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Hitler’s Winter: The German Battle of the Bulge
Based on new research, Hitler's Winter tells the story of the Battle of the Bulge from the German perspective.
The Battle of the Bulge was the last major German offensive in the West. Launched in the depths of winter to neutralize the overwhelming Allied air superiority, three German armies attacked through the Ardennes, the weakest part of the American lines, with the aim of splitting the Allied armies and seizing the vital port of Antwerp within a week. It was a tall order, as the Panzers had to get across the Our, Amblève, Ourthe and Meuse rivers, and the desperate battle became a race against time and the elements, which the Germans would eventually lose.
This new study of the famous battle focuses on the German experience, telling the story from the perspective of the German infantrymen and Panzer crewmen fighting on the ground in the Ardennes, through to the senior commanders such as SS-Oberstgruppenführer Josef 'Sepp' Dietrich and General Hasso von Manteuffel whose operational decisions did so much to decide the fate of the offensive.
The Battle of the Bulge was the last major German offensive in the West. Launched in the depths of winter to neutralize the overwhelming Allied air superiority, three German armies attacked through the Ardennes, the weakest part of the American lines, with the aim of splitting the Allied armies and seizing the vital port of Antwerp within a week. It was a tall order, as the Panzers had to get across the Our, Amblève, Ourthe and Meuse rivers, and the desperate battle became a race against time and the elements, which the Germans would eventually lose.
This new study of the famous battle focuses on the German experience, telling the story from the perspective of the German infantrymen and Panzer crewmen fighting on the ground in the Ardennes, through to the senior commanders such as SS-Oberstgruppenführer Josef 'Sepp' Dietrich and General Hasso von Manteuffel whose operational decisions did so much to decide the fate of the offensive.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published June 7, 2022
28 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Anthony Tucker-Jones
76 books29 followersDefence analyst Anthony Tucker-Jones spent nearly 20 years in the British Intelligence Community before establishing himself as a defence writer and historian: commenting on regional conflicts, counter-terrorism, intelligence and military affairs.
He is a highly experienced expert with particular strengths in editing, feature writing, report writing, communicating to specialists and non-specialists alike.
Anthony Tucker-Jones has been extensively published in numerous titles and on various news websites. He has also written a number of books.
He is widely travelled with assignments in Africa, Europe, the Far East, Latin America and the Middle East. He lived for a time in Bahrain.
Anthony holds an MA in International Relations & Strategic Studies from Lancaster University.
(Taken from official website.)
He is a highly experienced expert with particular strengths in editing, feature writing, report writing, communicating to specialists and non-specialists alike.
Anthony Tucker-Jones has been extensively published in numerous titles and on various news websites. He has also written a number of books.
He is widely travelled with assignments in Africa, Europe, the Far East, Latin America and the Middle East. He lived for a time in Bahrain.
Anthony holds an MA in International Relations & Strategic Studies from Lancaster University.
(Taken from official website.)
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 21, 2022
I've read all sorts of books on the Ardennes offensive of late 1944, what the Germans called Wacht am Rhine and we know as the Battle of the Bulge. But I've never before read one from the German perspective. It's an eye opener.
We all know - if we know anything about the battle - that while there was little chance that the Germans would actually reach Antwerp, from the American side it was a huge surprise, with unsuspecting units overrun, wiped out, or fleeing in order to avoid being overrun or wiped out. We know that the German forces surrounded the 101st Airborne Division and supporting units in Bastogne. We know that George Patton did what everyone thought was impossible, pulling divisions out of the line and sending them northward in horrible weather to relieve the siege of Bastogne.
But what we mostly don't know is just how chaotic and difficult things were on the German side. At least I didn't really understand this before. I knew, of course, that Adolf Hitler - who by this time thought he was a better military planner and leader than all his generals put together - had rammed this operation down the military's throat. I knew that as much as the Germans retained the element of surprise, and as tough as their soldiers were, there was never more than a faint chance of the operation achieving its goals. But what I didn't know what just how poor the planning actually was, how short a time there was for planning and preparation, the way secrecy prevented some units from even knowing what was going on until just hours or days before they were supposed to jump off.
Seeing the Battle of the Bulge from the German side makes it clear just how close the operation came to never getting off the ground, and what a miracle it was that it ever achieved any success. And it also makes clearer than ever just what damage the offensive did to German arms. Hitler's goal was to force the western Allies into a negotiated peace, so he could concentrate on stopping the Soviet army which was coming from the east, and which all Germans (rightly) were terrified of. But the actual effect of the operation was the expenditure of men and materiel which Germany just didn't have to spare, thus shortening the war. From the Allied perspective it was a major setback, but from the German point of view it was a stupid gamble that couldn't have succeeded, and which made it even more difficult for the country to resist the onrushing Allied forces.
Not only does Tucker-Jones have a fresh perspective on the Battle of the Bulge (at least for us; no doubt German military historians have always concentrated on the German view of the fight), but he's a good writer too. All too often I've tried to read books on fascinating subjects, which poor writing made boring. We don't have that here. We have a fascinating subject with writing that gets and holds your attention, and which is clear to boot. I would've checked out more of Anthony Tucker-Jones' books from the library...except this is the only one in the catalog.
We all know - if we know anything about the battle - that while there was little chance that the Germans would actually reach Antwerp, from the American side it was a huge surprise, with unsuspecting units overrun, wiped out, or fleeing in order to avoid being overrun or wiped out. We know that the German forces surrounded the 101st Airborne Division and supporting units in Bastogne. We know that George Patton did what everyone thought was impossible, pulling divisions out of the line and sending them northward in horrible weather to relieve the siege of Bastogne.
But what we mostly don't know is just how chaotic and difficult things were on the German side. At least I didn't really understand this before. I knew, of course, that Adolf Hitler - who by this time thought he was a better military planner and leader than all his generals put together - had rammed this operation down the military's throat. I knew that as much as the Germans retained the element of surprise, and as tough as their soldiers were, there was never more than a faint chance of the operation achieving its goals. But what I didn't know what just how poor the planning actually was, how short a time there was for planning and preparation, the way secrecy prevented some units from even knowing what was going on until just hours or days before they were supposed to jump off.
Seeing the Battle of the Bulge from the German side makes it clear just how close the operation came to never getting off the ground, and what a miracle it was that it ever achieved any success. And it also makes clearer than ever just what damage the offensive did to German arms. Hitler's goal was to force the western Allies into a negotiated peace, so he could concentrate on stopping the Soviet army which was coming from the east, and which all Germans (rightly) were terrified of. But the actual effect of the operation was the expenditure of men and materiel which Germany just didn't have to spare, thus shortening the war. From the Allied perspective it was a major setback, but from the German point of view it was a stupid gamble that couldn't have succeeded, and which made it even more difficult for the country to resist the onrushing Allied forces.
Not only does Tucker-Jones have a fresh perspective on the Battle of the Bulge (at least for us; no doubt German military historians have always concentrated on the German view of the fight), but he's a good writer too. All too often I've tried to read books on fascinating subjects, which poor writing made boring. We don't have that here. We have a fascinating subject with writing that gets and holds your attention, and which is clear to boot. I would've checked out more of Anthony Tucker-Jones' books from the library...except this is the only one in the catalog.
December 4, 2022
Solid examination of Watch on Rhine (or Battle of Bulge) from German perspective. Solid look at German senior leadership thinking ahead of operation followed by operational level exploration of battle itself.
Only gave it three stars because account of battle itself tried to sprinkle tactical anecdotes in amongst operational view of battle that at best provided greater understanding of soldier perspective but at times unnecessarily bogged down the narrative arc of story.
Ultimately a good read for those interested in understanding the German view of this key battle.
Only gave it three stars because account of battle itself tried to sprinkle tactical anecdotes in amongst operational view of battle that at best provided greater understanding of soldier perspective but at times unnecessarily bogged down the narrative arc of story.
Ultimately a good read for those interested in understanding the German view of this key battle.
December 10, 2024
Great book.
It’s nice to see some background stories from the German side of the war. What a chaotic mess they had to obtain units and material.
Although the concluding chapters are a little bit meager for me. Otherwise it would have 5 stars.
Will buy more books of the author.
It’s nice to see some background stories from the German side of the war. What a chaotic mess they had to obtain units and material.
Although the concluding chapters are a little bit meager for me. Otherwise it would have 5 stars.
Will buy more books of the author.
November 22, 2024
This work of nonfiction covers the World War II Battle of the Bulge in 1944. This was Germany’s last desperate offensive in an attempt break the will of the Western Allies (USA, UK and France) to continue the war. Germany was hoping for a separate peace with the Western Allies, so then they could focus on defending against the Russians. The German Army pretty much knew the offensive had no chance, but they had to submit to orders from Hitler. So, the offensive was tried and this book details how and why it was organized and implemented and then why it failed. This battle is discussed and presented from the German point of view. It is quite detailed but very readable and on the major point easily understood by even the novice readers of military history.
August 20, 2022
Brilliant narration. Descriptive. Filled with short thrilling stories amidst the bulge. Good read for history lovers
February 2, 2025
Started Dec 12th, 2024 after watching Netflix's documentary Series, Churchill at War Excellent! Anthony Tucker-Jones was one of the authors mentioned.
In the book, I only skimmed through the foreword and prologue.
- Part one : A Daring Plan, Chapter I Scarface about Otto Skorzeny. known for the rescue of Mussolini. He tortured many as a Nazi SS Officer, and after being imprisoned, managed to escape to Spain where he died in 1975.
This book's approach is not as easy as I thought -long and slow.
For the Battle of the Bulge, I preferred to watch a movie or read the Summary on Britannica.
Listening to Anthony Tucker-Jones 2022-TV interviews on YouTube, gives a clearer picture and better preparation to read Hitler’s Winter: The German Battle of the Bulge..
In the book, I only skimmed through the foreword and prologue.
- Part one : A Daring Plan, Chapter I Scarface about Otto Skorzeny. known for the rescue of Mussolini. He tortured many as a Nazi SS Officer, and after being imprisoned, managed to escape to Spain where he died in 1975.
This book's approach is not as easy as I thought -long and slow.
For the Battle of the Bulge, I preferred to watch a movie or read the Summary on Britannica.
Listening to Anthony Tucker-Jones 2022-TV interviews on YouTube, gives a clearer picture and better preparation to read Hitler’s Winter: The German Battle of the Bulge..
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews