Niels Henkemans
@niels1944.bsky.social
Specialist on Normandy 1944, esp. the Cotentin Peninsula. Author of 'Defending Normandy' (2024): https://www.panzerwrecks.com/product/defending-normandy-vol-1/
Love history books but prefer to study the records myself. Try it.
Love history books but prefer to study the records myself. Try it.
Always interesting when work presents you with a WW2 story you've never heard before. Now busy finding out more, but first visited these gentlemen today 🇨🇦 RIP
August 22, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Always interesting when work presents you with a WW2 story you've never heard before. Now busy finding out more, but first visited these gentlemen today 🇨🇦 RIP
Looking for intel from the 50th Infantry Division (and attached formatios) for its first week in Normandy. Trying to figure out which German forces they encountered/identified. And yes, this is related to Defending Normany Vol.2 😉
Any help very much appreciated!
Any help very much appreciated!
July 19, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Looking for intel from the 50th Infantry Division (and attached formatios) for its first week in Normandy. Trying to figure out which German forces they encountered/identified. And yes, this is related to Defending Normany Vol.2 😉
Any help very much appreciated!
Any help very much appreciated!
Always nice when you get to see your favorite tank. Unfortunately someone parked a Tiger II next to it
May 17, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Always nice when you get to see your favorite tank. Unfortunately someone parked a Tiger II next to it
Unrelated, but I came across this on FB yesterday
February 25, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Unrelated, but I came across this on FB yesterday
Another great endorsement from someone I've been a big fan of for as long as I can remember.
Steve also kindly provided some of the photos for Vol.1A and 1B, so thank you for for that as well!
Steve also kindly provided some of the photos for Vol.1A and 1B, so thank you for for that as well!
January 31, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Another great endorsement from someone I've been a big fan of for as long as I can remember.
Steve also kindly provided some of the photos for Vol.1A and 1B, so thank you for for that as well!
Steve also kindly provided some of the photos for Vol.1A and 1B, so thank you for for that as well!
My first two books, released within six months. Still feels unreal 🤗
January 31, 2025 at 2:34 PM
My first two books, released within six months. Still feels unreal 🤗
Something heavy arrived today. Unboxing tomorrow
January 30, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Something heavy arrived today. Unboxing tomorrow
Insult or compliment? 🤨
January 26, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Insult or compliment? 🤨
January 6, 2025 at 6:37 PM
I know many of you haven't even gotten your copy of #defendingnormandy Vol.1B yet, but since plenty of people are already asking about Vol.2, here's a preview of what will probably be in it 😎
January 5, 2025 at 9:56 PM
I know many of you haven't even gotten your copy of #defendingnormandy Vol.1B yet, but since plenty of people are already asking about Vol.2, here's a preview of what will probably be in it 😎
New reading material for #defendingnormandy Vol.2. #Osttruppen
January 3, 2025 at 6:26 PM
New reading material for #defendingnormandy Vol.2. #Osttruppen
If you happen to have a copy of Vol. 1A of #defendingnormandy (or even Vol. 1B already), please consider leaving a review or rating on on one of the bookselling websites. As an unknown author with a small publisher, it is hard to get noticed. All help is very much appreciated! 🤗
December 20, 2024 at 6:29 PM
If you happen to have a copy of Vol. 1A of #defendingnormandy (or even Vol. 1B already), please consider leaving a review or rating on on one of the bookselling websites. As an unknown author with a small publisher, it is hard to get noticed. All help is very much appreciated! 🤗
Oh, and if you don't have Vol. 1A yet.... you can get that at a discount as well!
www.panzerwrecks.com/product/defe...
www.panzerwrecks.com/product/defe...
December 17, 2024 at 7:57 PM
Oh, and if you don't have Vol. 1A yet.... you can get that at a discount as well!
www.panzerwrecks.com/product/defe...
www.panzerwrecks.com/product/defe...
Book delayed by 2 days, but you do get a discount!
December 16, 2024 at 5:26 PM
Book delayed by 2 days, but you do get a discount!
The publisher has uploaded some sample pages. Here is part 1
November 29, 2024 at 6:56 PM
The publisher has uploaded some sample pages. Here is part 1
The book will be out on 16 December, but you can pre-order it here already: www.panzerwrecks.com/product/defe...
Buying directly from the publisher is the best way to support my research, which will continue with many more volumes to come! 😎
Buying directly from the publisher is the best way to support my research, which will continue with many more volumes to come! 😎
November 29, 2024 at 5:18 PM
The book will be out on 16 December, but you can pre-order it here already: www.panzerwrecks.com/product/defe...
Buying directly from the publisher is the best way to support my research, which will continue with many more volumes to come! 😎
Buying directly from the publisher is the best way to support my research, which will continue with many more volumes to come! 😎
Maps are incredibly important to understand battles, and my books have dozens of them. Most are directly based on original German maps or reconstructed based on extensive research.
November 13, 2024 at 6:56 PM
Maps are incredibly important to understand battles, and my books have dozens of them. Most are directly based on original German maps or reconstructed based on extensive research.
To reconstruct the German side of things, and to better understand the fighting as a whole, I focus on individual formations as pieces of the puzzle. It help to understand them and their involvement in the battles. (This shows what is in Vol.1A and 1B)
November 13, 2024 at 6:56 PM
To reconstruct the German side of things, and to better understand the fighting as a whole, I focus on individual formations as pieces of the puzzle. It help to understand them and their involvement in the battles. (This shows what is in Vol.1A and 1B)
Enemies are usually presented as a faceless entity, presented with details needed to tell the Allied story. Much of what is said about them is outdated, simplistic or wrong.
My information is mostly based on primary sources, which can be found in the endnotes.
My information is mostly based on primary sources, which can be found in the endnotes.
November 13, 2024 at 6:56 PM
Enemies are usually presented as a faceless entity, presented with details needed to tell the Allied story. Much of what is said about them is outdated, simplistic or wrong.
My information is mostly based on primary sources, which can be found in the endnotes.
My information is mostly based on primary sources, which can be found in the endnotes.
To say hi to my new followers, some information about my #defendingnormandy book series. The series breaks away from the traditional way of writing about German forces in Normandy. It does not rely on old publications but is a fresh examination of original records.
November 13, 2024 at 6:56 PM
To say hi to my new followers, some information about my #defendingnormandy book series. The series breaks away from the traditional way of writing about German forces in Normandy. It does not rely on old publications but is a fresh examination of original records.
Starting preparations for my talk about #defendingnormandy Vol.1B 😎
Considering my options... 🤔 Pick another division to focus on? (I did the 91st Luftlande for Vol.1A) Or cover the forces in Normandy from 1940 to D-Day? Or something else...? 🧐
Considering my options... 🤔 Pick another division to focus on? (I did the 91st Luftlande for Vol.1A) Or cover the forces in Normandy from 1940 to D-Day? Or something else...? 🧐
November 12, 2024 at 6:27 PM
Starting preparations for my talk about #defendingnormandy Vol.1B 😎
Considering my options... 🤔 Pick another division to focus on? (I did the 91st Luftlande for Vol.1A) Or cover the forces in Normandy from 1940 to D-Day? Or something else...? 🧐
Considering my options... 🤔 Pick another division to focus on? (I did the 91st Luftlande for Vol.1A) Or cover the forces in Normandy from 1940 to D-Day? Or something else...? 🧐
Not infuriating, but the first review I received of my book was not about my book. Still got five stars though 😂
September 17, 2024 at 8:46 AM
Not infuriating, but the first review I received of my book was not about my book. Still got five stars though 😂
And, to finish this thread, here's a German map from 3 June 1944 that might be of interest. I've highlighted the divisions discussed.
May 27, 2024 at 3:44 PM
And, to finish this thread, here's a German map from 3 June 1944 that might be of interest. I've highlighted the divisions discussed.