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The Battered Bastards of Bastogne: A Chronicle of the Defense of Bastogne December 19, 1944–January 17, 1945
The Battered Bastards of Bastogne is the product of contributions by 530 soldiers who were on the ground or in the air over Bastogne. They lived and made this history, and much of it is told in their own words. The material contributed by these men of the 101st Airborne Division, the Armor, Tank Destroyer, Army Air Force , and others is tailored meticulously by the author and placed on the historical framework known to most students of the Battle of the Bulge. Pieces of a nearly 60-year-old jigsaw puzzle come together in this book, when memoirs from one soldier fit with those of another unit or group pursuing the battle from another nearby piece of terrain.
570 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1994
96 people are currently reading
606 people want to read
About the author
George Koskimaki
6 books17 followersGeorge E. Koskimaki is a former paratrooper who jumped into Normandy on June 6, 1944, as General Maxwell Taylor’s radioman. He went on to become a preeminent historian of the 101st Airborne Division, having interviewed hundreds of fellow veterans for their firsthand accounts. He currently lives in Northville, Michigan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 29, 2020
Koskimaki is a demanding companion: since his spokesmen can't see further than their foxhole, it pays off to be familiar with the battle he chronicles...
... which proves that I know more about the geography of the Ardennes battlefields than the 101st on Hell's Highway. Or that the former simply got a better Band of Brothers episode. Every minute of that hour is scattered throughout these pages, from the young nurse (blown inward) to the assault on Foy and the defence of the Bois De Jacques, which rank among the veteran's most hellish experiences of the whole war.
Best read in small but intense doses at a time.
It starts with a chaotic mix of interrupted Paris leave, emptied stockade, confusion...& a fugitive convoy forced to the roadside at gunpoint during the last leg of the advance. It foreshadows Malmédy: " I remember a Negro truck driver in one of the trucks who got up in his cab and blasted away at German with a 50 calibre gun mounted on his cab. He didn't last long for the Germans turned everything they had on him" & speaks for every foot soldier since the Menié bullet was invented in 1847 : "The ground was my best friend."
... which proves that I know more about the geography of the Ardennes battlefields than the 101st on Hell's Highway. Or that the former simply got a better Band of Brothers episode. Every minute of that hour is scattered throughout these pages, from the young nurse (blown inward) to the assault on Foy and the defence of the Bois De Jacques, which rank among the veteran's most hellish experiences of the whole war.
Best read in small but intense doses at a time.
It starts with a chaotic mix of interrupted Paris leave, emptied stockade, confusion...& a fugitive convoy forced to the roadside at gunpoint during the last leg of the advance. It foreshadows Malmédy: " I remember a Negro truck driver in one of the trucks who got up in his cab and blasted away at German with a 50 calibre gun mounted on his cab. He didn't last long for the Germans turned everything they had on him" & speaks for every foot soldier since the Menié bullet was invented in 1847 : "The ground was my best friend."
October 5, 2014
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First published in 1994, George Koskimaki's The Battered Bastards of Bastogne is a remarkable volume and I'm not just saying that because I have a thing for WWII.
Unlike a lot of volumes on Bastogne, Koskimaki's work is a collective memoir. It is not told by scholars who examined combat movements after the dust had settled, but by those who experienced it firsthand. Together these stories create a unique portrait of trench-level combat and result in a unique and comprehensive eyewitness account with incalculable historic value for future generations.
There are no assumptions over the importance of this incident or that skirmish, no overblown supposition on politics or strategy. Koskimaki's focus is on the men in the field. How they were affected by the loss of comrade, the moments that defined their involvement in the Battle of the Bulge and the private trials and tribulations they faced on the front lines.
The Battered Bastards of Bastogne isn't easy reading and I'm not sure I'd recommend it someone just starting to understand the campaign, but that said, I enthusiastically believe the book one of the best available resources on the market.
First published in 1994, George Koskimaki's The Battered Bastards of Bastogne is a remarkable volume and I'm not just saying that because I have a thing for WWII.
Unlike a lot of volumes on Bastogne, Koskimaki's work is a collective memoir. It is not told by scholars who examined combat movements after the dust had settled, but by those who experienced it firsthand. Together these stories create a unique portrait of trench-level combat and result in a unique and comprehensive eyewitness account with incalculable historic value for future generations.
There are no assumptions over the importance of this incident or that skirmish, no overblown supposition on politics or strategy. Koskimaki's focus is on the men in the field. How they were affected by the loss of comrade, the moments that defined their involvement in the Battle of the Bulge and the private trials and tribulations they faced on the front lines.
The Battered Bastards of Bastogne isn't easy reading and I'm not sure I'd recommend it someone just starting to understand the campaign, but that said, I enthusiastically believe the book one of the best available resources on the market.
May 30, 2014
I was really looking forward to reading this book mainly because this would be one of the first books about Bastogne, which also had individual testimonies of what was going on. Each man always looks at situation a little different than next man. This book goes into great detail of just how close they were to running out of ammo, medical supplies, food and just about anything else you can think of. But like so many of the troops and especially the paratroopers or WWII, they would not give in or give up. Sure there was a story in the book of a man here or there that did not fight, but as a hole they fought. The 101st like the 82nd were taking a much needed rest after France and Holland. When the call came they went not really in the book the 82nd was further north of Bastogne (my father’s unit fighting the Germans). The 101st along with all of their support was stopped there at Bastogne. Cooks became riflemen, along with truck drivers and so forth. This was a good book and I am glad that these men are remembered for what they accomplished and that some of the other units are talked about as well. What most people don’t know is that most of that fighting was also fought for during world war one. This is a fantastic book. I got this book from net galley.
September 24, 2013
A powerful collection of first-hand accounts of the 'Battle of the Bulge'. It details a division exhausted and battered by the meat-grinder of campaigns in France and Holland forced to fight without preparation or even enough equipment. Men breaking under the stress, cruelty and compassion, courage and cowardice, told without judgement by men who were there.
The only weakness with the book was its editing. Gripping and personal accounts often broken by odd typos or repeats of lines. It may have been the edition I read. I would still recommend it, for anyone interested in military history, modern history or simply how men react under the most extreme of circumstances. I especially recommend it for anyone who thinks war is a glorious adventure - usually teenage boys - it will open their eyes.
The only weakness with the book was its editing. Gripping and personal accounts often broken by odd typos or repeats of lines. It may have been the edition I read. I would still recommend it, for anyone interested in military history, modern history or simply how men react under the most extreme of circumstances. I especially recommend it for anyone who thinks war is a glorious adventure - usually teenage boys - it will open their eyes.
January 17, 2025
Commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge and the 101st’s engagement in Bastogne by reading Koskimaki’s incredible compilation of first hand accounts day by day, and it was such a vivid way to connect with that history and try to understand that suffering and experience as best as we can in our limited way 80 years later.
February 14, 2017
Threads Leading Nowhere
This book was an attempt to explain the actions of the men who fought at Bastogne, and although it told the stories of many of these men, it seemed as though each of these accounts was separate and apart from the others. It was the most confusing account of this battle I have ever read. That they were all heroes there is no doubt, but again, the story was the most disjointed account of a battle I have ever read.
This book was an attempt to explain the actions of the men who fought at Bastogne, and although it told the stories of many of these men, it seemed as though each of these accounts was separate and apart from the others. It was the most confusing account of this battle I have ever read. That they were all heroes there is no doubt, but again, the story was the most disjointed account of a battle I have ever read.
October 26, 2021
The author found a method of presenting a story by inviting hundreds of his fellow members of the 101st Airborne to contribute their stories/experiences of in this case, the Battle of the Bulge. Known as the Screaming Eagles, this division of American paratroopers fought a month-long battle to defend a vital transportation hub in Bastogne, Belgium that the Germans determined to sieze. The result of the variety of personal comments and experiences becomes a mix of stories, some vivid, some tragic, some heroic and others not particularly relevant. The contributions may be real but to me they don't provide a dramatic storyline. I found myself skipping the shorter parts and scimming through to find longer comments or parts submitted by specific contributers. It is not the kind of reading I enjoyed.
