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The Victors : Eisenhower and His Boys: The Men of World War II
From America’s preeminent military historian, Stephen E. Ambrose, comes the definitive telling of the war in Europe, from D-Day, June 6, 1944, to the end, eleven months later, on May 7, 1945.
This authoritative narrative account is drawn by the author himself from his five acclaimed books about that conflict, most particularly from the definitive and comprehensive D-Day and Citizen Soldiers, about which the great Civil War historian James McPherson wrote, “If there is a better book about the experience of GIs who fought in Europe during World War II, I have not read it. Citizen Soldiers captures the fear and exhilaration of combat, the hunger and cold and filth of the foxholes, the small intense world of the individual rifleman as well as the big picture of the European theater in a manner that grips the reader and will not let him go. No one who has not been there can understand what combat is like but Stephen Ambrose brings us closer to an understanding than any other historian has done.”
The Victors also includes stories of individual battles, raids, acts of courage and suffering from Pegasus Bridge, an account of the first engagement of D-Day, when a detachment of British airborne troops stormed the German defense forces and paved the way for the Allied invasion; and from Band of Brothers, an account of an American rifle company from the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment who fought, died, and conquered, from Utah Beach through the Bulge and on to Hitter's Eagle’s Nest in Germany.
Stephen Ambrose is also the author of Eisenhower, the greatest work on Dwight Eisenhower, and one of the editors of the Supreme Allied Commander's papers. He describes the momentous decisions about how and where the war was fought, and about the strategies and conduct of the generals and officers who led the invasion and the bloody drive across Europe to Berlin.
But, as always with Stephen E. Ambrose, it is the ranks, the ordinary boys and men, who command his attention and his awe. The Victors tells their stories, how citizens became soldiers in the best army in the world. Ambrose draws on thousands of interviews and oral histories from government and private archives, from the high command—Eisenhower, Bradley, Patton—on down through officers and enlisted men, to re-create the last year of the Second World War when the Allied soldiers pushed the Germans out of France, chased them across Germany, and destroyed the Nazi regime.
This authoritative narrative account is drawn by the author himself from his five acclaimed books about that conflict, most particularly from the definitive and comprehensive D-Day and Citizen Soldiers, about which the great Civil War historian James McPherson wrote, “If there is a better book about the experience of GIs who fought in Europe during World War II, I have not read it. Citizen Soldiers captures the fear and exhilaration of combat, the hunger and cold and filth of the foxholes, the small intense world of the individual rifleman as well as the big picture of the European theater in a manner that grips the reader and will not let him go. No one who has not been there can understand what combat is like but Stephen Ambrose brings us closer to an understanding than any other historian has done.”
The Victors also includes stories of individual battles, raids, acts of courage and suffering from Pegasus Bridge, an account of the first engagement of D-Day, when a detachment of British airborne troops stormed the German defense forces and paved the way for the Allied invasion; and from Band of Brothers, an account of an American rifle company from the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment who fought, died, and conquered, from Utah Beach through the Bulge and on to Hitter's Eagle’s Nest in Germany.
Stephen Ambrose is also the author of Eisenhower, the greatest work on Dwight Eisenhower, and one of the editors of the Supreme Allied Commander's papers. He describes the momentous decisions about how and where the war was fought, and about the strategies and conduct of the generals and officers who led the invasion and the bloody drive across Europe to Berlin.
But, as always with Stephen E. Ambrose, it is the ranks, the ordinary boys and men, who command his attention and his awe. The Victors tells their stories, how citizens became soldiers in the best army in the world. Ambrose draws on thousands of interviews and oral histories from government and private archives, from the high command—Eisenhower, Bradley, Patton—on down through officers and enlisted men, to re-create the last year of the Second World War when the Allied soldiers pushed the Germans out of France, chased them across Germany, and destroyed the Nazi regime.
396 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
329 people are currently reading
2813 people want to read
About the author
Stephen E. Ambrose
136 books2,401 followersStephen Edward Ambrose was an American historian and biographer of U.S. Presidents Dwight Eisenhower and Richard M. Nixon. He received his Ph.D. in 1960 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In his final years he faced charges of plagiarism for his books, with subsequent concerns about his research emerging after his death.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
April 10, 2024
I loved this book! I noticed that several other reviewers were unhappy with the fact that this is a compilation of Ambrose's other books but the liner notes on the edition I read made it clear that it was drawn from his other works. I wasn't surprised to see some things I had read but they were worth reading again.
He takes the reader on the journey of the American Army from D-Day through the surrender of Nazi Germany. Granted, some of the text is extremely graphic and disturbing but it was war which is not a pretty thing. He follows the troops through victories and heartbreaking defeats, using the words of those soldiers to paint the picture of the men involved. He does not flinch from reporting that no everyone was ready for the experience that they were all upon to face, and speaks honestly about foot soldiers and officers breaking under the strain.
My only gripe is the author's adulation of General Eisenhower which permeates the book.
Although words cannot every truly explain the hell that these men went through, Ambrose comes as close as any author of WWII history. It is a must read!
He takes the reader on the journey of the American Army from D-Day through the surrender of Nazi Germany. Granted, some of the text is extremely graphic and disturbing but it was war which is not a pretty thing. He follows the troops through victories and heartbreaking defeats, using the words of those soldiers to paint the picture of the men involved. He does not flinch from reporting that no everyone was ready for the experience that they were all upon to face, and speaks honestly about foot soldiers and officers breaking under the strain.
My only gripe is the author's adulation of General Eisenhower which permeates the book.
Although words cannot every truly explain the hell that these men went through, Ambrose comes as close as any author of WWII history. It is a must read!
May 12, 2019
Well, another bullshit from Ambrose. Makes the naive reader think that it was the US alone that won the Second World War. What a myth, but that's hegemony for beginners.
June 25, 2017
Me gustó menos que 'Hermanos de sangre', este libro es una mezcla de un montón más del autor sobre la participación de Estados Unidos en la II Guerra Mundial, por eso me parecía interesante, porque da una visión más global del conflicto.
Aún así las partes de los altos mandos con Eisenhower y Patton se me hicieron largas y aburridas, en cambio fueron todos los testimonios de soldados supervivientes y los fragmentos de cartas que se conservan lo que realmente me gustó de esta lectura.. al final esa es la parte primordial del libro.
Aunque el autor trata de dar una visión imparcial entrevistando también a algunos soldados alemanes y hablando de actos de honor entre los dos bandos, no puede evitar salirle el tufillo de "Los americanos somos los buenos, y en Europa nos debéis mucho". De todas maneras disfruté mucho la lectura por todos esos testimonios (en algunos casos desgarradores) que te hacen comprender la barbarie de la guerra en primera persona.
Aún así las partes de los altos mandos con Eisenhower y Patton se me hicieron largas y aburridas, en cambio fueron todos los testimonios de soldados supervivientes y los fragmentos de cartas que se conservan lo que realmente me gustó de esta lectura.. al final esa es la parte primordial del libro.
Aunque el autor trata de dar una visión imparcial entrevistando también a algunos soldados alemanes y hablando de actos de honor entre los dos bandos, no puede evitar salirle el tufillo de "Los americanos somos los buenos, y en Europa nos debéis mucho". De todas maneras disfruté mucho la lectura por todos esos testimonios (en algunos casos desgarradores) que te hacen comprender la barbarie de la guerra en primera persona.
October 17, 2014
You know it was bad, but just how awful? It is tough to read some of these stories. I knew about trench foot, but our own army not supplying men with warm enough clothes? It was truly shameful. I enjoyed the first 250 pages, but the real, true suffering starts after that and I will never feel the same about what happened after D-Day and how difficult it was for those that chose to stay the course. I found his writing riveting and couldn't put it down at times.
Page 54 on Ike's decision making: "He did so with the certainty that he had taken everything into account, gathered all relevant information, and considered all possible consequences. Then he acted. This is the essence of command."
Ike in a letter to Mamie: "War demands real toughness of fiber- not only in the soldiers that must endure, but in the homes that must sacrifice their best." page 61
I think this quote says so much about our intent:
It shows a picture of a soldier talking to a little girl in Normandy and says: "He(the G.I.)came to liberate not to terrorize."
I am so grateful to these brave men and for how they enriched our country afterward. Bless them.
Page 54 on Ike's decision making: "He did so with the certainty that he had taken everything into account, gathered all relevant information, and considered all possible consequences. Then he acted. This is the essence of command."
Ike in a letter to Mamie: "War demands real toughness of fiber- not only in the soldiers that must endure, but in the homes that must sacrifice their best." page 61
I think this quote says so much about our intent:
It shows a picture of a soldier talking to a little girl in Normandy and says: "He(the G.I.)came to liberate not to terrorize."
I am so grateful to these brave men and for how they enriched our country afterward. Bless them.
March 8, 2021
The Victors: Eisenhower and His Boys: The Men of World War II by Stephen E. Ambrose makes it two in a row for me by this author considered America’s preeminent military historian, with the definitive telling of the war in Europe, from D-Day, June 6, 1944, to the end, eleven months later, on May 7, 1945. Drawing on his extensive research into this critical period of time during the War along with material used in his five acclaimed books about that conflict, most particularly from the definitive and comprehensive D-Day and Citizen Soldiers. The Victors includes many stories of individual battles, raids, acts of courage and suffering from Pegasus Bridge, an account of the first engagement of D-Day, and from Band of Brothers, an account of an American rifle company from the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment who fought, died, and conquered, from Utah Beach through the Bulge and on to Hitler's Eagle’s Nest in Germany.
As always with Stephen E. Ambrose, it is the ranks, the ordinary boys and men, who command his focus. The Victors tells their stories, how citizens became soldiers in the best army in the world. Ambrose draws on thousands of interviews and oral histories from government and private archives, from the high command—Eisenhower, Bradley, Patton—on down through officers and enlisted men, to re-create the last year of the Second World War when the Allied soldiers pushed the Germans out of France, chased them across Germany, and destroyed the Nazi regime.
As always with Stephen E. Ambrose, it is the ranks, the ordinary boys and men, who command his focus. The Victors tells their stories, how citizens became soldiers in the best army in the world. Ambrose draws on thousands of interviews and oral histories from government and private archives, from the high command—Eisenhower, Bradley, Patton—on down through officers and enlisted men, to re-create the last year of the Second World War when the Allied soldiers pushed the Germans out of France, chased them across Germany, and destroyed the Nazi regime.
July 7, 2022
This exemplary book about the American experience in Europe during WW2 is an example of what Stephen Ambrose did so well. He takes big events and pulls them down to the individual involved at every level in the military structure. A fine overview of the Europe Theater of Operations from before D-Day to Germany's surrender.
March 23, 2013
I gave this 5 stars, as it was the first Ambrose book I've read. As many other reviews point out, apparently this one rehashes a lot of material from several other of his books. But since I haven't read any of them (yet), I have yet to be disappointed in his pacing or his ability to bring the reader back in time, right alongside the men and women of his history. Maybe I'll re-rate this when I get through other titles, but I doubt it, since it stands on its own as a great historical summation. Also, I just noticed that the description of the book itself states that Ambrose draws from his other books for this one, so I feel that the poor ratings on that account alone are unjustified. A decent knowledge of D-Day and beyond, as well as WWII European geography is definitely helpful, since Ambrose, for the most part, assumes this basic knowledge.
April 21, 2020
“What I think of the GIs more than half a century after their victory was best said by Sgt. Mike Ramsey of the 101st: ‘In thinking back on the days of Easy Company, I’m treasuring my remark to a grandson who asked, ‘Grandpa, were you a hero in the war?’
“No I answered, ‘but I answered in a company of heroes.’”
“No I answered, ‘but I answered in a company of heroes.’”
March 18, 2024
"America had sent the best of her young men around the world, not to conquer but to liberate, not to terrorize but to help."
December 11, 2020
When I began reading The Victors and realized that it was compiled from many of Stephen Ambrose’s other books on World War II, I was disappointed. I thought I’d be reading the literary equivalent of ‘refried beans.’
It was a needless concern.
Although I recognized some passages from Citizen Soldiers, D-Day, and Pegasus Bridge, the book read as a fresh telling of the momentous stream of actions that comprise the Allied victory in the Eastern Theater of Operations. Ambrose begins with D-Day and continues the account to the signing of surrender on May 7, 1945 in Reims. Most of the account details the actions of the Americans and the Brits, with less about the Canadians, even less about the French, and practically nothing about the Soviets.
Effusive in his praise of Eisenhower but equally unafraid to critique and criticize, Ambrose gives the reader a clear picture of what Ike had to deal with as he led a multinational coalition of competing egos, competing national and strategic priorities, and competing deficits in the character or competence of the general officers serving under him. Marshall, Montgomery, Bradley, and Patton occupy the lion’s share of attention when Ambrose writes of the generals, although accounts of many other general officers are included in the pages.
Most importantly, Ambrose exercises one of his great strengths as a writer and historian: he brings the reader down to the squad level of combat, with the privates, sergeants, and lieutenants. Through numerous interviews with the men who were actually there, the author puts the reader in the soggy foxholes with the soldiers as they battle the Germans plus rain, snow, mud, hunger, cold, trench foot, dysentery, and extreme sleep deprivation.
The book includes some good photographs, but only one master map. I would have enjoyed more maps, especially when the author invested several pages detailing specific battles. Here and there Ambrose embeds passages explaining tactics, weapons, policies, or even the politics hidden behind strategic decisions—these digressions were always fascinating.
Ambrose’s respect for the common soldier crafted from the common citizen is on display in The Victors. He concludes the book with a retrospective tribute to the enlisted men without whom no victory would have been possible. It is well deserved.
I walk away from The Victors marveling at the near superhuman endurance of the teens and twenty-year olds who not only survived the extreme conditions, but beat back the powerful German army. Will there ever again be such a generation? May God grant that there will never be the need. Five stars, highly recommended.
It was a needless concern.
