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DAMNED ENGINEERS
How one battalion of Combat Engineers stalled Hitler's offensive in the Battle of the Bulge
Paperback
First published August 1, 1970
About the author
Janice Holt Giles
42 books48 followersJanice Holt Giles was an American writer best known for her series of pseudo historical novels focusing on life on the American frontier, particularly within Kentucky.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 13, 2016
If I had a list of the ten best books I'd ever read, "The Damned Engineers" by Janice Holt Giles would definitely be on the list. I've read of allusions to this story in many other books about the Battle of the Bulge in WWII but it is only mentioned in passing. We all know the story of the Bulge or think we do: the Germans broke through, destroyed everything in their path and were stopped by the 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne. As General McAuliff said when the Germans demanded his surrender at Bastogne...."Nuts!" Bastogne was important to deny a valuable crossroads to the Germans but the spearhead of the German effort was Kampgruppe Peiper which was led by Jochen Peiper.
Peiper led an elite group of troops and tanks, the best Germany had, which was tasked with splitting the allies and charging through the gap thus created to the Meuse River. The ultimate objective was Antwerp. Three German Armies were to assist Peiper in the effort. Peiper's force reached the area of Malmedy and slaughtered some Americans there which became known as the Massacre at Malmedy. The Germans never actually took the town of Malmedy as every time Peiper tried to cross the bridges in the area, the bridge was blown up in his face by US Army engineers. It was actually the engineers who stopped Peiper's drive in its tracks. Knowing the story, I looked for a book on it and found only one, "The Damned Engineers" by Janice Holt Giles.
The book is old, first published in 1970 and last republished in 1985 as Book Number 1 in a series called "Studies in Military Engineering." It details the efforts of those engineers, a few hundred men of the 291st Engineer Battalion, who won the battle. As the Germans begin their attack, thousands of American troops stampede through Malmedy where the 291st Engineers are working typical engineer tasks such as cutting trees and milling them for lumber and building roads and bridges. As the wave of humanity surges through, the Engineers decide to stay and defend the town. None of the tanks moving to the rear bothered to stay and help, leaving the Engineers with nothing but light weapons and their stockpile of explosives. These brave men, facing the entire German effort, blew bridges in front of Peiper, alone frustrating his effort to find a way past. As the third or fourth bridge blew up in front of his tanks, Peiper uttered "those damned Engineers" which became the title of the book.
The engineers held all by themselves until finally the American command realized what they were doing and sent the 82nd Airborne to assist (perhaps the first time a division was sent to reinforce a battalion). After having done so much, the engineers could not be spared but stayed on the line fighting for an addition two weeks. While the Battling Bastards of Bastogne got all the accolades, the heroism of the 291st Engineers is nearly forgotten by history.
"The Damned Engineers" should be reprinted and made required reading by every American. What these guys did and the sacrifices they made should never be forgotten. Find a copy of this book and read it, you won't be able to put it down.
Peiper led an elite group of troops and tanks, the best Germany had, which was tasked with splitting the allies and charging through the gap thus created to the Meuse River. The ultimate objective was Antwerp. Three German Armies were to assist Peiper in the effort. Peiper's force reached the area of Malmedy and slaughtered some Americans there which became known as the Massacre at Malmedy. The Germans never actually took the town of Malmedy as every time Peiper tried to cross the bridges in the area, the bridge was blown up in his face by US Army engineers. It was actually the engineers who stopped Peiper's drive in its tracks. Knowing the story, I looked for a book on it and found only one, "The Damned Engineers" by Janice Holt Giles.
The book is old, first published in 1970 and last republished in 1985 as Book Number 1 in a series called "Studies in Military Engineering." It details the efforts of those engineers, a few hundred men of the 291st Engineer Battalion, who won the battle. As the Germans begin their attack, thousands of American troops stampede through Malmedy where the 291st Engineers are working typical engineer tasks such as cutting trees and milling them for lumber and building roads and bridges. As the wave of humanity surges through, the Engineers decide to stay and defend the town. None of the tanks moving to the rear bothered to stay and help, leaving the Engineers with nothing but light weapons and their stockpile of explosives. These brave men, facing the entire German effort, blew bridges in front of Peiper, alone frustrating his effort to find a way past. As the third or fourth bridge blew up in front of his tanks, Peiper uttered "those damned Engineers" which became the title of the book.
The engineers held all by themselves until finally the American command realized what they were doing and sent the 82nd Airborne to assist (perhaps the first time a division was sent to reinforce a battalion). After having done so much, the engineers could not be spared but stayed on the line fighting for an addition two weeks. While the Battling Bastards of Bastogne got all the accolades, the heroism of the 291st Engineers is nearly forgotten by history.
