Is Paris Burning? in THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP

Jan 04, 2025 Jill H. rated it it was amazing

Shelves: military-history, wwi-wwii, non-fiction

To defend Paris against the enemy, even at the cost of its destruction might be considered a militarily valid act. But wantonly to ravage the city for the sole satisfaction of wiping one of the wonders of Europe from the map was an act without military justification. These were the thoughts of General von Choltitz, the man who Hitler had put in charge of the occupied city as the war was rapidly turning into a rout against Nazi Germany. As the Allies moved closer to Paris, an increasingly insane ...more

36 likes · Like · see review

Mar 09, 2012 Mike rated it really liked it

Shelves: history, non-fiction, military, ww2

Is Paris Burning? should probably get only 2 Stars because this was not a serious fight in the big scheme of maneuver. The Jewish Uprising in Warsaw in 1943 and the Polish fight in Warsaw a year later were more serious fights with consequences and lasted far longer. The Paris uprising sputtered for a few days before the French 2nd Armored Division and the US 4th Infantry Division made their entry into the city. But Mr Collins and Mr Lapierre get 4.5 Baccarat crystal Stars for packing this accoun ...more

29 likes · Like · see review

Apr 01, 2012 Alex Kershaw rated it it was amazing

Awesome

14 likes · Like · see review

Sep 12, 2017 Checkman rated it really liked it

Shelves: military-history, history, non-fiction

An entertaining read. An historical account written by two journalists. It plays out like a novel, but it's not. The book is now fifty-two years old and might be rather dated since several decades of historical research has occurred since it's initial publication. However I don't believe it's as important since most of the book is made up of first hand accounts. The writers do take some "poetic license" when it comes to such details as internal thoughts and colorful details that they fail to doc ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Dec 28, 2012 Barbara rated it really liked it

Shelves: art-and-history-and-art-history

The Aknowledgments section of the book describes the extensive research involved... For posterity, it is a shame there's not a single footnote. ...more

Like · see review