'44 In Combat on the Western Front from Normandy to the Ardennes

by Charles Whiting

The ordinary fighting man often paid the price for his generals’ mistakes. In this book Charles Whiting recreates the combat soldiers’ world of fifty years ago down to the most intimate their weapons, the food they ate, how they learned to cope with the ever-present threat, how they lived in hope and died in agony. From the beaches of Normandy to the cruel setbacks at Arnhem and the Battle of the Bulge, ’44: In Combat from Normandy to the Ardennes is the story of early confidence turning to disillusion as the campaign wore on—appalling strategic blunders, of strained relations among the Allies, of ideals steadily overtaken by the grim realities of war.

Genres: World War II

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Charles Whiting was a British writer and military historian and with some 350 books of fiction and non-fiction to his credit, under his own name and a variety of pseudonyms including Ian Harding, Duncan Harding, K.N. Kostov, John Kerrigan, Klaus Konrad, and Leo Kessler.

Born in the Bootham area of York, England, he was a pupil at the prestigious Nunthorpe Grammar School, leaving at the age of 16 to join the British Army by lying about his age. Keen to be in on the wartime action, Whiting was attached to the 52nd Reconnaissance Regiment and by the age of 18 saw duty as a sergeant in France, Holland, Belgium and Germany in the latter stages of World War II. While still a soldier, he observed conflicts between the highest-ranking British and American generals which he would write about extensively in later years.

After the war, he stayed on in Germany completing his A-levels via correspondence course and teaching English before being enrolled at Leeds University reading History and German Language. As an undergraduate he was afforded opportunities for study at several European universities and, after gaining his degree, would go on to become an assistant professor of history. Elsewhere, Whiting held a variety of jobs which included working as a translator for a German chemical factory and spells as a publicist, a correspondent for The Times and feature writer for such diverse magazines as International Review of Linguistics, Soldier and Playboy.

His first novel was written while still an undergraduate, was published in 1954 and by 1958 had been followed by three wartime thrillers. Between 1960 and 2007 Charles went on to write over 350 titles, including 70 non-fiction titles covering varied topics from the Nazi intelligence service to British Regiments during World War II.

One of his publishers, Easingwold-based Rupert Smith of GH Smith & Son said he was a quiet man and prolific writer.

"He's one of a band of forgotten authors because he sold millions of copies and still, up to his death was doing publishing deals.He was the kind of man who was very self-effacing, one of Britain's forgotten authors, still working at 80 years of age, with his nose down and kicking out books."

Charles Henry Whiting, author and military historian died on July 24 2007, leaving his wife and son.

Reviews

[Terence Lionel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Book

The author adds some interesting details about life behind the lines and combat, he should have mentioned Patton drive to link up the 101st. I loved the fact he mentioned the British Army and other Allies, too many books published in the states fail to mention the British contributions. His sources are from the most recent books about WW2, the other instances during the Ardennes where the SS had massacred American troops. A good book for WW2 readers. He needed a little more information for example General Cota fought with the 29th infantry, how did end up with the 28th infantry division. German point of view was well written but he does a disservice to American soldiers and American weapons for example M1 rifle was one of the best rifles in WW2. His discussion about African American soldiers was interesting and needed to be added and from now on their service should always be included in any books about WW2. Overall, a good book.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A difficult read at times. This is not war in all its glory but a historical account of the 5th year of a conflict, 1944 and the cost to liberate Europe that, after Christmas came and went, would wait another year.

Thoroughly researched with over 300 page annotations, this narrative is balanced and seeks to use first hand testimony from records, letters and memoirs.

The result is the graphic description of intense fighting and avoidable loss of life, despite months of preparation and strategic planning. Some of the details I was aware of through previous reading around D Day and Arnhem. From both the book and series Band of Brothers and a review of The Battle of the Bulge.

However, I had not thought more about the overall situation, the integration of an allied group of infantry divisions, the basic soldiers existence in the front lines with little break , poor rations at times and the civilian population’s attitude to looting, shelling and a soldier’s desire for women. Why some might generally have preferred life under occupation by the Germans.

I was shocked by the racism that persisted even at times of such horror and “a need for all hands to the pump”.

I was surprised by the incidents of ‘friendly fire’, desertions and the breakdown of humanity in terms of atrocities and the cases of shooting unarmed combatants and POWs.

I thought it was very interesting that there were pieces about the German army as well. The number of occupied countries where men volunteered to join the “enemy’s cause and allied prisoners finding German ‘girlfriends’ equally ending up in a German union whether by coercion or with enthusiasm.

The POWs lot was also an eye opener for me, not the romantic ‘Colditz Story’ and daring escapes.

Above all it is a honest record of conflict, from battle- hardened veterans to green raw recruits thrust into the line with inadequate training.

The pages speak to me of the war in Ukraine, on the front termed as a “meat grinder” and you can perhaps reflect on the fear and senselessness of troops ordered to advance in a war of attrition. You feel for the people of Gaza and Lebanon caught up in a conflict and whose lives are negated as ‘collateral damage’. The justification of twenty innocent lives as the missile was targeting one ‘terrorist’ official.

There is little glory in war. Heroics sit beside cowardice. Heroes and cowards, alongside soldiers just following orders, die in their thousands.

Without such books a new generation can never appreciate earlier battles and wars but sadly over the same fields contested in World War I we do not seem to learn from history.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

1944 from Normandy to the Ardennes

Soldiers reactions to the Normandy invasion to the battles of the Bulge at the Ardennes! What the soldiers were thinking about in Normandy and at the Ardennes! The Allies could have lost the war at the Ardennes, but instead the Germans were defeated and Germany crumbled to defeat in less than six months!

[Sue Meek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Thanks again for a fun book. Big time for all the people that was a very hard time to live. Every time I got up too look forward it was very sad time. We all had to do with out. Never again never again.

[cynthia jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Glory in War

No punches pulled,ill disciplined troopd, fearful and fleeing loving and raping All respect lost. No wonder they were silent about their war experiences, too much to be ashamed of especially Americans but No One comes out well. An eye opener.

[Cecilia Dobson]

Interesting Insight and facts about those times.

[Lori V. Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent work

One of the best personal accounts of the war I’ve read. Would highly recommend for any WW Ii history fan

[Deborah Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

Looking forward to the next book in the series. Enjoyed a different look at a story I have read several times.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

A history of the post D-Day campaign from the allied side, told in detail from the soldier's point of view largely. Very good.