Rating: 
Summary: Hurtgen hell redux and rethought
Review: "Hell in Hurtgen Forest" is a simply wonderful piece of work. This book has multiple layers to provide material for a diverse set of readers and students of WWII history. First, "Hell" is a thoroughly researched study of the battle of the Hurtgen Forest. The first few chapters detail the 4th Infantry Div, 22d Reg in particular and the opposing German LXXIV Corps - their training, makeup and histories leading up to the battle. Approximately the next half of the book goes through the battle in an organized fashion that one can follow the sequence of events on the different fronts. Dr. Rush uses footnotes liberally to support his work and I found this refreshing - details were present but not "messing up" the flow of the text. Rush (or his editors?) also does something I wish other treatises of this type would do: make clear distinctions between Allied and Axis battle groups in a way a developing student of the field can follow. In "Hell" Rush does this by italicizing all German units - thus it is clear when he is writing about a German vs an American group. Second, Rush, by detailing a single battle of attrition fought over a limited time span has been able to compare and contrast American and German combat replacement systems and battle effectiveness. Other military historians have previously severely criticized the American troop replacement system of WWII and have proposed that combat effectiveness suffered as a result. Dr. Rush provides ample evidence from his analysis of the Battle of the Hurtgen that this previous thesis is at its heart not accurate. In fact, in this one battle of attrition the American system prevailed and won the battle - and Hurtgen is just one example of this. Thus. "Hell" is also a wonderful work of new thinking that challenges conventional wisdom. Third, "Hell" is a wonderfully written work. While it is not as "flowery" as books by C. Ryan or S. Ambrose, it is clear, concise and well organized. This book was an absolute pleasure to read. Many historical works with this much depth are quite dry and hard reads, not so with "Hell". Five stars!!!!
Rating:
Summary: A New Look at an Old Battle
Review: "Hell in the Hurtgen Forest" is a superb book about the timeless nature of infantry close combat. I commend it to both professional soldiers and students of history. What makes this book most unique is the observation that the US individual replacement system, coupled with the US Army policy of keeping its limited number of divisions in the line almost without any break, produced a very effective organization, especially when compared to the worn out German units. This new interpretation of WWII unit effectiveness is worthy of further examination. It certainly caught my attention.
Rating:
Summary: A New Look at an Old Battle
Review: "Hell in the Hurtgen Forest" is a superb book about the timeless nature of infantry close combat. I commend it to both professional soldiers and students of history. What makes this book most unique is the observation that the US individual replacement system, coupled with the US Army policy of keeping its limited number of divisions in the line almost without any break, produced a very effective organization, especially when compared to the worn out German units. This new interpretation of WWII unit effectiveness is worthy of further examination. It certainly caught my attention.
Rating:
Summary: Must read for all WWII history readers!
Review: As an avid WWII reader and historian, Rob Rush's "Hell in Hurtgen Forest" ranks at the very top of all the WWII books I have read. Although overshadowed by the Battle of the Bulge, the fight in the Hurtgen Forest in November and early December 1944 was the bloodiest of all fought by the 4th Infantry Division and the 22nd Infantry Regiment. Rob captures in great detail the daily actions of the fight and the challenges of leadership and why the men continued to fight as they were hit with casualties that approached 150% in the rifle companies. I highly recommend this excellent book - you will leave it shaking your head and better understanding why we hold our WWII veterans in such high esteem.
Rating:
Summary: Must read for all WWII history readers!
Review: As an avid WWII reader and historian, Rob Rush's "Hell in Hurtgen Forest" ranks at the very top of all the WWII books I have read. Although overshadowed by the Battle of the Bulge, the fight in the Hurtgen Forest in November and early December 1944 was the bloodiest of all fought by the 4th Infantry Division and the 22nd Infantry Regiment. Rob captures in great detail the daily actions of the fight and the challenges of leadership and why the men continued to fight as they were hit with casualties that approached 150% in the rifle companies. I highly recommend this excellent book - you will leave it shaking your head and better understanding why we hold our WWII veterans in such high esteem.
Rating:
Summary: A grim and forceful account of a meat-grinder of a battle
Review: First, what Robert Rush's book is NOT: It is not one of those popular history books which strings together first-hand accounts into a fast-reading "you are there" look at a historical event. And it is not a narrative of the World War Two battle for the Hurtgen Forest as a whole, asking whether the objectives justified the costs. Instead, Doctor Rush focuses in upon a single US Army infantry regiment -- the 22nd regulars -- and follows them through two-and-a-half weeks of combat hell as day after day they thrust themselves in a German meat-grinder. Their persistence and eventual triumph -- albeit at the cost of virtually destroying the 22nd Infantry -- makes for grim reading. Each day's activities are presented in remorseless succession. Few names of individual soldiers carry through the narrative for the very simple fact that most of the soldiers who started the battle in mid-November, 1944, were with the regiment when it was relieved in early December. All the others had been killed, wounded, or evacuated. A continual flood of reinforcements kept the 22nd functioning effectively as a combat unit until very nearly the end of fighting, but the faces and the character of the regiment had inalterably changed in that brief period of intense battle. Over ninety percent of the men and officers in the 22nd's nine rifle companies at the start became casualties. It is here where Rush's real focus lies: examining the process of replacing combat soldiers during battle so that the unit, if not the individuals, can be kept functioning. Numerous charts and graphs delineate the grim mathematics of war, as day by day the numbers of "original" members of the 22nd decline and the quantity of replacements grow in proportion, even though the replacements too suffered horrendous losses. Rush's own experience as a professional combat infantryman illuminates his analysis of what went on in this tiny patch of German forest nearly six decades ago.
