No, the other sections are Waterloo, Mons and First/Third Ypres. It has got fold-out maps, though! Two of the Arras ones are based on contemporary German maps.
Got my copy of the Army Battlefield Guide: Belgium and Northern France by Richard Holmes and it led me to another interesting little book that mentions Arras. Old Battles and New Defences: Can We Learn From Military History is a collection of studies commissioned by the British Ministry of Defence. The studies were to help plan for Britian's role in NATO on the Central Front and focus on counter-stroke and the use of artillery. The chapter on Arras: " Arras, 21 1940: A Case Study in the Counter-Offensive" by Brian Bond draws on Macksey's work , some German sources and some communciation Bond has with some of the senior officers involved in the attack. If you're interested in Arras, the analysis Bond works in makes this a book worth tracking down through inter-library loan. Cheers Mark
Do we know about this one? The St Valery Story, Ernest Reoch, 1965 http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=96943&stc=1&d=1357677512
I hope that the book's a bit more 'authentic' than the dust jacket showing a formation sign which wasn't in use in 1940!
Drew, An interesting collection and a few suggestions for interesting books. Its rather focused on Dunkirk and the British point of view. If you want to add other sides to the story try - Hienz Guderian Panzer leader - Erich von Manstein: Lost Battles - Alistair Horne : To Lose a Battle - William Shirer The Collapse of the Third Republic Add another dimension with ER Hooton : Phoenix Rising, Triumphant Cajus Bekker: The Luftwaffe War Diairies Norman Franks The air war over Dunkirk There is also a rather good RAF Historical study - a cabinet secret history which you can buy. You might also find interesting Brian Bond's France and Flanders 1940 60 years on - a collection of essays on different aspects of the campaign. Martin Marixz Evans - The Fall of France 1940: Act with daring: There are also some interesting Regimental histories - Farndale's Years of Defeat tells the gunner story 1939-41 - Return to Dunkirk by Gun Buster - fictionalised account of a TA unit, but based on the unit which supports the arras counter attack. - The War Illustrated carried lots of contemporary eye witness accounts, includign the splendid story of the defence of Hondeghem by K Battery. There is also an excellet book by an officer in the Royal Ulster Rifles which covers the story of the crossing at Gorre.
A bias for action : the German 7th Panzer Division in France & Russia 1940-1941 SIXTY DAYS THAT SHOOK THE WEST THE FALL OF FRANCE 1940 Translated.
A nice unusual book for my collection arrived today thanks to a heads up from Trux: Supporting the British Expeditionary Force - The Royal Engineer Railway Units in France 1939-1940 by William A T Aves.
Twelve Days in May by Brian Cull; Air War in France 1939-1940 by Robert Jackson How do these 2 books compare, I have the second of the two, found it to be very factual, was wondering if the first had more first hand accounts? Anybody read it?
Can't help Les - I only have Air War in France 1939-1940. I tend to use ATB's Battle Of France for the Air war side of things. I think you'll stuggle to find anything more factual than that.
I have one of Cull's other books and it is based on a lot of interviews as well as archive sources. Some of the Grub Street books command high prices on the secondhand market, I don't think you'll be disappointed if you can get a copy for a reasonable price. Another book that springs to mind is Valiant Wings.
'The New Contemptibles' Douglas Williams' Fascinating little book published in 1940 by DailyTelegraph About a dozen first hand accounts , none of which I have seen before , two good accounts of escape from St. Valery / Veules Les Roses includung the rifle sling one ( a petrol company , RASC ?) Good maps in cluding a very detailed map of Hondeghem showing every bren gun. Foreword by Tiger Gort himself
La Bataille de Dunkerque by Jacques Mordal - in French of course. Old fashioned history, published 1948, but a lot of detail on French units and very creditable performance by the French Navy.
Sappers and Militiamen: A History of The Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia) by Graham Watson ISBN 0952810204 The Man Who Missed The Massacre by Cyril Jolly ISBN 0905773344