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Citizen Soldiers: The US Army from the Normandy Beaches to the Bulge to the Surrender of Germany

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Citizen Soldiers: The US Army from the Normandy Beaches to the Bulge to the Surrender of Germany by Stephen E. Ambrose is a vivid oral history of American soldiers during WWII, providing insights into the experiences of individual soldiers, nurses, and medics. The book covers the period from D-Day to the surrender of Germany, showcasing the heroism and challenges faced by ordinary men on the front lines. Through personal accounts and first-hand narratives, Ambrose brings to life the stories of those who fought in the European Theater of Operations, highlighting the bravery and sacrifices made during the war.

Ambrose skillfully combines the epic with the personal, offering a detailed account of the US Army's march from Normandy to Germany alongside individual stories of heroism and camaraderie. The book not only recounts the large campaigns but also focuses on the role of NCOs and the everyday soldiers who played a crucial part in the success of the war effort. By emphasizing the experiences of the foot soldiers and providing a small glimpse into the closing year of the war, Citizen Soldiers immerses readers in the harsh realities of WWII and pays tribute to the courage of the men who fought for democracy.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is engaging and descriptive, utilizing first-person accounts to bring the historical events to life.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative centers on the experiences of soldiers from the Normandy invasion to Germany's surrender, illustrating their hardships and military realities.

Setting:

The setting spans various European locations during WWII, emphasizing the grim realities of combat and the environment.

Pacing:

The pacing is a mix of fast action and slow, reflective moments on the realities of war.
FIRST LIGHT came to Ste. Mere-Eglise around 0510. Twenty-four hours earlier it had been just another Norman village, with more than a millennium behind it. By nightfall of June 6,1944, it was a name k...

Notes:

Stephen E. Ambrose focuses on the ordinary soldiers of the European Theater of Operations (ETO) in WWII.
About 30% of supplies were stolen after the Normandy invasion for resale on the black market.
Racial issues were common within the ranks of the army during the war.
Many front-line GIs suffered from trench foot and frostbite due to inadequate boots.
Soldiers were instructed to change socks regularly instead of being provided with proper gear.
Many soldiers were inadequately trained and sent to die on the front lines unnecessarily.
British general Montgomery often prioritized his own reputation over teamwork during the war.
General George Patton was strict about uniform cleanliness, even halting officers for hours over proper appearance.
War was glamorized and many soldiers were mentally unprepared for battle conditions.
The psychological trauma of war significantly affected soldiers' mental health post-battle.
The book includes both American and German soldier perspectives, providing a balanced view of the war.
Ambrose recreates individual soldier experiences using extensive interviews and oral histories.
Readers get a vivid sense of the harsh conditions soldiers faced during the winter of 1944-45.
Ambrose highlights the importance of NCOs in achieving success over higher command figures during the war.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include depictions of violence, war trauma, and discussions of death and injury.

From The Publisher:

From Stephen E. Ambrose, bestselling author of Band of Brothers and D-Day, the inspiring story of the ordinary men of the U.S. army in northwest Europe from the day after D-Day until the end of the bitterest days of World War II.

In this riveting account, historian Stephen E. Ambrose continues where he left off in his #1 bestseller D-Day. Citizen Soldiers opens at 0001 hours, June 7, 1944, on the Normandy beaches, and ends at 0245 hours, May 7, 1945, with the allied victory. It is biography of the US Army in the European Theater of Operations, and Ambrose again follows the individual characters of this noble, brutal, and tragic war. From the high command down to the ordinary soldier, Ambrose draws on hundreds of interviews to re-create the war experience with startling clarity and immediacy. From the hedgerows of Normandy to the overrunning of Germany, Ambrose tells the real story of World War II from the perspective of the men and women who fought it.

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