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The Lorraine Campaign
On the 1st September 1944, General Patton and his Third Army stood poised to strike at what they thought would the last major barrier on the road to Berlin.
They had raced four hundred miles across northern France, from the beaches of Normandy to the banks of the Moselle River, in less than one month.
Facing them were the German forces that held the territory between the Moselle and the Sarre Rivers.
Having had such success in the invasion of France the men of the Third Army were confident that they could smash their way into Nazi Germany.
Yet, almost immediately, their progress was halted.
A drastic shortage of fuel slowed the advance to a crawl, giving time for German reinforcements to arrive from across Germany and Italy. New Panzer divisions also arrived to support the Nazi forces and drive back the Allied forces.
Over the next three and a half months Patton and his men fought against these battle-hardened troops and brutally powerful tanks in operations that have become subsequently known as the Lorraine Campaign.
Hugh M. Cole’s The Lorraine Campaign is the definitive history of these bloody months of conflict.
It records each phase of the campaign in brilliant detail, including the initial days when Patton’s army was brought to a halt at the banks of the Moselle, the Battle of Metz, and the offensive across the Saar River towards the Siegfried Line before the Germans launched their counteroffensive in the Ardennes.
This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the European Theater of World War Two and how Patton and his Third Army were able to overcome huge obstacles in their drive to reach Berlin.
Hugh M. Cole was an American historian and army officer, best known as the author of The Lorraine Campaign and The Ardennes: Battle of the Bulge, two volumes of the U.S. Army official history of World War II. During the Second World War he was assigned as a historical officer on the staff of General Patton's Third Army, with whom he participated in four campaigns in northern Europe. The Lorraine Campaign was first published in 1950. Cole passed away in 2005.
They had raced four hundred miles across northern France, from the beaches of Normandy to the banks of the Moselle River, in less than one month.
Facing them were the German forces that held the territory between the Moselle and the Sarre Rivers.
Having had such success in the invasion of France the men of the Third Army were confident that they could smash their way into Nazi Germany.
Yet, almost immediately, their progress was halted.
A drastic shortage of fuel slowed the advance to a crawl, giving time for German reinforcements to arrive from across Germany and Italy. New Panzer divisions also arrived to support the Nazi forces and drive back the Allied forces.
Over the next three and a half months Patton and his men fought against these battle-hardened troops and brutally powerful tanks in operations that have become subsequently known as the Lorraine Campaign.
Hugh M. Cole’s The Lorraine Campaign is the definitive history of these bloody months of conflict.
It records each phase of the campaign in brilliant detail, including the initial days when Patton’s army was brought to a halt at the banks of the Moselle, the Battle of Metz, and the offensive across the Saar River towards the Siegfried Line before the Germans launched their counteroffensive in the Ardennes.
This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the European Theater of World War Two and how Patton and his Third Army were able to overcome huge obstacles in their drive to reach Berlin.
Hugh M. Cole was an American historian and army officer, best known as the author of The Lorraine Campaign and The Ardennes: Battle of the Bulge, two volumes of the U.S. Army official history of World War II. During the Second World War he was assigned as a historical officer on the staff of General Patton's Third Army, with whom he participated in four campaigns in northern Europe. The Lorraine Campaign was first published in 1950. Cole passed away in 2005.
680 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1950
270 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Hugh M. Cole
9 books1 followerDr. Hugh Marshall Cole, Ph.D. (European military history, University of Minnesota, 1937; B.A., Wheaton College, 1931), taught military history at the University of Chicago until 1942, when he joined the Army as an intelligence officer. After graduating from the Command and General Staff School he was assigned to the staff of the Third Army during its operations in Europe. At the close of hostilities he became Deputy Theater Historian, European Theater of Operations. From 1946 to 1952 Dr. Cole directed the work of the European Theater Section, Office of the Chief of Military History, and wrote The Lorraine Campaign. He joined the Operations Research Office of The Johns Hopkins University in 1952 and continued his active interest in military history and his service to the Army both as a scholar and as colonel in the US Army Reserve. Dr. Cole held the Harold K. Johnson Chair of Military History at the Army War College, 1976–77.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 16, 2020
One he'll of battle.
