I find it interesting that one of the best books on the American Battle of the Bulge, in late 1944, should be written by a former British soldier. The author commanded a tank and, along with his crew, played a very small part in this battle, but he has overwhelming contributed to it with this book.
He covers the battle from the decisions of the highest commanders to the efforts of the individual American soldiers who stopped the German panzers, often without fanfare, as they and their units were wiped out. For example, he tells the story of a single soldier from the American 75th Infantry Division who stopped a panzer attack with a bazooka, by blocking an icy road on a hilly corner with the destroyed German tank, but whose name was never recorded as he was probably killed soon after.
The author's book can also be considered "revisionist history," despite the fact it was published in 1971, for his detailed destruction of several well-known "myths" about the battle, often due to Allied efforts to improve morale regarding the response to the German surprise attack.
Yet, the author, although British, gives full recognition to the American reaction and sometimes 'informal' attitude which allowed U.S. Forces to respond quickly. The author makes the point the German attack, although it still made progress in some areas, was essentially stopped in four days, often due to small American units which fought until overrun or were wiped out, allowing time for more divisions to be committed. Most interesting to me were the reason he gave for the green 106th Infantry Division's almost total defeat in this battle. I have never read this in any other book. Nor was I aware one of the regiments was not overrun, but fought throughout the battle.
Finally, unlike some books on military history, this one was an easy read and the pages flew by.
He covers the battle from the decisions of the highest commanders to the efforts of the individual American soldiers who stopped the German panzers, often without fanfare, as they and their units were wiped out. For example, he tells the story of a single soldier from the American 75th Infantry Division who stopped a panzer attack with a bazooka, by blocking an icy road on a hilly corner with the destroyed German tank, but whose name was never recorded as he was probably killed soon after.
The author's book can also be considered "revisionist history," despite the fact it was published in 1971, for his detailed destruction of several well-known "myths" about the battle, often due to Allied efforts to improve morale regarding the response to the German surprise attack.
Yet, the author, although British, gives full recognition to the American reaction and sometimes 'informal' attitude which allowed U.S. Forces to respond quickly. The author makes the point the German attack, although it still made progress in some areas, was essentially stopped in four days, often due to small American units which fought until overrun or were wiped out, allowing time for more divisions to be committed. Most interesting to me were the reason he gave for the green 106th Infantry Division's almost total defeat in this battle. I have never read this in any other book. Nor was I aware one of the regiments was not overrun, but fought throughout the battle.
Finally, unlike some books on military history, this one was an easy read and the pages flew by.
