Retreat to the Reich: The German Defeat in France, 1944

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

The Allied landings in Normandy on June 6, 1944, marked the beginning of the German defeat in France. Mitcham recaptures the taste of the Wehrmacht in 1944 as the thin grey line in Normandy finally snapped, the 5th Panzer and 7th Armies collapsed, and the survivors fled the Allied steamroller in a mad dash back to the Reich. From the reactions of the soldiers in the field to military decisions at the highest levels, this is the story of the Western Front from a German perspective. While finally bringing the Allied juggernaut to a halt on the borders of the Reich itself, this brief success would only delay the inevitable. Fighting hedgerow to hedgerow in the pitted Normandy countryside would delay the Allied advance and make each small victory a costly one. Western forces would achieve their first strategic objective, the port of Cherbourg, but they would find it reduced to rubble, a result of the best-planned demolition in history. Hitler's "fortress" policy would finally have a positive effect on some German operations. Still, the Allies did benefit from the involvement of Field Marshal von Kluge in the ongoing anti-Hitler conspiracy. However, at a critical point the liberation of Paris would divert valuable Allied troops from the pursuit, allowing many German soldiers to escape to fight another day.

Reviews

"Mitcham places intelligence gathering in its proper perspective, debunking some myths as well....Perhaps the greatest merit of the work is the author's insight into the German Army and its officers. For example, the stories of Erwin Rommel and Gunther von Kluge are exciting to read and concisely told. Those wishing to learn more about the German effort from 6 June to mid September 1944 should read this fine work of military history. It is a solid contribution to the literature on World War Two. Mitcham also provides excellent maps and tables that give the reader a complete picture of the conflict and the strength of German fighting units. Also, the author relates stories of human drama of the conflict, such as that of Sergeant Helmuth Hoerner. Upon reading Mitcham's work, the reader will gain a full understanding of how the Germans were able to recoup at the West Wall following a strong Allied drive, accompanied by massive American and British bombing raids."-Gene Mueller Distinguished Professor of Liberal Arts Henderson State University
"Samuel Mitcham, a combat veteran, is a gifted writer and America's foremost expert on the German armed forces and their campaigns during World War II."-William B. Breuer author of War and American Women
.,."a fascinating reprise from the other side of the battle studies, especially in regards to the Falaise Gap. Given that this book is written from predominantly German sources, it will probably cause you to wonder about the picture you had formed previously of the fighting from D-Day through the balance of 1944...interesting in its coverage of the battle for France, as well as for its extensive footnoting of mini-biographies of almost every major participant on the German side...For someone interested in the Second World War period in Europe, I would strongly recommend a careful read of etreat to the Reich."-Canadian Military Journal
.,."a solid "operational history" from the German point of view....Mitcham gives us a decent, single-source account of the German side of the Battle of France....does a decent job of explaining how the German Army fell apart in the summer of '44."-ARMOR
...a fascinating reprise from the other side of the battle studies, especially in regards to the Falaise Gap. Given that this book is written from predominantly German sources, it will probably cause you to wonder about the picture you had formed previously of the fighting from D-Day through the balance of 1944...interesting in its coverage of the battle for France, as well as for its extensive footnoting of mini-biographies of almost every major participant on the German side...For someone interested in the Second World War period in Europe, I would strongly recommend a careful read of etreat to the Reich.-Canadian Military Journal
...a solid "operational history" from the German point of view....Mitcham gives us a decent, single-source account of the German side of the Battle of France....does a decent job of explaining how the German Army fell apart in the summer of '44.-ARMOR
[e]asy to read and would be useful for those just beginning the study of the campaign in France in1944.-Marine Corps Gazette
Mitcham picks up where others left off, offering a fresh perspective on one of the most important campaigns of World War II.-Star Banner
Retreat to the Reich provides those interested in World War II with a meticulously researched and highly detailed account of German forces fighting in western France in the summer of 1944 from the perspective of those who were fated to stand against the greatest armada in the history of warfare.-Parameters
Well-written, "Retreat to the Reich" is a welcome addition to historiography of World War II. One of the most valuable aspects of the book is the inclusion in the footnotes of short biographical studies of all of the German generals in the campaign.-Bowling Green Daily News
"easy to read and would be useful for those just beginning the study of the campaign in France in1944."-Marine Corps Gazette
..."a solid "operational history" from the German point of view....Mitcham gives us a decent, single-source account of the German side of the Battle of France....does a decent job of explaining how the German Army fell apart in the summer of '44."-ARMOR
"[e]asy to read and would be useful for those just beginning the study of the campaign in France in1944."-Marine Corps Gazette
"Mitcham picks up where others left off, offering a fresh perspective on one of the most important campaigns of World War II."-Star Banner
"Retreat to the Reich provides those interested in World War II with a meticulously researched and highly detailed account of German forces fighting in western France in the summer of 1944 from the perspective of those who were fated to stand against the greatest armada in the history of warfare."-Parameters
"Well-written, "Retreat to the Reich" is a welcome addition to historiography of World War II. One of the most valuable aspects of the book is the inclusion in the footnotes of short biographical studies of all of the German generals in the campaign."-Bowling Green Daily News
..."a fascinating reprise from the other side of the battle studies, especially in regards to the Falaise Gap. Given that this book is written from predominantly German sources, it will probably cause you to wonder about the picture you had formed previously of the fighting from D-Day through the balance of 1944...interesting in its coverage of the battle for France, as well as for its extensive footnoting of mini-biographies of almost every major participant on the German side...For someone interested in the Second World War period in Europe, I would strongly recommend a careful read of etreat to the Reich."-Canadian Military Journal

Author Bio

SAMUEL W. MITCHAM, JR. is an internationally recognized authority on Nazi Germany and the Second World War and is the author of more than 15 books on the subject, including this title's companion volume, Crumbling Empire (Praeger, 2001), Why Hitler (Praeger, 1997), as well as several dozen articles. A former army helicopter pilot and company commander, he is a graduate of the U.S. Army's Command and General Staff College. He has been a professor of geography and military history since 1984. He lives in rural Louisiana.