Description
The ninth book in the Canadian Battle Series, Breakout from Juno, is the first dramatic chronicling of Canada's pivotal role throughout the entire Normandy Campaign following the D-Day landings.
On July 4, 1944, the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division won the village of Carpiquet but not the adjacent airfield. Instead of a speedy victory, the men faced a bloody fight. The Canadians advanced relentlessly at a great cost in bloodshed. Within 2 weeks the 2nd Infantry and 4th Armoured divisions joined coming together as the First Canadian Army.
The soldiers fought within a narrow landscape extending a mere 21 miles from Caen to Falaise. They won a two-day battle for Verrières Ridge starting on July 21, after 1,500 casualties. More bloody battles followed, until finally, on August 21, the narrowing gap that had been developing at Falaise closed when American and Canadian troops shook hands. The German army in Normandy had been destroyed, only 18,000 of about 400,000 men escaping. The Allies suffered 206,000 casualties, of which 18,444 were Canadians.
Breakout from Juno is a story of uncommon heroism, endurance and sacrifice by Canada's World War II volunteer army and pays tribute to Canada's veterans.
About the Author
Mark Zuehlke is Canada's leading popular historian. "Operation Husky" is the latest in Mark's bestselling series on Canada's major army campaigns and battles of World War II, which include "Ortona, The Liri Valley, The Gothic Line, Juno Beach, Holding Juno, " and "Terrible Victory." He is also the author of the critically acclaimed "For Honour's Sake: The War of 1812 and the Brokering of an Uneasy Peace; The Gallant Cause: Canadians in the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939;" and co-author of "The Canadian Military Atlas: Four Centuries of Conflict from New France to Kosovo." "Operation Husky" is his 20th published book. When not writing history, he often turns to fiction and is the author of the award-winning Elias McCann mystery series. He lives in Victoria, British Columbia.