Forgotten Soldiers

by Brian Moynahan

Forgotten Soldiers is an enthralling work of military history that shows how the courage, intelligence or simple good fortune of the individual can exert a decisive influence on the outcome of a battle or campaign. It tells the stories of fifteen unsung heroes, none of a rank higher than major, whose deeds changed the course of important battles and - arguably - the course of history.
These vivid and gripping accounts - largely drawn from the Second World War, but with tales too from other conflicts - have each been selected to illustrate one of the dictums of the great Prussian theorist of war, Carl von Clausewitz, about the importance of having the right man in the right place at the right time.
From the Roman standard bearer who plunged into the waves off Deal in 55 BC, saving Julius Caesar's military honour and political career, to the young Israeli tank lieutenant who almost single-handedly stalled the advancing Syrian armour in 1973, these are above all tales of courage. But it is not just courage that wins wars, as these stories such elements as surprise, determination, good intelligence, chance, insight, inventiveness and clear thinking all play their parts in eventual victory. And it may only take one man, often of lowly rank, his name largely forgotten, to embody such qualities for the effect to be felt around the world.

Genres: Military Fiction, History, Military History

368 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2007

About the author

Brian Moynahan was an English journalist, historian and biographer.

Reviews

[John Somers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Instances in which one man can be said to have had a pivotal role in a great battle. Sturmpionier, Pavlov's House, The Biplane and the Battleship and Truly, this Man is the New Noah were excellent while my two favourite chapters were The Bicycle Blitzkrieg and The Loose Cannon of Yom Kippur. Also liked the way each chapter was opened with an appropriate quote from Clausewitz's On War.

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main characters are not truly known to the bottom of their life but besides the fact that the all served for this country. the conflict through out this book is war and how the had to fight there way to the top. War is a complicated thing in which people must suffer extreme trials and each one must deal with those extremes as best they can but within each conflict in which a mass of humanity attempts to survive the horrors of those extremes. The special few that face the challenges and with solitary effort some how turn the tide of battle by their supreme efforts, these soldiers are often forgotten to future generations. the story was mostly full in every part u where always going to be entertain even though u may not know what will happen but even when you did their still was the spark you get from ever other part. the only thing would how it describes so much of the artillery but nothing of strategy. Their is much violence in the book but it comes with the topic of war even though you may not be able to see it with eyes you can see it within your head how what people experience. every now and then there are some but few swear words within in the book. This book brings the reader to the battlefields in which forgotten soldiers controlled the field of battle and for that history of warfare is made.

[Vivek · Rating 5 out of 5]

All war stories excite me. But many of the chapters in this leave a lasting excitement and admiration. Individual stories of valour, courage and initiative are plenty all around the world.

But this book brings forth certain stories where individual actions made such momentous tactical changes, that some of the well known events look so unlikely, if not for the individual.

My favourites are:
1) Sturmpionier reveals how much odds were against the Germans when they set out to invade France, and how one individual's initiative turned the tides mentally and then physically

2)Pavlovs House narrates the importance of fortified positions and holding them resolutely. A delayed offensive and lost morale cost the Germans very heavily at Stalingrad.

3) Biplane and battleship for me was a unfortunate story for the Germans and a fortunate one for the British

4) Bicycle Blitzkreig examines the unexpected speed and lethality of the Japs on British bicycles in capturing Singapore

5) The new Noah is the story of the man who made the amphibious landing vehicles used all over the war, changing the way war was fought. Great individual pain and enterprise against the government

[Robert Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

It could just as easily have been called forgotten heroes as it traces the acts of several men who virtually changed the course of history by their actions.

I bought it to read while travelling somewhere and didnt put it down until I was finished.

[Martin Samuels · Rating 3 out of 5]

Military history tends to focus on the deeds of generals or of small groups of soldiers, or indeed on equipment rather than people. In this highly accessible work, Brian Moynahan has taken fifteen small incidents from history, ranging from the Romans under Caesar through until Yom Kippur in 1973, and brought out the potential for the individual soldier (sailr or airman) to influence the course of events, with strategic implications.

While none of the chapters are deeply researched (Moynahan usefully gives his sources, usually half a dozen works per chapter), the stories are told with a powerful immediacy, which strongly draws the reader into the situation. The bravery and perseverence of the men at the heart of each chapter is often awe-inspiring, and the consequences of their actions frequently far beyond what they might have imagined. The book thereby provides a useful reminder that warfare is not simply the domain of mass and machine.

That said, the choice of chapters is somewhat eclectic and, in some cases, the unique role of the individual not imemdiately obvious - anyone might have been in that situation, or they simply were extraordinarily lucky. Nonetheless, the book provides both a gripping series of tales of incredible human endurance and some insights into an overlooked apsect of warfare. Definitely recommended.

[B.W. Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb book for anyone with an interest in military history.

There are fifteen chapters in this book, each recounting how an ordinary soldier changed the course of history through acts of bravery and leadership. The settings are mainly taken from 20th Century conflicts but there are a couple from earlier periods.
I was impressed by how many of the stories were new to me. I knew about the pilot who took on the Bismark, and Julius Caesar's standard bearer, but all the rest were previously unknown, and that is an accolde as I have been reading military history for a very long time.

Well researched, well written and most enjoyable. I recommend it.