Customer Reviews

A Night Before Christmas

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The sinking of the SS Leaopoldville is the second greatest loss of life in a single incident after the loss of the USS Arizona. On Christmas Eve 1944 the Troop ship Leopoldville was torpedoed 5 miles off the coast of Cherbourg, France and over 800 lives where lost. Read about this great tragedy by an eye witness. The facts about this incident was not released until 1961 but still has not been widely publisized. Learn about the bravery and heroism of a few great men to save their commrades in arms. This is a gripping story that left wanting to know more!

My husband's Uncle Waldo died on the Leopoldville. I read this book with a desire to know what happened. Although Waldo is not mentioned, through reading the book I was able to be there and understand what happened, to know other men who were on the boat, and to feel the terror, pain, and loss of that Christmas Eve. It is a gripping book. At first I was very agitated that the book ended so abruptly. It bothered me for days that I was in the midst of such a compelling tale about people I had come to know and then it stopped cold. I wanted to know what had happened to each individual. Later I realized that same great sense of discord was felt by the families of all who perished; in their time of deepest sorrow they were told their sons, husbands, and fathers were missing or killed in action rather than the true story. The feeling the book left was a powerful reminder of the painful legacy that was left when the government chose not to disclose the whole story. This book, along with the S.S. Leopoldville Disaster by Allan Andrade, tells an important story. This story and these men should never be forgotten.

This book has stood the test of time -- it is better than the vast majority of current non-fiction titles -- and is amazing because so many people kept secrets about the Leopoldville for decades. The level of research and the writing style are terrific. My father-in-law sailed on the Leopoldville, and he verified for me the authenticity and detail; moreover, the book captured the spirit of the men on board.

If you have any interest in things military, if the idea of sinking ships appeals to you or if you just want a great read about a story far too few people ever have heard, read this book

This was the first book I've purchased on the disaster...As a survivor, it brought backm some very unpleasent memories, but visiins that had been locked up for over 50 years...

Finally, the families of these young men have had somne sort of closure and now know what happened that fateful night...all because the allied forces screwed up...poor communications, no interaction between the allies and unbelieveable desertion of the ship by its crew!

Must read !

A hidden tragedy brought to light. This book will help us never forget the many lives that were needlessly lost December 24, 1944. So many of us had family members aboard The Leopoldville who never came home. Now their story will not be forgotten.

My dad was on this ship.. His birthday was Christmas Day, so you see there was even a GREATER significance for US.. He didn't talk about this much as many soldiers probably didn't. Dad was in the American Legion in Connecticut for MANY years and was a state Commander and VERY proud of our country..He has 3 sons.. I wish they would make a movie of this, showing exactly what happened with the ship and why our government allowed it to sink.. We All ARE VERY proud of you.......
(DAD)..................
Philip J. Bialoglowy (#2 son )