The Longest Winter: The Battle of the Bulge and the Epic Story of WWII's Most Decorated Platoon

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"It was a cold December morning in 1944, deep in the Ardennes forest of Belgium. Eighteen men of a small intelligence platoon commanded by twenty-year-old lieutenant Lyle Bouck were huddled in their foxholes, desperately trying to keep warm. Suddenly the early morning silence was broken by the roar of a huge artillery bombardment. Hitler had launched his bold and risky offensive against the Allies - his "last gamble" - and the American platoon was facing the main thrust of the entire German assault." "Vastly outnumbered, the platoon repulsed ...
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1st Edition, Fine/Fine Clean, tight & bright. No ink names, tears, chips, foxing etc. Price unclipped. ISBN 0306813041

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More About This Book

Overview

"It was a cold December morning in 1944, deep in the Ardennes forest of Belgium. Eighteen men of a small intelligence platoon commanded by twenty-year-old lieutenant Lyle Bouck were huddled in their foxholes, desperately trying to keep warm. Suddenly the early morning silence was broken by the roar of a huge artillery bombardment. Hitler had launched his bold and risky offensive against the Allies - his "last gamble" - and the American platoon was facing the main thrust of the entire German assault." "Vastly outnumbered, the platoon repulsed three German assaults in a fierce day-long battle to defend a strategically vital hill. Only when Bouck's men had run out of ammunition did they surrender." "But their long winter was just beginning." As POWs, Bouck's platoon experienced an ordeal far worse than combat - surviving in captivity with trigger-happy German guards, Allied bombing raids, and a starvation diet. While hundreds of other captured Americans in German POW camps were either killed or died of disease, the men of Bouck's platoon miraculously survived - all of them - and returned home after the war. More than thirty years later, when President Carter recognized the unit's "extraordinary heroism" and the U.S. Army approved combat medals for all eighteen men, they became America's most decorated platoon of World War II.
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Editorial Reviews

Topeka Capital-Journal 8/6/05
"Kershaw does a masterful job .... A fascinating little-known story. Amazing."
Wall Street Journal
America's enemies would do well not to underestimate this platoon's sense of courage and duty.
Roanoke Times
This book is a must-read for anyone who wants a renewed sense of patriotism.
Army Magazine
Kershaw is a fantastic storyteller.... Anyone who enjoyed [his earlier book The Bedford Boys would like this too.
New York Sun
Gripping and unsentimental....shows that valor comes in many forms.
Library Journal
Though this book's subtitle is plainly overstated, there's no doubting the extraordinary heroism and pivotal contribution of the 394th Infantry Regiment's scout platoon in blunting the German advance during the opening hours of the Battle of the Bulge. The platoon's gallant stand has been chronicled in works like Charles MacDonald's A Time for Trumpets, but Kershaw (The Bedford Boys) relates the story of the platoon from its inception at Camp Maxey, TX, to its desperate fight at Lanzerath, Belgium, on December 16, 1944, as well as platoon members' subsequent experiences in captivity. Though the story itself is remarkable, the narrative is somewhat meandering and not entirely satisfying. A casual reader might well overlook the grammatically incorrect German phrases that the author liberally sprinkles throughout. However, this poor attention to detail surfaces elsewhere, as when the author incorrectly places Hammelburg, the site of the platoon's POW camp, 70 miles west of Frankfurt in the Rhone valley; misidentifies Generals Bradley, Montgomery, and Devers as army commanders; and credits the 2nd Division with originally preparing the scout platoon's fighting positions at Lanzerath. An optional purchase for public libraries.-Edward Metz, Combined Arms Research Lib., Ft. Leavenworth, KS Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780306813047
  • Publisher: Da Capo Press
  • Publication date: 11/22/2004
  • Pages: 344
  • Product dimensions: 6.10 (w) x 9.00 (h) x 1.20 (d)

Meet the Author

Alex Kershaw is the author of the widely acclaimed and bestselling books The Bedford Boys, The Longest Winter, and The Few, and two biographies: Jack London and Blood and Champagne: The Life and Times of Robert Capa. He lives in Williamstown, Massachusetts.

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 18 )
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Sort by: Showing all of 4 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted May 18, 2005

    A Great Book about Great American heroes

    One of the best books i have ever read. this book shows u the horor of life on the frontline and how the most green soldiers can change to vet's in less than a day. this story shows that the 99th ID was not just a green unit which was forced to retreat but this book shows how these men beat off scors of German Fallschirmjager (Paratrooper). this shows what man can do under overwellming odds.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 25, 2005

    A Must for any Military History Buff

    The Longest Winter flows well and shows how 21 men stopped over 500 German paratroopers for almost 24 hours. When others were running with their tails between their legs, these men fought on and were captured only when their ammunition was totally exhausted. It is men like these that caused the Germans to loose the battle, NOT the actions (or inaction) of the generals. Their story then continues with thier tenure as 'guests' of the Nazi POW camps. The author interviewed almost every living member of the platoon and captures not only their actions, but their actual thoughts brilliantly. When these men have all passed away, it is through books like this that will give us the insight into the WW II GI. The bibliography contains reference to almost every book ever written on the Battle of the Bulge.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 27, 2004

    This is a piece of history we must never forget.

    This is a piece of history we must never forget. As these brave soldiers die, the last eyewitnesses to the Third Reich are forever gone. Future generations should learn from these men. They only had their rifles,guts, brains, and God. An unbelievable and inspiring story. I knew very little and understood even less about the Battle of the Bulge when I began this book. When I finished I understood so many of those men from that generation. Thanks for a great book.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 23, 2005

    This is it...

    If you read one book about the Battle of the Bulge. This should be the one. Having read many, many books about WWII, and being a soldier myself, I count this book among the best. Kershaw is able to keep the reader's attention and at the same time informed about all the things that are happening simultaneously. Simply an excellent book about a small unit action that goes virtually unnoticed. Overshadowed by the siege of the 101st at Bastogne, and the grand scale of the Battle of the Bulge itself. It is because of these men and all who went before that I serve now.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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