Greenhill, 2001 £ 19.95, ISBN 1-85367-460-5, 256 pgs., hardback

The sequel to Isby's Fighting the Invasion is ever bit as good as the original. Indeed, Isby's plunge into the archives could result in a plethora of fine Western Front books as told by the German officer corp.

Like Fighting the Invasion, the book consists of transcripts of interviews, reports, and other de-briefings of German Army officers. It covers the week after D-Day (from June 7 to 13, 1944), where the increasingly outgunned and outnumbered German Army attempted to hold back the Allies.

What makes this book great is the level of information--operational to tactical--presented in a dry, straightforward tone. From corp to battalion, the actions are retold by the Commanders in their own words and with their own thoughts as to why defense gave way or counterattacks failed.

Indeed, the low-level opinions are more fascinating than high-level ones. Despite his top billing on the cover, Guderian takes up 10 pages of general information that most of us already know. But generals down to captains get the chance to explain what happened to their division to kampfgruppe. It is, in a word, fascinating.

Take the Allied air supremacy. Here are wonderful examples of units under attack by medium bombers and fighter-bombers. Tiger battalion in the woods? Only half left after a tactical air strike. Regiment of 21st Pz Division? Again, half left operational from bombing--though damage was slight and ultimately repairable, the troops suffered and you can't repair the dead. Tank repair and divisional maintenance are discussed in bits and pieces throughout. Flak strategies, night marches, and Luftwaffe queries repeat themselves in many accounts.

You'll also get a glimmer of understanding naval gunfire support and how it affected more than just a coast. Also, the signaling traffic gets a say in the operation of German tactical doctrine and practice. It's all marvelous information.

I'm guessing that all the info exists on microfiche or perhaps even in book form at a large public or university library. And certainly you'll read a passage and want to know more. But give Isby credit here for selecting and editing some of the best info from the archives. And for those without a major library, this is a great place to start.

Feedback from Publisher:

On the review of FIGHTING IN NORMANDY you comment that I'm guessing that all the info exists on microfiche or even perhaps in book form in a large public or university library.

Not to our knowledge. The content of this book was obtained by researching in archives, and we printed in an edited form from the archive material itself.