Although I recognized some passages from Citizen Soldiers, D-Day, and Pegasus Bridge, the book read as a fresh telling of the momentous stream of actions that comprise the Allied victory in the Eastern Theater of Operations. Ambrose begins with D-Day and continues the account to the signing of surrender on May 7, 1945 in Reims. Most of the account details the actions of the Americans and the Brits, with less about the Canadians, even less about the French, and practically nothing about the Soviets.
Effusive in his praise of Eisenhower but equally unafraid to critique and criticize, Ambrose gives the reader a clear picture of what Ike had to deal with as he led a multinational coalition of competing egos, competing national and strategic priorities, and competing deficits in the character or competence of the general officers serving under him. Marshall, Montgomery, Bradley, and Patton occupy the lion’s share of attention when Ambrose writes of the generals, although accounts of many other general officers are included in the pages.
Most importantly, Ambrose exercises one of his great strengths as a writer and historian: he brings the reader down to the squad level of combat, with the privates, sergeants, and lieutenants. Through numerous interviews with the men who were actually there, the author puts the reader in the soggy foxholes with the soldiers as they battle the Germans plus rain, snow, mud, hunger, cold, trench foot, dysentery, and extreme sleep deprivation.
The book includes some good photographs, but only one master map. I would have enjoyed more maps, especially when the author invested several pages detailing specific battles. Here and there Ambrose embeds passages explaining tactics, weapons, policies, or even the politics hidden behind strategic decisions—these digressions were always fascinating.
Ambrose’s respect for the common soldier crafted from the common citizen is on display in The Victors. He concludes the book with a retrospective tribute to the enlisted men without whom no victory would have been possible. It is well deserved.
I walk away from The Victors marveling at the near superhuman endurance of the teens and twenty-year olds who not only survived the extreme conditions, but beat back the powerful German army. Will there ever again be such a generation? May God grant that there will never be the need. Five stars, highly recommended.
September 1, 2025
tja als je de serie hebt gekeken ken je het boek eigenlijk ook al. best een long read maar het is eindelijk uit
July 25, 2022
‘From America’s preeminent military historian, Stephen E. Ambrose, comes the definitive telling of the war in Europe, from D-Day, June 6, 1944, to the end, eleven months later, on May 7, 1945.
The Victors includes stories of individual battles, raids, acts of courage, and suffering. The Victors tells the stories of how citizens became soldiers in the best army in the world. Ambrose draws on thousands of interviews and oral histories from government and private archives, from the high command—Eisenhower, Bradley, Patton—on down through officers and enlisted men, to re-create the last year of the Second World War when the Allied soldiers pushed the Germans out of France, chased them across Germany, and destroyed the Nazi regime.’
This book was amazing.
I am a massive fan of World War II history and military history in general, and Stephen E. Ambrose is one of my favourite authors on these topics so I went into this book with high hopes. Thankfully this book not only lived up to my high expectations it well and truly surpassed them.
One of the things I love most about Stephen E. Ambrose’s books is that they generally follow the rank and file of military operations, not those in power. Reading about these massive events from the point of view of those on the immediate front lines makes for an emotional reading experience.
Stephen E. Ambrose has a unique ability to connect with a reader and somehow make events that took place a long time ago seem completely relatable. Ambrose’s emotional writing is perfectly presented in his lyrical and a times cinematic writing.
I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book. I will definitely be re-reading this one many times, and I am excited to read more of Stephen E. Ambrose in the near future.
The Victors by Stephen E. Ambrose is a must-read for anyone interested in World War II or military history in general.
Geramie Kate Barker
gemsbooknook.wordpress.com
The Victors includes stories of individual battles, raids, acts of courage, and suffering. The Victors tells the stories of how citizens became soldiers in the best army in the world. Ambrose draws on thousands of interviews and oral histories from government and private archives, from the high command—Eisenhower, Bradley, Patton—on down through officers and enlisted men, to re-create the last year of the Second World War when the Allied soldiers pushed the Germans out of France, chased them across Germany, and destroyed the Nazi regime.’
This book was amazing.
I am a massive fan of World War II history and military history in general, and Stephen E. Ambrose is one of my favourite authors on these topics so I went into this book with high hopes. Thankfully this book not only lived up to my high expectations it well and truly surpassed them.
One of the things I love most about Stephen E. Ambrose’s books is that they generally follow the rank and file of military operations, not those in power. Reading about these massive events from the point of view of those on the immediate front lines makes for an emotional reading experience.
Stephen E. Ambrose has a unique ability to connect with a reader and somehow make events that took place a long time ago seem completely relatable. Ambrose’s emotional writing is perfectly presented in his lyrical and a times cinematic writing.
I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book. I will definitely be re-reading this one many times, and I am excited to read more of Stephen E. Ambrose in the near future.
The Victors by Stephen E. Ambrose is a must-read for anyone interested in World War II or military history in general.
Geramie Kate Barker
gemsbooknook.wordpress.com
February 15, 2010
It's Ambrose. You love history, you generally can sit down and share some time with Ambrose. This one covers the soldier's stories from WW II. . .If you've read Citizen Soldiers and D-Day, this book should be a slam-dunk
March 25, 2024
The Victors is an overview of crucial WWII events from D-Day to the surrender of the German army told from the perspective of the top generals and the junior officers and enlisted men. It doesn't focus on military strategy or the politics of the war, although it does touch on both. Instead, it's a story of how one unusually determined General - Eisenhower - and a diverse group of citizen soldiers persevered against long odds and horrific conditions to defeat the most powerful and professionally trained military in the world.
One of Ambrose's most interesting points is that the very strengths of the democratic system are what made the American military so successful. Fighting tactics were evolving real time on the battlefield and the American command structure, which gave significant authority to junior officers on the ground, led to adaptation that the hierarchical German military (designed to mirror Germany's authoritarian government and social structure) were incapable of achieving.
This is the first time I've read a WWII history written through the lens of the competing political systems and it was enlightening. Just as enlightening (although more common in WWII histories) were the detailed stories of the brutal reality facing the American soldiers on the ground. It's worth remembering that the frontal assault on the D-Day beaches on June 6th, 1944 was successful despite huge errors in execution and horrifying losses.
The arial and naval bombardment of the German fixed defenses on the beach (typically built on bluffs looking down over the landing sites) were largely unsuccessful. As a result, when the landing forces came ashore, they were faced with withering artillery and machine gun fire. Most of the floating tanks that had been designed to support the infantry were destroyed before they ever hit the beach. The conditions on the beach were hellish. With little or no cover, withering fire from in front, little or no artillery support on the ground and no way to retreat, the American invading forces often landed in a killing field. Some units suffered 90% casualties in the first minutes of the invasion.
Despite all of this, an infantry only assaulting force managed to overcome the huge system of fixed pillbox infrastructure, sometimes climbing daunting bluffs under intense close fire, to grab a beachhead on the French shoreline. It was miraculous and almost unsuccessful. Ambrose details how the bravery of just a few men, mostly junior officers, was the difference between victory and defeat.
Ambrose goes on to talk about the leadership of this same class of junior officers fighting through hedgerows against an entrenched enemy or responding to the German counterattack which came to be known as the Battle of the Bulge in horrifying weather conditions. The German army was outfitted with cold weather gear and much better footwear, while the American's made due in snow, mud and sometimes 15 degrees below zero temperatures. It was the coldest winter in Europe in nearly 50 years and when the temperatures rose and the mud season began, tens of thousands of infantry were lost to trenchfoot.
This section of the book was particularly compelling (and personal) for me as my father served as a medic in the Battle of the Bulge. He never spoke about his experiences, but based on the descriptions from Ambrose it must have been hell. Meaningfully, Ambrose also talks about the experiences of the medics who were deeply respected by the fighting men for their bravery in recovering and treating injured soldiers largely oblivious as heavy fire rained down on them.
This isn't a book about detailed military strategy, although Ambrose does highlight a number of strategic errors made by military leadership. Instead, it's largely the story of the hardship that young men were willing to endure for democracy to win against the evil of totalitarianism and Hitler's Germany.
It's a fairly short book and while there were times when I longed for deeper analysis of the military strategies or comprehensive explanations of the day-to-day results of the major battles, all-in-all it was an insightful history of one of the most important moments in the history of democracy.
One of Ambrose's most interesting points is that the very strengths of the democratic system are what made the American military so successful. Fighting tactics were evolving real time on the battlefield and the American command structure, which gave significant authority to junior officers on the ground, led to adaptation that the hierarchical German military (designed to mirror Germany's authoritarian government and social structure) were incapable of achieving.
This is the first time I've read a WWII history written through the lens of the competing political systems and it was enlightening. Just as enlightening (although more common in WWII histories) were the detailed stories of the brutal reality facing the American soldiers on the ground. It's worth remembering that the frontal assault on the D-Day beaches on June 6th, 1944 was successful despite huge errors in execution and horrifying losses.
The arial and naval bombardment of the German fixed defenses on the beach (typically built on bluffs looking down over the landing sites) were largely unsuccessful. As a result, when the landing forces came ashore, they were faced with withering artillery and machine gun fire. Most of the floating tanks that had been designed to support the infantry were destroyed before they ever hit the beach. The conditions on the beach were hellish. With little or no cover, withering fire from in front, little or no artillery support on the ground and no way to retreat, the American invading forces often landed in a killing field. Some units suffered 90% casualties in the first minutes of the invasion.
Despite all of this, an infantry only assaulting force managed to overcome the huge system of fixed pillbox infrastructure, sometimes climbing daunting bluffs under intense close fire, to grab a beachhead on the French shoreline. It was miraculous and almost unsuccessful. Ambrose details how the bravery of just a few men, mostly junior officers, was the difference between victory and defeat.
Ambrose goes on to talk about the leadership of this same class of junior officers fighting through hedgerows against an entrenched enemy or responding to the German counterattack which came to be known as the Battle of the Bulge in horrifying weather conditions. The German army was outfitted with cold weather gear and much better footwear, while the American's made due in snow, mud and sometimes 15 degrees below zero temperatures. It was the coldest winter in Europe in nearly 50 years and when the temperatures rose and the mud season began, tens of thousands of infantry were lost to trenchfoot.
This section of the book was particularly compelling (and personal) for me as my father served as a medic in the Battle of the Bulge. He never spoke about his experiences, but based on the descriptions from Ambrose it must have been hell. Meaningfully, Ambrose also talks about the experiences of the medics who were deeply respected by the fighting men for their bravery in recovering and treating injured soldiers largely oblivious as heavy fire rained down on them.
This isn't a book about detailed military strategy, although Ambrose does highlight a number of strategic errors made by military leadership. Instead, it's largely the story of the hardship that young men were willing to endure for democracy to win against the evil of totalitarianism and Hitler's Germany.
It's a fairly short book and while there were times when I longed for deeper analysis of the military strategies or comprehensive explanations of the day-to-day results of the major battles, all-in-all it was an insightful history of one of the most important moments in the history of democracy.
February 20, 2023
I'll be honest in saying up front that I don't know the most about World War II history. Stephen Ambrose seems to have a bit of a mixed reputation from what I can tell, as it seems that he has a reputation of plagiarism in a number of his works. I don't think this work is one that has those accusations, but it doesn't really present a good picture to me of the author.
Anyhow, let's move to the book itself. The Victors basically tells the story of American involvement in World War II. It starts with America entering the war and training the army for the war in Europe and ends with Germany surrendering and victory having been achieved. This is quite a wide stretch of time and events and it kind of shows in Ambrose's writing.
It felt like the story leading up to the Allied landing on D-Day was all cohesive and coherent and could be followed relatively easily. It also tended to include the other nations that were involved in the attack like the British and Canadian forces.
After D-Day though the story gets a lot harder to follow. Sure you know they're progressing east towards Germany, but how some of the events connect are a little harder to follow. There is also less of a picture of non-American troops and what they were doing. About the only times they do show up it is to present them as some kind of contrast to the Americans, with the Americans being put in the better light. He is also a bit of an Eisenhower fan, which is also pretty easy to spot. He does admit his faults and mistakes, but they are also quickly brushed away and forgiven pretty quickly.
It's hard to read Ambrose and not see a great deal of bias in favor of the American army over any other nation's involvement in the war. It even gets into some weird territory near the end of the book where it talked about how American soldiers tended to connect better with the Germans they met through the course of the war and afterwards than other nations and giving all these good qualities to the Germans while also minimizing the talk of liberating the concentration camps. These were some strange choices to me, even if some of the elements were true.
In general the book is just kind of garbled in a number of ways. I think he takes too much on in this book. These can and have been, even by the author himself, been broken up and made into separate books. While it's possible that other authors could make it work, Ambrose's style of putting you in the action and with the GIs, makes it hard to capture the bigger frame in an organized fashion.
He also is garbled on what message he is trying to present of war. He talks about the horrors of war and how even Eisenhower hated war, but yet at the same time Ambrose presents the war as this ultimate test of manhood and being enough. He seems very comfortable talking about the ravages of war filled with death, illness, brutal wounds, and horrible conditions, right beside the idea of heroes and glory.
This isn't to say that I disliked the book entirely. I did find the stories of various points of the America's involvement in World War II interesting. It's just that beyond the initial landing at Normandy, it gets hard to follow. I also found myself wondering what other armies were doing besides the United States. I just felt like there were so many pieces missing to the overall story of the war that we weren't getting. I think this was intentional on Ambrose's part, with his focus being more on the oral histories and stories from the veterans, but as one who didn't know a lot about World War II, it left a lot of gaps.
I enjoy history and therefore I did enjoy The Victors to a certain degree. The book is perhaps a bit too ambitious and the method in which Ambrose is trying to frame the event a bit too "on the ground" to give you an adequate picture of what is going on. Throw in a bias that leans a bit American exceptionalism and fades out every other nation by the end and I just can't quite recommend it fully. Especially when looking into Ambrose more and seeing that his reputation wasn't super great either.
Anyhow, let's move to the book itself. The Victors basically tells the story of American involvement in World War II. It starts with America entering the war and training the army for the war in Europe and ends with Germany surrendering and victory having been achieved. This is quite a wide stretch of time and events and it kind of shows in Ambrose's writing.
