Hitlerjugend Soldier vs Canadian Soldier: Normandy 1944

Description

Canadian and Waffen-SS troops of 12. SS-Panzer-Division Hitlerjugend faced one another in a series of bloody battles following the D-Day landings of June 1944. The Canadian units fought in a number of distinguished regiments, while the Hitlerjugend Division were drawn from the ranks of the Hitler Youth organizations. Veteran officers and NCOs were joined by inexperienced teenagers, and clashed with the Canadians repeatedly, notably at Authie, Bretteville and Hill 168. The struggle quickly took on an especially bitter nature, fuelled by the massacre of Canadian prisoners by Hitlerjugend personnel. Employing first-hand accounts and the latest research, as well as specially commissioned artwork and carefully selected archive photographs this absorbing study investigates the origins, ethos, training, fighting techniques and weapons of both sides during the epic struggle for Normandy.

David Greentree graduated in History at York before taking an MA in War Studies from King's College London and qualifying as a lecturer in Further Education. In 1995 he accepted a commission in the Royal Air Force and has served in a variety of locations, including Afghanistan and Oman. He lives in Southsea, UK. Johnny Shumate works as a freelance illustrator living in Nashville, Tennessee. He began his career in 1987 after graduating from Austin Peay State University. Most of his work is rendered in Adobe Photoshop using a Cintiq monitor. His greatest influences are Angus McBride, Don Troiani and Edouard Detaille.

"What this volume does well, is chip away at the German reputation as the consummate warriors. The Canadians used fire and movement and, in particular, artillery fire to dislodge the Germans from their defenses as well as blunt local counter attacks. The author does a good job in telling the story in an objective and dispassionate manner that I found useful." - IPMS / USA "Greentree's narrative is richly illustrated by photographs, maps and artwork, including color plates by Johnny Shumate that seem to have something of a realistic tone." - Toy Soldier & Model Figure