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Disaster At D-Day
29 illustrations 7 charts and maps 6 x 9 * The alternative D-Day campaign
* A gripping and shocking narrative of what might have been
* With maps and authentic illustrations It is June 1944. The Allied armies are poised for the full-scale invasion of Fortress Europe. Across the Channel, the vaunted Wehrmacht lies waiting for the first signs of the invasion, ready for the final battle. What happens next is well known to any student of modern history but the outcome could have been very different, as Peter Tsouras shows in this devastating account of a D-Day in which plans, missions and landings go horribly wrong. In Tsouras' account, the effects of minor adjustments at the opening of the campaign gather momentum and impact upon all subsequent events. Without deviating from the genuine possibilities of the situation, he presents a scenario that keeps the reader guessing and changes the course of history. Peter G. Tsouras is a senior analyst at the U.S. Army National Ground Intelligence Center. His other books include An Alternate History (1-85367-265-3) and The Great Patriotic War.
* A gripping and shocking narrative of what might have been
* With maps and authentic illustrations It is June 1944. The Allied armies are poised for the full-scale invasion of Fortress Europe. Across the Channel, the vaunted Wehrmacht lies waiting for the first signs of the invasion, ready for the final battle. What happens next is well known to any student of modern history but the outcome could have been very different, as Peter Tsouras shows in this devastating account of a D-Day in which plans, missions and landings go horribly wrong. In Tsouras' account, the effects of minor adjustments at the opening of the campaign gather momentum and impact upon all subsequent events. Without deviating from the genuine possibilities of the situation, he presents a scenario that keeps the reader guessing and changes the course of history. Peter G. Tsouras is a senior analyst at the U.S. Army National Ground Intelligence Center. His other books include An Alternate History (1-85367-265-3) and The Great Patriotic War.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 28, 2018
What if... Rommel didn't celebrate his birthday with his wife but really ran this show, instead of Hitler?
Panzer Lehr joins the weak 21 Panzer to bloody Omaha at once, while 'Case 3' sends a quarter million troops to drive the Allies back into the sea.
Howard's funnies and a saturating naval bombardment on the British beaches compensate for the needless decimation of Norman cattle, but the exploitation of their initial success is crushed on the Oisne until the Waffen-SS drives over Pegasus bridge. Meanwhile, The American Airborne retakes St. Mère-église 3, but the entire V corps never breaks out of Carentan. The Canadians learn to give to quarter against the Hitlerjugend.
Fictional footnotes and slightly altered testimonials give extra flavour to a battle narrative that is believable in its red-blooded fury. The SS aces Michael Whitman, "Panzermeyer" and Peiper show the weight that a few years on the Russian front add to a spirited counterattack. By contrast, the funniest parts concern Rommel's brief captivity, where his immaticulate manners and admiring incredulousity of his captors.
Politics are scant: Disputes over Monty's leadership reach a pitch... and there's that ending. OMG, the ending. It makes this alternate reality less dark. You get to imagine a world where D-Day fails, but this book was written decades later with the participation of veterans from both sides as they share a beer.
It would make a great alternate history novel... but as a non-fiction work, it should've provided more context via footnotes on what happened in reality vs. in the alternate reality, because the maps are few and the unit chess is complicated if you don't know D-Day inside out. Tsouras rounds up the main divergents in an afterword, but this is insufficient.
Panzer Lehr joins the weak 21 Panzer to bloody Omaha at once, while 'Case 3' sends a quarter million troops to drive the Allies back into the sea.
Howard's funnies and a saturating naval bombardment on the British beaches compensate for the needless decimation of Norman cattle, but the exploitation of their initial success is crushed on the Oisne until the Waffen-SS drives over Pegasus bridge. Meanwhile, The American Airborne retakes St. Mère-église 3, but the entire V corps never breaks out of Carentan. The Canadians learn to give to quarter against the Hitlerjugend.
Fictional footnotes and slightly altered testimonials give extra flavour to a battle narrative that is believable in its red-blooded fury. The SS aces Michael Whitman, "Panzermeyer" and Peiper show the weight that a few years on the Russian front add to a spirited counterattack. By contrast, the funniest parts concern Rommel's brief captivity, where his immaticulate manners and admiring incredulousity of his captors.
Politics are scant: Disputes over Monty's leadership reach a pitch... and there's that ending. OMG, the ending. It makes this alternate reality less dark. You get to imagine a world where D-Day fails, but this book was written decades later with the participation of veterans from both sides as they share a beer.
