Best Bulge Books?

[Knavery]

I was in Barnes and Noble today looking at some of the books. Most I reviewed were laid out in novel-like format. What I'm looking for is something like Alamo in the Ardennes that breaks down how the military was structured as well as offer maps of the battles. But I think that only covers Bastogne.

Does anyone know of a book that has maps with good explanations of the battles. I'm not really looking for stories just yet, but more details of the battles themselves. Thanks!

**edit** I just purchased the following, because they look like they cover a lot of detail about Battle of The Bulge.

The Alamo in The Ardennes
The Unknown Dead

[Adam Parker]

ORIGINAL: Knavery

Does anyone know of a book that has maps with good explanations of the battles. I'm not really looking for stories just yet, but more details of the battles themselves. Thanks!

Hi Knavery, if you can find it this will give you everything you're after:

Battle of the Bulge Then and Now

Amazon lists some US resellers - and at $50 USD, this is about what the book cost when released many years ago. It's very heavy though (plate quality pages) so do check the postage out!

Btw, I just checked and Amazon UK is selling it in stock!

Amazon UK - Bulge Then and Now

I'm tempted to buy a second copy myself [:)]

[HansBolter]

Men of Steel: 1ss Panzer Corps 44-45: The Ardennes and Eastern Front by Michael Reynolds

Sons of the Reich: History of the 2ss Panzer Corps by Michael Reynolds

The Devil's Adjutatnt: Jochen Peiper, Panzer Leader by Michael Reynolds


Reynolds is a British Major General who commanded NATO troops stationed in Belgium. He became interested in the battles fought over the terrain he was tasked with guarding and ended up writing several books about the German troops who fought there. I have found all of his works to be great reads.

Hans

[daft]

I second the input on Reynolds' books. Very good and detailed. I do remember some critizisms directed at his Peiper book, but I can't remember what it was. [&:]

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: daft

I second the input on Reynolds' books. Very good and detailed. I do remember some critizisms directed at his Peiper book, but I can't remember what it was. [&:]

I'm sure the criticisms came from his attempts to portray Peiper as a man rather than a monster. I imagine it also came from his attempt to discover what really happened at Malmedy. He interviewed the german tanker who was the first to open fire on Americans who started running to escape. His investigations revealed that it wasn't as portrayed in American Bulge movies. I'm certain that didn't go over well with those who hold strong opinions.
For many on the Allied side it will always be a case of cold blooded massacre. For many on the German side it will always be an unfortunate incident of prisoners shot while attempting to escape.

He also, playing Devil's advocate, listed many of the the "transgressions" of the Allied troops such as taking no prisoners at Normandy and British recon tankers strapping German soldiers to the outside of their armored cars as human shields. His position was that war brings out these excesses on both sides. History, as always, judges the victor and the vanquished by different standards.

Regardless of his position on Peiper his works are very detailed, very well researched and offer a fresh perspective to anyone open minded enough to want for more than the "standard party line" on how things went down.

[daft]

Ah, thanks Hans, that was exactly it. And for the record, I think you are entirely right in your conclusion. It is indeed a very detailed and well written book.

[PirateJock]

Thanks for the heads up Adam. 1-Click done and it's to be delivered tomorrow; ain't this Internet great ... and isn't it too easy to spend money!

[captskillet]

Hans you tried the new version of Peipers Race yet?

[Bamilus]

I just finished John Toland's "Battle of the Bulge." I'm a big fan of Toland. Unfortunately I didn't like this one as much as his others. He jumps around a lot more and you have to remember hundreds of names. But, as others have said, if you want a primarily first hand account book on the Battle of the Bulge it is a good read. Definitely not a book for someone who wants tactical or operational overviews, however.

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: captskillet

Hans you tried the new version of Peipers Race yet?

Unfortunately, I haven't yet received my copy of the published game.

I do have a test build that Dave distributed to the playtesters a couple of months prior to release. I looked that scenario over in the test build and noted that it had been revised quite a bit. It will likely be the first scenario I try when the published game arrives.

[gabeeg]

I really liked:  Battle: The Story of the Bulge by Toland
 
http://www.amazon.com/Battle-Story-Bulge-John-Toland/dp/0803294379/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276796543&sr=8-1
 
I have an older edition than the one available at Amazon linked above...but it is very good and detailed.

[Adam Parker]

ORIGINAL: PirateJock

Thanks for the heads up Adam. 1-Click done and it's to be delivered tomorrow; ain't this Internet great ... and isn't it too easy to spend money!

I still can't get used to ecommerce either! Way too convenient [:)]

Look forward to hearing what you think!

[kmussler]

A Time for Trumpets is very good. I've also been reading from a set of books. They are a set of books from Osprey Military Press, The Ardennes Offensive. I have three books covering the Allies in the North, Central, and Southern sectors of the Bulge. I have another three books covering the Germans in the same sectors. Each book has a stage by stage account of sections of each sector and including OOB and brief bios of the commanders of each unit (down to regiment, I believe). Each book is around 100 pages. Very helpful.

Kurt

[simovitch]

You can view and download all of the very cool Osprey maps online at this site. You will need to install the Djvu viewer to see them, the site has a link to the viewer.

It's a russian site, and it's been online for a long time but I'm not sure it's 100% legit...

[Tophat1815]

Has anyone read or is familiar with "Messengers of the Lost Battalion"? Its the story of the 551st parachute Infantry battalion and how it was decimated at the end of the battle of the bulge.

[moberly]

Battle of the Bugle: Then and Now is excellent, probably as good a book on the subject as I've read. The two volume 'Then and Now' on Market Garden is even better, just top notch (and fairly expensive!).

[leftydad]

Two films, the big budget Cinerama BATTLE OF THE BULGE and William Wellman's BATTLEGROUND.

BATTLE OF THE BULGE is ridiculous. Quite its opposite, BATTLEGROUND is gritty, muddy, earthy with superb ensemble acting, Academy Award-winning script, great directing. Get 'em both on Netflix.

[leftydad]

Oh, yeah, and BATTLEGROUND, released in 1949, has several members of the 101st Screaming Eagles in the cast!