Fatal Decision: Anzio and the Battle for Rome

Rating:
Summary: Combines historical analysis with first hand accounts
Review: Carlo D'Este has written a series of books on the often-overlooked Italian campaigns of World War II. D'Este skillfully combines detailed historical analysis with interesting first hand accounts. The result is a highly readable book. The author uses the first several chapters to set the scene and explain the historical significance of the operation. There are extended passages on the conflicts between the Allied commanders. The central section of the book describes the actual conduct of the operation. The chapters cover the battle at the tactical level and include many short personnel stories. The author moves easily from strategic conflicts between Allied generals to the day-to-day struggle of the infantrymen in the mud of Anzio. The author is not afraid to state an opinion and all views are backed up by significant evidence. This makes the work more than just a collection of war stories. The only quirk I found was D'este obvious admiration of German generals and the German military in general. While he goes to great length to point out the weakness of Allied leadership, the Germans are let off rather lightly, despite the fact that in the end they lost.

Rating:
Summary: Combines historical analysis with first hand accounts
Review: Carlo D'Este has written a series of books on the often-overlooked Italian campaigns of World War II. D'Este skillfully combines detailed historical analysis with interesting first hand accounts. The result is a highly readable book. The author uses the first several chapters to set the scene and explain the historical significance of the operation. There are extended passages on the conflicts between the Allied commanders. The central section of the book describes the actual conduct of the operation. The chapters cover the battle at the tactical level and include many short personnel stories. The author moves easily from strategic conflicts between Allied generals to the day-to-day struggle of the infantrymen in the mud of Anzio. The author is not afraid to state an opinion and all views are backed up by significant evidence. This makes the work more than just a collection of war stories. The only quirk I found was D'este obvious admiration of German generals and the German military in general. While he goes to great length to point out the weakness of Allied leadership, the Germans are let off rather lightly, despite the fact that in the end they lost.

Rating:
Summary: D'Este's Best Campaign History to Date...
Review: Since the passing of the late Stephen Ambrose, Carlo D'Este has probably assumed the mantle of America's leading World War II historian and author. This work was his fourth dealing with military events in the European theater (and in this case, the third dealing with the Mediterranean). You probably won't find a better, more detailed account of the Anzio battle than in this book. It's well researched, very detailed and a quick moving read.
I gathered that D'Este believed that the Allies weren't all that allied and the Germans, outnumbered and outsupplied, simply took advantage of Allied mistakes and blunders and nearly made "Operation Shingle" a total disaster.
D'Este clearly admires Mark Clark's bravery, but questions his strategic abilities. He finds Alexander personally likeable, but one of the least decisive theater commanders of the war and Kesselring, daring, resourceful and opportunistic. The General he admires most is without a doubt, Lucian K. Truscott Jr, first commander of the famous U. S. Third Infantry Division, then is elevated to 6th Corps command when Lucas is relieved. The way the author marshalls his facts, you will find it hard to disagree.
But to me, the hero of the book is the ordinary land soldier, the men who endured the barbarous fighting, the nightmarish stalemate and the eventual breakout of the beachhead. This is a superb piece of military history and well worth the time it will take to read it.