The Gentle Infantryman

by W.Y. Boyd

The ground war on the mainland of Europe began on D-Day, June 6, 1944. After the initial ferocity of the Normandy invasion came the summer's grim deadlilnes in the hedgerows. The subsequent Allied breakout and dash across France was followed by the battles at the gates of Germany that occupied the entire autumn of 1944. Winter set in. Spring promised a new Allied asault that would sweep into Germany from the west. But the Germans did not intend to wait for spring. In the middle of December, they struck with three Panzer armies in the Ardennes. The attack was swift and unexpected and drove a "bulge" into the American line. The bitter winter turned brutal as armies surged back and forth, leaving trails of blood in the snow. The Germans struck again, this time in Alsace. They hit hard against a thin line. They attacked with Panzers, SS infantry, and crack paratroops. Again, the Americans fought back with a valiant desperation, throwing in all their reserves; now, in the first days of January 1945, they had emptied their infantry replacement depots from Le Havre to the Ardennes and from Marseilles to Alsace. Everything they had was on the line.

Genres: World War II

346 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This WW11 book will put you right in the action of how infantrymen fought on the ground floor. W. Y. Boyd was there and puts you there too - and that's what makes this book a MUST read if your interested in how battles were fought day to day - hour to hour.

Had to read this one again and it's still a 5-star story.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tells the story of being an infantryman in WW II from the perspective of a 19-year-old member of an anti-tank platoon.

I thought the writing captured the thought process of such a person, perfectly. this guy is not a dep thinker, and the book does not go into some philosophically rarified part of the ozone. The prose is very simple, and the events are described in a no nonsense way. I felt like I was there, as I read it. I have a number of relatives who were in the infantry and the book made me reflect on what their experience was like.

[Amber Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good WWII story. Moved along a little slowly at times, and the editing is terrible (missing punctuation, etc.) But overall a decent read.

[Gerald Garber]

The most authentic description of men at war since "All Quiet on the Western Front".