-
The Germans in Normandy
- Narrated by: Chris MacDonnell
- Length: 12 hrs and 49 mins
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $20.99
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Normandy '44
- D-Day and the Epic 77-Day Battle for France
- By: James Holland
- Narrated by: John Sackville
- Length: 24 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
D-Day, June 6, 1944, and the 76 days of bitter fighting in Normandy that followed the Allied landing, have become the defining episode of World War II in the west - the object of books, films, television series, and documentaries. Yet as familiar as it is, as James Holland makes clear in his definitive history, many parts of the OVERLORD campaign, as it was known, are still shrouded in myth and assumed knowledge.
-
-
Excellent account of Normandy but be weary...
- By S. H. Moore on 02-22-20
By: James Holland
-
D DAY Through German Eyes
- The Hidden Story of June 6th 1944
- By: Holger Eckhertz
- Narrated by: P. J. Ochlan
- Length: 6 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Almost all accounts of D-Day are told from the Allied perspective, with the emphasis on how German resistance was overcome on June 6, 1944. But what was it like to be a German soldier in the bunkers and gun emplacements of the Normandy coast, facing the onslaught of the mightiest seaborne invasion in history? What motivated the German defenders, what were their thought processes - and how did they fight from one strong point to another, among the dunes and fields, on that first cataclysmic day?
-
-
A work of fiction
- By John Lindsey on 05-22-16
By: Holger Eckhertz
-
War on the Eastern Front
- The German Soldier in Russia 1941-1945
- By: James Lucas, Robert Kershaw - foreword
- Narrated by: Chris MacDonnell
- Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dawn on Sunday, June 22, 1941 saw the opening onslaughts of Operation Barbarossa as German forces stormed forward into the Soviet Union. Few of them were to survive the five long years of bitter struggle. A posting to the Eastern Front during the Second World War was rightly regarded with dread by the German soldiers. They saw epic battles such as Stalingrad and Kursk, and yet it was a daily war of attrition which ultimately proved fatal for Hitler's ambition and the German military machine.
-
-
A Must Read for WW2 Buffs
- By Tactical Terry on 03-05-21
By: James Lucas, and others
-
Adventures in My Youth
- A German Soldier on the Eastern Front 1941-45
- By: Armin Scheiderbauer
- Narrated by: James A. Gillies
- Length: 11 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The author could be described as a veteran in every sense of the word, even though he was only age 21 when the war ended. Armin Scheiderbauer served as an infantry officer with the 252nd Infantry Division, German army, and saw four years of bitter combat on the Eastern Front, being wounded six times. This is an outstanding personal memoir, written with great thoughtfulness and honesty.
-
-
Heartfelt, vivid and sober story
- By Alek on 01-07-18
-
Panzer Commander
- The Memoirs of Colonel Hans von Luck
- By: Hans von Luck, Stephen E. Ambrose - introduction
- Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot
- Length: 15 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A stunning look at World War II from the other side.... From the turret of a German tank, Colonel Hans von Luck commanded Rommel's 7th and then 21st Panzer Division. El Alamein, Kasserine Pass, Poland, Belgium, Normandy on D-Day, the disastrous Russian front - von Luck fought there with some of the best soldiers in the world. German soldiers. Awarded the German Cross in Gold and the Knight's Cross, von Luck writes as an officer and a gentleman.
-
-
Reads like Forrest Gump ( a fiction )
- By Randall on 11-08-16
By: Hans von Luck, and others
-
Fur Volk and Fuhrer
- The Memoir of a Veteran of the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
- By: Erwin Bartmann, Derik Hammond
- Narrated by: James Foster
- Length: 8 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Like many Germans, Berlin schoolboy Erwin Bartmann fell under the spell of the Zeitgeist cultivated by the Nazis. Convinced he was growing up in the best country in the world, he dreamt of joining the Leibstandarte, Hitler's elite Waffen SS unit. Tall, blond, blue-eyed, and just 17-years-old, Erwin fulfilled his dream on Mayday 1941, when he gave up his apprenticeship at the Glaser bakery in Memeler Strasse and walked into the Lichterfelde barracks in Berlin as a raw, volunteer recruit.
-
-
High rating with a major proviso
- By marykk on 05-22-17
By: Erwin Bartmann, and others
-
Normandy '44
- D-Day and the Epic 77-Day Battle for France
- By: James Holland
- Narrated by: John Sackville
- Length: 24 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
D-Day, June 6, 1944, and the 76 days of bitter fighting in Normandy that followed the Allied landing, have become the defining episode of World War II in the west - the object of books, films, television series, and documentaries. Yet as familiar as it is, as James Holland makes clear in his definitive history, many parts of the OVERLORD campaign, as it was known, are still shrouded in myth and assumed knowledge.
-
-
Excellent account of Normandy but be weary...
- By S. H. Moore on 02-22-20
By: James Holland
-
D DAY Through German Eyes
- The Hidden Story of June 6th 1944
- By: Holger Eckhertz
- Narrated by: P. J. Ochlan
- Length: 6 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Almost all accounts of D-Day are told from the Allied perspective, with the emphasis on how German resistance was overcome on June 6, 1944. But what was it like to be a German soldier in the bunkers and gun emplacements of the Normandy coast, facing the onslaught of the mightiest seaborne invasion in history? What motivated the German defenders, what were their thought processes - and how did they fight from one strong point to another, among the dunes and fields, on that first cataclysmic day?
-
-
A work of fiction
- By John Lindsey on 05-22-16
By: Holger Eckhertz
-
War on the Eastern Front
- The German Soldier in Russia 1941-1945
- By: James Lucas, Robert Kershaw - foreword
- Narrated by: Chris MacDonnell
- Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dawn on Sunday, June 22, 1941 saw the opening onslaughts of Operation Barbarossa as German forces stormed forward into the Soviet Union. Few of them were to survive the five long years of bitter struggle. A posting to the Eastern Front during the Second World War was rightly regarded with dread by the German soldiers. They saw epic battles such as Stalingrad and Kursk, and yet it was a daily war of attrition which ultimately proved fatal for Hitler's ambition and the German military machine.
-
-
A Must Read for WW2 Buffs
- By Tactical Terry on 03-05-21
By: James Lucas, and others
-
Adventures in My Youth
- A German Soldier on the Eastern Front 1941-45
- By: Armin Scheiderbauer
- Narrated by: James A. Gillies
- Length: 11 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The author could be described as a veteran in every sense of the word, even though he was only age 21 when the war ended. Armin Scheiderbauer served as an infantry officer with the 252nd Infantry Division, German army, and saw four years of bitter combat on the Eastern Front, being wounded six times. This is an outstanding personal memoir, written with great thoughtfulness and honesty.
-
-
Heartfelt, vivid and sober story
- By Alek on 01-07-18
-
Panzer Commander
- The Memoirs of Colonel Hans von Luck
- By: Hans von Luck, Stephen E. Ambrose - introduction
- Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot
- Length: 15 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A stunning look at World War II from the other side.... From the turret of a German tank, Colonel Hans von Luck commanded Rommel's 7th and then 21st Panzer Division. El Alamein, Kasserine Pass, Poland, Belgium, Normandy on D-Day, the disastrous Russian front - von Luck fought there with some of the best soldiers in the world. German soldiers. Awarded the German Cross in Gold and the Knight's Cross, von Luck writes as an officer and a gentleman.
-
-
Reads like Forrest Gump ( a fiction )
- By Randall on 11-08-16
By: Hans von Luck, and others
-
Fur Volk and Fuhrer
- The Memoir of a Veteran of the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
- By: Erwin Bartmann, Derik Hammond
- Narrated by: James Foster
- Length: 8 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Like many Germans, Berlin schoolboy Erwin Bartmann fell under the spell of the Zeitgeist cultivated by the Nazis. Convinced he was growing up in the best country in the world, he dreamt of joining the Leibstandarte, Hitler's elite Waffen SS unit. Tall, blond, blue-eyed, and just 17-years-old, Erwin fulfilled his dream on Mayday 1941, when he gave up his apprenticeship at the Glaser bakery in Memeler Strasse and walked into the Lichterfelde barracks in Berlin as a raw, volunteer recruit.
