If You Survive: From Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge to the End of World War II, One American Officer's Riveting True Story

Book Description

"If you survive your first day, I'll promote you."

So promised George Wilson's World War II commanding officer in the hedgerows of Normandy -- and it was to be a promise dramatically fulfilled. From July, 1944, to the closing days of the war, from the first penetration of the Siegfried Line to the Nazis' last desperate charge in the Battle of the Bulge, Wilson fought in the thickest of the action, helping take the small towns of northern France and Belgium building by building.

Of all the men and officers who started out in Company F of the 4th Infantry Division with him, Wilson was the only one who finished. In the end, he felt not like a conqueror or a victor, but an exhausted survivor, left with nothing but his life -- and his emotions.

If You Survive

One of the great first-person accounts of the making of a combat veteran, in the last, most violent months of World War II.

Customer Reviews:

Quick read.......2007-10-12

A good basic account of an infantry leader in Europe during 1944. Details are interesting, although there is virtually no overall framework or background to Wilson's story. What is striking, however, is how heavy the casualties were and how Wilson was forced to work with green officers and men over and over as he was called upon to execute repeated missions. Worth the read, and its quick.

Belonging to the short list of must own WWII books.......2007-06-23

Just as Eugene Sledges, "With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa", is the standard bearer for books written about the Marine island hopping campaign, "If You Survive" by George Wilson will be considered to be among the very best autobiographical accounts of being an Army infantry officer during the post D-Day European campaign in WWII. Wilson's account is poignant, rings true, and offers a rare perspective of a young lieutenant leading men into combat in the race to Germany in 1944. It should be standard reading for all NCOs and young officers regardless of their military occupational specialty. You'll find it hard to put down as Wilson's narration leads the reader from one harrowing combat battle to the next. All this was happening while the platoons and the companies commanded by the author were steadily reduced through the attrition of casualties and combat fatigue. A fascinating story.

If You Survive.......2007-04-10

Excellent read, this guy story could be mine, you will enjoy it, fast read

One excellent Book.......2007-04-01

I have read many, many books in my life. I have read dozens of books on WWII. This book is at the top of my list for reading. I've read it three times in the short time I've owned it. It is compelling in it's frankness. Rarely does an author bring you into the war with his narrative, as George Wilson does. The story allows one to forget his troubles, and be swept into the past. The men who fought in WWII have been called our Greatest Generation. George Wilson's book, 'If You Survive: From Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge to the End of World War II, One American Officer's Riveting True Story' helps you understand why.
An excellent book, and excellent read. Buy it and enjoy!

Interesting way to learn about WWII and being a soldier .......2007-03-09

My Dad (who was a tail gunner in a plane during the Battle of the Bulge) recommended this book to my son in middle school. My son, and in turn, many kids in his social studies class and his teacher also gave the book rave reviews. It is an easy read from a soldier's perspective that takes you through the big European ground battles of WWII. A much more interesting way to learn history and make it "come alive". My son and many of his friends have gone to other WWII books because of their interest in WWII and I think this book contributed greatly to that interest. George- thanks !

The Longest Winter: The Battle of the Bulge and the Epic Story of WWII's Most Decorated Platoon

Average customer rating:

excellent story of heroism
Another great story of heroism from America's citizen soldiers in WWII Europe
Fascinating, too long forgotten tale of American heroism deserves a better telling
Great story told well.
A Window Into December, 1944

The Longest Winter: The Battle of the Bulge and the Epic Story of WWII's Most Decorated Platoon
Alex Kershaw
Manufacturer: Da Capo Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

The Bedford Boys: One American Town's Ultimate D-Day Sacrifice
Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters
Armageddon: The Battle for Germany, 1944-1945
The Few
Biggest Brother : The Life of Major Dick Winters, The Man Who Led the Band of Brothers

ASIN: 0306814404

Book Description

From the author of the best-selling The Bedford Boys, the remarkable story of America's most decorated platoon that miraculously halted Hitler's massive offensive at the Battle of the Bulge

On the morning of December 16, 1944, eighteen men of the Intelligence and Reconnaissance platoon attached to the 99th Infantry Division found themselves directly in the path of the main thrust of Hitler's massive Ardennes offensive. Despite being vastly outnumbered, they were told to hold their position "at all costs." Throughout the day, the platoon repulsed three large German assaults in a fierce day-long battle, killing hundreds of German soldiers. Only when they had run out of ammunition did they surrender to the enemy.

But their long winter was just beginning. As POWs, the platoon experienced an ordeal far worse than combat-surviving in wretched German POW camps. Yet miraculously the men of the platoon survived-all of them-and returned home after the war. More than thirty years later, when President Carter recognized the platoon's "extraordinary heroism" and the U.S. Army approved combat medals for all eighteen men, they became America's most decorated platoon of World War II.

With the same vivid and dramatic prose that made The Bedford Boys a national bestseller, Alex Kershaw brings to life the story of these little-known heroes-an epic tale of courage, duty, and survival in World War II and one of the most inspiring episodes in American history. The Longest Winter is an intensely human story about young men who find themselves in frightening wartime situations, who fight back instinctively, survive stoically, and live heroically.

Customer Reviews:

excellent story of heroism.......2007-08-08

The other reviews tell it much more eloquently than I can. I would only add that I especially liked the scene after Bouck has been captured and Joachim Pieper enters the house demanding to know why the attack has been held up.

The Baum Task force story illustrates that even Patton was not beyond making mistakes, and for selfish reasons: to save his son-in-law Lt. Colonel Waters.

An excellent read.

Another great story of heroism from America's citizen soldiers in WWII Europe.......2007-03-10

Kershaw does a wonderful job of finally completely documenting the story of these men on the front lines of the Bulge. His writing style is "reader friendly". I think the area where he particularly deserves compliments is the time he's taken to locate and personally interview the men still living or those family members of the now-deceased. For me, the conveyance of the first-hand experiences and recollections makes Kershaw's books more personal, aand I appreciate that.

Fascinating, too long forgotten tale of American heroism deserves a better telling.......2007-02-19

Alex Kershaw has developed into in an excellent popular chronicler of World War II. "The Longest Winter" is an earlier effort and reading it after first encountering his later - and much better - works demonstrates how Kershaw has grown.

The story, far too long forgotten and untold, of an American platoon that performed heroically in the first hours of the Battle of the Bulge is fascinating and inspiring. One despairs of ever seeing patriotic Americans so willing to sacrifice everything to protect their comrades and their nation.

The problem is that Kershaw hadn't developed his style yet or, one suspects, his confidence. The telling is overlong, much too detailed and far too broad and meandering. Kershaw follows many of his subjects, both the American and German combatants over fifty years. While his knowledge of these men is impressive, displaying it wasn't absolutely necessary. In fact, in some cases it detracts from the story.

Kershaw's writing style is, as well, too matter of fact when he describes the heroic, desperate combat as a handful of young American soldiers held up a mighty German offensive for hours and may have saved the Allied forces from a crippling blow. Again, Kershaw's research was prodigous, but he seems to have felt the need to include all of it. A few facts too many - and not enough drama in his descriptions of the combat.

All in all, Kershaw has still delivered an exceptional military history. The story of the heroic platoon deserves telling and retelling until the end of time. A few men stood firm against a tidal wave of tanks, infantry and artillery. Those who survived were taken prisoner and suffered for months in prison camps and some for decades after because of their wounds and mistreatment. Yet, honors didn't find them immediately and their heroism went unrecognized for decades.

Kershaw is to be lauded for discovering and telling this story and it is to his further credit that he has gone on to develop a more sophisticated style and greater competence. A good book that could have been made better with judicious editing, but still a book every military history buff will delight in.

Jerry

Great story told well........2007-02-14

This book is a bit slow getting started, but becomes a real page-turner in no time. A great example of what made this country's finest generation so great. An absolute must-have for any WWII buff. This book is on the "top shelf" of my collection, and I have let many friends read it. Highly recommended.

A Window Into December, 1944.......2007-01-24

Having read numerous books on various wars and battles it is always nice to get 'down into the foxholes' with the troops on the front lines. This is such a book. We are transported to the 394th I & R company who held a 'very thin line' on the Ghost Front. This story is the encounter that 22 men had against an overwhelming force of 500 paratroop units of the Germans. Snow had fallen, and they had reinforced their foxholes with cut logs, creating a wooden bunker with rifle slits. A tremendous field-of-fire was had from the woods-edge of a snow-filled meadow that lead away down to the town where the Germans began their operations.

Wave after wave attacked throughout the day, until the U.S. troops had lost most of their ammo, and had lost their .50 caliber MG due to overheating the barrel. The book leads you through this with alacrity. From the point that they are taken in as P.O.W.s the book began to drag for me. I prefer the action, not the post-action.

It does give you the sense of urgency that the 394th felt, and the sinking feeling of being ordered to "Hold the line at all costs!" Then losing contact with HQ...

A Time for Trumpets: The Untold Story of the Battle of the Bulge

Average customer rating:

The Comprehensive Account of the Battle of the Bulge
Outstanding Read.
Best Book on the Bulge from a Soldier Who Was There
Battle of the Bulge comes to life in this book's pages......
SUPERB !!!!!!!!

A Time for Trumpets: The Untold Story of the Battle of the Bulge
Charles B. MacDonald
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Battle: The Story of the Bulge
The Bitter Woods: The Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of Hurtgen Forest
A Tour of the Bulge Battlefield
The Battle Of The Bulge: Hitler's Ardennes Offensive, 1944-1945

ASIN: 0553342266
Release Date: 1985-11-01

Book Description

On December 16, 1944, the vanguard of three German armies, totaling half a million men, attacked U.S. forces in the Ardennes region of Belgium and Luxembourg, achieveing what had been considered impossible -- total surprise. In the most abysmal failure of battlefield intelligence in the history of the U.S. Army, 600,000 American soldiers found themselves facing Hitler's last desperate effort of the war.

The brutal confrontation that ensued became known as the Battle of the Bulge, the greatest battle ever fought by the U.S. Army -- a triumph of American ingenuity and dedication over an egregious failure in strategic intelligence. A Time for Trumpets is the definitive account of this dramatic victory, told by one of America's most respected military historians, who was also an eyewitness: MacDonald commanded a rifle company in the Battle of the Bulge. His account of this unique battle is exhaustively researched, honestly recounted, and movingly authentic in its depiction of hand-to-hand combat.

Mingling firsthand experience with the insights of a distinguished historian, MacDonald places this profound human drama unforgettably on the landscape of history.

Customer Reviews:

The Comprehensive Account of the Battle of the Bulge.......2006-11-06

Charles MacDonald, a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge and later an official historian for the U.S Army, wrote "A Time for Trumpets" as the comprehensive account of that battle. MacDonald covers the battle from the foxhole to the highest headquarters on the Allied and German sides.

In late 1944, Hitler's armies were in retreat across Western Europe, only able to consolidate a defensive line at the German frontier thanks to the fact that Eisenhower's Allied Expeditionary Force had outrun its own supplies. Hitler gambled much of his remaining military resources on a lightning counter-offensive through the difficult terrain of the Ardennes to cripple the Allied armies and restore the military balance in the West.

As MacDonald recounts, the Allies had been lulled into dangerous complacency in the Ardennes sector and were taken badly by surprise. MacDonald's theme is how individual American units, often at great odds, nevertheless stood their ground and slowly fought the German offensive to a standstill, and eventually retook the area known as the Bulge. While famous units such as the 101st Airborne Division get their due, MacDonald does a superb job of capturing the action from the perspective of a variety of participants on both sides as the battle unfolded. Of note are the accounts from the green and unlucky 106th Infantry Division, many of whose small units fought surprisingly well despite being bypassed and cut-off in the opening hours of the German offensive. MacDonald also captures the fierce infighting at the Allied Command level, as Eisenhower's efforts to stem the tide in the Ardennes triggered a crisis of command among Allied leaders.

At over six hundred pages, MacDonald's account is not only exhaustive but verges on exhausting. The dedicated reader will be rewarded with an excellent account of the battle that holds up extremely well despite its 1984 publication date.

Outstanding Read........2005-06-03

I purchased this book in 1985 at the bookstore in the German Reichstag of all places. I was attending college in Germany and needed a good reference work on the battle prior to visiting Bastogne. This book more than fit the bill and prepared me well as my train traveled from Aachen along the Meuse to Namur, Liege, Libramont and finally to Bastogne.

One of the most interesting aspects of this particular work is that you quickly learn that the German timetable for success was disrupted right from the start. The American combat infantryman put up a serious fight from start to finish. MacDonald's accounts of indiviual American efforts, especially those of the CCR's is particularly informative.

Overall, just a great and interesting read.

Best Book on the Bulge from a Soldier Who Was There.......2005-06-02

This is considered one of the four great books on the Battle of the Bulge. The others are John Toland's Battle, Hugh Cole's official US Army History: The Ardennes: Battle of the Bulge and John Eisenhower's The Bitter Woods. I have read all but Hugh Cole's book and will review each of them.

If one wants to know what was happening at the individual soldier's level, this is the book. Charles B. MacDonald fought in the Battle of the Bulge as a company commander and wrote his personal account of the European Theater of War, Company Commander. He knows what it was like to fight in that bitter cold battle with units widely spread out. MacDonald was at the critical Elsenborn Ridge in the North and helped prevent the Germans from spreading and enlarging the Bulge.

His book takes you into action with the sometimes ragtag groups of units that fought overwhelming forces. In some cases platoons of around 20 men fought battalions of 500 and larger.

This detail requires the reader to really look at the many included maps to keep track of this battle that stretched almost 80 miles from north to south. While the other books mentioned above have details of individual soldiers fighting, this is the most extensive. It is about twice the size of John Toland's book.

MacDonald builds on and cites the earlier books by Toland and Eisenhower. Because his book came out around the 40th anniversary of the Bulge he was able to incorporate the information released on the German Enigma intercepts. While this information builds on how the Germans conducted the deception that led to the Bulge, it does not greatly change anything previously known. It is interesting, though. What did the intelligence officers really know?

Because MacDonald concentrated on the soldier level so much he does not concentrate as much on the senior leadership level as Eisenhower. He does have some telling comments on the issue of Field Marshall Montgomery's belief that he should take control of the entire ground battle from General Eisenhower, the overall commander. MacDonald generally demolishes Montgomery's arguments.

MacDonald also does not spend much time on the strategic context, before or after the battle.

If you are looking for the best book on the Battle of Bulge that gives you the view of the battle from the soldiers' level and someone who was there, A Time for Trumpets is the best book.

Battle of the Bulge comes to life in this book's pages.............2004-02-02

On December 16, 1944, elements of four German armies -- 14 infantry and five panzer divisions in all -- attacked part of the American First Army along an 80-mile front along Germany's border with Belgium and Luxembourg. The sudden and unexpected counteroffensive hit the Americans in an area the Allies thought would be a nice, quiet sector for combat-weary divisions to rest and refit while green divisions fresh from the States could be acclimated to life on the line: the dark and deep forests of the Ardennes. Planned and ordered by Adolf Hitler himself, this massive onslaught was launched with one objective in mind: penetrate the American lines, pass through the "impassable" Ardennes Forest, cross the Meuse River, and capture the vital port of Antwerp. At the very least, the Allied supply situation would deteriorate enough to slow the Anglo-American advance to the Reich's industrial heartland by a matter of months and buy time for Hitler and his tottering empire. At the very best, a German victory would split the Grand Alliance in three, trap the Anglo-Canadian 21st Army Group on the northern sector of the front, and the Fuhrer could attempt to convince the Soviets that further fighting was useless now that the Western Allies had been defeated at the Reich's very doorstep.

For a few snowy, foggy, and bitterly cold days, things seemed to be going Hitler's way. Caught off-guard by the sheer size of the counteroffensive, hampered by bad weather which prevented Allied air power to provide ground support to the tankers and infantrymen along the front, confused and misdirected by a small number of English-speaking German commandos wearing American uniforms, and, at some points along the 80-mile "Ghost Front," isolated, outnumbered, and forced to surrender, GIs fought a seemingly losing battle against hundreds of thousands of German soldiers. But even when some units panicked or were overrun, many American soldiers -- sometimes in dribs and drabs -- stood fast and delayed the enemy, giving Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Allied Supreme Commander, and his generals valuable time to plan a riposte and turn what seemed to be a disaster into a strategic opportunity. And sure enough, after a month's of heavy fighting in the awful cold of a European winter, the German counteroffensive was slowed, halted, and gradually pushed back to where it had started.

The late Charles B. MacDonald, one of America's premier military historians and himself a company commander in the Ardennes campaign, captures the chaos, misery, bravery, and drama of the U.S. Army's largest battle in history in A Time For Trumpets: The Untold Story of the Battle of the Bulge. The author of such acclaimed works as Company Commander and The Mighty Endeavor, MacDonald uses his skills as a writer and his knowledge of the infantryman's combat experiences to paint a vivid picture of Hitler's last gamble to gain even a temporary victory in the West and the efforts of over 600,000 U.S. and several thousand British troops to contain the salient or "bulge" that gave the Ardennes counteroffensive its popular moniker.

A Time for Trumpets not only covers the well-known episodes of the small teams of German soldiers wearing American uniforms (they actually did very little material damage, but their very existence caused jumpy GI's to quiz each other about baseball teams, state capitals, even popular singers and bandleaders), the heroic stand of the 101st Airborne at Bastogne and the infamous Malmedy massacre, but delves into the Allies' biggest intelligence failure of the war and the bitter recrimination between British and American commanders when Eisenhower placed the northern half of the "bulge" under the command of Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery. Attention to detail is also given to the German high command's reluctance to execute Hitler's plan by the letter, knowing in their professional soldiers' hearts and minds that the Nazi dictator was overreaching.

Despite the complexity of the battle, A Time For Trumpets is highly readable and engrossing. There are helpful maps and many pages of photos to help the casual reader keep his or her bearings in this sprawling month-long battle, and the various appendices are valuable tools that illustrate the composition of a standard U.S. infantry regiment and the various Orders of Battle for the Allied and German forces engaged in the Battle of the Bulge.

SUPERB !!!!!!!!.......2004-01-20

FAR AND AWAY THE BEST BOOK I HAVE READ ON THE BULGE. IT GIVES AN OVERALL ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE,IT'S ORIGINS PRIOR TO IT'S EXECUTION,AND THE AFTERMATH,FROM BOTH A STRATEGIC AND TACTICAL VIEW.MACDONALD OBVIOUSLY DID HIS RESEARCH WELL. FOR AN OVERALL ACCOUNT OF THE U.S ARMY IN ACTION IN WW II, THIS IS THE BOOK YOU MUST HAVE.

Voices From the Battle Of The Bulge (Voices from the Battle of the Bulge)

Average customer rating:

Presents personal testimonies from soldiers and civilians

Voices From the Battle Of The Bulge (Voices from the Battle of the Bulge)
Nigel De Lee
Manufacturer: David & Charles Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Military & Spies | Professionals & Academics | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Reference | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Battle East of Elsenborn
Voices from D-Day
BATTLE OF THE BULGE (Images of War)
Unless Victory Comes: Combat With a Machine Gunner in Patton's Third Army
Bootprints

ASIN: 0715319205

Book Description

The third book in the ?Voices From? series features incredible first-hand accounts of the Ardennes offensive of December 1944. The Battle of the Bulge was Hitler?s last chance to turn back the Allied invasion of France, which had started with D-Day. Hitler?s ambitious plans to force two Panzer armies through to take the vital port of Antwerp, separating the British and American forces could have resulted in a second Dunkrik. This would have bought him time to launch a full-scale assault on Britain with his ?miracle weapons?.

A wide selection of contemporary voices, from diaries, letters, archives and eye witness accounts from all sides of the battle bring history to life. Collected here are the voices of soldiers, next to the formidable narratives of General Eisenhower, General Montgomery and Adolf Hitler, as well as the recollections of the civilians who stood witness to this piece of history.

Customer Reviews:

Presents personal testimonies from soldiers and civilians .......2004-11-12

Featuring a forward by Major General Michael Reynolds CB, Voices From The Battle Of The Bulge presents personal testimonies from Americans, British, and German soldiers and civilians who took part in one of the most historic and severe conflicts near the end of World War II. A slight scattering of black-and-white photographs illustrates the powerful, firsthand accounts, in this primary source of military history that is riveting and sometimes chilling. Voices From The Battle Of The Bulge is a welcome and highly recommended addition to academic and personal, academic, and community library military history collections, adding a unique touch to the recounting of a dramatic and world-shaping event in the European Theatre battlefields of World War II.

Average customer rating:

Hilter's final attempt
The American experience
The story of he Bulge
GI Joe's View Of The Bulge
Nope

Battle: The Story of the Bulge
John Toland
Manufacturer: Bison Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Luxembourg | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Strategy | Military | History | Subjects | Books

The Bitter Woods: The Battle of the Bulge
A Time for Trumpets: The Untold Story of the Battle of the Bulge
The Last 100 Days: The Tumultuous and Controversial Story of the Final Days of World War II in Europe (Modern Library War)
The Longest Day: The Classic Epic of D-Day
The Longest Winter: The Battle of the Bulge and the Epic Story of WWII's Most Decorated Platoon

ASIN: 0803294379

Customer Reviews:

Hilter's final attempt.......2006-11-05

A well written account of the Battle of the Bulge. Invaluable personal histories from the men that lived through intollerable conditions. Incredible carnage and amazing bravery from such young men. Toland give you an inside view of the confusion and strategy of war.

The American experience.......2006-02-19

Surely, as another reviewer pointed out, this book is a look at the American experience in the battle. However, that doesn't keep this book from being amongst the best about the Battle of the Bulge. Toland makes you feel like you are there. The chapters are broken up so that the book is highly readable and very fast paced. An excellent work of military history that makes you feel like you are there. Highly recommended.

The story of he Bulge.......2006-01-31

This book is very ineresting, accurate accounts of the battles fought during this period, This book brought back memories of the winter that we had to endure plus the Germans. I was there for most of the time and attest to the worst winter of the century.

GI Joe's View Of The Bulge.......2005-12-31

"Battle: The Story Of The Bulge" gives the reader a view of the Bulge as seen by the individuals involved. While the "Big Picture" is told in the actions of commanders and the maps of the lines of battle, the focus is on the individual GI Joes, Tommies, German attackers and the civilians who interacted with them. As the son of a Third Army veteran, I gained some insight into what my father endured during his service. Author John Toland obviously conducted many interviews during the research for this book.

Among the parts of this book which I found to be most interesting are the observations of the reactions of the civilians who, whether leaning toward the Allies or the Germans, displayed or concealed their enthusiasm as the tide of battle ebbed and flowed. I had always thought that loyalties were defined by national frontiers, but this book points out that ethnic loyalties are not so easily defined. Some of the most interesting stories are those of civilians who protected soldiers separated from their units.

"Battle: The Story Of The Bulge" provides an excellent resource for one working for a deeper understanding of how World War II in Europe was fought.

Nope.......2005-10-07

This book was very well edited and reads quickly. Unforunately, while I wouldn't call it biased, it is clearly an AMERICAN book and carries quite the patriotic slant... In other words, it is quite obvious the author's patriotism has leaked onto the pages.

The initial German victories were presented more factually while the American counter-attack was analyzed far more depth with an annoying amount of praise for the latter. The American army is also clearly the focus of this book, so do not expect a balanced account. I for one, am reading my next book by a Brit.

The Sky Men: A Parachute Rifle Company's Story of the Battle of the Bulge and the Jump Across the Rhine

Average customer rating:

The Sky Men: A Parachute Rifle Company's Story of the Battle of the Bulge and the Jump Across the Rhine
Kirk B. Ross
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Strategy | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Book Description

The Sky Men is the story of F Company of the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th U.S. Airborne Division. They were all volunteers to a new, dangerous, and elite corps Ð Airborne. In the midst of the hardest European winter in forty years, the 17th Airborne Division was committed to action against the German Army west of Bastogne, Belgium. From their first day in action, the green paratroopers Ð caught up in the toughest fighting of the Bulge when the American Army stood up and began slugging its way back to the start line Ð attacking through knee deep snow and over bald terrain, demonstrated exceptional courage in closing with the enemy. In March 1945, Operation Varsity sends F Company parachuting across the Rhine and into the final battle for the conquest of Nazi Germany. The Sky Men includes many never before used documents, with the personal accounts of nearly one hundred men of F Company and other associated organizations., over 130 b/w photographs, documents, maps, 6" x 9"

The Model Maker: A World War II Veteran's Story

Average customer rating:

lLiving History
An Amazing Synthesis

The Model Maker: A World War II Veteran's Story
Brett S. Weber & Illustrated By Eileen Slifer
Manufacturer: BookSurge Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1419651803
Release Date: 2006-11-27

Product Description

The Model Maker is inspired by the personal account of a World War II veteran's experiences during the Battle of the Bulge. Bill spends a good deal of his time working on his model airplanes. They mean more to him than just a usual hobby, however. They remind him of a time and a place when these models were replaced with real planes, and his tranquil, rural setting was replaced with gunfire, thick forests, and an ever-present danger. Through his models, he recalls his story in a simple, quiet way that belies the harsh reality of the Battle of the Bulge. This story is meant to capture the interest of the young reader, and to serve as a springboard into an important historical lesson. The event of World War II was a pivotal point in modern history. It is imperative that the lessons learned by this "Greatest Generation" should never be lost or forgotten.

Customer Reviews:

lLiving History.......2007-04-27

When I finished reading The Model Maker I felt like Uncle Bill was now my Uncle Bill. Brett Webber's simple yet clear and engaging text drew me into Uncle Bill's WWII experiences as well as his present purpose in making the model airplanes. As a retired elementary school teacher and reading specialist I can see that Model Maker as a useful tool to help children understand a significant yet often ignored time in American history. The glossory also makes this a useful book for children learning how to do research and write reports. Eileen Slifer's illustrations and color choices bring Uncle Bill to life. The black and white images of the WWII flashbacks give young readers visual clues that these pages are a story within a story. My dad is also a WWII veteran and I intend to give him this book as a gift.

An Amazing Synthesis.......2007-01-04

The Model Maker is an incredible synthesis of art and history. Weber's lucid writing is brought to life by Slifer's innovative and lifelike watercolor illustrations which establish a powerful mood on the first page that continues through the entire book.. The book gives a straight forward history of the Battle of the Bulge that is easily within the grasp of school age children.

The story is told from the perspective of a veteran looking back on the events that shaped his life and altered the course of history. Way beyond just history, the book is a personal, inviting the reader into the confidence into the home of the narrator.

The simple writing style and full page illustrations work together to create a book that is at once inspiring and informative.

Nuts! the Battle of the Bulge: The Story and Photographs (World War II Commemorative Series)

Average customer rating:

Good for the photos and captions
Photographic History of the Battle
America's Costliest Battle

Nuts! the Battle of the Bulge: The Story and Photographs (World War II Commemorative Series)
Donald M. Goldstein , Katherine V. Dillon , and J. Michael Wenger
Manufacturer: Potomac Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

D-Day Normandy: The Story and Photographs/Official 50th Anniversary Volume Battle of Normandy Foundation (Association of the U. S. Army Book Series)
Infantry Soldier: Holding the Line at the Battle of the Bulge
BATTLE OF THE BULGE (Images of War)
A Tour of the Bulge Battlefield
The Battle Of The Bulge: Hitler's Ardennes Offensive, 1944-1945

ASIN: 0028810694

Customer Reviews:

Good for the photos and captions.......2005-07-31

Not the first book I would open on the Battle of the Bulge, as it is not comprehensive and a bit unbalanced. It's really a picture book, and in that respect, is worthwhile. The captions are more descriptive (and apparently accurate) than in many books. For example, the photos in a series taken by German battlefield photographers are shown to have been largely staged immediately after combat to re-enact the fighting- interesting. These photos show up in other books without that context mentioned. Those interested in the Malmedy trial will find the photos in that section noteworthy. Worth a look but not a classic for the collection unless you're really focused on the Battle of the Bulge.

Photographic History of the Battle.......2001-10-28

This is a coffee table sized collection of photographs of the persons and events of the Battle of the Bulge. Although it does contain a text with information about commanders, weapons, and the overall course of the battle, the book is mainly interested in describing what is happening in its numerous photos. Of particular interest are the photos made by the Germans. The German photographers paid close attention to the large numbers of stunned American POWs, wrecked and abandoned American vehicles, and the corpses of fallen GIs. It's a different perspective from the usual pictures of advancing and victorious Americans. Also of note is that this book finally lays to rest one of the biggest inaccuracies of the photographic record of the war- proving that the famous picture of cigar chewing SS trooper next to the Malmedy sign is NOT infamous SS Lt. Col. Jochen Peiper.

