This month's book club selection is another from the World War II genre. Currently, our course of study is focusing on the European theater, primarily the D-Day invasion.Beginning today, Tuesday, with the Preface and first couple of chapters, we will investigate and discuss the book periodically but without a set schedule.
Of course, comments are always welcome.
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We're about half-way through our reading of Omaha Beach and I wanted to post a couple thoughts about the book thus far.
First of all, sometimes while I'm reading the book, I have to pause long enough to close the book and re-read the title. It's only Omaha Beach which was one of the five beaches stormed at Normandy that day. The sheer mass amounts of boats, planes, and men involved in this book is amazing. It sometimes feels like I'm reading about D-Day entire, not one specific beach! Amazing.
Secondly, there is one incredible irony of the war that resurfaces several times throughout the book. Here are the Allied Armies with huge armoured tanks and battleships, reconnoissance photography and intelligence of the enemy's every move, bombers and fighters, weapons of all sorts of varieties.... just incredible stuff that the forces of war have demanded. And then here is the irony: With all of that technology and industry, mankind has still not mastered or conquered the elements.
Mother Nature was as much an enemy during the War, especially on D-Day, as the Nazi party was. The tide of the ocean wreaked havoc among the amphibious landing. The cloud cover and darkness of night obscured vision and prevented effective arial bombings and parachute drops. It is incredible to me how much a factor the weather played in all of this.
Finally, I found it absolutely fascinating that a book written almost 60 years after the fact can place such accurate detail, literally minute-by-minute accounts of the events of D-Day. The first person accounts are incredible to read and hear from the people that were there. Men who watched fellow soldiers fall right and left who survived and recorded their mission.
Good detailed book so far. I'm enjoying it.
Any thoughts? Questions? Let's hear 'em!
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