The Black Bull: From Normandy to the Baltic with the 11th Armoured Division
The 11th Armoured Division, famous for its Black Bull insignia, was widely recognized as being among the best armored divisions in north-west Europe during the Second World War. This book tells the story of the Division in the words of the soldiers who fought with it: of its part in the three ferocious battles in Normandy Operations EPSOM, GOODWOOD and BLUECOAT, the great Swan to Amiens, the taking of Antwerp; right flanking for MARKET GARDEN, back-up in the Ardennes and the final slog into Germany across well-defended river barriers, to the liberation of Belsen, Lbeck and the Danish frontier. The Division suffered 10,000 casualties, with almost 2,000 lost in action, and so this is also a story of courage and the hardships of a winter campaign, of being wounded, comradeship and fighting fear.

Contributions are included from twelve of the regiments who proudly wore the sign of the Black Bull. Memories from troop commanders and riflemen, bombardiers and signalmen, tank crews, troop leaders and from the dashing GOC are brought together to reveal what life was like at the sharp end.

The Black Bull is liberally illustrated with contemporary photographs showing the Division in action. It will appeal not only to those who still have memories of the battles and to those who fought in the Second World War, but also to readers interested in the day-to-day actions and thoughts of soldiers in the front line for almost a year.
1000916090
The Black Bull: From Normandy to the Baltic with the 11th Armoured Division
The 11th Armoured Division, famous for its Black Bull insignia, was widely recognized as being among the best armored divisions in north-west Europe during the Second World War. This book tells the story of the Division in the words of the soldiers who fought with it: of its part in the three ferocious battles in Normandy Operations EPSOM, GOODWOOD and BLUECOAT, the great Swan to Amiens, the taking of Antwerp; right flanking for MARKET GARDEN, back-up in the Ardennes and the final slog into Germany across well-defended river barriers, to the liberation of Belsen, Lbeck and the Danish frontier. The Division suffered 10,000 casualties, with almost 2,000 lost in action, and so this is also a story of courage and the hardships of a winter campaign, of being wounded, comradeship and fighting fear.

Contributions are included from twelve of the regiments who proudly wore the sign of the Black Bull. Memories from troop commanders and riflemen, bombardiers and signalmen, tank crews, troop leaders and from the dashing GOC are brought together to reveal what life was like at the sharp end.

The Black Bull is liberally illustrated with contemporary photographs showing the Division in action. It will appeal not only to those who still have memories of the battles and to those who fought in the Second World War, but also to readers interested in the day-to-day actions and thoughts of soldiers in the front line for almost a year.
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The Black Bull: From Normandy to the Baltic with the 11th Armoured Division

The Black Bull: From Normandy to the Baltic with the 11th Armoured Division

by Patrick Delaforce
The Black Bull: From Normandy to the Baltic with the 11th Armoured Division

The Black Bull: From Normandy to the Baltic with the 11th Armoured Division

by Patrick Delaforce

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$24.95 
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Overview

The 11th Armoured Division, famous for its Black Bull insignia, was widely recognized as being among the best armored divisions in north-west Europe during the Second World War. This book tells the story of the Division in the words of the soldiers who fought with it: of its part in the three ferocious battles in Normandy Operations EPSOM, GOODWOOD and BLUECOAT, the great Swan to Amiens, the taking of Antwerp; right flanking for MARKET GARDEN, back-up in the Ardennes and the final slog into Germany across well-defended river barriers, to the liberation of Belsen, Lbeck and the Danish frontier. The Division suffered 10,000 casualties, with almost 2,000 lost in action, and so this is also a story of courage and the hardships of a winter campaign, of being wounded, comradeship and fighting fear.

Contributions are included from twelve of the regiments who proudly wore the sign of the Black Bull. Memories from troop commanders and riflemen, bombardiers and signalmen, tank crews, troop leaders and from the dashing GOC are brought together to reveal what life was like at the sharp end.

The Black Bull is liberally illustrated with contemporary photographs showing the Division in action. It will appeal not only to those who still have memories of the battles and to those who fought in the Second World War, but also to readers interested in the day-to-day actions and thoughts of soldiers in the front line for almost a year.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781526784285
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Publication date: 07/08/2020
Pages: 256
Product dimensions: 6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Patrick Delaforce served with 11th Armoured Division during the advance through NW Europe.

After a career in the wine trade he became a professional writer. Among his books in print with Pen and Sword are Churchill’s Desert Rats in North Africa, Burma, Sicily and Italy, Wellington Le Beau and Monty’s Marauders.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements iv

1 The Sharp End 1

2 In the Beginning 9

3 Weaponry 12

4 Forming Up 17

5 'War is Mostly about Waiting' 22

6 'Cry Havoc - and Let Slip the Dogs of War' 26

7 Operation Epsom 29

8 Interlude 44

9 Operation Goodwood 47

10 Another Interlude 69

11 Operation Bluecoat 72

12 Breakout 102

13 The Great Swan 114

14 The Taking of Antwerp 129

15 Prelude and Right Flank to Market Garden 142

16 Holland and the Peel Country 152

17 In the Bleak Midwinter: October 161

18 In the Bleak Midwinter: November 169

19 In the Bleak Midwinter: Leave 174

20 In the Bleak Midwinter: December 176

21 The Ardennes 181

22 In the Bleak Midwinter: January 187

23 In the Bleak Midwinter: February 190

24 Operation Blockbuster: the Hochwald Battle 195

25 Another Interlude: March 202

26 The Rhine Crossing and Advance 205

27 The Battle for Teutoburger Wald (Ibbenbüren Ridge) 211

28 The River Weser Crossing 218

29 From the Weser to the Aller 223

30 Towards the Elbe 230

31 Belsen 234

32 The Last Stretch 237

33 Round-Up 243

Contributors to The Black Bull 251

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