It would make a great alternate history novel... but as a non-fiction work, it should've provided more context via footnotes on what happened in reality vs. in the alternate reality, because the maps are few and the unit chess is complicated if you don't know D-Day inside out. Tsouras rounds up the main divergents in an afterword, but this is insufficient.
July 30, 2020
A few centuries from now when archeologists dig up ‘Disaster at D-Day’, they are going to have a difficult time sorting out whether tales such as the ’The Longest Day’ are the alternative histories or this one.
Author Peter Tsouras was a US Army analyst for the Intelligence and Threat center specializing in 20th Century European history when he penned this book and he brings all these talents to bear in this detailed and credible account of what could have happened during those fateful weeks in June 1944.
He includes photos, paintings, maps, even fascinating, though fictional, titles to books that were never published in the endnotes to each chapter. Along with detailed military unit movements, he intersperses personal accounts from the ground pounders to the Generals.
I would suggest reading an authentic D-Day book before, or maybe right after this one to give you a perspective on the differences. I happened to read ‘Invasion, They’re Coming!’ . Author Carell muses that Hitler should have redirected V-1s from London at the invasion fleet, though inaccurate there were so many targets, they might have it something. Tsouras uses that idea to add some interesting challenges for the Allies.
There is a lot of maneuvering of units through towns of Normandy that don’t usually get mentioned in the real history books, so although maps are provided, you may find a good map of Northern France useful to follow the action.
’Disaster at D-Day’ is a fun read of an alternative history and especially so if you are already deep into the events of June 1944.
Author Peter Tsouras was a US Army analyst for the Intelligence and Threat center specializing in 20th Century European history when he penned this book and he brings all these talents to bear in this detailed and credible account of what could have happened during those fateful weeks in June 1944.
He includes photos, paintings, maps, even fascinating, though fictional, titles to books that were never published in the endnotes to each chapter. Along with detailed military unit movements, he intersperses personal accounts from the ground pounders to the Generals.
I would suggest reading an authentic D-Day book before, or maybe right after this one to give you a perspective on the differences. I happened to read ‘Invasion, They’re Coming!’ . Author Carell muses that Hitler should have redirected V-1s from London at the invasion fleet, though inaccurate there were so many targets, they might have it something. Tsouras uses that idea to add some interesting challenges for the Allies.
There is a lot of maneuvering of units through towns of Normandy that don’t usually get mentioned in the real history books, so although maps are provided, you may find a good map of Northern France useful to follow the action.
’Disaster at D-Day’ is a fun read of an alternative history and especially so if you are already deep into the events of June 1944.
August 26, 2013
A very good and well written alternative history story about what might easily have happened at D Day and during the Normandy campaign of 1944. Terrifyingly convincing, thankfully the Allies won this campaign but a very good read. I would recommend, along with Tsouras's more recent "Disaster at Stalingrad" which was an excellent read too.
June 3, 2009
Counter-factuals are either loved or despised by history readers. Done well, they can illuminate the choices a leader faced in the neat of the moment. Done badly and they are odes to the losing side in any battle or war, more of a comic book than a serious explanation.
Peter Tsouras starts "Disaster at D-Day" by noting the few hinge points in the story that could have gone swinging the other way. He is right in showing that any outcome in history can be gravely influenced by a few small changes. Readers sometime forget this when they read the text too closely, oftentimes seeing history as something carved in stone by an inevitable chisel, brooking no other outcome.
But those small changes chosen by Tsouras while realistic, add up to a counter-factual that is more rave than appreciation. Start with Rommel getting his way on posting an extra panzer division near Omaha Beach. Add to this the lucky emplacement of the heavy guns at Pont du Hoc. Stir. the American landing at Omaha Beach, in real life a near-run thing, turns into an unmitigated disaster. The Germans successfully contain the Utah Beach landings and concentrate on the British/Canadian landings at Juno, Gold and Sword beaches.
Now Tsouras swings the next few hinges out of line. Hitler releases the panzer and infantry reserves, believing Normandy is the place. In real life, the Allies successfully deceived German intelligence by faking the existence of an army group bound for the main effort at the Pas de Calais, thus forcing retention of units that could have gone to Normandy. But Tsouras gives this disinformation program no mention. So the reserves contain the British.
