Customer Reviews

Hitler's Ardennes Offensive: The German View of the Battle of the Bulge

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

 

 

Hitler's Ardennes Offensive gives the story of the German Generals who lead the 6th Panzer Army, 5th Panzer Army, and the 7th Army. To build the story, Mr. Parker pulled together the US Army's interviews of these generals and assembled the German viewpoint of the Battle of the Bulge. For each of the sections (each section focus's on one general; Oberstgruppenfuher Dietrich, Generalmajor Kramer (Dietrich's Operations Officer), General der Panzertruppen Manteuffel, General der Panzertruppen Brandengerger, Generalfeldmarschall Keitel and Generaloberst Jodl [they share a section], and General der Infanterie Blumentritt), Mr. Parker provides the general's remembrances of the battle (I believe the generals were able to consult unit histories because some of the remembrances are to detailed...). Several of the sections contain a question and answer section between the general and US interrogators.

Try as I might, I can't give this book more than three stars. While parts of the book are interesting, others are drawn out. Where you might get good analysis from a general the battle, in another area the same general drags thru details that I personally believe would be below an Army generals level. Other factors that I found distracting was the lack of maps (there are two, both are higher level maps), especially given that the generals sometimes discussed very small towns their forces were fighting in; the lack of corp or divisional level generals inputs; and the photos have been heavily used. I'd like to see this same book written with input from the key divisional generals and maps to support the general's discussion (I really missed this when General der Panzertruppen Manteuffel talked about the fighting around St. Vith and Bastogne, in both cases he referenced towns that were much smaller than the book's maps supported). Who knows, maybe Mr. Parker will read this review and re-release this book with some additional material.

Mr Parker's other book on the "Bulge" was good and I hoped this book would be the equal of it but it wasn't. This book has a different format than the typical operational chronicle. The book was divided into separate sections for each of the three main German Armies: the 6th PzA in the north, 5th PzA in the center and the flanking 7th Army to the south. Within each section of the book there would be an interview with its commander followed by an operational summary of the army's activities in the offensive. Running from north to south, the commanders were Dietrich, Manteuffel and Brandenburg.
These interviews, which were held after the war while the generals were held in captivity, provided some useful information but not a lot of detail. The part of the book that raises its rating to 3.5 stars is the situational reports describing the progress of the offensive.

Between the interviews and reports, you'll learn the German commanders thought the plan too ambitious, that it was the wrong time of year for a panzer assault on the poor roads of the Ardennes, that there wasn't enough fuel or artillery shells, that the preparatory barrage was the wrong tactic, the order of battle was flawed, that not enough time was allowed to prepare for the assault, that the divisions were below establishment and that Hitler's strategy was flawed but wouldn't change it when questioned. Some may say these are excuses but it has a ring of validity to me.

I enjoyed these reports though they were summaries and not providing the detail level of the author's other book or books by Cole, MacDonald or Dupuy but it has the advantage of providing information from a German perspective.
The last part of the book was an appraisal or critique of German performance in regards to the objectives, tactical difficulties, command structure, difficulties of panzers deployed on a narrow front, defending the long flanks of the growing salient among other considerations. It was delivered by General Bluementritt, a career solder of creditable reputation. This was also good but a little too brief, wishing for more.

The book also includes Endnotes, an Order of Battle, three maps, a few photos and a Index.
This book is clearly not the equal of some of the best books on the campaign but it has the merit of relating the German perspective, and providing some interesting views. It would be an excellent companion book to the author's earlier book on the Bulge. Comparing similar events between the two books was interesting. Its also worthy of consideration in joining your other "Bulge" books currently in your library.

The book was in excellent condition, and a very good description of events at the Battle of the Bulge. My husband was there, and says it is very authentic.