Assault on Germany: The Battle for Geilenkirchen

by Ken Ford

This is the story of the battle for the Geilenkirchen Salient in 1944 told through the eyes of those who were there, and the Germans fighting desperately for their homeland. The battle was the first on German soil since 1759 and it was infantry warfare at its worst.

Genres: Military History, World War II

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Monty Milne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good account of the exhausting grind that took place in the autumn of 1944 in appalling conditions of mud, cold and rain. There are some good character portrayals, such as of the prickly and unattractive General Thomas of the British 43rd Division. I had not realised Evelyn Waugh was his ADC – but only for 48 hours – this provides one of the few amusing episodes in what is otherwise a rather sombre narrative.

There are some very useful situation summary boxes at the end of each chapter. There are lots of excellent photographs. And it is cheering to read of the excellent co operation between US infantry and British armour. However, it is a rather grim and depressing tale. The 10th SS Panzer Division completely blocked the allied advance and there were failures of leadership and imagination by the allied commanders.

This is very much a book written from the Anglo American perspective and although there is some flavour of what it was like on the other side, I would have liked a bit more. Also, it’s a bit short, and the style is workmanlike rather than elegant. This kind of thing is a bit niche, but it’s a useful thing to read before tackling something more substantial on Hitler’s Ardennes Offensive, which came soon afterwards.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories of World War II that I grew up with came, largely, from this time in that conflict from my late first step-father, Bob Wagner, who was a medic in the 84th Infantry Division. I hadn't heard those stories in years -- he passed away in 1972 -- but, Ford's book very closely ran a parallel to what I heard as a boy in California.

Ford's book is more interested in historical account and readability than substance in style, but is worth the read for anyone familiar with that time.

I read it in research of a particular bloodless incident that I heard about long ago -- one in which Scottish bagpipers played all night long, effectively scaring off a larger German unit shrouded behind a nearby fog when it lifted. That incident was not in this book, but Ford brought me closer to it, and aided my insight into the horrors one goes through at that time, and for an instant, took me back to those days in the '60s when Bob thought it was important that I understand why war is so horrible.

Despite how hard it might be to talk about at times.

[William · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are some issues with grammar and the book is notably short. More could have been done with the selected time frame or said time frame could have been widened. Ken Ford may be a prolific WWII writer, but he is not a particularly good one.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good since I could walk the battlefield at my leisure over several years. Maybe a little obscure for someone interested in bigger picture WWII book.