Book Description
Every grandfather has a tale and this is the tale of Georg Frick, a German sniper for the German Army during World War II. Georg Frick is an old man now, but in 1937 the German Army drafted him.
Grandfather’s Tale is the story of Georg’s transformation from reluctant new soldier into a master sniper. Georg fought in dozens of battles in several countries, including Poland, Belgium, the Soviet Union, Crete, Italy and Germany. After proving himself to be an exceptional sniper, he joined a special team of German paratroopers. This group of expert soldiers was parachuted into Eben Emael, the strongest single fortress in the world!
Georg's story is one of adventure and survival under extreme circumstances, including the brutal Soviet winter, and the final battle, the Battle of Berlin. Join Georg as he recounts his harrowing experiences to his grandson, in hopes that he may learn the lessons of war, and not repeat them.
Grandfather's Tale is an action-packed journey through the entirety of the Word War II. German weapons, tactics and strategy on a platoon level are explained with meticulous detail. Several battles, including the Battle of the Bulge and the Invasion of Crete are told from a German perspective.
"Erenberger's story is fast-paced, his descriptions of the conditions a sniper must undergo through in each engagement were unforgettable...This book is strongly recommended for all who want to know what 'the big war' was all about in the eyes of a German sniper."—Capt. M.R. Doehrmann, USMC
Customer Reviews:
A totally unbelievable poorly written fictional tale........2007-07-31
First just to clarify this book is 100% fiction, some reviewers seem to think this is a factual account.
Way over the top and poorly written. At one point in the novel the author has this guy carrying 4 rifles(Kar98k,BAR,M1,and a Tokarev along with a supressed pistol and a 30 pound bag of ammo.) Johny Rambo meets WWII.
Not for me at all.
Real fiction.......2007-07-04
I could only complete about 2/3rds of this book, frankly because this fictional account is quite unrealistic. If you have read first person accounts of sniper stories in any theater of war, you should stay away from this book in my opinion because you will really struggle with this fictionalized account. The method of storytelling (a grandfather's recollections each night to a visiting young grandchild) did not do much for me as well.
Super Sniper - I think not.......2007-07-03
The book is very light reading. I am sure it is great for the uneducated student of WW2. No sniper ever amassed the number of kills that this guy did. All head shots at 700-1100 meters with close to 100% hit ratio ??? No way.
Look at the authors credentials, a computer game player??
Anyway it is overpriced and silly.
What a load of rubbish.......2007-06-15
I only got to the second chapter of this book before putting it down and swearing that I would never pick it up again!! How inaccurate can a book be! The author has obviously never heard of research.
I was one of the poor suckers who got this in a 2 set with Sepp,s book (which is excellent) and don't I regret it!
According to this 'fantasy tale' the german ID tags had name rank and serial number on them...WRONG!!
And apparently they had divisional markings on there sleeves...WRONG!!
And the snipers were only issued 7 bullets a day..DON'T GET ME STARTED
And all the main characters training was held in places near ??? No distinct names given.
I think my 12 YO daughter (who has no knowledge of WW2) could have written a better book.
Just look at the credits, not a single wehrmacht veteran amongst them.
Do your self a favour and avoid this book if you want:
1 A factual account
2 A book that is well written
3 A book that has pictures of Germans on the cover, not Americans in 'fritz' helmets ( how bad is that)
Action packed alright.......2007-04-25
Yes it is action packed.
It follows a style which is commonly used in the movies where the character talks to someone in the present of events in the past. I don't like it in a book.
Overall how accurate is the book well it just seems over the top. This one sniper should have won Hitler the war. I suspect that snipers like fighter pilots have a tendency to exaggerate their kills.
I also thought it was a bit of a white wash of war crimes. What really got by annoyed was this line "There had been units of the SS soldiers who committed atrocities, such as killing Jewish and other civilians, but even regular army troops were brutally punished." Unfortunately this line is not true.
Having said that it certainly a good read. If definitely gives you a feel of how soldiers must have felt in the war.
