Sunday, October 21, 2007
D-Day: June 6, 1944
The Climactic Battle Of World War II
Stephen Ambrose
1994
This book is a historical recounting of D-Day, the day when the allied forces invaded France in order to establish themselves in Nazi occupied Europe.
The value of the information in this book is immeasurable. Ambrose seemed to decide some time back that D-Day was such an important even in world history - which it certainly was - that he need record as many possible personal accounts of the day before the stories are lost forever. He reassembles the events, beginning with some background, but starting primarily before light on June 6, 1944, by combining hundreds of personal memories and official histories to piece together a complete and accurate version of events. The stories are moving. There are many personal memories of being scared or injured making mistakes, bravely pushing forward, and losing many close friends. The emotion of the men who fought is captured with an unsympathetic commitment to recounting both the triumphs and the blunders - both of which there were many. The gravity of the undertaking seemed to be apparent to the men, and few of them shirked their duties. Many were poorly positioned or landed, but for the most part they pressed on to complete either their mission, or if that was not possible, any positive result.
The story depicts the allied forces as well as the allied training regime as strong and effective. It is also fairly critical of the planning and intelligence that led to D-Day. The men were often put into unintended and avoidable danger, and many did not survive. Ultimately however, Ambrose seems to say that, given the resources, available intelligence, and unpredictable weather, everyone did the best they could. Ambrose is impressed with what went on that day, especially with the officers who took control in the absence of any higher control, and the men who fought are most likely proud of, and content with, their portrayal in this book.
This book is a compliment to a deeper study of World War II. Ambrose assumes much of the reader, and explains few details that he believes could be explained elsewhere. It results in a book that is uncluttered and focussed. His goal, as stated above, is accomplished.
The Climactic Battle Of World War II
Stephen Ambrose
1994
This book is a historical recounting of D-Day, the day when the allied forces invaded France in order to establish themselves in Nazi occupied Europe.
The value of the information in this book is immeasurable. Ambrose seemed to decide some time back that D-Day was such an important even in world history - which it certainly was - that he need record as many possible personal accounts of the day before the stories are lost forever. He reassembles the events, beginning with some background, but starting primarily before light on June 6, 1944, by combining hundreds of personal memories and official histories to piece together a complete and accurate version of events. The stories are moving. There are many personal memories of being scared or injured making mistakes, bravely pushing forward, and losing many close friends. The emotion of the men who fought is captured with an unsympathetic commitment to recounting both the triumphs and the blunders - both of which there were many. The gravity of the undertaking seemed to be apparent to the men, and few of them shirked their duties. Many were poorly positioned or landed, but for the most part they pressed on to complete either their mission, or if that was not possible, any positive result.
The story depicts the allied forces as well as the allied training regime as strong and effective. It is also fairly critical of the planning and intelligence that led to D-Day. The men were often put into unintended and avoidable danger, and many did not survive. Ultimately however, Ambrose seems to say that, given the resources, available intelligence, and unpredictable weather, everyone did the best they could. Ambrose is impressed with what went on that day, especially with the officers who took control in the absence of any higher control, and the men who fought are most likely proud of, and content with, their portrayal in this book.
This book is a compliment to a deeper study of World War II. Ambrose assumes much of the reader, and explains few details that he believes could be explained elsewhere. It results in a book that is uncluttered and focussed. His goal, as stated above, is accomplished.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
The Second World War: Triumph And Tragedy
Winston Churchill
1953
How the Great Democracies Triumphed, and so Were able to Resume the Follies Which Had so Nearly Cost Them Their Life.
This book documents the D-Day invasion of Normandy, the fall of Rome, the possibility of a Nazi secret weapon, Roosevelt's death, the atomic bomb, the end of the war, and Russia ascendancy to aggressive world power.
The story of the human race in the 20th century rivals eclipses any fiction that even the most profound author could ever conceive. A book with depth and vastness - a rich moving story - like Lord Of The Rings, is a pamphlet compared to the vastness of the human story. There is only one narrative, endless in detail and recounting the most tragic of tragedies and the most triumphant of triumphs. This narrative is told from the beginning of time and is added to every day. The world needs people like Churchill to document it, to tell the story. Thank goodness he was never a fiction writer - what a waste! No one could have ever predicted what World War Two would lead to. But with Churchill writing from his first person perspective, at least we know how we got here.
World War One ended with countless unanswered questions and unresolved issues. World War two solved them, forever. But it opened up more and even greater questions with which the world is still grappling today, namely, the titanic struggle between nations to be a world super power. Could anyone have foreseen this terrifying outcome and he close of the bloodiest conflict in human history? Churchill could.
He moves from discussing the day to day of running the war to recounting his growing torment as he begins to see the new world order rising out of the destruction of the war. He details how the victory parties and the massive street celebrations - at which his presence was a major historical event - were empty to him due to his awareness of the even larger still distant threat. He never doubted that England would persevere, and after the US entered the war, he was certain of victory. But, as Nazi Germany was falling apart he was tormented by the realization that Russia had no intention of curbing its meteoric rise to power following its crushing of the German east army. Russia would not stop, Churchill could see it clear. He uses the "iron curtain" term well before the war is even over, and the US state department in shown to be nowhere near as perceptive as he in broadly viewing world affairs. In fact, he tried to warn everyone. Just as he had done in the thirties, but as before, no one paid attention until it was too late.
Six books, each over 700 pages, on World War Two, was an unlikely undertaking. I thought I would spend a few years on them, reading them once in awhile. They turned out to be captivating and enlightening. They raised my interest in historical study from what was previously near non-existent, to something of a minor passion. The books I read after these six attest to that. I'll try to ensure that don't neglect my love of fiction too much, and don't always post about history, but for the next few weeks, that might be tough.
Winston Churchill
1953
How the Great Democracies Triumphed, and so Were able to Resume the Follies Which Had so Nearly Cost Them Their Life.
This book documents the D-Day invasion of Normandy, the fall of Rome, the possibility of a Nazi secret weapon, Roosevelt's death, the atomic bomb, the end of the war, and Russia ascendancy to aggressive world power.
The story of the human race in the 20th century rivals eclipses any fiction that even the most profound author could ever conceive. A book with depth and vastness - a rich moving story - like Lord Of The Rings, is a pamphlet compared to the vastness of the human story. There is only one narrative, endless in detail and recounting the most tragic of tragedies and the most triumphant of triumphs. This narrative is told from the beginning of time and is added to every day. The world needs people like Churchill to document it, to tell the story. Thank goodness he was never a fiction writer - what a waste! No one could have ever predicted what World War Two would lead to. But with Churchill writing from his first person perspective, at least we know how we got here.
World War One ended with countless unanswered questions and unresolved issues. World War two solved them, forever. But it opened up more and even greater questions with which the world is still grappling today, namely, the titanic struggle between nations to be a world super power. Could anyone have foreseen this terrifying outcome and he close of the bloodiest conflict in human history? Churchill could.
He moves from discussing the day to day of running the war to recounting his growing torment as he begins to see the new world order rising out of the destruction of the war. He details how the victory parties and the massive street celebrations - at which his presence was a major historical event - were empty to him due to his awareness of the even larger still distant threat. He never doubted that England would persevere, and after the US entered the war, he was certain of victory. But, as Nazi Germany was falling apart he was tormented by the realization that Russia had no intention of curbing its meteoric rise to power following its crushing of the German east army. Russia would not stop, Churchill could see it clear. He uses the "iron curtain" term well before the war is even over, and the US state department in shown to be nowhere near as perceptive as he in broadly viewing world affairs. In fact, he tried to warn everyone. Just as he had done in the thirties, but as before, no one paid attention until it was too late.
Six books, each over 700 pages, on World War Two, was an unlikely undertaking. I thought I would spend a few years on them, reading them once in awhile. They turned out to be captivating and enlightening. They raised my interest in historical study from what was previously near non-existent, to something of a minor passion. The books I read after these six attest to that. I'll try to ensure that don't neglect my love of fiction too much, and don't always post about history, but for the next few weeks, that might be tough.
