December 1944.
Bastogne, Belgium.
The Battle of the Bulge.
"Perhaps God saved me for this effort."
--Gen. George S. Patton
"Drive like hell!" That was Patton's order for the tankers of his 4th Armored Division who had been tasked with reaching Bastogne. ... "Gentlemen," said Patton," this is a hell of a Christmas present, but it was handed to me and I pass it on to you. Tonight, the Third Army turns and attacks north. I would have much preferred to continue our attack to the east as planned, but I am a soldier. I fight where I'm told, and I win where I fight!"
This is a 5-star book of resilience, courage, faith and victory in World War II. Kershaw does an amazing job of relating the key role Patton's Third Army, and Patton himself, played in the Battle of the Bulge. It's an incredibly compelling narrative told with emotion, honesty and urgency. Though well-researched and full of detail, not once does it bog down. It's informative in the best possible way. I read it in two days and came away with a new appreciation for Patton, the men he commanded like Creighton Abrams and his 37th Tank Battalion, the 4th Armored Division, and the 101st Airborne who held Bastogne against all the odds while waiting for reinforcements to come. What a story! I loved it.
"Just how important was Bastogne?"
"It was as important as the Battle of Gettysburg was to the Civil War."
Happy Reading!
Sounds GREAT! I have a few books on or around that subject (typically unread) but not this one. I'll look out for it. The Battle of the Bulge is certainly one of the most interesting incidents in the closing phase of the European war.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't read much about it, but talk about key last moments in the war! So interesting.
DeleteA *massive* German mistake brought on by sheer hubris!
DeleteI love the sound of this. Next year I want to read more books about WW2, a little project of my own, I'll put this one on the list.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely check it out; it's SO good. I'm doing a similar project of my own next year but with the Revolutionary War, because it's the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and everything that followed, and I feel like I should honor that.
DeleteI saw the movie Patton and George C Scott's great performance. But this book I sense tells us so much more about Patton the man and World War II. And I know nothing about the battle of the bulge and would like to learn. Great Generals are so important.
ReplyDeleteThis does sound great. I read some other stuff about the Battle of the Bulge years ago--such an important moment.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really good. I will have to look for this one. My grandfather was a WWII vet and we watched every war/army movie that existed I think.
ReplyDeleteAdding this one to my reading list. I just listened to a book about Gettysburg and found myself captivated, as if I didn't what happened in the end.
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