"The Damned Engineers" should be reprinted and made required reading by every American. What these guys did and the sacrifices they made should never be forgotten. Find a copy of this book and read it, you won't be able to put it down.
March 15, 2014
“The Damned Engineers” is the history of the 291st Engineer Combat Battalion during the Battle of the Bulge. This humble unit and their leaders were the biggest thorn in the side of the vaunted Kampfgrouppe Peiper. If it was not for the actions of this unit and how they fought with the weapons they had, used their skills, and acted decisively, General Peiper’s offense would have been much more successful. This is a history of American heroes in action at a critical time and a short history of heroic deems so often unsung.
There are many great books about World War II. There are many great movies and series, both real and fiction, about heroes and heroic units that fought the war. Many years ago, while an Engineer Officer and going through my training, this book was a part of the required reading list. I was able to purchase a first print of this book and treasure it along with many books in my collection. Everyone knows of the historic stand by the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions during the Battle of the Bulge. Few know that there were other, smaller units, that also rose to the occasion and thwarted the massive offense. This is the history of one of those never mentioned units.
There are many great books about World War II. There are many great movies and series, both real and fiction, about heroes and heroic units that fought the war. Many years ago, while an Engineer Officer and going through my training, this book was a part of the required reading list. I was able to purchase a first print of this book and treasure it along with many books in my collection. Everyone knows of the historic stand by the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions during the Battle of the Bulge. Few know that there were other, smaller units, that also rose to the occasion and thwarted the massive offense. This is the history of one of those never mentioned units.
June 21, 2018
As a former civil engineer and a consumer of WWII books, I could hardly pass when I saw this one in the library. I had only heard a few details about the engineers and their work in the Battle of the Bulge. This book did a fine job telling the story in detail of their experiences and how they affected the battle. It provided the viewpoint of events for many different individuals which made the story much more compelling. On the downside the locations listed in the book were not always on maps and I sometimes lost track of who was who and where exactly they were. The author jumped back in forth in time a little too often also.
But on the whole it gave me a much better sense of what happened and was an enjoyable read.
But on the whole it gave me a much better sense of what happened and was an enjoyable read.
May 12, 2020
Fantastic book about the exploits of the 291st Engineers during the Battle of the Bulge. Extensively researched and colored with first-hand accounts from the men who were there. The author, Janice Holt Giles was not a military historian, but has written one of the best accounts of a battle I have ever read. Also, the text is filled with excellent maps detailing the actions described, something that many authors or publishers fail to do. It is truly a shame that this book is no longer in print as it is so well researched, written and presented.
October 7, 2023
A fabulous book written from original source materials about the exploits of the 291st Engineer during the Battle of the Bulge from December 1944-January 1945. The perspective of the book is chiefly about small unit actions along the Amblève river in Belgium. The 291st was the closest US unit to the Malmédy Massacre, provided aid to the survivors, and documented the atrocity site after the end of battle.
I suggest that readers use Google Earth to view the terrain of the locations mentioned in the book.
If another edition of this book is printed, I would recommend that notes be placed in the text indicating the dates being referred to in the narrative, as it is not strictly chronological because of simultaneous activities. A roster of the key members (Dramatis Personae) would be very helpful, as it is difficult to remember them all as they are introduced. Something else that would be helpful would be a description of unit types, weapon descriptions, etc., because most are no longer utilized in US Army.
I suggest that readers use Google Earth to view the terrain of the locations mentioned in the book.
If another edition of this book is printed, I would recommend that notes be placed in the text indicating the dates being referred to in the narrative, as it is not strictly chronological because of simultaneous activities. A roster of the key members (Dramatis Personae) would be very helpful, as it is difficult to remember them all as they are introduced. Something else that would be helpful would be a description of unit types, weapon descriptions, etc., because most are no longer utilized in US Army.
September 29, 2017
Well done, as usual, but way too much military history for even me.
December 17, 2016
On the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in WWII. Written long before the more well known nooks such as "Band Of Brothers", the author gives the reader both a great overview of the strategy of the Ardennes campaign, but then takes the reader down to the small unit level, the platoons and squads that took actions to impede and halt the advance of a much larger force. The author highlights individual leadership, from the Battalion Commander's decision not to retreat when so many others were fleeing in panic, down to the Sergeants and Soldiers who used ingenuity and courage in holding out against incredible odds.
May 6, 2014
This is an excellent book, well-researched and cleverly written about the 291st Engineer Battalion during the WWII Battle of The Bulge in eastern Belgium, during the closing days of 1944. It's absolutely worth reading by anyone with an interest in the European Theatre of WWII.
March 23, 2011
While a great explanation of a key, but not commonly heard of skirmish during the Battle of the Bulge, Giles writing was dry and not enjoyable to read.
February 25, 2016
A great history of Army Engineers during WWII.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews