The Battle of the Generals: The Untold Story of the Falaise Pocket-The Campaign That Should Have Won World War II

by Martin Blumenson

A chronicle of an ill-fated military episode describes the tactical indecision and operational carelessness at the highest levels of the Allied command that extended the fighting in Europe another eight months

Genres: World War II, Nonfiction, Military History, History

288 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1993

About the author

Martin Blumenson was a soldier in the US army, and a military historian, and a recognised authority on the life of Gen. George S. Patton Jr.

Blumenson received a Bachelors and Masters degree from Bucknell University in Pennsylvania. He received a second master's degree in history from Harvard University. He also was an exellent pianist, performing at Carnegie Hall as a young man.

He served as a U.S. Army officer in northwestern Europe during World War II.
After the war he lived in France for a number of years, where he met his wife of 55 years, Genevieve Adelbert Blumenson, who died in 2000.

Blumenson again served with the U.S. Army during the Korean War, and later worked in the Office of the Chief of Military History until 1967. After this he became an adviser on civil disorders for the Johnson administration.

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martin Blumenson looks unsparingly at Generals Eisenhower, Montgomery and Bradley and challenges the conventional treatment of those commanders and of the Normandy campaign itself. Montgomery and Bradley were not good battlefield commanders and were jealous of the success and aptitude of Patton and never possessed his ability to take the initiative and lead men in battle. The author reveals the weaknesses of all three leaders and that they were too political and in many battles too timid and fearful of taking chances that would have led to a shortening of the war in Europe.

[Chase Metcalf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched and documented exploration of what the author describes as a missed opportunity in the closing phase of Allied operations in Normandy. The author reviews the performance of the top Allied commanders and finds them lacking (with the exception of Patton). Worth the time for those seeking another look at the friction involved in Allied warfare and importance of boldness in warfare.

[Mark · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is not the 1st book one should read about Falaise. This book is, to WWII enthusiast, but uninitiated about Falaise, is detailed to a fault. Could not finish it.