ARDENNES: The Battle of the Bulge - 1944-45

by J. Mark Connell

This new series of paperback military history originals is set to revolutionize how selected conflicts and characters of history are studied. In comparison with other mid-format paperback series they contain extensive textual coverage - 50-55000 words - and are written by noted scholars and experts in the subjects, rather than non-specialist writers offering brief and inadequate coverage of a theme. Necessary illustrations and maps are included but are not provided to simply add pages to the book or fill vacant space

In December 1944, desperate to hold out for the new weaponry he expected and shocked by losing the port of Antwerp, Adolf Hitler embarked on an audacious counteroffensive that was intended to drive back the all-conquering Allied forces that had caused Germany to retreat from Normandy to its own borders. It was a foolhardy exercise but it had surprise on its side and for some days the fate of the war in Europe was in the hands of the commanders and men of a few American divisions and some supporting British forces. The Germans got within a few miles of their first objective - the River Meuse - but, by then, their own shortcomings had been found out and the Allies had regrouped.

This avidly studied battle is given a fresh and all-embracing approach in this 55,000 word account of the fluctuating fortunes of the combatants and the role in the action of the leading generals, including Eisenhower, Patton, Montgomery, Model, Dietrich and von Rundstedt.

Though Germany was destined for defeat, its industry produced remarkable amounts of weaponry for this offensive and an assortment of troops, many too young or too old, were assembled for Hitler's astonishing but ultimately futile final battlefield venture.

The Battle of the Bulge is an example of a short action where almost every military tactic was deployed and is charted on a daily basis here.

Genres: History, Military History, World War II, American History, War, Military Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1965

Reviews

[Adrian]

I tried my best to enjoy this book,but I found it too be a little long winded(blown-up,nearly 800pages long) and lacking in detailed maps and diagrams.
I don't know if your like me,but I like to see the names of places where the battles are being fought on a detailed map whilst reading,it gives me a sense of direction,i never got that with
this book.

This book also suffers from a little verboseness(the use of too many words to describe something),as it took me nearly three months to read this,and I am usually a very fast reader.

Overall,if your looking to read a book about this famous battle,then I would suggest finding a
book that's not too,how can I put it,long-winded and blown-up. Start with a shorter version of
this battle,then maybe move on to a book as long as this one.

My next book will be the new Antony Beevor book; Ardennes 1944: Hitler's Last Gamble. This book contains more detailed maps and is a little shorter at less than 500 pages. Will write a proper review for this book as soon as I have read it.

[Richard D]

Hugh M Cole got his doctorate in History in 1937 and became an officer in the US Army. He served as historical officer in Patton's third army throughout the European campaign. After being discharged he served with the Office of the Chief of Military History, where he supervised the writing of this book. He was in a unique position having both personal knowledge of the campaign and access to all unit histories and the resources to verify the facts at a time when most of the people involved were still around to talk to, and at a time when history was a more rigorous discipline that is has become. He went on to become Chair of Military History at the Army War College. For these reasons, this is probably the most authoritative, detailed and accurate Ardennes history to have been written. You should get the first edition (not this one) if possible. The excellent maps in the rear (provided no one removed them) are extremely helpful. This is a scholarly work. As retired military and a professor myself (sciences), I appreciate the detail. If you want accurate and detailed, no other book will fill the bill as well as this one. But if you want light reading you probably won't like this book.

[Bill V]

This was an OK read. The narrative seemed to be on the pedantic side. The focus is on the many smaller unit battles in the hamlets and villages in the area. There are several excellent photos and quite a few maps.

[Bill Lenoir]

THE book to read about the Battle of the Bulge, granted, it's a door-stopper of a tome

[Christopher Hardisty]

I'm sure this is a very good book, but the scope was detailed beyond my desired level. It was hard to keep all the units and names organized in my brain.