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The Tigers of Bastogne: Voices of the 10th Armored Division in the Battle of the Bulge
The gallant stand of the 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne has long become part of historical and media legend. But how many students of the war realize there was already a U.S. unit holding the town when they arrived? And this unit--the 10th Armored Division--continued to play a major role in its defense throughout the German onslaught.
In The Tigers of Bastogne, authors King and Collins finally detail the travails of this young armored division, which had only arrived in Europe that fall, yet found itself subject to the full brunt of Manteuffel's Fifth Panzer Army in the Ardennes. At first overwhelmed, and then falling back to protect the vital crossroads, the 10th Armored was reinforced (not -saved-) by the Screaming Eagles, and its men and tanks went on to contribute largely to America's victory in its largest battle of the war.
The 10th Armored had only arrived in Europe that September, as part of Patton's Third Army, and their divisional motto, -Terrify and Destroy, - was somewhat belied by the onslaught of Nazi panzers that burst across no-man's-land on December 16. Instead their nickname, -The Tiger Division, - became fully earned, as they went on the defensive at Bastogne, surrounded by an entire German army, yet refused to concede a single inch of ground not earned with blood.
General Anthony McAuliffe, of the 101st Airborne (and -Nuts- fame), said, -It seems regrettable to me that Combat Command B of the 10th Armored Division didn't get the credit it deserved at the battle of Bastogne. All the newspaper and radio talk was about the paratroopers. Actually the 10th Armored Division was in there a day before we were and had some very hard fighting before we ever got into it.-
Fortunately, in this book, the historical record is finally corrected. With their trademark style, King and Collins, through their firsthand interviews with veterans, bring us straight into the combats of the 10th Armored, equaling the balance between the brave paratroopers and gallant tankers who, together, held off Germany's last major offensive in the West.
In The Tigers of Bastogne, authors King and Collins finally detail the travails of this young armored division, which had only arrived in Europe that fall, yet found itself subject to the full brunt of Manteuffel's Fifth Panzer Army in the Ardennes. At first overwhelmed, and then falling back to protect the vital crossroads, the 10th Armored was reinforced (not -saved-) by the Screaming Eagles, and its men and tanks went on to contribute largely to America's victory in its largest battle of the war.
The 10th Armored had only arrived in Europe that September, as part of Patton's Third Army, and their divisional motto, -Terrify and Destroy, - was somewhat belied by the onslaught of Nazi panzers that burst across no-man's-land on December 16. Instead their nickname, -The Tiger Division, - became fully earned, as they went on the defensive at Bastogne, surrounded by an entire German army, yet refused to concede a single inch of ground not earned with blood.
General Anthony McAuliffe, of the 101st Airborne (and -Nuts- fame), said, -It seems regrettable to me that Combat Command B of the 10th Armored Division didn't get the credit it deserved at the battle of Bastogne. All the newspaper and radio talk was about the paratroopers. Actually the 10th Armored Division was in there a day before we were and had some very hard fighting before we ever got into it.-
Fortunately, in this book, the historical record is finally corrected. With their trademark style, King and Collins, through their firsthand interviews with veterans, bring us straight into the combats of the 10th Armored, equaling the balance between the brave paratroopers and gallant tankers who, together, held off Germany's last major offensive in the West.
272 pages, Paperback
First published May 19, 2013
40 people are currently reading
293 people want to read
About the author
Michael Collins
2 books10 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
(9)Histories, Biographies & Memoirs
Michael Collins has been a historical interpreter and museum staffer for the New England Air Museum, the Destroyer Escort Historical Museum, the Irish American Heritage Museum, and the New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center. He lives in Hartford, Connecticut. Voices of the Bulge is Collins' first book.
(9)Histories, Biographies & Memoirs
Michael Collins has been a historical interpreter and museum staffer for the New England Air Museum, the Destroyer Escort Historical Museum, the Irish American Heritage Museum, and the New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center. He lives in Hartford, Connecticut. Voices of the Bulge is Collins' first book.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 4, 2024
The book sheds light on the important role that Combat Command B, 10th Armored Division played in the defense of Bastogne alongside the 101st Airborne Division. It does a good job at this and how they never got the full credit they deserved for this through mostly first-hand accounts from veterans. This is unfortunately also the biggest drawback of this book as too much is relied upon this with some after action unit reports and citations thrown in for good measure. I am a big fan of first-hand accounts by veterans, but in this book it has led to too much repetitiveness in the chapters as many men fought in the same skirmishes alongside each other. The book is also in a daily chronological order that only increases the repetitiveness and at times it felt like reading the same things over and not getting on with the book.
Other than that the first-hand accounts were good and it is a pity that I did not enjoy this read more.
Other than that the first-hand accounts were good and it is a pity that I did not enjoy this read more.
August 30, 2021
Mostly wall-to wall eyewitness accounts, some running several pages. The 10th used its veteran firepower to hold the ring against German armor while the 101st was trucking in & often outfitted the Eagles from their stocks of uniforms & weapons. A good book to compliment what you can learn from Band of Brothers & most general books on the Bulge.
February 29, 2016
The authors wanted to write this book in order to venerate the mostly unsung stories of the 10th Armored Division during the Battle of the Bulge. While the stories definitely needed to be told, they needed to be told better than this. The book provides lots of personal anecdotes and has some great photos, but the organization and presentation could have been much better. Too often there is a personal recollection right after a piece of text and the two of them talk about completely different events. There are several maps, but sometimes they're placed several pages before the action they're showing. As for proofreading, this book really needed a good one, or even a decent one. Way too many errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation.
I applaud the authors for bringing these stories to the public, but they could have done a much better job.
I applaud the authors for bringing these stories to the public, but they could have done a much better job.
October 8, 2020
The Tigers of Bastogne: Voices of the 10th Armored Division in the Battle of the Bulge by Michael Collins and Martin King is an account of the actions of the 10th Armored Division at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. Michael Collins has been a historical interpreter and museum staffer for the New England Air Museum, the Destroyer Escort Historical Museum, the Irish American Heritage Museum, and the New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center. He lives in Hartford, Connecticut. Martin King is a British citizen who resides in Belgium. He is the author of Voices of the Bulge, a series of interviews with veterans of the Battle of the Bulge.
The Tigers are the young 10th Armored Division, part of Paton's 3rd Army, who had a divisional motto of “Terrify and Destroy”. They were tasked with defending Bastogne against what would be eight German Divisions who completely surrounded them. The Americans were outnumbered 5-1 and without proper cold weather gear, food, and ammunition. The 10th AD would receive support from the 101st Airborne Division and air drops. The 101st , however, would receive most of the credit for holding Bastogne in the media and the minds of many. This was Germany's last ditch offensive to try and turn the tide of the war and they did not hold back. Hitler took a personal interest in Bastogne after the American media compared it to the Alamo. Not only was this a battle for a piece of land it became a psychological battle for morale and support at home.
General Anthony McAuliffe, of the 101st Airborne (and “Nuts” fame), said, “It seems regrettable to me that Combat Command B of the 10th Armored Division didn’t get the credit it deserved at the battle of Bastogne. All the newspaper and radio talk was about the paratroopers. Actually the 10th Armored Division was in there a day before we were and had some very hard fighting before we ever got into it.”
Collins and King attempt to correct a historical misconception and properly assign credit to the the 10th Armor Division. They retell the battle, day by day, using records, reports, and an abundance of personal journal entries from soldier who fought the battle. Also included are the narratives form Silver and Bronze Star recommendations. The soldier's journals come from across the ranks from privates up to colonels. The book reads move like a thesis than than a narrative history. The writing has a distinct purpose and its style helps in presenting the case. Rather than just telling the story the authors' goal is to separate historical fact from the media hype of 1944.
Although the book presents a vast amount of information and great detail, some previous knowledge of the Battle of the Bulge is very helpful. The authors assume the reader already have plenty of background information; more of a lead in to the battle would be helpful. The additional maps provided a visual picture to the the text. The authors' purposes are met and they succeed in making their case. There can be little doubt in the readers mind that the 10th AD did stand strong at Bastogne and deserve credit for doing so. This book is recommended for military and World War II historians.
The Tigers are the young 10th Armored Division, part of Paton's 3rd Army, who had a divisional motto of “Terrify and Destroy”. They were tasked with defending Bastogne against what would be eight German Divisions who completely surrounded them. The Americans were outnumbered 5-1 and without proper cold weather gear, food, and ammunition. The 10th AD would receive support from the 101st Airborne Division and air drops. The 101st , however, would receive most of the credit for holding Bastogne in the media and the minds of many. This was Germany's last ditch offensive to try and turn the tide of the war and they did not hold back. Hitler took a personal interest in Bastogne after the American media compared it to the Alamo. Not only was this a battle for a piece of land it became a psychological battle for morale and support at home.
General Anthony McAuliffe, of the 101st Airborne (and “Nuts” fame), said, “It seems regrettable to me that Combat Command B of the 10th Armored Division didn’t get the credit it deserved at the battle of Bastogne. All the newspaper and radio talk was about the paratroopers. Actually the 10th Armored Division was in there a day before we were and had some very hard fighting before we ever got into it.”
Collins and King attempt to correct a historical misconception and properly assign credit to the the 10th Armor Division. They retell the battle, day by day, using records, reports, and an abundance of personal journal entries from soldier who fought the battle. Also included are the narratives form Silver and Bronze Star recommendations. The soldier's journals come from across the ranks from privates up to colonels. The book reads move like a thesis than than a narrative history. The writing has a distinct purpose and its style helps in presenting the case. Rather than just telling the story the authors' goal is to separate historical fact from the media hype of 1944.
Although the book presents a vast amount of information and great detail, some previous knowledge of the Battle of the Bulge is very helpful. The authors assume the reader already have plenty of background information; more of a lead in to the battle would be helpful. The additional maps provided a visual picture to the the text. The authors' purposes are met and they succeed in making their case. There can be little doubt in the readers mind that the 10th AD did stand strong at Bastogne and deserve credit for doing so. This book is recommended for military and World War II historians.
December 19, 2013
This book describes the role of the 10th Armored Division during the Battle of the Bulge and contributes to the story of the defense of Bastogne in particular. Based largely on first person accounts, the book describes in particular the movement of the division from France to the southern flank of the breakthrough as well as CCB's role in the defense of Bastogne -- key to preventing an early German seizure of the important crossroads and allowing for the 101st to deploy in it's defense. This emphasis on mobility allowed the American Army to react rapidly to the German breakthrough and the flexibility of the formations invovled is rarely acknowledged. Like many accounts based on first person interviews, it spends too much time debunking the fact that CCB's role in the defense of Bastogne was overshadowed by the 101st -- while this may have been a big issue for these veterans at the time, even a cursory study of the battle -- including the 101st own divisional history, largely based on SLA Marshall's book, gives great detail on the role of not only the two armored combat commands (CCB, 10th AD and CCR, 9th AD) but also the field artillery, engineer, tank destroyer battalions and stragglers that were integrated into the defense. The strength of this book is in demonstrating the great mobility of a veteran American formation and its role in securing this key road junction in order to allow for the deployment of a unit with the staying power of the 101st -- critical in blunting the advance of the 5th Panzer Army, which would make the deepest German penetration of the counteroffensive. It highlights the initial frictions of tank-infantry cooperation and how these formations adapted their tactics to contend with multiple German attacks across the perimeter. If you are interested in the role of armor during the Battle of Bastogne, then this would a great book.
February 5, 2015
Offers a unique perspective on a very famous battle. I definitely enjoyed it, however, there were so many grammatical and style issues that it read more like a draft than a published product. If the book was sent to an editor and republished, I would definitely give it another star.
March 20, 2015
Who knew they were even there, didn't 101st do it all by itself. Not really, as this book makes clear. In fact many outfits were involved in defending Bastogne and learning more about them and how the battle for the town went as a whole is extremely interesting.
October 30, 2018
This is one of those books you can’t wait to read and then you do. What should have been an excellent tribute to the men of the 10th Armored and the101st Airborne is a travesty. The authors state this story needs to be told and provide the 10th the claim they deserve. With that said, they and their publisher have released a horrible manuscript.
I identified over 52 unique issues that are unacceptable when you claim you are going to honor those who fought and died holding off the last German offensive in the west.
Here is a sampling of the horrendous issues:
Is it Wilt or Wiltz? Wiltz
We spell large, large, not alrge!
A Panther is a Mark V not a IV
Troops are put in a reserve not a reservoir
The initial problem facing the Army at was that VIII Corps. Tell me that’s good grammar and there a host of these issues.
Here’s the coup-de-grace Final chapter gives a weather report for December 15th, one day before the battle commenced, yet we are supposed to be in late December early January. How in the hell does this happen?
