Panzerwrecks

Defending Normandy Vol. 1B

German Infantry Divisions on the Cotentin - Part II

This title from Panzerwrecks continues an examination of the D-day and beyond battle for the Cotentin Peninsula with its critically needed port of Cherbourg, begun with  Vol. 1A of this set. The Contentin Peninsula was defended by six German divisions, two of which were covered in the first volume of this set, with the remaining four German infantry divisions being examined in this volume.

Panzerwrecks publications are universally well regarded for their quality content and excellent production values. At first glance this book appears to meet the usual high standards that Panzerwrecks is known for.

Vital Statistics

Format - hardcover, portrait format

Page Count -  264 heavyweight, glossy pages

Size - 8.5” x 10.5”

Photos - black and white period images

Tables / drawings / diagrams - unit tables of organization, a great many maps

All text and photograph captions are in English.

What's between the Covers?

Above - the volume’s table of contents, which show the logical, methodical approach the author took with this work.

Each of the four German infantry divisions covered by this book are examined in a similar manner, with the unit’s formation discussed, its organization and what it was equipped with examined in GREAT detail. Finally, the unit’s combat history is also discussed, once again in great detail.

While the text goes into extreme detail with facts, figures, people and places, it still remains very “readable”. There is simply a massive amount of information presented in the text.

This is NOT a pictorial, photo- heavy study of this campaign, or the units. The occasional photographs seen scattered throughout the book complement the text, but it is clearly the text content (and the copious map content) which dominates the bulk of this volume. 

As seen above, the period black and white photographs to be found in this book are of reasonably good quality as befits a Panzerwrecks title, with some being just a wee bit dark. As always though, the occasional imperfect period image of an interesting subject is much preferable to no image at all. 

Above - where this book truly shines is its quite generous use of maps. These maps are in color with geographical locations and features marked, with unit placements and operational area clearly shown. 

Unit movements and/or changes in deployment are clearly shown in maps of the same area, on different dates. Sort of like a snapshot view of where the units were deployed on different dates.

Above - the maps vary in scale, allowing for greater detail. These map above gives a very nice detail view of positions occupied by units of the German 243rd Infantry Division on the northern end of the Cotentin Peninsula on D-Day.

Above - there are plenty of informative tables of organization and equipment for units examined in this volume.

Above - a particularly interesting map showing the Allied air strikes in support of Operation Cobra, the breakout from the Normandy beachheads. The level of detail shown on the maps contained in this book is impressive to say the least. 

The city of Cherbourg and its port facilities were a key goal for Allied planners, due to the logistical concerns faced by the Allies. Hitler knew this, and designated Cherbourg a “Fortress” city, to be held to the last man. It wasn’t, not quite. The Germans did demolish port facilities to the point where it took over a month for the Allies to begin using the port. By war’s end, Chèrbourg was the busiest port in the entire world.

Again, this book is not a pictorial history per se, but it does contain quite a few period images, some full page as seem above.

Above - the book concludes with some very interesting and informative appendices, a glossary of German military symbols, a table of German army ranks, and a listing of terminology and abbreviations. All very useful!

Conclusions

The level of detail in this volume is incredible. However, it would be best utilized by a true student of the Normandy campaign focused on the German order of battle and events from the German perspective. This is not a casual overview-type look at the Normandy campaign by any means. This book is highly focused on what the title says it is.

The text work is very, very detailed while remaining clearly written, and able to be followed. The maps are a very definite plus, and there are a LOT of them. The photographs complement the text work very nicely. Again, this book cannot be mistaken for a photographic history.

The degree to which the divisions that are covered in this book are examined is quite amazing, and a real student of the Normandy campaign ( Cotentin Peninsula / Cherbourg areas in particular ) would benefit greatly from this volume. I do wonder if the entire Normandy campaign (including this level of detail for Allied forces and dispositions) is planned for future books?

Highly Recommended (for students of the Normandy Campaign)

Thanks to Panzerwrecks for the review copy

Reviewed by Chuck Aleshire, AMPS Chicagoland

AMPS 2nd Vice President, Midwest Region 

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