Caen Controversy: The Battle For Sword Beach 1944 - Softcover

Stuart, Andrew

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1911096176 ISBN 13: 9781911096177

Publisher: Helion and Company, 2016

Synopsis

On 6 June 1944 British, American, Canadian and French troops landed in Normandy by air and sea. This was one of the key moments of the Second World War, a long-anticipated invasion which would, ultimately, lead to the defeat of Nazi Germany. By the day s end a lodgment had been effected and Operation OVERLORD was being hailed as a success. In reality the assault had produced mixed results and at certain points along the French coastline the position was still far from certain. The key Allied objectives had also not been captured during the first day of the fighting and this failure would have long-term consequences. Of the priority targets, the city of Caen was a vital logistical hub with its road and rail networks plus it would also act as a critical axis for launching the anticipated follow-on attacks against the German defenders. As a result an entire brigade of British troops was tasked with attempting its capture but their advance culminated a few miles short. This new book examines this significant element of the wider D-Day operation and provides a narrative account of the operations conducted by 3 British Infantry Division. It examines in some detail the planning, preparation and the landings that were made on the beaches of Sword sector. To do this it considers the previously published material and also draws upon archival sources many of which have been previously overlooked to identify key factors behind the failure to capture the city. Its publication coincides with the 70th anniversary of the Allied liberation of France. Contains 34 b/w photos, 16pp colour maps.

About this title

Review:

The book provides an extremely enjoyable and illuminating description of the events and activities of the 3 Br Inf Div which adds a significant degree of granularity to the events that occurred on Sword Beach and further inland on D-Day. By giving the reader insight into the various factors that influenced Brigadier Smiths thinking, Caen Controversy has opened up areas for further study and discussion. --Canadian Military History

Andrew Stewart is to be commended for shedding new light on a much studied controversy in military history and pointing the way for future discussions of the subject. --Michigan War Studies Review

From the Publisher:

Andrew Stewart is a Senior Lecturer within the Defence Studies Department, King's College London, the academic component of the United Kingdom's Joint Services Command and Staff College (JSCSC). Currently he is the Land Historian supporting the Higher Command and Staff Course and gives lectures and leads seminars on both conflict-related historical and contemporary issues. As a senior military history teacher he regularly leads European battlefield tours. In December 2001 he was awarded his postgraduate doctorate from the Department of War Studies, King's College London. This examined civil-military and coalition relations within the British Empire during the Second World War. A series of articles for leading academic journals have subsequently been produced and his first two books received favourable reviews. He remains a committed military historian and in addition to this volume he is also currently writing a book on British wartime planning to counter a possible German invasion which will be published in 2016 by Oxford University Press. He also acts as a 'Senior Conflict and Stabilisation Adviser' to the Stabilisation Unit, a specialist UK government body that works with fragile and post-conflict states. Married to Joanne, he lives in Oxford and enjoys watching cricket and beer tasting in his spare time.

About this edition

• Publisher: Helion and Company
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1911096176
• ISBN 13: 9781911096177
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 184