Allied air superiority mauls the Rommel-led counter-offensives that successfully contains Montgomery's efforts to break out, eventually cutting off several British and Canadian formations. UK and Commonwealth losses are staggering. Montgomery is relieved. Marshall is rushed to the UK to take the matter in hand, also implying Eisenhower's eventual relief as well.
Now Tsouras does write a ripping good "pseudo-factual" account of this imaginary outcome. This is a short, fast-moving book filled with many accounts of bloody battles, gallant actions, heroism beyond compare. The Allies get their due, but for some reason can't bring their superior artillery to bear against every bad situation. German generalship is for the most part fast-acting and near flawless. Tsouras clearly favors "muddy boots" generalship that commands close to the front. His admiration for Rommel comes close to hagiographic. The halo of the Desert Fox gets a good polishing here.
Tsouras is not blind to the political consequences of a Nazi German victory in Normandy, but to say more would be to give away the ending. He has a good feel for the operational and tactical dimensions of WWII ground combat, showing the interplay of ground with battle, the nuts and bolts of crafting the right mix of armor and infantry when forming battle groups, and the bloody outcomes of offense when it meets defense.
Yes, there were many times when German tactical superiority won battles. But in two world wars, German tactical superiority proved to be no match for Allied strategic war planning. To show this reality in a book would be to take the reader into the minutes of many boring meetings between national leaders and service chiefs, poring over reports, maps and analyses. It becomes a war of arguing over the best laid plans of mousy men. It's just not as exciting as the decisive attacks led by "muddy boots" generals who make those arrows happen on the ground, not on the maps, seeking maximum gain for maximum risk. That is the approach Tsouras prefers, but it misleads the reader into seeing the battles at the expense of the war.
This book was still fun to read. Tsouras did a good job of crafting his story. But there are more serious books that illuminate the path not taken or the accident of history unmade. Don't end your reading at this title.
Peter Tsouras starts "Disaster at D-Day" by noting the few hinge points in the story that could have gone swinging the other way. He is right in showing that any outcome in history can be gravely influenced by a few small changes. Readers sometime forget this when they read the text too closely, oftentimes seeing history as something carved in stone by an inevitable chisel, brooking no other outcome.
But those small changes chosen by Tsouras while realistic, add up to a counter-factual that is more rave than appreciation. Start with Rommel getting his way on posting an extra panzer division near Omaha Beach. Add to this the lucky emplacement of the heavy guns at Pont du Hoc. Stir. the American landing at Omaha Beach, in real life a near-run thing, turns into an unmitigated disaster. The Germans successfully contain the Utah Beach landings and concentrate on the British/Canadian landings at Juno, Gold and Sword beaches.
Now Tsouras swings the next few hinges out of line. Hitler releases the panzer and infantry reserves, believing Normandy is the place. In real life, the Allies successfully deceived German intelligence by faking the existence of an army group bound for the main effort at the Pas de Calais, thus forcing retention of units that could have gone to Normandy. But Tsouras gives this disinformation program no mention. So the reserves contain the British.
Allied air superiority mauls the Rommel-led counter-offensives that successfully contains Montgomery's efforts to break out, eventually cutting off several British and Canadian formations. UK and Commonwealth losses are staggering. Montgomery is relieved. Marshall is rushed to the UK to take the matter in hand, also implying Eisenhower's eventual relief as well.
Now Tsouras does write a ripping good "pseudo-factual" account of this imaginary outcome. This is a short, fast-moving book filled with many accounts of bloody battles, gallant actions, heroism beyond compare. The Allies get their due, but for some reason can't bring their superior artillery to bear against every bad situation. German generalship is for the most part fast-acting and near flawless. Tsouras clearly favors "muddy boots" generalship that commands close to the front. His admiration for Rommel comes close to hagiographic. The halo of the Desert Fox gets a good polishing here.
Tsouras is not blind to the political consequences of a Nazi German victory in Normandy, but to say more would be to give away the ending. He has a good feel for the operational and tactical dimensions of WWII ground combat, showing the interplay of ground with battle, the nuts and bolts of crafting the right mix of armor and infantry when forming battle groups, and the bloody outcomes of offense when it meets defense.
Yes, there were many times when German tactical superiority won battles. But in two world wars, German tactical superiority proved to be no match for Allied strategic war planning. To show this reality in a book would be to take the reader into the minutes of many boring meetings between national leaders and service chiefs, poring over reports, maps and analyses. It becomes a war of arguing over the best laid plans of mousy men. It's just not as exciting as the decisive attacks led by "muddy boots" generals who make those arrows happen on the ground, not on the maps, seeking maximum gain for maximum risk. That is the approach Tsouras prefers, but it misleads the reader into seeing the battles at the expense of the war.
