The Black Bull: From Normandy to the Baltic with the 11th Armoured Division

by Patrick Delaforce

Overview

• From-the-turret story of a British tank division in World War II
• Follows the division through the Normandy campaign, the liberation of Amiens and Antwerp, flank protection during Operation Market Garden, and the final drive into Germany
• Raw firsthand accounts from commanders, riflemen, bombardiers, and tank crews
• Reveals what life was like at the sharp end of the Allies' war effort

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780811708975
Publisher:	Stackpole Books
Publication date:	07/08/2011
Series:	Stackpole Military History Series
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Patrick Delaforce served with the 11th Armoured Division during World War II. His other books include Churchill's Desert Rats in North Africa and Italy (978-1-84884-039-3). He lives in England.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements vi

1 The Sharp End 1

2 In the Beginning 9

3 Weaponry 12

4 Forming Up 17

5 'War is Mostly about Waiting' 22

6 'Cry Havoc - and Let Slip the Dogs of War' 26

7 Operation Epsom 29

8 Interlude 44

9 Operation Goodwood 47

10 Another Interlude 69

11 Operation Bluecoat 72

12 Breakout 102

13 The Great Swan 114

14 The Taking of Antwerp 129

15 Prelude and Right Flank to Market Garden 142

16 Holland and the Peel Country 152

17 In the Bleak Midwinter: October 161

18 In the Bleak Midwinter: November 169

19 In the Bleak Midwinter: Leave 174

20 In the Bleak Midwinter: December 176

21 The Ardennes 181

22 In the Bleak Midwinter: January 187

23 In the Bleak Midwinter: February 190

24 Operation Blockbuster: the Hochwald Battle 195

25 Another Interlude: March 202

26 The Rhine Crossing and Advance 205

27 The Battle for Teutoburger Wald (Ibbenbüren Ridge) 211

28 The River Weser Crossing 218

29 From the Weser to the Aller 223

30 Towards the Elbe 230

31 Belsen 234

32 The Last Stretch 237

33 Round-Up 243

Contributors to The Black Bull 251

Editorial Reviews

"If you are looking for a good account of operations from the perspective of those who were there, look no further."

AMPS

"...a book that will be of great interest to military historians."

AMPS Indianapolis

"Some passages contain info appropriate for tabletop scenarios. You certainly get a UK version of the battle for France, complete with days that went right and days that went wrong. "

Historical Miniatures Gaming Society