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The Longest Winter: The Battle of the Bulge and the Epic Story of WWII's Most Decorated Platoon
The epic story of the vastly outnumbered platoon that stopped Germany's leading assault in the Ardennes forest and prevented Hitler's most fearsome tanks from overtaking American positions
On a cold morning in December, 1944, deep in the Ardennes forest, a platoon of eighteen men under the command of twenty-year-old lieutenant Lyle Bouck were huddled in their foxholes trying desperately to keep warm. Suddenly, the early morning silence was broken by the roar of a huge artillery bombardment and the dreadful sound of approaching tanks. Hitler had launched his bold and risky offensive against the Allies-his "last gamble"-and the small American platoon was facing the main thrust of the entire German assault. Vastly outnumbered, they repulsed three German assaults in a fierce day-long battle, killing over five hundred German soldiers and defending a strategically vital hill. Only when Bouck's men had run out of ammunition did they surrender to the enemy. As POWs, Bouck's platoon began an ordeal far worse than combat-survive in captivity under trigger-happy German guards, Allied bombing raids, and a daily ration of only thin soup. In German POW camps, hundreds of captured Americans were either killed or died of disease, and most lost all hope. But the men of Bouck's platoon survived-miraculously, all of them. Once again in vivid, dramatic prose, Alex Kershaw brings to life the story of some of America's little-known heroes-the story of America's most decorated small unit, an epic story of courage and survival in World War II, and one of the most inspiring stories in American history.
On a cold morning in December, 1944, deep in the Ardennes forest, a platoon of eighteen men under the command of twenty-year-old lieutenant Lyle Bouck were huddled in their foxholes trying desperately to keep warm. Suddenly, the early morning silence was broken by the roar of a huge artillery bombardment and the dreadful sound of approaching tanks. Hitler had launched his bold and risky offensive against the Allies-his "last gamble"-and the small American platoon was facing the main thrust of the entire German assault. Vastly outnumbered, they repulsed three German assaults in a fierce day-long battle, killing over five hundred German soldiers and defending a strategically vital hill. Only when Bouck's men had run out of ammunition did they surrender to the enemy. As POWs, Bouck's platoon began an ordeal far worse than combat-survive in captivity under trigger-happy German guards, Allied bombing raids, and a daily ration of only thin soup. In German POW camps, hundreds of captured Americans were either killed or died of disease, and most lost all hope. But the men of Bouck's platoon survived-miraculously, all of them. Once again in vivid, dramatic prose, Alex Kershaw brings to life the story of some of America's little-known heroes-the story of America's most decorated small unit, an epic story of courage and survival in World War II, and one of the most inspiring stories in American history.
330 pages, Paperback
First published November 22, 2004
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8763 people want to read
About the author
Alex Kershaw
22 books951 followersAlex Kershaw is the author of the widely acclaimed best sellers Against All Odds, The First Wave, The Bedford Boys, The Longest Winter, The Few, #TheLiberator, the basis for the Netflix drama, and Escape from the Deep, as well as biographies of Jack London, Raoul Wallenberg and Robert Capa. His latest book is Patton's Prayer, published May 2024.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 409 reviews
December 18, 2022
Kershaw's account is that of an overlooked and belatedly heralded action by one platoon in the first stages of World War II's Battle of the Bulge. The stand of eighteen untested soldiers against a German paratrooper regiment at a key crossroads was instrumental in slowing down the advance of the German forces and giving the allied army the time to adjust to an attack that had taken it by complete surprise and left it reeling in disarray. The army was then able to regroup and initiate the counterattack that eventually resulted in victory.
All of the members of the platoon that were engaged in the battle miraculously survived, although a number of them were wounded, two very seriously. But all were captured and spent the remaining six months of the war contending with horrifying and terrifying conditions in a series of POW camps. The young lieutenant who commanded the platoon turned twenty-one while being detained in one of those camps.
For many years nothing was written about the courageous stand of the platoon because only those who had fought there knew what had happened and since they were captives they were unable to write up after action reports about the battle. Finally, thirty-five years after the Battle of the Bulge was fought, the platoon received due recognition and the medals that were awarded to its members made it what is generally thought to be the "most decorated American platoon for a single action of the entire Second World War."
This is a book that deserves a wide reading in order to shine a light on a little known story of heroic courage and valor and sacrifice.
All of the members of the platoon that were engaged in the battle miraculously survived, although a number of them were wounded, two very seriously. But all were captured and spent the remaining six months of the war contending with horrifying and terrifying conditions in a series of POW camps. The young lieutenant who commanded the platoon turned twenty-one while being detained in one of those camps.
For many years nothing was written about the courageous stand of the platoon because only those who had fought there knew what had happened and since they were captives they were unable to write up after action reports about the battle. Finally, thirty-five years after the Battle of the Bulge was fought, the platoon received due recognition and the medals that were awarded to its members made it what is generally thought to be the "most decorated American platoon for a single action of the entire Second World War."
This is a book that deserves a wide reading in order to shine a light on a little known story of heroic courage and valor and sacrifice.
August 10, 2018
Don't be misled by the title......this is not an overall history of the Battle of the Bulge but instead, it concentrates on a reconnaissance/intelligence platoon, the 394, whose bravery led to their place of honor as the most decorated platoon in WWII.
It is the winter of 1944 and Hitler is placing all his bets on one last battle through the Ardennes Forest and on to Antwerp. The war is already basically lost but Hitler will not recognize this and is convinced that his army can surprise the Allies and turn the tide of battle. The 394th digs in on a ridge above the town of Lanzerath in order to report the enemy activity in the area. There are only 18 men, led by 20 year old, Lt. Lyle Bouke, with limited fire power and not much else.
Thus begins the tale of almost unbelievable courage as the 394th is surrounded by Germans, yet fight on for a number of days against overpowering odds. Eventually, they are captured and sent to a POW camp. The author follows the lives of each member of the platoon throughout their ordeal in action and into captivity. and interviewed many of them who were still living at the time of publication (2004). The narrative is fascinating and keeps the reader engrossed through the last page.
More than 30 years later, President Jimmy Carter, recognized the unit's "extraordinary heroism" and awarded combat medals to all 18 men. It is an inspiring book which is beautifully written and highly recommended.
It is the winter of 1944 and Hitler is placing all his bets on one last battle through the Ardennes Forest and on to Antwerp. The war is already basically lost but Hitler will not recognize this and is convinced that his army can surprise the Allies and turn the tide of battle. The 394th digs in on a ridge above the town of Lanzerath in order to report the enemy activity in the area. There are only 18 men, led by 20 year old, Lt. Lyle Bouke, with limited fire power and not much else.
Thus begins the tale of almost unbelievable courage as the 394th is surrounded by Germans, yet fight on for a number of days against overpowering odds. Eventually, they are captured and sent to a POW camp. The author follows the lives of each member of the platoon throughout their ordeal in action and into captivity. and interviewed many of them who were still living at the time of publication (2004). The narrative is fascinating and keeps the reader engrossed through the last page.
