Invasion: They're Coming

"Invasion- They're Coming!" is a look at D-Day and the battle for Normandy from the German perspective. How did those manning the Atlantic Wall feel looking out upon a fleet the size the world has never seen before or since? Wave upon wave of bombers pounded them and then the unnerving of the naval shelling. Their remembrances, conversations and fear put you there amongst the din and dust with them. Enough lived through it to make the outcome doubtful. When was Marcks convinced that this was no diversion but the real invasion? And why did his words fall on deaf ears. Where was Rommel and von Rundstedt and why? There were three German tank divisions within striking distance of the coast and yet they remained in place. One Reg. sat with engines running, within 30 kilometers of the coast. Why did they not receive the orders to advance until it was too late? There was more than Hitler's madness at play, much more. Carell's work belongs on the shelf of anyone with more than a passing interest in Normandy and the breakout. Paul Carell has done a great job of taking the reader into the invasion day bunkers, where terrified grenadiers man their machineguns to the last bullet to Hitler's insulated headquarters where decisions are made that ultimately doom any chance for a successful defense. Carell shows the incredible effect allied airpower has on the battle at all times. Most devastating, was probably the allied counter-espionage campaign, that had Hitler's HQ convinced that Normandy was merely a feint, the real invasion coming at Pas de Calais.

Paul Carell's book "Invasion! They're Coming!", as the subtitle ('The German Account of the D-Day Landings and the 80 Days' Battle for France') suggests, presents the story of the Allied invasion from the German viewpoint rather than the one so oft presented - that of the Victors - whether presented from the American or British perspective. This English translation (by David Johnston) of the original German text provides the English-speaking world with a unique look into how it felt to be on the receiving end of the largest amphibious invasion ever staged. In June of 1994 the mighty Wehrmacht was no longer so mighty, with much of the "Atlantic Wall" of "Fortress Europa" being manned by old men, young boys and conscripts from occupied Europe. This is not to say that Hitler's defense, a la F.M. Erwin Rommel, was not impressive and daunting - in fact it was both. While the "Atlantic Wall" was far from impregnable as Nazi propaganda proported, Rommel's command had, with never quite enough resources or personnel, created a formidable barrier to the Allied invasion. Moreover, not all German troops were sub-par. There were veteran units with a cadre of experienced and battle hardened junior officers and NCOs to manage the less than ideal fighting troops. There were also veteran Waffen SS battle units in Normandy and West-Central France, both armored and not. Thus, while denuded relative to their hay-days of May 1940-July/August 1941, the German's soldiers were capable of mounting a defense that would seriously test the Allied invasion tide. Most would say that the invasion was a foregone conclusion, decided more by the material superiority of the Allied troops than their fighting ability, nothing in war is ever assured with General Chance being present. Carell's book vividly tells the story of the invasion, from perceptions of its possibility, the long-held belief that the Normandy invasion was merely a diversionary attack, to the Allied breakout and then obvious defeat of the Western German Army. Carell (and/or the translator) writes with a flair that keeps the readers attention and paints a picture that makes one feel as if they are looking out on the thousands of vessels disgorging troops onto Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword beaches that 6th of June, or feeling the effects of the persistent Allied 'jabo' (fighter-bomber) attacks of troops in transit to the MLR, or the what it felt like to take part in the headlong retreat to escape the Falaise pocket. Seeing these events from the Victors side cannot give a reader the same sensation since writers from the Allied camp can't honestly capture the firsthand experiences of the Germans. Having said all these things it is important to note that Carell is writing from the standpoint of the defeated, and in doing so inevitably presents the story in the brightest light possible form the German perspective. Thus, the reader should take certain accounts with a grain of salt - while the conclusio

This book gives credit to who it is due- the brave German soldiers, especailly the fanatical young boys from the Hitlerjugend Division, in attempting to, futilely, repel the invasion in 1944. A gold standard on the German view of the invasion.And deeply moving too.

A look at D-Day and the battle for Normandy from the German perspective. How did those manning the Atlantic Wall feel looking out upon a fleet the size the world has never seen before or since? Wave upon wave of bombers pounded them and then the unnerving of the naval shelling. Their remembrances, conversations and fear put you there amongst the din and dust with them. Enough lived through it to make the outcome doubtful. When was Marcks convinced that this was no diversion but the real invasion? And why did his words fall on deaf ears. Where was Rommel and von Rundstedt and why? There were three German tank divisions within striking distance of the coast and yet they remained in place. One Reg. sat with engines running, within 30 kilometers of the coast. Why did they not receive the orders to advance until it was too late? There was more than Hitler's madness at play, much more. As one reviewer previously noted, some of the maps were less than excellent but Carell's work belongs on the shelf of anyone with more than a passing interest in Normandy and the breakout.

Invasion, covers the German side of the Normandy invasion from D-Day to the eventual breakout. I found the book highly readable and very informative. Paul Carell has done a great job of taking the reader into the invasion day bunkers, where terrified grenadiers man their machineguns to the last bullet to Hitler's insulated headquarters where decisions are made that ultimately doom any chance for a successful defense. Carell shows the incredible effect allied airpower has on the battle at all times. Most devasting, was probably the allied counter-espionage campaign, that had Hitler's HQ convinced that Normandy was merely a feint, the real invasion coming at Pas de Calais. Numerous smaller combat actions show the incredible capabilities of the German Army, even at this stage of the war. I would agree with a previous review that the maps can be a bit confusing. Overall, for anyone really interested in knowing the full story of the Normandy campaign, I think this book is a "must have", definitely one of my all time favorites.