Rating: Summary: Outstanding Review: I can never enough books about the dark drama of human conflict. In terms of eloquence, focus on the common GI, and historical accuracy, Citizen Soldiers ranks right up there with the best WWII books, I put it on an equal level with classics like the Brotherhood of War novels, The Triumph and the Glory, and John Keegan's best histories.
Rating: Summary: A wonderful tribute to the front line soldier of WW2. Review: Stephen Ambrose truly captured the spirit and courage of the greatest generation this country has ever produced. I am ashamed of what we have become today. Great book and very inspirational.
Rating: Summary: entertaining propoganda Review: Enjoyable read, but all of Stephan Ambrose's writing has John Wayne tendancies. In other words he writes in the viewpoint of the victor. It seems he only does research that suits his pro-American ideals. For different perspectives, read The Rommel Papers and The Forgotten Soldier. These are books by people who really were there. Please don't read Citizen Soldier as fact and history
Rating: Summary: A gritty, unflinching look........ Review: This book captures what it was like for the doggie in the foxhole. The Wermacht was not the only enemy in Europe. A bitter struggle was also fought against the elements, and this book shows the daily battle of those frozen European winters. Truly, a struggle that many in this country could probably not comprehend having to go through today. This book shows, in the best manner I have read yet, the tenacity and resourcefulness of the American fighting man, while accurately showing his "professional" counterparts. Remember the title, "Citizen Soldiers". Talking about how one knows if a village was recently occupied by the Germans, (The smell of sweat-stained leather and tobacco) gives insights rarely seen in most books. If you really want to read about human suffering in a horrific winter conditions, check out "Stalingrad" by Antony Beevor, Copyright 1998. Just as good as Ambrose. Buy 'em both!
Rating: Summary: This is the best book ever written about the WWII. Review: It gives a true review of the whole situation from both the German and American sides, giving the good things as well as the bad things. The book is very well written.
Rating: Summary: Heart-wrenching and triumphant! Review: As the grandson of a WWII infantryman, I was enthralled and horrified at my grandfather's telling of his experiences in the European Theater. Mr. Ambrose, through the accounts of the front-line soldiers masterfully paints a vivid portrait of the war through the personal tales of terror, desperation, loneliness, and sheer courage of the participants. The stories will leave you speechless, in tears, and occasionally, even with a smile! The younger generation of Americans must never forget what the WWII combat soldier experienced during this bloody period of history. Thanks, Paw-Paw, for what you and all of your fellow soldiers, sailors, airmen, medics, doctors, nurses, and chaplains endured so that I could be free.
Rating: Summary: EXCELLENT book to listen to on tape. Review: I'll just echo all the other positive reviews of Ambrose's work with the comment that this was a great book to listen to in the car. It also helped that the book on tape came with a small map so that you could reference where the battles were taking place (obviously when the car was stopped B-)).
Rating: Summary: good book, easy to read Review: Excellent history of the last part of the war in Europe. Filled with real people and their real stories. It puts a human face on what I used to regard as a collection of battles and dates. This book provides a broad overview of the people and incidents involved in a pivotal point in world history.
Rating: Summary: A true historian lives and dies by correct dates Review: I was very surprised, to say the least, that Mr. Ambrose and his editors, in making an analogy to the Battle of the Bulge, claimed that Washington crossed the Delaware on Christmas eve and attacked the garrison at Trenton on December 25 when in fact he crossed his army on Christmas night and attacked Trenton at approximately 8:00 a.m. on December 26.All historians live and die by correct dates. Otherwise a good quick read w/ some useful firsthand accounts albeit 55 years after the fact.
Rating: Summary: A great book if it's your first Ambrose Review: This was my first book by Ambrose that I read and I truly enjoyed it. Since then, I have read three of his other books and found this one to have exerpts from those three. But, don't let that stop you. I marveled at the individual stories of the soldiers. He viewed WWII from the unique standpoint of the lowly fighting man, not the leaders who sat behind the lines. I highly recommend this book, especially if you are an amateur history buff (as I am).
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