Sheer Misery: Soldiers in Battle in WWII

by Mary Louise

Marching across occupied France in 1944, American GI Leroy Stewart had neither death nor glory on his he was worried about his underwear, which was engaged in a relentless crawl of its own. Similar complaints of physical discomfort pervade infantrymen’s memories of the European theater, whether the soldiers were British, American, German, or French. Wet, freezing misery with no end in sight—this was life for millions of enlisted men during World War II.Sheer Misery trains a humane and unsparing eye on the corporeal experiences of the soldiers who fought in Belgium, France, and Italy during the last two years of the war. In the horrendously unhygienic and often lethal conditions of the front line, their bodies broke down, stubbornly declaring their needs for warmth, rest, and good nutrition. Feet became too swollen to march, fingers too frozen to pull triggers; stomachs cramped, and diarrhea stained underwear and pants. Turning away from the accounts of high-level military strategy that dominate many WWII chronicles, acclaimed historian Mary Louise Roberts instead relies on diaries and letters to bring to life visceral sense memories like the moans of the “screaming meemies,” the acrid smell of cordite, and the shockingly mundane sight of rotting corpses. As Roberts writes, “For soldiers who fought, the war was above all about their bodies.”

Genres: History, World War II, Military History, Nonfiction

209 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 20, 2021

Reviews

[Arthur · Rating 4 out of 5]

A roughly six hour unabridged audiobook .

The focus on troops in Western Europe in ww2 (Italy, France, Belgium) leaves a lot missing such as the more brutal (Yes I said that) eastern front, and the entire pacific. So my first thought is that I'll feel this book is lacking.

But I am happy to report that I walked away impressed with it. It had reports from British, American, Canadian, French and Germans included. The covered areas I never thought about and this book would actually serve as a good reference for authors and screenwriters who wanted to portray with authenticity. I really enjoyed this book and only wish it were longer (a rarity for me).

[William Nist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life in the trenches with the US Army infantry in WWII is described in detail.

The book concentrates on foods, wounds and injury, trench foot, temperature, boots, dead body reactions, and daily living without typical humane facilities. Direct testimonies from former infantry.

It was fascinating and disgusting at the same time.

[Julie Greene · Rating 5 out of 5]

A somatic history of combat, Mary Louise Roberts calls her book. It is a terrific, short, exploration of soldiers' senses and bodies during WWII--both the efforts by officers to control them bodies, and soldiers' ways of asserting some power in a powerless situation. The discussion (and photograph!) of General George Patton triumphantly pissing in the Rhine is unforgettable. He showed those Nazis!

[Paula Iglesias Bueno · Rating 4 out of 5]

3'5. Un enfoque muy interesante y poco habitual en la historia militar, que se centra en las emociones, en la cotidianeidad y en las formas de negociar y asimilar la realidad en el día a día de las trincheras. Ligero y sencillo de seguir, solo que se hace un poco repetitivo por la cantidad de testimonios citados textualmente que incluye en cada tema -muy útiles e ilustrativos, pero quizá no hacían falta tantos.

[Shalom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a painful subject, we often avert our eyes to these bodily consequences of sending people to war. The author deserves credit for tackling the topic, but I think shields herself from the human elements with a clinical / academic approach that lessens the power of her research.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting subject material but suffered from odd sweeping generalisations where a caveat, explanation or deep dive was needed. "Historians tend to not look closely at corpses or the body"? Lol

[Doug Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really bad. The powers in charge didn't do well by the front line soldiers in equipment and clothing to help them fight in appalling conditions The wet cold terrain of Italy and northern Europe made a hell on earth without the heat.

[Milan Vrekic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be mandatory reading for any politician so they can truly understand what they might be sending people into.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually a delightful read despite title

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the play away edition of sheer misery.

Sheer Misery deals with the physical misery of world war II that I do not get from other books on the war. One physical problem that the book talks a lot about that I had never heard of before is Trench foot. About 20,000 US soldiers got and and some even got there feet amputated because of it.

I also learned about Mortuary affairs which I had never heard or read about in any other book on world war II. And I never really gave it much thought as to how the dead were buried. Dead bodies were even booby trapped which I never would have thought they were.

The name Sheer Misery says it all about what is in the book. It does a great job of talking about the some of the sheer misery of world war II. For being in wet muddy trenches, rain, cold, to trench foot, to how the dead were buried. And I think its definitely gives a different view of world war II than other books about the war.