If You Survive: From Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge to the End of World War II, One American Officer's Riveting True Story [Kindle Edition] Author: George Wilson | Language: English | ISBN:
B0049P1M1S | Format: PDF, EPUB
If You Survive: From Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge to the End of World War II, One American Officer's Riveting True Story Epub Free
Free download If You Survive: From Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge to the End of World War II, One American Officer's Riveting True Story [Kindle Edition] Epub Free for everyone book 4shared, mediafire, hotfile, and mirror link "If you survive your first day, I'll promote you."
So promised George Wilson's World War II commanding officer in the hedgerows of Normandy -- and it was to be a promise dramatically fulfilled. From July, 1944, to the closing days of the war, from the first penetration of the Siegfried Line to the Nazis' last desperate charge in the Battle of the Bulge, Wilson fought in the thickest of the action, helping take the small towns of northern France and Belgium building by building.
Of all the men and officers who started out in Company F of the 4th Infantry Division with him, Wilson was the only one who finished. In the end, he felt not like a conqueror or a victor, but an exhausted survivor, left with nothing but his life -- and his emotions.
If You Survive
One of the great first-person accounts of the making of a combat veteran, in the last, most violent months of World War II.
From the Paperback edition. Books with free ebook downloads available If You Survive: From Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge to the End of World War II, One American Officer's Riveting True Story Epub Free
- File Size: 1314 KB
- Print Length: 291 pages
- Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0804100039
- Publisher: Ballantine Books; Reissue edition (November 10, 2010)
- Sold by: Random House LLC
- Language: English
- ASIN: B0049P1M1S
- Text-to-Speech: Enabled
X-Ray:
- Lending: Not Enabled
- Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,719 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #6
in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Historical > United States > Civil War > Military Leaders - #14
in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > History > Americas > United States > Civil War - #14
in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > History > World > 20th Century
- #6
in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Historical > United States > Civil War > Military Leaders - #14
in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > History > Americas > United States > Civil War - #14
in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > History > World > 20th Century
This is the only book about WWII ground soldiers I've yet read. Suffice it to say, it was a good start.
Three things really struck me about this book; 1. The author's uncanny memory of events, 2. The events themselves - offering glimpses into every aspect of being a ground soldier, including bravery, strategy, stupidity, cowardice and tragedy. 3. The shocking carnage.
The book's title is derived from a comment a superior officer made to the author before sending him off to battle shortly after the Normandy D-day invasion; "As officers, I expect you to lead your men. Men will follow leaders and I expect my platoon leaders to be right up front. Losses could be very high. Use every skill you possess. If you survive your first battle, I'll promote you. Good luck." With that mortifying send-off, author George Wilson and his fellow officers were sent into battle. Out of all the officers and men starting out in his company, only Wilson finished.
The book presents the author's brave, bloody journey in a straight-forward linear fashion. It is very well written, yet not burdened by attempts at literary greatness. The author, though clearly licensed to preach, spares us the sermon and simply tells it like it was.
Not until the very end of the book does he tell you "Out of all this damned useless war I hope I am entitled to a few simple observations". What follows is a decidedly brief statement that may at first seem to be too brief. Only after reading the last line do you realize that you've already read the most important anti-war statement the author could make; his recollections in the previous 267 pages.
By John T. Starr
If you are looking for an action packed, non-fiction story of front line combat during WWII then look no further. I have read quite a few personal histories written by former GI's describing their experience in Europe, but very few have been as explosive and action packed as this one. Wilson fought from the St.Lo breakout in July, through France to the Hurtgen, Held the edge of the Bulge in the Ardennes and fought his way across the Rhine into Germany. He was mainly a platoon leader and was therefore, out of necessity, on the front line most of the time. He doesn't write about his home life or even much about camp life seeming to stick to his experience of confronting the enemy and teaching his men to do the same. This book is very cheap and a very easy read so it would be a shame not to pick it up. You won't regret it!
By Chad R. Reihm
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