The Desert Fox in Normandy: Rommel's Defense of Fortress Europe

by Samuel W. Mitcham Jr.

Overview

Appointed by Hitler to defend Nazi-held France against an imminent Allied invasion, Field Marshall Erwin Rommel saw how poor German defenses were when he arrived in Normandy in 1943. Rommel's growing awareness of the Allies' battle plans and his organization of the defense forces come into sharp focus in The Desert Fox in Normandy by World War II expert Samuel Mitcham, Jr. Mitcham uses little-known primary sources to tell the story of D-Day from the German perspective. His analysis reveals that Rommel led a brilliant campaign, despite his absence when the Allies landed. His insight and ability resulted in a powerful resistance against the invasion.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780815411598
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	08/20/2001
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.04(w) x 8.94(h) x 0.58(d)
Lexile:	1330L (what's this?)

About the Author

Samuel W. Mitcham is the author of Triumphant Fox, Hitler's Commanders, and Hitler's Field Marshalls. He lives in Louisiana.

Table of Contents

Tables and Maps
Introduction
The Atlantic Wall
D-Day
Holding Fast
Cherbourg
The Crumbling Fortress
A Pitiless Destiny
Appendix I: Table of Equivalent Ranks
Appendix II: German Staff Abbreviations
Appendix III: Characteristics of Opposing Tanks
Appendix IV: Rommel's Schedule, March 23 to June 4, 1944
Bibliography
Index
Photo Essay

Editorial Reviews

Mitcham weaves a fascinating story of heroic striving by Rommel, and by his German troops, to overcome time and German senior mismanagement. This book would be a valuable addition to any collection of works on World War II, both for its masterful coverage of Axis military organizational, operational, and tactical activities, as well as for its excellent minibiographies of important German military and naval officers. They alone are sufficient reason to acquire this book.

Journal of Military History

"A suitable companion to Stephen E. Ambrose's Citizen Soldiers.... The book gives readers an appreciation of the tenacity of the German soldier.

Armor

A fascinating account, from the German point of view, of what went wrong in the Normandy campaign.

Associated Press

"A suitable companion to Stephen E. Ambrose's Citizen Soldiers.... The book gives readers an appreciation of the tenacity of the German soldier.--Armor

A fascinating account, from the German point of view, of what went wrong in the Normandy campaign.--Associated Press

An excellent account of Rommel's engineering and tactical accomplishments during the last few months of his life, from the end of 1943 to his involuntary suicide in 1944.--Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

A fascinating account, from the German point of view, of what went wrong in the Normandy campaign.

Associated Press Staff

Mitcham weaves a fascinating story of heroic striving by Rommel, and by his German troops, to overcome time and German senior mismanagement. This book would be a valuable addition to any collection of works on World War II, both for its masterful coverage of Axis military organizational, operational, and tactical activities, as well as for its excellent minibiographies of important German military and naval officers. They alone are sufficient reason to acquire this book.

Journal Of Military History