HistoryBookChat

NORMANDY By Friedrich Hayn  Major Friedrich Hayn was a German intelligence chief stationed in Normandy at the time of the D-Day landings and during the following weeks fighting through the June and July of 1944. This book was initially one of a German series written in the 1950's and has now been translated into English.  Being in his position, Hayn provides a useful insight to German thinking around D-Day. For example, they noticed a dramatic increase in Allied aircraft over Normandy in the days before Operation Overlord and it had become very dangerous to travel by road during daylight hours. Following the landings and amidst all the confusion, much of the German's intelligence actually came from questioning captured Allied POW's. I found this a most interesting read from the German point of view. The paperback edition is published by Casemate Publishers and is available now.  I thank Script Books, an imprint of Pen and Sword Books, for this review copy....

THE SHY ASSASSIN By  Air Marshall G.A. 'Black' Robertson  Black is a retired Air Marshall and RAF pilot, who is more recently the author of several  books. Here his latest reveals for the first time the story of one of 'the few', Cyril Babbage. After joining the RAFVR in 1938, we follow Cyril from his first posting to 602 Squadron in Scotland during the Phoney War, to their eventual move South to Westhampnett during the Battle of Britain and the start of the Blitz.  The narrative sweeps along at a great pace as we  are introduced to many of Cyril's fellow flyers and officers as we follow the squadron through the relentless pressure of facing the Luftwaffe's continual raids. During this period, Cyril Babbage would not only become an 'ace', but he would have to deal with the deaths of many friends, as well as being shot down himself. Without revealing every detail. A posting as an instructor would later follow before a return to a frontline squ...

CHAOS IN THE SAND  by Barrie S. Barnes. There are plenty of excellent books that focus on the three main battles of 1942 that were fought in the Egyptian desert at El Alamein. These books tend to concentrate on the coastal/Northern sector and rarely mention the bloody fighting in the Southern sector, albeit what was on a smaller scale. Over many decades, Barrie Barnes has interviewed and corresponded with many veterans of the second world war. Within the narrative of the battles, re aders will not only hear from Allied veterans, but also German and Italians too. This definitely helps in providing a more balanced view of the campaign and the desert conditions.  The majority of these accounts have never been published before and are so often a powerful reminder of the horrors of war. In some cases they have proved to have been the first time that the veteran's families have learnt about their loved one's own experiences.  Also included throughout the book are ma...

THE DUMMY DRONE BY Rob More. Away from the Battle of Britain in the skies over the English Channel and Southern counties, or the devastating blitz bombing of London and other major cities, surely  the far North of Scotland would hardly be effected by the second world war?  Well the opposite was true. In this fabulous new book, local author and resident, Rob More reveals how the county of Caithness was a scene of great change from the coastline and beaches to the farmland, hills and villages. Not forgetting all those who lived and worked there.  With the area hosting a range of wartime installations and airfields it received many visits from the Luftwaffe. As we learn in the book, civilians and their properties would also be caught up in these raids. From the radar stations searching for enemy aircraft, to those recruited for the local Home Guard and the lesser known Auxiliary Units. Communities the length of Britain prepared for an expected German invasion. Ro...

OPERATION GARDENING BY Frank Weber. The topic of mine laying at sea during the second world war, has received little attention in the  decades following 1945.  Thankfully in 2025 this is now the second book to be published this year helping to not only expand our knowledge further, but reveal the importance of the mine laying operations during the second world war.  Through extensive research Danish historian, Frank Weber, focuses on Bomber Command's strategy in Danish waters and the Baltic Sea, revealing how even today, the menace of these mines eighty years later are still proving to be a modern day problem for shipping.  The narrative begins with an interesting military history of the waters around Denmark and how the country had previously defended itself. Despite Denmark's neutrality in the first world war, almost 10,000 Danish, British and German mines had been laid. Before the 'gardening' missions of the second world war are explained, readers will...

Having read many books on the North African campaign this year, I'm delighted to see that popular author and historian, Saul David, has written a book on the Tunisian campaign of 1943. Published this September by William Collins, this will surely prove to be another fascinating read on a subject that has been rarely covered.