This book was still fun to read. Tsouras did a good job of crafting his story. But there are more serious books that illuminate the path not taken or the accident of history unmade. Don't end your reading at this title.
March 30, 2019
I’ve read this book a couple of times.
But, now that I’ve read some excellent new histories of Omaha Beach and D-Day in general I have a better appreciation of this alternate scenario.
It was scarily possible.
The Allies could still have been beaten. It would have taken more than a few things to go the Germans way but it was possible.
Thank God for brave Allied soldiers and a dysfunctional command system for the Germans. Things could have turned out far differently.
But, now that I’ve read some excellent new histories of Omaha Beach and D-Day in general I have a better appreciation of this alternate scenario.
It was scarily possible.
The Allies could still have been beaten. It would have taken more than a few things to go the Germans way but it was possible.
Thank God for brave Allied soldiers and a dysfunctional command system for the Germans. Things could have turned out far differently.
October 10, 2017
A very detailed fictional account of how a major battle could alternatively have developed. Apparently written for military historians, to show how Overlord could have gone badly wrong, but unfortunately too detailed to maintain my (and I would guess most other readers') interest.
December 8, 2023
O habitual nos livros de história alternativa é focarem-se nas peripécias de alguns indivíduos, tendo como pano de fundo mundos especulativos que imaginam o que teria acontecido se a História tivesse seguindo um diferente percurso. Mas Peter Tsouras é historiador, não romancista. Não perde tempo a imaginar personagens e as suas personalidades moldadas pela vida, aventuras e desventuras. Mergulha na sua história alternativa como se fosse uma análise real de factos históricos. Não há persongens neste livro, apesar do foco em Rommel e Montgomery, mas sim descrições frias de movimentações militares e batalhas. Exatamente o que se espera de livros sobre a história da guerra, mas aqui, a implacável partida de xadrez sangrenta é especulativa, com um enorme e se... que se foca num dos acontecimentos mais icónicos do século XX, o desembarque aliado na Normandia.
Tsouras vai direto ao assunto, num livro que nos mostra como o Dia D poderia ter corrido mesmo muito mal, e ficado para a história como um desastre. Com rigor histórico, Tsouras parte de algumas premissas que incialmente se desviam um pouco dos factos reais. E se, pergunta-se, Rommel não estivesse afastado do seu quartel-general, sendo assim capaz de reagir com a sua enorme capacidade tática logo nos primeiros momentos do desembarque aliado? E se os alemães dispusessem de tropas melhor treinadas nos sectores da Normandia, especialmente unidades experientes vindas da violência da frente leste? E se, nas primeiras horas do desembarque, Hitler e o alto comando militar alemão se tivessem apercebido de que este era realmente a esperada invasão Aliada, e não uma manobra de diversão para distrair do esperado alvo de Calais, e, com isso, accionasse de imediato várias divisões que chegariam à Normandia a tempo de reforçar os defensores? E se o clima tivesse sido mais agreste, impedido os aliados de libertar a sua superioridade aérea sobre as linhas alemãs, ou os cruciais portos flutantes se tivessem afundado no mau tempo? E se algumas das decisões do alto comando aliado tivessem sido erradas, desperdiçando tropas? E se, ainda se pergunta Tsouras, os nazis dispussem de mais mísseis V1, e em vez de os gastar em ataques a cidades inglesas, também os usassem para atacar alvos estratégicos?
Tsouras parte destas premissas para iniciar um relato que começa na história que todos conhecemos, mas depressa começa a divergir. Na sua especulação, mostra como se o desembarque americana na praia Omaha tivesse sido um desastre, isso impediria o reforço de homens e material que, combinado com contra-ataques das melhores unidades da Wermacht e Waffen-SS, transformaria a Normandia num longo pesadelo, em que os poucos sucessos dos Aliados depressa se tornam em pesadas derrotas.
Curiosamente, Tsouras não termina o livro com uma previsível derrota total aliada. É aqui que a sua especulação atinge o rubro, com os conspiradores que tentaram o atentado falhado contra Hitler a ser bem sucedidos, aproveitando uma visita do ditador para conhecer a sua nova vitória contra os Aliados, enquanto Rommel, farto da carnificina e desperdício da guerra e da ditadura, se aproxima de Eisenhower e Montgomery para negociar um armistício.
