Liberation of Paris 1944: Patton’s race for the Seine (Campaign, 194)

Liberation of Paris 1944: Patton’s race for the Seine (Campaign, 194)

In July 1944 of World War II (1939-1945), Operation Cobra broke the stalemate in Normandy and sent the Allies racing across France. The Allied commanders ignored Paris in their planning for this campaign, considering that the risk of intense street fighting and heavy casualties outweighed the city's strategic importance. However, Charles de Gaulle persuaded the Allied commanders to take direct action to liberate his nation's capital. Steven J Zaloga first describes the operations of Patton's Third Army as it advanced towards Paris before focusing on the actions of the Resistance forces inside the city and of the Free French armored division that fought its way in and joined up with them to liberate it on August 24. De Gaulle could then proclaim, "Paris liberated!" and one of the world's loveliest cities had survived Hitler's strident command that it should be held at all costs or reduced to rubble. “Zaloga's high standards of research and his usual clear, concise writing style make this another valuable addition to Osprey's Second World War titles. If the reader desires a short, but thorough, account of the events surrounding the liberation of Paris, this work is now the best focused account available in English.” ― Mark Stille, World War II Quarterly (May 2008) “This writing sparkles. The artwork is dynamic. The maps and battle scences put the writer in the battle. I am new to the Camaign series, but if 'Liberation of Paris, 1944' sets the standard, I'm ready for campaign #195, what ever the title.” ― Richard N. Larsen, The Midwest Book Review (July 2008). “Steven J. Zaloga's Liberation of Paris 1944: Patton's Race for the Seine recounts the Operation Cobra battle that sent the Allies across France with plans to liberate the notoriously difficult Paris.” ― California Bookwatch (May 2008) “All of this is superbly illustrated not only by the artwork of Howard Gerrard, but also by the selection of period photographs. This all makes a superb book on the subject. One that I found most enjoyable and I know you will as well. It is a superb book on the subject and one that all students of American history should have in their libraries. I can recommend to you without reservation.” ― Scott Van Aken, modelingmadness.com (May 2008) Steven J. Zaloga is a senior analyst for Teal Group Corp., an aerospace consulting firm, where he covers missile and drone technology as well as international arms transfers for clients in the aerospace industry and the government. He served for more than two decades as an adjunct staff member with the Strategy, Forces, and Resources division of the Institute for Defense Analyses, a federal think-tank, retiring in 2021. He is the author of numerous books on military technology and history, including NVG 294 Allied Tanks in Normandy 1944 and NVG 283 American Guided Missiles of World War II . He currently lives in Maryland, USA. Howard Gerrard studied at the Wallasey School of Art and has been a freelance designer and illustrator for over 20 years. He has won both the Society of British Aerospace Companies Award and the Wilkinson Sword Trophy and has illustrated a number of books for Osprey including Campaign 69: Nagashino 1575 and Campaign 72: Jutland 1916. Howard lives and works in Kent.