In June 1944, Operation "Overlord", the greatest amphibious invasion ever, initially overwhelmed the German Normandy defences. To attempt to stabilise the situation, Hitler deployed his elite Waffen-SS divisions to avert the crisis. This classic "Images of War" book describes how the formidable Leibstandarte, Das Reich, Hitlerjugend, Hohenstaufen and the Frundsberg SS divisions with supporting Wehrmacht divisions fought fanatically despite facing overwhelming enemy airpower and determined well-led Allied armies. Mounting losses and supply and fuel problems culminated in the Falaise Pocket defeat, when twenty-five out of the thirty-eight German division were completely destroyed. As a result, the remaining Waffen-SS units had to be reluctantly withdrawn and transferred back to Holland and Belgium to recoup, or sent to the Eastern Front to attempt to stem the relentless Soviet advance. With many rare and unpublished photographs with detailed captions, "Waffen-SS in Normandy" is a graphic account of the Waffen-SS operations in Normandy and their subsequent retreat through France.
Group
Books (first-hand)
Author
Baxter, Ian
Title
Images of War. Waffen-SS in Normandy, 1944. Rare Photographs from Wartime Archives
Details
English text, paperback, 250 bw-photos. 128 pages.