Since I’m not getting paid to edit this book, I will stop with the list.
If you can overlook the gross negligence of the writing and lack of editing, you will enjoy the steadfastness of the American soldiers who stood against Hitler’s last gamble against overwhelming odds.
Two stars.
I identified over 52 unique issues that are unacceptable when you claim you are going to honor those who fought and died holding off the last German offensive in the west.
Here is a sampling of the horrendous issues:
Is it Wilt or Wiltz? Wiltz
We spell large, large, not alrge!
A Panther is a Mark V not a IV
Troops are put in a reserve not a reservoir
The initial problem facing the Army at was that VIII Corps. Tell me that’s good grammar and there a host of these issues.
Here’s the coup-de-grace Final chapter gives a weather report for December 15th, one day before the battle commenced, yet we are supposed to be in late December early January. How in the hell does this happen?
Since I’m not getting paid to edit this book, I will stop with the list.
If you can overlook the gross negligence of the writing and lack of editing, you will enjoy the steadfastness of the American soldiers who stood against Hitler’s last gamble against overwhelming odds.
Two stars.
March 13, 2019
My wife's Uncle was also in the Armored division at Bastogne and had told me many of the same stories I read in this book. Walter Lepinski, who is interviewed several times, is a close friend's Uncle. So this book was great way to finally give the Armored Division's their due in one of the bloodiest battles in WWII.
The daily struggles day to day of these brave men is laid out in such a way that it takes you into the battles as well as the struggles again the cold, lack of food, ammo, gas and warm clothes. Add to the mix the fact that the Germans only goal was to crush the Americans in front of them.
We all know how it ended but the hell that they went through and the bravery of the men who stood in their way.
Read this bit of history.
The daily struggles day to day of these brave men is laid out in such a way that it takes you into the battles as well as the struggles again the cold, lack of food, ammo, gas and warm clothes. Add to the mix the fact that the Germans only goal was to crush the Americans in front of them.
We all know how it ended but the hell that they went through and the bravery of the men who stood in their way.
Read this bit of history.
June 22, 2024
I've never read historical war nonfiction before, but this book is quite interesting. The way the chapters are set up as days, and the rotating sections contained therein, captivate while informing. The vacillation between these sections - the authors' narrative, servicemen's personal accounts from the time period (through interviews with the authors), the accommodations won by some of these servicemen, and daily debriefing reports - breaks up the timeline enough to keep one's attention while not losing momentum in the story.
It definitely helped going into this book knowing that my Great Uncle, Warren Swanquist, was interviewed for the book. I was pleasantly surprised every time I came across a page with his account of these battles.
It definitely helped going into this book knowing that my Great Uncle, Warren Swanquist, was interviewed for the book. I was pleasantly surprised every time I came across a page with his account of these battles.
February 19, 2018
Combat Command B of the 10th Armored Division was right there in Bastogne with the 101st Airborne yet got little recognition at the time. This is a day-by-day retelling of the events through some of those who fought there. Compelling story of grit and bravery in the face of some of the worst weather and heaviest fighting on the front in the Battle of the Bulge.
July 15, 2017
Great book
January 13, 2019
Excellent amount of the Battle of the Bulge from the perspective of the armored units in the area. Have a map handy as it helps to keep track of what's going on where.
January 22, 2021
A great read. Many first hand accounts.
December 20, 2022
I had read several books on the Battle of the Bulge, but this one tightened in on the perspective of the armored assigned. Great read with great information.
July 23, 2013
The Tigers of Bastogne is about the fight conducted by Combat Command B of the 10th Armored Division alongside the 101st Airborne Division against hordes of Germans that laid siege to Bastogne. The tale is told in largely in the words of the veterans that the authors had interviewed supplemented by unit after-action reports and citations for medals earned during the fight. The authors provided a framing chapter that provided background on the 10th Armored and introduced some of the veterans. The heart of the book is the day by day description of events beginning with December 15th and lasting to December 28th. A final chapter provides a brief summary of the part played by the 10th Armored in the rest of World War II.