It felt like the story leading up to the Allied landing on D-Day was all cohesive and coherent and could be followed relatively easily. It also tended to include the other nations that were involved in the attack like the British and Canadian forces.
After D-Day though the story gets a lot harder to follow. Sure you know they're progressing east towards Germany, but how some of the events connect are a little harder to follow. There is also less of a picture of non-American troops and what they were doing. About the only times they do show up it is to present them as some kind of contrast to the Americans, with the Americans being put in the better light. He is also a bit of an Eisenhower fan, which is also pretty easy to spot. He does admit his faults and mistakes, but they are also quickly brushed away and forgiven pretty quickly.
It's hard to read Ambrose and not see a great deal of bias in favor of the American army over any other nation's involvement in the war. It even gets into some weird territory near the end of the book where it talked about how American soldiers tended to connect better with the Germans they met through the course of the war and afterwards than other nations and giving all these good qualities to the Germans while also minimizing the talk of liberating the concentration camps. These were some strange choices to me, even if some of the elements were true.
In general the book is just kind of garbled in a number of ways. I think he takes too much on in this book. These can and have been, even by the author himself, been broken up and made into separate books. While it's possible that other authors could make it work, Ambrose's style of putting you in the action and with the GIs, makes it hard to capture the bigger frame in an organized fashion.
He also is garbled on what message he is trying to present of war. He talks about the horrors of war and how even Eisenhower hated war, but yet at the same time Ambrose presents the war as this ultimate test of manhood and being enough. He seems very comfortable talking about the ravages of war filled with death, illness, brutal wounds, and horrible conditions, right beside the idea of heroes and glory.
This isn't to say that I disliked the book entirely. I did find the stories of various points of the America's involvement in World War II interesting. It's just that beyond the initial landing at Normandy, it gets hard to follow. I also found myself wondering what other armies were doing besides the United States. I just felt like there were so many pieces missing to the overall story of the war that we weren't getting. I think this was intentional on Ambrose's part, with his focus being more on the oral histories and stories from the veterans, but as one who didn't know a lot about World War II, it left a lot of gaps.
I enjoy history and therefore I did enjoy The Victors to a certain degree. The book is perhaps a bit too ambitious and the method in which Ambrose is trying to frame the event a bit too "on the ground" to give you an adequate picture of what is going on. Throw in a bias that leans a bit American exceptionalism and fades out every other nation by the end and I just can't quite recommend it fully. Especially when looking into Ambrose more and seeing that his reputation wasn't super great either.
January 15, 2025
In The Victors, Ambrose has written yet another classic novel on the United States Army in the European Theater of WWII. Following Eisenhower “And His Boys: The Men of World War II, Ambrose offers us stories of success and defeat throughout the European Theater of WWII. He uses excerpts from his other novels, including some of my favorites- Band of Brothers and Citizen Soldiers. Just as in the past novels, Ambrose did not disappoint.
My favorite part of this book was his detailing of the invasion of Germany in 1945. Our American troops, or “GI’s,” we’re able to race through Germany towards as the Nazi soldiers surrendered. The race East was a symbolic journey for the soldiers, as they could make it back home to the states the sooner they made it to Berlin. ‘The Race East’ became a personal one, and many soldiers were anxious about their untimely death in those last months of the war. I sure would be too, as these deaths were meaningless when looking at the war on a greater scale.
Another surprising piece of the story of Eisenhower’s boys was how close they felt to the German soldiers. They related to them more than any of the other soldiers when it came to hygiene, discipline, tactics, and ability as soldiers. This is honestly hard to imagine, given all of the things you hear nowadays about the behavior and morals of the German army. I can understand why this may have been the case but it honestly doesn’t sit well with me.
Just as in his past novels, Ambrose was able to smoothly transition from topic to topic while including emotional stories and a serious tone. This book made me really want to reread Citizen Soldiers because of the last chapter, titled ‘The GI’s.’ The following are some of my favorite quotes, some of which are from this last chapter:
“None of them wanted to be part of another war. They wanted to be throwing baseballs, not hand grenades, shooting .22s at rabbits, not M-1s at other young men. But when the test came, when freedom had to be fought for or abandoned, they had to fight. They were soldiers of democracy. On them depended the fate of the world.” page 68
From Eisenhower himself talking about D-Day: “I think it’s just overwhelming. To think of the lives that were given for that principle, paying a terrible price on this beach alone, on that one day, 2,000 casualties. But they did it so the world could be free. It just shows what free men will do rather than be slaves.” page 187
From Staff Sergeant Bruce Egger: “But we were young and strong then, possessed of the marvelous resilience of youth, and for all the misery and fear and the hating every moment of it the war was a great, if always terrifying, adventure. Not a man among us would want to go through it again, but we are all proud of having been so severely tested and found adequate. The only regret is for those of our friends who never returned.” page 348
Thank God for the GI’s and for our countrymen throughout this war. Freedom prevailed many years ago and I pray it will continue to.
My favorite part of this book was his detailing of the invasion of Germany in 1945. Our American troops, or “GI’s,” we’re able to race through Germany towards as the Nazi soldiers surrendered. The race East was a symbolic journey for the soldiers, as they could make it back home to the states the sooner they made it to Berlin. ‘The Race East’ became a personal one, and many soldiers were anxious about their untimely death in those last months of the war. I sure would be too, as these deaths were meaningless when looking at the war on a greater scale.
Another surprising piece of the story of Eisenhower’s boys was how close they felt to the German soldiers. They related to them more than any of the other soldiers when it came to hygiene, discipline, tactics, and ability as soldiers. This is honestly hard to imagine, given all of the things you hear nowadays about the behavior and morals of the German army. I can understand why this may have been the case but it honestly doesn’t sit well with me.
Just as in his past novels, Ambrose was able to smoothly transition from topic to topic while including emotional stories and a serious tone. This book made me really want to reread Citizen Soldiers because of the last chapter, titled ‘The GI’s.’ The following are some of my favorite quotes, some of which are from this last chapter:
“None of them wanted to be part of another war. They wanted to be throwing baseballs, not hand grenades, shooting .22s at rabbits, not M-1s at other young men. But when the test came, when freedom had to be fought for or abandoned, they had to fight. They were soldiers of democracy. On them depended the fate of the world.” page 68
From Eisenhower himself talking about D-Day: “I think it’s just overwhelming. To think of the lives that were given for that principle, paying a terrible price on this beach alone, on that one day, 2,000 casualties. But they did it so the world could be free. It just shows what free men will do rather than be slaves.” page 187
From Staff Sergeant Bruce Egger: “But we were young and strong then, possessed of the marvelous resilience of youth, and for all the misery and fear and the hating every moment of it the war was a great, if always terrifying, adventure. Not a man among us would want to go through it again, but we are all proud of having been so severely tested and found adequate. The only regret is for those of our friends who never returned.” page 348
Thank God for the GI’s and for our countrymen throughout this war. Freedom prevailed many years ago and I pray it will continue to.
November 25, 2023
4++ stars. This is a capstone book of sorts, a distillation of his lessons learned from innumerable interviews and much study.
Ambrose clearly makes the point that it was the soldiers who won the war not the high-ranking commanders. In fact, he emphasizes that the soldiers won despite their commanders and their staffs. I missed reading anywhere else in countless WWII history books Ambrose’s most startling conclusion about the US Army training base. “The 84th Division struck him as ‘an impressive product of American training methods which turned out division after division complete, fully equipped.’” But…they were manned with very young soldiers and inexperienced leaders, trained only to take the beaches but not fight in hedgerows, against fortifications in forests or cities which followed. As Ambrose points out, during first contact so many of these units experienced horrendous losses which could have been avoided or at least minimized with proper training and leadership at all levels. He mentions British general Brian Horrocks’ observations, “He was disturbed by the failure of American division and corps commanders and their staffs to ever visit the front lines.” The same could be said for many regimental and battalion commanders. This resulted in things like no hot chow going forward to the troops, which is bad enough; however, it also meant that attack orders were issued without any real understanding of how bad the terrain was for such attacks. This resulted in unacceptable casualties and more importantly no real time tactical learning to prevent such mistakes in the future. Unconscionable behavior. This tangentially gives added credence to the oft cited conclusions about winning the war, that it was the indominable spirit of the soldiers in contact and the overwhelming numbers of American men and equipment that overcame a more experienced and deadly foe.
And another point, “by the end of the war men who had been stateside on D-Day made up virtually the entire fighting Army.”
There was another poignant story, a cautionary tale for Americans today, of a soldier's letter exchange with his mother. Describing his reaction to seeing his comrades killed, "If don't come back, try not to take it too hard. I wish I could persuade you to regard death as casually as we do over here...You have to keep going. It's not like civilian life..." When his mother replied with "considerable alarm at [his] attitude" the soldier replied "would you prefer somebody else's son die in the mud? Somebody has to kill the enemy...If the country all had your attitude, nobody would fight...And what kind of a country would that be?"
Ambrose clearly makes the point that it was the soldiers who won the war not the high-ranking commanders. In fact, he emphasizes that the soldiers won despite their commanders and their staffs. I missed reading anywhere else in countless WWII history books Ambrose’s most startling conclusion about the US Army training base. “The 84th Division struck him as ‘an impressive product of American training methods which turned out division after division complete, fully equipped.’” But…they were manned with very young soldiers and inexperienced leaders, trained only to take the beaches but not fight in hedgerows, against fortifications in forests or cities which followed. As Ambrose points out, during first contact so many of these units experienced horrendous losses which could have been avoided or at least minimized with proper training and leadership at all levels. He mentions British general Brian Horrocks’ observations, “He was disturbed by the failure of American division and corps commanders and their staffs to ever visit the front lines.” The same could be said for many regimental and battalion commanders. This resulted in things like no hot chow going forward to the troops, which is bad enough; however, it also meant that attack orders were issued without any real understanding of how bad the terrain was for such attacks. This resulted in unacceptable casualties and more importantly no real time tactical learning to prevent such mistakes in the future. Unconscionable behavior. This tangentially gives added credence to the oft cited conclusions about winning the war, that it was the indominable spirit of the soldiers in contact and the overwhelming numbers of American men and equipment that overcame a more experienced and deadly foe.
And another point, “by the end of the war men who had been stateside on D-Day made up virtually the entire fighting Army.”
There was another poignant story, a cautionary tale for Americans today, of a soldier's letter exchange with his mother. Describing his reaction to seeing his comrades killed, "If don't come back, try not to take it too hard. I wish I could persuade you to regard death as casually as we do over here...You have to keep going. It's not like civilian life..." When his mother replied with "considerable alarm at [his] attitude" the soldier replied "would you prefer somebody else's son die in the mud? Somebody has to kill the enemy...If the country all had your attitude, nobody would fight...And what kind of a country would that be?"
December 10, 2018
There is a compelling style in this script, that raises this book above others in it’s WWII genre. The emphasis is on reporting the thoughts and utterances of individual combatants on both sides of this killing divide, and which concentrates especially on the European Theatre and in particular, the events which occurred during and after the launch of OPERATION OVERLORD (June ‘44).
The reader will become focussed by the ‘what comes next’ gripping parade of episodic events. There is a read-on inducement written into the text, forecasting significant and momentous happenings.
Battle engagements, combining attack and defence, are triggered and highlighted.
Military command miscalculations resulting in the consequential death of participants on a vast scale, is sadly revealed.
It is, perhaps, something the faint-hearted might find difficult to continue reading, understand and/or accept?
His deeply probing attention, which reveals the fight-back attitude of US servicemen during the Battle of the Bulge (Dec ‘44), highlighting in particular their brave stubbornness and resolve as they huddled in small pockets of infantry at the side of the road, awaiting the enemy onslaught. Their determination to dig in and block the advance of German armoured columns and witnessing a flood of broken retreating elements of American units, initially overwhelmed and decimated, now streaming past those pockets, to safety. How, when surrounded in Bastogne, they not only suffered -but endured and survived- shortages of food and ammunition and just about managed to persevere in the icy-extreme cold, of winter’s arrival.
It might frequently be said, in this context, that the printed page makes daunting reading for those unaware of the huge cost to humanity, especially of young men, as armies clash in pursuit of political aims.
This script is not without its tender and humorous moments.
However, it might be said, that he further identified the ideological differences between the opposing combatants: the open-minded democratic free thinking and purpose of the war and its consideration by the average American soldier in the field, as against the regimented dictatorial dominance which governed Germanic generated disciplined mentality, enforced on the ranks of the Wehrmacht.
The author has written a salutary testimony to those involved.
Herewith, witness a European tragedy on a grotesque scale, on a continent which is no stranger to war…
The reader will become focussed by the ‘what comes next’ gripping parade of episodic events. There is a read-on inducement written into the text, forecasting significant and momentous happenings.
Battle engagements, combining attack and defence, are triggered and highlighted.
Military command miscalculations resulting in the consequential death of participants on a vast scale, is sadly revealed.
It is, perhaps, something the faint-hearted might find difficult to continue reading, understand and/or accept?
His deeply probing attention, which reveals the fight-back attitude of US servicemen during the Battle of the Bulge (Dec ‘44), highlighting in particular their brave stubbornness and resolve as they huddled in small pockets of infantry at the side of the road, awaiting the enemy onslaught. Their determination to dig in and block the advance of German armoured columns and witnessing a flood of broken retreating elements of American units, initially overwhelmed and decimated, now streaming past those pockets, to safety. How, when surrounded in Bastogne, they not only suffered -but endured and survived- shortages of food and ammunition and just about managed to persevere in the icy-extreme cold, of winter’s arrival.
It might frequently be said, in this context, that the printed page makes daunting reading for those unaware of the huge cost to humanity, especially of young men, as armies clash in pursuit of political aims.
This script is not without its tender and humorous moments.
However, it might be said, that he further identified the ideological differences between the opposing combatants: the open-minded democratic free thinking and purpose of the war and its consideration by the average American soldier in the field, as against the regimented dictatorial dominance which governed Germanic generated disciplined mentality, enforced on the ranks of the Wehrmacht.
The author has written a salutary testimony to those involved.
