Description
ABOUT THIS PRODUCT
In July 1944, Operation Cobra broke the stalemate in Normandy and sent the
Allies racing across France. The Allied commanders had ignored Paris in
their planning for this campaign, considering that the risk of intense
street fighting and heavy casualties outweighed the city's strategic
importance. However, Charles de Gaulle persuaded the Allied commanders to
take direct action to liberate his nation's capital. Steven J Zaloga first
describes the operations of Patton's Third Army as it advanced towards Paris
before focussing on the actions of the Resistance forces inside the city and
of the Free French armoured division that fought its way in and joined up
with them to liberate it on the 24th August. On the back of this
morale-boosting victory, De Gaulle could finally proclaim Paris to be
liberated, as one of the world's loveliest cities survived Hitler's strident
command that it should be held at all costs or razed to the ground.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Steven J. Zaloga was born in 1952, received his BA in history from Union
College, and his MA from Columbia University. He has published numerous
books and articles dealing with modern military technology, especially
armoured vehicle development. His main area of interest is the US Army of
World War II, as well as Russia and the former Soviet Union.Howard Gerrard
studied at the Wallasey School of Art and has been a freelance designer and
illustrator for over 20 years. He has worked for a number of publishers and
is an associate member of the Guild of Aviation Artists. He has won both the
Society of British Aerospace Companies Award and the Wilkinson Sword Trophy
and has illustrated a number of books for Osprey. Howard lives and works in
Kent.
CONTENTS
Introduction
Opposing commanders
Opposing plans
Opposing forces
The campaign
Aftermath
The battlefield today
Further reading
Index