-
-
High rating with a major proviso
- By marykk on 05-22-17
By: Erwin Bartmann, and others
-
Tigers in the Mud
- The Combat Career of German Panzer Commander Otto Carius
- By: Otto Carius
- Narrated by: Paul Woodson
- Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
World War II began with a metallic roar as the German Blitzkrieg raced across Europe, spearheaded by the most dreaded weapon of the 20th century: the Panzer. No German tank better represents that thundering power than the infamous Tiger, and Otto Carius was one of the most successful commanders to ever take a Tiger into battle, destroying well over 150 enemy tanks during his incredible career.
-
-
A troubled, yet worthwhile read...
- By Alek on 05-25-18
By: Otto Carius
-
Blood Red Snow
- The Memoirs of a German Soldier on the Eastern Front
- By: Günter K. Koschorrek
- Narrated by: Nigel Patterson
- Length: 9 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Gunter K. Koschorrek was a machine-gunner on the Russian front in WWII. He wrote his illicit diary on any scraps of paper he could lay his hands on. As keeping a diary was strictly forbidden, he sewed the pages into the lining of his thick winter coat and deposited them with his mother on infrequent trips home on leave. The diary went missing, and it was when he was reunited with his daughter in America some 40 years later that it came to light and became Blood Red Snow.
-
-
One of the best personal accounts coming out of WW2
- By Sonia Lopez on 12-09-19
-
Brothers in Arms
- One Legendary Tank Regiment’s Bloody War from D-Day to VE-Day
- By: James Holland
- Narrated by: Al Murray
- Length: 16 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the last cavalry units to ride horses into battle, the Sherwood Rangers were transformed into a “mechanized cavalry” of tanks in 1942. After winning acclaim in the North African campaign, they spearheaded one of the D-Day landings in Normandy and became the first British troops to cross into Germany. Their courage, skill, and tenacity contributed mightily to the surrender of Germany in 1945.
-
-
All the details
- By GY on 01-03-22
By: James Holland
-
Panzer Ace
- The Memoirs of an Iron Cross Panzer Commander from Barbarossa to Normandy
- By: Richard Freiherr von Rosen, Robert Forczyk
- Narrated by: Nigel Patterson
- Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Richard Freiherr von Rosen was a highly decorated Wehrmacht soldier and outstanding panzer commander. After serving as a gunlayer on a Pz.Mk.III during Barbarossa, he led a company of Tigers at Kursk. Later he led a company of King Tiger panzers at Normandy and in late 1944 commanded a battle group (12 King Tigers and a flak company) against the Russians in Hungary in the rank of junior, later senior lieutenant (from November 1944, his final rank). Only 489 of these King Tiger tanks were ever built.
-
-
Not what I expected
- By Gabriel on 01-04-19
By: Richard Freiherr von Rosen, and others
-
On a Knife’s Edge
- The Ukraine, November 1942-March 1943
- By: Prit Buttar
- Narrated by: Roger Clark
- Length: 22 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The battle of Stalingrad was the turning point of World War II. The German capture of the city, their encirclement by Soviet forces shortly afterwards, and the hard-fought but futile attempts to relieve them, saw bitter attritional fighting and extremes of human misery inflicted on both sides. In this title, a renowned expert on warfare on the Eastern Front reveals the often-overlooked German counteroffensive post-Stalingrad, and how it prevented the whole Axis front line from collapsing.
-
-
Best of its kind!
- By Max on 02-10-20
By: Prit Buttar
-
Desert Fox
- The Storied Military Career of Erwin Rommel
- By: Samuel W. Mitcham Jr.
- Narrated by: Nigel Patterson
- Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This is the strange and fascinating life of Erwin Rommel, from his days as a youth in Imperial Germany - when he had a child out of wedlock with an early girlfriend - through his lauded military exploits during World War I to his death by suicide during World War II, after he attempted a failed coup against Hitler. Rommel was a man of contradictions: a soldier who wrote a best-selling book about World War I, a commander who went from commanding Hitler's bodyguard to trying to kill him, and a serious military mind who was known for participating in practical jokes.
-
-
Amazing Detail, Amazing Story!
- By Al888 on 05-19-19
-
The First Wave
- The D-Day Warriors Who Led the Way to Victory in World War II
- By: Alex Kershaw
- Narrated by: Paul Michael
- Length: 8 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Beginning in the predawn darkness of June 6, 1944, The First Wave follows the remarkable men who carried out D-Day’s most perilous missions. The charismatic, unforgettable cast includes the first American paratrooper to touch down on Normandy soil; the glider pilot who braved antiaircraft fire to crash-land mere yards from the vital Pegasus Bridge; the brothers who led their troops onto Juno Beach under withering fire; as well as a French commando, returning to his native land, who fought to destroy German strongholds on Sword Beach and beyond.
-
-
Thoughtful and Sobering
- By Anonymous User on 10-07-19
By: Alex Kershaw
-
Until the Eyes Shut
- Memories of a Machine Gunner on the Eastern Front, 1943-45
- By: Andreas Hartinger
- Narrated by: Tim H. Dixon
- Length: 5 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The rulers’ mistakes are paid for with the blood of the people. This is shown in history both recent and ancient, time and time again. It was no different for an Austrian mountain farmer’s son who was thrown into the carnage of the Eastern Front. He was in the prime of his youth, and the German Reich was already close to losing the war. In ripe-old age, he remembers those dark hours that have haunted him throughout his life.
-
-
Short & Insightful
- By Salvatore on 05-07-21
-
Battleground Prussia
- The Assault on Germany’s Eastern Front 1944-45
- By: Prit Buttar
- Narrated by: Nigel Patterson
- Length: 23 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The terrible months between the arrival of the Red Army on German soil and the final collapse of Hitler's regime were like no other in the Second World War. The Soviet Army's intent to take revenge for the horror that the Nazis had wreaked on their people produced a conflict of implacable brutality in which millions perished. From the great battles that marked the Soviet conquest of East and West Prussia to the final surrender in the Vistula estuary, this book recounts in chilling detail the desperate struggle of soldiers and civilians alike.
-
-
WW II Battleground Ignored by Western Historians
- By AJC on 12-16-19
By: Prit Buttar
-
Retribution
- The Soviet Reconquest of Central Ukraine, 1943-44
- By: Prit Buttar
- Narrated by: Matthew Waterson
- Length: 17 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Making use of the extensive memoirs of German and Russian soldiers to bring their story to life, the narrative follows on from On A Knife's Edge, which described the encirclement and destruction of the German Sixth Army at Stalingrad and the offensives and counter-offensives that followed throughout the winter of 1942-43.
-
-
Solid, substantial military storytelling
- By Rodney W. Schmisseur on 12-21-19
By: Prit Buttar
-
Radio Operator on the Eastern Front
- An Illustrated Memoir, 1940-1949
- By: Erhard Steiniger, Anthony Tucker-Jones - foreword
- Narrated by: Julian Elfer
- Length: 5 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Erhard Steiniger joined his Wehrmacht unit on October 12, 1940, as a radio operator, a role which required his constant presence with troops at the Front, right in the midst of combat. On June 22, 1941, he accompanied his division to Lithuania where he experienced the catastrophic first day of Operation Barbarossa. He later witnessed intense clashes during the conquest of the Baltic islands and the battles leading up to Leningrad on the Volkhov and Lake Ladoga.
-
-
Breathtaking
- By Jamie Blyth on 08-21-21
By: Erhard Steiniger, and others
-
Sicily '43
- The First Assault on Fortress Europe
- By: James Holland
- Narrated by: Al Murray
- Length: 19 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On July 10, 1943, the largest amphibious invasion ever mounted took place, larger even than the Normandy invasion 11 months later: 160,000 American, British, and Canadian troops came ashore or were parachuted onto Sicily, signaling the start of the campaign to defeat Nazi Germany on European soil. Operation HUSKY, as it was known, was enormously complex, involving dramatic battles on land, in the air, and at sea. Yet, despite its paramount importance to ultimate Allied victory, and its drama, very little has been written about the 38-day Battle for Sicily.
-
-
Great writing, great narration, interesting topic
- By ItalCali on 08-02-21
By: James Holland
Publisher's summary
An account of the D-Day invasion - from the German point of view.
The Allied invasion of Northern France was the greatest combined operation in the history of warfare. Up until now, it has been recorded from the attackers' point of view - whereas the defenders' angle has been largely ignored.
While the Germans knew an invasion was inevitable, no one knew where or when it would fall. Those manning Hitler's mighty Atlantic Wall may have felt secure in their bunkers, but they had no conception of the fury and fire that was about to break. After the initial assaults of June established an Allied bridgehead, a state of stalemate prevailed. The Germans fought with great courage - hindered by lack of supplies and overwhelming Allied control of the air. This book describes the catastrophe that followed, in a unique look at the war from the losing side.
More from the same
Narrator
What listeners say about The Germans in Normandy
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Oscar Shinn
- 06-13-20
a different view of Normandy 1944
This book was excellent. I visited Normandy on vacation in 2019, so obviously I am fascinated by this battle history. We went to several battle sites, and we may go again this year. (2020) History is written by the victors, so this book gives the German perspective. Excellent collection of diary accounts of what the soldiers were seeing, from the German side. We deliberately had dinner each night at the English pubs in Bayeux Normandy. Those pubs were full of English history buffs and ex-UK military vets, all sharing battle stories they knew about. We had too much fun bs'n in those pubs. (I got accused of having a thick American accent. I also experienced the most aggressive handshakes imaginable. A lot of beer consumed, and they were all very proud of their military units. I want to go back!) Normandy in the summertime is a great place to vacation, particularly if you are into this subject. Cheers!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- D. MacLeod
- 12-05-19
Good if you're not familiar
This is a good book if you are not familiar with the events. But if you've seen or read the Longest Day, Patton, Is Paris Burning, and similar movies or books, you will know most of the content. WWII buffs especially will likely find better German perspectives from the many autobiographical books.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- S. H. Moore
- 03-09-22
One of the best German accounts of D-day in audio.
This book is average about Normandy. It’s up there overall although Normandy ‘44 is better and also on Audible. From a German perspective it’s as good as I’ve heard on Audible. However it’s not the best in that category either if including written books as well.
Nevertheless, I’ve put off this book because the reviews made me think it offered nothing new. I own over 2000 audiobooks and almost all of them are military non fiction. I read a lot about Normandy too. This book is worth a listen. I enjoyed it and learned a couple things. If you’re intimately familiar with the Western front you might not get from it in the way of new facts but the story telling in engaging and enjoyable.
If you’re looking for a good history lesson on the Normandy campaign I would again offer Normandy 44’ or even Six Armies in Normandy as better history lessons but this one is no slouch. If you want Germany stories from Normandy this one is for you.
All in all, I’m glad I finally gave it a chance. I think if you’re interested in this kind of stuff you will get your credits worth with this book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Crystal Forbes
- 02-15-23
Horrifying and informative
Having traveled to The Bretagne and Normandie Regions of France this year, I added this book to my library. My mother-in-law was born during the occupation of France while her father was in a German POW camp. The scars of WWI and WWII are still visible on the land and the history of Northern France. Having visited the enormous port of Cherbourg it was fascinating to learn about the occupation and liberation of that historic city. I’m not usually one for military accounts, but this book kept me engaged until the very end. The dévastation of the French countryside, towns and citizens as described in this book is chilling. A poignant reminder of the tragedy of wars.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Erik Bronson
- 12-09-22
Great listening
I enjoy stories from the German side, and this one did not disappoint, had my full attention the whole way!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- William R. Chadwell
- 06-07-20
Excellent History
This is an excellent history of the other side in the Battle of Normandy. It is marred, however, by a poor narrator. I don't mind English narrators at all; some are excellent. What I do mind, though, are British narrators pronouncing German and French words with a British accent. It's like fingernails on a blackboard. All audiobooks that include non-English words or place-names should require that the narrator be able to pronounce them correctly!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Garshom L. Arkoff
- 08-11-23
Interesting, but drags at times
Very informative and well researched.
I particularly liked the first person accounts from the individual German soldier's point of view.
The book drags on a bit, toward the end, once the Allied forces had a strong hold on Normandy. I suppose the author was filling in the timeline, but it feels like there were three or four chapters which were largely dominated by painting a picture of how bad it was for the German troops. I feel like that section could have been condensed.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Bob mccabe
- 02-01-23
Lots of history I was unaware of happening during the D Day and the liberation of Western Europe.
Great look at D day and events in German government and military. Lots of little known but important details of the summer and fall of 1944.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Patrick sloan
- 12-31-22
well written but contains verbose language.
I loved the book but contains a lot of untranslated German, for some reason. It doesn't contribute much to the narrative, just translate it to English.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- George Peng
- 07-25-22
Okay book. Flawed narration.
It's an alright account of Operation Overlord and its surrounding events from the German perspective, albeit not as insightful as I'd have liked. I went in expecting a dive into the strategy and thought process of the bad guys, but ended up with a fairly generic rehash of what's already covered in other history books.
The performance of the narrator has its ups and downs. I enjoyed the different 'voices' he did for various figures in this story, and the little sniveling voice he put on when quoting Goebbels got a few laughs out of me. Unfortunately, this narrator also failed at some basic pronunciations. Keitel was turned into "kye-tell", and Valkyrie ended up as "vell-curie". It spoiled an otherwise fine performance.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Antony
- 11-04-20
Awful Narrating
I’ll start by saying that this is a good book; even if you know your history surrounding D Day this is a decent read being mainly from the German view point which isn’t particularly common.
But the way the narrator does his thing is nothing short if scandalous. The fact that he is quite monotone is one thing to deal with, but his pronunciation of simple French words is appalling. Some examples: Boulogne is Bolonya. Caen is Cannes. Saint Mere Eglise is “Eglaze.” Bayeaux is Bi-yoo. Cotentin is Con-Ten-Tin. It is infuriating!! Surely someone does quality assurance checks with these books, or someone monitors the narrator and can point basic errors out!! Honestly I’m still thinking of returning the book, which would feel like a defeat for me as I am enjoying the story. But I will never buy a book narrated by Chris Macdonnell again. Having just listened to Al Murray narrating Sicily’43 (what a great book) with aplomb, to be brought down to this level would have me tearing my hair out if I wasn’t already follicly challenged.
Please Audible, have a word. This book is not worth the price with the way it has been narrated. I’m not a purist, believe you me, but simple, correct pronunciation is a must with all books.
Update - I couldn’t hack it - book returned. MacDonnell defeated me.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- SunriseSuperman
- 01-17-21
Riveting
I was glued to it. Lucky my wife had something to do. She was a WW2 D Day widow for 12 hours.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Border Collie
- 01-12-21
Thoroughly enjoyable listen.
This is a good narrative of the battle for Normandy. It is not a deep analysis, it focusses on the main personalities on the German side. The narrator is easy to listen to but (frustratingly) he pronounced Lehr (Panzer Lehr) as Leer, rhyming with here. Lehr should rhyme with hair, or in German, Herr
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Ian
- 01-05-21
wasn't the easiest narrator to follow
wasn't the best narrator, often couldn't bwork out what was being quoted from a speech or if it was just the general story being told ,bit disappointing really as the intro said it would be alot more personal from a personal perspective but was far more generic .
