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First Blood The Battle of the kasserine Pass 1943
In North Africa on Valentine's Day 1943, 30,000 inexperienced young American troops faced an attack by Germany's Desert Fox, Rommel, and his battle-hardened Afrika Korps. In the slaughter that ensued, Rommel left behind a shaken, confused, and deeply shamed American army and a nearly collapsed Allied front. This is the full story of that massacre of youthful innocents. 31 photos. 262 pp.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1984
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About the author
Charles Whiting
258 books52 followersCharles Whiting was a British writer and military historian and with some 350 books of fiction and non-fiction to his credit, under his own name and a variety of pseudonyms including Ian Harding, Duncan Harding, K.N. Kostov, John Kerrigan, Klaus Konrad, and Leo Kessler.
Born in the Bootham area of York, England, he was a pupil at the prestigious Nunthorpe Grammar School, leaving at the age of 16 to join the British Army by lying about his age. Keen to be in on the wartime action, Whiting was attached to the 52nd Reconnaissance Regiment and by the age of 18 saw duty as a sergeant in France, Holland, Belgium and Germany in the latter stages of World War II. While still a soldier, he observed conflicts between the highest-ranking British and American generals which he would write about extensively in later years.
After the war, he stayed on in Germany completing his A-levels via correspondence course and teaching English before being enrolled at Leeds University reading History and German Language. As an undergraduate he was afforded opportunities for study at several European universities and, after gaining his degree, would go on to become an assistant professor of history. Elsewhere, Whiting held a variety of jobs which included working as a translator for a German chemical factory and spells as a publicist, a correspondent for The Times and feature writer for such diverse magazines as International Review of Linguistics, Soldier and Playboy.
His first novel was written while still an undergraduate, was published in 1954 and by 1958 had been followed by three wartime thrillers. Between 1960 and 2007 Charles went on to write over 350 titles, including 70 non-fiction titles covering varied topics from the Nazi intelligence service to British Regiments during World War II.
One of his publishers, Easingwold-based Rupert Smith of GH Smith & Son said he was a quiet man and prolific writer.
"He's one of a band of forgotten authors because he sold millions of copies and still, up to his death was doing publishing deals.He was the kind of man who was very self-effacing, one of Britain's forgotten authors, still working at 80 years of age, with his nose down and kicking out books."
Charles Henry Whiting, author and military historian died on July 24 2007, leaving his wife and son.
Born in the Bootham area of York, England, he was a pupil at the prestigious Nunthorpe Grammar School, leaving at the age of 16 to join the British Army by lying about his age. Keen to be in on the wartime action, Whiting was attached to the 52nd Reconnaissance Regiment and by the age of 18 saw duty as a sergeant in France, Holland, Belgium and Germany in the latter stages of World War II. While still a soldier, he observed conflicts between the highest-ranking British and American generals which he would write about extensively in later years.
After the war, he stayed on in Germany completing his A-levels via correspondence course and teaching English before being enrolled at Leeds University reading History and German Language. As an undergraduate he was afforded opportunities for study at several European universities and, after gaining his degree, would go on to become an assistant professor of history. Elsewhere, Whiting held a variety of jobs which included working as a translator for a German chemical factory and spells as a publicist, a correspondent for The Times and feature writer for such diverse magazines as International Review of Linguistics, Soldier and Playboy.
His first novel was written while still an undergraduate, was published in 1954 and by 1958 had been followed by three wartime thrillers. Between 1960 and 2007 Charles went on to write over 350 titles, including 70 non-fiction titles covering varied topics from the Nazi intelligence service to British Regiments during World War II.
One of his publishers, Easingwold-based Rupert Smith of GH Smith & Son said he was a quiet man and prolific writer.
"He's one of a band of forgotten authors because he sold millions of copies and still, up to his death was doing publishing deals.He was the kind of man who was very self-effacing, one of Britain's forgotten authors, still working at 80 years of age, with his nose down and kicking out books."
Charles Henry Whiting, author and military historian died on July 24 2007, leaving his wife and son.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 2, 2022
Although it does not read like the author was involved in the campaign himself, some of the reports of the engagements being painted with quite broad brush strokes, overall this is quite an exhilarating account of the disembarkation into North Africa by British and America troops, and their very difficult relations with the French.
It will probably surprise some people that some of the first shots fired by US forces in WWII were against French soldiers, and only once they themselves had been fired upon, and it was interesting to learn more about this following reading the naval side of the matter in The Fleet Without a Friend.
With an uneasy alliance formed only after Darlan was assassinated, the snooty British and Gun-ho Yanks headed east to kick Rommel and Von Arnim out of Africa in what turned out to be a bloody battle for Tunisia.
Told in a often a slightly sarcastic tone, with a lot of ribbing about the national characteristics of the major players, Whiting recounts the disastrous consequences of ill-trained, unexperienced leaders and men pitted against the battle-hardened Afrika Corps.
Many green and ill-prepared men fled the battlefield without raising their rifles in anger, and Whiting recounts how British columns heading to the front were held up by routed GIs fleeing from it. But after giving them an initial pummelling, a weary Rommel and a pusillaminous von Armin ultimately snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. It would appear the Germans had air superiority and this is not explained and requires further understanding of how this was not anticipated and addressed, despite to say that the operation seems to have been thrown together and decided at the last minute, such was the pressure on Roosevelt to have US soldiers enter the war.
Another military debacle then. Heroism and cowardice in equal measure - cometh the hour and all that. A story well told and one to be remembered, though most likely largely forgotten.
It will probably surprise some people that some of the first shots fired by US forces in WWII were against French soldiers, and only once they themselves had been fired upon, and it was interesting to learn more about this following reading the naval side of the matter in The Fleet Without a Friend.
With an uneasy alliance formed only after Darlan was assassinated, the snooty British and Gun-ho Yanks headed east to kick Rommel and Von Arnim out of Africa in what turned out to be a bloody battle for Tunisia.
Told in a often a slightly sarcastic tone, with a lot of ribbing about the national characteristics of the major players, Whiting recounts the disastrous consequences of ill-trained, unexperienced leaders and men pitted against the battle-hardened Afrika Corps.
Many green and ill-prepared men fled the battlefield without raising their rifles in anger, and Whiting recounts how British columns heading to the front were held up by routed GIs fleeing from it. But after giving them an initial pummelling, a weary Rommel and a pusillaminous von Armin ultimately snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. It would appear the Germans had air superiority and this is not explained and requires further understanding of how this was not anticipated and addressed, despite to say that the operation seems to have been thrown together and decided at the last minute, such was the pressure on Roosevelt to have US soldiers enter the war.
Another military debacle then. Heroism and cowardice in equal measure - cometh the hour and all that. A story well told and one to be remembered, though most likely largely forgotten.
August 8, 2017
Good overall synopsis of the battle
Short on details but very good. No descriptions of unit or even divisional tactics. I knew about the American soldiers panicking and running but reading about it in some detail was offensive to me.
Short on details but very good. No descriptions of unit or even divisional tactics. I knew about the American soldiers panicking and running but reading about it in some detail was offensive to me.
March 30, 2018
He did better work
A fair account of the battle but it lacks maps of any kind. I was looking for more an tactical analysis and this more of the experiences of the combatants.
A fair account of the battle but it lacks maps of any kind. I was looking for more an tactical analysis and this more of the experiences of the combatants.
July 26, 2023
It's an ok book. A little purple in its prose, but an ok overall look at the battle. I wouldbn't found my knoweldge of WWII North Afrika on it however
February 11, 2018
An interesting, well researched account of an often overlooked battle. Good build up to the events with good background to the mental state and motivations of the main players. Also gets across some sense of the reality for the soldiers and tank men. He captures the bravery of the troops and exposes the incompetence of their leaders that led to many unnecessary losses.
A good read.
A good read.
May 7, 2013
A fair book, not as detailed nor deep as I would have hoped. Insightful as an overview but not having the depth of a Cornilus Ryan nor the detail of "Tin Can Sailors". Worth read if your only looking for a high level view or this is your only book.
November 6, 2014
Whiting's compelling storytelling style really shines here. The combat narratives are exciting and vivid. The lack of maps or other illustrations and the strong British bias of the author are major drawbacks, though.
July 10, 2014
Popular/populist history at its worst.Avoid. If you want to know about Kasserine, read Martin Blumenson's book.
August 20, 2014
Gripping stuff of American troops first major engagement in the European/African theatre of the Second World War II - richly detailed but never overwhelming
September 1, 2014
an ok overview of the battle. I would have liked more detail. I also took exception to the typical British standpoint that the American fleeces and specifically their generals were sub-par.
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February 14, 2016Not bad.
A fairly good book on the campaign. Maps would have helped follow the action a great deal! Photos would have been nice as well.
A fairly good book on the campaign. Maps would have helped follow the action a great deal! Photos would have been nice as well.
September 13, 2018
A very quick read which I found interesting. I wish the author had included more maps and details.
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February 10, 2019I read this book because my uncle (Army Air Corps) was decorated for his actions in this battle. It didn't say much about the air corps, though, so I didn't get the information I wanted. It is a good, readable, helpful book.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews