Normandiefront:D-Day to Saint Lo Through German Eyes

By; Vince Milano and Bruce Connor D-Day was a very important event in our history. I have read many books relating to it and I was old enough to understand as we lived thru it. I happened upon this book. To live it again from the perspective of the German troops intrigued me. This starts with the preparation of the Atlantic Wall fortifications. The tragic aspect from our perspective was how ineffectual the prior bombing and naval bombardment had on reducing the defenses. Over 15,000 planes bombed but not the fortifications and even the shell fire mostly went over them killing a lot of cows but doing little damage. Omaha was the worst. This book covers this beach. Over 3,000 men were slaughtered. As their landing craft approached they were destroyed one after the other by carefully sighted artillery and the machine guns. Our foothold was finally accomplished mainly as the Germans ran out of ammo. We follow the soldiers of the Pionier-Battalion 352 from the beginning to the loss of Saint Lo. Though outnumbered and out equipped they fought a stubborn holding fight which kept us from achieving early goals. They were dedicated and capable. As prisoners both sides for the most part were treated with dignity. There are a number of comparisons between the two which humanized the conflict for me. They were just doing their duty to defend their country knowing that it was a lost cause. It was well written worthy of reading.