It was a good read. Just a little long. However,the information is right on. The soldier that fight there saw so of the worst there was.
I once again learn more about the 3rd Army's role in the European theater.
It was a good read. Just a little long. However,the information is right on. The soldier that fight there saw so of the worst there was.
I once again learn more about the 3rd Army's role in the European theater.
August 21, 2019
What a story! Cole’s writing is crisp and clear. Reminds me of Zeimke’s works on the Eastern European fronts. Excellent.
I was always under the impression that Patton was still fighting for Metz when the Ardennes Offensive broke out. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Metz had fallen but the Third Army was embroiled in some of the most intense an costly battles of the conflict.
What I enjoyed most about the work is the questions that are generated at the end by the reader. What if Patton wouldn’t have disengaged the bulk of his army to stem the German counteroffensive. By Balck’s reports, he had nothing left to throw into the liens. Could the Third army have broken through and encircled the 5th, 6th and 6th armies, ending the offensive and bagging what was left of Army Group B and hastening the end of the war? We will never know but it is worth examining the what ifs.
One fascinating item is how many of our troops suffered trench foot while the Germans didn’t. I’ve heard several theories on the topic with no definitive resolution. Some say it was the boots. Others, wet socks. Yet the Germans were fighting with hobnailed boots without insulation. So, what caused it? I doubt we’ll ever know.
That said, this is another work riddled with errors. Poor formatting, words running together and misspellings. I put all of this on the publisher since has become common in all the historical works I’ve read of late that have been republished.
If you can overlook the grammatical errors, this work is well worth your time.
Four stars
I was always under the impression that Patton was still fighting for Metz when the Ardennes Offensive broke out. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Metz had fallen but the Third Army was embroiled in some of the most intense an costly battles of the conflict.
What I enjoyed most about the work is the questions that are generated at the end by the reader. What if Patton wouldn’t have disengaged the bulk of his army to stem the German counteroffensive. By Balck’s reports, he had nothing left to throw into the liens. Could the Third army have broken through and encircled the 5th, 6th and 6th armies, ending the offensive and bagging what was left of Army Group B and hastening the end of the war? We will never know but it is worth examining the what ifs.
One fascinating item is how many of our troops suffered trench foot while the Germans didn’t. I’ve heard several theories on the topic with no definitive resolution. Some say it was the boots. Others, wet socks. Yet the Germans were fighting with hobnailed boots without insulation. So, what caused it? I doubt we’ll ever know.
That said, this is another work riddled with errors. Poor formatting, words running together and misspellings. I put all of this on the publisher since has become common in all the historical works I’ve read of late that have been republished.
If you can overlook the grammatical errors, this work is well worth your time.
Four stars
June 27, 2016
This military history of World War II in the European Theater is easy to read and understand. It includes some excellent maps and photographs. The Lorraine Campaign is part of a multi-volume military history by the Department of Defense and is a good addition for the library of the World War II buff. Division level units are identified.
July 3, 2019
June 28, 2019
A Review by Anthony T. Riggio of the Book: THE LORRAINE CAMPAIGN (U.S. Army in World War II The European Theater of Operations) by Hugh Cole PhD
I purchased this book in the Kindle format from Amazon because of a interest in the exploits of the Third Army under the Command of General George Patton. For some reason, I had pictured in my mind, Patton's Third Army of charging ahead in Europe in a rapid tank and infantry charge accross Europe in the conquest of the Third Reich. I recently read a couple of books on the WW II, to wit,The Battle of the Huertgen Forest and The 84th Infantry Division In The Battle Of Germany: November 1944-May 1945 [Both not yet reviewed]; I was somewhat enlightened by the seemingly slow and difficult pace of the Allied Forces through France and the incredibly bloody carnage incurred by both sides.