If you like this book look at "The forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer" and "With the old breed by E.B.Sledge"
Product Description
Lt. Avis Schorer served with an evacuation hospital in North Africa and Italy. Heartache, loneliness, and danger were constant companions while caring for the severely wounded. She and 25 others were the first to land on the Anzio beachhead. Constantly bombarded by German shells and bombs, the hospital on the beach was soon dubbed Hell s Half Acre.
Customer Reviews:
A Nurse's Perspective.......2003-12-15
The book, A Half Acre of Hell, expresses a view that isn't often seen. The view is that of a World War II combat nurse. It is written by Avis Schorer based on her first hand account of the war. This book gives in great detail where a nurse traveled during the war and what places she got to see. It is made interesting through the use of major historic events connected to where the author was at that time. Also, the book is interesting because the reader gets to see many of the daily aspects of war, not just an overview. This book would not be a good read for some one expecting a war book based around tactics or combat, although some are included. It is more a journal of events. The book is easy to follow and good for anyone interested in a nurse's account of the war.
Inspiring.......2003-08-29
This book was a definite eye-opener. I read it at age 17, and was aghast at the horrors of Anzio and inspired by the nurses who served there. This book gave me a glimpse of the true nature of nursing, and largely because of this book, I entered nursing school a year later. I'm now a Registered Nurse, and this book has an honored spot on my bookshelves. A definite must-read.
An unflinching narrative of courage.......2003-07-26
A Half Acre Of Hell: A Combat Nurse In WW II is the personal memoir and eye-witness testimony of Avid Schorer, a woman who served the U.S. Army Nurse Corps from March 1942 to January 1946. The military hospital where she served gained the ill nickname "Hell's Half Acre" due to its bombardment by Axis forces. An unflinching narrative of courage, strength, mercy, and service amidst the terrible toll of war itself, A Half Acre Of Hell is a strongly recommended addition to academic, and community library World War II Military History collections and personal reading lists.
Nurse and Vet agree:this is a victory.......2002-01-09
My wife is an Registered Nurse and I am a combat veteran. I bought this book for my wife to take on our trip to Hawaii. She could not put it down, and later, neither could I. From both our life experiences, this book rang true and was gripping. Having been written by a Minnesotan made it all the more enjoyable.
vivid and realistic description.......2000-11-17
The book presents a realistic description of the extreme hardships endured by Army Nurses in Italy during WWII.
Book Description
The Allied attack of Normandy beach has been immortalized in film and literature, but it was the Allied campaign on the beaches of Western Italy, at Anzio, that reigns as the bloodiest battle in the Second World War’s western theater. One of the world’s leading military historians, Lloyd Clark, delivers a gripping narrative and fresh interpretation of this remarkable but overshadowed battle. About six months before D-Day, in January 1944, a united force of 36,000 soldiers launched one of the first attacks on continental Europe at Anzio, a small coastal city thirty miles south of Rome. But the advance stalled, and the Allies were unable to exploit initial German weakness that could have led to a decisive strike to liberate the undefended Italian capital. As the Germans gained strength, their force growing to 120,000 men, Anzio beach became a death trap. With winter beating down, the Allies held on, pushing more men, guns, and armor into the stalemate, though their men were still sorely outnumbered. After five months of fighting, and monumental casualties on both sides, the Allies were able to successfully crack the German line, capturing Rome on June 4, just two days before D-Day.
Customer Reviews:
Solid historiography that is fun to read.......2007-09-27
Lloyd Clark's "Anzio: Italy and the Battle for Rome -1944" is a nice addition to the current collection of books dedicated to the Italian Theatre of Operations in World War II. Clark is a talented writer who presents a highly readable prose, one that readers interested in this portion of WWII should thoroughly enjoy.
As historiography "Anzio" is relatively solid, capturing most of the important events and actions previously documented by other historian/authors. However, a curious referencing style (likely an editorial decision) reduces the overt credit one is likely to afford Clark the historian for his research. In particular, notes associated with particular passages are not identified with footnotes in a traditional sense. Rather the formal text is completely void of citations and all notes are cited in the 'Notes' section (31 pp. total) by abridged verbatim quotes to the passage in which they are found, with the material being referenced given thereafter. In going through the 'Notes' on discovers that about one half of Clark's citations refer to primary sources, either interviews/letters of combatants and non-combatants, or archived diaries of noted personalities (the diaries of Lt. Gens. Mark Clark and John Lucas being heavily utilized). Only upon more thorough inspection (which only serious students are more likely to do) will readers discover that the author is providing 'new material' to an area of WWII historiography already fairly well documented. This referencing approach does however make the formal text flow extremely well, so from a commercial standpoint (e.g., book sales) this style makes sense.
Unlike what has been concluded by most other authors on the topic, Clark makes a strong case that Churchill was not in fact the driving force behind Operation Shingle (amphibious landing at Anzio) but that once in motion Churchill was too invested in Shingle to be historically separated from it. Clark argues that the critical discussions and planning exploration for amphibious landing on west coast near Rome (which would become Operation Shingle) was initiated by Gen. Harold Alexander and Mark Clark, with Maj. Gen. John W. O'Daniel's special amphibious operations section doing most of the 'heavy lifting'. Clark then makes the point that Churchill and Operation Shingle became intimately associated in mid-December 1943, at a time when when Churchill was recovering from pneumonia in Merrakesh and Mark Clark signaled Alexander that he thought Shingle should be postponed. As Clark states, "Both [Shingle and Churchill were] ailing and in need of renewing, the pair helped each other to regain their strength."
Another area where Clark takes a different approach is in his discussion of the decimation of the US Ranger 1st and 3rd Battalions. Clark's description of these events are more 'realistic' than the idealistic, minimalist, or 'martyr-ized' versions presented by other authors, such as Carlo D'Este ("Fatal Decision: Anzio and the Battle for Rome") or Dominick Graham and Shelford Bidwell ("Tug of War: The Battle for Italy, 1943-1945"). In Clark's account of the Ranger actions it is made clear that while the Rangers fought to the best of their abilities they were simply overwhelmed, but that outcome (of 767 total Rangers, 743 were captured, 12 were KIA, 36 were WIA, and only six walked out of the Cisterna area) while tragic was not the tactical and strategic waste it is oft presented.
Chapter 8 (p. 225-262) of "Anzio" is represents the largest unique portion of the book. In this chapter Clark describes the period of 'WWI trench-like' stalemate that occurred between the third battle of Cassino and the start of Diadem (final push to break the Gustav Line). While this period was devoid of large troop engagements men still endured persistent shelling and patrolling, and balanced these events with other activities such as sports and odd non-combat work details. This portion of "Anzio" provides an interesting look at the life of an average G.I. or Tommy during the Italian Campaign.
Where Clark falls down most strongly is in his minimization of the activities of the Gen. Alphonse Juin's French Expeditionary Corps (FEC) in the Liri Mountains during the breakthrough of Gustav Line. Other historians have shown how important (while not the primary breakthrough point) these actions were to the Allied push. Clark gives only a mere one and one-half sentence to these actions. This may be "British" issue though as Graham and Bidwell ignore altogether the FEC actions in their otherwise class, "Tug of War".
All in all Lloyd Clark's "Anzio: Italy and the Battle for Rome -1944" is well-researched and interesting book. It provides enough new information/insight to keep the attention of scholars and is solidly written to keep casual readers engrossed. In whole, 4 stars for content and readability.
My dad was there.......2007-08-06
I just had to buy this book, because my father was one of those soldiers who were trapped on the Anzio beachhead for four months, under constant German bombardment. He was a tank destroyer driver in the Third Division, and luckily survived the carnage there. This book is very well-written, and should be a "must read" for all those who had a parent or grandparent in that action, and also of course, for anyone interested in what was considered a "sideline" piece during the war. It certainly wasn't a "sideline" for the men trapped on that beach! It was interesting when, in the book, the author spoke about the German propaganda leaflets dropped to the Allied soldiers, particularly the one about "Death's Head Beach". When I was much younger I was looking through my fahter's war memorabilia, and came across that very leaflet, along with several others from Anzio! I wish I had them now, just as I wish my father was alive to read the story of his many fearful days and nights.
A gift for my father.......2007-07-17
I purchased this book as a fathers day gift for my father who fought at Anzio. When I asked him how he liked the book his comment was that it made him feel as if he was back in Anzio. He told me he had to put the book down several times before finishing it since it brought back such vivid memories and that it was one of the best books he has ever read.
I am taking that to mean the book was pretty good!!!
Fantastic and vivid read.......2006-12-30
Great book! The only thing missing are more detailed maps (though they are good but lacking slightly in place names in some areas). Mr Clark brings the whole sorry mess alive in a tremendously stark fashion that transports the reader back in time. My heart goes out to the men who fought there regardless of which side they were on. The poignant story in the epilogue tells it all. A wonderful read, many thanks.
Military History at its best.......2006-10-31
Lloyd Clark has produced an excellent, well rounded and comprehensive account of one of the most overlooked campaigns in World War II. He places the story in the overall context of the war and his narrative is both detailed and engaging which is quite rare in Military History. Mr. Clark's description of the principle commanders helps the reader understand the campaign at a much better level in terms of the decision making processes of the campaign. Furthermore, Clark's coverage is balanced so that the reader understands the Axis role clearly as well. In summary, Clark has produced a definitive work of narrative history for the Italian Campaign of World War II that is so often overlooked in the rush to examine the nearly simultaneous Normandy campaign. Well done Mr. Clark, well done.
Book Description
In an attempt to outflank the German Gustav Line running across Italy, Operation SHINGLE was launched on January 22nd 1944. Achieving complete surprise, the Allies made a successful landing at Anzio, but paused rather than pushing quickly inland, a delay which gave the Germans time to seal off the area and to counterattack the beachhead.
Heavy fighting took place until early March, during which the Americans and British were nearly driven into the sea, after which a stalemate was reached. In the following months the Allied forces were reinforced and in late May a breakout was made with the strategic intention of cutting off the Germans retreating from the Gustav line, which had now been pierced.
However, General Mark Clark redirected the main effort of the Anzio forces towards the capture of Rome, permitting most of the enemy to escape and to fight another day. An operation that cost thousands of lives for disputed benefits, SHINGLE remains a controversial subject.
Book Description
In the summer of 1942, six months after the American entry into the Second World War, the Canadian Army authorized the movement of nearly seven hundred soldiers to the United States for training as part of the First Special Service Force. From that summer until disbandment, Canadian and American soldiers served in a completely integrated military formation, a "North American" force that was without parallel in the history of either nation - even though the Force often proved a frustrating exercise in military cooperation.From the Aleutian Islands to the wartorn hills of Italy, from the Anzio Beachhead to the liberation of Rome and the invasion of Southern France, the First Special Service Force distinguished itself in combat and is today remembered as a proudly shared inheritance of two North American nations.
We Move Only Forward presents the history of the Force from a Canadian perspective, focusing on the efforts taken in Ottawa, Washington and overseas to maintain a Canadian presence in the Force. This book traces the course of a complicated relationship between the First Special Service Force and those military bureaucracies. Set against a background of success in the field, difficulties arising from cooperation between unequal partners led to a gradual erosion of the unit's elite character, ending in December 1944, when the Force was disbanded and the Canadian element was quietly withdrawn.
Book Description
In January 1944, the Allies decided to land at Anzio in order to overcome the stalemate at Cassino.This amphibious landing has become one of the most controversial campaigns of World War II. Questionable decisions by the Allied leadership led to three months of World War I-style trench warfare, and the entire beachhead suffered from continuous German observation and bombardment. Vividly describing each thrust and counter-thrust, this book takes us through the agonizing struggle as each side sought to retain or regain mastery. It shows how Anzio proved to be a stepping stone not only to Rome but also to the liberation of Italy.
Customer Reviews:
Good, but a bit Top-Heavy in Approach.......2005-09-27
Stephen Zaloga's Anzio 1944, #155 in Osprey's Campaign series, provides a solid, if conventional account of one of the more controversial Allied operations in the Second World War. Zaloga states in the introduction "the Anzio Operation presents a classic study of ambitious political objectives doomed by limited military resources." British Prime Minister Churchill and US 5th Army Commander General Clark were not satisfied to merely outflank the German defenses on the Gustav Line with the intended amphibious operation - they wanted Rome. Although Zaloga's narrative summary is solid, his over-emphasis on the role of senior decision-makers ignores the misery down at the trench level in this very bitter campaign and does not provide readers with any feel for the tactical-level combat.
In the section on opposing commanders, Zaloga's top-heavy approach is most evident and it reduces the value of this component. On the German side, Zaloga only covers the theater commander (Kesselring) and the two army commanders (von Mackensen and Vietinghoff), with little real mention of the commanders of the 1st Fallschirmjager Corps or 76th Panzer Corps (von Choltitz). On the Allied side, Zaloga only covers the theater commander (Alexander), army commander (Clark) and corps commander (Lucas), with only slight asides to Truscott or the British tactical-level commanders. The Opposing Armies section is also rather abbreviated and provides none of the incisive analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of each side that Zaloga normally delivers. Although Zaloga provides many photographs of the Allied 1st Special Service Force, he fails to discuss its strength or special capabilities or even mention that it was a joint US-Canadian unit. Overall, the British contribution at Anzio gets rather short shrift in this volume. However, the Opposing Plans section is longer than usual and effectively puts the initial Allied landings into their proper operational context, with apt mention of German intelligence failures and Allied misgivings about the operation.
As usual for the Osprey Campaign series, the maps and artwork are quite good. The five 2-D maps are: strategic situation in Italy, January 1944; Anzio beachhead, 1 February 1944; Operation Seitensprung, 28 February - 3 March 1944; Operation Buffalo, 23-24 May 1944; the Race for Rome, 31 May - 1 June 1944. The three 3-D maps are: Operation Shingle, 22 January 1944; Battle for the Thumb, 3-11 February 1944; Operation `Fischfang' 16-20 February 1944. The three battle scenes are: He-177 bombers launching Hs-293 missiles at the Allied fleet; the US 45th Infantry Division fighting for `the factory,' 11 February 1944; and German Panther tanks and B-IV demolition vehicles moving up to the front. Zaloga's order of battle data is decent, particularly for the German counterattacks, but is a bit weak on the Allied side (particularly in mentioning units that arrived later in the beachhead).
Zaloga's campaign narrative is particularly adept at assessing Allied actions and German reactions. Unlike some other historians, Zaloga does not criticize Lucas for failing to seize the Alban Hills or Rome - which would have exposed his small forces to defeat in detail - but does fault him for not securing better defensive positions, such as Cisterna. Zaloga also states that the Allies seriously underestimated the German ability to reinforce the bridgehead area and that Kesselring did not flinch in the face of a surprise amphibious landing and divert troops from the main line of resistance at Cassino. Furthermore, German air and missile attacks negated much of the usual Allied naval gunfire support and poor weather reduced air support. Muddy, water-logged terrain negated armor on both sides and reduced the battle to a series of slugging matches in the mud, dominated by artillery. In essence, Anzio degenerated into a First World War-style battle and was just as inconclusive. Although the Germans tried three times to smash the Allied beachhead - and came close - the ample supply of artillery ammunition and the ability to mass corps artillery saved the Allies from disaster. Anzio is a difficult campaign to study, but Zaloga's narrative provides a comprehensible summary.
My only real concern with Anzio 1944 - and this is made in full recognition of the constraints of the Osprey series - is that this volume does not make any effort to depict the tactical level, which reduces the value of this account. Given that most of the fighting at Anzio involved a few German divisions against a few Allied divisions, I find it a glaring omission that the actual front-line soldiers are omitted; why is there not a single first-person account from somebody who actually fought at Cisterna or the `Factory?' Zaloga might have noted that Audie Murphy was in the 1-15th Infantry near Cisterna and his book would have been a good source of one or two accounts of small-unit action at Anzio While the discussions about Churchill and Clark and Kesselring are fine for strategic context, this volume fails to convey the sheer misery of this campaign for the infantry that fought in it.
Customer Reviews:
History of the Italian Campain (post Sicily to the Capture of Rome) done with competence and flair!.......2007-08-11
Carlo D'Este's "Fatal Decision: Anzio and the Battle for Rome" is one of those books that should occupy a spot on the bookshelves of all students of WWII military history. One need not be overtly interested in the Mediterranean Theatre to find "Fatal Decision" compelling and worth the time invested to devour its ample 430 pp. of text (excluding nine Appendices totaling 33 pp. and [foot]Notes totaling 75 pp.). As is generally true of works by D'Este, "Fatal Decision" is an engaging read, penned by a genuinely talented writer who also happens to be a foremost historical researcher. Readers interested in the Mediterranean Theatre will find "Fatal Decision" extremely rewarding and are likely to place it in the top echelon of books devoted to the topic (the Italian campaign, essentially starting with the Anzio landings [Operation SHINGLE], focusing on that bridgehead and its surroundings, until the fall of Rome).
"Fatal Decsion" is divided into five 'acts': Part I - The Road to Rome (Chapt. 1-7); Part II - The Anzio Beachhead (Chapt. 8-11); Part III - "Lancing the Abscess" (Chapt. 12-15); Part IV - Stalemate (Chapt. 16-19); and Part V - Breakout (Chapt. 20-22), bracketed by insightful Prologue and Epilogue sections. In Part I, which might also be called 'Preamble to Anzio', D'Este brings the reader up to speed with regard to the Mediterranean Theatre leading up to the Anzio landings. Clocking in at 104 pp., Part I is a nice piece on its own quite apart from the sections that follow. Most readers will gain some new insights about the 'soft underbelly' mindset embraced by the Brits. Moreover, D'Este provides a fair and very balanced account of events that, and personalities who, led to the 'hell on earth' that was Anzio in Jan-Feb '44 (and beyond).
Part II, as the name implies, deals specifically with the Allied actions (and German counter-actions, generally) in the gaining of a 'back-door' foothold beyond the Cassino stalemate. Although only 83 pp. in length this section of the book is packed with combat and gives the reader a real sense of how brutal the action was. For example, remembrances of Anzio are very similar for those at the front lines, as well as in rear areas since little actually distinguished the two. As D'Este makes clear, casualties in 'rear' areas (e.g., aid stations on the beach) were often thought of as more dangerous than the front lines, mainly because of enemy arti(llary) - that ever present indiscriminate rain of metal death. Arti ruled the fates of nearly everyone at Anzio.
Part III of "Fatal Decision" deals more thoroughly with the German response to the Allied move into Anzio/Nettuno beachhead and really gives the reader a sense for how good defensive ground and solid leadership can overcome equal or overwhelming odds, much to the cost of the attacker. Together with a chapter in Part I ('Smiling Albert'), Part III paints a positive but generally fair picture of Field Marshal Albert Kesselring as a proficient practitioner of defensive warfare; one who often performed his 'magic' in spite (or in deference to) the OKW and Hitler. Again, like with Part II, Part III is full of combat action. If the reader is looking for 'shoot 'em, bang 'em up' stuff Parts II and III will not disappoint. The reader is also given a sense of how the German army in Italy, composed of veteran units with still much fight in them, rallied around a variety of Kampfgrueppen to stymie and often push back the Allied forces. Having said that, D'Este is careful not to commit acts of Wehrmacht envy in his analysis of German actions.
