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The Army that got away. The 15. Armee in the summer of 1944
532 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 26, 2024
How was it possible that a German army was able to retreat from the Normandy front to the Scheldt area where it would next be an obstacle to put the harbor of Antwerp into operation?
Many people think that once the Allies broke out of the beachhead in Normandy and stormed across France, the German army simply crumbled and raced off. In some instances this was the case, but on the front of the British/Canadian/Polish troops this was not the case. Yes, the Germans retreated, and sometimes had to run to get away, but often they were able to put up a fight and delay the advance. Several towns along the coast were converted into fortresses that were able to keep up the fight, even after the Allied troops had isolated them. It were mainly the Canadians that had to do the job here. These same Canadians also had to push forward and keep on moving to head towards the Antwerp/Scheldt area.
This book tells the story of both the German 15. Armee and the Allied advance along the coast of France and Belgium towards The Netherlands. What becomes clear from its pages is that the Allies had a tough fight on their hands. It also shows how the Germans were able to keep ahead of the Allied advance and get away. It is hard to imagine how an army that had to use carts, horses, bicycles and good old shoes was able to outrun a highly mobile enemy that also benefitted from air power. It is even harder to imagine how it was possible for the Germans to move a large number of troops, vehicles and guns, etc. across a significant piece of water to Zeeland to fight another day.
The book concludes analyzing what went wrong, and right, for the Allies and how the use of air power could have been employed differently. It also shows how Operation Market-Garden played a part in the way the campaign in the coastal area played out.
Filled with numerous pictures, great maps, and a great and engaging narrative, this is a must read for everybody who is interested in military history and especially the European campaign in 1944 on this part of the western front.
Many people think that once the Allies broke out of the beachhead in Normandy and stormed across France, the German army simply crumbled and raced off. In some instances this was the case, but on the front of the British/Canadian/Polish troops this was not the case. Yes, the Germans retreated, and sometimes had to run to get away, but often they were able to put up a fight and delay the advance. Several towns along the coast were converted into fortresses that were able to keep up the fight, even after the Allied troops had isolated them. It were mainly the Canadians that had to do the job here. These same Canadians also had to push forward and keep on moving to head towards the Antwerp/Scheldt area.
This book tells the story of both the German 15. Armee and the Allied advance along the coast of France and Belgium towards The Netherlands. What becomes clear from its pages is that the Allies had a tough fight on their hands. It also shows how the Germans were able to keep ahead of the Allied advance and get away. It is hard to imagine how an army that had to use carts, horses, bicycles and good old shoes was able to outrun a highly mobile enemy that also benefitted from air power. It is even harder to imagine how it was possible for the Germans to move a large number of troops, vehicles and guns, etc. across a significant piece of water to Zeeland to fight another day.
The book concludes analyzing what went wrong, and right, for the Allies and how the use of air power could have been employed differently. It also shows how Operation Market-Garden played a part in the way the campaign in the coastal area played out.
Filled with numerous pictures, great maps, and a great and engaging narrative, this is a must read for everybody who is interested in military history and especially the European campaign in 1944 on this part of the western front.
December 31, 2023
This is an under reported part of the retreat from France by the 15th Armee. It is a big, expensive book but it is probably the best book I have read on this. You get excellent value. It covers the initial engagements of the 15th Armee in Normandy, moves to the retreat across northern France and finishes with the evacuation to Walcheren Island.
It primarily focuses on the German side but also includes significant coverage from the Allies side of this period. It has numerous detailed maps but the real gem is the inclusion of many photos taken across the period in the areas of the retreat. It is a rare page that is not supplemented by photos relating to the text.
If you can get your hands on a copy you will not regret it. Solid 5 stars!
It primarily focuses on the German side but also includes significant coverage from the Allies side of this period. It has numerous detailed maps but the real gem is the inclusion of many photos taken across the period in the areas of the retreat. It is a rare page that is not supplemented by photos relating to the text.
If you can get your hands on a copy you will not regret it. Solid 5 stars!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews