Bibliography of British & Commonwealth and US Commanders in WWII

[Jill H.]

Thanks guys.....that will get me started looking for some more books as well.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Like you need more books eh Jill!

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

You can never have enough good books Geevee! Come on, you should now that by now :)

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

'tis true and I am a lost cause!

[Jill H.]

You guys know me and you know that my tbr pile reaches into the stratosphere......but what a wonderful addiction!!!

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

It's one of the better addictions, that's for sure :)

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Here is a new biography on the American commander, Lucian K. Truscott, Jr. that may interest some members of the group:

The Last Cavalryman: The Life of General Lucian K. Truscott, Jr. by Harvey Ferguson
Description:
"Truscott was one of the really tough generals," soldier-cartoonist Bill Mauldin of the 45th Infantry Division once wrote. "He could have eaten a ham like Patton for breakfast any morning and picked his teeth with the man's pearl-handled pistols." Not one merely to act the part of commander, Mauldin remembered, "Truscott spent half his time at the front--the real front--with nobody in attendance but a nervous Jeep driver and a worried aide." In this biography of Lucian K. Truscott, Jr., author Harvey Ferguson tells the story of how Truscott--despite his hardscrabble beginnings, patchy education, and questionable luck--not only made the rank of army lieutenant general, earning a reputation as one of World War II's most effective officers along the way, but was also given an honorary promotion to four-star general seven years after his retirement. For all his accomplishments and celebrated heroic action, Truscott was not one for self-aggrandizement, which may explain in part why historians have neglected him until now. "The Last Cavalryman," drawing on personal papers only recently made available, gives the first full picture of this singular man's extraordinary life and career. Ferguson describes Truscott's near-accidental entry into the U.S. Cavalry (propelled by Pancho Villa's 1916 raids) and his somewhat halting rise through the ranks--aided by fellow cavalryman George S. Patton, Jr., who steered him into the nascent armored force at the right time. The author takes us through Truscott's service in the Second World War, from creating the U.S. Army Rangers to engineering the breakout from Anzio and leading the "masterpiece" invasion of southern France. Ferguson finishes his narrative by detailing the general's postwar work with the CIA, where he acted as President Dwight Eisenhower's eyes and ears within the agency. A compelling story in itself, this biography of Lucian K. Truscott, Jr.--a cavalryman to the last--fills out an important chapter in American military history.

[Manray9]

I read Truscott's book about serving in the waning days of the horse cavalry between the World Wars:

The Twilight of the U.S. Cavalry

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Any good?

[Manray9]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Any good?"

Yes, it was a glimpse of a vanished way of life.

[Manray9]

In Brian Lavery's -- Churchill Goes to War: Winston's Wartime Journeys

the author claims Lord Alanbrooke's published diaries are the best first person account of the war years among Churchill's close colleagues "with many interesting comments on Churchill's leadership and other matters."

Lavery considers the second best diaries to be those of Sir John Colville, although they don't cover the voyages until the second Quebec trip.

The books are:

War Diaries, 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

The Fringes of Power: 10 Downing Street Diaries, 1939-1955 by John Colville

[Dj]

Manray9 wrote: "In Brian Lavery's -- Churchill Goes to War: Winston's Wartime Journeys

the author claims Lord Alanbrooke's published diaries ..."

I am slowly making my way through Alanbrooke's War Diaries, that man is one of the more judgmental individuals and unlike Patton or Stilwell, his are considered opinions, not heat of the moment outbursts.

[Manray9]

Dj wrote: "Manray9 wrote: "In Brian Lavery's -- Churchill Goes to War: Winston's Wartime Journeys

the author claims Lord Alanbrooke's pu..."

My impression was Alanbrooke was perspicacious on the subject of Churchill.

[Howard]

This is first I have seen this thread. Very interesting comments. I would like to say that someone who bears more looking-into would be John S. Wood, whom Liddell Hart singled out for high praise. As CG of 4th Armored Division, he was ridden hard and put up wet a lot by Patton, who consistently assigned him the most challenging missions.