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Citizen Soldiers: The U.S. Army from the Normandy Beaches to the Bulge to the Surrender of Germany Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,502 ratings
4.2 on Goodreads
23,835 ratings
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Citizen Soldiers opens on June 7, 1944, on the Normandy beaches, and ends on May 7, 1945. From the high command on down to the enlisted men, Stephen E. Ambrose draws on hundreds of interviews and oral histories from men on both sides who were there. He recreates the experiences of the individuals who fought the battles, the women who served, and the Germans who fought against us.

Ambrose reveals the learning process of a great army: how to cross rivers, how to fight in snow or hedgerows, how to fight in cities, how to coordinate air and ground campaigns, how to fight in winter and on the defensive, how citizens become soldiers in the best army in the world.

A masterful biography of the U.S. Army in the European Theater of Operations, Citizen Soldiers provides a compelling account of the extraordinary stories of ordinary men in their fight for democracy.

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  1. Listening Length
    21 hours and 34 minutes
  2. Author
    Stephen E. Ambrose
  3. Narrator
    George K. Wilson
  4. Audible release date
    January 24, 2011
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Simon & Schuster Audio
  7. ASIN
    B004KM33TO
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 21 hours and 34 minutes
Author Stephen E. Ambrose
Narrator George K. Wilson
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date January 24, 2011
Publisher Simon & Schuster Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B004KM33TO
Best Sellers Rank #14,229 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#47 in 20th Century History
#68 in World War II History (Audible Books & Originals)
#176 in American Military History

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
1,502 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book excellent, fascinating, and astounding. They appreciate the insight, factual storytelling, and ability to humanize the subject. Readers describe the prose as wonderful, easily understood, and solid. They also describe the history as great and masterful. Readers appreciate the good insights, detail, and entertainment value. They mention it captures the essence of courage and sacrifice.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

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ReadabilityInsightPacingHistoryInformation qualityEntertainment valueEmotional contentAccuracy
101 customers mention "Readability"101 positive0 negative

Customers find the book excellent, superb, and fascinating. They say it's one of the best accounts of that time in the war and one of the best war books they have read. Readers also mention it's a great work on the subject and an honest work of one part of a terrible war.

"...Was a member of Stephen’s WWII rountable. This is the best book on the subject I’ve read...." Read more

"Great book. Ambrose was an amazing writer. If you enjoy books about WWII I would highly recommend. No complaints." Read more

"...Good, solid read, but not as great as some make it out to be. Ambrose has nothing on Cornelius Ryan or Antony Beevor in my humble opinion...." Read more

"...It a little wordy at times but still a great read." Read more

45 customers mention "Insight"45 positive0 negative

Customers find the insight in the book illuminating, refreshing, and relatable. They appreciate the personal stories and first-hand accounts of battles. Readers also mention the simple, straightforward storytelling style provides all the power of the story. Additionally, they say it's inspirational, sad, and funny.

"...This is the best book on the subject I’ve read. His ability to humanize the subject in a relatable way never ceases to amaze." Read more

"...The simple, straightforward, story telling style provides all the power of what is important.Read this book more than once...." Read more

"...And it makes you proud of the ordinary people who achieved such extraordinary things, at such an immeasurable cost." Read more

"...This is a very good book that tells the story of the scared, but brave men who put their lives on the line because they had to...." Read more

43 customers mention "Pacing"36 positive7 negative

Customers find the book wonderfully written, easy to understand, and entertaining. They say it's a solid read with individual stories drawn from interviews with the participants. Readers also mention that the author is amazing and one of the best writers of history.

"Great book. Ambrose was an amazing writer. If you enjoy books about WWII I would highly recommend. No complaints." Read more

"The author writes well and accurately as far as I can tell. I am the son of a man who fought in WW2...." Read more

"...Good, solid read, but not as great as some make it out to be. Ambrose has nothing on Cornelius Ryan or Antony Beevor in my humble opinion...." Read more

"...A fantastic read that I could barely put down. It literally reads like a novel, rather than a historical account of the war...." Read more

30 customers mention "History"30 positive0 negative

Customers find the history in the book excellent and masterful. They say it's a great historical account of WWII, with an interesting narrative. Readers also mention the book is a splendid recount of the Battle of the Bulge in WWII. They mention it's required for a war history class.

