American Eagles: The 101st Airborne’s Assault on Fortress Europe 1944/45

by Charles Whiting

The thrilling true story of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division’s major operations during the European campaign of 1944/45.

For readers of Max Hastings and James Holland, and fans of Steven Spielberg’s award-winning miniseries Band of Brothers.

Of the 6,600 paratroopers of the 101st ‘Screaming Eagles’ Airborne Division who parachuted into France in the early hours of 6 June 1944 — D-Day — some 3,500 were listed as missing by midnight that same night. Yet it was only the beginning of their ‘rendezvous with destiny’.

American Eagles is the remarkable true story of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division. From their rigorous training in ‘Old Jolly’ (England) to their first operational jump in Normandy, Charles Whiting tells the story of this ‘Band of Brothers’, who fought, suffered and died in the eleven-month campaign that followed. From Normandy and Holland through to the siege of Bastogne and their final triumphant capture of Hitler's Eagle's Nest in the Bavarian Alps, we gain a picture of a brave elite division which kept on getting the tough assignments.

Drawing on eyewitness accounts, painstaking research, and his own youthful experiences when his regiment was under the command of 101st Airborne in Holland, Whiting delivers a powerful account of each of the 101st’s major operations during the European campaign of 1944/45. He brings to life the full horrors of war while shining a spotlight on the courage and determination of the ‘Screaming Eagles’ and their role in the destruction of the Nazi regime in World War Two.

“The 101st Airborne Division, which was activated on August 16, 1942, at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, has no history, but it has a rendezvous with destiny…” — Maj.-Gen. William Lee, commanding officer in 1942.

Genres: Audiobook, War, Military Fiction, History

188 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2001

About the author

Charles 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.

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive historical account of the birth of parachute regiments and airborne assault troops. Mainly focusing on the American army’s 101st Airborne unit and the pivotal role in WW2, liberating Europe.

I was drawn to this book as I absolutely loved the book and TV series Band of Brothers that covers much of the same ground. That focused on the memories and firsthand accounts of the men themselves.

This book, American Eagles, is a more widely researched historical work with a cross-section of sources, detailing a wider perspective of the events. Placing the action of the unit in preparation, training and combat into context. Detailing the skirmishes, battles and deployments into the overall timeframe of the unfolding war.

Drawing from wide research, documents, first-hand comments and memoirs often with facts checked back with sources and those who lived through these events.

I really valued and appreciated the sections at the end of the piece that tell of the memorials and places where the gratitude to those that fought this war can be found. It is a chilling experience to stand and stare within an American cemetery adjacent to the D-Day beaches. To see the straight lines of crosses and the occasional Star of David.

It is good to experience this in person and to visit the sites of battles, touch memorials and visit museum to gain an understanding and assist our remembrance.

Good balanced historical accounts like this one help in our education of events before our personal memories and it was a moving experience to remember once. Especially so close to Memorial Day and the anniversary of the D-Day landings.

[Mike (HistoryBuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sought this book out because I read another book by Mr. Whiting entitled America’s Forgotten Army, which I enjoyed (5 stars). However, this one failed to capture my complete attention. Perhaps because I had already read other books on that included some of the same exploits as listed in American Eagles. I did like the first-hand accounts of some of the actions of the 101st.

I also like Mr. Whiting’s style of writing. I wouldn't call this narrative non-fiction, (for that read Adam Mako’s novels) it is as described: a powerful account of each of the 101st’s major operations during the European campaign of 1944/45. For a good, concise and quick read of the overall account of the 101st, in the ETO, I recommend it.

[Varun Bhakay · Rating 1 out of 5]

The American 101st Airborne Division is admittedly a difficult military outfit to write about. So much has been made of their heroics from 1944 onwards that one wonders whether the reissue of a book from two decades ago would add any value to the saga of the Screaming Eagles.

Whiting's book is one that gets the broad facts right, and then proceeds to call J.O.E. Vandeleur a Brigadier (no Commanding Officer of a battalion/regiment can be a Brigadier, not in the British Army, not in the US Army). He describes a gap of thirty years as being "nearly half a century", patently ridiculous by any sane standard. Whiting goes on to term a German defeat a "holocaust", which raised eyebrows because, well, you can't really call German defeats in World War 2 that. In describing the guests at Berchtesgaden pre-war, he terms then-British PM Neville Chamberlain and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor as being "Hitler's victims": most historians, even in the early noughties, would've contested the pitying Chamberlain, a man to whom history has been far kinder than his contemporaries were, and the Windsors went to SS training establishments. And were known to be sympathetic to the Nazis. Whiting proceeds to "class shame" Hitler and his acolytes, and while I'm all for shredding Hitler to pieces, to be dismissive of him based on the social strata he occupied before rising to power is typical British upper-class snobbery.

And if all of that was not bad enough, Whiting's book is dull. It is not so much an introduction to the 101st as it is a lot of fragments held together by a non-existent narrative thread. It's as much a problem with the format (producing "short histories" reeks of being little more than a way of making a quick buck), but the writing is stultifying. Nobody cares just how Martin Bormann built up Berchtesgaden, especially not when you've spread through pretty much every place preceding the Eagle's Nest. Whiting lacks the verve to keep you hooked to his telling just as much as he rogers history, and for that alone, American Eagles is best avoided.

[Christy Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charles Whiting adds to the body of work on the 101st Airborne's exploits in this book, "American Eagles". They were without a doubt an interesting unit and they are legendary. They are also just part of the broader picture of the Army that helped liberate first France, then Europe from Hitler's deadly regime. There is new information for those who follow the history of the 101st. Anyone who likes WWII history will find this book helpful in studying the overall picture of the war.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be an interesting book and for the most part a good telling of the Airbourne Units of WWII. The author does not just go into the 101st but also speaks of the 82nd, the 17th, and the drop in the Pacific. For the most since I read all of WWII that I can get my hands on I did not find anything new for me, yet this was still a good book since my father fought with the 82nd in WWII. Worth the read. I received this book from Netgalley.com

[Kelsey Rhodes · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75/5 stars! I appreciated the effort to tell an expansive story about the U.S. 101st Airborne Division and their actions. I loved the quotes from those who actually served. But it felt like I wasn't being told anything I hadn't heard before and the narrative was slow-paced. I would check out another entry by this author, but this was a bit challenging to get through.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

[Ron Baumer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book on the history of the US Airborne during WW2. The author provides good detail on the various actions the soldiers were in as well as the political struggles behind the scenes. The use of first-hand accounts adds to the realism of the action and makes you feel as if you are there. A very engrossing read.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Taylor Atkinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the early history and the way the author used quotes from servicemen as asides to the main historical narrative. The narrative became much harder for me to follow in the second half. Also, the author has some pretty strong opinions and those bleed through in many places, each time pulling me out of the story of these men.

[Bruce Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

American Eagles

It is an interesting overview of the activities of the 101st Airborne division activities during the last year of the war. From D-Day to capturing the Eagle's Nest. I liked it.

[John Lovett Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read. Kept my interest through the end. Recommend.

[Thomas Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

American Eagles

Liked this book for descriptions of battles and strategies of war. I would recommend same for anyone interested in military history.

[Michel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another look at this inspiring Airborne unit.
But then from a British perspective which is quite refreshing because it is written with a little more distance.
And Whiting is also not afraid to write about less succesful actions.