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Defending Fortress Europe: The War Diary of the German 7th Army, June-August 1944 Paperback – 1 Feb. 2004

by Mark Reardon (Author) Small print run & scarce, very expensive on certain sites

1st edition stiff wrappers As New 345pp., b/w plates, text ills., maps & plans, notes, bibliog., index, provides readers with the first English-language account of what the Germans were saying in their own words during the Normandy campaign.

Defending Fortress Europe provides readers with the first English-language account of what the Germans were saying in their own words during the Normandy campaign. US Army historian Mark Reardon departs from familiar convention by combining a mixture of modern scholarship with primary source material written over 65 years ago. The primary source material consists of the record of daily activities, covering the period from 6 June to 26 July 1944, compiled by a staff officer from the 7th Army's operations and planning section. This record, known as the Kriegstagebuch (Daily War Diary), served not only as a historical reference, but also as an aide-memoire for the commanding general and his staff. Material from Army Group B and OB-West opens each chapter, providing a context for the 7th Army operations & planning section.

The real deal" - how the Germans perceived the campaign in Normandy. An excellent translation of the original document's strategic, operational, and tactical sections, along with extensive and illuminating commentary by Mark Reardon, author of the widely-acclaimed Victory at Mortain. Both a primary source and historical insights make this a must for wargamers and history readers alike.