Search results for ""author georges bernage""

June 6, 1944. In the gray light of dawn the landing craft carrying the assault wave of two US divisions as well as the Engineers and the Rangers, advanced toward the beach that was their assigned objective, code-named Omaha. Exhausted by the crossing and suffering from sea sicknesses, the assault units were convinced, however, that the German defenses had been crushed by the aerial and naval bombardment. In fact, sheltering in their coastal fortifications which they had been working to improve up until the very evening before, the Germany infantry waited until the Americans reached the shoreline before opening fire. 0630 hours. The landing craft of the first wave beached and lowered their ramps. That was the moment the enemy had been waiting for, and on the beach soon called Bloody Omaha, all hell broke loose. This volume brings to life that page of history. The first part introduces the forces on both sides, presents the American plan and explains in detail the German defensive positions. The second part details the landing of the successive waves followed by a blow-by-blow account of the GIs on the beach under a hail of fire in the middle of the anti-invasion obstacles. Overall, it explores through words and images all the violence and horror of the fighting on Omaha Beach.

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From the bridgehead sector Sainte Mere Eglise and Utah Beach, the Americans crossed the Merderet at speed, taking Picauville on June 10. The advance slowed with the checking of the 90th Infantry Division before the storming of Pont l'Abbé on the 12th and Saint-Sauveur le Vicomte on the 16th. Two days later, they cut through the Cotentin up to Barneville and headed back northward towards Cherbourg. The book breaks new ground with many period photographs in the series "Normandy 1944". French Language

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The German army occupied the town of Saint-Lô on 17 June 1940. Being a strategic crossroads, Saint-Lô was almost totally destroyed (95% according to common estimates) during the Battle of Normandy in World War II, earning the title of "The Capital of the Ruins" from Samuel Beckett; it was even questioned whether to rebuild it or to leave the ruins intact as a testimony to the bombing. A detailed and vivid photo history, packed with rare photographs, some in colour, this is an invaluable reference tool to any modeller, historian or enthusiast on one of the most devastating battles in history. French Language

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On the night of 8 August 1944, the First Canadian Army launched Operation Totalize, directing their advance towards Falaise, with the intention of breaking through the German defences south of Caen. In spite of large numbers, they were halted by the 12.SS- Panzer-Division "Hitierjugend", who managed to block the 600 armored vehicles. During one of the German counter-attacks, several Tiger tanks were destroyed, including that of panzer ace, Michael Wittmann, who was killed in the process. The offensive was relaunched a few days later under the name Operation Tractable, the intention this time being to capture the strategically important town of Falaise and close the 'Falaise Pocket', also known as the 'Corridor of Death'. This book provides the reader with a day-by-day account of this forgotten battle, while also acting as a field guide, including maps and both comtemporary and modern photographs.

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In June 1944, the Americans left the Sainte-M re-Eglise and Utah Beach bridgehead and crossed the Merderet river to the Chauss e de la Fiere, taking Picauville on 10 June. Their advance was slowed following the failure of the 90th Infantry Division, but they were able to take Pont-l'Abbe on 12 June and Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte 16 June. Two days later they cut the Cotentin peninsula at Barneville, before heading north towards Cherbourg. As well as authentic eyewitness testimony, the book also acts as a field guide, including maps and both comtemporary and modern photographs.

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This book provides a day-by-day account of the forty-two days of fighting from Omaha Beach to Saint-L. Follow Lt. Allsup from the beaches at Hill 108 (the 'bloody hill'), where he was injured, and Lt. Jones, who was among the first to enter Saint-L; a town destroyed by bombs, which was to become the graveyard of hundreds of Normans. On the opposing side, discover the fate of the fearsome 'green devil' paratroopers of General Schimpf and follow in the footsteps of paratroopers Erwin Schmieger and Rudi Frhbeisser, as they defend their armed camp, ensuring that every hedge will only be taken at the highest price. Objective Saint-L takes the reader along the little or un-known routes from the horrors of Omaha Beach to Trvires, La Cambe, Isigny, through the Aure valley to Hill 108, ('Purple Heart Hill') and Hills 192 and 122. As well as authentic eyewitness testimony, the book also acts as a field guide, including maps and both comtemprary and modern photographs.

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This book is the fruit of forty years of contact with military and civilian witnesses, now almost all gone, of research, analyses and descriptions of several thousands of photographs about the Landings and the Battle of Normandy. This book is the best synthesis, day by day, from 6 June to 30 August, with a clear narrative, an exceptional report illustrated with the best photographs (470), 22 armour and aircraft profiles and above all, 79 maps enabling the reader to follow this very complex battle more easily. The documentation, unique in the world, will allow you to discover one of the greatest pages of history, and to travel through Normandy, and find those moments when you go back in time thanks to the narratives and the photographs

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This book is the fruit of 40 years research and analysis of eye-witnesses accounts, both military and civilian, thousands of photographs, researched and analysed, concerning the Invasion and Battle of Normandy. With over 470 photos, and 73 maps, this publication provides a day by day account of these events from June 6th to August 30th 1944.

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The Battle of the Odon evokes the clash between the British Army and the II SS-Panzer Korps, as they attacked across the Odon Valley during Operation "Epsom" in June 1944. Using contemporary photographs and documents, this book provides day-by-day details of the operation that what just one part of what is commonly referred to as the 'Battle of Normandy'.

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A spectacular, large format, full colour book, packed with over 200 photographs, maps and charts. The book is divided into the sectors associated with the Normandy landings in 1944.

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June 7, 1944. The Allies have landed in Normandy, where they have set a bridgehead : yet this one is narrow and fragile. The Canadians sprint on to Carpiquet, but their attack is crushed by panzers of the Hitlerjugend Division that have just rejoined the frontline. Canadians and Germans are going to fight each other violently, and the tension is at its highest – some Canadian soldiers are murdered in Buron, and at the Ardenne Abbey. June 8, 1944. The Winnipegs are crushed by a German counter-attack in Putot. Some German soldiers are executed on Hill 102, and some Canadian soldiers are executed in Audrieu and Le Mesnil-Patry. Who are the people responsible for those actions ? For the first time, the mystery is partially unveiled. Then, the crazy night attack on Bretteville-l’Orgueilleuse – some panzers will burn and light this terrible night. June 9, 1944. The “Ribbentrop Company” attacks Norrey : seven Panther tanks are destroyed. The Hitlerjugend’s counter-attack is stopped. In Norrey, this is “the accident” : shrapnel wipe out a lot of civilians. The acme of horror has been reached. Thanks to a large number of testimonies, given by the combatants and the Norman civilians – who also suffered a lot during the battle –, this book offers a degree of precision never reached regarding the Battle of Normandy. The wartime and current pictures, the portraits of soldiers and civilians, the maps and the plans make this book a real movie of these “three days in hell” between Bayeux and Caen, while the frontline was still not stabilized, while the soldiers were trying to go from one enemy strongpoint to another, and while the civilians did not know where the danger was…

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