Thread: Omaha - Why in daylight ?

Hey chaps have you seen this book ?
Omaha Beach - A Flawed Victory, by Adrian R. Lewis.



Interesting question which you might not have ever considered - I know I hadn't - why the hell was this landing not conducted in darkness ?

Some are saying this analysis by Lewis will become a standard work on the subject. I am making painfully slow progress with it but it's fascinating. See here for the gist of it:
http://www.amazon.com/Omaha-Beach-Ad.../dp/080782609X

Originally Posted by Dave

Hey chaps have you seen this book ?
Omaha Beach - A Flawed Victory, by Adrian R. Lewis.



Interesting question which you might not have ever considered - I know I hadn't - why the hell was this landing not conducted in darkness ?

This probably doesn't in any way answer your question, Dave, but it maybe had something to do with the vastness of the operation. And the necessity of darkness for the prior Parachute & Glider landings, thus keeping the timings of the operation in order

Aye Kelly, the bigger picture and all that. But it's been said that if Omaha had failed - and it very nearly did - the Allies' footing in France would have been lost.

I liked this guy's review from the Amazon page:

Mr Lewis's extensive research is narrowly, and wisely, focused specifically on the planning for the Omaha Beach landing. His thesis is, there were two diametrically opposed amphibious operations philosophies. The first, espoused by British commanders, was a night attack with minimal gunfire support, thus maximizing surprise. The British with minimal resources, needed to exploit surprise. The US ideal was, maximum gunfire and air support with a large landing force to ensure a beachhead; American forces having more resources at their disposal. Finally, a excessive faith in what aerial attack could achieve almost spelled disaster on Omaha.
The Overlord landings in general, were a compromise of both these methods. A landing at first light, and with minimal naval gunfire support-to maximize surprise; but with mass and an aerial bombardment to overwhelm the defenses. As history demonstrated, this was almost a recipe for disaster. The "Soldier's General" (a newspaper attribution, he was never considered that by this troops) Bradley comes off badly here. Overall, a detailed study of how coalition planning can fail and a useful tonic to the "Greatest Generation" media. Highly Recommended.

Thanks for the heads up Dave, i have just started "Hell on the eastern front" but will be taking a much closer look at this book once this one is finished ..

Originally Posted by Jim

Thanks for the heads up Dave, i have just started "Hell on the eastern front" but will be taking a much closer look at this book once this one is finished ..

I know I harped on at you about it Jim, but what did you think about 'The Forgotten Soldier'?

Great book Kelly, especially when it got on to the parts where the Germans was on the retreat, it actually makes you feel sorry for them when it starts telling you about the illnesses that they caught and the inadiquate clothing that they had thru the winter months. Would have loved to have read what happened to the girlfriend at the end ..

Where's my copy Kelly ?

UPDATE: 'Just banged a bid in on a copy, but I won't be increasing it, the postage is a rip-off.

Just for you my friend

Originally Posted by Jim

Great book Kelly, especially when it got on to the parts where the Germans was on the retreat, it actually makes you feel sorry for them when it starts telling you about the illnesses that they caught and the inadiquate clothing that they had thru the winter months. Would have loved to have read what happened to the girlfriend at the end ..

Do you know, you've whetted my appetite for another read

I can report that dog-eared old paperback copies of this book are in demand.
I have been outbid twice now on eBay. Something tells me hardback copies will be a good investment. A now out-of-print paperback on U-862 that I put off buying new for £15 three years ago now changes hands for upwards of a ton fifty.

This may help.....

http://www.play.com/Search.aspx?sear...arch&pa=search