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Siegfried: The Nazis' Last Stand
war novel
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
About the author
Charles Whiting
279 books56 followersCharles Whiting was a British writer and military historian and with some 350 books of fiction and non-fiction to his credit, under his own name and a variety of pseudonyms including Ian Harding, Duncan Harding, K.N. Kostov, John Kerrigan, Klaus Konrad, and Leo Kessler.
Born in the Bootham area of York, England, he was a pupil at the prestigious Nunthorpe Grammar School, leaving at the age of 16 to join the British Army by lying about his age. Keen to be in on the wartime action, Whiting was attached to the 52nd Reconnaissance Regiment and by the age of 18 saw duty as a sergeant in France, Holland, Belgium and Germany in the latter stages of World War II. While still a soldier, he observed conflicts between the highest-ranking British and American generals which he would write about extensively in later years.
After the war, he stayed on in Germany completing his A-levels via correspondence course and teaching English before being enrolled at Leeds University reading History and German Language. As an undergraduate he was afforded opportunities for study at several European universities and, after gaining his degree, would go on to become an assistant professor of history. Elsewhere, Whiting held a variety of jobs which included working as a translator for a German chemical factory and spells as a publicist, a correspondent for The Times and feature writer for such diverse magazines as International Review of Linguistics, Soldier and Playboy.
His first novel was written while still an undergraduate, was published in 1954 and by 1958 had been followed by three wartime thrillers. Between 1960 and 2007 Charles went on to write over 350 titles, including 70 non-fiction titles covering varied topics from the Nazi intelligence service to British Regiments during World War II.
One of his publishers, Easingwold-based Rupert Smith of GH Smith & Son said he was a quiet man and prolific writer.
"He's one of a band of forgotten authors because he sold millions of copies and still, up to his death was doing publishing deals.He was the kind of man who was very self-effacing, one of Britain's forgotten authors, still working at 80 years of age, with his nose down and kicking out books."
Charles Henry Whiting, author and military historian died on July 24 2007, leaving his wife and son.
Born in the Bootham area of York, England, he was a pupil at the prestigious Nunthorpe Grammar School, leaving at the age of 16 to join the British Army by lying about his age. Keen to be in on the wartime action, Whiting was attached to the 52nd Reconnaissance Regiment and by the age of 18 saw duty as a sergeant in France, Holland, Belgium and Germany in the latter stages of World War II. While still a soldier, he observed conflicts between the highest-ranking British and American generals which he would write about extensively in later years.
After the war, he stayed on in Germany completing his A-levels via correspondence course and teaching English before being enrolled at Leeds University reading History and German Language. As an undergraduate he was afforded opportunities for study at several European universities and, after gaining his degree, would go on to become an assistant professor of history. Elsewhere, Whiting held a variety of jobs which included working as a translator for a German chemical factory and spells as a publicist, a correspondent for The Times and feature writer for such diverse magazines as International Review of Linguistics, Soldier and Playboy.
His first novel was written while still an undergraduate, was published in 1954 and by 1958 had been followed by three wartime thrillers. Between 1960 and 2007 Charles went on to write over 350 titles, including 70 non-fiction titles covering varied topics from the Nazi intelligence service to British Regiments during World War II.
One of his publishers, Easingwold-based Rupert Smith of GH Smith & Son said he was a quiet man and prolific writer.
"He's one of a band of forgotten authors because he sold millions of copies and still, up to his death was doing publishing deals.He was the kind of man who was very self-effacing, one of Britain's forgotten authors, still working at 80 years of age, with his nose down and kicking out books."
Charles Henry Whiting, author and military historian died on July 24 2007, leaving his wife and son.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 31, 2013
This book cost me 20p in the Christian Aid book sale, and it was worth every penny. If you are looking for a quick entertaining read this is the place to look. If you are looking for a serious analysis of the closing period of WW2 on the Western Front taking into account military, political and social dimensions then there are plenty of other books that will fulfill your needs. But they may cost more than 20p.
