The Hidden Story of June 6th 1944 - D DAY Through German Eyes

After reading some of the one and two star reviews of this book, I ordered it anyway. At first it seemed very exciting and interesting but as I continued to read the individual accounts, they seemed to sound very similar. I feels like the author took his father's notes and embellished the accounts to add interest. I may be all wrong with my observations but I couldn't finish the book as it started to read like fiction. I really had wished for better, but I cannot recommend this book. JIM

Very interesting read, if not what I expected. The book is a series of interviews conducted after the war with various German veterans about their experiences on D-Day. You can glean some information about defenses and expectations before and during the battle, but there is no broader context as far as strategy or central command. Each soldier knew what was going on right in front of him and in the immediate area, but little else. In that regard, the book is strong support for the "fog of war" explanations laid out in the other books. There are no attempts at explanations or interpretation, just the answers and stories provided by the ex-soldiers. Worth the read as a different perspective on otherwise well-covered events.

Got the book today. Very f as shipping. Just opened the book for a quick glance. Pick up inaccuracy on story after
D Day when a soldiers blamed the Allies for the famine in Holland in Fall 1944. The real truth is after the the failure
of Operation Market Garden the Germans retaliated by blocking all food stuffs going into Holland because of the citizens
helping the Allies with troop movement etc. There are more inaccuracies to long to list.

Different side to D Day is very interesting,in the thinking of the Germans,seeing the massive armada of
the Allies in men and equipment,arms,etc.....They were not ready or informed of size of forces they would
face or the determination of the Allies.....in my opinion...and the power the USA would bring against them..
I believe Hitler knew and why he did not want the US in the fight,too much might ,,industry,manpower,etc.....

I really enjoyed this work. The book completes a project begun by Mr. Eckhertz's grandfather. The soldiers whom the author's grandfather interviewed shortly before D-Day and in 1954 (the tenth anniversary), spoke honestly about the horror of the invasion. However, the opinions of the soldiers reveal the beliefs of men who shared a view that their sacrifice was due to their defense of Western Civilization against Communism. This book is both a more humane and complex view of former enemies. By 1954 some of the soldiers had tempered their views based on viewing video evidence of the concentration camps and being able to evaluate the truthfulness of what their military leaders told them when they were so young.

After all these years, the realization that the folks on the other side also had families and shed blood is thrust into our faces. This in no way says that what they did was right, but it points out that they had a choice of how to die....with an allied bullet or one from the Axis! Our side had a choice,, they did not and the tools that they faught with were the remains of the other battles in the war . A war run by a demented egotistical maniac. Any student of history really needs to read this book! So far I have given it to a 92 year old former POW and a resettled Brit now here in the states.

Very interesting to see how the German's thought about their defenses and their chances of defending "Fortress Europe".. I especially appreciated the interviews with the front line troops that actually saw the ships on the horizon coming in for the invasion. Those men had to know their chances of surviving that day were small at best... Terrible thing to have gone through, for all...

Tough reading in light of the thousands of allied boys who died in that epic landing. God bless those who lost their lives in battle against the fascist Nazi machine. Tough to empathize with these drugged up barbarians... BUT FASCINATING!

Bought for my Father as he reads nightly. Westerns are his normal go to, but he likes to swap it up a bit with nonfictional history. He had this one read in about five nights, but he is a fast reader.