In Parts IV and V, D'Este presents thorough and thoughtful discussion of the long close-quarter fighting that occurred around the Anzio/Nettuno bridgehead and Monte Cassino area that slowly wore down the strength of both sides - at great human cost to the Allied battering ram. D'Este does a fabulous job describing the various actions to move out of the bridgehead and through the various defensive lines that Kesselring had established, until the final capture of Lt. Gen. Mark Clark's 'golden egg' - Rome.
All throughout "Fatal Decision" D'Este is, while keeping a generally fair and even hand, critical of command decisions the Allies took as regard the Italian campaign. First, the reader is treated to D'Este's expose of how great a role Winston Churchill appears to have played in making Operation SHINGLE a reality, one most battlefield commanders felt was an unwise use of resources, but the General Staff more or less willingly embraced. D'Este also shows how the personal and professional relationships of Churchill to (Gen.) Alexander (Allied ground forces Commander in Chief in Italy) and Mark Clark (commander of US Fifth Army in Italy) helped to make SHINGLE and the actions beyond all they were. Second, D'Este deals considerably, yet fairly, with where blame has been placed, both deservedly and not, on the shoulders of various commanders for the debacle that is Anzio. In this context he also provides considerable information with respect to relationships between commanders and how these influenced placement of blame, as well as doling out of 'punishment' to those 'deemed' responsible. Readers should not assume that blame is easy to assign, nor that it has been done so fairly over the years. In this regard D'Este does a great service to the historical community by presenting a clear and even-handed portrait of how and why events unfolded the way they did.
All in all "Fatal Decision" is a 5 star book worthy of a read by anyone who has even a passing interest in the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations, how American and British soldiers achieved what they did within a generally nationalistic and strained coalition.
[This review is of the hardback version]
D'Este's Best Campaign History to Date..........2003-09-27
Since the passing of the late Stephen Ambrose, Carlo D'Este has probably assumed the mantle of America's leading World War II historian and author. This work was his fourth dealing with military events in the European theater (and in this case, the third dealing with the Mediterranean). You probably won't find a better, more detailed account of the Anzio battle than in this book. It's well researched, very detailed and a quick moving read.
I gathered that D'Este believed that the Allies weren't all that allied and the Germans, outnumbered and outsupplied, simply took advantage of Allied mistakes and blunders and nearly made "Operation Shingle" a total disaster.
D'Este clearly admires Mark Clark's bravery, but questions his strategic abilities. He finds Alexander personally likeable, but one of the least decisive theater commanders of the war and Kesselring, daring, resourceful and opportunistic. The General he admires most is without a doubt, Lucian K. Truscott Jr, first commander of the famous U. S. Third Infantry Division, then is elevated to 6th Corps command when Lucas is relieved. The way the author marshalls his facts, you will find it hard to disagree.
But to me, the hero of the book is the ordinary land soldier, the men who endured the barbarous fighting, the nightmarish stalemate and the eventual breakout of the beachhead. This is a superb piece of military history and well worth the time it will take to read it.
Combines historical analysis with first hand accounts.......2002-04-12
Carlo D'Este has written a series of books on the often-overlooked Italian campaigns of World War II. D'Este skillfully combines detailed historical analysis with interesting first hand accounts. The result is a highly readable book. The author uses the first several chapters to set the scene and explain the historical significance of the operation. There are extended passages on the conflicts between the Allied commanders. The central section of the book describes the actual conduct of the operation. The chapters cover the battle at the tactical level and include many short personnel stories. The author moves easily from strategic conflicts between Allied generals to the day-to-day struggle of the infantrymen in the mud of Anzio. The author is not afraid to state an opinion and all views are backed up by significant evidence. This makes the work more than just a collection of war stories. The only quirk I found was D'este obvious admiration of German generals and the German military in general. While he goes to great length to point out the weakness of Allied leadership, the Germans are let off rather lightly, despite the fact that in the end they lost.
Book Description
A reissue of this best-selling, soldier's-eye view of the 45th Infantry Division and its heroic efforts during World War II, from the beaches of Italy to the liberation of Dachau.
Anzio was one of the greatest battles of World War II-a desperate gamble to land a large amphibious force behind German lines in Italy in the hope that the war could be shortened by capturing Rome. It also turned out to be one of the bloodiest battles in U.S. military history. Based on extensive research into archives, photos, letters, diaries, previously classified official records, and scores of personal interviews with surviving veterans of the 45th, The Rock of Anzio is written with an immediacy that puts the reader right onto the battlefield and shows us war through the eyes of ordinary men called upon to perform extraordinary deeds.
Customer Reviews:
The Rock of Anzio.......2005-09-18
Good service, good price, the used book look new.
My uncle was with the 45th and he said the author was historically correct in his description of the men and battles in which the 45th fought. I found the book not only interesting but a keepsake for me and my family. I appreciate this indepth study of this gallant group of men.
Excellent look at a National Guard unit in WWII.......2005-04-21
Being a former National Guard officer and having visited the concentration camp in Dachau in a trip through Europe, I was interested in this book. The scene when the soldiers get to the Dachau concentration camp was unforgettable. This event makes us all realize how important it was to win this war against fascist and extremely racist dictators.
Whitlock does an excellent job in trying to report the facts without any moral judgements in all parts of the book. Whitlock also brings the reader to see the mistakes as well as the successes and gives his reasons. We see the events of Anzio from the level of generals, and other events from the reactions of lower level officers and enlistedmen. This book is a true testament to the sacrifice of Guard soldiers in World War II. I wish there were more books like this one on Guard units in World War II. This is an excellent book to read for the amateur military historian.
A Thourough Review of a Battleworthy Infantry Division.......2003-03-05
The Rock of Anzio chronicles the WW II experience of the 45th Division, a national guard unit primarily from OK, TX, and NM. This covers prewar status, the callup to federal duty, and its' prodigious battle action in Sicily, Italy including Anzio, France, and Germany. Personal remembrances of former thunderbirds (the divisions' nickname) are widely used as well as the divisional history. Far from being a dry accounting of the divisions' exploits, this book is very easily read, with many small details well covered as well as the overall strategic situation the division was facing at that time. I personally wasn't aware of the critical defense of Anzio by the thunderbirds. Battle actions are well written and exciting to read. I would recommend this book to anyone with a special interest in the Italian campaign and it is a excellent companion book to Edwin Hoyt's Backwater War.
Thought Provoking.......2000-07-12
My late grandfather was a Thunderbird (157th rgmt, M co), and seldom talked of his World War Two days. After reading this book, I now know why. I can only imagine what it must have been like to live for days on end in a wet foxhole, always cold and miserable. Only have the faintest idea of what horrors he saw when Dachau was liberated. The stories of those days were never told by him. As with many men of his generation, he did not want to remember those terrible events of nearly sixty years ago. _The Rock of Anzio_ tells the story that my grandfather was never able to tell, a story that should be told.
Interesting look at a National Guard Division.......2000-06-13
I really enjoyed this book. It moved so well, and kept my interest from cover to cover. I have read many unit histories, and this work is the most complete. It cover the unit from activation, through all of its battles. Anzio and Dachau must get the highest praise. Anzio is written so well, I can hardly see how the US prevailed in that battle. I also never knew of the conflict between the Thunderbirds (45th ID) and the Rainbows (42nd ID), over the liberation of the Dachau Concentration camp (even having visited it). The author does a great job, buy this book!
Customer Reviews:
Anzio, Epic of Bravery.......2005-04-13
This is one of the best books about the Anzio landing I have ever read. It puts the reader right there on the front lines with the soldiers and what they were experiencing during that long siege. I have a special interest since my father served with the 45th Division from 1941 to their entry into Rome. This book is a keeper.
Riveting!!! You cannot put this book down........2004-02-08
This is one of the best World War II books I have ever read. It is a combination of history text and memoir and will appeal to readers of each type. This book is well researched, and well documented and tells the story of Anzio that is both informative and engaging.
Average customer rating:
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Anzio
Wynford Vaughan-Thomas
Manufacturer: Popular Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007ERX2C |
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