Description
DISPONIBLE EN VERSION ANGLAISE UNIQUEMENT
Michel De Trez and Peter Hendrikx, who each have been studying airborne history for over thirty years, put together the most complete pictorial history of the 101st Airborne Division in the liberation of Holland with 1,250 photographs, of which the great majority has never been published before. All photos are identified either by date, location, name of individual soldiers, equipment or historical context. Often all these leads have been identified. This resulted in very informative and extensive captions. Rare airborne equipment, documents and artifacts from December44 and D-Day Experience Museum’s collections are spread throughout the book where it is relevant.
The first volume is titled « D-DAY MINUS – 17 SEPTEMBER 1944 ».
The book is a valuable addition to the existing literature about Operation Market Garden and the 101st Airborne Division, because no other unit in any given battle in any war received such extensive coverage as the 101st gets in this book. Even those who have been studying the 101st Airborne Division for many years and believe the have read all there is to it, will discover many new facts about the great achievements of the « Screaming Eagles ».
So the entire combat history of the 101st Airborne Division in Operation Market Garden is covered, from the day they boarded their C-47s and WACO gliders at the airbases in England on September 17, 1944, to the moment they were relieved after 72 days of continual combat on November 27, 1944.
However, aiming to be complete, the book was getting close to 775 pages and out of sheer necessity it was decided to cut the book in two and publish two volumes. Only the two volumes together tell the complete story.
Like a kite string, the complete story of the employment of the 101st Airborne Division is told in photographs and elaborate captions. No single major action has been omitted. And where no photographs or stills were available to complete the story, new chapters were written based on prime sources such as after action reports, combat interviews and veteran stories.
For this pictorial history, special attention was given to the quality of the photographs… and like you have come to expect from D-Day Publishing books: « No Small Photograph Prints. » Furthermore, the great majority of the photos are digital copies of the first, original print. The density and contrast have been digitally improved, so in many cases the quality is even better than the original print. If photographs were not available stills from Signal Corps footage were used with surprising results. The authors were also able to scan original 120mm and 35mm negatives of local Dutch photographers, which resulted in an even better quality and detail.
The thought provoking introduction is the first concise version of the entire decision making process that lead to Operation Market Garden and the strategy behind it. The role and organization of the newly founded First Allied Airborne Army and the preparations for the operation are dealt with in the first chapter.
Next, the authors take a detailed look at the role of the four participating Pathfinder Teams which were to mark the Drop Zones and how the tragic loss of one of the teams lead to an erroneous drop.
The next three chapters show the emplaning on various airbases in England of the paratroopers of the 501st, 502nd and 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Hundreds of unique photographs show the paratroopers and their generals : Taylor, McAuliffe and Higgins, as well as their parachute equipment. Although the main focus is on the airborne forces, the pilots of the Troop Carrier Command and their C-47 aircraft are also pictured in great detail.
The last chapter is devoted to the preparations and emplaning of the glider echelons of the 101st Airborne Division; the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment, the artillery battalions, engineers and medics. Many photos of the glider riders, the glider pilots and their fragile canvas WACO gliders are seen and published for the first time.
Together with the second volume, titled « ORANGE IS THE COLOR OF THE DAY », this volume offers a never before published insight in the history of the 101st Airborne Division in the Holland campaign.
325 x 245 mm
Couverture cartonnée entoilée – 208 pages – 400+ photos
ISBN 978-2-9540297-0-2
Jenny S. Sullivan –
« I just wanted to thank you for the books Orange is the Color of the Day and D-Day Minus 17 September 1944. My husband was ecstatic on Christmas day and is looking forward to reading every page. He has been a WWII Reenacter for several years and also has an extensive collection of WWII History books focusing on the 101st Airborne. His group is based out of Columbus, Ohio and he is currently the « Captain » of this group; WWII Historical Reenactment Society, 101st Airborne Division, 502nd PIR.
He has assured me that he is the only one in the area that has this set of books and that his fellow reenacters are very envious. We will be sure to let everyone know about our positive experience with you and your company when purchasing these titles. I hope they become readily available as I would like to request them for purchase at the local library where I am employed. Again, thank you! »
Jenny S. Sullivan, USA
Chris –
« The books arrived … superfast … rocksolid packaged… and they are AWESOME! Thank you for all the great work and research. And … please continue making airborne related books! »
Chris, Nederland
Henk Slomp –
« This week I received ?Orange is the color of the day?. The only thing I can say is GREAT, JUST GREAT! A fantastic book to honor the men of the 101st, and to honor what they have done. »
Henk Slomp, Nederland
Tadashi Karasawa –
« Two books arrived. I waited for the release of these books during a long period. I was worth having waited for the publication of these books. »
Tadashi Karasawa, Japan
Tom Timmermans –
« What an excellent book! A must-have for everyone interested in the 101st during Operation « Market Garden ». »
Tom Timmermans, Netherlands
Rich Riley –
« Wow times 1000. Finally had some time to sift through both volumes and all I have to say is « WOW ». Beyond impressive. Congrats on all fronts. »
Rich Riley, USA
Stan –
« I received the books, D-day Minus and Orange Is the Color of the Day. Both books are well published and printing works of art (as are all of your publications)! »
Stan, USA
Darren Baker –
« Your two latest books arrived today and I just wanted to say thank you for continuing to produce publications of such incredible quality. I am always impressed when I receive one of your books and I wish you a well deserved, long and prosperous future. »
Thank you,?
