The Liberation Line
The Last Untold Story of the Normandy Landings
Published on 1. May 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
384 pages
978-1-83895-754-4 (ISBN)
Description
'Highly original' Simon Heffer, Telegraph
'Masterful... A gripping tale' Giles Milton
They certainly were not soldiers, yet they suddenly found themselves in uniform, in a foreign land. But, as locomotive drivers, track-workers, conductors, porters, signalmen and engine cleaners, they knew how to run trains. And their job was to bring them back to life.
The Liberation Line tells the thrilling story of the British and American railway engineers who, in the months after D-Day, worked around the clock and in great danger to rebuild the ravaged railways of Europe and keep the Allied forces fuelled as they pushed on into Germany. As territory was taken, these soldier-railroaders were close behind, rebuilding the lines, putting up telegraph wires, replacing bridges and laying track, all the while dodging bullets, shells and booby traps.
Tales of extraordinary feats and heroism abound, including how 10,000 men rebuilt a 135-mile-long railway in just three days; the reconstruction of the bridge over the Seine in two weeks while under bombardment; and the use of cigarette lighters as improvised signalling systems.
Despite being critical to Allied victory, the role of the railwaymen has been largely forgotten or ignored. In a vivid and gripping narrative, Christian Wolmar brings to life this colourful cast of generals and engineers, without whose extraordinary bravery the liberation of France and invasion of Germany might well have foundered - and the course of history changed.
'Masterful... A gripping tale' Giles Milton
They certainly were not soldiers, yet they suddenly found themselves in uniform, in a foreign land. But, as locomotive drivers, track-workers, conductors, porters, signalmen and engine cleaners, they knew how to run trains. And their job was to bring them back to life.
The Liberation Line tells the thrilling story of the British and American railway engineers who, in the months after D-Day, worked around the clock and in great danger to rebuild the ravaged railways of Europe and keep the Allied forces fuelled as they pushed on into Germany. As territory was taken, these soldier-railroaders were close behind, rebuilding the lines, putting up telegraph wires, replacing bridges and laying track, all the while dodging bullets, shells and booby traps.
Tales of extraordinary feats and heroism abound, including how 10,000 men rebuilt a 135-mile-long railway in just three days; the reconstruction of the bridge over the Seine in two weeks while under bombardment; and the use of cigarette lighters as improvised signalling systems.
Despite being critical to Allied victory, the role of the railwaymen has been largely forgotten or ignored. In a vivid and gripping narrative, Christian Wolmar brings to life this colourful cast of generals and engineers, without whose extraordinary bravery the liberation of France and invasion of Germany might well have foundered - and the course of history changed.
Reviews / Votes
Highly original... Wolmar, a respected transport historian, tells the story of British and American engineers imported into liberated France to rebuild the railways essential to the progress of the invasion and the recovery of the country * Simon Heffer, Telegraph * A masterful account of the unsung heroes of the battle for Normandy. Without the valiant efforts of the British and American railwaymen, the liberation of France might have had a very different outcome. A gripping tale. -- Giles Milton, bestselling author of Checkmate in Berlin One of the great epics of the war in Northern Europe from 1944 to may 1945 and beyond, the story of the Liberation Line has been hidden in plain sight until this brilliant book. The destruction of the railways by bombing and sabotage, and their resurrection and restoration, is vividly narrated by Christian Wolmar. * Robert Fox MBE Evening Standard Defence and Security Editor. * Wolmar's history will delight train spotters but is also fascinating for the passengers who often pass through these great transport temples without a second thought. * 'Books of the Year', Financial Times on Cathedrals of Steam * Lively... Wolmar builds a compelling narrative that celebrates these industrial wonders. * The Times on Cathedrals of Steam * London's twelve great rail termini are the epic survivors of the Victorian age. They are the cathedrals of transportation. Wolmar brings them to life with the knowledge of an expert and the panache of a connoisseur. His words render them indestructible. -- Simon Jenkins on Cathedrals of Steam A paean to the unsung workers whose trains not only carried fuel to the front but delivered mail from home, provided hospital care to the injured and were essential in repatriating the remains of soldiers who were killed in battle * Wall Street Journal *More details
Edition
Main
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Illustrations
2x8pp b/w plates and maps
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 31 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-83895-754-4 (9781838957544)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
05/2024
Atlantic Books
€9.99
Available for download
Person
Christian Wolmar has written for every national newspaper and appears frequently on TV and radio as a commentator on transport issues. His previous books include the widely acclaimed The Subterranean Railway; Fire and Steam; Blood, Iron and Gold; Engines of War; The Great Railway Revolution; To the Edge of the World; Railways and the Raj; Cathedrals of Steam; and British Rail.
Content
1: The Biggest Task 2: Destruction 3: First Tracks 4: The Greatest Task 5: All Aboard to Paris 6: Railways Everywhere 7: Lifesavers - But Not Always 8: Waiting for Antwerp 9: Hitler's Last Throw 10: Take Over Epilogue: Peace. But Railways Work to the End