Herewith, witness a European tragedy on a grotesque scale, on a continent which is no stranger to war…
September 11, 2021
There is a compelling style in this script, that raises this book above others in it’s WWII genre. The emphasis is on reporting the thoughts and utterances of individual combatants on both sides of this killing divide, and which concentrates especially on the European Theatre and in particular, the events which occurred during and after the launch of OPERATION OVERLORD (June ‘44).
The reader will become focussed by the ‘what comes next’ gripping parade of episodic events. There is a read-on inducement written into the text, forecasting significant and momentous happenings.
Battle engagements, combining attack and defence, are triggered and highlighted.
Military command miscalculations resulting in the consequential death of participants on a vast scale, is sadly revealed.
It is, perhaps, something the faint-hearted might find difficult to continue reading, understand and/or accept?
His deeply probing attention, which reveals the fight-back attitude of US servicemen during the Battle of the Bulge (Dec ‘44), highlighting in particular their brave stubbornness and resolve as they huddled in small pockets of infantry at the side of the road, awaiting the enemy onslaught. Their determination to dig in and block the advance of German armoured columns and witnessing a flood of broken retreating elements of American units, initially overwhelmed and decimated, now streaming past those pockets, to safety. How, when surrounded in Bastogne, they not only suffered -but endured and survived- shortages of food and ammunition and just about managed to persevere in the icy-extreme cold, of winter’s arrival.
It might frequently be said, in this context, that the printed page makes daunting reading for those unaware of the huge cost to humanity, especially of young men, as armies clash in pursuit of political aims.
This script is not without its tender and humorous moments.
However, it might be said, that he further identified the ideological differences between the opposing combatants: the open-minded democratic free thinking and purpose of the war and its consideration by the average American soldier in the field, as against the regimented dictatorial dominance which governed Germanic generated disciplined mentality, enforced on the ranks of the Wehrmacht.
The author has written a salutary testimony to those involved.
Herewith, witness a European tragedy on a grotesque scale, on a continent which is no stranger to war…
The reader will become focussed by the ‘what comes next’ gripping parade of episodic events. There is a read-on inducement written into the text, forecasting significant and momentous happenings.
Battle engagements, combining attack and defence, are triggered and highlighted.
Military command miscalculations resulting in the consequential death of participants on a vast scale, is sadly revealed.
It is, perhaps, something the faint-hearted might find difficult to continue reading, understand and/or accept?
His deeply probing attention, which reveals the fight-back attitude of US servicemen during the Battle of the Bulge (Dec ‘44), highlighting in particular their brave stubbornness and resolve as they huddled in small pockets of infantry at the side of the road, awaiting the enemy onslaught. Their determination to dig in and block the advance of German armoured columns and witnessing a flood of broken retreating elements of American units, initially overwhelmed and decimated, now streaming past those pockets, to safety. How, when surrounded in Bastogne, they not only suffered -but endured and survived- shortages of food and ammunition and just about managed to persevere in the icy-extreme cold, of winter’s arrival.
It might frequently be said, in this context, that the printed page makes daunting reading for those unaware of the huge cost to humanity, especially of young men, as armies clash in pursuit of political aims.
This script is not without its tender and humorous moments.
However, it might be said, that he further identified the ideological differences between the opposing combatants: the open-minded democratic free thinking and purpose of the war and its consideration by the average American soldier in the field, as against the regimented dictatorial dominance which governed Germanic generated disciplined mentality, enforced on the ranks of the Wehrmacht.
The author has written a salutary testimony to those involved.
Herewith, witness a European tragedy on a grotesque scale, on a continent which is no stranger to war…
May 16, 2017
Ambrose is a superb writer with an undeniable talent for shedding light on the terrible price paid by those who fought the epic battles of WWII. But, as the author admits in his notes on his sources, much of the material in this book was already presented in his earlier books. Since I have already read three of the five earlier volumes ("Band of Brothers", "Citizen Soldiers", and "D-Day"), much of this material was very familiar to me. Even the new material, mostly dealing with Eisenhower and his role as Supreme Commander, was somewhat familiar from other sources, although Ambrose presents it well here, placing it in the larger context of the final push to defeat Germany. Fans of Ambrose will certainly enjoy this book, although they may be disappointed to find that is contains very little new information. But for anyone looking for an excellent overview of how the Allies prepared for the invasion of Fortress Europe, pursued the Germans back into Germany, and ultimately pushed them to surrender should consider reading this. I shows how the NCOs and junior officers led the troops and adapted their tactics to achieve their goals, while the top commanders organized and managed the overall campaign, in ways that were unprecedented. Filled with a lot of quotes from veterans of all ranks, it provides a vivid eyewitness testament of the epic struggle to liberate Europe.
September 12, 2022
When I experience depression at the thought of the dearth of principled leadership in our world, I reach for an antidote that includes reading about a time when leaders were people of principle despite their flaws.
This is Ambrose’s account of the final months of World War II between the D-Day invasion and the surrender of Germany in May 1945. It is a highly sympathetic portrait of Eisenhower and a moving tribute to the citizen soldier and the positive influence that the United States represented in the middle years of the 20th century.
The author fills the book with individual accounts of the battles that occurred during the period about which he wrote. These accounts are varied and vivid. They show all the aspects of war without blinking or minimizing the worst of it. Even if you don’t enjoy books like this, you would find value in the final chapter as I did. It is a moving tribute to the greatest generation and its desire to liberate rather than conquer.
Ambrose doesn’t gloss over Eisenhower’s mistakes here. He reflects on Ike’s indecisiveness when a clearer decision would have helped. There are several pages on the irreparable rift between Eisenhower and his British counterpart, Montgomery.
This is Ambrose’s account of the final months of World War II between the D-Day invasion and the surrender of Germany in May 1945. It is a highly sympathetic portrait of Eisenhower and a moving tribute to the citizen soldier and the positive influence that the United States represented in the middle years of the 20th century.
The author fills the book with individual accounts of the battles that occurred during the period about which he wrote. These accounts are varied and vivid. They show all the aspects of war without blinking or minimizing the worst of it. Even if you don’t enjoy books like this, you would find value in the final chapter as I did. It is a moving tribute to the greatest generation and its desire to liberate rather than conquer.
Ambrose doesn’t gloss over Eisenhower’s mistakes here. He reflects on Ike’s indecisiveness when a clearer decision would have helped. There are several pages on the irreparable rift between Eisenhower and his British counterpart, Montgomery.
January 9, 2025
The "Victors" is the story of how Eisenhower’s leadership led to the defeat of Germany. Unfortunately, with the exception of sections on D-Day and the opening stages of the Battle of the Bulge, Eisenhower is a scarce character in the book. Readers learn more about Eisenhower’s rise to power than about his military acumen. It is a shame that Eisenhower is not more prominent here, since every time he does appear he is saying or doing something interesting that gives insight into his personality.
A lot of interviews and remembrances of those soldiers who fought in the major battles were captured in great detail by Mr. Ambrose along with an objective narrative of mistakes and miscalculations by not only Eisenhower, his immediate generals and some instances of officers above the rank of lieutenant. Readers familiar with other Ambrose WWII books will quickly recognize excerpts from the many veteran interviews conducted over the years for his other books. This is basically a summary of "Pegasus Bridge, Citizen Soldiers, D-Day, and Band of Brothers." Obviously, if you're interested in WW II, this is a great book, covering the period from D-Day to the end of the war.
A lot of interviews and remembrances of those soldiers who fought in the major battles were captured in great detail by Mr. Ambrose along with an objective narrative of mistakes and miscalculations by not only Eisenhower, his immediate generals and some instances of officers above the rank of lieutenant. Readers familiar with other Ambrose WWII books will quickly recognize excerpts from the many veteran interviews conducted over the years for his other books. This is basically a summary of "Pegasus Bridge, Citizen Soldiers, D-Day, and Band of Brothers." Obviously, if you're interested in WW II, this is a great book, covering the period from D-Day to the end of the war.
August 12, 2018
Originally published by Simon and Schuster Audio in 1998.
Read by Cotter Smith.
Duration: 4 hours, 20 minutes.
Abridged.
I don't know how many books historian Stephen E. Ambrose (1936-2002) wrote about the D-Day Invasion, but they all a little different and they are all quite enjoyable to read. Ambrose is perhaps most famous for writing the history that inspired HBO's excellent Band of Brothers , which was also based on the same theme.
Ambrose had a gift for writing histories that were informative, entertaining and, at times, quite moving and this one was no exception. The focus was on the D-Day invasion, the immediate aftermath, the Battle of the Bulge and the final push into Germany. There is no discussion of how the war started and little of how it ended, but almost everyone who would read this book knows all of that anyway.
The audiobook was read by Cotter Smith who did a nice job.
http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2018/...
Read by Cotter Smith.
Duration: 4 hours, 20 minutes.
Abridged.
I don't know how many books historian Stephen E. Ambrose (1936-2002) wrote about the D-Day Invasion, but they all a little different and they are all quite enjoyable to read. Ambrose is perhaps most famous for writing the history that inspired HBO's excellent Band of Brothers , which was also based on the same theme.
Ambrose had a gift for writing histories that were informative, entertaining and, at times, quite moving and this one was no exception. The focus was on the D-Day invasion, the immediate aftermath, the Battle of the Bulge and the final push into Germany. There is no discussion of how the war started and little of how it ended, but almost everyone who would read this book knows all of that anyway.
The audiobook was read by Cotter Smith who did a nice job.
http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2018/...
January 4, 2021
Another excellent book by Ambrose- preeminent WWII historian. His writing style is very readable and enjoyable. His research is vast and sources direct from the hundreds of veterans he interviewed himself over decades of work. He is a master historian and storyteller, and he brings all these qualities together into a cohesive, inspiring book. This book covers some of the same ground as other of this books like "D-Day" and "Citizen Soldiers" but focuses more on the generals, officers, as well as individual GIs involved in battles and actions from D-Day through the end of the war. Overall, a helpful book that not only teaches the reader what happened on the ETO western front from June 1944 - May 1945, but paints a picture of what it was like to endure the cold, wet, mud, sleeplessness and terror of the soldiers who endured it. We are the inheritors of their sacrifice and victory today and will be forever in their debt.
February 26, 2022
Drawn from Ambrose’s earlier works of the war in Europe (most notably ‘D-Day’, ‘Band of Brothers’, and ‘Citizen Soldiers’), this condensed book still warrants high praise in describing and understanding the mechanics of the last part of WWII from D-Day to May 1945. Ambrose’s clear narrative, and accessible style of writing history still stands out among today’s historians, who might have a tendency to overthink strategy, rather than tactics, and the individual effort. Also, his focus on the soldier, rather than the politician or high brass, lends itself to a technique that every reader can appreciate.
While the ‘short’ version of these times of course cannot compare to the overall brilliance of Ambrose’s earlier and entire books (and it isn’t meant to), it still is worthwhile to those readers who read these books over 25 yrs ago; and who might have needed a bit of a refresher as to just how good Ambrose was.
While the ‘short’ version of these times of course cannot compare to the overall brilliance of Ambrose’s earlier and entire books (and it isn’t meant to), it still is worthwhile to those readers who read these books over 25 yrs ago; and who might have needed a bit of a refresher as to just how good Ambrose was.
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January 15, 2020This book was an easy read and contained a lot of information about D-Day. I was impressed with the fact that the book identified specific men and how they added to the success of D-Day. The book went on to describe their movement from the beaches to Germany. Again Ambrose identified men who were responsible for various acts of heroism. Ambrose did not sugar coat the mistakes made by Ike and his staff that resulted in the needless deaths of the recruits that joined the units after D-Day. It was heartbreaking to think of all of those young men and their families that were sacrificed because the want of the American and English leaders who wanted to end the war in 1944. Despite this I enjoyed the information provided.
January 25, 2025
This is like one of those greatest-hits flashback episodes we used to see rolled out by producers of popular sitcoms back in the day. Nothing new here for people familiar with the Ambrose canon, but it does a good job of reminding us of the important work Ambrose did in telling stories about ordinary soldiers.
A biographer of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ambrose of course samples his work chronicling the supreme commander’s decisions (and blunders) in leading the Allies to victory in Europe in World War II. But the book’s soul is in giving voice to the ordinary infantrymen who came ashore on Normandy and fought through France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg and Germany for 11 terrifying months.
A biographer of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ambrose of course samples his work chronicling the supreme commander’s decisions (and blunders) in leading the Allies to victory in Europe in World War II. But the book’s soul is in giving voice to the ordinary infantrymen who came ashore on Normandy and fought through France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg and Germany for 11 terrifying months.
August 13, 2017
Like others, I had previously read many of Ambrose's books about World War II and knew that much of this book would be a repeat of that material, but I was pleasantly surprised that although the author often covered the same battles and geographic area, he did so in a different way and with newly added material, so that I didn't feel I was wasting my reading time because I had been there and done that. I appreciated learning new things and seeing them in a new way. The book brought back to me the incredible debt we all owe to the millions of courageous Allies who fought and often died to give us the freedoms we have today.
May 16, 2018
This book looks at the soldiers that made up the Allied forces in WWII. Beginning with the training for the invasion of France to the end of the war in Germany, the events are seen through the eyes and words of the actual fighting men. The chapters are based on major battles and events. These include D-Day, the breakout from the beaches. Battle of the Bulge, Market Garden , etc. the author uses unit histories, memoirs, interviews and diaries to take the reader into the events. He puts the battles into context as concerns strategy, political ramifications and the effects on later events. He book shows the courage and effort that was displayed by the men who did the fighting.
July 21, 2020
I bought this book, not realizing that I already read 2/3s of it, which Dr. Ambrose previously included in his book "D-Day." It took me about 80 pages to realize this. So, I skipped ahead to post D-Day, and learned even more about the eventual victory in Europe, and the sacrifices the GIs made to maintain freedom for democracies in the world. Dr. Ambrose provides intensive, gruesome, but realistic detail through firsthand accounts of the GIs, who participated in the bloodiest conflict in World History. I enjoyed this book immensely, and in the process, found another respected historian to cite.
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