Military Review English Edition November-December 2014 | Page 138

“always operated on two levels, a personal level and a
political one. When the two have come into conflict,
I have had to put politics first.” Philby could not grasp
that, once known, his friends could not isolate Philby’s
separate personas as easily as he could. After defecting
to Moscow, Philby realized the cause he sacrificed so
much for was mere fiction. In this regard, Philby is a
tragic character that not only lost his life, but his reality.
A Spy Among Friends is a worthwhile read for
intelligence historians, espionage enthusiasts, and
those interested in human drama. Macintyre’s focus on
Philby and his friends makes this tragic story accessible
to non-historians who are interested in human tragedies, while also reminding historians that individuals
shape and are shaped by history.
Although Philby’s story is well known, Macintyre
brings depth that is often lost within accounts focused
on Philby’s treacherous deeds and not the individuals
involved. Macintyre crafted an engaging story; once
readers crack the book, they will find it difficult to put
down.
Maj. David P. Oakley, U.S. Army, Fort Sam
Houston, Texas

D-DAY IN HISTORY AND MEMORY:
The Normandy Landings in International
Remembrance and Commemoration
Edited by Michael Dolski, Sam Edwards, and John
Buckley, University of North Texas Press, Denton,
Texas, 2014, 320 pages, $24.95

O

n 6 June 1994, as a young Army captain, I was
part of the Normandy D-Day landings 50th
commemoration. I met soldiers and civilians
from the different participating countries and first
heard the different interpretations and meanings of the
events that took place on that historic day.
Similarly, this book is an edited collection of six
essays by different authors—historians who provide
differing views from the perspective of their respective
countries. The authors do not validate which of the
six viewpoints is correct, but do an excellent job of
objectively explaining the facts from their respective
country’s viewpoints in terms of political, cultural, and
contemporary issues. The long introduction provides a
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quick overview of D-Day and establishes the purpose
of the book. While the figures in the book are appropriately placed and connected to the text, the addition of a
map or a few more photos or graphs would have added
some very useful visual aids for better comprehension.
As one would expect, the six viewpoints are quite
different. America sees herself as the “savior of the
world” and promotes its heroics through media, political speeches, and visits to Normandy. The British see
D-Day as a vindication of Dunkirk, an expression of
British commitment to France, the last great demonstration of British Imperial unity, and a reversal of all
the defeats suffered by the British since 1939. These
points are woven into British culture via politics, press,
and cinema.
The British conceived and planned the invasion,
and were able to match U.S. men and materiel, making
D-Day a British success story. The Canadian view is
downplayed on the public level due to historians who
criticized the military for not reaching their D-Day
objectives and a government in Ottawa that had no priority for promoting commemorations. The French view
is thankful for liberation, yet grieves from the destruction caused by the Allies. The lack of Allied recognition
of French losses and sacrifice continues to irritate the
French public.
Th