The Black Bull: From Normandy to the Baltic with the 11th Armoured Division

by Patrick Delaforce

Military historians agree that amongst the best armoured divisions in north-west Europe during World War II was the British 11th Armoured Division. This work tells the story of the Division in the words of over 100 soldiers who fought with it. It includes eye-witness accounts, from the Normandy Landings to the capture of Amiens, the taking of Antwerp, "Operation Market Garden", action at Ardennes, the final slog into Germany and the horrific discoveries at Belsen Concentration Camp. The book shows what it was really like to be in combat during that extraordinary campaign to liberate Europe 50 years ago. It reveals the thoughts, feelings and experiences of these veterans, who were at the time in their teens and twenties. The Division suffered 10,000 casualties, with almost 2000 lost in action. This is a story of courage and comradeship of ordinary men plunged into an extraordinary situation.

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

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Suanne Laqueur]

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

We'll just pretend this never happened.

[Reginald Neil Squire]

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

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

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

[Simon]

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

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

[Joseph Simpson]

I’m genuinely surprised I enjoyed this, the movements of soldiers certainly are easy to glaze over, and there is a lot of it filling the pages, hence why this book isn’t getting a completely glowing review, but many of the quotes and actions taken by the soldiers would give you a smile, particularly their interactions with the locals, and their obsession with mint-condition Mercedes

[Ian Willey]

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

[Fred Cooper]

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

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