THE DUEL FOR FRANCE: 1944

A skillful military historian tells the story of the hedgerow battles of Northern France, battles which eventually defeated German opposition, liberated Paris, and drove the enemy east. Perhaps one of the most interesting things about this account is that it deals with the German point of view as well as the Allied. Using official German documents, Blumenson recreates the desperation of men like von Runstedt and Rommel as they followed Hitler's lunatic order to fight and hold France at all costs, and faced Montgomery, Patton and Bradley, who were equally prepared to force the Germans back, step by step and house by house. The engagements of St. Lo, Brest, St. Malo, Cherbourg- the dreadful destruction of French towns and farms- the mighty ""COBRA"" offensive and saturation bombings by Allied planes- these lead down to the triumphant entry into Paris. Runstedt's withdrawal from the campaign, and the suicides of Rommel and Kluge put a high price tag on the Nazi defeat. A well researched and consistently readable record.