Stephen Ambrose Books

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EvilGenius
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Stephen Ambrose Books

Post by EvilGenius »

Last time I was at the game I mentioned that I had sat down with my parents and watched all episodes of the Band of Brothers (in order). If any of you have not done that (I'm looking at you, Ken. You too, Jon :P ), I strongly recommend it.

There are 10 episodes, each around 45 minutes long, so it will probably take a week or so on a tight time schedule, but it's SO worth it. These are the real soldiers, their real stories, on the real missions from training in '43 to victory in '45. In fact, before each episode there are a few minutes of the recorded interviews with the surviving soldiers, talking about their experience in general or reflecting on the events to be shown in the episode. It's seriously something you should watch.

So after I watched the series with Mom & Dad I bought some of Stephen Ambrose's books, specifically "Band of Brothers" which became the series, and "Citizen Soldiers" which looks at the experience of the front line combat troops from D-Day to VE day.

Band of Brothers (the book) was even better than the HBO series (but the series had a more dramatic impact due to the accurate and graphic depictions of battle). I was impressed by how much of the series was completely faithful to the book, right down to lines of dialogue which were direct quotes from the soldiers as recorded by their buddies at the time.

For example, one soldier who was wounded, went AWOL from the hospital to get back to his unit before they shipped out for battle ended up getting seriously wounded in that battle (at Foy, after the siege of Bastogne had been lifted). He was caught aboveground during a shelling attack. Looking down at half of his leg missing, unable to get morphine, being dragged toward safety by a buddy he says "what's a guy gotta do to get killed around here?".

When I saw it in the series I thought it was modern hollywood, trying to lighten the mood. But when I read the book, I found out that's what he really said, as recounted by his buddies and as told by himself. That one incident just really stuck with me for some reason.

And the book I'm reading now, Citizen Soldiers, is just fantastic. Ambrose's writing is so compelling and so detailed (without the details ever seeming to interrupt what he's talking about) that I wish schools would use his books as WWII texts instead of what I had to read in school.

In this book he's not providing a grand history of the war and what everyone did in it. Rather, he's focusing on the experience of the front line soldiers, detailing what it was like for them, how the war was fought, how they felt about it and what it meant to them. It's flat out amazing.

I am aware that interest in WWII history varies within our group, but I think that even the least interested (who are probably still somewhat more interested than the general population) would really appreciate either book.

I know everyone's time is pretty limited, but I still urge you to watch the series (available on DVD) and work these books into your reading schedule. It will be well worth your time.
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Lars Porsenna
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Post by Lars Porsenna »

I read Citizen Soldiers some time ago. Ambrose really excelled as an oral historian (which is what these books are). That being said, however, I totally disagreed with his thesis of Citizen Soldiers and didn't find it very rigorous, or the evidence in the book supporting in any way (in fact, I think he tacked a thesis onto the book to give it some academic legitimacy).

For more WWII action, check out Otto Cairus' Tigers in the Mud. Otto was a Tank Platoon leader of Tiger heavy tanks, and his writing is lucid and the translation from Stackpole books very good. While we're at it, Bob, to give you some perspective on the action in the series and books, I cannot recommend highly enough Doubler's Closing with the Enemy, which is a thoroughly and extremely well researched book (that is written well!), and details the tactical/operational problems the US Army encountered in Europe, and how they managed to overcome them.

If you look at my blog, I have a few other reviews on WWII style books in there...

Damon.
"Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum"
Modeling the Ecuadorian Military: https://ecuadorianmilitary.blogspot.com/
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Lars Porsenna
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Post by Lars Porsenna »

As a follow-up, while we're discussing WWII films, an utterly fantastic movie I saw not too long ago is Downfall: http://www.amazon.com/Downfall-Bruno-Ga ... 282&sr=8-1

It's a German language film about the last month or so of Hitler's life, and the Battle of Berlin. The acting is fantastic (the actor playing Goebbels has a terrifying resemblance to the man himself), the story compelling, and reveals aspects of Hilter that get brushed aside in popular culture when compared to the more insane aspects of the man. Also, since having Kaylee, the scene involving Goebbels kids was the more disturbing portion of the movie...

Damon.
"Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum"
Modeling the Ecuadorian Military: https://ecuadorianmilitary.blogspot.com/
My Book Blog: http://bookslikedust.blogspot.com/
My Minis Blog: http://minislikedust.blogspot.com/
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Hardcorhobbs
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Post by Hardcorhobbs »

I also highly recommend the series. It's one of those series I watch just about every time it's on tv, and I own it on DVD! If you want to see it let me know, I'd be happy to lend it out to anyone who has not seen it.
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erilar
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Post by erilar »

Yeah, can't speak for the novels, but the HBO series was amazing. Borrow it or Netflix it and watch it start to finish - it's very powerful.
"This enemy you cannot kill. You can only drive it back damaged into the depths, and teach your children to watch the waves for its return." - Quellcrist Falconer
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Lars Porsenna
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Post by Lars Porsenna »

They're not novels or fictional accounts. Steven Ambrose is an historian.

Damon.
"Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum"
Modeling the Ecuadorian Military: https://ecuadorianmilitary.blogspot.com/
My Book Blog: http://bookslikedust.blogspot.com/
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EvilGenius
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Post by EvilGenius »

Lars Porsenna wrote:I read Citizen Soldiers some time ago. Ambrose really excelled as an oral historian (which is what these books are). That being said, however, I totally disagreed with his thesis of Citizen Soldiers and didn't find it very rigorous, or the evidence in the book supporting in any way (in fact, I think he tacked a thesis onto the book to give it some academic legitimacy).

For more WWII action, check out Otto Cairus' Tigers in the Mud. Otto was a Tank Platoon leader of Tiger heavy tanks, and his writing is lucid and the translation from Stackpole books very good. While we're at it, Bob, to give you some perspective on the action in the series and books, I cannot recommend highly enough Doubler's Closing with the Enemy, which is a thoroughly and extremely well researched book (that is written well!), and details the tactical/operational problems the US Army encountered in Europe, and how they managed to overcome them.

If you look at my blog, I have a few other reviews on WWII style books in there...

Damon.
Huh. I'm not sure what the thesis of Citizen Soldiers is supposed to be, so I'm not sure if I agree or disagree. :) I DO agree that the book isn't academically rigorous (though still historically and academically accurate). I think that the lack of an academic approach is what makes the book so completely accessable (as opposed to the regular WWII 'texts').

The other books you mention seem interesting. I'll check them out when I get a chance. Do you own them or should I check the library?
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Lars Porsenna
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Post by Lars Porsenna »

That's why I say the thesis was tacked on...

Basially Ambrose's thesis is that the reason why the common US Gi persevered successfully was because of his innate "American-ness" and because he is a product of our Great Society. Based on other accounts and what veterans say, I think that'd BS. For as much as you fight for Mom, Apple Pie, and Old Glory, when the lead starts flying, the most common reason why men of any stripe or nationality persevere is for his buddies...

IOW, Ambrose's book had a lot of flag waiving without any serious analysis. But as I said before, he excelled as an oral historian.

Whle we're at it Bob, I think you should read this Wikipedia entry (which to the best of my knowledge is accurate): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Ambrose

Yes, I have all the books I listed. I reccommend the Doubler book coming off reading BoB and CC. LMK if you want to borrow them.

Damon.
"Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum"
Modeling the Ecuadorian Military: https://ecuadorianmilitary.blogspot.com/
My Book Blog: http://bookslikedust.blogspot.com/
My Minis Blog: http://minislikedust.blogspot.com/
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