The Day of the Panzer: A Story of American Heroism and Sacrifice in Southern France

by Jeff Danby

Book Overview

" An] excellent popular history . . . a sprightly and evocative tribute to the troops of Operation Dragoon" - Publishers WeeklyThis is a rarely detailed, "you are there" account of World War II... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 193203370X
• ISBN13: 9781932033700
• Release Date: May 2008
• Publisher: Casemate
• Length: 350 Pages
• Weight: 1.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A Pleasant Surprise

In The Day of the Panzer, amateur historian Jeff Danby has written one of the best company-level accounts of the Second World War to appear in recent years. Although the author had a personal interest in writing this account - his grandfather was killed in action during the fighting described - he does not cloud the narrative with useless emotion and he brings a very solid research effort to bear on the topic. The result is a narrative that is balanced, objective and interesting - far-surpassing Stephen Ambrose's back-biting Band of Brothers concoction. In this account, Danby focuses on the 3rd Infantry Division during the invasion of southern France (Operation Anvil-Dragoon) in 15-27 August 1944. Although describing a rarely-mentioned campaign in some detail, the author's primary interest is in describing the activities of L Company, 3-15th Infantry and its attached tanks from B Company/756th Tank Battalion. Overall, this is a very well-written piece of tactical history and a pleasant surprise. The Day of the Panzer consists of fifteen chapters, beginning with the composition of L Company and its earlier combat at Anzio, the amphibious landings in southern France and march toward the Rhone valley and then culminating in the action at Allan on 27 August. The author provides a postscript which describes the post-war lives of most of the participants, an appendix which provides a complete L Company roster (with information on combat awards and casualties), a glossary and some very nice pictographic charts on the MTOE of U.S. infantry and tank units. The notes and bibliographical sections indicate that the author did an immense amount of research for this work, including reviewing most of the relevant official U.S. records at NARA. Unlike Ambrose, who interviewed only a handful of members of E-506 PIR for Band of Brothers, Danby interviewed a very large amount of U.S. veterans as well as French citizens of the town of Allan, which provides far more credibility. The book is supplemented by 13 excellent maps, including one 3-D one of the action around Allan, that make it very easy for the reader to follow the narrative. The book also has 43 original B/W photos that depict L Company in France. For the past sixty years, the Allied landings in southern France have generally been over-shadowed in post-war historiography and the popular imagination by the D-Day landings in Normandy. When considered, operations in southern France were often derided as `the champagne campaign' and left at that. Danby does a great service both to the veterans themselves and U.S. Military history by personalizing a campaign that had some very hard-fought moments. Unlike the D-Day landings, the three U.S. divisions that landed in southern France on 15 August 1944 did not face heavy German resistance and the author notes that L Company moved inland more rapidly than expected. Indeed, the first week of the invasion was more like a pursuit for the U.S. infantry units, as m

A great read

I bought this book with some hesitation because I felt the title sounded like a "B grade" movie. My fears were totally unfounded because the book was excellent. The author follows a small group of soldiers during a relatively short period of time during the campaign in Southern France. In the early parts of the book he does a good job quickly and clearly putting the campaign, and the battle that will become the later focus of the book, into their historical context. He also introduces the soldiers and civilians who will be the main characters in the story. He has a real gift for bringing the characters to life. He deftly describes their pre-war backgrounds, World War II experiences, and the jobs that they are expected to perform in the upcoming battle. Once the table has been set he gives a detailed acount of the battle in and around the village of Allan. He describes the battle in such a way that you can follow what happened at the same time that you can appreciate the confusion that the soldiers must have felt. His description of the destruction of the tank in which his own grandfather was killed was stunning. It happens so suddenly that I had to re-read the passage to be sure of what I had read. I think this reflects how the people who experienced the events must have felt. Anyone who is a student of WW II will enjoy this book.

All Things Come to a Moment in Time

Jeff Danby has done a masterful job of story telling. His book revolves around a small-unit action--essentially an American rifle company and a handful of Shermans and M10 tank destroyers--that lasted but a day and a night. Danby creates believable portraits of his real-life heroes, and weaves together the tales of the American, German, and French participants as they all plunge unknowingly toward the moment they came together in Allan, France. His prose is evocative, and once the action begins, absorbing. This is a great book!

great book

very well written and enjoyable book.ready for the authors next!you will not be disappointed.similar to the ambrose style in that he does an excellent job giving the "big" picture as well as making you feel like you were in the foxhole with the infantry but reads more fluid than ambrose. jeff danby is sure to be a name familiare to all of our bookshelves.

Something Completely New, Freshly Presented

Day of the Panzer is unlike any other WWII book I have read, and I have read hundreds. In a nutshell, it explores the invasion of Southern France after D-Day, and the thrust inland, following (more or less) a few select unit and individuals as they drive fatefully toward their destiny in the small farming town of Allan, where veteran German infantry and a Panther tank await them. The result is a focused, tightly wound series of chapters about the battle that erupts there. The author follows the men (and many locals) on their experiences, which includes grenade attacks, tank-to-tank battles, POW issues, executions, and heroics you have never heard of before. If you enjoy small-unit tactics--think Band of Brothers in Carentan, Episode 3--you will love Day of the Panzer. This book also includes wonderful photos you have never seen, and great original maps--and a cool original drawing by the author of a German Panther. Buy and read this book. You will not be disappointed. (By way of disclaimer, I read the initial manuscript and helped provide guidance and developmental editing for the author. I have never met Jeff Danby, and do not profit from the sale of this book. tps)