January 9, 2011
This is as comprehensive account of the Battle of the Bulge as you are likely to get. Most of it is in the words of the soldiers who fought it with overlapping accounts. It is not an easy read but if you are a WWII fanatic as I am, it is a great book. A few years ago I travelled to Bastogne to walk in my dad's footsteps during the war. This book put things in perspective for me and I would now like to go back armed with the maps it contains.
February 26, 2015
Great book. Tells firsthand what the soldiers went through during the battle of the bulge.
June 22, 2021
Fantastic book! Such a detailed account with so many first-person accounts that gives an immensely in-depth view of the battle. A must read for any student of WWII
April 9, 2018
In this third part of Koskimaki's coverage of the 101st US Airborne Division, he tells us how the division had to leave their barracks, and sometimes even their glass of champagne in Paris, and board truck to head for the Ardennes. Often without sufficient clothing and weapons. On their arrival their they had to go to Bastogne in a hurry to block the unexpected German advance.
On their way there, they encountered the bruised and battered soldiers that were confronted by the German attack. This attack came out of the blue for them.
The weather, icy cold and often with snow, hit the men by surprise. Some had left their overcoat behind, regretting this soon already. Surrounded by an overwhelming German force, the men stood their ground and held Bastogne. This would not have been possible without the support of several tank destroyer units and remnants of other forces. Koskimaki makes this quite clear in this wonderful book.
As in the other two books, Koskimaki tells the stories in high detail.
On their way there, they encountered the bruised and battered soldiers that were confronted by the German attack. This attack came out of the blue for them.
The weather, icy cold and often with snow, hit the men by surprise. Some had left their overcoat behind, regretting this soon already. Surrounded by an overwhelming German force, the men stood their ground and held Bastogne. This would not have been possible without the support of several tank destroyer units and remnants of other forces. Koskimaki makes this quite clear in this wonderful book.
As in the other two books, Koskimaki tells the stories in high detail.
July 3, 2020
Koskimaki uses interviews, letters, etc. from more than 500 soldiers to relate the events of the Bastogne battles. He sets the stage and then relies on the soldiers' own words describing their memories of what happened. He often uses more than one soldier's reminiscence to describe a battle or some occurrence which offer various points of view among officers and regular soldiers. That provides not only collaboration of the actual history but also the different reactions, thoughts and feelings during the siege. The reader gets a very complete picture of what the month-long siege was like for these men.
April 10, 2022
I borrowed this one from my dad. It is a compilation of stories from multiple veterans who lived through the Battle of the Bulge. As always, I am amazed by what people can accomplish in dire circumstances, but it is a little dry and there is no narrative to follow since it is told from many perspectives, many years have passed, and nobody knew what the hell was going on at the time. If you are interested in WWII history, it is worth your time.
September 23, 2024
At first the 1st person narrative seemed a bit disjointed, but as I continued the narrative moved between sectors of the fighting only to return to some of the same individuals later in the battle, creating an interconnected storyline. I would have appreciated the input of the enemy soldiers too. But I realize this would have detracted from the focus on the American forces, and also been a much more difficult task for the author’s research.
September 1, 2020
A great read about the Battle of the Bulge
This is a detailed description of the battle by the people who fought there. The Band of Brothers accurately showed much of the reality of the battle. I was surprised by the accuracy shown in the 1949 movie Battleground that had scenes and details only veterans would recognize.
This is a detailed description of the battle by the people who fought there. The Band of Brothers accurately showed much of the reality of the battle. I was surprised by the accuracy shown in the 1949 movie Battleground that had scenes and details only veterans would recognize.
January 24, 2019
Personal accounts of the Battle of the Bulge told by the men of the 101st Airborne and supporting units. Very detailed.
March 13, 2014
When I opened this military treasure trove,a complimentary read from the fine folks at Net Galley, I expected to see what had been described, which is the story of Bastogne during World War II. Two other World War II memoirs had been written by the same author, but I have not yet read them. The teaser that advertised The Battered Bastards of Bastogne claimed that this recounting was the result of many, many letters, interviews, and other primary documents collected from the participants themselves; it is a researcher’s dream to run across something like this, and Mr. Koskimaki deserves a great deal of credit for sorting through it all and then piecing it together in a readable, generally interesting narrative. Nearly all of the veterans of World War II are gone now, and not all of the remaining veterans are reliable resources anymore. To be able to come up with the whole story, impeccably documented, is a real achievement.
The writer says that he wrote this third volume, the completion of a trilogy, because other old soldiers urged him to do it, and this is the audience to whom he appears to be speaking much of the time. The informative lists and charts provided at the front of the book, with a glossary, list of maps, key to ranking, and photographs, is useful for those of us who have not served in the military, or perhaps even to those who have, but may have forgotten bits and pieces.
If anything is missing here, it is a more descriptive narrative, admittedly a very tricky business when writing nonfiction. Perhaps to add the feelings, scenery and sensations that would make this tale a bestseller would be considered unprofessional or unmilitary to those who are in a position to do so. I can think of just two nonfiction titles in which the narrative is as well done as a good novel, a compelling read with rising action and a climax: The Guns of August, by Barbara Tuchman, and The Warmth of Other Suns, by Isabel Wilkerson. The Battered Bastards, though colorfully titled, loses its fifth star because the writing is dry in places, transitions sometimes bumpy. Though it becomes more colorful as one reaches further into the text, there are other lengthy sections that feel like quotations that have been hurriedly shoved together.
In addition, assumed knowledge, despite the excellent resources earlier mentioned, left me scratching my head. Why would parachutists consider themselves superior to those who used gliders? A lot is left to the imagination of the general, nonmilitary public.
For World War II veterans, a waning target audience, this might well merit five stars. For the general reading public—even those who teach or have taught American history, as I have—it is a four star read, important and informative, and very useful to researchers and scholars, but a little dry around the edges.
Still, a good read in my book, and recommended.
The writer says that he wrote this third volume, the completion of a trilogy, because other old soldiers urged him to do it, and this is the audience to whom he appears to be speaking much of the time. The informative lists and charts provided at the front of the book, with a glossary, list of maps, key to ranking, and photographs, is useful for those of us who have not served in the military, or perhaps even to those who have, but may have forgotten bits and pieces.
If anything is missing here, it is a more descriptive narrative, admittedly a very tricky business when writing nonfiction. Perhaps to add the feelings, scenery and sensations that would make this tale a bestseller would be considered unprofessional or unmilitary to those who are in a position to do so. I can think of just two nonfiction titles in which the narrative is as well done as a good novel, a compelling read with rising action and a climax: The Guns of August, by Barbara Tuchman, and The Warmth of Other Suns, by Isabel Wilkerson. The Battered Bastards, though colorfully titled, loses its fifth star because the writing is dry in places, transitions sometimes bumpy. Though it becomes more colorful as one reaches further into the text, there are other lengthy sections that feel like quotations that have been hurriedly shoved together.
In addition, assumed knowledge, despite the excellent resources earlier mentioned, left me scratching my head. Why would parachutists consider themselves superior to those who used gliders? A lot is left to the imagination of the general, nonmilitary public.
For World War II veterans, a waning target audience, this might well merit five stars. For the general reading public—even those who teach or have taught American history, as I have—it is a four star read, important and informative, and very useful to researchers and scholars, but a little dry around the edges.
Still, a good read in my book, and recommended.
January 2, 2013
George Koskimaki wrote three books on the 101st Airborne Division. They are 1) D-Day with the Screaming Eagles, 2) Hell's Highway: Chronicle of the 101st Airborne Division in the Holland Campaign, September - November 1944, and 3) Battered Bastards of Bastogne. This is a review of book three, Battered Bastards of Bastogne. George Koskimaki offers unique insights, as he was 101st Airborne Division commanding general, General Maxwell Taylor’s radio operator.
Battered Bastards of Bastogne fleshes out in vivid detail the entire story of the Screaming Eagles' valiant struggle. It gives us information not covered in the other books by interweaving the stories of 530 soldiers interviewed who were on the ground or in the air over Bastogne. They lived, made this history and much of it is told in their own words.
The story of the Battle of the Bulge is amazing. We learn how little time had passed from the Holland Campaign before the 101st is pulled from being their reserve role. We see ill-equipped they were in terms of weapons. We find out their equipment and uniforms had not been replenished after Market Garden/Holland Campaign. We hear the often-told story of the lack of winter weather gear. We see how stupid some were in tossing their limited cold weather gear like over shoes when the weather was a little less cold at the beginning of the battle. We see circumstances with General Taylor being called back to the USA for a staff conference, the shifting of key senior NCO's due to enjoying their time off line too much, and how the division moved into combat via ground transportation for the first time.
I especially enjoyed the detail and interweaving of the soldiers stories. It is amazing to view moments on the battlefield through multiple points of view. Some readers may find the book hard or even tedious to get through because of the detail. I did not. I found it added to the story. As in the author's two previous works on the 101st I find the personal accounts gave vitality to the story. It kept it flowing instead of reading like a military after action report. Once again, Mr. Koskimaki did a superb job of telling the history the 101st Airborne Division. I appreciated the way the book is both descriptive and detailed. It gives you a feel that you are there with the men. The author did an outstanding job in this area. This is must reading for any student of World War II history.
Battered Bastards of Bastogne fleshes out in vivid detail the entire story of the Screaming Eagles' valiant struggle. It gives us information not covered in the other books by interweaving the stories of 530 soldiers interviewed who were on the ground or in the air over Bastogne. They lived, made this history and much of it is told in their own words.
The story of the Battle of the Bulge is amazing. We learn how little time had passed from the Holland Campaign before the 101st is pulled from being their reserve role. We see ill-equipped they were in terms of weapons. We find out their equipment and uniforms had not been replenished after Market Garden/Holland Campaign. We hear the often-told story of the lack of winter weather gear. We see how stupid some were in tossing their limited cold weather gear like over shoes when the weather was a little less cold at the beginning of the battle. We see circumstances with General Taylor being called back to the USA for a staff conference, the shifting of key senior NCO's due to enjoying their time off line too much, and how the division moved into combat via ground transportation for the first time.
I especially enjoyed the detail and interweaving of the soldiers stories. It is amazing to view moments on the battlefield through multiple points of view. Some readers may find the book hard or even tedious to get through because of the detail. I did not. I found it added to the story. As in the author's two previous works on the 101st I find the personal accounts gave vitality to the story. It kept it flowing instead of reading like a military after action report. Once again, Mr. Koskimaki did a superb job of telling the history the 101st Airborne Division. I appreciated the way the book is both descriptive and detailed. It gives you a feel that you are there with the men. The author did an outstanding job in this area. This is must reading for any student of World War II history.
September 23, 2015
I admit that I usually rate books to a pretty tough standard. There is no doubt that this is one of the most comprehensive books about the Battle of the Bulge and the actions of the 101st in Bastogne during that part of World War 2. (I compare it to Alan Guelzo's recent volume about Gettysburg). Whenever possible Koskimaki presents an event from the battle from one, two, three, and even four different perspectives. It is just as interesting when they are all in agreement as it is when they are different.
While most of his accounts are quotations from primary and secondary sources, when he does resort to prose it is both beautiful and informative. There are times when I actually started to feel tense as I read an account of a soldier hunkered down in a frozen fox hole enduring an endless barrage of German 88s.
The fault that I ultimately found with this book that it had insufficient maps to keep the big picture in perspective. There was so much detail about scattered battles that it was hard to keep that picture of the town proper and the surrounding villages in my head as they proceeded. I think that it is in regard to maps that the ebook becomes deficient in the reading experience. In a printed book I can flip back to a bookmarked map very easily. It is a bit more awkward (but admittedly possible) with an ebook.
I would still heartily recommend this book to those who enjoy reading about World War 2. It is an excellent expansion on the experiences of the Band of Brothers, the E company of the 506th Parachute regiment of the 101st Airborne. Many of the Easy Company characters that we have come to know from the television mini series and the book by Stephen Ambrose are quoted here, but they are not made out to be the "Stars" by any measure. They are merely another segment of a large battlefield.
I cannot imagine a more definite picture of this famous and important historical event.
