11 Days in December: Christmas at the Bulge, 1944 by Stanley Weintraub

by Stanley Weintraub

11 Days in December tells the dramatic story of one of the grimmest points of World War II and its Christmas Eve turning toward victory. In December 1944, the Allied forces thought their campaign for securing Europe was in its final stages. But Germany had one last great surprise attack still planned, leading to some of the most intense fighting in World War the Battle of the Bulge. After ten days of horrific weather conditions and warfare, General Patton famously asked God, “Sir, whose side are you on?†For the next four days, as the skies cleared, the Allies could fly again, the Nazis were contained, and the outcome of the war was ensured. Renowned historian and author Stanley Weintraub weaves together the stories of ordinary soldiers and their generals to recreate this dramatic, crucial narrative of a miraculous shift of luck in the midst of the most significant war of the modern era.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, Military Fiction, Christmas, Audiobook, War

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Weintraub was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 17, 1929. He was the eldest child of Benjamin and Ray Segal Weintraub. He attended South Philadelphia High School, and then he attended West Chester State Teachers College (now West Chester University of Pennsylvania) where he received his B.S. in education in 1949. He continued his education at Temple University where he received his master's degree in English “in absentia,” as he was called to duty in the Korean War.

He received a commission as Army Second Lieutenant, and served with the Eighth Army in Korea receiving a Bronze Star.

After the War, he enrolled at Pennsylvania State University in September 1953; his doctoral dissertation “Bernard Shaw, Novelist” was accepted on May 6, 1956.

Except for visiting appointments, he remained at Penn State for all of his career, finally attaining the rank of Evan Pugh Professor of Arts and Humanities, with emeritus status on retirement in 2000. From 1970 to 1990 he was also Director of Penn State’s Institute for the Arts and Humanistic Studies

Reviews

[happy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found 11 days in December slightly disappointing. I expected more from Mr. Weintraub. For those looking for a good overall narrative of the events of Dec/Jan 1944/1945 need to look elsewhere.

What this is, is a slender (180 pgs) series of anecdotes from both high level, Patton, Bradley, Monty etc, lower level troops and even some celebrities (Hemingway, Dietrich). While the stories are interesting and give some flavor to what was happening, there is no overall connection or theme to them.

There are some stories that make it worth reading. These include the story of the “Nuts” reply at Bastogne, Patton’s prayer that is basically challenging God and asking for good weather, the intelligence screw up where the people in the Divisions knew something was going on, but couldn’t get anyone at higher HQ’s to believe them, the story of the 4 AD’s drive to relieve Bastogne were good, but just not enough of them.

One other problem I had was that the notes left much to be desired and there was no bibliography.

I feel the author tried to cover too much ground with the information that he had and didn’t tell anyone’s story completely.

[T.R. Preston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a good time with this one. It did not provide me with much I did not already know, but there were some different perspectives in here that I appreciated seeing explored.

I have a fondness for General Patton. There were some aspects of his personality I find a little aggravating, but he was exactly the man the Allies needed on the Western Front. Now, don't even get me started on Montgomery. Canadians seem to have a level of shared admiration for him. I know my Grandfather, who fought in Italy, did. I do not share this admiration. Montgomery was playing golf at Christmas while men were still dying at the Bulge. I find moments such as that completely reprehensible.

I thought this book was pretty good, though I see the issues others are mentioning in their reviews. I'd say this was an acceptable quick read.

[FunkyPlaid · Rating 2 out of 5]

Weintraub makes it clear that this is no scholarly military history of the Bulge campaign, but I can't in good conscience describe this as even an effective or successful narrative history of incidents in and around the Ardennes during Christmas of 1944. The text within the book is loosely connected by an implied timeline which is reflected in the chapter headings, but the paragraphs within are disjointed, factoid-like, and many are even just plain superfluous. I kept thinking that the book would have been better organized by bullet-points, as that would have more clearly presented Weintraub's extensively-researched notes about the relationships between commanding generals, meals eaten during Christmas on the front lines, and reflections of individual soldiers, as opposed to stringing together dozens of unrelated facts about the subject at hand. In short, I felt that every paragraph in this book was like starting a new chapter, and that made the slog through it incredibly tedious and rather unenjoyable. In addition to this, the two reproduced operational maps within the book were virtually useless to even the most scrutinizing reader, as many of the places and units mentioned throughout the book were never seen on them. This contributed to the feeling of being removed from what the author was trying to describe and obscured any clear flow of information through the text.