The Lorraine Campaign was revealing in the difficulty of both weather and supply of materiel, and the number rivers necessitating crossings in pursuit of the Germans who fought furiously and inflicting many casualties on the American forces. Lorraine refers to the territory between France and Germany referred to as Alasce-Lorraine which has been fought over for many years and resulted in the settlement of both French and German people over the years and has flipped flopped between them several times. Since the French possessed Alsace-Lorraine after World War I, the French built the Maginot line to protect against invasion of the Germans in the future. This line of defense proved ineffective for the defense of France in 1940 but proved to be a major hurdle for American forces in 1944. As the German Army retreated under the pressure of the Third Army, these fortifications were used by the German Army as defensive positions consisting of both fort like structures and fortified bunkers requiring slow taking and the cost of many American soldier casualties.
Upon continued thrusts into Germany the battles took on an urban fighting dimension as the retreating Germans had to be taken out almost building by building. Both sides had very effective artillery components and this made the advance of the Third Army more difficult. American air power was very effective while the skies were clear which was very sporadic but it was effective to punish a very stubborn enemy. Keep in mind that this battle for Lorraine and the thrust into German territory occurred between September 2, and culminated on December 18, 1944. Interestingly while there were many counter offences by the German Army this was a slow steady onslaught by the American Army.
Patton's tank operations were successful but costly and many armored losses were had by both sides. For the Germans this spelled doom because the American resupply was more fluid and the Germans were very slow to none existant and this applied to reinforcement of relief troops too. Both the Infantry and Tank corps suffered as a result of both the constant rain/snow a nd muddy soil and the impact of disease caused b Trench Foot, a condition that was more evident in WW I as a result of soldiers feet being exposed to constant water intrusion.
The number of casualties wounded and dead was in excess of 55,00 men and more for the Germans. The number of German prisoners of War were incredible thanks to the determination and bravery of the American soldier.
This book was written as part of a nine volume historical account of the Army's European Theater of Operations and was meant for future study by students of War. I gave this book four stars out of five but would not recommend it for the casual reader who does not possess a love of History.
A Review by Anthony T. Riggio of the Book: THE LORRAINE CAMPAIGN (U.S. Army in World War II The European Theater of Operations) by Hugh Cole PhD
I purchased this book in the Kindle format from Amazon because of a interest in the exploits of the Third Army under the Command of General George Patton. For some reason, I had pictured in my mind, Patton's Third Army of charging ahead in Europe in a rapid tank and infantry charge accross Europe in the conquest of the Third Reich. I recently read a couple of books on the WW II, to wit,The Battle of the Huertgen Forest and The 84th Infantry Division In The Battle Of Germany: November 1944-May 1945 [Both not yet reviewed]; I was somewhat enlightened by the seemingly slow and difficult pace of the Allied Forces through France and the incredibly bloody carnage incurred by both sides.
The Lorraine Campaign was revealing in the difficulty of both weather and supply of materiel, and the number rivers necessitating crossings in pursuit of the Germans who fought furiously and inflicting many casualties on the American forces. Lorraine refers to the territory between France and Germany referred to as Alasce-Lorraine which has been fought over for many years and resulted in the settlement of both French and German people over the years and has flipped flopped between them several times. Since the French possessed Alsace-Lorraine after World War I, the French built the Maginot line to protect against invasion of the Germans in the future. This line of defense proved ineffective for the defense of France in 1940 but proved to be a major hurdle for American forces in 1944. As the German Army retreated under the pressure of the Third Army, these fortifications were used by the German Army as defensive positions consisting of both fort like structures and fortified bunkers requiring slow taking and the cost of many American soldier casualties.
Upon continued thrusts into Germany the battles took on an urban fighting dimension as the retreating Germans had to be taken out almost building by building. Both sides had very effective artillery components and this made the advance of the Third Army more difficult. American air power was very effective while the skies were clear which was very sporadic but it was effective to punish a very stubborn enemy. Keep in mind that this battle for Lorraine and the thrust into German territory occurred between September 2, and culminated on December 18, 1944. Interestingly while there were many counter offences by the German Army this was a slow steady onslaught by the American Army.
Patton's tank operations were successful but costly and many armored losses were had by both sides. For the Germans this spelled doom because the American resupply was more fluid and the Germans were very slow to none existant and this applied to reinforcement of relief troops too. Both the Infantry and Tank corps suffered as a result of both the constant rain/snow a nd muddy soil and the impact of disease caused b Trench Foot, a condition that was more evident in WW I as a result of soldiers feet being exposed to constant water intrusion.
The number of casualties wounded and dead was in excess of 55,00 men and more for the Germans. The number of German prisoners of War were incredible thanks to the determination and bravery of the American soldier.
This book was written as part of a nine volume historical account of the Army's European Theater of Operations and was meant for future study by students of War. I gave this book four stars out of five but would not recommend it for the casual reader who does not possess a love of History.
May 10, 2022
High Quality Official History
This work is part of the U.S. Army's official history of its role in World War II. It is nonetheless fairly frank about the problems the U.S. Third Army under George Patton experienced as they ran up against hardening German defenses in eastern France after their dash across the country following the breakout in Normandy. It passes over in silence the many operational controversies that shaped the strategic context of the Lorraine offensive. Montgomery's singular failure to promptly clear the Schedt and get the port of Antwerp open, for example, is passed over in a few sentences, though the author dwells at length on Third Army's logistical shortages.. The spectacular debacle of Market Garden and the U.S. committment to the bloody slogging match in the Hurtgen get only passing mentions.
The narrative focuses on combat at the regimental/battalion levels, with occasional treatment of company-scale actions. The soldier's individual perspective is largely missing.
This Kindle version has no maps or illustrations. The lack of maps is especially annoying, making it very hard to follow the narratives of unit deployments and manuevers.
Despite its flaws this work remains a good overall treatment of a tough, bloody campaign - one that has recieved little attention in other histories of the war, coming as it did between the two great post D-Day dramas of Market Garden and the Bulge.
This work is part of the U.S. Army's official history of its role in World War II. It is nonetheless fairly frank about the problems the U.S. Third Army under George Patton experienced as they ran up against hardening German defenses in eastern France after their dash across the country following the breakout in Normandy. It passes over in silence the many operational controversies that shaped the strategic context of the Lorraine offensive. Montgomery's singular failure to promptly clear the Schedt and get the port of Antwerp open, for example, is passed over in a few sentences, though the author dwells at length on Third Army's logistical shortages.. The spectacular debacle of Market Garden and the U.S. committment to the bloody slogging match in the Hurtgen get only passing mentions.
The narrative focuses on combat at the regimental/battalion levels, with occasional treatment of company-scale actions. The soldier's individual perspective is largely missing.
This Kindle version has no maps or illustrations. The lack of maps is especially annoying, making it very hard to follow the narratives of unit deployments and manuevers.
Despite its flaws this work remains a good overall treatment of a tough, bloody campaign - one that has recieved little attention in other histories of the war, coming as it did between the two great post D-Day dramas of Market Garden and the Bulge.
July 4, 2023
Lack of maps a liability
This history reveals with discomforting detail the prohibitive price paid in human lives to defeat racist nationalism in 20th Century Europe. The reader is impelled by the limited nature of the Loraine Campaign objectives to meditate upon the immorality of both the evil opposed and the methods employed to overcome it. Successful commanders are honored for their daring and genius, effected at the anticipated, calculated and accepted cost of human suffering and death. The revelation of this reality makes this book a worthy undertaking. Unfortunately, appreciation of the military accomplishment is seriously hampered by the paucity of geographic and topographic visual aids. I found searching for maps to support understanding of the text time-wasting and usually frustrating, due to the absence of timely illustrations: 21st Century maps do no justice to 20th Century adventure.
This history reveals with discomforting detail the prohibitive price paid in human lives to defeat racist nationalism in 20th Century Europe. The reader is impelled by the limited nature of the Loraine Campaign objectives to meditate upon the immorality of both the evil opposed and the methods employed to overcome it. Successful commanders are honored for their daring and genius, effected at the anticipated, calculated and accepted cost of human suffering and death. The revelation of this reality makes this book a worthy undertaking. Unfortunately, appreciation of the military accomplishment is seriously hampered by the paucity of geographic and topographic visual aids. I found searching for maps to support understanding of the text time-wasting and usually frustrating, due to the absence of timely illustrations: 21st Century maps do no justice to 20th Century adventure.
