Battle of the Bulge: Then and Now [Hardcover]

Jean-Paul Pallud (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0900913401 | ISBN-13: 978-0900913402 | Publication Date: June 1986 | Edition: 2nd

Drawing on contemporary material from public and private sources as well as combatants and civilians, this book uses photographs and still frames in their historical context in order to analyse the German advance during the Battle of the Bulge.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The remarkable impartiality of Mr. Pallud's calm, measured reportage gives the reader confidence that the narrative is as free from distortion as any account can be ... intricate... majestic... dauntingly massive book."- -- THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

Product Details

• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: After the Battle Magazine; 2nd edition (June 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0900913401
• ISBN-13: 978-0900913402
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 8.6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #360,494 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ardennes on the Coffee Table, December 14, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Battle of the Bulge: Then and Now (Hardcover)

One in the "Now and Then" battlefield series, this book is heavy in every sense of the term. The author has extensively researched contemporary Allied and Nazi war correspondent footage, and has followed up by finding and photographing the matching locations as they appear today. While the juxtaposition of two photographs of the same scene, taken over 50 years apart, may seem largely pointless, the task nevertheless puts the Ardennes Offensive into clearer focus. Any student of Wacht am Rhein who wishes to see the sites firsthand will benefit from the descriptions and photos of the current locations. More significantly, the extensive research lends new light to some previously-published photos and cine stills of the action, often actually supplying names to the faces. When the video comes to the footage of Tiger tank # 222, a quick reference to Pallud's book will show the final resting place of the machine. And that's not a photo of Col. Peiper at the Malmedy/Stavelot crossroads -- Pallud's analysis corrects the decades-old mistake.

Impressively printed on high-quality glossy paper, this volume is a compliment to any coffee table. This is an heirloom well worth its price tag.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History by photo analysis, November 28, 1999

By 

Kevin R. Austra (Delaware Valley, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Battle of the Bulge: Then and Now (Hardcover)

"The Battle of the Bulge: Then and Now," is a must for anyone who considers him or herself an officianado of the Ardennes Offensive. I first chanced across this book in the Army library when I was a student at the Combined Services Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, KS. Upon my return to Germany, I set about attempting to order an English version of the book and finally did so through a German book store. For those who are tired of seeing the same old National Archive or Bundesarchive Bulge photographs in countless books, this rendition goes several steps further in researching hundreds of photographs and exhibiting modern day images from the same photographic perspective and angle. Not only is this work a great research tool, it also serves as one of the best tour guides available for the wartime Ardennes.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In the Footsteps of the Combatants-History Relived!, May 22, 2001

By 

Ron R. Glaeseman (San Pedro, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Battle of the Bulge: Then and Now (Hardcover)

As the title states, the objective of the Then and Now series is to bring history alive for the reader and traveler. In addition to the historical text, scenes depicted in actual combat movie film or still footage from both American and German forces are studied. The place where the film was taken is identified and another photo showing what the scene looks like today is juxtaposed along side the original. If one considers the effort behind such a task, one becomes immediately appreciative of the task undertaken by Jean-Paul Pallud in this nicely produced book. As the author states on several occasions, the notes and captions accompanying the film are often in error and the actual scene could be several kilometers away from what is noted. Indeed, Mr. Pallud must know the Ardennes like the back of his hand. The patience and effort that Pallud put into this publication is immense, and in that effort we can "relive" history through these photographs. Imagine being able to stand in the same spot that a tank was destroyed or where German troops stripped dead American soldiers of their clothing and possessions! I believe the high point of this book centers around Pallud's reconstruction of the destruction of the American armored column (a unit of the ill fated 14th Cavalry Group) on the Recht-Poteau road. Pallud proves that the Germans staged various scenes for the newsreels. He lays out the placement of the various vehicles on the road, based upon only the photographic evidence. Truly a fine piece of work. This book is a must for any serious student of the "Bulge".