"...from numerous American's who served in WWII, making for an interesting narrative...." Read more

"...This work, among his many others, is a serious and compelling addition to history. It's shortcomings pale in the light of its substance and value...." Read more

"...The follow up to his bestseller D Day is another masterpiece of historical non fiction. Proving that when it comes to WW2 Ambrose is still the MASTER" Read more

"...Ambrose is an excellent historiam...." Read more

29 customers mention "Information quality"29 positive0 negative

Customers find the information in the book to be of good quality. They appreciate the insights into various leaders and details of ground fighting in World War II. Readers also mention the book is an insightful compilation of first-hand accounts that gives them a much better understanding of what war feels like. They appreciate the incredible amount of research and years of interviews. Additionally, they say it's interesting and engrossing.

"...One of the best aspects of the work is the incredible amount of research and the years of interviews of both Allied and German veterans giving us an..." Read more

"Mr. Ambrose took a very complicated, complex, compelling part of world history and conveyed it in easy to follow timeline, while still providing..." Read more

"...It is fully indexed and generously noted with scores of attributions...." Read more

"...Ambrose's style tells the story like a novel, while including sufficient facts and detail history junkies like me will still appreciate...." Read more

19 customers mention "Entertainment value"19 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining, engaging, and enjoyable for readers. They mention it's quick and entertaining. Readers also say it will make them laugh and cry.

"...will educate present and future generations with its quick and entertaining style, copious maps and pictures...." Read more

"...It will make you laugh. It will make you cry...." Read more

"...Thanks for such an entertaining and factual account." Read more

"...Riveting." Read more

9 customers mention "Emotional content"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very moving, touching, and disturbing. They say it captures the essence of courage and sacrifice of these men and women.

"...response by veterans to the first publication of the account is very touching...." Read more

"...This book captures the essence of the courage and sacrifice of these men and women...." Read more

"...great book, and having read it I am even much more in awe of them, their courage, toughness, character, and more...." Read more

"...well written and a good read, but realistic, sad, heartwarming and emotional. I've read a number of WWII books, both fiction and non-fiction...." Read more

6 customers mention "Accuracy"3 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the accuracy of the book. Some mention it's a clear, precise tale of the US Army operations from D-Day on. However, others say they get lost in some of the details and sense that much of the story is lost.

"When combined with descriptions of D-Day this gives accurate and complete coverage of the US Army's amazing contribution to the winning of WWII." Read more

"...One drawback for me: at times, I did get lost in some of the details." Read more

"A clear, precise tale of the US Army operations from DDay on.Worth reading." Read more

"...I felt at times that there was too many details that were at times overburdening. I would recommend it to any one interested in this conflict" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Spike61
5.0 out of 5 stars One of Ambrose’s best
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2024
Verified Purchase
I’ve been a student of WWII since the 70s. Was a member of Stephen’s WWII rountable. This is the best book on the subject I’ve read. His ability to humanize the subject in a relatable way never ceases to amaze.
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boomersm
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2024
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Great book. Ambrose was an amazing writer. If you enjoy books about WWII I would highly recommend. No complaints.
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Newt Salamander
5.0 out of 5 stars Son of a WW2 vet and a Viet Nam vet myself
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2024
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The author writes well and accurately as far as I can tell. I am the son of a man who fought in WW2. I am a USN vet with two combat deployments to the VN theater.
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Wildcats302
4.0 out of 5 stars Solid Account of the European Theater
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2010
Verified Purchase
Ambrose once again provides a solid account of the European Theater of WWII. This is mainly made up of first hand accounts with the men who were there, which Ryan made famous with his works like the Longest Day, A Bridge Too Far, etc. Ambrose does a solid job, gets interviews from numerous American's who served in WWII, making for an interesting narrative. Do not expect much strategy of the war, Ambrose does not seek to do this nor attempts to for the most part, which might be confusing to some, so if you want a more strategy, operation based level WWII book on the European Theater, maybe try Russell Weigley's Eisenhower's Lts, or Charles Macdonalds The Mighty Endeavor, which covers N. Africa and the Mediterranean as well, great read.

This book was the sequel of sorts to D-Day, and were very comparable. I enjoyed this one a bit more due to it being spread out, as D-Day was almost 600 pages on one day for the most part, along with the prep for it, which was interesting, but this book focuses on more of a wide spread campaign, from June 7th, after D-Day, to the fall of Germany in May 1945. Good, solid read, but not as great as some make it out to be. Ambrose has nothing on Cornelius Ryan or Antony Beevor in my humble opinion. That said, those are some pretty awesome guys when it comes to WWII books, so this is not necessarily an insult to the late, great Mr. Ambrose, who certainly has been a valuable asset to teaching my generation about WWII with his books and helping with Band of Brothers series on HBO, etc.

Get this book if you enjoy WWII history, you will enjoy it.
One person found this helpful
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Steve Ogden
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent View of the Life of a "Dog Face" in WW II
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2012
Verified Purchase
As a long-time student of history in general and military history in particular, I have always enjoyed Ambrose's writing style and this is one of his best. He emphasizes the "first person narrative" by compiling hundreds of anecdotes from the men who were there and lets them tell the story of what it was like to spend a night in a foxhole "on the line", being under an artillery barrage, making or repulsing an attack, being wounded and being treated by the Medical Corps, fighting in the air war or being a POW, among other subjects.

The most important subject is the emphasis on the "Citizen Soldier", who may have been a high school or college student in '43 or even early '44 and then ended up that winter in the Ardennes or Hurtgen forest fighting his way into Germany. His comparison of the "children of Democracy vs Dictatorships" or "Boy Scouts vs Hitler Youth" is illuminating, and although the Generals are referred to, (Eisenhower, Montgomery, Bradley, Patton) Ambrose concentrates on the incredible sacrifices and leadership of the junior Officers, NCO's, Corporals and "lowly" Privates who, in his estimation, won that war.

One of the best aspects of the work is the incredible amount of research and the years of interviews of both Allied and German veterans giving us an insight as to how we were perceived by our enemy. The Afterword relating the response by veterans to the first publication of the account is very touching.

My father was an 18 year-old farm boy who enlisted in the Fall of '43 and ended up with Patton's 3rd Army fighting across France, into the "Bulge" and across Germany where he witnessed the liberation of several POW and Concentration camps. Like most WW II vets, he never talked much about his experiences, but the few stories he did relate reverberated throughout this book. It was an honor to witness his sacrifice through Dr. Ambrose's work.
5 people found this helpful
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Stephen DiNardo
5.0 out of 5 stars Good Read
Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2024
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Citizen Soldiers is exactly what the describes. It is the story of the everyday foot soldier's reality of war. The reality of what they endured i.e. hunger, fear, triumphs, ingenuity, grit, and determination. It a little wordy at times but still a great read.
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Saratogan
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book telling non-soldiers what veterans endured for the world
Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2014
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Mr. Ambrose took a very complicated, complex, compelling part of world history and conveyed it in easy to follow timeline, while still providing both the tactical and strategic overview of the war as we were lead through a tremendous accounting of many firefights within portions of countless battles. This is, in of itself, a significant achievement considering the breadth and depth involved in the scope of the war. The real and, hopefully, everlasting impact of his book involves providing non- soldiers a glimpse into what the soldiers endured, felt and lost while freeing a large portion of Europe. And to a lesser extent what impacts the civilians in Europe felt.

The US POPULATION has not personally witnessed nor felt the impacts of war since the Civil War. This book provides as real a picture into horror of war on a personal level without being over dramatic or overly gory. The simple, straightforward, story telling style provides all the power of what is important.

Read this book more than once. Reread it in five years. Let us never forget what war is, does, and destroys. Let us never forget the supreme sacrifice war requires. Let us not forget the concept of duty as it relates to war: nothing in civilian life compares. Let us always remember and cherish the lasting freedom provided by the prior generation.

This is, in my opinion, what the book achieves. I think it is what veterans want us to remember.
11 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Stephen S.
5.0 out of 5 stars authentic
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 4, 2024
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First party stories are so much more powerful than 3rd party opinions of the facts/situation’s. The book is packed with front line personal contributions from both the American & German perspectives.
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AudriusD
5.0 out of 5 stars Ambrose books are awesome!
Reviewed in Germany on December 21, 2022
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Not going to say much, other than really enjoyed the book
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Client d'Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars bonne transaction
Reviewed in France on September 1, 2018
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livraison à date prévue , objet conforme
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Ashish
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely outstanding
Reviewed in India on August 31, 2018
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Amazing narration _ u can live the story and the time
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JCsTl
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on January 11, 2015
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Fascinating book to read, IF you're into non-fiction/historical type.
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