Bastogne: The First Eight Days

by S.L.A. Marshall

[This edition benefits from numerous maps of the battlefields that the actions were fought over]
“NUTS!” - Among the many military legends that abound from the fighting of the Second World War, the one word reply to a German summons to surrender must rank highly in terms of its resonance, importance and sheer grit. General Mcaulliffe decided that despite the odds and the lack of supplies and ammunition his troops would continue to hold the important communication hub of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. This dramatic, yet authoritative account brings all of the action to the fore as the Battered Bastards of Bastogne wrote their names into legend.
"THIS STORY OF BASTOGNE was written from interviews with nearly all the commanders and staff officers and many of the men who participated in the defense of Bastogne during the first phase of that now celebrated operation—the days during which the American forces were surrounded by forces of the enemy…
Thus it is essentially the account of how a single strong defensive force was built from separate commands of armor, airborne infantry and tank destroyers—a force convinced that it could not be beaten."-Introduction.

Genres: American History, History, Nonfiction, War, World War II, European History

137 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 1988

About the author

S.L.A. Marshall (full name, Samuel Lyman Atwood Marshall) served in World War I and then embarked in a career in journalism. In World War II, he was chief combat historian in the Central Pacific (1943) and chief historian for the European Theater of Operations (1945). He authored some 30 books about warfare, including Pork Chop Hill: The American Fighting Man in Action, The River and the Gauntlet and Men Against Fire: The Problem of Battle Command in Future War.

Reviews

[Martin Koenigsberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. And got a much better insight into the Military history Phenomenon that was SLA Marshall. This might be the beginning of the legend- as the Colonel present a totally compelling tick-tock of exactly what the title says: The first 8 days of the siege of the Road Net Market Town, Bastogne, in the Ardenne forest of Belgium, the scene of the Battle of The Bulge. The 101st Airborne Division, an elite American formation, with assistance from Combat Command B of the 10th Armoured Division- and as much artillery and engineering units as they could gather -denied Bastogne's road net to the Germans - thus gutting the German Offensive and ending the last offensive spasm in the West. Every feint, attack, stonk, and re-supply mission is in here- and its fascinating.

SLA Marshall's style was to talk to EVERYONE he could, so after we get the American story of fearful resistance growing to confident repulses of serial German attacks. But the Germans never really develop a fully supported major attack- the entire time. The artillery prep /tanks/ infantry seldom attack together- and the US's more sustainable artillery and Air resources always manage to get just enough shells/bombson targets to stop what attacks are pressed home. Then we get a whole chapter on the German side- and come to understand how resource poor, their whole effort was- and how their well earned fear of Allied Air coloured every decision they made, many wrong. It's incredibly compelling- I love every page.

For the junior reader, this is a great discussion of military life and tactics, without too much time spent on the gore- any reader over about 11 should be able to follow along and learn. For the Gamer/Modeller/Military Enthusiast- PURE GOLD. There is nothing but ideas for Dioramas and Scenarios! This is a PERFECT CAMPAIGN MANUAL. You have literally about three scenarios for every day- and you have mainly US Paras/ Tanks versus SS in SnowSuits! With a Volksgrenadier Division, so you get SturmGewehr 44s as well! the Maps/Diagrams/OoBs are AWESOME. And you get in touch with how and why command decisions were taken- on both sides. This version also had a great little B/W photo section that further clarified some ideas. Just a great book to help you understand how WWII was fought.

[Charles Pyron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thorough but Tedious

The subject was covered thoroughly and in minute detail. What was lacking was a map or maps of the area. Without maps, the reader could only follow the words without a clear mental picture of the action. This made the reading very tedious at times.

C.M. Pyron

C. M. Peyton

[Richard A Lambing · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d say okay at best. A cheap buy. I enjoyed Band of Brothers, by Stephen Ambrose a bunch more. The HBO mini series, is good too. This book, was boring at times. I finished it, because I bought it. An important battle, to a very important war. It’s lessons shouldn’t be forgotten.

[Patricia Mayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read if you are an infantry company commander. It’s a little too much if you are a military historian. But Marshall is the best.

Good read if you are an infantry company commander. It’s a little too much if you are a military historian. But Marshall is the best.

[Philip Len Massey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

Need maps good details of movements of each group and what the whole group was thinking and reactions of each company

[Stephen Kness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loaded with day to day

The daily resolve provided an up close view of the quick actions taken to seal Bastions and prevent its fall.

[mickey mutti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bastogne

The first of my readings of the battle and was worth the time spent. Different than most of my earlier readings

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

1988 Facsimile reprint in paperback of 1946 Center for Military History original, with this cover image.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

About the first eight of the defense of Bastogne (and not what happened in the town). Very interesting, nice maps but not good quality on the kindle.

[Jerimy Stoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

World War II was a long struggle full of points of strategic value. The best way to defeat the enemy was to use a series of delaying actions that stalled their progress. Bastogne was one of these locations and the U.S. troops assigned here were able to hold the enemy at bay until reinforcements could arrive. Reading these types of stories holp one appreciate what our ancestors had to do to keep our country from falling into foreign hands and being subjected to invading policies. I recommend this book for people interested in History, WWII, Military Strategy, Leadership, and War.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book from my Band of Brothers reading list. Very detailed, lots of illustrations and maps.

[Andy Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read written very shortly after the battle, based on interviews with the participants that were conducted within just a few days of the actual events. Certainly some aspects of the battle are more well understood now than when the book was written, but it's very interesting to see the evaluation of the battle without the filter of years changing the views of the events.

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is an excellent concept especially dealing with Bastonge and the fight put up by the 101st airborne, 10th armored and the 705th tank destroyers.... I cannot imagine what they went through, but General Marshal helps us understand it and appreciate it.