October 18, 2019
I regret to report this book was extremely boring.
Written by a college professor, it obviously was well researched, etc., but page after page of knowing that the 359th infantry moved through the 357th infantry or such like descriptions is hard to plow through.
The conclusion could have been the whole book. The going was tough in the Lorraine Campaign because armor gets stuck in mud and shouldn't be used where armor has to stay on narrow paved roads where it makes easy targets for well-trained artillery. And soldiers get very tired and dispirited trying to fight in rain, mud, and snow......
While the Lorraine campaign, from the US Army standpoint, occupied a lot of German Soldiers which otherwise might have been used in the Ardennes, it cost a lot of US casualties for a gain of precious little ground...... This ground and the villages destroyed was difficult to follow due to the tiny maps in the Kindle books.
Written by a college professor, it obviously was well researched, etc., but page after page of knowing that the 359th infantry moved through the 357th infantry or such like descriptions is hard to plow through.
The conclusion could have been the whole book. The going was tough in the Lorraine Campaign because armor gets stuck in mud and shouldn't be used where armor has to stay on narrow paved roads where it makes easy targets for well-trained artillery. And soldiers get very tired and dispirited trying to fight in rain, mud, and snow......
While the Lorraine campaign, from the US Army standpoint, occupied a lot of German Soldiers which otherwise might have been used in the Ardennes, it cost a lot of US casualties for a gain of precious little ground...... This ground and the villages destroyed was difficult to follow due to the tiny maps in the Kindle books.
July 10, 2019
Really good, but a bit tedious.
This was an excellent telling of an oft forgotten part of the ETO war, though I admit that I fast forwarded more and more as the story repeated itself...mud, rain, tanks mired, infantry in enfilade, eventual triumph. This was war of attrition at its worst, and for better or worse, the reading exacted a toll as well.
This was an excellent telling of an oft forgotten part of the ETO war, though I admit that I fast forwarded more and more as the story repeated itself...mud, rain, tanks mired, infantry in enfilade, eventual triumph. This was war of attrition at its worst, and for better or worse, the reading exacted a toll as well.
November 8, 2019
Very Thorough Coverage of Third Army Action in the Lorraine
Very detailed discussion of the ebb and flow of units and land coverage. Great conclusion discussion tied up overall battle plan for both sides of this long but important battle.
Very detailed discussion of the ebb and flow of units and land coverage. Great conclusion discussion tied up overall battle plan for both sides of this long but important battle.
January 22, 2020
Overview with too much detail
The book just went on forever it didn't cover any personal stories but it just had too much detail. I would have very much appreciated a couple of personal stories thrown in.
The book just went on forever it didn't cover any personal stories but it just had too much detail. I would have very much appreciated a couple of personal stories thrown in.
September 27, 2020
Excellent book that manages to cover every unit during the Lorraine Campaign in a clear understandable way. I did not have access to the Atlas which did cause a bit of confusion as to which actions took place where and the progression of rivers needed to cross.
July 29, 2021
DetaiLed but needs maps
Great detail but useless with no maps. I tried to picture it but that is difficult to do. Maps are needed as the areas discussed have towns that aren't familiar
Great detail but useless with no maps. I tried to picture it but that is difficult to do. Maps are needed as the areas discussed have towns that aren't familiar
June 20, 2020
A must read for students of this era.
September 24, 2020
Excellent read for history buffs
The book gives very good details on the deployment and use of American and German forces. It isn’t an easy read but well worth it.
The book gives very good details on the deployment and use of American and German forces. It isn’t an easy read but well worth it.
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February 10, 2022This army publication helped me greatly in writing a book set in Paris in WW2
August 8, 2020
I found this very educational to learn the many roads and battles through France. It was a little hard to keep track of which Army, Regiment, Division, Battalion, Company as I didn't serve in the Army. They seemed to jump around in support of each other. I served in the Navy - one boat. Easy to remember.
June 13, 2015
Good book but
Good book but this edition has way to many errors, typos, wrong words etc! These are editing errors, the writing and research is very good.
Good book but this edition has way to many errors, typos, wrong words etc! These are editing errors, the writing and research is very good.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews