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The Cover Up at Omaha Beach (Paperback)

Maisy Battery and the US Rangers

Military Photographic Books WWII > Battles & Campaigns > D-Day & Normandy WWII > Photographic Books

By Gary Sterne
Imprint: Pen & Sword Military
Pages: 315
Illustrations: 300
ISBN: 9781526753434
Published: 3rd April 2019
Last Released: 12th March 2024

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The Rangers mission was clear. They were to lead the assault on Omaha Beach and breakout inland. Simultaneously other Ranger units would scale the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc to destroy the "huge" gun battery there and thus protect the invasion fleet from being targeted. But was the Pointe du Hoc mission actually necessary? Why did the Allies plan and execute an attack on a gun battery which they knew in advance contained no field guns? And more importantly, why did they ignore the position at Maisy that did? Using personal interviews with the surviving Rangers who fought on the beach and at Pointe du Hoc - this is a work of exceptionally detailed and fresh research which takes the reader into the centre of the action alongside the Rangers.

Gary Sterne has made a painstaking study of what the Allies actually knew in advance of D-day and about the Maisy Battery. Maps, orders and assualt plans have been found in the UK, German and US archives, many of which were not released from the Top Secrecy Act for 60+ years. Radio communications have been found from the Rangers as they advanced inland towards Maisy and intelligence evaluations made by the RAF of bombing missions directed at the site have now been released. All these combine to make this one of the most up-to-date references on the subject.

Interview article (covering 4 pages)with Gary Sterne `Digging up the truth`

WDYTYA?,July 2019

As featured by

La Renaissance le Bessin

The main part of the book is a very detailed account of the activities of the US Rangers on D-Day and in the following few days, starting with the original landings, including the famous assault up the cliffs at Pointe-du-Hoc, and the attack on the Maisy batteries. This is built around a huge collection of eyewitness accounts from the Rangers themselves, including some from interviews conducted by the author, supported by official documents from both sides. I found this part of the book very convincing, and a valuable addition to the D-Day literature...

... This is a fascinating story, well supported by contemporary evidence, and helps fill a gap in the history of the D-Day Invasion.

History of War

The depth of research and time plunged into this book by Sterne is simply breathtaking. It doesn't simply offer alternatives to the history of Pointe du Hoc, it blows them away. It creates new ideas and actually supports them with hard evidence. ... One for fans of anything WWII, D-Day or otherwise.

War History Online

A gritty first hand - yard by yard account of what combat was like in those early days for the liberation of Europe....will forever change the way you think about the battle for Omaha Beach and the importance of Pointe du Hoc.

The Armourer

With extensive research, detailed maps and his in-depth knowledge of the ground, the author makes a compelling case. An unexpectedly convincing and worthwhile read.

Soldier Magazine

A 'must-have' for historians.

Airfix Model World

The US rangers at Omaha beach had a clear mission. They were to destroy the gun battery on Pointe du Hoc, while leading the breakout of the Allied forces from the beach. This would provide protection for the invasion fleet. The results were surprising. There were actually no field guns at Pointe du Hoc, whereas there were such guns at Maisy. The results were disastrous for the US forces, causing major problems in ensuring a successful breakout from the beach. Gary Sterne has written an interesting book looking at the whole situation and asks whether there was actually a cover up. Using personal interviews with surviving rangers, he gives a fresh view on the battle and the events that surrounded the fighting. The result is a very readable book, offering new insights and hitherto unpublished accounts of the battle, from the point of view of those who actually fought it on the ground. 4 stars

Angela Youngman - monstersandcritics.com

The thirst for understanding of how the two world wars of the 20th century were conducted seems to grow with every important anniversary. So a book which rewrites one aspect of the history of D-Day, the invasion of Normandy which would lead on to Allied victory, is guaranteed to make you sit up. Ten years ago, Gary Sterne uncovered – literally – a forgotten part of D-Day history: beneath hedgerows, he found the remains of the Maisy Battery. The part played by this gun emplacement had been overlooked, Sterne says, in the accounts of battle. In a penetrating and painstaking analysis of all the evidence, Sterne attempts to put the record straight.

Cheshire Life

One of the most up to date references on the subject. In reality it renders many previously written works inaccurate and will forever change the way you think the battle was balanced around the importance of Point du Hoc.

Skirmish - Living History Magazine

About Gary Sterne

Gary Sterne is a keen collector of militaria and was a co-founder of The Armourer and Skirmish Magazines. He has always been fascinated with the D-day landings and in particular was intrigued by the lack of precise information relating the mystery of the "missing guns" of Pointe du Hoc. His research led to the finding of a map which indicated the position of an "unknown" German gun position buried in the village of Maisy. After buying the land, he was able to open the huge site to the public. The re-discovery of the Maisy Battery made headline news around the world and has subsequently changed the history of the Omaha Sector forever. The site is now one of the major Normandy D-day attractions.

Perfect Partner

Allied Intelligence and the Cover Up at Pointe Du Hoc The History of the 2nd & 5th US Army Rangers, 1943 – 30th April 1944 (Hardback)

Volume 1 of this two-part work puts the reader firmly into the footsteps of the 2nd and 5th Rangers as they arrive in England in 1943. It follows them during their intensive training with the Commandos and the Royal Navy as they head towards D-Day – including cliff climbing, assault landings and the Slapton Sands ‘dress rehearsal’. The orders given to the Rangers, along with dozens of aerial reconnaissance photographs of Omaha Beach, Pointe et Raz de la Percée, Pointe du Hoc and Maisy - as well as French Resistance reports – detail the information given to the Rangers' commander Lt. Col.…

By Gary Sterne

Click here to buy both titles for £37.79
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