More than 30 years later, President Jimmy Carter, recognized the unit's "extraordinary heroism" and awarded combat medals to all 18 men. It is an inspiring book which is beautifully written and highly recommended.
February 26, 2024
“You are to hold at all costs.”
Alex Kershaw is fast becoming one of my favorite nonfiction writers on the subject of WW II. This is the third book of his I have read, and none have disappointed. THE LONGEST WINTER is about 18 men in the American 99th Army Division, who in December of 1944 were responsible for slowing a massive German surprise attack in the Belgian village of Lanzareth at the very beginning of what became known as the Battle of the Bulge. For eighteen hours these men (who were merely part of a reconnaissance team) slowed the German advance. Miraculously, all 18 men who fought in that battle survived the war, this even though many were wounded, and most ended up under horrible conditions in POW camps.
This text has a slow start, but Mr. Kershaw is doing what he does best…making the people of history come alive by exploring their humanity and the mundane of their lives. By his doing this we recognize ourselves and become more invested in what we are reading.
Like the previous Kershaw books I have read, this one is composed of several human moments that stick with the reader. Here are just a few.
- A wounded GI left unattended by his captors on the outside of a rail car in the cold Belgian winter recites the 23rd Psalm repeatedly as his anesthetic to distract from the pain of his wound.
- An army chaplain contemplates the bodies of 40 dead GIs, POWs who have just been killed by friendly Allied fire, just days before the war’s end.
- An old German woman gives two POWs some bread smothered with butter and jelly as they are marched by her house on the way to a camp.
- An allied nurse cries as she cradles the body of a dying German SS soldier.
- Allied POWs sit in boxcars at Dachau as the SS work feverishly to exterminate more “undesirables” in the war’s final days.
Mr. Kershaw excels at making the historical personal, and this text is no exception.
Quotes:
• “…the truly brave go mostly unrewarded.”
• “I give you the gallant men of the I&R platoon, 394th Infantry, 99th Infantry Division, and the high honors-however belated- now bestowed upon them.”
Due to happenstance circumstances, the men of this brave platoon were not recognized by their government for many years. But I am thankful for books like THE LONGEST WINTER that will live on and ensure that moments (and people) like this, moments that are so consequential in the history of Western Civilization, will be preserved for future generations to learn from.
I am a beneficiary of the sacrifices of this generation, and writers like Mr. Kershaw powerfully remind me of this.
Alex Kershaw is fast becoming one of my favorite nonfiction writers on the subject of WW II. This is the third book of his I have read, and none have disappointed. THE LONGEST WINTER is about 18 men in the American 99th Army Division, who in December of 1944 were responsible for slowing a massive German surprise attack in the Belgian village of Lanzareth at the very beginning of what became known as the Battle of the Bulge. For eighteen hours these men (who were merely part of a reconnaissance team) slowed the German advance. Miraculously, all 18 men who fought in that battle survived the war, this even though many were wounded, and most ended up under horrible conditions in POW camps.
This text has a slow start, but Mr. Kershaw is doing what he does best…making the people of history come alive by exploring their humanity and the mundane of their lives. By his doing this we recognize ourselves and become more invested in what we are reading.
Like the previous Kershaw books I have read, this one is composed of several human moments that stick with the reader. Here are just a few.
- A wounded GI left unattended by his captors on the outside of a rail car in the cold Belgian winter recites the 23rd Psalm repeatedly as his anesthetic to distract from the pain of his wound.
- An army chaplain contemplates the bodies of 40 dead GIs, POWs who have just been killed by friendly Allied fire, just days before the war’s end.
- An old German woman gives two POWs some bread smothered with butter and jelly as they are marched by her house on the way to a camp.
- An allied nurse cries as she cradles the body of a dying German SS soldier.
- Allied POWs sit in boxcars at Dachau as the SS work feverishly to exterminate more “undesirables” in the war’s final days.
Mr. Kershaw excels at making the historical personal, and this text is no exception.
Quotes:
• “…the truly brave go mostly unrewarded.”
• “I give you the gallant men of the I&R platoon, 394th Infantry, 99th Infantry Division, and the high honors-however belated- now bestowed upon them.”
Due to happenstance circumstances, the men of this brave platoon were not recognized by their government for many years. But I am thankful for books like THE LONGEST WINTER that will live on and ensure that moments (and people) like this, moments that are so consequential in the history of Western Civilization, will be preserved for future generations to learn from.
I am a beneficiary of the sacrifices of this generation, and writers like Mr. Kershaw powerfully remind me of this.
February 15, 2021
I have read Kershaw before and enjoyed his type of history and its presentation. Most histories are written by academics and cover the events and personages of historical eminence and those histories are important but only convey a sterile and impersonal image of the people and events depicted. Mr. Kershaw writes a different history and the kind that I enjoy the most, the personal history and this book is typical of that genre. The title might have you believe that the book is about the Battle of the Bulge and that would be true but not entirely. In this book the author has decided to tell the reader about one very small but significant slice of the history of the Battle of the Bulge. We, the readers, are treated to the story of one platoon of 18 men with specialized talents whose skills were intended by the Army for a specific use and purpose. These men were what today might be referred to as nerds. They were intelligent beyond the norms of most recruits and some were bilingual in languages valuable in the war they were fighting. These men were an I & R platoon, intelligence and reconnaissance, and were not meant in anyway as a combat unit but that is what happened to them and how they became unintended and major players in one of history's most pivotal battles.
What Kershaw gives the reader is a view of what it was like to be there in the foxholes with the men that actually carried out the orders of the great generals in the rear and away from the carnage of the battlefield. In one of those twists of fate a gap in the defensive line on the American front is discovered and needs to be filled temporarily until a regular infantry unit can be brought up to do the fill it. The I & R platoon is all that seems to be available and it is ordered to guard a crossroads in a small Belgian village until they are relieved by an infantry unit. The date of that order is December 15, 1944. This platoon has nothing in the way of heavy weapons and all they have are their M1 rifles and some grenades. By scrounging they manage to appropriate a heavy machine gun mounted to an armored Jeep and that was all they had to guard this crossroads. They reach the village and set up their perimeter and join forces with an artillery spotting unit in the village. The next day is the start of the German attack and that crossroads becomes a primary transit route for the German advance. The artillery unit is ordered to another location but 4 of those men join the I&R platoon. The platoon advises HQ of the approach of a large number of German troops and tanks but they are ordered to hold their position at all costs. These 22 men with no armor, no artillery support, no air support and no reinforcements hold off a German force easily exceeding 10-20 times their number for 18 hours. At the end of that time with their ammunition exhausted they are forced to surrender having only 2 casualties while inflicting massive loss to the enemy.
