Battle of the Bulge 1944 (2): Bastogne

Battle of the Bulge 1944 #2

by Steven J. Zaloga, Howard Gerrard (Illustrator)

Osprey's second title examining the Battle of the Bulge, which was the largest and most costly battle fought by the US Army in World War II (1939-1945). When the attack in the north by 6th Panzer Army failed, Hitler switched the focus of the offensive to General Manteuffel’s 5th Panzer Army farther south. Overwhelming the green US 106th Division, German Panzers flooded towards the River Meuse. Barring their way was the crossroads town of Bastogne, reinforced at the last minute by the paratroopers of the 101st Airborne, the ‘Screaming Eagles”. The stage was set for one of the epic struggles of the war – the battle for Bastogne.

Genres: History, Military History, World War II, Nonfiction

96 pages, Paperback

First published November 26, 2004

About the author

Steven Zaloga is an author and defense analyst known worldwide for his articles and publications on military technology.  He has written over a hundred books on military technology and military history, including “Armored Thunderbolt: The US Army Sherman in World War II”, one of the most highly regarded histories of the Sherman Tank.  His books have been translated into Japanese, German, Polish, Czech, Romanian, and Russian. He was a special correspondent for Jane’s Intelligence Review and is on the executive board of the Journal of Slavic Military Studies and the New York Military Affairs Symposium. From 1987 through 1992, he was the writer/producer for Video Ordnance Inc., preparing their TV series Firepower.  He holds a BA in history from Union College and an MA in history from Columbia University.

Mr. Zaloga is also a noted scale armor modeler and is a host/moderator of the World War II Allied Discussion group at Missing-Lynx.com, a modelling website. He is a frequent contributor to the UK-based modeling magazine Military Modelling. He is a member of the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society.

Reviews

[John McPhee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read for us as we planned to hike the Ardennes. Author is good at treading fine line between too much and too little detail. Gave us great perspective on history around most significant USA batter of WW2.

[Sean Chick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second volume was a less engaging read, with a less cohesive narrative. Still, this is a good as one can get for a short history of the Bulge.

[Dr.J.G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.