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Amazon Customer
- 12-18-21
very informative
a good listen, learnt lots about both sides , hard life by both sides
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Ovekat
- 08-10-21
From The German Point of View
A unique view of the war from the German point of view. Fascinating and very unusual observations because we generally only hear the Allied viewpoint. I learnt a lot and gained even more respect for the fighting German soldier. I feel that what the book lacks is an overview of how the various elements of the clashes after D Day relate to each other to paint a broader interlocking picture.
Having said that this book is excellent at detailing on the one hand the overwhelming Allied equipment, men and in particular total air superiority and on the other hand how despite outrageous odds the Germans resisted. On the subject of the narrator, he does not do the content justice and is in my opinion second rate and presumably hired for the American market. However even he can't detract from the excellent quality of the book!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Dan Martin
- 05-10-21
A great insight into the Germanys war end
This is a very good listen, it tells of how the German army we're never to give up the war, they had to fight to the end, in battle after battle to hold the Weston front after the Normandy loss, it was told very well I thought, describing the sights of the beach horrors through German eyes the continuing to describe stories of German soldier losses, and the false hope of won battles .I recommend this book to WWII followers to hear a German account of Normandy and then the French battles that put an end to Germany's war.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Anonymous User
- 05-04-23
German view points
was a fast flowing beautifully narrated book expertly written from the german view point. The author is up there with beevor in my humble opinion
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Christopher D.
- 03-02-23
Well written, narration not 100%
The book was well written with a mostly clear sequence of events which made it easy to follow. Definitely a useful insight into the battle particularly the descriptions of the Falaise pocket.
One annoyance in the narration for me was that the narrator seemed unsure weather to affect a different tone or accent to his voice when quoting people directly leading to it often not being clear if he was stating fact or quoting someone. The voice he chose when quoting Hitler in the first few chapters also had strong undertones of Warwick Davies which conjured a distracting comical image.
But was free so can’t complain.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Dylan Baynham
- 02-24-23
not bad for a freebie
As the author admits, he’s a journalist and not a military historian, focusing more on the human level of conflict. Apart from the terrible pronunciation of several words in the book, the other thing I disliked about this book is the fact he praises the ordinary German soldier, and the young SS men, using quotes about how superior they were to the tommies and the amis, despite the campaign ending in disaster at Falaise and nearly two armies being destroyed. It makes me laugh when they use German quotes about the material superiority of the allies, like outproducing your enemies in war is a form of cheating. Leading on from the previous point, to not mention a SINGLE war crime during this period I find shocking. Talking about the utter destruction of the 12th HJ during their desperate fighting, but forgetting about running over Canadian POWS with their panzers etc. Fine for a freebie on audible but glad I didn’t pay for it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Gordon
- 07-20-23
Extraordinary story
Extraordinarily detailed telling of the history of the battle of Normandy between Axis and Allied armies in 1944.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
People who viewed this also viewed...
-
Panzer Ace
- The Memoirs of an Iron Cross Panzer Commander from Barbarossa to Normandy
- By: Richard Freiherr von Rosen, Robert Forczyk
- Narrated by: Nigel Patterson
- Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Richard Freiherr von Rosen was a highly decorated Wehrmacht soldier and outstanding panzer commander. After serving as a gunlayer on a Pz.Mk.III during Barbarossa, he led a company of Tigers at Kursk. Later he led a company of King Tiger panzers at Normandy and in late 1944 commanded a battle group (12 King Tigers and a flak company) against the Russians in Hungary in the rank of junior, later senior lieutenant (from November 1944, his final rank). Only 489 of these King Tiger tanks were ever built.
-
-
Not what I expected
- By Gabriel on 01-04-19
By: Richard Freiherr von Rosen, and others
-
War on the Eastern Front
- The German Soldier in Russia 1941-1945
- By: James Lucas, Robert Kershaw - foreword
- Narrated by: Chris MacDonnell
- Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dawn on Sunday, June 22, 1941 saw the opening onslaughts of Operation Barbarossa as German forces stormed forward into the Soviet Union. Few of them were to survive the five long years of bitter struggle. A posting to the Eastern Front during the Second World War was rightly regarded with dread by the German soldiers. They saw epic battles such as Stalingrad and Kursk, and yet it was a daily war of attrition which ultimately proved fatal for Hitler's ambition and the German military machine.