I understand that Weintraub is a celebrated and prolific author, but this is my first of his books and I'm not optimistic about my chances with his others, many of which have subjects that are highly interesting to me. I would commend the author on his research, but would direct him to a format that is more befitting to his presentation of information, perhaps along the lines of Nicholson Baker's Human Smoke or Studs Terkel's The Good War. Both of these have disassociated paragraphs that describe pointed happenings, memories, or vignettes of the events in WWII and read much more clearly and in a satisfying manner.

[Maggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would disagree with the quote on the back of the book which says "well written." I suspect this book was quickly cobbled together, in order to fulfill a request or publishing contract, from work Weintraub is doing on a much larger history of the WWII European theater of operations. This book needed organization, more and better maps, a timeline, and a list of officers from both sides with their divisions included in order to help the average reader. Weintraub would give the full name of a general once, and thereafter only refer to him by last name (or nickname). For Eisenhower, Patton, and Montgomery, Hitler, Jodl, that's perhaps acceptable. But for most of the others it just leaves the reader confused. This was a mercifully short book, but even so there were pages of material included which, though perhaps interesting, had nothing to do with the Battle of the Bulge. It was merely padding. I wouldn't recommend either this book or this writer.

[Brandon D · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read that flows easily between multiple armies across a complicated and confusing battlefront. This was a perfect Christmas reread that helped remind me of just how lucky we are in today’s world. Seventy-eight years ago the greatest generation (my Grandpa Stanley included) endured unimaginable suffering on the front lines to thwart a German offensive through the Bulge that was designed to catch our forces off guard during the Christmas holiday. Overcoming enormous odds, horrendous leadership from the top and a determined enemy, the American forces bent but did not break. The courage and heroism of these men in the face of enormous odds is the stuff legends are made of. I highly recommend this story for anyone looking for a holiday historical read.

"December 22, 1944

To the German Commander,

N U T S !

The American Commander"

[Brent · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a briefer telling, with a holiday focus; still, God bless those depicted, as there but for the grace of God...
Recommended.

[Judy McCarver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Christmas 2025 I wanted to reread this book. Such a great read in the month of December. A great way to really appreciate a wonderful Christmas and what it means to show good will to all. In 2010 we did the Bastogne walk as a family in slushy cold snow, walking the entire perimeter of where in December 1944 the 101st airborne was surrounded by the German army. One of the best books I have read retelling the story of the Battle of the Bulge. "Aw Nuts” Still reverberates today as we laugh or cry, and just thank heaven that was General McAuliffe’s apt reply to the German general who sent his emissary to tell General McAuliffe that the Americans were completely surrounded and he had better surrender to avoid total annihilation. I can just see him scratching his head and saying half to himself Aw Nuts! So his exec encouraged him to make that his final response and so it was. Final and full breakout of the allies and defeat of the Germans in Bastogne happened when Patton arrived with his 3rd army and sealed the deal. But the 101st had held their own in unbearable weather and combat conditions way before that. Patton’s prayer in a Luxembourg chapel is itself a must read. This book is a classic as far as battle retellings are concerned. You can read it! And you can decide for yourself what “Aw Nuts” means to you.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not a history of the Battle of the Bulge, and Weintraub clearly states that in his introduction, so do not pick this book up if that's what you want to read. Weintraub instead has written about just 11 days (the key days) during the Christmas holiday period at the Bulge, which took place in the Belgium/Luxembourg area. It is a more anecdotal story from the "G.I." viewpoint, though there are many others heard from as well (from generals and citizens to celebrities such as David Niven, Ernest Hemingway, etc.). Except for Patton, most of the top generals (Eisenhower, Montgomery, and Bradley) do not come off too well, which is appropriate. This is a good book to read during holiday time, to find out what the people there faced and had to cope with, yet without going too deep into military tactics. One issue that I had with the book is that it seems to jump from one story to another a little too abruptly, and a few times Weintraub veers off and talks about other military campaigns going on. All-in-all though, an interesting book that should appeal to a wider audience then WW2 buffs. Weintraub has written several other wartime Christmas books as well (WW1, Civil War, American Revolution).

[Kevin Keating · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one book I read online (listened to). It was pretty interesting but is not a god idea to listen to war books as it's hard to figure out where the action is taking place (small towns in Belgium and Lux, pronounced too Frenchily. This book was ok I guess. Didn't like narrator much. Kept pronouncing Bastogne wrong. Did learn about coverup of the Leopoldville by Belgium. Sure made Monty look like an ass. I'll do more research on that.

