The Paratrooper Generals: Matthew Ridgway, Maxwell Taylor, and the American Airborne from D-Day Through Normandy

by Mitchell A. Yockelson

Generals during World War II usually stayed to the rear, but not Matthew Ridgway and Maxwell Taylor. During D-Day and the Normandy campaign, these commanders of the 82nd "All-American" and the 101st "Screaming Eagle" Airborne Divisions refused to remain behind the lines and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with their paratroopers in the thick of combat. Jumping into Normandy during the early hours of D-Day, Ridgway and Taylor fought on the ground for six weeks of combat that cost the airborne divisions more than 40 percent casualties. The Paratrooper Generals is the first book to explore in depth the significant role these two division commanders played on D-Day, describing the extraordinary courage and leadership they demonstrated throughout the most important American campaign of World War II.

Genres: World War II, Audiobook, Biography, American History

320 pages, Hardcover

Published July 21, 2020

Reviews

[Adam Carnehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweeping narrative surrounding the two main American commanders of the U.S. Airborne units in Normandy during World War II, "The Paratrooper Generals" manages to be simultaneously penetrating and entertaining. While focusing primarily on the careers and personalities of Matthew Ridgeway of the 82nd Airborne and Maxwell Taylor of the 101st Airborne divisions, Yockelson also takes time to explore other leaders and soldiers. From Life war correspondents to glider pilots, five star generals to privates, the reader meets a vast number of interesting people involved in the destinies of Ridgeway and Taylor. I appreciated learning more about the American generals' upbringings, West Point (or war college) experiences, and early days in the U.S. Army. I also thought that Yockelson's narrative of the (often complicated) battle of Normany itself was very well-paced and well-written; often historians either give highly convulsed accounts that can confuse the reader, or, broad generalizations that give an unreal, flat overview. This book fortunately does neither, but instead achieves a good history and high entertainment value.

[Grouchy Historian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can’t figure if this is supposed to be a biography, leadership study, or combat narrative. It was scattered although well written and just tried to cram a lot of different things into a single book.

Also could have used better editing. Lots of nitnoid errors and typos.