They secured the beaches. But the war was far from over.
In Normandy Bridgehead: What Happened After the Beaches of Normandy Were Taken, Major-General H. Essame—veteran brigade commander and military historian—turns his experienced eye to the critical days following D-Day. Once the Allied forces grappling-hooked the French coast, a new battle emerged: holding the land, expanding the frontline, and outmaneuvering Hitler’s commanders whose counter-attacks threatened to shatter momentum.
From the hedgerows that bled men dry to the difficult decisions of leadership, Essame traces how Montgomery, Bradley, Canadian and British troops managed to transform beachhead into bridgehead. He shows the brutal cost of delay, the importance of logistics, and the courage required of soldiers who could see danger around every corner. This is more than history; it is a testament to the battle beyond the landing—where strategy, sacrifice, and tenacity would decide whether the foothold in Normandy would lead to victory or collapse.
For lovers of WWII history, this indispensable work sheds new light on what many call the “second phase” of the Normandy operations. Read it and understand how what comes after the beach determines the war.