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Description
The Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, marked a critical turning point in the European theater of World War II. The massive landing on France’s coast had been meticulously planned for three years, and the Allies anticipated a quick and decisive defeat of the German forces. Many of the planners were surprised, however, by the length of time it ultimately took to defeat the Germans. While much has been written about D-day, very little has been written about the crucial period from August to September, immediately after the invasion. In Rückzug, Joachim Ludewig draws on military records from both sides to show that a quick defeat of the Germans was hindered by excessive caution and a lack of strategic boldness on the part of the Allies, as well as by the Germans’ tactical skill and energy. This intriguing study, translated from German, not only examines a significant and often overlooked phase of the war, but also offers a valuable account of the conflict from the perspective of the German forces.
Publication Date
2012
Publisher
The University Press of Kentucky
Place of Publication
Lexington, KY
ISBN
978-0-8131-4079-7
eISBN
978-0-8131-4080-3 (pdf version)
eISBN
978-0-8131-4081-0 (epub version)
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5810/kentucky/9780813140797.001.0001
Keywords
World War II, German Retreat, Normandy, D-Day, Western German front
Disciplines
European History | Military History
Recommended Citation
Ludewig, Joachim, "Rückzug: The German Retreat from France, 1944" (2012). European History. 37.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/upk_european_history/37
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