Aviso-vos que este livro não é uma leitura divertida, a menos que pertençam ao grupo daqueles que apreciem relatos históricos. Não é um romance, é uma intrigante inversão com um livro de análise histórica que nos conta uma história diferente, especulativa. E que nos recorda que, se do nosso ponto de vista no presente, a História parece mover-se numa sequência lógica, essa sequência é apenas a leitura do que se passou, esquecendo que se em qualquer momento, quer nos chave, quer nos restantes, tivesse havido diferentes condições, a História seria outra. Que o nosso passado é uma sucessão de acasos fixados pelo tempo, que nos conduziram aos dias de hoje.
Tsouras vai direto ao assunto, num livro que nos mostra como o Dia D poderia ter corrido mesmo muito mal, e ficado para a história como um desastre. Com rigor histórico, Tsouras parte de algumas premissas que incialmente se desviam um pouco dos factos reais. E se, pergunta-se, Rommel não estivesse afastado do seu quartel-general, sendo assim capaz de reagir com a sua enorme capacidade tática logo nos primeiros momentos do desembarque aliado? E se os alemães dispusessem de tropas melhor treinadas nos sectores da Normandia, especialmente unidades experientes vindas da violência da frente leste? E se, nas primeiras horas do desembarque, Hitler e o alto comando militar alemão se tivessem apercebido de que este era realmente a esperada invasão Aliada, e não uma manobra de diversão para distrair do esperado alvo de Calais, e, com isso, accionasse de imediato várias divisões que chegariam à Normandia a tempo de reforçar os defensores? E se o clima tivesse sido mais agreste, impedido os aliados de libertar a sua superioridade aérea sobre as linhas alemãs, ou os cruciais portos flutantes se tivessem afundado no mau tempo? E se algumas das decisões do alto comando aliado tivessem sido erradas, desperdiçando tropas? E se, ainda se pergunta Tsouras, os nazis dispussem de mais mísseis V1, e em vez de os gastar em ataques a cidades inglesas, também os usassem para atacar alvos estratégicos?
Tsouras parte destas premissas para iniciar um relato que começa na história que todos conhecemos, mas depressa começa a divergir. Na sua especulação, mostra como se o desembarque americana na praia Omaha tivesse sido um desastre, isso impediria o reforço de homens e material que, combinado com contra-ataques das melhores unidades da Wermacht e Waffen-SS, transformaria a Normandia num longo pesadelo, em que os poucos sucessos dos Aliados depressa se tornam em pesadas derrotas.
Curiosamente, Tsouras não termina o livro com uma previsível derrota total aliada. É aqui que a sua especulação atinge o rubro, com os conspiradores que tentaram o atentado falhado contra Hitler a ser bem sucedidos, aproveitando uma visita do ditador para conhecer a sua nova vitória contra os Aliados, enquanto Rommel, farto da carnificina e desperdício da guerra e da ditadura, se aproxima de Eisenhower e Montgomery para negociar um armistício.
Aviso-vos que este livro não é uma leitura divertida, a menos que pertençam ao grupo daqueles que apreciem relatos históricos. Não é um romance, é uma intrigante inversão com um livro de análise histórica que nos conta uma história diferente, especulativa. E que nos recorda que, se do nosso ponto de vista no presente, a História parece mover-se numa sequência lógica, essa sequência é apenas a leitura do que se passou, esquecendo que se em qualquer momento, quer nos chave, quer nos restantes, tivesse havido diferentes condições, a História seria outra. Que o nosso passado é uma sucessão de acasos fixados pelo tempo, que nos conduziram aos dias de hoje.
March 25, 2018
Al igual que pasaba con "Disaster at Stalingrad", "Disaster at D-Day" es un libro que narra la invasión de Normandía desde varias hipótesis: ¿qué hubiera pasado si Rommel no hubiera sido herido en un ataque aéreo? ¿qué hubiera pasado si se hubiese activado el Caso Tres en lugar de enviar refuerzos alemanes al frente de manera gradual?
Estas y otras hipótesis cuentan una interesante historia, que ayuda a entender y apreciar mejor el sacrificio de las tropas aliadas y la férrea oposición de los soldados alemanes: a pesar de llevar casi cinco años de conflicto, a pesar de haberse desangrado en el frente oriental y a pesar de carecer por completo de apoyo aéreo, derrotar a las divisiones alemanas no fue nada fácil y supuso numerosas bajas.
Quizá los más difícil en el libro es llevar la cuenta de los numerosos nombres de líderes, pueblos, divisiones y regimientos que se citan, pero Tsouras escribe buenas introducciones y acompaña el libro de numerosos mapas de situación.
Imprescindible para cualquier aficionado a la historia militar.
Estas y otras hipótesis cuentan una interesante historia, que ayuda a entender y apreciar mejor el sacrificio de las tropas aliadas y la férrea oposición de los soldados alemanes: a pesar de llevar casi cinco años de conflicto, a pesar de haberse desangrado en el frente oriental y a pesar de carecer por completo de apoyo aéreo, derrotar a las divisiones alemanas no fue nada fácil y supuso numerosas bajas.
Quizá los más difícil en el libro es llevar la cuenta de los numerosos nombres de líderes, pueblos, divisiones y regimientos que se citan, pero Tsouras escribe buenas introducciones y acompaña el libro de numerosos mapas de situación.
Imprescindible para cualquier aficionado a la historia militar.
July 17, 2025
While the subject matter was a very promising alternate history of D-Day, the author very quickly dropped into overwhelming detail of each regiment's actions (and there were ALOT of units), and it became very hard to follow without continually flipping back to prior chapters to see what that unit had previously done.
The book also included (Spoiler Alert) the capture of Rommel, and his subsequent rescue by German forces. Really? You'd think the Americans would have whisked Rommel away to one of their ships off of the landing beaches right away rather than risking his liberation! This seemed to be a theme of the book: large swings in momentum where there was no rhyme or reason for them. I just got stuck in the muck of the detail.
The book also included (Spoiler Alert) the capture of Rommel, and his subsequent rescue by German forces. Really? You'd think the Americans would have whisked Rommel away to one of their ships off of the landing beaches right away rather than risking his liberation! This seemed to be a theme of the book: large swings in momentum where there was no rhyme or reason for them. I just got stuck in the muck of the detail.
May 8, 2019
An interesting chain of events.
An Excellent read, though I wish more of the post war world is elaborated upon. Also there's no mention of Operation Bagration, that's the only glaring hole. It's difficult to see Germany so jubilant while being expelled from Russia. Highly recommended to all history fans that enjoy reading alternate history.
An Excellent read, though I wish more of the post war world is elaborated upon. Also there's no mention of Operation Bagration, that's the only glaring hole. It's difficult to see Germany so jubilant while being expelled from Russia. Highly recommended to all history fans that enjoy reading alternate history.
November 4, 2024
The book provided excellent and believable alternative scenarios.
August 16, 2014
The premise of the book, laid out by Mr. Tsouras in the opening pages, is to highlight how history is not the inevitable march of events that people often perceive them to be. Instead he highlights a number of key events that might have changed the path of history completely. In doing so he writes a fairly compelling account of what might have taken place on the beaches of Normandy in the summer of 1944. There are some holes, as mentioned by a few other reviewers, in that the deception efforts of the Allies and other possible Allied operations that could relieve the pressure on Normandy are not mentioned at all. Tsouras seemingly handwaves away the Allied deception plan by using the excuse that Hitler was still in a residual high when Von Rundstedt demands the total release of all forces to crush the Normandy landings. In reality Hitler kept the armored forces well in reserve to smash the Allied landing he was convinced was going to fall on Calais. This is probably the weakest link in the story, but overall it is well written and thoroughly enjoyable.
August 27, 2018
This alternate history of the Allied D-Day landings is based very firmly on fact and is a brilliant study of how a campaign could lead to unexpected results. It is June 1944. The Allied armies are poised for the full-scale invasion of Fortress Europe. Across the Channel, the vaunted Wehrmacht lies waiting for the first signs of the invasion, ready for the final battle. What happens next is well known to any student of modern history - but the outcome could have been very different, as Peter Tsouras shows in this devastating account of a D-Day in which plans, missions and landings go horribly wrong. Peter Tsouras introduces minor adjustments at the opening of the campaign - the repositioning of a unit, bad weather and misjudged orders - and examines their effect as they gather momentum and impact upon all subsequent events. Without deviating from the genuine possibilities of the situation, he presents a scenario that keeps the reader guessing and changes the course of history.
February 22, 2013
Interesting what a few tweaks can do to history. The element of chance expanded and a different outcome. Good read.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews