Combat histories focused on a few Days

[Cult Icon]

I favor histories that dig deep into the details and have the most depth of coverage. I find this approach to be the most valuable. However this preferential treatment seems limited to small number of subjects. The most popular appears to be Operation Citadel.

Some examples:

"Seven Days in January: With the 6th SS-Mountain Division in Operation NORDWIND" has a detailed, hourly & day to day history of elements of this unit, with a focus on the battle of Wingen-sur-moder. The focus is limited to 7 days, with a minority portion dedicated to a short unit history of the formation, and its relevance in understanding the skillset of mountain infantry coming from the Artic circle. (North Karelia)

"The First Day on the Eastern Front: Germany Invades the Soviet Union, June 22, 1941" by Luthor's title says it all. A unique approach.

There are also numerous books that cover June 6-June 15, 1944 (or even shorter) of the war crimes and/or combat actions of the 12SS HJ in Normandy.

Recommend, post books and other reference material of this type?

[Cult Icon]

"The 110th Holds in the Ardennes: The Blunting of Hitler's Last Gamble and the Invasion of the Reich". About the defense and subsequent defeat of this reinforced regiment Dec 16-18, 1944.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071K6VVCS/re ... TF8&btkr=1

[hucks216]

Operation Dragoon - Autopsy of a Battle: The Allied Liberation of the French Riviera by Jean-Loup Gassend.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Operation-Drag ... 340&sr=8-4

Kampfgruppe Walther and Panzerbrigade 107 by Jack Didden & Maarten Swarts

https://www.panzerwrecks.com/product/ka ... igade-107/

Autumn Gale by Jack Didden & Maarten Swarts

https://www.panzerwrecks.com/product/autumn-gale/

[DT-SC]

Didden and Swaarts books cover much longer time period, hardly a few days

[Cult Icon]

"Day of the Panzer: A Story of American Heroism and Sacrifice in Southern France" by Danby

...August 15, 1944

https://www.amazon.com/Day-Panzer-Ameri ... 574&sr=8-1

[Ken S.]

"Seven Roads to Hell: A Screaming Eagle at Bastogne" by Donald R. Burgett

[OpanaPointer]

Atkinson's trilogy goes into great detail. Somewhat tediously for me.

[per70]

Confronting Case Blue: Briansk Front's Attempt to Derail the German Drive to the Caucasus, July 1942

Is an interesting read that covers about a week-long battle from both sides.

[VanillaNuns]

Der Todeskampf der Reichshauptstadt

Highly recommended German language book from 1994 covering the Battle of Berlin from 20 April until 2 May.

Order of Battle
Interviews with combatants and civilians
Day by day chronicle of events
Good selection of rare b/w photographs

It's a good book for the serious reader on the final days of Berlin. Must be around 500 pages.

[Yoozername]

"Seven Roads to Hell: A Screaming Eagle at Bastogne" by Donald R. Burgett

I have a story regarding this book. I remember being unemployed in Reno and finding it in a library. I basically walked around cooking, drinking, etc. reading the book. I could not put it down.

Anyway, years later, on a forum, a woman asked about Noville, and her young uncle that fought there. She said he was in a tank and it was named jackson. She said her Uncle was actually very young and near her age before the war, and she was close to him like a brother. he died in that battle. She wanted to know anything and everything about it.

i knew she meant M36 TD, and told her if she wanted to, read Burgett's book. i said it was a horrific battle, etc, but she said it didn't matter.

Later she said thanks and it made her feel closer to know he was there.

[Yoozername]

"Day of the Panzer: A Story of American Heroism and Sacrifice in Southern France" by Danby

...August 15, 1944

https://www.amazon.com/Day-Panzer-Ameri ... 574&sr=8-1

Good book. I didn't finish with all the after chapters...loaned it out...never loan out books till you finish them.

[Yoozername]

No better place to die (will it be a movie???)

https://www.amazon.com/No-Better-Place- ... B0041OTA34

[Sheldrake]

John Ellis - One day in a Long War (Wed 25 October 1944) https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/book ... MQQAvD_BwE

[T. A. Gardner]

These are excellent for the Ardennes Offensive:

https://www.abebooks.com/Freineux-Lamor ... c399aca346
https://www.amazon.com/Manhay-Ardennes- ... B000WAOXL0

They were both small run (he may have done others too, but those are the two I have) so they're hard to find today.

[OpanaPointer]

The US Army's historical site has focused histories on a variety of battles. https://history.army.mil/html/bookshelv ... llect.html