July 15, 2016
A leading British historian delivers a new history of Germany's 1940 invasion of France.Hitler's invasion was a daring operation in which troops pierced the seemingly impassible Ardennes Forest and shattered the Allied army. This is the traditional account, and, according to Clark (Modern War Studies and Contemporary Military History/Univ. of Buckingham; The Battle of the Tanks: Kursk, 1943, 2011, etc.), that's pretty much what happened. Without a doubt, it was spectacular, and the author writes a masterly account teeming with vivid personalities and the usual mixture of heroism, incompetence, and luck. Clark emphasizes that Germany's high command was as unimaginative as France's. When Hitler's generals proposed invading through Belgium, he objected, stressing that it hadn't worked in 1914. Furthermore, France expected it. It took more rejections before a few adventurous generals produced the plan that caught his fancy. However, it was not a given that it would succeed. On May 10, 1940, an army attacked the Low Countries, preoccupying the main Allied force. When German troops emerged from the Ardennes three days later, they faced the Meuse River, a substantial barrier. Had the Allies rushed reinforcements at that moment, the outcome might have been different. As it was, Wehrmacht forces poured across and raced to the Channel, cutting off the main Allied army. The remainder retreated for a month until Marshal Petain took office and, overcoming modest opposition, requested an armistice. Clark maintains that this was not a blitzkrieg--i.e., a massive attack spearheaded by tanks--but an extremely risky traditional operation, carried out energetically and significantly aided by chance, weather, and an inflexible enemy. It's a dismal piece of history, well told and familiar, but Clark provides plenty of juicy details and a mildly controversial reinterpretation.
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August 1, 2016
Prominent military historian Clark (modern war studies, Univ. of Buckingham; The Battle of the Tanks) seeks to present new ideas about what happened along the western front May-June 1940. He examines how well, or poorly, all sides conducted operations during the German invasions of France, Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg. Clark provides significant detail regarding planning among all militaries involved, with emphasis on changes to German war plans and French defensive preparations. Conditions of German, French, and British armies are described in detail. Throughout, Clark's objective tone impassively analyzes the evolving situations. Personalities of the various military and diplomatic officials demonstrate how their qualities and characteristics impacted the conflict. States of mind of soldiers on the ground reveal the rampant fatigue present in soldiers on all sides. Most German troops are shown to be gentle in their treatment of several prisoners of war, who were generally glad to be free from fighting, while some SS units are shown to have committed atrocities against soldiers and civilians. VERDICT A solid, well-documented military history, Clark's newest work will appeal to anyone interested in World War II and early operations on the western front. [See Prepub Alert, 3/21/16.]--Matthew Wayman, Pennsylvania State Univ. Lib., Schuylkill Haven
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