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A Review of Stephen Ambrose? s

Citizen Soldiers

Prologue

Stephen Ambrose introduces us to his book by puting the scene on the forenoon after the Allies begin their assault on the European continent. We are introduced to Lt. Waverly Wray, the XO for Company D of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Through the following few pages of the prologue Ambrose illustrates gallantry within Lieutenant Wray showing a certain strength that would transport the U.S. and her Alliess through the War. In terrain unfamiliar to American soldiers Lt. Wray moves through thick hedgerows unbeknown to several enemy officers Wray suprises them and kills eight Germany soldiers with a individual shooting to the caput. Subsequently in this subdivision Ambrose asks the inquiry? how good General George C. Marshalll and that comparative smattering of professional officers functioning in the U.S. Army in 1940 had done in making and ground forces of citizen soldiers & # 8230 ; ? ? . From his use of Lt. Wray, Ambrose seems to bespeak that the American work forces of this decennary would lift to this undertaking.

Chapter 2

After Allies established themselves on the beaches of the European Continent the hard push through the Gallic countryside began. As the American Army advanced they became hindered by the unexpected nature of this terrain. From ancient times Gallic farms had been separated by tall thick coppice known as hedgerows. These Hedgerows proved hard for an progressing foot to travel through. The hard nature of motion was further enhanced by the excellent covered defenses the hedgerows provided to the Germans. The combat in these terrain characteristics had non been expected by the U.S. Army, intelligence had overlooked these obstructions and soldiers as a consequence did non have the proper preparation needed. Techniques to get the better of these obstructions had to be learned as the foot advanced. This unequal readying cost lives and clip. Slowly, American inventiveness prevailed as armored combat vehicle crews and foot members tested methods to get the better of the encountered obstructions. Working together, the armored combat vehicle and foot developed successful methods of transgressing these characteristics. One such betterment that would latter proves to indispensable to American success, was that of improved communications between armour, foot and aircraft. In genuinely united manner the foot supported armored combat vehicles, aircraft supported foot all in a combined attempts to force toward Germany.

Chapter 3

Once the push out of the hedgerows had succeeded, the Allies had the Germany Army on the defensive shutting the distance toward Germany. The communications that developed from the hedgerow contending worked at near flawlessness lay waste toing enemy places. Ambrose illustrated this teamwork in the illustration of Hill 317. Lieutenant Robert Weiss and the work forces of the 2nd Battalion held a cardinal place on Hill 317. As German forces surrounded these work forces for five yearss they successfully held with the aid of air support and heavy weapon. From their vantage point on the hill 2nd Battalion was able to detect enemy motions and call for back uping fire. As the yearss went by and ammo supplies dwindled it seemed that the work forces of the 2nd would be forced to give up. Attempts to resupply the 2nd failed, batteries were near dead extinguishing their capableness call support, at about the last minute the 2nd Battalion was relieved by elements of the thirty-fifth Division. The attempts of those on Hill 317 halted the German push to the seashore. The hurt German Army was forced to withdraw or be annialhated. The withdrawing Army shortly became a running mass of persons. The combined attempts of air and land forces tormented the retreating Germans at an unstoppable gait. As one Corporal from the 2nd Panzer Division recalled, the lone thought many had was? Out! Out! Out! ? . As 1000s of Germany? s most rugged were running for the protection of their boundary line, many chose to go out the war by give uping to the British or American Armies. One such illustration was that of the American soldier unwittingly happening a topographic point to rest following to a German soldier who in the forenoon wakened the American so he could give up himself to this GI. The push had been successful and the Germans were on the brink of licking.

Part Two

Chapter 6

The push toward Berlin brought the Alliess to Hurtgen Forest. The landings of D-Day had taken a big toll on combat units yet they marched frontward. At certain point within the chapter Amborse tells us that many units suffered in surpluss of 100 per centum casualty rates. The Hurtgen Forest is described as a midst, dark, and baleful location to do an attempt to free the enemy from its fortified defence. American soldiers were unable to use their effectual support that had been so good through out hedgerows. Terrain and rendered armored combat vehicle support useless and the thick wood canopy prevented usage of air support. Movement forward was slow and dearly-won, German munitions proved to be formidable. Soldiers went yearss without remainder and dry vesture holding a detering consequence on the military personnels. Ambrose besides hints at the insufficiencies of the Army? s senior leading. A cardinal point mentioned, was the deficiency of true apprehension by senior leaders of the combat state of affairs confronting their military personnels. Leadership tended non to see the forepart lines neglecting to grok the troubles of those at the forepart but the strengths of junior officers and NCOs carried the Army through. This uneffective bid as Ambrose points out, lead to many lives being lost without existent ground. The soldiers in the Hurtgen forest addition district that impact positively on the attempts against the Germans.

Chapter 7

A successful push to the German lodger had promoted an ambiance of contentment ; soldiers turned their attendings toward place and were caught away guard as the Wehrmacht pushed frontward. In its early minutes merely General Eisenhower understood the complete deductions of this development. Hitler had gambled that The Allies would be slow to move leting a steadfast bridgehead from which to recover the upper manus. The Germans succeeded in interrupting the American lines in the Ardennes. Caught off balance many American units fell rapidly to the elephantine German force mounted to recover the impulse the Germans enjoyed in 1940. This new German force was unknown to American Intelligence and was equipped with the latest tools to turn over off production lines. The resulting confusion promoted many to withdraw and later it became a mass hegira for persons. Eisenhower, hold oning the state of affairs ordered the 82nd and 101st to reenforce the? shoulders? of the incursion. As these soldiers were transported into place they came in contact with their fellow soldiers running for safety. The Germans inflicted a serious lesion on the American lines but non on the American will to compensate a incorrect. The Allies would prehend this chance to? cut? em off and masticate? em up? . The Germans were approximately to have a buffeting.

Chapter 8

The withdrawing American soldiers came to a topographic point where they would no longer be allowed to fall back. Even after a hard March the tired and weary soldiers had a bosom felt finding to keep at the small town of Elsenborn. Busying a cardinal place between Eifel and Antwerp the Germans need this antecedently neglected point. The finding the American soldiers held at Elsenborn would signal to German leading the underestimate placed on the American warrior. This bravery is best illustrated in Ambrose? s highlighting of the surrounding of Bastogne and the 101st. Along with elements of the tenth Armored, combat applied scientists, anti-aircraft units the 101st was surrounded by a German Division. These soldiers held off the Germans clip after clip. At one point the German Co would inquire for the? honest resignation? of those with in the surrounded town. The answer to this petition was a simple and withstanding? Nuts? . These units received farther supplies and continued to keep off the Germans until the dramatic deliverance by the forces of General Patton. The conditions had prevented the Allied usage of Air power yet as the conditions improved and missions were flown, the German progress genuinely came to stultifying arrest.

Chapter 9

1944 like every other twelvemonth brought the otherwise joyous jubilation of Christmas. For both German and American this was a clip set aside the horrors of combat for the peaceable ideas of the season. During the Ardennes Campaign there was no agreed to discontinue fire, but soldiers enjoyed a sense of peace, if merely within themselves. Ambrose writes of Christmas carols being sung on both sides of the line. Such little scenes were spread through out the ETO. Front line soldiers decorated fox holes, work forces in burnt-out edifices enjoyed banquet of scavenged goods. The really terrain in which they fought provided a scene suiting the juncture, the tall green trees, pure white snow and the hush of nature. With all of this the war continued. Bombing runs continued, Ambushes conducted and fox holes dug and work forces died. This chapter highlighted the mental and emotional anguish war topographic points on the person.

Part Three

Chapter 10

Old ages of technological promotions altered the behavior of WWII enabling Armies to kill around the clock. The one time unafraid darkness now

added to the dangers of combat. Warming fires could non be lit ; the slightest noise arose intuition and tenseness. The eternal being of front-line soldiers in fox holes isolated them from spouses and friends. Changeless exposure to endure effected the wellness of these units. The insufficiencies of the Army supplied equipment and the deficiency of empathy on the portion of leading merely intensified these conditions. Soldiers faced changeless watchfulness holding a toll on their mental provinces. Ambrose quotes Gray? s suiting statement in? the dictatorship of the present? . Soldiers passed the clip by making games or stretched simple undertakings every bit much as possible for fright of holding nil to make. Ambrose quotes a Sargent who keenly grasps the chapter in his individual statement

Keeping the line didn? t mean merely sitting in fox holes waiting for something to go on. It meant a continual conflict against trench pes and mental depression, sudating out heavy weapon bombardments which the enemy habitually sent in at Zhou clip and darks which were lighted with flairs and flashes, contending off enemy patrols & # 8230 ; [ but most of all ] it meant hours and yearss of deathly ennui

An indispensable portion of the soldiers? ability to cover with these troubles was his brother. These work forces bounded like no other friends. They learned of each other? s histories, desires for the hereafter and frights of the present. The necessity for these bonds comes at a cost since war brings decease at a random gait. Friendships are broken in gruesome ways holding long and permanent effects on those unfortunate to see such desolation. As one interviewed soldier set it? You have to maintain traveling & # 8230 ; There was no clip to mourn the dead, even if they were good friends? . Through all of this, soldiers continued, to the full cognizant of the effects if the failed to make so.

Chapter 11

As with many beuracracies the Army was entrenched with certain method, many of which were non logical or efficient. The Army? s method of? replacing and support? was one such system of inefficiency. In-theater forces became drastically reduced in figure. Replacements came from rear echelon units or from new recruits from states-side. The preparation for these new combat soldiers was mostly uncomplete and unequal. Many soldiers were inexperienced with their arms even as they arrived on-line. Eisenhower? s method of scattering these new soldiers was to cover them out separately, giving any chumminess established every bit good as presenting these foreigners to already cohesive units. These inexperienced and lost soldiers were non afforded the tools and cognition needed to last through such conditions. Many were killed due to inside informations or combat they did non cognize. Ambrose gives us an illustration the benefits of this? verdancy? , at least in one instance. A new platoon leader ( PL ) was given the assignment of capturing a place. The PL returns to merely walk up to the house, strike hard on the door and apparently explicate his petition to the German sergeant who answers the door. The German sergeant gathers his work forces every bit good as the Americans in the country, and without a shooting being fired, the Germans officially resignations to the American commanding officer. Ambrose points to leading? s accent on? measure in front of quality? as the ground for the gratuitous loss of many lives. The failure to develop, the deficiency of R & A ; R afforded to frontline units every bit good as the failure to advance communicating between those with and without experience are cardinal grounds behind such gratuitous losingss.

Chapter 12

In this chapter Ambrose reminds us that there were others who suffered through this war and here he highlights those involved with the Air War. Many may see pilots and aircrew as holding a slightly easier clip than the pes soldier but the world is that they excessively faced the horror of combat. The torture air crew went through may non hold been similar to that of land warriors but they were none-the-less were tormented. Each bombing mission or escort mission had to confront an enemy who was non eager to allow such missions continue. The Germans would direct up their ain combatants or screens of flak catcher to seek and strike hard the planes from the air. With such resistance many air crews were mentally anguished, as they had to wing a needed figure of missions. Cases of? 109 heebie-jeebiess? and emphasis took their toll on this group of work forces. Flying 1000s of pess up in cold, cramped and sometimes alone places merely added to their emphasis. The uninterrupted anguish of non cognizing who would return seems really similar to the land soldiers unknowingness. Ambrose subsequently asks the inquiry of the benefits of this war and eventually concludes, ? the war could non hold been won without them? . I agree wholly the air war rapidly derive a superior advantage which enabled the Army to transport on with out fright of the German air menace.

Chapter 13

The work of medical forces is frequently overlooked to the success of the military. From the front line trefoil to the head-shrinker in the rear they each had an indispensable function in returning work forces to the lines. As the contending raged field trefoils frequently faced unsafe state of affairss motivated merely by their desire to assist. Many trefoils, as Ambrose points out, were respected on both sides for their attempts and accomplishments. Medics were frequently the one single foot elements were driven to protect. The devastation war can do on the human organic structure so accomplished those who dealt with it that it was interesting to read how many seemed to ne’er desire anything to make with the profession once more. In one instance a trefoil stated if given the chance to make it once more he would take to make a mechanical signifier of care. Wartime nurses gave injured soldiers grounds to smile and take their heads of the war. Nurses besides had to cover with societies angst of adult females in combat. Many of these brave adult females suffered disaffection from friends and household members. Combined with the attempts of the trefoils and physicians this constituent of the American war machine succeeded in returning the bulk of casualties? back to responsibility. In one amazing statistic of medical service is the rate of success for Air emptying. Of 1,176,048 transported worldwide merely forty-six lost their lives en path. In add-on to the proficient promotions within the medical field of the clip it seems far more conclusive that the internal thrust and motives of these persons made the difference in lives saved.

Chapter 14

With all of its hero and heroines the U.S. military had its portion less than honest individuals. In such a large-scale operation there are necessarily those who will prosecute personal end instead than those of the corporate group. In a battle for what is right it is sad to larn that there were those motivated by greed and self-gain. These profiteers stole supplies and stuffs aimed at assisting soldiers live and defeat their resistance. In one illustration an full train and its content destined for front line soldiers merely disappeared. Rear echelon military personnels frequently took the best most favorite supplies for they wholly ignoring the enormous encouragement such points may hold had on the front line. Ambrose besides informs us of those persons who were so hyperbolic with rank or place that in minor manner they added to the troubles of war. These persons placed gratuitous controls on those already burdened with the troubles of merely seeking to remain alive. Another illustration of those who merely detracted from the full potency of America? s military are those who worked against integrating of black soldiers into all units. As 1000s of Black Americans volunteered to function the state on the forepart lines, many worked to forestall such a state of affairs. The armed forces was in demand of fit immature work forces who were willing to contend courageously yet the Army failed to use the potency of these black soldiers. By far it is the courage of those involved in this struggle that will be remembered coevalss from now. On some degree it is saddening to believe of how many those lost would non hold had to be if merely the squad could genuinely hold worked together.

Chapter 15

An Army frequently does non loss most of its soldiers to decease and hurt many are captured and held by the enemy. Treatment of POWs can be seen as a contemplation of the tensenesss between both sides. Tensions between Americans and Germans was high, there are illustrations of both sides mistreatment of those give uping or trying to give up. American captives were forced to digest inhumane conditions of travel and life. Ambrose gives us illustrations of work forces eating maggots as their lone beginning of protein. By far it seems German captives in American custodies fared much better than Americans in German custodies. To larn Germans were allowed to travel to films unescorted in American metropoliss is astonishing. While this pattern was good to American husbandmans it is difficult to conceive of such intervention of those following the most despised adult male in history. Ambrose besides points that such intervention of these POWs was more humane than the intervention of Black Americans adding to the antipathy this leaves me with.

Decision

The lessons gained from this book were both insightful and encouraging. I enjoyed reading this book and look frontward to reading others by this writer. The easiness of which he presented this stuff made this history apprehensible and allowed for a personal connexion to those who lived it.

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