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Books Related to Siegfried Line 1944-45 Steven J. Zaloga - ISBN: 1846031214
Missed opportunity - Rated
I had been looking forward to this book for sometime. As Osprey appear to be used the Campaign working their way through the whole of the NW Europe 1944-45 campaign, this was bound to appear sometime and Steven Zaloga was going to be the man to do it. However, having read a great many of Zaloga books over the years, his real interest is clearly in armour and other hardware, whereas these battles were dirty infantry attrition fights. However, I found the first part on the capture of Aachen interesting and informative. But I was very disappointed by the Hurgten section. Having just read 'A Dark and Bloody Ground' by Edward G Miller, it was hard to believe that this was the same battle. There is a serious failure to capture the grim conditions and nature of this battle. As to the maps, these are not as helpful as previous efforts in the series. However, for once the colour plates are good and add to what is available in the photos (which are well selected). Overall, this book is just about okay as an overview of the campaign but anyone wanting to know something of the real nature of this battle should look elsewhere.
Erudit and gorgeously illustrated, but very hard to read - Rated
I really respect Steven Zaloga and I own a lot of his works, but this book is disappointing. Now, it doesn't mean that it has no merit - there is no question that author knows very well his subject and this (short) book gives a great deal of information (although the maps are not very informative). Also, the pictures are very interesting and the three colour plates by Steve Noon are simply gorgeous! Still, of all the 180 Osprey Campaign titles I own, this is only the second (after Kaiserschlacht 1918) I simply couldn't finish. I fully agree with the previous review that towards the end this book became too boring and hard to read - this is just an endless succession of regimental numbers and casualties, without any attempt of giving some colour or human feelings to the tale.
Also, except an error of my part, author didn't mention one of most shocking moments in the Hurtgen forest battle - the death of private Slovik, the ONLY US soldier in the II WW (and the last in the history of US Army) who was executed for running from the battlefield and whose process and death are still raising a great deal of controversy.
All in all, this book could be so much better - these horrible battles deserved a better treatment.
They tried... - Rated
Not a brilliant book by Osprey once again.
The After the Battle magazine number which is mentioned in the book covers the Hürtgenwald episode much more vividly.
"Follow me and die" by Cecil B Curry would have to be recommended instead also.
The book became tedious to read towards the end.
Plates where okay though.
