Customer Reviews

ON TO BERLIN

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In this book, General Gavin tells the story of the "All-American" 82d Airborne Division during WWII. He is best suited to provide this history since he served with the Division during its entire participation in the European Campaign, starting as a Regimental Commander with the 505th to eventually commanding the unit.

General Gavin gives a detailed description of all the operations the 82d participated in during WWII, and adds his analysis of why certain things went well for his unit, while other things were a struggle. I found his analysis of the German's lack of will to particpate in hand-to-hand combat fascinating. Especially since I have not seen this perspective in other WWII books that I have read. Additionally, he provides insight into the Allied command structure and the challenges it faced.

I really enjoyed this book because General Gavin provides a unique perspective of the war, much different than other general officers. Due to the nature of airborne operations, Gavin personally experienced the harshness and challenges of WWII combat. Additionally, he participated in numerous high-level planning sessions with other well-known leaders of the Allied Command. Thus, he can connect the cause and effect of how strategic decisions influenced the actual combat operations in the ETO. General Gavin also gives his analysis of the Allied decision to concede Berlin to the Russians - pretty interesting stuff, especially given the long-term impact that this decision had on world events.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in WWII history. For those wanting to learn more about the 82d, or airborne operation - this is required reading. If General Bradley is known as the Soldier's General, then General Gavin should be known as the Paratroopers General. No one knew airborne operations better, and no general had a greater influence on his men and the battles they fought than "Jumping Jim" Gavin.

On to Berlin is possibly the best autobiography on WWII, right up there with Hans von Luck's Panzer Commander. Gavin was with the 82nd Airborne during all of the war, from Sicily, to Salerno, D-Day, Holland, the "Bulge" and the Hurtgen forest. He is excellent in describing the operations of the 82nd as it fought it's way through Normandy and Operation Market Garden, and tells the forgotten story of the 82nd during the Battle of the Bulge, for which the 101st usually gets the glory. Gavin also discusses the development of Airborne warfare, from early troubles in Sicily to the massive drop over Holland. He also talks about his disagreements with Eisenhower for playing politics with the British and thus prolonging the war. As the youngest general of the war, he was bold, decisive and brilliant in his tactics. Known as the "Jumpin' General", Gavin always accompanied his troops into battle and always was at the front line. I highly recommend this book. The reader will get to know one the real great heroes of World War Two, who doesn't get nearly enough credit for all he accomplished.

Gavin tells the story of the 82 Airborne and what a story! He confirms what was so clear in the biography, Paratrooper, that a general needs to be on the battlefield to see first hand what the situation and terrain are like before he can establish and direct a good battle plan. His wisdom about this and his talent in leadership is what made the 82 Airborne arguably the most successful fighting unit of the war. He was in fact the nation's best battlefield general.. Not only does he describe what actually happened in some of the Wars greatest battles but he critiques and evaluates the major events and decisions in a way that convinces most of us that his reputation is well deserved. By the way, he takes Eisenhower to task for his affair with Kay Summersby but piously says nothing about his liaisons with Marlene Dietrich and other women.

I was not too sure of the book when I picked it up, but once I started reading I found it very interesting. The details of the relationship (or lack there of) between Patton and Montgomery are very interesting. How the Allies kept it together with these two ego's leading is a credit to Eisenhower. I also enjoyed the details of the Italy campaign, one part of the war that is not covered much. The descriptions of the battles in Berlin prompted me to get a few books on the topic. Overall this is a good book, it does not have the "Black Hawk Down" battle descriptions, but it does deliver a very well written history of the experiences of the Airborne. The author did a solid job.

The autor , James M Gavin takes you all the way from Sicilli to Berlin. He let's you see the enormous problems where the American Airborne divisions have to deal with. He also gives you an idea of the struggles to keep the aliance together and he tell's you the problems between Patton and Montgommery

James M. Gavin, Soldier, West Pointer, "would be flyer", Airborne Pioneer, WW2 General, Ambassador, and ladies man. This truly self-made man was an orginial. There will never be another one like him. He led from the front. He also was responsible for the distruction ot the 551 Parachute Infantry Battalion (See Gregory Orfalea's "Messengers of the Lost Battalion: The Heroic 551st and the Turning of the Tide at the Battle of the Bulge) which he is alleged to have covered up. He is also alleged to have bedded Marlene Dietrich, and Jackie O. In 1972 there was talk of Gavin as a GOP presidental candidate. Gavin was a liberal Republican and JFK confidant... I read this book many years ago and still own it. Gavin was a brilliant tactician and leader. He was also politically liberal in his writing and forward thinking. However, make no mistake, he was a solid patriot and true "American Hero". His historical recolection is very percise and insightful. I recommend Gavin's "War and Peace in the Space Age" from 1958. and "Crisis Now" from 1968. For further reading, on the General's life I also recommend Thomas Booth's "Paratrooper: The Life of Gen James M. M Gavin" and Gerard Devlin's "Paratrooper" (A complete histroy of American airborne forces in WW2).

Generally, I'm not a great fan of the autobiographys of Generals and commanders, they can often by rather dry and lack any real insight. But James Gavin's book is a wonderful exception to the rule. It has two distinct advantages 1) Gavin was present at many high-level meetings in WWII so his thoughts on Eisenhower, Montgomery and the strategic plans for Sicily, Normandy and Market-Garden are insightful and enlightening. 2) Unlike some commanders, Gavin was very much a combat leader, so in additional to the high-level meetings, he also put time in at the sharp end - dodging bullets, running from fox-hole to fox-hole and actually fighting alongside his men.

So it's his varied experiences that make this such a great read, it's not a politcal memoir or a combat journal - in many ways it's both.

Highly recommended

The book provides a spectacular account of the exploits of the 82nd Airborne Division during the European Campaign and gives a good history of airborne warfare by one of its pioneers. The best thing about the book is Gavin's perspective on his peers and superiors, especially Eisenhower, Montgomery, Bradley and Patton. He was in a great position to know them. He is critical of Eisenhower for his absence from the front and makes a convincing case that Eisenhower's preoccupation with politics and strategy prolonged the war because he lacked an adequate understanding at the operational level. Gavin posits that had Eisenhower made frequent trips to the front line division headquarters, he'd have been better able to gauge the situation and make better decisions. Gavin was critical of the rapid relief for cause of generals during the war, particularly during the Battle of the Bulge and called for the Army to re-think their policy. It's a highly readable and interesting book.

I read this regular book, here in Brazil.I'm an agronomist and I like to read books.
This book is about, the military(war) life of an american general.
Again there's the so common problem of almost all auto-biografies:the lack of sincerity.
Being a para-trooper, the author never recognizes the obvious limitations of para-tropers.In fact, in 1941 after his victory(using para-tropers) in Creete, Hitler told:"The time of para-tropers is over".
I'm not a nazist, but about para-tropers, Hitler was right.
Para-tropers had some use against nazi Germany in D-day, because nazi Germany was crippled after almost 5 years of war and the Eastern front alone took more than 90% of its force.
Even in late 1944, a massive american and english para-trooper launching was defeated, by a weak and defenseless nazi Germany.
The author, writing during Cold War and now not alive, tells that USA could had took Berlin in 1945.Yes, but "Uncle Sam" hadn't enough stomach to support ,millions of deaths in war against nazi Germany, as then Soviet Union had.
This book has value, but its lack of sincerity is obvious, except for many "gringos" and their worldwide friends.