The Battle Of The Bulge: Hitler's Ardennes Offensive, 1944-1945

Rating:
Summary: Proof Positive that December '44 was not a Winter-Wonderland
Review: Finally available in soft cover. When it was first published in 1992, THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE: HITLER'S ARDENNES OFFENSIVE, 1944-1945, was truly the first new Battle of the Bulge book published since 1985 when John Toland released A TIME FOR TRUMPETS. The BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) is that this is a fantastic book on the Ardennes campaign. This volume is the perfect compliment to a Battle of the Bulge historical library.

Danny S. Parker took a different route in assembling this book. Battle of the Bulge books, including those that are rushed to publication in advance of battle anniversary dates, tend to be a rehash of the same old material. Not so with Parker's book. Taking it one step further, Parker avoids using the same tired photographs that appear in most other books on the subject. A majority of the photos originate from combat motion picture stills. The photo captions alone offer superb photo analysis.

If you want data, this book has it. Parker's BATTLE OF THE BULGE debunks many of the myths about the battle. For example, very few King Tiger tanks were available for the battle. Additionally, it did not start snowing until midway through the offensive. All of this is backed up by meticulous research.

If you are a Battle of the Bulge historian, you should treat yourself to this book.

Rating:
Summary: An Outstanding Reference on the Ardennes Offensive 1944
Review: Historian Danny Parker provides a highly readable and scholarly account of Hitler's last offensive in the west, December 1944. Using primary sources and personal interviews, Danny captures the battle like no other author. The book is packed with text, photos, and maps. There are pearls from the battle the reader will delightfully come across that are not found in other accounts. For example, the author address the "Myth and Mystery" surrounding the presence of the infamous German Tiger Tanks in previous historical literature - where they were and with whom they served. Individual chapters discuss the effects of weather, influence of terrain, and differences in weaponry. He appropriately pauses at critical points to analyze the progress of the battle from both the Allied and German perspectives. In addition to a complete order of battle, the book provides a chronological listing of reinforcements committed to the Ardennes. This is a book easily appreciated by both the casual reader and the serious historian. My personal copy is highlighted and annotated. This book belongs in every military history library. If you buy only one book on the Bulge, this is the one to own.