JUNO
Juno, by Mark Zuehlke, was wrapped up over the weekend. Continuing with pretty much the same formula as Ortona, Zuehlke gives us a laser-focused look at the Canadian involvment in Operation Overlord, D-Day, June 6th, 1944.
After Omaha (subject of Saving Private Ryan's brutal opening set piece), Juno was the beach that handed the Allies the most casualties. Despite that, the 3rd Canadian Division and 2nd Canadian Armored Brigade pushed deeper into France than any other force on D-Day.
Juno gives us the grunt eye view, and the strategic view, of the day's events. It covers the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion's landings near the Orne, the involvement of the Royal Canadian Navy on the landing ships, the Canadian minesweeper flotilla that lead the invasion fleet across the channel, the pilots and bombadiers flying missions over Normandy, and the infantry and tankers landing on that beach.
I think one of the best aspects of the books is that Zuehlke makes them accessbile. This isn't a dry recitation of militaria, but rather a vibrant record of the actions of the Canadian forces in World War II. I wish these books had been available 20, or 30, years ago... perhaps I wouldn't have been so focused on American wars, had there been access to such excellent coverage of Canadian actions.
Next up, HOLDING JUNO - covering the 6 days after the landings on the beach (a sequel, of sorts).
After Omaha (subject of Saving Private Ryan's brutal opening set piece), Juno was the beach that handed the Allies the most casualties. Despite that, the 3rd Canadian Division and 2nd Canadian Armored Brigade pushed deeper into France than any other force on D-Day.
Juno gives us the grunt eye view, and the strategic view, of the day's events. It covers the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion's landings near the Orne, the involvement of the Royal Canadian Navy on the landing ships, the Canadian minesweeper flotilla that lead the invasion fleet across the channel, the pilots and bombadiers flying missions over Normandy, and the infantry and tankers landing on that beach.
I think one of the best aspects of the books is that Zuehlke makes them accessbile. This isn't a dry recitation of militaria, but rather a vibrant record of the actions of the Canadian forces in World War II. I wish these books had been available 20, or 30, years ago... perhaps I wouldn't have been so focused on American wars, had there been access to such excellent coverage of Canadian actions.
Next up, HOLDING JUNO - covering the 6 days after the landings on the beach (a sequel, of sorts).