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Summary: Gripping, an oral history of War by the men who fought in it
Review: This book was hard to put down. To read the stories of men, from all walks of life, all parts of the country was riveting. These men, bring back a time when they were young and brave and scared. Their innermost fears revealed. Anyone who cherishes freedom and liberty should read this book, for the men who fought so long ago, will not be with us much longer to share their stories
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Summary: Not for the Serious Military Historian
Review: Having sat enthralled through Ambrose's D-Day book, I eagerly snapped up "Citizen Soldiers" without browsing through it. When I did sit down to read it, I thought that although the text flowed well, it was filled with factual errors that indicated a hurried job of indepth research which so characterized his previous works on D-Day, Company E 506th PIR and Pegasus Bridge. My overall impression was that Ambrose's publisher hoped to capitalize on his reputation when they printed this book. Some interesting vignettes and previously unpublished first person accounts, but much more could have been done with this subject.
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Summary: Ambrose brings WWII home to a 30-something
Review: I found reading Citizen Soldier to be an experiance that keeps popping back up in my mind day after day. At 39 I have had little exposure to stories or conversation with GIs that participated in the ETO. The personal accounts presented by Ambrose, placed into a larger context by the historian brought to life a scenario much more horrible than I had ever considered. At the same time I felt an incredible sense of pride in our fathers and grandfathers for the job they did and the way they went about the work. Like every generation, I found the question of how I and my contemporaries would respond in similar settings one that I return to frequently. I think I can understand why Dr. Ambrose doesn't 'want to study war no more' - it became way too personal in gathering the accounts that are presented here. I have a 12 year old son and rest assured this will be on his 'required reading' list at about age 15 or 16. Thanks
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Summary: Excellent! Written to provide the reader with a feeling of
Review: what our soliders went through. The events from D-Day to VEDay are around 60% of the book. The other chapters covering suchareas as medical services, prisoners (both ours and theirs), the air war, etc were superb. The reader may be surpised at how the system used by the American army to provide replacements was badly flawed and led to the deaths of many that could have been avoided and did not serve the needs of our armies. This and other mistakes made at the very top were overcome by the sheer bravery and tenacity of the common solider who knew "the quickest way home was East!".
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Summary: A "Must Read" for anyone with any interest in mil. history
Review: While standing in line for a book-signing at a local book store, I picked up "Citizen Soldiers" to quickly flip through. I was immediately pulled into the book and couldn't put it down. Ambrose's writing style made me live the dread, horror and aching cold the front-line infantry went through, particularly through the Winter of 1944-1945. My father was a medic in the 87th Division of Patton's Third Army and was actively involved in the Battle of the Bulge. He rarely spoke of his experiences during the war and now I guess I understand why. I believe he had experienced enough and didn't really care to relive a very difficult time. However, Dr. Ambrose masterfully conveys not only the trauma of battle, but also the strength of the human spirit. This book has compelled me to investigate other literature about World War II, particularly those works that tell the story from the people on the front line.
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Summary: Ambrose's pen puts you in the foxholes as well
Review: I am a young World War II history buff who first read Ambrose's book, "D-Day June 6, 1944" which left me wanting to know more. After reading on in "Citizen Soldiers" I gained a new perspective on the reality of war. Page after page of first hand reports by men and women who were there just left me in a state of shock and disbelief at the horrors of war. Ambrose's words are subtle, quick and to the point. This work left me saddened that such an event ever happened, but it also left me with a tremendous amount of respect for all those that fought and died in this war. What Ambrose made clear as day was the sheer number of people on all sides that paid the ultimate price for the liberation of Europe. Unbelievable!
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Summary: An excellent presentation of soldiers' experiences.
Review: Stephen Ambrose has spent a great deal of time researching the American soldier in World War II and that is very apparent in "Citizen Soldier". This book follow's the men and, in some cases, women of the Allied Expeditionary Force (AEF) on the day immediately following D-Day, June 7th, 1944.The author uses an exhaustive collection of stories gathered from the GI's who participated in the following year of battles, anxiety, boredom, fear, cold, pain, uncertainty and loss that trully characterizes war. - You won't find all the hoorah that many semi-history books portray. You will find the raw feelings of the men who participated in this great campaign. Stephen Ambrose's attention to detail, explaining at great length the thoughts and actions that were taken to breakout from the Normandy beachheads, gained at such great cost by the D-Day invasion force, is superb. He lists individual units and draws from the official histories. Not neglected in this fine book is the German soldier. He too felt fear and all of the emotions that the Allied soldiers felt. In many cases he too was a Citizen Soldier, fighting to defend his own country. Stephen does not miss this and makes every effort to provide them a chance to tell their stories as well. Stephen also has a writing style I find riveting, each step leading to another story. The only downside I found was that the book had to end. For anyone who is a reader and follower of History this is a remarkable book, few come along in a lifetime this good. Sit down, pick up "Citizen Soldier" and enjoy a great read.
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Summary: The Veterans Speak
Review: Ambrose does an excellent job retelling the heroic experiences by those who were actually there: veterans of both the Allied and the German armies. As I read the account, I got the feeling I was talking directly with the veterans at some parts, not reading a book about it.He strings the stories together so they go in perfect succession, and at the same time keeping each individual experience concise, yet elaborate. After reading but a paragraph, you get to hear an inspiring story of wartime heroism while at the same time not having to read through the paragraphs of unnecessary descriptions that accompany some retellings from other non-fiction novels. Ambrose spends a decent amount of time discussing those who disgraced our armed forces in addition to those who served it with distinction. Specifically, he wrote one chapter about these men called "Jerks, Sad Sacks, Profiteers, and Jim Crow". This is the best chapter in the book by far because it presents a view I have not seen anywhere else. This book will make people realize for generations to come the sacrifices made by the brave men and women that helped make the greatest war the world has ever seen come to an end.
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Summary: Powerful stories form the backbone of this riveting book
Review: Steven E. Ambrose's Citizen Soldier is an exhaustively researched and prepared book on the battles from Normandy to the fall of Berlin during World War II.
Includes information and collected stories from the soldiers (from Privates and NCO's to Colonels and Generals). Extremely riveting and well organized. A must for military history buffs. But it provides any reader insight into how and why men manage fight and survive in even the most horrid situations and condtions. It portrays personal acts of heroism, cowardice, and just plain struggles to endure and survive. I have yet come across a reader who regretted reading it.
Citizen Soldier is probably better to listen to it on tape...14 tapes...but each hour is well worth it!
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Summary: The WWII novel to which all others should be compared
Review: Okay, let's get the negative out of the way first: This book is so full of grammatical and typographical errors that I honestly wonder if anyone proof read it before it went to print. Simon & Schuster, and who ever edited the book, should hang their heads in shame. And Mr. Ambrose, despite his monumental and life-long research, is anything but an accomplished writer.
BUT!!! The content of the book, the endless stories of bravery and heroism, the research that went into the writing, the colossal knowledge of WWII that one gains... All these elements combine to create a book that is so pervasively moving that you will never be the same after reading it. It should be required reading for every World History class. Anywhere.
What this book isn't: An up-close and personal story of one solder's (or even one Company's) adventures in the war. We never get to know and become intimately familiar with one soldier in particular.
What this book is: The collective work of Ambrose's life-long pursuit of WWII research. He spent a lifetime interviewing enlisted soldiered, petty officers, and senior officers on both sides of the European conflict. The result is a complete picture of the war from D-Day at Normandy to the German surrender.
We become familiar with what life was like for the front-line soldiers who spent much of the war in fox holes. We understand how decisions made by upper echelon generals, some good but may colossally stupid, meant life and death for the millions of enlisted men and junior officers.
We experience snapshots from the lives of hundreds of men who, in the face of death, used their innovation and ingenuity to create successful battle plans despite their training which never prepared them for the situations they faced.
We witness moments of unheralded bravery when men set their own lives aside to carry out orders which made little sense. We see men who, a year ago were repairing Chevy's in a garage in Kansas, and who are now retrofitting Sherman tanks with battering rams to fight in hedgerows. We read about engineers who used to build roads in California but are now erecting bridges in France while being peppered with German small arms fire. We read of men who used to teach school in Boston but who are now leading a patrol of 18 Americans which stop a German advance, slaying hundreds of them, before running out of ammunition, surrendering, and becoming prisoners of war. We learn about young teenagers who lied about their age to enlist, become medics only because their name was pulled from a hat, given cursory medical training, and then perform such profound acts of bravery to save injured soldiers that old and seasoned soldiers watch and cry.
Yes, this book is not without its flaws. But, you would be wise to forgive them and let this book be what it is: A life changing, educational experience that will leave you haunted and inspired.
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