The author places more emphasis on anecdote than analysis and does not shy away from a spot of overwrought prose. The sources for many of the stories are not clear. The cover I have is a marvellous action scene which looks like the box art for an Airfix kit. And is that such a bad thing?
The author places more emphasis on anecdote than analysis and does not shy away from a spot of overwrought prose. The sources for many of the stories are not clear. The cover I have is a marvellous action scene which looks like the box art for an Airfix kit. And is that such a bad thing?
February 3, 2025
2.4 stars marked down to two by Goodreads. The style is over-the-top almost to the point of sensationalism at times. This is primarily a worm's-eye view of the fighting in the late fall and winter of 1944-45 on the western front, focusing on the First Army and Ninth Army efforts, with later coverage of some of Patton's Third Army and a bit on Montgomery's efforts (does not include anything on the "bridge too far" campaign in Belgium) and a mention at the end of Seventh Army coming up from the south.
Worm's-eye-view is not a negative in most cases, but in this case it's pretty haphazard -- we don't get to know the worms because this book tries to cover the entire front's actions rather than focusing on a particular unit or area. That's just what the author chose to do and how he chose to cover the subject. Wouldn't be my favorite method and thus isn't my favorite type of book.
Destined for thrift store or Little Free Library.
9/7/26 — picked this up at an out-of-town Little Free Library despite suspecting that I might have read it. Sure enough — now back to another LFL.
Worm's-eye-view is not a negative in most cases, but in this case it's pretty haphazard -- we don't get to know the worms because this book tries to cover the entire front's actions rather than focusing on a particular unit or area. That's just what the author chose to do and how he chose to cover the subject. Wouldn't be my favorite method and thus isn't my favorite type of book.
Destined for thrift store or Little Free Library.
9/7/26 — picked this up at an out-of-town Little Free Library despite suspecting that I might have read it. Sure enough — now back to another LFL.
June 16, 2024
The 6 months in the ETO between September 1944 and February 1945 have not received as much attention over the years as say the Normandy Campaign or the race across Germany March-May 1945. These intervening months hung up on the West Wall due to the outrunning of supply tether, Operation Market Garden and of course Hitler’s last gamble in the Ardennes just haven’t been as exciting for historians I guess.
Whiting is one of those prolific WWII writers however that have a broad grasp of the whole campaign in Europe, which serves him well here.
Anecdote at the squad level all the way to the well-known struggles between the Allied command structure are tied together in a pretty easy read that does a good job of allowing the reader to follow the action north to south and assault after assault against the line.
Only the soldiers there could know the absolute misery and terror that was their world. Words can’t express the debt we owe them.
Whiting is one of those prolific WWII writers however that have a broad grasp of the whole campaign in Europe, which serves him well here.
Anecdote at the squad level all the way to the well-known struggles between the Allied command structure are tied together in a pretty easy read that does a good job of allowing the reader to follow the action north to south and assault after assault against the line.
Only the soldiers there could know the absolute misery and terror that was their world. Words can’t express the debt we owe them.
August 6, 2018
This excellent historical book covers the attack on the West Wall, Hitlers last defensive obstacle in the west. It covers in detail the battles in Hurtgen forest and beyond, when Patton finally crossed the Rhine. It is a fitting tribute to the men who died, on both sides, in those terrible battles.
May 1, 2020
An interesting read from a history standpoint but very dry and often not particularly easy to read. Worth the read but not necessarily the most captivating read.
July 31, 2026
A good read about a raw subject
February 21, 2008
This is a fascinating look at the Nazis' attempt to conquerEurope and their use of the West Wall or Siegfried Line in that attempt. It covers September 1944 through March 1945. I used it extensively in writing my book HELL FROZEN OVER.
January 10, 2015
A very good and entertaining book, but, reader should know the history of WW2 nad especially the WWII to fill in the holes in the narration (e.g: The battle of the Bulge).
Some people says that the author has a bias towards his own country (UK) but I fail to see that.
Some people says that the author has a bias towards his own country (UK) but I fail to see that.
January 28, 2008
Very good book on the History of the West Wall in Germany. This is a good book to read before you read Company Commander by Charles B. MacDonald. Mixes history with personal accounts.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews