A Traveller's Guide to D-Day and the Battle for Normandy

by Carl Shilleto, Mike Tolhurst

Overview

A Traveller’s Guide to D-Day and the Battle for Normandy covers the period from June to August 1944 when the Allies stormed ashore, fought their way through the bocage country of Normandy, and eventually broke out through the Avranches gap.

This title gives comprehensive information about:
• Major battles and battlefields • Memorials, sites, cemeteries, and statues • How to get there; what to see • Contemporary eyewitness accounts • Then-and-now photographs and maps

The guide helps us understand what it was like to have endured the ordeal of combat. Through their own words, we learn the feelings of those young men and women of many nationalities who fought and died. What were their private thoughts and fears? Their personal memories? Contemporary eyewitness accounts are woven into the fabric of this book, which has immediacy and vividness that marks a new departure in guidebooks.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781566565554
Publisher:	Interlink Publishing Group Inc
Publication date:	07/30/2014
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Carl Shilleto works as a specialist battlefield guide for one of the largest coach tour firms in the UK covering areas such as Normandy, Arnhem, Nijmegen, Oosterbeck, Anzio, Salerno, and Monte Cassino. As a writer, he is a specialist on the Normandy Campaign. His other works include The Fighting Fifty-Second and Pegasus Bridge and the Merville Battery. He also writes frequently for newspapers. Mike Tolhurst is a specialist on the history of the US Army in Europe. His interest in the subject dates back fifty-five years to when his Royal Navy father piloted the craft that landed the US Rangers on Omaha Beach for their attack on the guns of Pointe du Hoc. At their first reunion after the war, the grateful Rangers officially adopted Michael Tolhurst as their mascot—a close association he has enjoyed ever since. Tolhurst is presently the archivist for the Rothschild Bank in London. He has written numerous magazine articles and is also the author of The Battle of the Bulge—First Blood.

Mike Tolhurst is a specialist on the history of the US Army in Europe. His interest in the subject dates back fifty-five years to when his Royal Navy father piloted the craft that landed the US Rangers on Omaha Beach for their attack on the guns of Pointe du Hoc. At their first reunion after the war, the grateful Rangers officially adopted Michael Tolhurst as their mascot—a close association he has enjoyed ever since. Tolhurst is presently the archivist for the Rothschild Bank in London. He has written numerous magazine articles and is also the author of The Battle of the Bulge—First Blood.

Editorial Reviews

Indispensable... The text is a fine, economical blend of military accuracy and vivid anecdote; the tourism-related material is complete without being overwhelming; the maps are easy to read... For anyone contemplating such a trip or looking for a readable general account of the battle—this is an excellent, well-executed resource.”

“Historically enlightening, touristically informative, educational, thorough, and enjoyable...These insightful new titles represent a good start to a unique travel series.”

“Then-and-now photos and a wealth of practical information make this an ideal compact guide to take along for the ride. But one unusual feature—the inclusion of dozens of eyewitness accounts—sets this apart from similar books. They serve as more than text-breakers. They are powerful reminders that here was no picnic.”

“Handy, pocket-sized battlefield guide... absolutely packed with information, but which also offers insights on what it felt like to fight in those momentous struggles....Guide books normally ignore the blood and guts, but these have all the impact of the film hit, Saving Private Ryan.”

“A comprehensive resource guide for anyone planning to travel to the Normandy area...detailed, easy-to-follow information on the battlefield locations... It is a must travel companion... brings history alive.

From the Publisher

Indispensable… The text is a fine, economical blend of military accuracy and vivid anecdote; the tourism-related material is complete without being overwhelming; the maps are easy to read… For anyone contemplating such a trip or looking for a readable general account of the battle—this is an excellent, well-executed resource.”

Foreword Magazine

Handy, pocket-sized battlefield guide… absolutely packed with information, but which also offers insights on what it felt like to fight in those momentous struggles….Guide books normally ignore the blood and guts, but these have all the impact of the film hit, Saving Private Ryan.”

Northern Echo (England)

Then-and-now photos and a wealth of practical information make this an ideal compact guide to take along for the ride. But one unusual feature—the inclusion of dozens of eyewitness accounts—sets this apart from similar books. They serve as more than text-breakers. They are powerful reminders that here was no picnic.”

The Guardian

A comprehensive resource guide for anyone planning to travel to the Normandy area…detailed, easy-to-follow information on the battlefield locations… It is a must travel companion… brings history alive.”

Reader Review