As featured on Recollections of WWII

Recollections of WWII

As featured by

VaeVictis - n° 144 - mars/avril 2019

Article: 'Author writes on German victory' as featured by

Wiltshire Times (online & print)/This is Wiltshire (online) – words by John Baker

What is really interesting, amidst the detail of what happened, are the large number of personal accounts that are included throughout the book, all adding 'life' to the story, along with the archive photos and maps which illustrate the whole book. At the end of the book it includes a detailed Battlefield Tour, with navigation information and detail of what to look for, and where. Everything is then rounded off with 4 Appendices: First Army Tank Brigade Operation Order No6: The 7th Panzer Division Order of Battle: Analysis of the Operation: and The 'Arras Counter Attack' and the Halt Order.

In recent years that has been much published on the Arras area thanks to the WW1 centenary, and this gives a useful reminder that important events in WW2 occurred in the same area. With so much to see from both conflicts, the region has lots to offer the Battlefield visitor, and it is an easy car journey from the UK thanks to the Channel Tunnel. A very readable book as well as a good tour guide from Tim Saunders.

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Military Model Scene, Robin Buckland

Arras Counter-Attack: 1940 is a valuable resource for those who appreciate an immersive experience of military history. If, like me, you have never had to face actual combat, you may find that this book offers a well-researched and supported window into the experience. If you have experienced war first-hand, you will probably recognize much in the stories of these soldiers from decades ago. Either way, Mr. Saunders has produced an excellent one-volume visit to France, 1940.

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Schopenhauer's Workshop

In this book, the author carefully breaks down the different parts of the battle and makes excellent use of maps. The result is a very readable account of the background and the battle itself. The book is also profusely illustrated with all the early war equipment that most readers will be less familiar with.

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Balkan Wargamer

This book provides an excellent account, weaving together first-hand accounts with an overview – massively helped by an abundance of clearly marked maps. The prose is clear, engaging and exciting; the structure straightforward and the narrative clear.

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Army Rumour Service (ARRSE)

A well-researched and written account of this action, and one recommended to anyone with an interest in the campaign of May 1940 in France and Belgium.

British Military History, Rob Palmer

Overall I'd definitely recommend this to those with an interest in the period.

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A Question Of Scale, Seb Palmer

When the author first looked at this event writing it up in any coherent fashion must have seemed a daunting task. In making sense, for the reader, of chaos and confusion he has succeeded brilliantly. All through the book there many first-hand accounts and a large number of maps and photographs. The final chapter is an up to the minute guide to the battlefield.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it highly.

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Clash of Steel

The Arras counter-attack contributed to Hitler issuing the famous 'halt order' to his panzers that arguably did much to allow the British Army to withdraw to Dunkirk and escape total destruction.

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In The Footsteps

This well researched work based on British and German military records, describes the fluid nature of the battle and General Rommel's decision to send his Panzers columns racing across northern France to seize the Channel ports. The loss of German panzers in a poorly coordinated counter-attack by British Matilda tanks and French armour, together with furious resistance from British infantry, was sufficient to persuaded Hitler to halt Rommel's panzers. This halt bought the Royal Navy a few extra days to evacuate thousands British and French soldiers from the crowded Dunkirk beaches.

Richard Gough, Military Author and Historian

This is the largely untold story of how two British tank regiments counter-attacked the invading Germans, helped secure the evacuation
of more than 300,000 British and French troops from the Beaches of Dunkirk and made such an impression on Rommel that he thought he was being attacked by five Divisions . - Most Highly Recommended

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Firetrench

An excellent description of the Arras counter attack by an expert in the subject. It offers a very readable narrative of the situation that prevailed during the German offensive in 1940 and ties it in to an excellent description of the battlefield context. As would be expected from the author, the book ends with a good set of instructions on visiting the battlefield and offers details on where to stand to take in the impact of the geography on battle. It is a shame that access to Ferme du Belloy is no longer possible as it offered an exceptional insight into Rommel’s actions to direct fire from the ridge. I look forward to visiting the alternative location offered by the author.
Overall a very good read which sets clear some of the assumptions that get repeated in less authoritative accounts.

Michael McCarthy