THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP discussion
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2013 - May Theme Read - The Battle of the Bulge
Can fit in a few more books then Happy :)
Mike wrote: "Mr Dupuy's book answers a question I had on why the 394th I&R was attacked by infantry first and not by the Panzer Kampfgruppen. He implies the 6th Panzer Army tactics sending the infantry in first was due to lessons learned at Kursk in July '43. Blitzkrieg doctrine was "in flux". A new tactic had the infantry go in first, open a breach and then the panzers would exploit breakthroughs. "
Mike, if you are interested in reading more on the tactics used by the Germans in the initial stages of the battle I can recommend:
I am still not "In the Bulge" with my book on the 551st Para battalion. They've just landed in France for operation Dragoon.
On another note I might be visiting a few sites this weekend on my way to Monthermé. Thinking of making a quick visit to the museum at Celles, the 'point of furthest penetration'.
Monthermé is of course the site of a vicious may 1940's battle between a German Panzerdivision and the French. I've found a small German propaganda book from 1942 (published by Westland, translated in Dutch) in my library and will take this, as well as a French article in the magazin Battailes & Blindes, with me.
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Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
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Indeed Rick that is good point, and something Donald Burgett did well including his liking and respect for a African-American 155mm artillery unit the 969th Artillery Battalion: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/969th_Ar...
Sounds like an excellent little trip Singleton, it should be fun, let us know what you found when you get back.
Singleton - I agree with AR, that sound like a good trip!
quote from pg 94 from the commander of CCB/10ARMORat Bastogne
He had divided his CC into 3 task forces and his last command to their commanders:
"To each he offered the same parting remark: 'Remember, I'm one of the oldest colonesl on the front...I need proper rest. You see that I get it.'"
That's a great quote!
Singleton wrote: "Mike, if you are interested in reading more on the tactics used by the Germans in the initial stages of the battle I can recommend:..."Thanks Singleton. I can recommend
as a great resource to find out what units were engaged at Celles, when, where, results, etc. Unbelievable details. One warning...the book is as exciting as cold oatmeal. Great maps though. Just finished and it has dampened my interest in the battle for now.
Great review Mike, like the comment; "the book is as exciting as cold oatmeal":)
finished 11 Days in December: Christmas at the Bulge, 1944Average - 3 stars. I'll post a more complete reveiew later
Mike - Great review!
You will be interested to know Tionne that the authors of No Silent Night have Fred MacKenzie in their book. Apparently he jumped a lift with the 101st Airborne when they were moving out to a place unknown and that's how he got to write his book: The Men of Bastogne.
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "You will be interested to know Tionne that the authors of No Silent Night have Fred MacKenzie in their book. Apparently he jumped a lift with the 101st Airborne when they were moving out to a place..."Nice! I need to get around to writing my review for his book. I loved it. It's been a bit nuts around here the past few days and my phone won't post the cover of the book. He was fantastic. I'm going to have to look into his life a bit and see what else he got up to. Thanks! I'll add it to the list!
I finished my Bulge book,
and I put my review here. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... I really liked this book, it was chock full of details of the 101st Airborne-the Geronimos (501) and the Five-Oh-Sinks (506). Factual, tense and even funny at times, Fred MacKenzie really did a fantastic job of writing down what happened at Bastogne. The description of the German demand for surrender and how General McAuiffe came up with the response of "Nuts!" was really hilarious. I liked how he described how the ground troops would lay out the colored canvas for the Air Corps to make drops/avoid shelling/strafing their own men. I also like how it gets really tense when the air supply hasn't come, and when they are waiting on the Fourth Armored Division to arrive. This was a fantastic battle, and the Infantry/Airborne/Glider Troops all hung in there and never gave up. And yes, he gives props to the gliders and how many of them dropped in surgeons because since the hospital had been shelled, there was no real medical for these wounded men. I really liked this book and it was a neat first hand account on the Battered Bastards of the Bastion of Bastogne!
happy wrote: "my thought's if anyone is interstedhttp://www.goodreads.com/review/show/..."
Another good review Happy.
Good review Tionne, thanks for posting your thoughts on the book, hopefully it will bring this great little book to other members attention.
I just finished, Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters I liked it alot and left a review. I liked the detail he gives about the Battle of the Bulge. It was good.
Glad you enjoyed the book Betty and great review, thanks for sharing.
My curent book has provided some details on the story of the 'Angel of Bastogne' - Renee Lemaire and her death. Here is some more information and some photographs for those interested in her story:http://www.regjans.com/?page_id=639
Below is a link to a site for those interested in doing a tour of the Battle of the Bulge:http://www.regjans.com/index_Reg.php/...
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Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
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Betty wrote: "I just finished, Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters I liked it alot and left a review. I liked the detail he gives about the Battle of the Bulge. It was good."Liked the review Betty.
Aussie Rick,Fred MacKenzie's book The Men of Bastogne, also discussed her, and her family and her death as well.
A very touching story. I don't recall if I had read about her previously but I may have years back but still a sad account of a dedicated lady.
Wasn't she in Band of Brothers? Yes, a very sad story indeed.
