Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: simovitch
I wonder how many bottles of belgian beer it will take to convince Mark-Jan and Andries to come back and help bring BFTB in for a landing?

We'll give it a try [;)]

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

As a book on the Ardennes Offensive, I recommend:
 
Danny Parker's : Battle of the Bulge: Hitlers Ardennes Offensive 1944-1945
 
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580970230/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
 
He also designed seveal boardgames on this Operation
 
Cheeers, Hanno

This looks really good..........

A quick question, maybe it's answered...............

What was the decision on the 'end time' for an order?

Just an observation, doesn't one order end when a new order is issued?

The 'end time' for an order seems a little strange, IMHO!

Dennis [:)]

Mainly used for bombardments - eg start at 0600 and end at 0610.

Since I, or most everyone else, have not 'seen' the game, maybe I'm getting all worked up over nothing!

And, I take it the December 2007 release is 'off the table'?

There is a 'pattern' developing, I think (not just in this 'title'), one that is not going to help anyone!

I think maybe those on the 'inside' see it! No more 'posts' by me on this. Its going down a road I don't want to 'travel'.

Dennis [:-]

ORIGINAL: Hanno Meier
As a book on the Ardennes Offensive, I recommend:

Danny Parker's : Battle of the Bulge: Hitlers Ardennes Offensive 1944-1945

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580970230/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

He also designed seveal boardgames on this Operation

Got that one as well - very good if you want the "big picture" overview, lot's of pictures, diagrams and high level info, for more detail : MacDonald.

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

Is A Time for Trumpets sufficient if it turns out to be the only book I read on this subject? I understand it covers the soldier's view well. What about details of the battle itself (OOB, maps, the operational aspect, etc)? Does it cover both sides well?

Also, how is Battle by John Toland?

ORIGINAL: Llyranor
Is A Time for Trumpets sufficient if it turns out to be the only book I read on this subject?

Absolutely. It's the low-level view but one of the best books on the Bulge there are.

ORIGINAL: Llyranor
What about details of the battle itself (OOB, maps, the operational aspect, etc)? Does it cover both sides well?

Yes and No - not really - but Danny Parker's book does - there's little overlap between the two books. For the German high-level view of things there's that book containing the interviews/interrogation notes of Dietrich, Brandenburger et al of which the title escapes me now, but it's also written by Parker and for the low-level view there's the Nash book I mentioned up-thread.

ORIGINAL: Llyranor
Also, how is Battle by John Toland?

No idea

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

Thanks.

If I were to get *one* more book aside from A Time for Trumpets, which one would complement it best? Danny Parker's book, or some other one?

(On a completely unrelated sidenote, I've ordered A Bridge Too Far and It Never Snows in September re: Market Garden reading materials. Should I be well set for that setting? I tried to look for Middlebrook's Arnhem as well, but it's out of print)

ORIGINAL: Llyranor

If I were to get *one* more book aside from A Time for Trumpets, which one would complement it best? Danny Parker's book, or some other one?

Danny Parker's book would be a good compliment to Mac Donald. It has several special interest chapters that would round out the experience nicely IMO.

Toland is a good read for the human interest and creates an effective "Bulge" atmosphere, but it glosses over a lot of the strategic situation that Mac Donald and Parker cover pretty well.

And how is Time for Trumpets re: the human level/atmosphere?

It's excellent. Lots of descriptions of specific moment to moment episodes all over the theater, together with the larger operational picture. it reminded me of one of my all time favorites from younger days, John Toland's Battle: Story of the Bulge.

Okay, I think I'll order A Time for Trumpets and Parker's Battle of the Bulge.

Thanks everyone.

It's not as good as A Time For Strumpets [:'(]

Cheers, Neilster

Battle of the Bulge 1 and two from Steven Zaloga. Great overviews and 3d maps!

I must say that in all the time I've had John Toland's The Battle of the Bulge on my shlef, I've never read it till now.

Originally published in 1959, I heartily recommend it (as ohers have) for the one book on the campaign that gets straight into the action quicker than any other I own. No fluff.

It is very easy to see how this book could possibly have served as the inspiration for the classic film by the same title.

The author sets out the strategic deployment of the Allied forces in a few pages, details their morale and experience levels, takes us to the action in the various Allied headquarters where we hear the great generals in conversation over a few pages more, then it's off to Hilter's bunker for the action going on there. After a very quick mere 40 pages, the bullets start flying and they don't let up till the end.

Fresh, gripping and straight to the point. So happy I've finally devoted some brain cells to it [;)]

I enjoyed Danny Parker's book Battle of the Bulge: Hitlter's Ardennes Offensive. Note that he was the designer of the Simulation Publicatins (SPI) game Battles for the Ardennes. The title is plural because it also includes a 1940 scenario.
rk

How about "A Blood-Dimmed Tide" by Gerald Astor?

Is this book any good? "Kampfgruppe Peiper at the Battle of the Bulge"
http://www.amazon.com/Kampfgruppe-Peipe ... roduct_top

ORIGINAL: sterckxe

ORIGINAL: Deerslayer
and both MacDonald's Bulge books are great.

I concur.

Currently enjoying a book dealing with the "other side of the hill" entitled "Victory was Beyond their Grasp" by Nash, which tells the story of the 272nd Volksgrenadier division which took part in the Bulge (Kesternich). The book has a lot of low-level organizational & combat details at the company level and above. If you want to know how the "train" of a German VG company was organized, or how far away from the observation outposts the mortars were positioned, this is the book for you.

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

That sounds like a good book. What is Hurtgen Forest's relevance to the Bulge in general?