The Day the Devils Dropped In: The 9th Parachute Battalion in Normandy - D-Day to D+6

by Neil Barber

Overview

The first hours and days following the Allied invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944 have a strong claim to be amongst the most crucial in world history. Spearheading this vast undertaking were crack British and American airborne forces. The Day The Devils Dropped In examines in fascinating detail the pivotal role of the 9th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment over the first week of the landings.

Tasked with neutralizing the mighty Merville Battery, capturing Le Plein and the Château St Côme on the Breville Ridge, failure by the Paras to achieve any of these key objectives could well have unraveled the whole OVERLORD operation with catastrophic consequences.

In his quest to uncover the true story of the early days of the landings, Neil Barber has successfully tracked down surviving participants in the operation. As a result he is able to tell the full story of the fierce fighting that characterized the early days of the landings largely in the very words of those who lived through the experience. This adds much to the credibility and immediacy of this enthralling book, which paints a superb picture of what soldiers care to call 'the fog of war'. The result is an inspiring and revealing read and a fine tribute to those whose contribution must never be forgotten.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781783037056
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	10/17/2008
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	243,270
File size:	65 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Six years ago, having become interested in the Merville Battery and St Côme actions, I went in search of information and subsequently read all of the various published books. However, impressive as they were, a feeling of dissatisfaction prevailed. Something was missing. I realized that what I actually wanted to read was a detailed account in the words of the men who were actually there and not a narration of their experiences by an author. This, along with the deliberate omission of hindsight, therefore dictated the goals of the research and the format of this book. Around fifty 9th Battalion veterans were interviewed, plus many of those formations that fought alongside them in the area. A large amount of written accounts were also studied from other survivors, many of whom are sadly no longer alive. Using these and a multitude of other sources, I have therefore been able to construct, correct and expand on much of the existing published information. Additionally, I wanted the reader to be able to see who was actually ‘speaking' within the text, to put faces to the incidents, and so the whole of the text is interspersed with over 200 photographs, thereby recording their faces for posterity. Finally, I hope that people who visit the area and especially those who stand in front of the memorials at the Merville Battery and the Château St Côme, may now have the chance of a clearer idea of the terrible struggle which took place on this small piece of Normandy countryside.