Michael Collins and Martin King have done Battle of the Bulge aficionados a great service by highlighting the role played by the 10th Armored in defending Bastogne with the 101st Airborne especially using the voices of the veterans. However, there are issues of fact checking (mislabeling Panthers as Mark IV's for example) and proofreading (using fair instead of fare when referring to food) in the framing portions written by the authors that should have been caught. Non-aficionados will not grasp the full significance of this tale as the authors present the fight for Bastogne in isolation without relating it to the whole Battle of the Bulge campaign. Also novices to the battle will be disconcerted regarding the disjointedness of the tale as one brief portion of a fire-fight is given, then there is a quick switch to another location with a different veteran with very little connection provided. The maps provided are helpful, but few.
Overall, despite the short-comings listed, Michael Collins and Martin King are to be greatly commended for writing this book and letting the readers in on a little heard story.
Michael Collins and Martin King have done Battle of the Bulge aficionados a great service by highlighting the role played by the 10th Armored in defending Bastogne with the 101st Airborne especially using the voices of the veterans. However, there are issues of fact checking (mislabeling Panthers as Mark IV's for example) and proofreading (using fair instead of fare when referring to food) in the framing portions written by the authors that should have been caught. Non-aficionados will not grasp the full significance of this tale as the authors present the fight for Bastogne in isolation without relating it to the whole Battle of the Bulge campaign. Also novices to the battle will be disconcerted regarding the disjointedness of the tale as one brief portion of a fire-fight is given, then there is a quick switch to another location with a different veteran with very little connection provided. The maps provided are helpful, but few.
Overall, despite the short-comings listed, Michael Collins and Martin King are to be greatly commended for writing this book and letting the readers in on a little heard story.
September 23, 2013
I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to read The Tigers of Bastogne: Voices of the 10th Armored Division in the Battle of the Bulge by Michael Collins and Martin King. It is the tale of the actions of the 10th Armored Division at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. It was so well researched and beautifully written that I will gladly be gifting a copy to the WWII history buffs in my family, and I know it will be graned a permanent place in their libraries.
The Tigers were the young 10th Armored Division, part of Paton's 3rd Army, who had a the motto of "Terrify and Destroy". their assignment was to defend Bastogne against German Divisions who eventually completely surrounded the Americans. Outnumbered 5-1 and without adequate cold weather gear, food, and ammunition, the 10th Armored would eventually be supported by the 101st Airborne Division who have received most of the credit for holding Bastogne. Mr. Collins and Mr. King successfully shed the light on the 1oth AD and give credit where credit is due. They detail the battle, day by day, using records, reports, maps, and first-hand accounts from soldiers who fought. They attempt to separate fact from fiction (media hype) and do so in a manner that engages as well as informs.
I rated the book 4 stars because it is so well written and researched. I would have gone to 5 stars if the authors hadn't made assumptions regarding their reader's knowledge base. I think it is written for people who already have a good grasp on the lead up and aftermath of the battle, as well as it's place in history.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
The Tigers were the young 10th Armored Division, part of Paton's 3rd Army, who had a the motto of "Terrify and Destroy". their assignment was to defend Bastogne against German Divisions who eventually completely surrounded the Americans. Outnumbered 5-1 and without adequate cold weather gear, food, and ammunition, the 10th Armored would eventually be supported by the 101st Airborne Division who have received most of the credit for holding Bastogne. Mr. Collins and Mr. King successfully shed the light on the 1oth AD and give credit where credit is due. They detail the battle, day by day, using records, reports, maps, and first-hand accounts from soldiers who fought. They attempt to separate fact from fiction (media hype) and do so in a manner that engages as well as informs.
I rated the book 4 stars because it is so well written and researched. I would have gone to 5 stars if the authors hadn't made assumptions regarding their reader's knowledge base. I think it is written for people who already have a good grasp on the lead up and aftermath of the battle, as well as it's place in history.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
January 27, 2015
Much attention regarding the US side of the battle of the Bulge is focused on the 101st Airborne and the 82nd Airborne. I agree with the author's thesis, that the role and importance of the 10th Armored Division has not been emphasized enough. This book is an important contribution to that effort. However, as significant as the research and information published in this book is, the organization of the book is average at best. Perhaps this is due to scattered records and a diminishing group of living participants. At times, it feels like one is just reading citation after citation of soldiers decorated actions. What is lacking is more context and more maps would also be helpful. Sadly, a shockingly poor job of editing is seen as almost every other page (even the jacket of the book) has a mis-used or mis-spelled word or other typos that distract from the reading experience and cast doubts of the scholarly level of the research.
March 17, 2016
Great Book about the 10th Armored Division in the Battle of the Bulge
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews