This is a fascinating collection of documents, providing a really valuable view of the German army during the battles in Normandy.

www.historyofwar.org

A fascinating miscellany of information about the composition, training and employment of the Wehrmacht during the Battle of Normandy, drawing upon German unit war diaries, operation orders, personal accounts, and Allied intelligence summaries. These take up the larger part of the narrative and give an insight into the German tactical mindset and the methods they employed to meet the invasion and sap its momentum. It highlights the great skill of the German soldier, but it also reveals his lack of air support and deficiencies in terms of artillery and armour; all of which the Allies had in abundance and did not hesitate to make full use of. Later chapters focus on specific aspects, including training, difficulties of supply, problems of low morale, and reports of tensions between themselves and the SS. To anyone who only knows the Battle of Normandy from the Allied perspective, this book is crammed with revealing information.

Pegasus Archive

A fine collection of documents. A fully-rounded portrayal of the Wehrmacht in Normandy.

Britain at War Magazine

Overall I found Blood and Steel to be a fascinating read. I wold recommend Blood and Steel to anyone with a wish to gain a deeper understanding of the Normandy conflict from the German point of view.

Armor Modeling & Preservation Society

Whenever we think of the events in Normandy 1944, it is generally from the point of view of the victors. What makes this book different is that it tells the events from the German viewpoint - and in their own words. Virtually the entire book comprises copy documents, and the words of German soldiers caught up in the conflict. There are translated original orders, diaries, letters, after action reports as well as comments from wartime Allied intelligence officers. Although the soldiers were officially forbidden to keep diaries, many of them did, and it brings their concerns and worries vividly to life. Reading the book you can see the varying points of view, and how the two armies were regarded by each other. At times there is almost a sense of panic among the Germans, unsure as to when they were going to get fuel and food. Yet despite this, what is most surprising is the confidence that many of the German officers and soldiers had that they would recapture all the land they were losing to the Allies. They were still searching for new military tactics which might give them some advantage. Admittedly, part of that confidence does reflect their knowledge that desertion or surrender may result in their death at the hands of their own forces. An unusual, and well created book, that is justly described as a 'treasure trove of information for historians, wargamers, re-enactors and modellers'. 4 stars

Angela Youngman - monstersandcritics.com