives. However, this fact did not decrease my enjoyment of the book, on the contrary it has probably increased its readability. But, I was distinctly aware of it and probably Eckhertz could have been a little cleaner and less disingenuous here.
This review applies to the Audible edition of the book, which I found it quite well narrated, despite some of the criticism of German accents by other reviewers, a criticism that I didn't share.
Recommended for those fascinated by history and students of human nature.
August 24, 2019
Why this book: I’ve lived in Germany 3 times and studied a lot about Germany and German history. I thought this would be a good perspective to have. I was right.
Summary in 5 sentences: After WWII in the forties and into the fifties, a German journalist interviewed many German soldiers who were in Normandy and fought the Americans, Brits, Canadians on the beaches on D-day and was planning to compile these interviews into a book. He died before he could do it, and some fifty years later, the journalist’s grandson put the interviews into a book. The book includes the interviewers questions and the answers of the then soldiers, telling their very personal, tragic and incredible stories. He has one German soldier sharing stories from each of the 5 beaches the allies landed on on D-Day – what they were doing up to 6 June, what happened on that day and the immediate aftermath, how they felt, what they thought. HOWEVER, the authenticity of the book is highly questionable and it may be a hoax.
My Impressions: Fascinating. Whether true or not, these are some of the most intense accounts of combat and the collision between Allied and German forces on D-Day in Normandy that I have read. Very candid and personal accounts from interviews supposedly done only a few years after the events. The interviews include the interviewers questions and the (apparently) candid responses of the veterans. I’m sure some of it is edited in the process of translation, but the perspectives seem genuine and are definitely powerful. The horror, fear, and violence in wholesale killing in conventional war is vividly described by the interviewees. This was one of the most powerful and impactful of the seven excellent books on D-Day that I read.
This book makes the Nasty Nazis who are killing our boys into human beings. Like most westerners, I grew up cheering for our side – the good guys – and demonizing the bad guys representing the evil Nazi regime doing horrible things in Europe. There is clearly legitimacy in that position. But war is more complex than that.
If you want to read the rest of my review, go to:
https://bobsbeenreading.wordpress.com...
Summary in 5 sentences: After WWII in the forties and into the fifties, a German journalist interviewed many German soldiers who were in Normandy and fought the Americans, Brits, Canadians on the beaches on D-day and was planning to compile these interviews into a book. He died before he could do it, and some fifty years later, the journalist’s grandson put the interviews into a book. The book includes the interviewers questions and the answers of the then soldiers, telling their very personal, tragic and incredible stories. He has one German soldier sharing stories from each of the 5 beaches the allies landed on on D-Day – what they were doing up to 6 June, what happened on that day and the immediate aftermath, how they felt, what they thought. HOWEVER, the authenticity of the book is highly questionable and it may be a hoax.
My Impressions: Fascinating. Whether true or not, these are some of the most intense accounts of combat and the collision between Allied and German forces on D-Day in Normandy that I have read. Very candid and personal accounts from interviews supposedly done only a few years after the events. The interviews include the interviewers questions and the (apparently) candid responses of the veterans. I’m sure some of it is edited in the process of translation, but the perspectives seem genuine and are definitely powerful. The horror, fear, and violence in wholesale killing in conventional war is vividly described by the interviewees. This was one of the most powerful and impactful of the seven excellent books on D-Day that I read.
This book makes the Nasty Nazis who are killing our boys into human beings. Like most westerners, I grew up cheering for our side – the good guys – and demonizing the bad guys representing the evil Nazi regime doing horrible things in Europe. There is clearly legitimacy in that position. But war is more complex than that.
If you want to read the rest of my review, go to:
https://bobsbeenreading.wordpress.com...
January 12, 2019
One of the most compelling accounts in the book is from a military police (MP) officer who was assigned to guard a tank commander. They were staying at a commandeered house in France, and they had local French civilians working there as staff. One of the French ladies on the staff offered the tank commander a room to take a nap in, and he accepted. About an hour later the MP went to rouse him. When he did, he found that the French woman had assassinated him.
This MP speaks very movingly of the shock, horror, and betrayal he felt at that moment, of discovering the body. It was a moment of severe reversed expectations, because in our modern age, and especially as an American, I was keenly aware that in a Western war film, this would be a triumphant moment. The death of this German officer by a French citizen would be seen as an oppressor, a captive, throwing off the yoke of a villain. But this MP saw it as a brutal murder.
It reminded me that in a war what is victory and triumph to one side is horror and devastation to the other. This is a theme woven throughout these accounts. There are many eye-opening moments in this book, but this account stayed with me the most vividly because it most graphically and poignantly expressed that theme.
This MP speaks very movingly of the shock, horror, and betrayal he felt at that moment, of discovering the body. It was a moment of severe reversed expectations, because in our modern age, and especially as an American, I was keenly aware that in a Western war film, this would be a triumphant moment. The death of this German officer by a French citizen would be seen as an oppressor, a captive, throwing off the yoke of a villain. But this MP saw it as a brutal murder.
It reminded me that in a war what is victory and triumph to one side is horror and devastation to the other. This is a theme woven throughout these accounts. There are many eye-opening moments in this book, but this account stayed with me the most vividly because it most graphically and poignantly expressed that theme.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2018
Highly Informative
Another highly readable book giving a little known insight into the mentality and motivation of the common German Soldier during WWII! The events took place primarily in Normandy on June 6, 1944! The reactions of the various individuals took place in various ways some quite surprising at times and a few as expected! The motives these soldiers had were also quite surprising to me! Most were convinced that they were there to protect the French from the Forces of the Russian Bolsheviks, English and American Bankers and International Corporations! The terms United Europe and Fortress Europe were repeatedly used and there were forced from.many other nations allied with them. The included Russians and other Eastern European countries. So there was some basis for their beliefs! There are also some very I interesting new weapons to.learn about which if they had been effectively applied could have changed history as an we know it! One they named Typhoon came within a hairs breadth of doing just that! If you think you've heard it all, you are missing a critical part of history!
Another highly readable book giving a little known insight into the mentality and motivation of the common German Soldier during WWII! The events took place primarily in Normandy on June 6, 1944! The reactions of the various individuals took place in various ways some quite surprising at times and a few as expected! The motives these soldiers had were also quite surprising to me! Most were convinced that they were there to protect the French from the Forces of the Russian Bolsheviks, English and American Bankers and International Corporations! The terms United Europe and Fortress Europe were repeatedly used and there were forced from.many other nations allied with them. The included Russians and other Eastern European countries. So there was some basis for their beliefs! There are also some very I interesting new weapons to.learn about which if they had been effectively applied could have changed history as an we know it! One they named Typhoon came within a hairs breadth of doing just that! If you think you've heard it all, you are missing a critical part of history!
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