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America's Forgotten Army: The True Story of the U.S. Seventh Army in WWII - And An Unknown Battle that Changed History
An enthralling account of the World War Two exploits of the U.S. Seventh Army, from Sicily to France to the final assault on Hitler’s mountain retreat, the Eagle’s Nest.
Perfect for fans of Gregory A. Freeman, Alex Kershaw and Hampton Sides.
Although overshadowed by the other Allied armies fighting in Europe, the impact of the U.S. Seventh Army on the course of the Second World War was monumental and its achievements deserve to be remembered.
In Sicily, under the command of General George S. Patton, it swept away Axis forces as it captured village after village. It then moved northwards charging “up the gut” of Nazi-held Europe.
Charles Whiting uncovers the actions of this overlooked army and its men — charging against dug-in German machine gun nests, launching ferocious attacks on the bloodied snows of the Alps, and fending off terrifying Panzer-led counterattacks.
This book also draws attention to many of the fascinating figures who led it, from Patton to his successor as commander of the Seventh General Alexander “Sandy” Patch, to the numerous brilliant soldiers that fought under them, including the dynamic Lucian Truscott, daredevil Robert T. Frederick, aggressive “Iron Mike” O’Daniel, talented Frenchman Jacques LeClerc, and of course America’s most decorated soldier, Audie Murphy.
“an enjoyable and illuminating account of this relatively forgotten army’s distinguished career.” HistoryNet
“The U.S. Seventh Army has never had a volume devoted to thoroughly documenting its actions in WWII. Charles Whiting rights that wrong.” Publishers Weekly
America’s Forgotten Army should be essential reading for all wishing to find out more about this force that smashed Nazi forces wherever it met them.
Perfect for fans of Gregory A. Freeman, Alex Kershaw and Hampton Sides.
Although overshadowed by the other Allied armies fighting in Europe, the impact of the U.S. Seventh Army on the course of the Second World War was monumental and its achievements deserve to be remembered.
In Sicily, under the command of General George S. Patton, it swept away Axis forces as it captured village after village. It then moved northwards charging “up the gut” of Nazi-held Europe.
Charles Whiting uncovers the actions of this overlooked army and its men — charging against dug-in German machine gun nests, launching ferocious attacks on the bloodied snows of the Alps, and fending off terrifying Panzer-led counterattacks.
This book also draws attention to many of the fascinating figures who led it, from Patton to his successor as commander of the Seventh General Alexander “Sandy” Patch, to the numerous brilliant soldiers that fought under them, including the dynamic Lucian Truscott, daredevil Robert T. Frederick, aggressive “Iron Mike” O’Daniel, talented Frenchman Jacques LeClerc, and of course America’s most decorated soldier, Audie Murphy.
“an enjoyable and illuminating account of this relatively forgotten army’s distinguished career.” HistoryNet
“The U.S. Seventh Army has never had a volume devoted to thoroughly documenting its actions in WWII. Charles Whiting rights that wrong.” Publishers Weekly
America’s Forgotten Army should be essential reading for all wishing to find out more about this force that smashed Nazi forces wherever it met them.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1999
836 people are currently reading
334 people want to read
About the author
Charles Whiting
258 books52 followersCharles Whiting was a British writer and military historian and with some 350 books of fiction and non-fiction to his credit, under his own name and a variety of pseudonyms including Ian Harding, Duncan Harding, K.N. Kostov, John Kerrigan, Klaus Konrad, and Leo Kessler.
Born in the Bootham area of York, England, he was a pupil at the prestigious Nunthorpe Grammar School, leaving at the age of 16 to join the British Army by lying about his age. Keen to be in on the wartime action, Whiting was attached to the 52nd Reconnaissance Regiment and by the age of 18 saw duty as a sergeant in France, Holland, Belgium and Germany in the latter stages of World War II. While still a soldier, he observed conflicts between the highest-ranking British and American generals which he would write about extensively in later years.
After the war, he stayed on in Germany completing his A-levels via correspondence course and teaching English before being enrolled at Leeds University reading History and German Language. As an undergraduate he was afforded opportunities for study at several European universities and, after gaining his degree, would go on to become an assistant professor of history. Elsewhere, Whiting held a variety of jobs which included working as a translator for a German chemical factory and spells as a publicist, a correspondent for The Times and feature writer for such diverse magazines as International Review of Linguistics, Soldier and Playboy.
His first novel was written while still an undergraduate, was published in 1954 and by 1958 had been followed by three wartime thrillers. Between 1960 and 2007 Charles went on to write over 350 titles, including 70 non-fiction titles covering varied topics from the Nazi intelligence service to British Regiments during World War II.
One of his publishers, Easingwold-based Rupert Smith of GH Smith & Son said he was a quiet man and prolific writer.
"He's one of a band of forgotten authors because he sold millions of copies and still, up to his death was doing publishing deals.He was the kind of man who was very self-effacing, one of Britain's forgotten authors, still working at 80 years of age, with his nose down and kicking out books."
Charles Henry Whiting, author and military historian died on July 24 2007, leaving his wife and son.
Born in the Bootham area of York, England, he was a pupil at the prestigious Nunthorpe Grammar School, leaving at the age of 16 to join the British Army by lying about his age. Keen to be in on the wartime action, Whiting was attached to the 52nd Reconnaissance Regiment and by the age of 18 saw duty as a sergeant in France, Holland, Belgium and Germany in the latter stages of World War II. While still a soldier, he observed conflicts between the highest-ranking British and American generals which he would write about extensively in later years.
After the war, he stayed on in Germany completing his A-levels via correspondence course and teaching English before being enrolled at Leeds University reading History and German Language. As an undergraduate he was afforded opportunities for study at several European universities and, after gaining his degree, would go on to become an assistant professor of history. Elsewhere, Whiting held a variety of jobs which included working as a translator for a German chemical factory and spells as a publicist, a correspondent for The Times and feature writer for such diverse magazines as International Review of Linguistics, Soldier and Playboy.
His first novel was written while still an undergraduate, was published in 1954 and by 1958 had been followed by three wartime thrillers. Between 1960 and 2007 Charles went on to write over 350 titles, including 70 non-fiction titles covering varied topics from the Nazi intelligence service to British Regiments during World War II.
One of his publishers, Easingwold-based Rupert Smith of GH Smith & Son said he was a quiet man and prolific writer.
"He's one of a band of forgotten authors because he sold millions of copies and still, up to his death was doing publishing deals.He was the kind of man who was very self-effacing, one of Britain's forgotten authors, still working at 80 years of age, with his nose down and kicking out books."
Charles Henry Whiting, author and military historian died on July 24 2007, leaving his wife and son.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 21, 2022
Well I won't find another book soon with 'Acknowledgements' to a Mr. K. Corrigan, nor an Index entry, 'Corrigan PFC, 173-74'. So that was my father, Kevin Corrigan a 19-y.o. rifleman in the 274th Regiment of the 70th Infantry Division ('Trailblazers') a component of VI Corps of the U.S. 7th Army, the 'star' of this excellent account. The 7th Army was under Patton during he invasion of Sicily and of course Georgie melted down and slapped a couple of mental breakdown soldiers and was punished severely for it. The 7th was sort of sidelined for a while until Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France in August, 1944. Among the famous divisions in the 7th were the 3rd Infantry ('Rock of the Marne'), 45th Infantry ('Thunderbirds'), the 36th and 42nd ('Rainbow'). Audie Murphy was part of the 3rd ID and several of his amazing exploits are chronicled, all while he was 19 or 20 y.o. As the well-known campaign history relates, the 7th advanced rather smartly up the Rhone River valley before stalling along the Reich frontier (as did all the Allied armies) in September 1944. After that it was bitter fighting in the Vosges mountains, the Siegfried Line and finally crossing the Rhine River. The 7th was severely tested in Operation 'Nordwind' (Dec. 31, 1944) a major German offensive effort that tried to take advantage of U.S. disposition changes due to the Battle of the Bulge further north. My father's unit, the 274th of the 70th was involved in much of that bitter winter action and it's aftermath as described in the book and apparently Mr. Whiting spoke with him at some point. Corrigan is quoted in several places and describes the death of a young lieutenant, Wilson who was all of 21 y.o. These now long-forgotten actions will continue to recede into the mists of history and legend but I salute the effort of writers like Charles Whiting to chronicle those exploits and preserve the honor earned on those bloody fields.
March 10, 2023
Cold war soldiers
I served in Germany for 17 years, (1st and 3rd inf div.) And also in desert storm. My grandfather served in ww1. I enjoyed the forgotten army. Great account of the history of many sacrifices of American soldiers.
I served in Germany for 17 years, (1st and 3rd inf div.) And also in desert storm. My grandfather served in ww1. I enjoyed the forgotten army. Great account of the history of many sacrifices of American soldiers.
March 17, 2023
Great
This book was obviously well researched. Also, it was well written. You realize how great those ordinary men were. Could we do it again today?
This book was obviously well researched. Also, it was well written. You realize how great those ordinary men were. Could we do it again today?
August 26, 2024
I once had a respected English military historian tell me, disdainfully, that Charles Whiting's method of research for his military non-fiction books was to go to a bar, find an old veteran, and buy him drinks until he started telling war stories. I never met Whiting, so I can't opine on that one way or the other. I do know that he was a teenage soldier in the British Army in WWII, and after the war earned--I use that word intentionally--a fine collection of academic credentials; he also wrote a staggering 190 books, which puts him very near to, if not solidly in, Isaac Asimov territory. As the author of two books and contributor to several more, my mind boggles at the thought of dealing with publishers, the bane of our existence, that many times. But with that prejudicial statement by my friend in my ears, I went into this book with more skepticism than I usually bring to a military history book.
What I can say is that I thoroughly enjoyed this story of one of America's most used, abused, accomplished, and, indeed, forgotten armies. As a student of the Bulge, I am thoroughly familiar with the 1st and 3rd Armies, and to a large extent the 9th; but the 7th has rarely been on my radar. This book helps remedy that, and in a most entertaining and informative way. Whiting writes like a scholarly soldier, giving all the necessary strategic background information and occasional germane aside, but he mixes in a liberal helping of anecdotes from the foxhole level that put some meat on what would otherwise be the bare bones of an operational-level history. I came away from this book--covering the period from the 1943 invasion of Sicily through the landings in southern France and operations in the Saar to the advance into Germany and Austria in 1945--feeling like I had gotten a solid foundation for further investigations into this pivotal army's unsung accomplishments.
Full disclosure: I drew the maps for this book. My philosophy is to try to ensure that every place mentioned in the manuscript is shown on at least one map in the book, but this set of maps doesn't meet that standard. The publisher didn't give me a copy of the manuscript so I had to go off their notes to create these maps, and as a result a lot of places got omitted. If I could go back and redraw them I would add a lot of towns the Whiting talks about, and I would add a new map about the fighting around Strasbourg. Having said that, I think anyone can read this excellent work and, with only the maps provided, come away with a good understanding of the story Whiting was trying to tell.
What I can say is that I thoroughly enjoyed this story of one of America's most used, abused, accomplished, and, indeed, forgotten armies. As a student of the Bulge, I am thoroughly familiar with the 1st and 3rd Armies, and to a large extent the 9th; but the 7th has rarely been on my radar. This book helps remedy that, and in a most entertaining and informative way. Whiting writes like a scholarly soldier, giving all the necessary strategic background information and occasional germane aside, but he mixes in a liberal helping of anecdotes from the foxhole level that put some meat on what would otherwise be the bare bones of an operational-level history. I came away from this book--covering the period from the 1943 invasion of Sicily through the landings in southern France and operations in the Saar to the advance into Germany and Austria in 1945--feeling like I had gotten a solid foundation for further investigations into this pivotal army's unsung accomplishments.
Full disclosure: I drew the maps for this book. My philosophy is to try to ensure that every place mentioned in the manuscript is shown on at least one map in the book, but this set of maps doesn't meet that standard. The publisher didn't give me a copy of the manuscript so I had to go off their notes to create these maps, and as a result a lot of places got omitted. If I could go back and redraw them I would add a lot of towns the Whiting talks about, and I would add a new map about the fighting around Strasbourg. Having said that, I think anyone can read this excellent work and, with only the maps provided, come away with a good understanding of the story Whiting was trying to tell.
June 12, 2023
Well, what can I say that has not been said before, narrative non-fiction is the way to go. Mr. Whiting does a superb job telling the story of the Seventh Army and it exploits on the European battlefield. His telling of the battles, the common foot soldier, the platoon commanders and the generals are very engrossing.
The chapters are well laid out and not too long, which keeps your interest. The author gives you insight and background into some of WWII’s more famous soldiers.
“One wonders why Murphy did what he was now to do. America had done little for Murphy in his 20 years of life. His native Texas had provided him with little, save as he remarked cynically later in life, ‘free advice—and malnutrition.’
“Gen. Patch’s Seventh would continue to battle against the Siegfried Line, fighting their way from house to house through the grimy industrial towns and villages of the Saar steel-and-coal basin.... Patton, in due course would grab the newspaper headlines once more, while as usual, America’s Forgotten Army’s costly battle would barley be noticed.”
This is the first book I’ve read by Charles Whitting, and it won’t be my last. I’ve already pre-ordered “The Long March on Rome: The Forgotten War” and have the biography “Bradley” loaded on my Kindle. The European Theater of Operations (ETO) can be a lot to take in. I like these novels which tell of specific aspects of the ETO and their effects.
The chapters are well laid out and not too long, which keeps your interest. The author gives you insight and background into some of WWII’s more famous soldiers.
“One wonders why Murphy did what he was now to do. America had done little for Murphy in his 20 years of life. His native Texas had provided him with little, save as he remarked cynically later in life, ‘free advice—and malnutrition.’
“Gen. Patch’s Seventh would continue to battle against the Siegfried Line, fighting their way from house to house through the grimy industrial towns and villages of the Saar steel-and-coal basin.... Patton, in due course would grab the newspaper headlines once more, while as usual, America’s Forgotten Army’s costly battle would barley be noticed.”
This is the first book I’ve read by Charles Whitting, and it won’t be my last. I’ve already pre-ordered “The Long March on Rome: The Forgotten War” and have the biography “Bradley” loaded on my Kindle. The European Theater of Operations (ETO) can be a lot to take in. I like these novels which tell of specific aspects of the ETO and their effects.
July 12, 2023
Well written history of an unsung Army.
This is a really good, well-written history of the US Seventh Army in WW2. Denied the glamour and attention grabbed by the vain, media -savvy generals of the Third and Fifth Armies, the Seventh fought through some of the fiercest fighting of the European war in the west, including the invasion of southwestern Germany and the capture and occupation of Bavaria and Austria.
Many heartbreaking incidents are recounted, as the exhausted veteran and green 'century' divisions alike ran into stiff opposition from fanatical SS-led military and civilian resistors alike. Suffering over 80,000 men dead, wounded or missing in the terrifyingly short period between August 1944 and May 1945, the Forgotten Army wrote its own story in Europe as an army of conquering, occupation and ultimately liberation when called upon forty years later to take on the invading armies of Saddam Hussein in Kuwait and Iraq.
The writing is good throughout, fairly balances the tensions between Allied generals and the involvement of the French throughout the late war campaign, and doesn't shy from the mistakes, politics, and cowardice as well as the heroism of the Allied forces while telling their extraordinary story.
This is a really good, well-written history of the US Seventh Army in WW2. Denied the glamour and attention grabbed by the vain, media -savvy generals of the Third and Fifth Armies, the Seventh fought through some of the fiercest fighting of the European war in the west, including the invasion of southwestern Germany and the capture and occupation of Bavaria and Austria.
Many heartbreaking incidents are recounted, as the exhausted veteran and green 'century' divisions alike ran into stiff opposition from fanatical SS-led military and civilian resistors alike. Suffering over 80,000 men dead, wounded or missing in the terrifyingly short period between August 1944 and May 1945, the Forgotten Army wrote its own story in Europe as an army of conquering, occupation and ultimately liberation when called upon forty years later to take on the invading armies of Saddam Hussein in Kuwait and Iraq.
The writing is good throughout, fairly balances the tensions between Allied generals and the involvement of the French throughout the late war campaign, and doesn't shy from the mistakes, politics, and cowardice as well as the heroism of the Allied forces while telling their extraordinary story.
May 1, 2023
🖊 My review: Well-researched and detailed account.
🤔 My rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🟣 Media form: Kindle version.
🔲 Excerpt :
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🤔 My rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🟣 Media form: Kindle version.
🔲 Excerpt :
🔸 Somewhere about 1959, a slack-hipped, loose-lipped Private First Class, Elvis Presley, made his appearance in the Seventh in the unlikely role of a scout for the 3d Armored Division. The world press went wild. The reporters, eager for a story, never learned of course that PFC Presley was driven to his barracks in the morning by a chauffeur in a white BMW and that he lived in a private house at a rental of eight hundred dollars a month, four times the going rate..
✿●▬●✿●✿●▬●✿
May 1, 2023
Good military read.
As a son of a man who was there (36th Division), I found this book to be an enlightening read, even for one who has been interested in WW II history for over 65 years. The author not only painted the “big picture” in grand detail, but included many “behind the scenes occurrences” that so many authors don’t take the time to research in order to add real life to their work.
As a son of a man who was there (36th Division), I found this book to be an enlightening read, even for one who has been interested in WW II history for over 65 years. The author not only painted the “big picture” in grand detail, but included many “behind the scenes occurrences” that so many authors don’t take the time to research in order to add real life to their work.
January 7, 2025
A sad tale of bravery and victory overshadowed by history
I, like so many others, had no idea of what the Allied armies did in southern Europe to help bring an end to WWII. This book brings the story to a wider audience. A story of how a whole armed force simply went about and did its job and almost no-one knows anything about it because the armies in northern Europe got all the credit. A good story that deserves more attention.
I, like so many others, had no idea of what the Allied armies did in southern Europe to help bring an end to WWII. This book brings the story to a wider audience. A story of how a whole armed force simply went about and did its job and almost no-one knows anything about it because the armies in northern Europe got all the credit. A good story that deserves more attention.
May 16, 2023
A very interesting read on a group that was overlooked during the war in the ETO because of Patton, Montgomery and Bradley's extraordinary advances. Very well written and researched. As a WWII history buff, I was totally unfamiliar with the 7th US Army until now, again due to the lack of coverage given this group.
June 11, 2023
Charles Whiting's "America's Forgotten Army: The True Story of the U.S. Seventh Army in WWII – And an Unknown Battle that Changed History" is an interesting military history piece. Whiting's narrative examines the Seventh Army's wartime experience from the unit's inception in July 1943 to the German surrender in May 1945. History buffs should find the book a worthwhile read.
February 11, 2024
Well-written book of lessor known WW2 European battles
Enjoyed overall, big picture descriptions with interspersed stories of individual soldiers and small unit actions. The oversize egos of some of the commanding officers was disheartening but maybe that’s what it takes to send men into battle to die.
Enjoyed overall, big picture descriptions with interspersed stories of individual soldiers and small unit actions. The oversize egos of some of the commanding officers was disheartening but maybe that’s what it takes to send men into battle to die.
March 11, 2024
America's Forgotten War
The book was interesting and bought us some update to date information about the forgotten war. As always I would recommend this book for others to read. One side note, President Bush was wrong in Operation Desert Storm, we lost some great men and women in that war!
The book was interesting and bought us some update to date information about the forgotten war. As always I would recommend this book for others to read. One side note, President Bush was wrong in Operation Desert Storm, we lost some great men and women in that war!
May 4, 2023
A solid review of a part of WW II that does not get a lot of attention. Some minor mistakes that could be cleared up with some better editing but a worthwhile read for those interested in the ETO during WW II.
July 7, 2023
the forgotten remembered
It’s good to remind us that victory came at a price. The brutality and insanity of war was not glossed over in this account. Desertions, mental casualties atrocities, aspects that are not romantic are a part of the butcher’s bill.
It’s good to remind us that victory came at a price. The brutality and insanity of war was not glossed over in this account. Desertions, mental casualties atrocities, aspects that are not romantic are a part of the butcher’s bill.
September 21, 2023
Very interesting book.
You'll feel like you're right there with the seventh fighting your way across Europe. You'll learn and appreciate the many hardships and sacrifices they went through to defeat the Nazis
You'll feel like you're right there with the seventh fighting your way across Europe. You'll learn and appreciate the many hardships and sacrifices they went through to defeat the Nazis
April 8, 2023
Excellent Recount
The author provides an excellent recount of little less known, but just as important, campaigns and the soldiers behind it.
The author provides an excellent recount of little less known, but just as important, campaigns and the soldiers behind it.
May 31, 2023
Worth a look
The book although sometimes a little boring brought to the readers things that were never taught in school. Nonetheless it is a good read
The book although sometimes a little boring brought to the readers things that were never taught in school. Nonetheless it is a good read
June 21, 2023
Great Book
This book was a great read and I would recommend it to anyone who is a WW2 reader. The book was well written but in some cases needed a good editing,
This book was a great read and I would recommend it to anyone who is a WW2 reader. The book was well written but in some cases needed a good editing,
July 1, 2023
Forgotten no more
We easily forget that not all entry into Europe in WWII came through Normandy, but through Italy as well. A nice reminder within this book!
We easily forget that not all entry into Europe in WWII came through Normandy, but through Italy as well. A nice reminder within this book!
July 12, 2023
Story of the U. S. Seventh Army in WWII. Whiting produced an informative and entertaining book. I have enjoyed reading his books.
July 30, 2023
Good running history
Good,well documented history of the Seventh US Army in WWiI. Lots of detail but surprisingly easy. Reading.....Many details without being too eordy.
Good,well documented history of the Seventh US Army in WWiI. Lots of detail but surprisingly easy. Reading.....Many details without being too eordy.
August 24, 2023
what did you do in the war daddy?
A unvarnished truth of what did happen or what should not have happened. A good read for those history buffs.
A unvarnished truth of what did happen or what should not have happened. A good read for those history buffs.
January 27, 2024
Excellent
Excellent,interesting and very readable account of operations following the seventh army through WW2. Packed with detail, personal accounts and individuals actions.
Excellent,interesting and very readable account of operations following the seventh army through WW2. Packed with detail, personal accounts and individuals actions.
June 8, 2024
very well researched and written:
The author does his research very well and knows where to look for unusual tidbits and minor players making for interesting reading..
The author does his research very well and knows where to look for unusual tidbits and minor players making for interesting reading..
May 5, 2023
wonderful
A great, detailed account of an army the public never knew. Their heroism and sacrifices are brilliantly detailed. This book is tough to put down
A great, detailed account of an army the public never knew. Their heroism and sacrifices are brilliantly detailed. This book is tough to put down
July 30, 2024
A well-told tale that should have better exposure.
Charles Whiting does a solid job researching a part of WW2 History and turns it into a very interesting and readable book.
Charles Whiting does a solid job researching a part of WW2 History and turns it into a very interesting and readable book.
August 6, 2017
Great book re: the 7th Army in WWII.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews