Ardennes 1944

September 21, 2015
Acclaimed British historian Beevor (The Second World War) uses detailed archival research to tell the story of how scattered and surprised American soldiers fought a series of desperate, isolated battles and turned what could have been the worst military defeat in American history into victory. The story of the Battle of the Bulge has been told well many times; to be different, Beevor has included the actions of the French and Americans in the 6th Army Group on the French-German border, which most historians consider to be related but a separate battle. Beevor does add some new and interesting insights, including a discussion of the rampant corruption and criminal activity in the areas under American control, the strain between the French and the other Allies, the difficulty of integrating the resistance movements into the regular forces, and the plight of the civilians caught up in the battle. In addition, he analyzes the significant command problems confronting Supreme Commander Eisenhower: Field Marshal Montgomery’s ego, Gen. Bradley’s hesitancy, and Gen. Hodge’s incompetence. For those already familiar with the battle, Beevor’s intriguing analysis and engaging writing style expertly illuminate both the soldiers’ and generals’ experiences.

Starred review from September 15, 2015
Award-winning military historian Beevor (The Second World War, 2012, etc.) examines the Battle of the Bulge in-depth, with a detailed order of battle for all the combatants, a full array of maps, and extensive quotations from original sources, including secretly taped comments by German officers in British POW camps. The result is a panoramic and remarkably frank treatment of the German attack, ordered by Hitler as a last-ditch attempt to reverse the momentum of battle in Western Europe. The Allied armies had made significant progress since the D-Day invasion in June, pushing the German armies out of France and most of the Netherlands and Belgium. Pulling tanks and troops off the eastern front, where the Red Army was pushing hard, the Germans put everything into an attempt to split the Allies and force the British out of the war. The attack, launched in December, caught the Allies off guard-caused partly by squabbles that distracted the Allied generals. British commanding general Sir Bernard Montgomery was clearly jealous of the American commander, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and kept pushing to be given more independence. American generals George Patton and Omar Bradley, among others, detested Montgomery and blamed him for not securing the port of Antwerp. Meanwhile, one of the worst winters on record made for nearly impossible fighting conditions, punishing soldiers and ruining their equipment until the Allies finally prevailed. Beevor skewers the pretensions and weaknesses of generals and details atrocities and mistreatment of both civilians and surrendering enemies by both sides. The author takes for granted more knowledge of the battle, the terrain, and the German language than general readers may possess, and he occasionally repeats information attentive readers will recall from previous mentions. But these are small quibbles. On the whole, this is a treasure of memorable portraits, striking details, fascinating revelations, and broad insights-likely to be the definitive account of the battle for years to come. Essential reading for anyone interested in World War II.

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June 1, 2015

The Allies eventually won the Battle of the Bulge, the result of a German counteroffensive in the Ardennes in late 1944. But thousands lay dead on both sides, with U.S. troops bearing 89,000 casualties, including 19,000 men killed. Beevor is not just a New York Times best-selling author (e.g., D-Day) but a major award winner--he's claimed Wolfson and Samuel Johnson honors and was given the 2014 Pritzker Military Museum & Library Literature Award for Lifetime Achievement in Military Writing. With a 100,000-copy first printing and an eight-city tour.

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2015

Beevor (The Second World War; D-Day), who has won numerous awards for his works, demonstrates here why he is a celebrated historian and writer. Ardennes 1944, or "The Battle of the Bulge," is squarely focused on this critical World War II battle spanning August 1944 to April 1945. The author tracks troop movements and positioning throughout the long conflict, while accounting for decisions made on the field, in the war room, and all the way up the chain of command to Gen. Dwight Eisenhower. The writing is both intense and gripping, particularly Beevor's descriptions of the desperate German forces fleeing Gen. George S. Patton's unrelenting advance. Especially fascinating are the activities of Ernest Hemingway throughout the period; while infrequent and unobtrusive, historic gems such as this add a wonderful depth to the work. The many clear maps are a welcome inclusion, particularly in a battle with such a volatile and unstable front. "D-Day" is commonly referred to the invasion of Normandy; "Battle of the Bulge" is more confusing because of its drawn out series of events. This book may be the best explanation yet, and a wonderful read. VERDICT Highly recommended for historians and readers of World War II; fans of military, American, and European history; military strategists; and members of the armed forces. [See Prepub Alert, 5/11/15, "Editors' Fall Picks," LJ 9/1/15, p. 31].--Benjamin Brudner, Curry Coll. Lib., Milton, MA

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.