Following their capture the members of the platoon endure 5 months of the most horrendous treatment one can imagine while POWs. Malnutrition, appalling sanitary conditions, poor to nonexistent sheltering, and rudimentary medical attention led to rapid deterioration of the health and physical conditions of members of the unit until liberation was achieved. The unit's commanding officer was in such poor health that he was never able to write after action reports about the battle he and his men fought. Since the war ended the lieutenant was shipped home to recover and the reports were never written and no credit was ever attributed to their action that day and the platoon never thought anything about it. Years then pass and histories are then written and in particular a history by John Eisenhower, son the Dwight Eisenhower. Upon reading these histories some of the members of the platoon for the first time realize how significant their role was in stalling the German advance that day and how but for their effort the Battle of the Bulge might have gone an entirely different direction. From this point the author recounts the efforts to correct the historical record and to give credit and recognition were it was due even though it came some 35 years after the deeds.
This is a story of the history of real people, ordinary people, engaged in real life and death struggles under the most horrific of circumstances. It is about what they suffered, endured, and survived and then continued on with their ordinary lives and never questioned their sacrifices or asked for compensation or reward for anything. These are the people that always tend to be forgotten but are the ones that deserve the greatest recognition and these are the stories this author likes to preserve and present and that I like to read. Enjoy.
What Kershaw gives the reader is a view of what it was like to be there in the foxholes with the men that actually carried out the orders of the great generals in the rear and away from the carnage of the battlefield. In one of those twists of fate a gap in the defensive line on the American front is discovered and needs to be filled temporarily until a regular infantry unit can be brought up to do the fill it. The I & R platoon is all that seems to be available and it is ordered to guard a crossroads in a small Belgian village until they are relieved by an infantry unit. The date of that order is December 15, 1944. This platoon has nothing in the way of heavy weapons and all they have are their M1 rifles and some grenades. By scrounging they manage to appropriate a heavy machine gun mounted to an armored Jeep and that was all they had to guard this crossroads. They reach the village and set up their perimeter and join forces with an artillery spotting unit in the village. The next day is the start of the German attack and that crossroads becomes a primary transit route for the German advance. The artillery unit is ordered to another location but 4 of those men join the I&R platoon. The platoon advises HQ of the approach of a large number of German troops and tanks but they are ordered to hold their position at all costs. These 22 men with no armor, no artillery support, no air support and no reinforcements hold off a German force easily exceeding 10-20 times their number for 18 hours. At the end of that time with their ammunition exhausted they are forced to surrender having only 2 casualties while inflicting massive loss to the enemy.
Following their capture the members of the platoon endure 5 months of the most horrendous treatment one can imagine while POWs. Malnutrition, appalling sanitary conditions, poor to nonexistent sheltering, and rudimentary medical attention led to rapid deterioration of the health and physical conditions of members of the unit until liberation was achieved. The unit's commanding officer was in such poor health that he was never able to write after action reports about the battle he and his men fought. Since the war ended the lieutenant was shipped home to recover and the reports were never written and no credit was ever attributed to their action that day and the platoon never thought anything about it. Years then pass and histories are then written and in particular a history by John Eisenhower, son the Dwight Eisenhower. Upon reading these histories some of the members of the platoon for the first time realize how significant their role was in stalling the German advance that day and how but for their effort the Battle of the Bulge might have gone an entirely different direction. From this point the author recounts the efforts to correct the historical record and to give credit and recognition were it was due even though it came some 35 years after the deeds.
This is a story of the history of real people, ordinary people, engaged in real life and death struggles under the most horrific of circumstances. It is about what they suffered, endured, and survived and then continued on with their ordinary lives and never questioned their sacrifices or asked for compensation or reward for anything. These are the people that always tend to be forgotten but are the ones that deserve the greatest recognition and these are the stories this author likes to preserve and present and that I like to read. Enjoy.
May 18, 2018
This is the book that Band of Brothers should've been. This is one of the best reconstructions of the sheer terror of the opening offensive in the Ardennes ever written. It is also required reading for all the fans of Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
While most of the individual characterising of our ASTP grunts occurs in the first chapters, during the stateside training, it takes hold. We are able to form a mental picture of the German Jew that zealously exchanged his Wehrmacht uniform for the U.S. , the Greek whose tongue-twisting name necessitates a moniker or the Mexican with the ambition to become a doctor. The photo section shows our mental image of them to be on the mark amidst that parade of wiry country boys molded by youthful hardship during the Depression.
This is not, strictly speaking, that Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon's poetry of war. The entire 394th regiment comes into view once the 6th Panzerarmee unleashes one of the war's most saturating artillery bombardments on the thinly held ground of the 99th "Checkerboard" Division.
The intimacy of battle is felt in all its terror as the focus shrinks to the size of a football field: M-1's score successive headshots, grenade blasts illuminate the scarce yards between lines, men whose seasickness we felt as their Atlantic transport was surrounded by waves 20 ft high a chapter ago are wounded. As the copious footnotes based on Kershaw's interviews with the survivors mark, not all will survive even the trip to the forward hospital.
The book takes an odd turn as we follow survivors of the 394th into captivity. The disease-ridden passivity of the Stalags, the morbid irony of being straffed in a French 40-and-8 car by American Jabos and the apocalyptic aftermath of destruction they witness in Koblenz before the company rails into Dresden in time for the inferno that inspired Vonnegut to write his surreal anti-war classic Slaughterhouse-Five. Some historiographic discours is included in the appendices. Next, Patton's attempt to rescue his son-in-law a hundred km behind enemy lines as soon as the 4th Armoured crosses the Rhine is painted as the egocentric farce that it was.
Peace and rememberance mirror the (mis)fortunes of war: one profited from the GI Bill to launch a new career or fullfill that dream of becoming an MD in El Paso, another become a soft-spoken bus driver with only a shredded coat and a medal tucked away at home as a souvenir, yet another slowly drowned in the loneliness of alcohol, his demons swimming around him.
Those embracing their war experience were at hand to recount to John D. Eisenhower about their time*. One thing they agreed on: war is a young man's game for a reason. Only at 20 are you "stupid" enough to stand and fight against such odds - the enormity of which only became clear after the war. They also ran into a few of their favorite erstwhile adversaries: that Volksgrenadier who didn't shoot them when he could, or a camp guard that left some good things unpillaged in their Red Cross parcel.
*
The Bitter Woods by John S.D. Eisenhower
While most of the individual characterising of our ASTP grunts occurs in the first chapters, during the stateside training, it takes hold. We are able to form a mental picture of the German Jew that zealously exchanged his Wehrmacht uniform for the U.S. , the Greek whose tongue-twisting name necessitates a moniker or the Mexican with the ambition to become a doctor. The photo section shows our mental image of them to be on the mark amidst that parade of wiry country boys molded by youthful hardship during the Depression.
This is not, strictly speaking, that Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon's poetry of war. The entire 394th regiment comes into view once the 6th Panzerarmee unleashes one of the war's most saturating artillery bombardments on the thinly held ground of the 99th "Checkerboard" Division.
The intimacy of battle is felt in all its terror as the focus shrinks to the size of a football field: M-1's score successive headshots, grenade blasts illuminate the scarce yards between lines, men whose seasickness we felt as their Atlantic transport was surrounded by waves 20 ft high a chapter ago are wounded. As the copious footnotes based on Kershaw's interviews with the survivors mark, not all will survive even the trip to the forward hospital.
