Sabers through the Reich: World War II Corps Cavalry from Normandy to the Elbe (Battles and Campaigns Series)

Introduction -- Background -- Cavalry in the Bocage -- Race to glory -- The bitter fall -- A desperate winter -- To the Rhine -- Sabers through the Reich -- Conclusions.;Before the Allies landed on the beaches of Normandy in June 1944, their aerial reconnaissance discovered signs of German defenses on the Iles St. Marcouf. From these two coastal islands, German artillery could bombard the 4th US Infantry Division and repulse a crucial thrust of Operation Overlord. With the fate of the war on the line, the 4th Mechanized Cavalry Group navigated the islands' minefields and reported no trace of German soldiers. Their rapid and accurate intelligence gave the Allies the necessary time and concentration of forces for the D-Day invasion to succeed. In Sabers through the Reich, William Stuart Nance provides the first comprehensive operational history of American corps cavalry in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) during World War II. The corps cavalry had a substantive and direct impact on Allied success in almost every campaign, serving as offensive guards for armies across Europe and conducting reconnaissance, economy of force, and security missions, as well as prisoner of war rescues. From D-Day and Operation Cobra to the Battle of the Bulge and the drive to the Rhine, these groups had the mobility, flexibility, and firepower to move quickly across the battlefield, enabling them to aid communications and intelligence gathering and reducing the Clausewitzian friction of war. Before The Allies Landed On The Beaches Of Normandy In June 1944, Their Aerial Reconnaissance Discovered Signs Of German Defenses On The Îles St. Marcouf. From These Two Coastal Islands, German Artillery Could Bombard The 4th Us Infantry Division And Repulse A Crucial Thrust Of Operation Overlord. With The Fate Of The War On The Line, The 4th Mechanized Cavalry Group Navigated The Islands' Minefields And Reported No Trace Of German Soldiers. Their Rapid And Accurate Intelligence Gave The Allies The Necessary Time And Concentration Of Forces For The D-day Invasion To Succeed. In Sabers Through The Reich, William Stuart Nance Provides The First Comprehensive Operational History Of American Corps Cavalry In The European Theater Of Operations (eto) During World War Ii. The Corps Cavalry Had A Substantive And Direct Impact On Allied Success In Almost Every Campaign, Serving As Offensive Guards For Armies Across Europe And Conducting Reconnaissance, Economy Of Force, And Security Missions, As Well As Prisoner Of War Rescues. From D-day And Operation Cobra To The Battle Of The Bulge And The Drive To The Rhine, These Groups Had The Mobility, Flexibility, And Firepower To Move Quickly Across The Battlefield, Enabling Them To Aid Communications And Intelligence Gathering And Reducing The Clausewitzian Friction Of War. Introduction -- Background -- Cavalry In The Bocage -- Race To Glory -- The Bitter Fall -- A Desperate Winter -- To The Rhine -- Sabers Through The Reich -- Conclusions. William Stuart Nance ; Foreword By Robert M. Citino. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Before the Allies landed on the beaches of Normandy in June 1944, their aerial reconnaissance discovered signs of German defenses on the {circ}Iles St. Marcouf. From these two coastal islands, German artillery could bombard the 4th US Infantry Division and repulse a crucial thrust of Operation Overlord. With the fate of the war on the line, the 4th Mechanized Cavalry Group navigated the islands' minefields and reported no trace of German soldiers. Their rapid and accurate intelligence gave the Allies the necessary time and concentration of forces for the D-Day invasion to succeed. In Sabers through the Reich, William Stuart Nance provides the first comprehensive operational history of American corps cavalry in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) during World War II. The corps cavalry had a substantive and direct impact on Allied success in almost every campaign, serving as offensive guards for armies across Europe and conducting reconnaissance, economy of force, and security missions, as well as prisoner of war rescues. From D-Day and Operation Cobra to the Battle of the Bulge and the drive to the Rhine, these groups had the mobility, flexibility, and firepower to move quickly across the battlefield, enabling them to aid communications and intelligence gathering and reducing the Clausewitzian friction of war Before the Allies landed on the beaches of Normandy in June 1944, their aerial reconnaissance discovered signs of German defenses on the Iles St. Marcouf. From these two coastal islands, German artillery could bombard the 4th US Infantry Division and repulse a crucial thrust of Operation Overlord. With the fate of the war on the line, the 4th Mechanized Cavalry Group navigated the islands' minefields and reported no trace of German soldiers. Their rapid and accurate intelligence gave the Allies the necessary time and concentration of forces for the D-Day invasion to succeed. In Sabers through the Reich , William Stuart Nance provides the first comprehensive operational history of American corps cavalry in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) during World War II. The corps cavalry had a substantive and direct impact on Allied success in almost every campaign, serving as offensive guards for armies across Europe and conducting reconnaissance, economy of force, and security missions, as well as prisoner of war rescues. From D-Day and Operation Cobra to the Battle of the Bulge and the drive to the Rhine, these groups had the mobility, flexibility, and firepower to move quickly across the battlefield, enabling them to aid communications and intelligence gathering and reducing the Clausewitzian friction of war. " This work provides a complete battle history of American corps cavalry in World War II. It asserts that these cavalry formations made an outsized contribution to the Allied victory in the European theatre in correlation to their actual size. These cavalry groups made the "90 Division gamble" actually work, allowing American corps and army commanders to mass combat power at the decisive point. Furthermore, this work also highlights the role of the reconnaissance and security battle at the operational level. It demonstrates how this long-overlooked part of military operations is an absolute essential in maneuver warfare. This “battle before the battle” fundamentally shapes the conditions for the main action, yet a thorough study of this fighting has long been ignored in the literature—a failing that this work remedies.

In Sabers through the Reich, William Stuart Nance provides the first comprehensive operational history of American corps cavalry in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) during World War II. The corps cavalry had a substantive and direct impact on Allied success in almost every campaign, and served as offensive guards for armies across Europe, conducting reconnaissance, economy of force, and security missions, as well as prisoner of war rescues. From D-Day and Operation Cobra to the Battle of the Bulge and the drive to the Rhine, these groups had the mobility, flexibility, and firepower to move quickly across the battlefield, enabling them to aid communications and intelligence gathering, reducing the Clausewitzian "friction of war."

In this book, the author provides a comprehensive operational history of American corps cavalry in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) during World War II.--Publisher's description