Viewed as a contribution to military history, there is unquestionable value in this presentation of the German side of the campaign that liberated France from the German conquerors, as recounted by former Lieutenant-General Speidel, Rommel's chief of staff in the period following D-Day. Interwoven with the campaign history is the story of the abortive plot against Hitler, in which the military played so large a part. But many readers will question acceptance of the ex post facto attitude towards the ""monster Hitler"", and the rose-colored portraits of the Desert Fox and others of the conspirators. It all seems to take on some aura of a softening up policy towards Germany.