This is not a bad book for it doesn't have errors and it touches on all the major highlights but, for me, the coverage is way too brief and incomplete. To show how brief this book is in describing a very complex campaign, the three largest chapters deal outside of the battle coverage. The first chapter, "Setting the Stage" covers post WWI troubles facing Germany. The second chapter "Planning and Preparations" describes Hitler's secret offensive and what it took to make it a reality. These two chapters comprise 56 pages and when you add the 24 pages of the "Notes" section, you have only 106 pages devoted to the campaign. You have to reduce the coverage again by almost 20 percent when you consider the biographies of the key Germans that are included with the story. To show just how brief this account is, lets compare it to some of the traditional books on the campaign. Hugh Cole's book had 676 pages, and Charles MacDonald wrote 655 pages. Dupuy, 501 pages; Elstob, 390 pages; Parker, 365 pages and Winton 359 pages. These counts include only the narrative while excluding Notes etc.

To give another simple example of the terseness of this book, I compared a small skirmish that occurred in the first two days of battle. The US 112th IR was defending the Our River bridges at Ouren against the 560th VGD and the 116th PzD. In Mr Mitcham's book the engagement is developed in two paragraphs while Cole's and MacDonald's books covers it in four pages. This ratio is common throughout the campaign. I'm not trying to malign the author; just emphasizing the tersemess of this complex campaign.

I have seven of the author's books and don't regret any of them. I continue to get them for the German perspective and the coverage of the German commanders that you don't usually get with most other books.



A brief rundown of the highlights of this book follows:

1. Setting the Stage....... In addition to post WWI coverage, it also covers Op Barbarossa and a few other key events of the first years of the war. The life of Model is covered as well.

2. Planning and Preparation ..... In addition to the plans, the lives of Skorzeny, Peiper, Speer, Manteuffel, Rundstedt and Heydte are discussed.

3. Offensive Begins ..... Disposition of the front line on both sides and the opening moves of the Germans are highlighted. While Hodges and Bradley are slow to react, Eisenhower is quick to respond to the attack. Its one of his finer moments of the war and a redemption for his passivity in handling the Falaise Pocket.

4. Battle of Northern Flank .....The ruin of the 99th ID near the Gap and the subsequent advance toward Elsenborn Ridge by units of the 6th SS PzA. Peiper's trek begins and the poor results of Heydte's airdrop is discussed.

5. Peiper's Destruction ..... The struggle and final defeat of Peiper's Panzer Group in the LaGleige area is discussed.

6. Schnee Eifel ..... The destruction of 106th ID by 18th VGD. Hoffmann Schoenborn's life is also mentioned.

7. St Vith ..... Manteuffel's assault on St Vith is the key part to this chapter.

8. Seige of Bastogne ..... The seige of Bastogne by Manteuffel and of its relief by 4th AD consumes this chapter.

9. High Water Mark ..... The 2nd SS PzC moves south toward Manhay and Grandmenil. The 2nd SS PzD in the lead and closing in on the Meuse River is attacked and defeated by by Collin's 7th Corps, particularly the 2nd AD in the Rochefort, Foy-Notre Dame area

10. Clearing the Bulge ..... The final attempt by Manteuffel to take Bastogne is defeated and the Germans begin to withdraw from the Ardennes.



This book would be good for anyone who is looking for a really concise overview but I can't eagerly recommend this book to newcomers or old pros. To a new student of the war or this battle, this brief book will not give a thorough understanding of this complicated battle, only fragments of it. This campaign is just too complex with many facets to it and covering it in roughly only 100 pages just doesn't do it justice. However there is an advantage to this briefness. It is easier to follow than the other books mentioned and with the author's engaging style, it might be a good foundation from which to build on when reading the other books.

To the old pro, there is not anything new of substantial value that you haven't read already. Though the author includes a few observations by German commanders of the strengths and weaknesses of the US army which is interesting, there is no hard analysis on the actions by either side. I plan on using this book as a reference. It has a good Index and will allow me to look up German units or of their commanders during research. There are a few maps but they're simple. The few photos are good. There is an excellent Bibliography if further reading is desired. The Notes section is also excellent and adds further details to key personalities as does the Epilogue which describes the lives of the commanders and other key people after the war. Including the Index, there is only 211 pages to this book.