The book takes an odd turn as we follow survivors of the 394th into captivity. The disease-ridden passivity of the Stalags, the morbid irony of being straffed in a French 40-and-8 car by American Jabos and the apocalyptic aftermath of destruction they witness in Koblenz before the company rails into Dresden in time for the inferno that inspired Vonnegut to write his surreal anti-war classic Slaughterhouse-Five. Some historiographic discours is included in the appendices. Next, Patton's attempt to rescue his son-in-law a hundred km behind enemy lines as soon as the 4th Armoured crosses the Rhine is painted as the egocentric farce that it was.
Peace and rememberance mirror the (mis)fortunes of war: one profited from the GI Bill to launch a new career or fullfill that dream of becoming an MD in El Paso, another become a soft-spoken bus driver with only a shredded coat and a medal tucked away at home as a souvenir, yet another slowly drowned in the loneliness of alcohol, his demons swimming around him.
Those embracing their war experience were at hand to recount to John D. Eisenhower about their time*. One thing they agreed on: war is a young man's game for a reason. Only at 20 are you "stupid" enough to stand and fight against such odds - the enormity of which only became clear after the war. They also ran into a few of their favorite erstwhile adversaries: that Volksgrenadier who didn't shoot them when he could, or a camp guard that left some good things unpillaged in their Red Cross parcel.
*
The Bitter Woods by John S.D. Eisenhower
May 21, 2013
Probably my favorite book so far this year.
The Longest Winter tells the story of an intelligence & reconnaissance platoon. Although they weren’t trained for defending fixed positions, they got stuck with that duty, and happened to be manning foxholes when the big German offensive came December 16, 1944. Twenty-two men held off hundreds of attacking German troops before running out of ammunition and being captured. They managed to stall part of the German advance for roughly a day, giving vital time to other units and contributing significantly to an eventual Allied victory.
The battle of Lanzerath, however, was only the beginning of the war for these men. They spend months combating filth, lice, disease, starvation, and depression as POWs in Nazi Germany. Several of them were also healing from wounds received during the battle. They relied on friendship and faith to make it through.
I liked Kershaw’s approach to this book. It focuses on one relatively small group of people, but also highlights other major events from the Battle of the Bulge until the end of the war. Lt. Lyle Bouck, the leader of the 394th I&R platoon, came across as an amazing man: he was young, good, and brave, and he cared about his men. His men included a diverse, admirable group of Americans, and their stories are well worth the time it takes to read this compelling account.
The Longest Winter tells the story of an intelligence & reconnaissance platoon. Although they weren’t trained for defending fixed positions, they got stuck with that duty, and happened to be manning foxholes when the big German offensive came December 16, 1944. Twenty-two men held off hundreds of attacking German troops before running out of ammunition and being captured. They managed to stall part of the German advance for roughly a day, giving vital time to other units and contributing significantly to an eventual Allied victory.
The battle of Lanzerath, however, was only the beginning of the war for these men. They spend months combating filth, lice, disease, starvation, and depression as POWs in Nazi Germany. Several of them were also healing from wounds received during the battle. They relied on friendship and faith to make it through.
I liked Kershaw’s approach to this book. It focuses on one relatively small group of people, but also highlights other major events from the Battle of the Bulge until the end of the war. Lt. Lyle Bouck, the leader of the 394th I&R platoon, came across as an amazing man: he was young, good, and brave, and he cared about his men. His men included a diverse, admirable group of Americans, and their stories are well worth the time it takes to read this compelling account.
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November 23, 2019Genealogy has prompted me to read more about World War II, particularly the days of The Battle of the Bulge. A friend recently reviewed The Longest Winter, recommended it highly so I moved it up on my list. I never had the chance to know my Uncle Albert who was killed in Bastogne and wanted to know more about what his final days might have been like. Definitely a personal read on my part.
I have read other books by Alex Kershaw and could listen to anything Grover Cleveland has narrated. If you are interested in this period of our history, you won't be disappointed with the book or its narration.
I have read other books by Alex Kershaw and could listen to anything Grover Cleveland has narrated. If you are interested in this period of our history, you won't be disappointed with the book or its narration.
August 2, 2023
I will always treasure how I happened to read this book. My 14 year old grandson had to do a report/presentation for his history class at school. His presentation was on this platoon and the battle in which they persevered. My grandson lives in a different state than I do, but I was able to watch his presentation online and was fascinated by this story. I like history and have done a fair amount of reading in my lifetime but I had NEVER HEARD ABOUT THIS PLATOON. How could that be? So off I went down a rabbit hole of looking for a book (the best kind of rabbit hole) to read on this subject. I came across Mr. Kershaw's book and fortunately my library had it available.
I read (listened) to this book on my morning walks. At times, listening to a book of this type can be a bit overwhelming because there are so many details - names, places, background but the author did an outstanding job of painting the scene. A scene that is important to know in order to appreciate what these men accomplished. And in their minds, they were just doing their job. A few times as I was walking and listening, I was crying my eyes out. War is horrible. But kind/courageous people emerge and it gives one hope for this world of ours. As I neared the end of the story, I almost didn't want it to end because I had become attached to these men. (do you do that also when reading?). But then I thought, we need to get these boys home. HOME. To freedom, to safety, and to a good hot meal!
I was thrilled to be able to text my grandson and tell him that he had taught his Memah something. This book may be one of my highlight reads of the year. I highly recommend.
I read (listened) to this book on my morning walks. At times, listening to a book of this type can be a bit overwhelming because there are so many details - names, places, background but the author did an outstanding job of painting the scene. A scene that is important to know in order to appreciate what these men accomplished. And in their minds, they were just doing their job. A few times as I was walking and listening, I was crying my eyes out. War is horrible. But kind/courageous people emerge and it gives one hope for this world of ours. As I neared the end of the story, I almost didn't want it to end because I had become attached to these men. (do you do that also when reading?). But then I thought, we need to get these boys home. HOME. To freedom, to safety, and to a good hot meal!
I was thrilled to be able to text my grandson and tell him that he had taught his Memah something. This book may be one of my highlight reads of the year. I highly recommend.
May 2, 2013
They were so young, these American soldiers just trying to keep warm and prepare for the push into Germany. They paid the price for the intelligence failures of the overconfident generals safe and cozy in Versailles and other chateaus. Those at HHQ were certain the Germans could only slow the inevitable defeat. Au contraire! The Longest Winter: The Battle of the Bulge and the Epic Story of World War II's Most Decorated Platoon tells the story of a small platoon caught on the northern spearhead of the German attack. The 394th Intelligence and Reconnaissance (I&R) Platoon was only supposed to be in Lanzerath, Belgium for a short period as two divisions changed positions at the front. Unfortunately, that coincided with the start of the German offensive in the Ardennes, intended to take Antwerp and split the western Allied forces.
The book gives a brief preview of the platoon’s origin in Texas and moves quickly to the Battle of the Bulge. Along the way we get familiar with the members of this cross section of America with all its warts and highlights. In the battle, they will perform magnificently. At the start of the battle, it becomes clear the intelligence is wrong, very wrong. Speed was the key to the German battle plan. The 394th I&R should have been a minor speed bump to be flattened by the Nazi juggernaut. Instead the platoon stops the German advance and inflicts very heavy casualties. This was a bitter fight and provided a slight but key delay that allowed US forces to better prepare for the onslaught. The rest of the book covers the battle, the aftermath and follows the platoon as many are captured and put into POW camps, while others survive the battle and fight on through the spring. At war’s end, the two groups reunite deep inside southern Germany. Finally, the book tells the story of how the unit finally is recognized for its incredible stand. I had a lump in my throat at the story of their reunion in NYC.
My only complaint is the book follows so many stories and does not spend as much time as I would have liked on each of the threads. Mr Kershaw could have doubled the size of the book and kept our interest. He writes very well, not too technical but with accuracy. 4 ½ Stars!
The book gives a brief preview of the platoon’s origin in Texas and moves quickly to the Battle of the Bulge. Along the way we get familiar with the members of this cross section of America with all its warts and highlights. In the battle, they will perform magnificently. At the start of the battle, it becomes clear the intelligence is wrong, very wrong. Speed was the key to the German battle plan. The 394th I&R should have been a minor speed bump to be flattened by the Nazi juggernaut. Instead the platoon stops the German advance and inflicts very heavy casualties. This was a bitter fight and provided a slight but key delay that allowed US forces to better prepare for the onslaught. The rest of the book covers the battle, the aftermath and follows the platoon as many are captured and put into POW camps, while others survive the battle and fight on through the spring. At war’s end, the two groups reunite deep inside southern Germany. Finally, the book tells the story of how the unit finally is recognized for its incredible stand. I had a lump in my throat at the story of their reunion in NYC.
My only complaint is the book follows so many stories and does not spend as much time as I would have liked on each of the threads. Mr Kershaw could have doubled the size of the book and kept our interest. He writes very well, not too technical but with accuracy. 4 ½ Stars!
October 5, 2014
In general I am not a big fan of small, or single unit, books. Their focus sometimes seems to be that if this unit would have been allowed more freedom, men, equipment, etc. that this unit could have won a battle or even have turned the tide of action. Sometimes actions of singular units can and do change the course of battles, but unless there is a telling of the actions that are going on around this unit it causes a sense of isolation and lack of reality.
This book avoids that trap and does it in an amazingly admirable fashion. If focuses on the individuals of the I & R Platoon, not only those that were caught in the battle, but the ones that managed, through luck and promotion to avoid being there for it. That isn't the only way it does this, this book does take into account the larger picture. Not for the whole of the front that would be the start of the Battle of the Bulge, but for the immediate areas north as south of the position that was held by the I & R Platoon. The book also looks at the other side of the Hill showing German actions and plans. The last thing the book does to avoid the pitfall of super-sizing an action it is follows the group after the battle.
All in all one of the best small unit books I have ever read.
This book avoids that trap and does it in an amazingly admirable fashion. If focuses on the individuals of the I & R Platoon, not only those that were caught in the battle, but the ones that managed, through luck and promotion to avoid being there for it. That isn't the only way it does this, this book does take into account the larger picture. Not for the whole of the front that would be the start of the Battle of the Bulge, but for the immediate areas north as south of the position that was held by the I & R Platoon. The book also looks at the other side of the Hill showing German actions and plans. The last thing the book does to avoid the pitfall of super-sizing an action it is follows the group after the battle.
All in all one of the best small unit books I have ever read.
April 1, 2022
As one of my fellow Goodreads friends wrote: this is the book that Band of Brothers should have been. The platoon in question manages to hold up Peiper's advance during a few days, gets captured and spends the rest of the days as German POW's. What follows is an impressive story in which personal courage and endurance play a major role. Also interesting to read how the men fared after the war and how they eventually came to terms with their opponents. Respect.
April 8, 2021
On Dec. 16, 1944, German troops launched a major counter-offensive on the Western Front during World War II that has come to be known as the Battle of the Bulge. It was Hitler’s last desperate attempt to maintain Germany's hold on Europe. German troops drove through allied lines in the Ardennes forest of Belgium and Luxembourg with the aim of splitting the Allies in their drive toward Germany, allowing the Germans to encircle and destroy the Allied armies. As the Germans drove into the Ardennes, the Allied line took on the shape of a large bulge, which gave the battle its name. The German attack achieved total surprise; before the battle ended on January 25, the Allies had suffered more than 100,000 casualties.
The Longest Winter: The Battle of the Bulge and the Epic Story of World War II's Most Decorated Platoon is author Alex Kershaw’s account of the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon from the 394th Infantry Regiment of the 99th Infantry Division. On that cold December 16 morning, eighteen men under the command of Lieutenant Lyle Bouck, Jr. were huddled in their foxholes outside the village of Lansareth, Belgium trying desperately to keep warm. Suddenly, the morning silence was broken by the roar of artillery and the sound of approaching tanks. The artillery barrage lasted 90 minutes. When German troops moved forward, Bouck realized they were facing an entire German battalion of more than 500 men. When the 820th Tank Destroyer Battalion pulled out, Bauck called regimental headquarters, asking, “What should we do?” The answer was loud and clear: “Hold at all costs!” Bauck’s platoon held off an entire German battalion during a 10-hour-long fight, inflicting numerous casualties on the Germans. The defense seriously disrupted and delayed the entire German Sixth Panzer Army's attack along the northern edge of the offensive. Two who had been sent on foot to regimental headquarters to seek reinforcements were captured, and a third was killed. After repulsing three German assaults, the fifteen remaining men of the platoon were flanked by Germans and were captured.
The first part of the book describes the formation and training of the 394th, as well as the battle itself. The second part describes the platoon's captivity, liberation, and postwar recognition. In the POW camp, the platoon faced an ordeal far worse than combat. In captivity, they faced trigger-happy German guards, Allied bombing raids, and very poor food rations. Most of the men lost a significant amount of weight. Despite this, they all survived and were liberated by Allied troops. Because of their capture, the U.S. Army did not recognize the platoon for its actions for thirty-seven years. Finally, on January 15, 1981, the entire platoon was recognized by President Jimmy Carter with a Presidential Unit Citation, and every member of the platoon was decorated with Distinguished Service Crosses, Silver Stars, or Bronze Stars, making them the most decorated American platoon of World War II.
Kershaw has created an engaging book, but one that is not without flaws. Kershaw devoted considerable text to events and people not directly connected to I&R/394th and serve to distract the reader from the main story. In particular, the book contains numerous references to author Kurt Vonnegut, a veteran of the 106th Infantry Division. These references seem completely unnecessary.
The Longest Winter: The Battle of the Bulge and the Epic Story of World War II's Most Decorated Platoon is author Alex Kershaw’s account of the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon from the 394th Infantry Regiment of the 99th Infantry Division. On that cold December 16 morning, eighteen men under the command of Lieutenant Lyle Bouck, Jr. were huddled in their foxholes outside the village of Lansareth, Belgium trying desperately to keep warm. Suddenly, the morning silence was broken by the roar of artillery and the sound of approaching tanks. The artillery barrage lasted 90 minutes. When German troops moved forward, Bouck realized they were facing an entire German battalion of more than 500 men. When the 820th Tank Destroyer Battalion pulled out, Bauck called regimental headquarters, asking, “What should we do?” The answer was loud and clear: “Hold at all costs!” Bauck’s platoon held off an entire German battalion during a 10-hour-long fight, inflicting numerous casualties on the Germans. The defense seriously disrupted and delayed the entire German Sixth Panzer Army's attack along the northern edge of the offensive. Two who had been sent on foot to regimental headquarters to seek reinforcements were captured, and a third was killed. After repulsing three German assaults, the fifteen remaining men of the platoon were flanked by Germans and were captured.
The first part of the book describes the formation and training of the 394th, as well as the battle itself. The second part describes the platoon's captivity, liberation, and postwar recognition. In the POW camp, the platoon faced an ordeal far worse than combat. In captivity, they faced trigger-happy German guards, Allied bombing raids, and very poor food rations. Most of the men lost a significant amount of weight. Despite this, they all survived and were liberated by Allied troops. Because of their capture, the U.S. Army did not recognize the platoon for its actions for thirty-seven years. Finally, on January 15, 1981, the entire platoon was recognized by President Jimmy Carter with a Presidential Unit Citation, and every member of the platoon was decorated with Distinguished Service Crosses, Silver Stars, or Bronze Stars, making them the most decorated American platoon of World War II.
Kershaw has created an engaging book, but one that is not without flaws. Kershaw devoted considerable text to events and people not directly connected to I&R/394th and serve to distract the reader from the main story. In particular, the book contains numerous references to author Kurt Vonnegut, a veteran of the 106th Infantry Division. These references seem completely unnecessary.
November 25, 2015
This is the story of a platoon of men who were trained as Intelligence and Reconnaissance soldiers, but found themselves in a fight for their lives as infantrymen. They were out front of the 379th Division, 99th, Infantry Division push into Germany in late fall, 1944. They met what was Hitler's last great secret all out, do or die effort to defeat the Allies in the west, which became to be known as the Battle of the Bulge. The platoon's heroic efforts were not recognized by the Army, our government and our nation until January, 1981. This is their story told so well by Alex Kershaw who always amazes with his ability tell about the unsung heroes of WWII.
April 5, 2017
Written for the average reader. Plenty of rich detail from both side's perspectives. Lots of action and suspense. I've encountered the story of the Battle of the Bulge any number of times, but this was a whole new angle that was enlightening and entertaining. Man, they had a rough go of it.
March 7, 2019
I struggled to get into this book and found it hard going.
It didn't really hold my attention. I'd describe it as standard 'Military History', formulaic, then again what was I expecting?
It does it's job in describing the defence of Lazerath by a small recce unit well and in detail. And the best part of the book is the aftermath of battle and how the soldiers were treated as p.o.w's in Germany in the last months of the war. Something that I hadn't read or heard about much before.
The way the men are portrayed though is almost as caricatures. The Americans all seem to be college boy proto jocks and the Germans war film nazi bad guys. Very lazy. To describe Otto Skorzeny as 'Blond,' (just look at his pictures), and dying of old age in his bed, (67), is really stretching it!
A poor man's 'Band Of Brothers.'
It didn't really hold my attention. I'd describe it as standard 'Military History', formulaic, then again what was I expecting?
It does it's job in describing the defence of Lazerath by a small recce unit well and in detail. And the best part of the book is the aftermath of battle and how the soldiers were treated as p.o.w's in Germany in the last months of the war. Something that I hadn't read or heard about much before.
The way the men are portrayed though is almost as caricatures. The Americans all seem to be college boy proto jocks and the Germans war film nazi bad guys. Very lazy. To describe Otto Skorzeny as 'Blond,' (just look at his pictures), and dying of old age in his bed, (67), is really stretching it!
A poor man's 'Band Of Brothers.'
July 11, 2013
This obscure WWII battle described in the book is one I doubt many have heard of, I hadn’t. If you’re a student of war history you’ll want to know about it. Its importance to the outcome of the Battle of the Bulge can’t be overstated since it was the first engagement of the battle. The Battle of Lanzerath Ridge in Belgium was only a 10 hour battle but that day may have been the single biggest turning point in bringing the war to an end 5 months later.
On Dec. 15, 1945 an American 18 man reconnaissance platoon from 99th Infantry Division led by a 20 year old 1st Lt. named Lyle Bouck held off an elite SS Panzer Tank battalion of 500 men with only one heavy machine gun and small arms fire. By holding the Panzer Battalion which was the northern spear of the attack at bay that day it allowed the Allies to reorganize and redeploy troops to counter what they then realized was a the biggest and last German offensive of the war.
If the Panzer’s broke through that day it’s possible they could have cut the Allies in half and prolonged the war. The brave defensive action by Bouck’s platoon saved countless GI’s lives and completely changed the Germans strategy and chances of success in the Battle of the Bulge.
Since Bouck’s platoon had no chance of getting reinforcement, heavy armor or air support he and his men were finally surrounded by Germans and forced to surrender the next day. What followed was a harrowing story of survival by him and his men in the German POW camps. That story alone makes the book worthy of study.
Unfortunately for Bouck and his men they considered their actions at Lanzerath a failure because they surrendered. It wasn’t until 5 months later after the POW camps were liberated that the survivors understood just how important their defensive action had been. 37 years later long overdue recognition by the US Government finally came to all the brave men of the platoon after a tireless letter writing campaign by Bouck.
In 1981 it paid off when the men who fought at Lanzerath finally were recognized for their achievement. They became the most decorated American unit of WW II in a ceremony conducted by then President Jimmy Carter. Every man was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. Four received the Distinguished Service Cross, five the Silver Star, and nine got the Bronze Star with V device for their 10-hour struggle.
Many brave men fought and died in small battles like this one throughout the war and by honoring this group of men it stressed how each small cross section of the battles fought led to the overall victory in WWII.
On Dec. 15, 1945 an American 18 man reconnaissance platoon from 99th Infantry Division led by a 20 year old 1st Lt. named Lyle Bouck held off an elite SS Panzer Tank battalion of 500 men with only one heavy machine gun and small arms fire. By holding the Panzer Battalion which was the northern spear of the attack at bay that day it allowed the Allies to reorganize and redeploy troops to counter what they then realized was a the biggest and last German offensive of the war.
If the Panzer’s broke through that day it’s possible they could have cut the Allies in half and prolonged the war. The brave defensive action by Bouck’s platoon saved countless GI’s lives and completely changed the Germans strategy and chances of success in the Battle of the Bulge.
Since Bouck’s platoon had no chance of getting reinforcement, heavy armor or air support he and his men were finally surrounded by Germans and forced to surrender the next day. What followed was a harrowing story of survival by him and his men in the German POW camps. That story alone makes the book worthy of study.
Unfortunately for Bouck and his men they considered their actions at Lanzerath a failure because they surrendered. It wasn’t until 5 months later after the POW camps were liberated that the survivors understood just how important their defensive action had been. 37 years later long overdue recognition by the US Government finally came to all the brave men of the platoon after a tireless letter writing campaign by Bouck.
In 1981 it paid off when the men who fought at Lanzerath finally were recognized for their achievement. They became the most decorated American unit of WW II in a ceremony conducted by then President Jimmy Carter. Every man was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. Four received the Distinguished Service Cross, five the Silver Star, and nine got the Bronze Star with V device for their 10-hour struggle.
Many brave men fought and died in small battles like this one throughout the war and by honoring this group of men it stressed how each small cross section of the battles fought led to the overall victory in WWII.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2021
Alex Kershaw has written a very good book. The narrative flows smoothly as Kershaw gives an account of the horrors that occurred in the initial stages of the Battle of the Bulge. It also describes those servicemen who were captured and spent time in POW camps. We are transported to the 394th I & R company who held a "very thin line" on the Ghost Front. This story is the encounter that 22 men had against an overwhelming force of paratroop units of the Germans. What these guys went through is amazing to say the least. Your foxhole is filling with snow, your fingers and toes are turning blue from some of the coldest weather to hit Germany during WWII. Around the bend comes Joachim Peiper, also known as Jochen Peiper, a German SS-Obersturmbannführer and convicted war criminal who was responsible for the 1944 Malmedy massacre of American prisoners of war and his mighty Panzer's. Behind that is a division of German soldiers, and your "rifle is frozen solid." But that's just the start of your troubles and many more will happen as you read this book. Kershaw has delivered an exceptional military history. The story of the heroic platoon deserves telling and retelling until the end of time. A few men stood firm against a tidal wave of tanks, infantry and artillery. Those who survived were taken prisoner and suffered for months in prison camps and some for decades after because of their wounds and mistreatment. Yet, honors didn't find them immediately and their heroism went unrecognized for decades. Kershaw's research was prodigious, and overall I found the book a very good read.
March 31, 2024
It starts slow but is a worthwhile read. I was expecting more detail on the combat during Battle of the Bulge but appreciated the storytelling on American POWs. Theirs in an under-told and under-appreciated hardship of WWII.
November 14, 2014
-Un hecho concreto y sus consecuencias en el marco más amplio de lo sucedido en las Ardenas.-
Género. Historia.
Lo que nos cuenta. Relato de la preparación de la ofensiva alemana en las Ardenas y de cómo ello afectó a los miembros de un pequeño pelotón de soldados norteamericanos que termina desplegado en lugar anodino de sus posiciones, en la ladera de un pueblo llamado Lanzerath, de quiénes eran esos hombres, de cómo se enfrentan durante 24 horas a fuerzas muy superiores y de los destinos de esas personas, junto a los de otros protagonistas más conocidos de la última gran ofensiva alemana de la Segunda Guerra Mundial.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Historia.
Lo que nos cuenta. Relato de la preparación de la ofensiva alemana en las Ardenas y de cómo ello afectó a los miembros de un pequeño pelotón de soldados norteamericanos que termina desplegado en lugar anodino de sus posiciones, en la ladera de un pueblo llamado Lanzerath, de quiénes eran esos hombres, de cómo se enfrentan durante 24 horas a fuerzas muy superiores y de los destinos de esas personas, junto a los de otros protagonistas más conocidos de la última gran ofensiva alemana de la Segunda Guerra Mundial.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
November 7, 2012
A well written, very readable book about the extraordinary heroism of the Intelligence and Reconnaissance platoon of the 394th Infantry Regiment of the 99th Division at Lanzareth, Belgium. A book that should be read by anyone interested in the events of the the Battle of the Bulge and the sacrifices of young men at war.
January 23, 2015
I did not know the story of this I&R platoon. Their holding of position at all costs exemplified what helped the allies win WW II. This group of men were an instrumental key to slowing down the ‘bulge’ during the largest and bloodiest battle fought by the US in WW II.
February 2, 2021
"Es geht alles vorüber, Es geht alles vorbei.
Nach jedem Dezember,Gibt’s wieder ein Mai.*
—Popular German song played on the radio throughout spring 1945.
* “Everything passes, everything goes by.
After every December, there is always a May.”
The Longest Winter begins with the July 20th 1944 assassination attempt of Adolph Hitler by Claus von Stauffenberg and other conspirators. Unfortunately, the failed attempt had the undesired effect of convincing The Furher that fate and destiny had allowed him to survive. Kershaw writes:
Author Alex Kershaw is an English journalist, public speaker and the author of several best-selling books, including The Liberator, The First Wave, The Bedford Boys and this one; The Longest Winter.
Alex Kershaw:
The writing here follows the men of The Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon from the 394th Infantry Regiment of the 99th Infantry Division, lead by First Lt. Lyle J. Bouck, Jr.
Kershaw includes many direct quotes of the battle from the men of the 99th themselves here, which helped drive the story home to the reader.
A 20-year-old Bouck, platoon leader of the 394th Infantry Division’s Intelligence and Reconnaissance unit:
The Longest Winter also details the advance of Kampfgruppe Peiper, lead by SS-Obersturmbannführer Joachim Peiper and his 1st SS Panzer Division. The book also talks about his role in the Malmedy massacre of December 17, 1944, as well as other war crimes.
First-hand accounts from these men are also included here by Kershaw.
Joachim Peiper:
Aftermath of the Malmedy massacre:
The Longest Winter also briefly talks about Otto Skorzeny, although Skorzeny and his mission(s) were written about in greater detail in Beevor's book Ardennes 1944.
Kershaw pays homage to the bravery and valour of the men of the 99th with this quote:
Some further resources about this, other WW2-era battles and more, including an upcoming lecture by the author can be found at the Friends of the National World War II Memorial website. The site notes that: "Friends of the National World War II Memorial (Friends), based in Washington, D.C., is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to teaching lessons of yesterday to unite generations of tomorrow. Founded in 2007 by the creators of the National World War II Memorial, Friends brings Americans of all backgrounds and ages together for national ceremonies and experiences at the Memorial and for online educational programs centered around the themes of American unity, shared values and ideals, and the spirit of community, inspiring them with timeless stories of sacrifice, dedication, and valor."
The Longest Winter: The Battle of the Bulge and the Epic Story of World War II's Most Decorated Platoon was a great (albeit somewhat grim and sobering) read. Kershaw did a fantastic job of telling the story of the 99ers here, and the story of the now-famous battle.
This one should be on the shelf of every armchair historian and WW2 buff.
5 stars.
Nach jedem Dezember,Gibt’s wieder ein Mai.*
—Popular German song played on the radio throughout spring 1945.
* “Everything passes, everything goes by.
After every December, there is always a May.”
The Longest Winter begins with the July 20th 1944 assassination attempt of Adolph Hitler by Claus von Stauffenberg and other conspirators. Unfortunately, the failed attempt had the undesired effect of convincing The Furher that fate and destiny had allowed him to survive. Kershaw writes:
"...It was a few seconds before 1:00 A.M. on July 21, 1944, when a loud blast of military music interrupted all broadcasts on German radio.January 25, 2021 marks the 76th anniversary of the end of Battle of the Bulge. In paying homage to the men who fought and died, this is the second book that I'm reading about the battle, after Antony Beevor's Ardennes 1944: Hitler's Last Gamble.
“I was spared a fate which held no horror for me, but would have had terrible consequences for the German people,” Adolf Hitler solemnly declared. “I see in it a sign from Providence that I must, and therefore shall, continue my work.”
On July 25, 1944, the BBC announced that only Germany’s total and unconditional surrender would end the war. For Hitler there was no option now but to continue the fight, even to the bitter end. And so, as he recuperated that late July, Hitler began to develop the most audacious military plan of his career—a last, desperate gamble to defeat the Allies in the West..."
Author Alex Kershaw is an English journalist, public speaker and the author of several best-selling books, including The Liberator, The First Wave, The Bedford Boys and this one; The Longest Winter.
Alex Kershaw:
The writing here follows the men of The Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon from the 394th Infantry Regiment of the 99th Infantry Division, lead by First Lt. Lyle J. Bouck, Jr.
Kershaw includes many direct quotes of the battle from the men of the 99th themselves here, which helped drive the story home to the reader.
A 20-year-old Bouck, platoon leader of the 394th Infantry Division’s Intelligence and Reconnaissance unit:
The Longest Winter also details the advance of Kampfgruppe Peiper, lead by SS-Obersturmbannführer Joachim Peiper and his 1st SS Panzer Division. The book also talks about his role in the Malmedy massacre of December 17, 1944, as well as other war crimes.
First-hand accounts from these men are also included here by Kershaw.
Joachim Peiper:
Aftermath of the Malmedy massacre:
The Longest Winter also briefly talks about Otto Skorzeny, although Skorzeny and his mission(s) were written about in greater detail in Beevor's book Ardennes 1944.
Kershaw pays homage to the bravery and valour of the men of the 99th with this quote:
"Through it all, in arguably the most courageous defensive action in U.S. military history, 99ers held firm, absorbing the last great blows of the Wehrmacht on the western front.Wikipedia has a succinct summary of this amazing story, that I'm including here; both for my own future reference, and for anyone else interested. I've covered it with a spoiler, to avoid giving anything away:
But it would not have been possible without the stubborn bravery of small units, vastly outnumbered, that had stood and held firm until killed or captured, thereby slowing down the German onslaught of December 16 and buying the 99ers and other divisions critical time in which to withdraw, regroup, and defend reformed lines. They did not yet know it, but Lieutenant Lyle Bouck and his men’s courageous stand at Lanzerath had not been futile—far from it. “This small group of Americans,” Major Kriz would write, “had molded together to do something that they did not care to do, under the leadership of Lieutenant Bouck, [and] in giving of themselves gave a vast number of American troops a little more time to change positions, retrench, fight and hold to fight again another day..."
Some further resources about this, other WW2-era battles and more, including an upcoming lecture by the author can be found at the Friends of the National World War II Memorial website. The site notes that: "Friends of the National World War II Memorial (Friends), based in Washington, D.C., is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to teaching lessons of yesterday to unite generations of tomorrow. Founded in 2007 by the creators of the National World War II Memorial, Friends brings Americans of all backgrounds and ages together for national ceremonies and experiences at the Memorial and for online educational programs centered around the themes of American unity, shared values and ideals, and the spirit of community, inspiring them with timeless stories of sacrifice, dedication, and valor."
The Longest Winter: The Battle of the Bulge and the Epic Story of World War II's Most Decorated Platoon was a great (albeit somewhat grim and sobering) read. Kershaw did a fantastic job of telling the story of the 99ers here, and the story of the now-famous battle.
This one should be on the shelf of every armchair historian and WW2 buff.
5 stars.
March 7, 2017
I love true stories about personal courage and this book really delivers! Well-written, gripping story about an Intelligence and Reconnaissance platoon who fought heroically and survived As POWs. Thank you to the author for telling this story.
May 22, 2025
Not sure why, maybe my present mood, but this one didn’t quite do it for me in spite of the great valor of the young men portrayed in this account of a crucial battle of WWII. Worthy read, but it just didn’t hit all the right notes for me.
July 27, 2012
A fascinating tale of heroism both on the largest front line of WWII and in the harrowing POW camps of Europe. I read Kershaw's "The Envoy" last year and it still stands as one of my favorite non-fiction books ever. That is a hard act to follow. "The Longest Winter" does get bogged down a bit in the sheer number of stories that it sets out to tell. Whenever you want to tell the story of an entire platoon, as well as the story of its German captors, I imagine it is an unavoidable problem. Even though it is difficult to keep the names straight, Kershaw does an amazing job in telling the rich details of every personal account. It is a touching story that few are probably aware of, but everyone definitely should be.
May 9, 2013
One of the best military history books I have read. While I majored in History and have a great deal of interest in military history, few books on the subject are able to hold my attention and... oh look a butterfly... anyway, this one did. Excellent job by Kershaw.
March 29, 2018
EXCELLENT book. I was tearing up at the end when our boys were finally liberated!
May 27, 2020
I didn’t know how much I didn’t know about this important battle. Such a small number of American troops holding off the Germans on a mass offensive. Greatly outnumbered, these heroes succeeded but against incredible odds, including the cold harsh winter they weren’t equipped for. Many were taken as POW’s. They talk about all of these experiences. They all survive.
The book follows them home and talks about their lives after the war, the the recognition they finally got more than 30 years later by President Carter. I couldn’t put it down.
The book follows them home and talks about their lives after the war, the the recognition they finally got more than 30 years later by President Carter. I couldn’t put it down.
August 31, 2013
This is a edge of your seat exciting book about the Battle of the Bulge, POW's, and the men of the almost forgotten 394th I & R Platoon. I read it in two evenings. I was fascinated by the amount of information obtained from unpublished personal journals and interviews with the men who were there. You really see the war through the eyes of the participants, both Allies and Germans. I also enjoyed knowing what happened to the men, the Americans and the Germans, after the war and learning that some of the former adversaries met years later. Excellent book.
November 2, 2015
An in depth story of heroism in the face of certain defeat. While The Battle Of The Bulge involved fighting from countless men The Longest Winter focuses solely on the men of an I&R platoon from the 99th Infantry Division. Following them from training in Texas into the heart of Germany from 1944-1945 by the end I felt an attachment to each of them individually. While I enjoy to learn anything I can about WWII there was so much I didn't know about this particular group and was glad to see them get the recognition they deserved.
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