Battle Zone Normandy: Villers Bocage

I followed the battle while is was going on as I had friends in the infantry and tank units involved. One friend was killed in this area. You felt as though you were in the fierce fighting at Villers Bocage. Book has intimate detail In 1999 I took my Grandson to Normandy and we toured the area. Now I wish we had got the book before we went as we would of felt more involved as with the book in hand, had a more complete tour of the battlefield. I sincerely recommend this and the other books in the Battle Zone Series.

I recently used the 'Battle Zone Normandy: Villers-Bocage' book on a trip to Normandy and Villers-Bocage. The book provides an excellent (relatively brief) history of the battle as well as three very well done 'guided tours' of the battlefield (with directions and maps). Excellent maps and photos (both current and historic) are provided throughout. The tours in the book proved very useful, interesting, educational and accurate. The town and surrounding area have almost no markings about the battle so the book proved invaluable. The model of Villers-Bocage in the town hall, mentioned in the book, is well worth seeing but it is tucked away in a dark corner of the hall and if not for the book I would have never found it. The historical accounts in the book are well done and provide interesting details of the battle as one follows the tours. My wife even enjoyed reading them as we went. My only quibble with the book (as well as others in the series) is that one must flip back and forth throughout the book as one is taking a tour to refer to the various maps and photos. But this is but a minor annoyance. Also not mentioned in the book is an estimated time for each tour. Plan at least approximately two hours for each tour. The book is also focused on visitors from the UK and lacks similar tips for American visitors. Highly recommended.