Darren Baker, USA
Michael Tirrell –
« Yesterday all the books arrived. To say that I am thrilled does not cover my feeling on how happy I am. They will be a big asset to my reenacting of the men from the 101st Division.
Thank you, »
Michael Tirrell, USA
Steve Ward –
« Both books arrived today. They are lovely – many thanks. »
Steve Ward, USA
Byrne Bennett –
« Today I received your two books. They are outstanding! I look forward to sitting down and learning everything I can about the invasion of Holland. I plan on writing a historical/fiction book about my uncle, Joe Mann. These books will greatly assist me with the necessary research. Thank you for the kind words you wrote to my mother in the front of the book. »
Byrne Bennett, USA
Wilco Tak –
« I received your books yesterday.Not only myself but everybody around me became very quid by seeing de first pictures of these two books. GREAT WORK!!!!!! AND NOW LETS GO FOR THE ALL AMERICANS!! »
Wilco Tak, Nerderland
Ronald –
« I bought the book at Heeswijk, an amazing good book! »
Ronald, Nederland
Peter de Heus –
« Het zijn twee prachtige boeken, met super kwaliteit foto’s! En wat ik vooral interessant vind zijn de gedetailleerde plaatsbeschrijvingen ».
Peter de Heus, Nederland
Ian Gardner –
« I believe that they will become a huge landmark in WW2 US Airborne and Dutch History »
Ian Gardner, historian and author of « Tonight we Die as Men » and « Deliver us from Darkness ».
Bob van der Auwera –
« Les 2 livres que j’ai achetés vendredi sont vraiment magnifiques ! Encore un très grand merci pour les 2 pièces uniques qui sont ajoutées à ma collection. »
Bob van der Auwera, Belgium
Tim Overduin –
« I went to the remembrance at Heeswijk and it was very beautiful. It’s good to remember those who fell for our freedom. I bought your books, and I just finished with watching all those photographs.
It’s an awesome collection of rare and unseen photos. I want to thank you and Peter for the research and writing. Those book are of great value for the heritage of the war.
With my study cultural heritage I want to show the people what the price of our freedom was. I have met the veterans, so it was an amazing day.
Thank you for signing the book and for writing it. »
Tim Overduin, Nederland
Hans den Brok –
« I want to congratulate the two of you with your fantastic book about the 101st AB Div. on the Market Garden operation. Look forward to the follow up on the 82nd and wish you succes with this one and the work on an 82nd AB book. »
Hans den Brok, Netherlands, Troop Carrier Research
Antoine –
« ?I really enjoyed the meeting last Friday and especially the new books (read/watched most part of them this weekend). Well done, great work. »
Antoine, Belgium
Theo Hijmans –
« Its a wonderfull book!!! The best ever!!!!! »
Theo Hijmans, Holland
Ronald –
« Je voudrais vous dire merci pour ces deux magnifiques ouvrages, qui sont exceptionnels comme les précédents. J’ai ressenti beaucoup d’émotion en regardant les photos et tous ces visages de paras. Merci à vous. »
Ronald, Belgium
Melvin Pouw –
« I would like you to give the compliments with the new books! Awesome! »
Melvin Pouw, Netherlands
Philippe Frontorque –
« Je viens de recevoir les deux livres. Merci pour l’envoi rapide, ainsi que pour les dédicaces. Superbes albums !!!
J’attends avec impatience vos prochains travaux. »
Philippe Frontorque, Belgium
Romain De Nooze –
« Je vous envoie ce mail pour vous informer que j’ai bien reçu vos 2 ouvrages, la semaine dernière. Je vous remercie pour votre sérieux et votre rapidité.
J’ai apprécié également votre dédicace. Puissiez vous continuer votre fantastique travail pendant de nombreuses années.
J’attends avec impatience vos prochains travaux. »
Romain De Nooze, Belgium
Paul Neelissen –
« Books arrived today? What can I say, but?
WOW!!!
Congratulations with this awesome publication!
And now on to the 82nd! »
Paul Neelissen, Nederland