[Kim. E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is much to learn about World War II for myself beyond Hollywood movies and the military channel on my cable system. The Battle of the Bulge, referred to so often is one of the military actions I'm particularly interested in, so when I learned about this book I thought it would be a good place to start.

The Battle of the Bulge, a name General Eisenhower was not particularly pleased with, began with a surprise attack ordered by Adolf Hitler, and was full of missteps for the allies. For example, German soldiers (referred to as the Trojan House Brigade) conducted many exercises designed to stump the American soldiers, such as switching directional signs, cutting telephone lines, wearing American uniforms, and over painting German tanks with American markings. The allies eventually had to develop other ways to distinguish allies from disguised enemies at security checkpoints because they were wearing stolen uniforms and had stolen identity papers, such as asking "Who won the 1940s World Series?" One regiment was even given gas masks to carry in their hands at one point because the allies knew none of them had been stolen by the German soldiers.

This book tries to travel the days around Christmas in 1944 from the perspectives of many people on both sides of the fight. Sometimes this was confusing for this reader, at times taking forward into the paragraph or the next to determine which side of the war it came from. I was grateful that there two maps included in this book, and I referred to them often to know where from France to Luxembourg to Antwerp to Versailles to know where we were in this battle.

A general brief discussion of this critical battle, but I will read further books cited in the notes for further understanding.

[Kellie Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

“11 Days in December: A Blizzard of Facts”

(Spoiler Alert: The Igloo of Chills)

Stanley Weintraub’s 11 Days in December is a frosty storm of information 🌨️📚, plunging readers into the Battle of the Bulge during the bitter winter of 1944. The audiobook’s narrative, though voiced with smooth precision 🎙️❄️, feels too quick to follow, more like racing through a snowstorm than savoring a fireside tale. The details come thick and fast, making this a book best revisited often to truly catch its depth. 🌬️🕰️

While gruesome—war always is—this work shines as a Christmastime reflection ✨🎄, a salute to the human devotion to freedom 🕊️ and the enduring love of home 🏠❤️. The story is layered with the harsh nostalgia of frostbitten landscapes 🏔️, the courage of soldiers under unimaginable conditions 🎖️, and the universal desire for peace.

Reading or listening to this piece practically demands warm socks 🧦, a steaming cup of cocoa ☕, and perhaps a cozy fort 🏕️ to ward off the chill it evokes. The technical details are as dense and fleeting as a blizzard 🌨️📖—sometimes blurring together, leaving you feeling small, humbled, and awed by the magnitude of history.

Do I recommend this book? Yes, with a caveat: prepare for the dual emotions of love and hate. 💔❤️ It is both inspiring and overwhelming, reminding us how fragile and resilient humans can be. This is a story for winter nights, for moments of reflection, and for honoring those who fought for the freedoms we often take for granted.

Grab your socks, build that fort, and dive in. 🧦🏕️❄️ This book will chill you to your core but leave you warmed by its message.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose to rate this book five out of five stars, not because I completely understand the concepts within, but because I appreciate Stanley Weintraub's portrayal of what happened during the Battle of the Bulge and what Christmas was like for the soldiers and POWs in battle during 1944.

I chose this book because of PopSugar's 2020 reading challenge, in which one of the prompts was, "a book on a subject that you know nothing about". Thus, I chose 11 Days in December; I am not at all well-versed in war, battle, or ANY of the concepts that involve WWII (or any war in general, to be frank), however, this book made me feel as though I was right alongside the soldiers on the battlefield during Battle of the Bulge in December of '44; it was such a realistic and detailed portrayal of what they went through, as well as some of the details that led up to some of the decisions that were made during the battle. I enjoyed reading excerpts from the perspective of veterans who actually fought in the war; it made the words on the page that much more real.

I can say with confidence that I greatly enjoyed this book, and would recommend to anyone interested in the history of the Battle of the Bulge; additionally, I think it's a great, shorter read for someone who may be interested in the history of WWII, but may not know all of the details surrounding it. I'll certainly be looking forward to reading more of Weintraub's works.

[Brett Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

“11 Days in December” tells the story of my favorite WWII battles through the lens of my favorite holiday - Christmas.

I’ve read about the Bulge, but this book isn’t really about the hard and fast facts, major decisions, military actions, etc although these are invariably woven into the fabric of the story. Instead, it tells the story of how the GIs tried to fight while thinking of Christmas at home, and how they tried to celebrate the holiday while simultaneously at the front of Germany’s last major aggressive military action in the west.

Overall, very easy to read and good! Only one slight drawback - the story bounces around to different people and units in Luxembourg and Belgium and can get a touch confusing to follow. Overall, solid 4 stars!

[Marcus Benally · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very interesting and has a great story. It is about how a group of German soldiers and their allies spend the month of December during one of the worst winters. Most of the wounded soldiers would not make it. They would end up with severe frost bite or freeze to death. So, this lead to both germans and their allies not being able to grab the wounded because it would would be too risky. A couple of things i didn't like about the book was how it was sort of in a messed up order. The book had all of these recollections that didn't seem to fit where the author placed them which just confuses the reader. But, over all I enjoyed this book. This book would be perfect for someone who likes suspension and action.

[Jim Stennett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite a 3-star review, I do recommend this book for WWII buffs. Lots of interesting and entertaining snippets about the battle, some of which are quite humorous. Several myths of the battle are also cleared up. Very quick read.

Overall, I expected more. It reads like a graduate student wrote it over 2 or 3 nights before a semester deadline. The research is obviously things the author has stumbled across in his previous readings and thought “I really want to use that somehow.” I kind of feel like he owed the publisher another book to finish a contract and threw this together.

“We need a Christmas present for Grampa to open - how’s this?”

Really disorganized with no coherent timeline. An editor needed to clean this up.

[Amber Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked this up based on the title and premise. Figured it would be a short read but was mistaken. Based on the writing style it felt as if the author just quickly gathered information from other sources and pieced them together in not such a wonderful way. The story bounces around quite a lot it was somewhat difficult to figure out where he was focused from one chapter to the next. I did enjoy the quotes from soldiers letters and diaries as it gave it a more personal feel but as for books about the Battle of the Bulge I've read better.

[George Noland II · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a series of anecdotes from all levels of both Allied and Axis officers and soldiers. While the stories are interesting, there didn’t seem to be a correlation or common theme to some of the sketchy stories. The editing was poorly done. At times, I had to re-read passages to understand the sudden change of the narrative. But, the topic and the fascinating stories of courage and suffering makes it worth the effort. The book is relative short and a quick read.

[Lucy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yahoo! Last book in my yearly challenge...a book with a map.
This book was very heavy on troop movements, etc. so was hard for me to follow. Good thing the book had a map as I found myself constantly referring to it. I did enjoy the personal stories & viewpoints (US, British & German) that were interspersed throughout. Especially interesting were the pithy quotes from Patton's dairy & Montgomery's condescending letters to high command. They both, obviously, had ego problems!

[Jonathan Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid book! Really puts Christmas2020 in perspective. You think we have it bad? Nope! This was having it bad. We all should know the stories of these heroes. The Battle of the Bulge as crucial in bring an end to WWII and this book tells the story well.

Only thing keeping it from five stars was how at times the author just assumes you know military lingo or military items. I have read a lot of WWII histories but there were terms here I was not familiar with an it hurt the flow of the book. Still a book well with your time

[Mom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listening to this in audio and not giving it my full attention left me with little idea of the intricacies of the Battle of the Bulge. Very detailed history of the movements of troops and equipment, experiences of men, decisions of war leaders, etc., over the 11 days, set out by category, such as what people ate (or didn't), effect of weather, injuries, each with it's own chapter.

[Corey Friedrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well-written. I picked this up at a library book sale not having ever heard of it before but being interested in any books about the Battle of the Bulge I gave it a chance. Most books I've read about the Battle of the Bulge are rich in historical but the writing itself is dry. This was an exception. It was full of interesting stories of the soldiers on both sides.

[Brett Van Gaasbeek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jumped around a bit too much for my liking, tended to gloss over some subjects, and told stories from individual stories (but briefly with little context). I thought I would gain a better understanding of the Bulge through this, but I would rather stick to books like "Citizen Soldiers" by Ambrose in order to gain more of the human side to the war during this time period.

[Derrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing is clunky. It's easy to get lost, as the author jumps around a lot. But it's filled with great anecdotes.

The author doesn't seem to like Montgomery at all, nor does be apparently care much for Bradley.

[Bruce Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bluge

A short yet comprehensive telling of the Battle of the Bulge. It also told the personal stories of individual soldiers. it also provided information about what happened to the Nazi Officers who engaged in various atrocities. I enjoyed it

[Sally · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting listen. Interesting to hear briefly about Hemmingway, Marlene Dietrich, and Kurt Vonnegut.

[Heidi Rothert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned things :)

[David Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable and well written

[Genevieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know it's a good book when you decide to buy it before you've finished reading even half of it.

[Joseph · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. 2 of 5 stars.

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just couldn’t get into this book.