April 18, 2013
Another great book by George Koskimaki about the 101st Airborne division in WWII. This one actually seems to read more easily and clearly than "Hell's Highway" (his book about the 101st's participation in Operation Market Garden in Holland). What these men did - staving off crack German divisions and holding onto the strategic road and communications hub of Bastogne, Belgium is amazing. As everyone knows, they not only had to contend with being surrounded by the Germans but also with shortages in everything from food, medicine, and ammunition and to top it off a very brutal and cold winter. Koskimaki, once again, does an excellent job in detailing the actions of as many parts of the division including the medical unit, the Field Artillery Group, as well as the tank destroyer (TD) squadron that was attached to the 101st in Bastogne.
If you are a World War II history aficionado or just enjoy a good detailed history book, this one is definitely for you. I'm not going to go into great details about the book because, as we all know, the 101st held onto Bastogne and even went on the offensive after Patton's 3rd army relieved the seige - even though some of their units were seriously undermanned; I mean, how can you call a platoon strength unit a "company" - or, for that matter, a squad strength unit a "platoon"?
Of the three books Koskimaki wrote about the 101st airborne division's participation in WWII (D-Day with the Screaming Eagles, Hell's Highway, and The Battered Bastards of Bastogne) this one is by far the best account and the easiest read. To quote General Anthony McAuliffe, you'd have to be "Nuts!" if you don't read this book!
If you are a World War II history aficionado or just enjoy a good detailed history book, this one is definitely for you. I'm not going to go into great details about the book because, as we all know, the 101st held onto Bastogne and even went on the offensive after Patton's 3rd army relieved the seige - even though some of their units were seriously undermanned; I mean, how can you call a platoon strength unit a "company" - or, for that matter, a squad strength unit a "platoon"?
Of the three books Koskimaki wrote about the 101st airborne division's participation in WWII (D-Day with the Screaming Eagles, Hell's Highway, and The Battered Bastards of Bastogne) this one is by far the best account and the easiest read. To quote General Anthony McAuliffe, you'd have to be "Nuts!" if you don't read this book!
February 17, 2014
Read this book over the Holidays, it was a bit of a reality check to read these soldiers stories, often describing their harrowing experiences of fighting better equipped, better armored and better clothed Germans almost 69 years to the day as I sat in comfort reading in my chair.
Although not the most heralded of battles, Bastogne definitely is in the Top 10 for World War II as far as importance. By holding the small village of Bastogne for 3 weeks in the middle of a brutal winter by soldiers without winter gear, isolated and out-manned the soldiers somehow overcame the odds to hold back a brutal Panzer-led attack and prevent Hitler's last gamble of the war. The book is a testament to the men who fought fiercely to stave off the German Counter-Offensive known as the Battle of the Bulge.
The stories of the soldiers, most told 40-50 years after the fact, still have a powerful resonance and Koskimaki captures it well. Although his writing is rather basic and the maps in the book are a bit confusing or of poor quality, nothing can take away from the power of the tales. Men losing limbs, their friends, going days without food, howitzer units down to their last shell...it's all here. Acts of bravery and cowardice, luck--both bad and good and the daily tension these men endured all come across.
Anyone curious about the details of the battle can look here, be it the casual curious reader or the hard-core WWII buff--it will deliver.
Although not the most heralded of battles, Bastogne definitely is in the Top 10 for World War II as far as importance. By holding the small village of Bastogne for 3 weeks in the middle of a brutal winter by soldiers without winter gear, isolated and out-manned the soldiers somehow overcame the odds to hold back a brutal Panzer-led attack and prevent Hitler's last gamble of the war. The book is a testament to the men who fought fiercely to stave off the German Counter-Offensive known as the Battle of the Bulge.
The stories of the soldiers, most told 40-50 years after the fact, still have a powerful resonance and Koskimaki captures it well. Although his writing is rather basic and the maps in the book are a bit confusing or of poor quality, nothing can take away from the power of the tales. Men losing limbs, their friends, going days without food, howitzer units down to their last shell...it's all here. Acts of bravery and cowardice, luck--both bad and good and the daily tension these men endured all come across.
Anyone curious about the details of the battle can look here, be it the casual curious reader or the hard-core WWII buff--it will deliver.
October 28, 2020
A unit-level account of the battle for the surrounded city of Bastogne during the The Battle of the Bulge. The 101st Airborne Division was hastily trucked into the city without proper equipment or supplies to defend the city as German forces swept around Bastogne and eventually surrounded it. The Division, along with elements of the 10th Armored Division and a ragtag collection other units successfully defended the city long enough to be relieved by the Third Armored Division (Patton) driving from the south. Often fighting out-numbered and out-gunned and supplied from the air, they managed to withhold the vital crossroads network from the advancing German Army and upset their invasion plans. This is the second of Koskimaki's books on the 101st Airborne, one dealing with their jump into Normandy on D-Day (read) and another on the "Bridge Too Far" fiasco in Holland (next). As the Division Communications specialist, Koskimaki had an front-row seat to all the 101st World War II battles.
February 5, 2016
Some episodes of history are more than unforgettable, they are thrilling every time one thinks of them. One such is the battle of the bulge, when the allied forces were further out than could be logistically supported and German forces unexpectedly turned around to strike back, and the allies were surrounded on almost all sides with almost no option but to surrender or be massacred - and yet the commander famously replied "nuts" to the proposal of surrender from the Germans, barely taking the cigar out of his mouth for saying that much calmly, immediately, nonchalantly.
Patton was in Italy and was informed of the bulge and the urgency - and he drove his army in an impossible drive across to the battlefront in Ardennes near Belgian border in time to save the situation, the men, the battle and the war.
Patton was in Italy and was informed of the bulge and the urgency - and he drove his army in an impossible drive across to the battlefront in Ardennes near Belgian border in time to save the situation, the men, the battle and the war.
February 20, 2014
This collection of first hand accounts of the Battle of the Bulge should be on any WW2 History buff's shelf, but I'd go further and make it available to the younger generations who won't get the chance to interact with those that lived the stories. It would make an excellent book club selection as it is so well organized and contains so much material that would lend itself to interesting discussion. Was it an easy read? No, but the author's attention to detail and the accompanying well researched material puts it all into perspective.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an hones review.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an hones review.
March 1, 2011
The Battered Bastards of Bastogne is a detailed, first-hand account of the men who stopped the German advance in the Battle of the Bulge. The author's ability to pull together the men's accounts of what happened day by day, hour by hour, and second by second during this battle is truly remarkable. What these men endured is truly remarkable. A must read for anyone who knew someone in the battle.
July 26, 2015
A very comprehensive first hand account of the 101st Airborne and supporting units' defense of Bastogne during the Ardennes Offensive '44. Wonderfully edited with never ending personal input from those who had boots on the ground. Although not the greatest book to gain a clear picture of the overall siege, this book hits the mark for telling the individual Soldier's story. If you are interested in WW2 history and specifically the Battle of the Bulge this should be on your to read list.
March 12, 2014
3.75 Stars
A good collection of firsthand accounts of the Battle of the Bulge. The book focuses on all American groups involved, giving a more complete picture of Bastogne. It could use some more photos and the huge amount of information can be overwhelming at times, but if you want an overview of this time and place, this is the work a student and history or military buff would choose.
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A good collection of firsthand accounts of the Battle of the Bulge. The book focuses on all American groups involved, giving a more complete picture of Bastogne. It could use some more photos and the huge amount of information can be overwhelming at times, but if you want an overview of this time and place, this is the work a student and history or military buff would choose.
Net Galley Feedback
November 3, 2014
Great division wide coverage of the siege of Bastogne. This is the first book that gave me a idea just how frail a lot of the lines were along with the desperate fighting.The one strong point of this author's works is the coverage of different units in the division as well as the different specialties, covering everything from Infantry to Artillery to Medical and everything between. The go to account for the 101st for me now.
August 29, 2019
As a veteran of the 101st Abn (Air Assault), I enjoy reading histories of the division. This work is every bit as good as Hell's Highway. Excellent story telling using memories of the participants, their relatives and military records. For the World War II enthusiast this is a MUST READ. ( I really enjoyed the various anecdotes regarding General George Patton during the breakthrough to the 101st.)
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