Rating:
Summary: A grim and forceful account of a meat-grinder of a battle
Review: First, what Robert Rush's book is NOT: It is not one of those popular history books which strings together first-hand accounts into a fast-reading "you are there" look at a historical event. And it is not a narrative of the World War Two battle for the Hurtgen Forest as a whole, asking whether the objectives justified the costs. Instead, Doctor Rush focuses in upon a single US Army infantry regiment -- the 22nd regulars -- and follows them through two-and-a-half weeks of combat hell as day after day they thrust themselves in a German meat-grinder. Their persistence and eventual triumph -- albeit at the cost of virtually destroying the 22nd Infantry -- makes for grim reading. Each day's activities are presented in remorseless succession. Few names of individual soldiers carry through the narrative for the very simple fact that most of the soldiers who started the battle in mid-November, 1944, were with the regiment when it was relieved in early December. All the others had been killed, wounded, or evacuated. A continual flood of reinforcements kept the 22nd functioning effectively as a combat unit until very nearly the end of fighting, but the faces and the character of the regiment had inalterably changed in that brief period of intense battle. Over ninety percent of the men and officers in the 22nd's nine rifle companies at the start became casualties. It is here where Rush's real focus lies: examining the process of replacing combat soldiers during battle so that the unit, if not the individuals, can be kept functioning. Numerous charts and graphs delineate the grim mathematics of war, as day by day the numbers of "original" members of the 22nd decline and the quantity of replacements grow in proportion, even though the replacements too suffered horrendous losses. Rush's own experience as a professional combat infantryman illuminates his analysis of what went on in this tiny patch of German forest nearly six decades ago.
Rating:
Summary: A grim and forceful account of a meat-grinder of a battle
Review: First, what Robert Rush's book is NOT: It is not one of those popular history books which strings together first-hand accounts into a fast-reading "you are there" look at a historical event. And it is not a narrative of the World War Two battle for the Hurtgen Forest as a whole, asking whether the objectives justified the costs. Instead, Doctor Rush focuses in upon a single US Army infantry regiment -- the 22nd regulars -- and follows them through two-and-a-half weeks of combat hell as day after day they thrust themselves in a German meat-grinder. Their persistence and eventual triumph -- albeit at the cost of virtually destroying the 22nd Infantry -- makes for grim reading. Each day's activities are presented in remorseless succession. Few names of individual soldiers carry through the narrative for the very simple fact that most of the soldiers who started the battle in mid-November, 1944, were with the regiment when it was relieved in early December. All the others had been killed, wounded, or evacuated. A continual flood of reinforcements kept the 22nd functioning effectively as a combat unit until very nearly the end of fighting, but the faces and the character of the regiment had inalterably changed in that brief period of intense battle. Over ninety percent of the men and officers in the 22nd's nine rifle companies at the start became casualties. It is here where Rush's real focus lies: examining the process of replacing combat soldiers during battle so that the unit, if not the individuals, can be kept functioning. Numerous charts and graphs delineate the grim mathematics of war, as day by day the numbers of "original" members of the 22nd decline and the quantity of replacements grow in proportion, even though the replacements too suffered horrendous losses. Rush's own experience as a professional combat infantryman illuminates his analysis of what went on in this tiny patch of German forest nearly six decades ago.
Rating:
Summary: The Title Sonds Good
Review: HEY ALL I DID WAS LOOK AT THE TITLE, SHOOT I KNOW THIS BOOKS GOING TO BE GREAT.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: I cannot say enough about this book. It is moving, compelling, and provides a concise and indepth look into one of the bloodiest, tragic, and casualty laden battles fought in WWII.
Of all the history books I have encountered, nowhere can I find this particular battle significantly represented.
The clarified detail and factual, organized content of this book is what sets it apart from others written. It provided very clear accounts defining both sides. The most powerful and successful ingredient this unit had was the ability to regenerate itself, and therefore sustain itself and win.
The book is lengthy, and initially I was not sure at what pace I could complete it, but I was consumed more and more by it, with every chapter and could not wait to finish it.
This book filled me with awe and admiration for my country & its military leaders at such an uncertain and daunting time, but MOSTLY for the heroes who were there, day in and day out, on the battle field. They did not quit, despite the odds and conditions.
They were and will remain the most valiant of heroes.
Please read this book. It is brilliantly written and merits thoughtful regard. If ever a tear were to be shed over a battle, this would be the one.
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