She and Eugene Roe interacted quite a bit in the Bastogne episode. If her name was nor Renee, then they at least based her character on Renee. I'll have to watch it again to see if her name was in fact Renee.
Aaah, good point, I do remember the nurse in BoB but it didn't click, thanks for pointing that out!
Something cool I was doing while I read MacKenzie's book was pull up Google maps on my ipad and looked up Bastogne and the surrounding cities, Foy, Noville, etc. It was really good visual aid, you could visualize where certain events happened and what was around them. Although I realize the countryside has been built up quite a bit since then, its still a nice frame of reference when reading about a particular area.
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Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
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Tionne it's worth a visit. I stayed in St. Vith for some motor racing at Spa and we also toured the area and once outside the towns you really get a feel for the terrain and the importance of the roads etc. The museums are good and I was able to visit the museum at La Roche, which includes the part played by the British in the battle. The website is good too: http://www.batarden.be/index.html
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "My curent book has provided some details on the story of the 'Angel of Bastogne' - Renee Lemaire and her death. Here is some more information and some photographs for those interested in her story:..."Great link! Thanks! In referring to your current book, 'Angel of Bastogne' - Renee Lemaire and her death, do you mean that you are writing it? I am interested. I like her story. I recall a story in the news a while back about the nurse from the Congo finally receiving a medal after all these years. It seems that everyone thought she had died also. Sad.
Geevee wrote: "Tionne it's worth a visit. I stayed in St. Vith for some motor racing at Spa and we also toured the area and once outside the towns you really get a feel for the terrain and the importance of the ..."Yes, Geevee, don't think for a moment that I wouldn't go! Its just I have three small children and lack of funds. However, I do have a good friend who lives in Arnhem who has a car! :-) So its just getting there and back...someday!
Here are a few places to check out when you head off on your trip Tionne:http://www.bastognewarmuseum.be/uk-ba...
http://www.101airbornemuseumbastogne....
http://www.regjans.com/?page_id=1936
http://www.visitbelgium.com/?page=bas...
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Here are a few places to check out when you head off on your trip Tionne:http://www.bastognewarmuseum.be/uk-ba...
http://www.101airbornemuseumbastogne....
http://www.regjans..."
Aaahhh, the temptation!! :-)
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Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
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Book it now, you know you want to ;)
Hahaha How mean! I DID just get my income tax return....how important is paying off my kids' tuition??? hmmmmm..... hahaha
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Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
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You could teach them about the battle of the bulge actually in location so that would count?
:-) Perhaps. They just got finished some thank-you cards they drew for Wild Bill Guarnere. I'm going to see him tomorrow, and hopefully have a short chat! So they had a blast coloring paratroopers coming out of the planes. I'm sure they would love it! But knowing my luck, they would forget all about it in six months. haha
Ah, the good days. I remember them well
Sorry to get so off topic! Kurt Vonnegut just popped up in The Longest Winter. I had forgotten he was taken prisoner during the Battle of the Bulge. Pretty cool.
Starting my second book of the theme read
Excellent, let me know how that book goes Happy as l have a copy laying around somewhere.
For those looking for something to read covering the Battle of the Bulge, this book of first-hand accounts as picked up some pretty good reader reviews:
by Michael Green
I've finished my book on Bastogne; No Silent Night. The book offers a nice general account of the fight for Bastogne over Christmas 1944. The author's have attempted to ensure that all of the American units (Tank destroyer & armoured units, artillery and USAAF) involved in the defence of the town were given due recognition.
Overall a decent story of this battle with numerous first-hand accounts from both sides but not an in-depth campaign study.
The author's finished up with an account of this incident which I had not heard of before but was quite touching:
http://www.stmary-winchester.org/stat...
by Leo Barron
finished Alamo in the Ardennes: The Untold Story of the American Soldiers Who Made the Defense of Bastogne Possible - Good book !! much better than my first read of the month.I will post my thoughts later.
I finished
-and I liked it a lot. Very good telling of Lt. Brouck and his platoon and their bravery. Without them, it is imagined, the defense of Bastogne would not have been possible, or even more difficult than it was. Also, the entire Bulge may have ended much differently. Not that the entire war hinged on their efforts, but the certainly 'laid a hurting' on the Germans and slowed them significantly. Very good book, if you haven't picked it up yet, you should!
Sounds like two excellent books to follow up on, thanks Happy and Tionne.
Looking forward to your review, Happy. Tionne, I just started
(I'm a little late with my Battle of the Bulge read.) Enjoying it so far!
Never too late A.L., will look forward to your comments.
THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP
Books mentioned in this topic
No Silent Night: The Christmas Battle For Bastogne (other topics)No Silent Night: The Christmas Battle For Bastogne (other topics)
No Silent Night: The Christmas Battle For Bastogne (other topics)
The White Rabbit: The Secret Agent the Gestapo Could Not Crack (other topics)
The Longest Winter: The Battle of the Bulge and the Epic Story of World War II's Most Decorated Platoon (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Leo Barron (other topics)Charles B. MacDonald (other topics)
Leo Barron (other topics)
Michael Green (other topics)
Reginald William Thompson (other topics)
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Also it is a fairly small book, so I'll be finished tomorrow