Six Armies in Normandy: From D-Day to the Liberation of Paris; June 6 - Aug. 5, 1944; Revised Paperback – June 1, 1994

Few contemporary authors have had such an illustrious or successful career so late in life as had British scholar and historian John Keegan. Mr. Keegan, much like his American counterpart, Stephan Ambrose, has become a sort of one-man cottage industry pouring out literate tomes on a variety of historical subjects, dealing in the main with the subject of 20th century war and its warriors. In each case, Keegan brings a singular understanding of the nature of war itself as well as what it means for the soldier on the ground. Thus, while other authors tend to concentrate more exclusively on what national and military leaders do and how each of the associated counties strategize, Mr. Keegan tends to emphasize the meaning of these conflicts and circumstances as they apply to the man in the field, and this refreshing approach to be more realistic and more relevant to the experience of the common man makes him both entertaining and educational to read. This particular book, "Six Armies In Normandy", represents a superb effort to summarize the events surrounding the Allied invasion of France in June 1944 and its aftermath all the way to the liberation of Paris later that year.As such it presents a thrilling and wonderfully readable account of how one of the most momentous clashes of the century began and unfolded on the beaches, along the coastline, and then on into the bucolic fields, villages, and countryside of France itself. Like an afternoon's excursion into Hell itself, one quickly becomes embroiled in the vision of battle across the face of Normandy, watching as a cauldron of murder and mayhem pours itself onto the face of France, witnessing the Allies as they successfully beat back the counter-offenses by the German panzer divisions. Keegan focuses on specific engagements, brilliantly recreating the atmosphere of conflict and chaos such as the fabled 101st Airborne drop into several Normandy villages along the coastline, being furiously chewed up by German ground forces even as they attempt to land.Keegan's approach here is to show that the landing was just the beginning of the liberation of France, and as any serious student of the war along the Western Front can attest, the Germans were tenacious and dogged in their defense, and the road to Paris and the liberation of all of France was one both hard-fought and well sprinkled with the blood of both combatants and non-combatants alike. Far from being a beaten force that was to be run over by the Allied machine, the German Wehrmacht still had the discipline, the determination, and a ready reservoir of self-reliance and battle experience to use in fighting the invaders. The battle for France was anything but a cakewalk, and herein the author handlily demonstrates the extraordinary degree to which each of the six armies used everything possible that was at their disposal to fatefully influence the eventual result. This is a wonderful book, one that both entertains and edifies. It is also one that I have read several times, and I recommend it for anyone who wants to take a wonderful look at the nature of the battle of France from the foot soldier's perspective.

John Keegan's reputation needs no embellishment from me. He is a first-rate military historian of the highest order. Six Armies in Normandy simply pads his resume.Keegan takes a somewhat different slant on telling the story of Normandy. He takes the battle beyond the D-Day invasion right through the breakout and the Liberation of Paris. He also does not deal with the events chronologically but rather from the differing viewpoints of the six nationalities represented in the fighting. For this reason, I would not recommend that this be the first book a reader grabs when desiring to learn of the invasion of Normandy or D-Day (Operation Overlord). Most other books (like those of Ambrose and D' Este) present the events in a more sequential fashion and thus more understandable to the novice.Six Armies in Normandy would serve to embellish that basic understanding with perspectives and viewpoints, which make understanding the battles much more complete. Consider this book an "advanced course" in the liberation of France.The book has adequate maps and photos, contains a complete order of battle, cites from a robust bibliography and is fully indexed.John E. NevolaAuthor of The Last Jump - A Novel of World War II

Keegan is one of my favorite authors and his work normally amazes and astounds me and certainly portions of this book live up to that praise. Keegan details the build up and eventual landing that would be known as D-Day. Casualties and information is heavily stacked toward the British and Canadian beaches. Utah beach is covered in some detail as is the Airborne landing (especially the 101st). Omaha beach is given about a paragraph. I assume Keegan is trying to avoid duplication of the numerous other sources about bloody Omaha, but his apparent lack of interest deserves an explanation, which is not provided in the text.The details regarding the Polish 2nd Armored division are excellent and this is the first detailed account I've read regarding their valiant stands. The Canadian contribution is also detailed very well. The German officer corps is treated with respect as able opponents. Crimes committed by the 12th SS against the Canadians are highlighted. The French are treated pretty harshly and in my opinion fairly. LeClerc's run to Paris was a tactical error that was heavily influenced by politics not strategy that SHAEF intended to simply encircle. The French enjoyed a relatively unharmed capital due to their quick surrender and Hitler's decision to defend Normandy (and the subsequent collapse of the Western front).My big problem with this book (and the reason for 4 stars instead of 5) is Keegan's handling of Montgomery. Keegan clearly thinks highly of Montgomery and his tactics. This clearly disagrees with everything else I've read or studied. "Monty's" victory over the Afrika Corp which won him fame was predominately due to supply limitations on Rommel's part and failure of the Wehrmacht's encription. XXX Corps advance on a single tank front on an exposed roadway during Operation Market-Garden is another clear example of his poor understanding of the combat particular to WWII in my opinion. Montgomery is also given credit for pinning down the Panzer divisions near Caen in Normandy so the Americans could advance. IF anything, this was due to the Wehrmacht's underestimation of the American army and not an accomplishment of Montgomery's.All in all, a great book, but not one of Keegan's best.

This covers what The Longest Day did not. That excellent book is a good primer, but the author only wrote about the American and British at D-day. This gives a better view of the Germans, and finally gives the other overlooked nations that landed on Normandy a critical assessment.

Shows its age. I was looking for a bit more of the operational details, less of the 'color.' This book is mostly color.