Merville Battery & the Dives Bridges - 9781848845190

This guide includes notes on what to bring when visiting the site of the Battle of Normandy, dressing for the weather, maps and satellite navigation, travel and accommodations, and group tours. The first two chapters give background on the planning of the invasion and the German defense in Normandy. The guide then outlines the various stops of two battlefield tours and four memorial tours; the tours are designed to highlight the actions of Britain's 6th Airborne Division. In addition to directions to villages, memorials, and cemeteries, the book also describes battles and offers many brief, readable excerpts from diaries and other accounts written by those who fought the battle. The guide is illustrated with b&w historical and contemporary photos and maps on almost every page, plus b&w photos of individual soldiers and airmen. Other features include a glossary of abbreviations used on memorials and headstones, an extensive list of websites, and an appendix of quick reference and satellite navigation data for the 6th Airborne Division sector of the Normandy region. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)