Normandy Visit

In a the next several weeks, I will be visiting Normandy for the 60th Anniversary of the D-Day invasion. I am interested in finding any US unit histories online so I might actually trace their progress day by day. The more detailed the information, the better, as I would like to 'stand where they stood', so to speak.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Richard Turner

Why not Easy Company, chronicled in the book and video Band of Brothers? You will never get closer to the men on the ground in June 1944.

all the best

I'm reading Harry Yeide's 'Steel Victory' Presidio Press 2003, that follows independant tank brigades unit histories and comments on them.

In his preface he mentions unit histories, some of which he says have been recently reprinted, these are: 'The 761st 'Black Panther' Tank Battalion in WWII' by Joe Wilson 'The View from the Turret' 743rd Bt. William Folkestad 'Strike Swiftly' 70th bt. Marvin Jensen and 'Tanks for the Memories' 712th bt. Aaron Elson

'Steel Victory' does go into some detail of what you are looking for as well.

As an aside, reading his first chapter which goes into the history of US armor formations and the development of the main battle tank the Sherman, it's astounding how closely his arguments mirror those that have been made here at various times. I would not be suprised at all to learn that Mr. Yeide has lurked here for ideas. He does offer some additional stats and ideas that would be worthwhile for anyone interested.

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I think you'd need a map of the period so you knew where hill 214 was etc. Although a good book I'm not so sure it has sufficient detail. Even with details on specific a action I would think working out exactly who went were so you can stand in their footsteps rather tricky.

Those after the battle books might be better if they do anything relevent.

There are definitely parallels. This book should definitely be read by anyone thinks the m4 was junk and 'they' should have rushed something else into production.

A while back I went through the dates for m26 production and couldn't see any reasonable way to get them into action significantly earlier. Like a mug, I posted the stuff on one of those silly web sites and it's since been junked. Anyhow, that sort of analysis struck me as an obvious omission I don't think anyone has posted here and isn't in the book. Maybe you're right on his source of inspiration in that regard.

Ambrose's Band of Brothers does give a very good account of day to day maovements for the men of Easy company. You could actually read it and watch the series in unison to get both the details and a solid feel for the look and feel of things. The series in running for 9 straight nights on the history channel beginning this sunday. Good timing leading up to the anniversary

Look up the US Army Center for Military History.

In its WWII online documents, there are some small unit actions, some of which are about Normandy. Of course, you can also follow some of the fighting from the history of Overlord itself, 'Cross Channel Attack', which is available online.

Try this one, there´s a good list of villages/towns/cities in it! : http://www.normandie44lamemoire.com/version%20anglaise/ index%20us.html