America's Costliest Battle.......2000-08-11

The losses of American soldiers was the greatest in US military history. With all of the attention of D-Day this may be the forgotten battle of WW2 in Europe. The authors take us to the sights of this most gruesome and costly battle. It was at the BULGE that Hitler and Company made their last stand to protect the FATHERLAND.

The Story of the Battle of the Bulge (Cornerstones of Freedom Series)

Average customer rating:

The Story of the Battle of the Bulge (Cornerstones of Freedom Series)
R. Conrad Stein
Manufacturer: Childrens Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: School & Library Binding

Europe | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

The Warmth of a Song: A Love Story About Freedom Set During The Battle of The Bulge of World War II

Average customer rating:

A Wonderful Story About Freedom For Both Men and Women
Recommendation From The Boston Fire Department
Real life veterans of 106th Inf. Div. give their review

The Warmth of a Song: A Love Story About Freedom Set During The Battle of The Bulge of World War II
Helen Von Erck
Manufacturer: 1st Books Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

War | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1410796566

Customer Reviews:

A Wonderful Story About Freedom For Both Men and Women.......2006-05-25

As soon as I received Helen von Erck's novel, "The Warmth of a Song," I found I could not put it down. I had bought for my husband who served in Vietnam. Since the book takes place during the Battle of the Bulge of WWII, I thought he might be interested in it. Little did I know that "even though I am a girl" I loved all the action, the characters seemed so dear and real to me, and the sweet spritual story that tied up the novel, hit a tender spot in me. I highly recommend this book to both men and women young and old as there's something that everyone will love about it!

Recommendation From The Boston Fire Department.......2004-04-29

Dear Ms von Erck:
Just a quick note to let you know how much I enjoyed your book "The Warmth of a Song."
Great job on historic accuracy. I always thought the tragic Cocoanut Grove fire could be a subject of a World War II
movie - and I hope someone approaches you for movie rights.

Best wishes and congratulations,

Paul A. Christian, Fire Commissioner, Chief of Dept.
Boston Fire Department.

Real life veterans of 106th Inf. Div. give their review.......2004-04-29

Helen,
You've got to be proud. Those of you that know you are proud of you. It takes a lot of hard work to follow a creative effort to a successful conclusion. You've done it. "You go, gal" !

Dick Sparks (who served as Technical Advisor to the novel)
T/4 424th Inf. - 106th Infantry Div.

Helen,
Thanks for "The Warmth of a Song." I could not put it down. And it speaks so eloquently to those of us who were
there. I wish you great success with it.

Dr. Duncan Trueman, Chaplain
106th Infantry

Helen,
I read "Warmth of a Song" in a couple of nights and will tell you that I think that it was well done. I wouldn't be surprised if the "Hallmark Hall of Fame Theater" didn't come looking for you.

Best, John Schaffner
Veteran 106th Infantry Div.

Dear Helen:
I don't have must time for reading. However I finished your book. I must congratulate you on doing such a fine job.
I have received your Autograph, with that fine message. I want to thank you for that. It will go into my book.
I have emailed John Kline and advised him of my approval to advertise the book in the "CUB" our quarterly magazine.
The choose is his, weather he will do it or not, I hope that he will.
Your research was most impressive. The conditions that existed at the time were so bad, that even trying to describe
them to friends, I don't think they grasped how bad it really was. The way that you have described it in your story was well done. I know that anyone reading it will get a good idea of how it is to dig a hole in the frozen ground, crawl on your belly in the snow, go without warm food and sleep for days, seeing your buddies being killed or maimed, constantly being shelled or shot at and the freezing cold, that never left you. Only those that where there, really know what it is like. These are things that we endured as teenage kids, that should have been getting ready for College, or a trade. Also enjoying the parties and dances that go into finding the girl of your dreams. Lost to us forever.
Now, look at the position that we were in. Coming home at the age of twenty two, no trade, no education and having to
start at that age, while all of the others, that didn't go into the Army, are well on there way to a career.
I have no regrets, I did what I had to do. I met and married a terrific girl, had a good career in Aero Space Manufacturing. I am now retired and enjoying life to the fullest.
Your book brought back many memories. Years ago I would have never read such a book. I did not need to be reminded
of those terrible days. Now I can look back and say, God Bless America.

John Gatens
"A" Battery 589th FAB. 106th INF DIV

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books