D-Day in History and Memory: The Normandy Landings in International Remembrance and Commemoration

Acknowledgments

ix As those who commanded the D-Day invasion knew all too well, collaborative, transatlantic, ventures are a challenging enterprise in bothplanningandexecution.Thisbookwasnoexception.Admittedly, as editors our endeavor was of a rather different sort and scale to that of Ike in June 1944 (we used far fewer ships and hardly any aircraft at all...). But there were, on reflection, some uncanny connections. Our supreme commander throughout was American, Michael Dolski, and his lieutenants were both British: Sam Edwards and John Buckley (one is tempted to push the analogy as far as it will go and mark the former as a sort of Tedder figure, and the latter as a Monty; although it must be acknowledged that not once did John attempt to suggest we all join him in a dynamic drive through Belgium). And much like Overlord, there were the obligatory confusions and differences to overcome (what to do with that so troubling issue in Anglo-American relations, vowels). But, as we hope our readers will agree, the result of this transatlantic endeavor is an engaging and rewarding assessment of how one event—D-Day—has been appropriated , adapted, and assimilated into six distinct national cultures. The project began as a conference panel exploring comparative perspectives on the Normandy landings organized by Michael and Sam for the Society of Military History’s conference in 2010 (always a stimulating occasion) at the Virginia Military Institute (a fascinating venue). Soon after, Ron Chrisman of UNT Press contacted Acknowledgments D-Day in History and Memory x Michael expressing an interest in the panel and inviting us to submit a proposal for a book-length comparative study if we thought there was scope for it. We did, and leapt at the opportunity. But, as relatively junior scholars, we needed experience and wisdom to guide us, and we found both in Professor John Buckley, eminent military historian, scholar, and gentleman. With John’s involvement, we were ready to begin our search for the expert contributors necessary to the project’s successful completion. Michael, an authority when it comes to D-Day’s place in American memory, was to deal with the American-focused chapter, while Sam, with interests in all aspects of war commemoration, was to take the British chapter. John, meanwhile , was to exercise a detached overview of the project, prompting and advising where necessary. But that still left four chapters in need of suitable authors, those dealing with Canadian, French, German, and Russian memory. Our approach to finding these authors was simple: we looked for those with the requisite knowledge and expertise to examine their subject matter with skill, care, and flare. Hence Terry Copp and Matt Symes for the Canadian chapter, Kate Lemay for the French chapter; Günter Bischof and Michael Maier for the German chapter (which, due to Günter’s unique skills and knowledge, also includes a consideration of Austrian memory), and Olga Kucherenko for the chapter exploring the view of D-Day from beyond the Urals. As editors, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all these experts for agreeing to be involved in the project, and for the dedication and diligence with which they have undertaken their research and writing. Not once have we had to cajole, hurry, or encourage: our authors completed their assignments in good time, and in good order, and for this, our sincere thanks. On behalf of all of us (editors included) our thanks must also go to all those staff of the many different archival facilities in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Austria, and Russia whose documents and sources are recorded in the footnotes and bibliography . Our gratitude and appreciation must also go to our editor at UNT Press, Ron Chrisman, who has been unfailingly supportive throughout, guiding us through the challenges and pitfalls of edited xi Acknowledgments collections. In so many respects, this project was his initiative, and for this, we thank him. For all of us too, family and friends have been understanding and accepting of the demands of scholarship, especially that which is, like this book, transatlantic and transnational. For their patience, indulgence, and interest, we thank them all. It seems apt here to conclude with the words of GEN Eisenhower, words written on a scrap of paper on 5 June 1944, and thrust into his breast pocket where they stayed, never to be used for their original purpose. The words were...