-
-
A Must Read for WW2 Buffs
- By Tactical Terry on 03-05-21
By: James Lucas, and others
-
Countdown to D-Day
- The German Perspective
- By: Peter Margaritis
- Narrated by: Roger Clark
- Length: 28 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In December 1943, with the rising realization that the Allies are planning to invade Fortress Europe, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel is assigned the title of General Inspector for the Atlantic Wall. His mission is to assess their readiness. His superior, theater commander, crusty old Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt, who had led the Reich to victory in the early years of the war, is now fed up with the whole Nazi regime. He lives comfortably in a plush villa in a quiet Paris suburb, waiting for the inevitable Allied invasion that will bring about their final defeat.
-
-
Well worth the length
- By James McNamara Richmond on 02-02-21
By: Peter Margaritis
-
Hitler's Great Gamble
- A New Look at German Strategy, Operation Barbarossa, and the Axis Defeat in World War II
- By: James Ellman
- Narrated by: David de Vries
- Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On June 22, 1941, Hitler invaded the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa, one of the turning points of World War II. Within six months, the invasion bogged down on the outskirts of Moscow, and the Eastern Front proved to be the decisive theater in the defeat of the Third Reich. Ever since, most historians have agreed that this was Hitler's gravest mistake. In Hitler's Great Gamble, James Ellman argues that while Barbarossa was a gamble and perverted by genocidal Nazi ideology, it was not doomed from the start.
-
-
Full of good information and a pretty well established thesis
- By S. H. Moore on 11-28-20
By: James Ellman
-
Operation Barbarossa and Germany's Defeat in the East
- By: David Stahel
- Narrated by: Stewart Crank
- Length: 17 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Using archival records, in this book, David Stahel presents a history of Germany's summer campaign from the perspective of the two largest and most powerful Panzer groups on the Eastern front. Stahel's research provides a fundamental reassessment of Germany's war against the Soviet Union, highlighting the prodigious internal problems of the vital Panzer forces and revealing that their demise in the earliest phase of the war undermined the whole German invasion.
-
-
Best book on Operation Barbarossa so far
- By Amazon Customer on 09-14-21
By: David Stahel
-
Battleground Prussia
- The Assault on Germany’s Eastern Front 1944-45
- By: Prit Buttar
- Narrated by: Nigel Patterson
- Length: 23 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The terrible months between the arrival of the Red Army on German soil and the final collapse of Hitler's regime were like no other in the Second World War. The Soviet Army's intent to take revenge for the horror that the Nazis had wreaked on their people produced a conflict of implacable brutality in which millions perished. From the great battles that marked the Soviet conquest of East and West Prussia to the final surrender in the Vistula estuary, this book recounts in chilling detail the desperate struggle of soldiers and civilians alike.
-
-
WW II Battleground Ignored by Western Historians
- By AJC on 12-16-19
By: Prit Buttar
-
Panzer Ace
- The Memoirs of an Iron Cross Panzer Commander from Barbarossa to Normandy
- By: Richard Freiherr von Rosen, Robert Forczyk
- Narrated by: Nigel Patterson
- Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Richard Freiherr von Rosen was a highly decorated Wehrmacht soldier and outstanding panzer commander. After serving as a gunlayer on a Pz.Mk.III during Barbarossa, he led a company of Tigers at Kursk. Later he led a company of King Tiger panzers at Normandy and in late 1944 commanded a battle group (12 King Tigers and a flak company) against the Russians in Hungary in the rank of junior, later senior lieutenant (from November 1944, his final rank). Only 489 of these King Tiger tanks were ever built.
-
-
Not what I expected
- By Gabriel on 01-04-19
By: Richard Freiherr von Rosen, and others
-
War on the Eastern Front
- The German Soldier in Russia 1941-1945
- By: James Lucas, Robert Kershaw - foreword
- Narrated by: Chris MacDonnell
- Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story