Snow & Steel

The Battle of the Bulge 1944-45

By: Peter Caddick-Adams

Narrated by: Paul Boehmer, Tim Reynolds

Between December 16, 1944 and January 15, 1945, American forces found themselves entrenched in the heavily forested Ardennes region of Belgium, France, and Luxembourg defending against an advancing German army amid freezing temperatures, deep snow, and dense fog. Operation Herbstnebel - Autumn Mist - was a massive German counter-offensive that stunned the Allies in its scope and intensity. In the end, the 40-day long Battle of the Bulge, as it has come to be called, was the bloodiest battle fought by U.S. forces in World War II, and indeed the largest land battle in American history. Before effectively halting the German advance, some 89,000 of the 610,000 American servicemen committed to the campaign had become casualties, including 19,000 killed. The engagement saw the taking of thousands of Americans as prisoners of war, some of whom were massacred by the SS - but it also witnessed the storied stand by U.S. forces at Bastogne as German forces besieged the region and culminated in a decisive if costly American victory. Ordered and directed by Hitler himself--against the advice of his generals - the Ardennes offensive was the last major German offensive on the Western Front. In the wake of the defeat, many experienced German units were left severely depleted of men and equipment. Its last reserve squandered, these irreplaceable losses would hasten the end of the war.

In Snow and Steel, Peter Caddick-Adams draws on interviews with over 100 participants of the campaign, as well as archival material from both German and US sources, to offer an engagingly written and thorough reassessment of the historic battle. Exploring the failings of intelligence that were rife on both sides, the effects of weather, and the influence of terrain on the battle's outcome, Caddick-Adams deftly details the differences in weaponry and doctrine between the US and German forces, while offering new insights into the origins of the battle.

Download the accompanying reference guide.©2015 Peter Caddick-Adams (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Great History; Mediocre Reading

Snow and Steel is well researched and easy to follow. Not easy for such a sweeping and confusing battle. The narrators use the French and German pronunciations for place names as opposed to the English pronunciations. I lived in both France and Germany and can appreciate wanting to be authentic. Fact is that they are extremely distracting and break the narrative up. Then there's "Ooltra" vs. Ultra, where did that come from?

The author brought together facts that I knew, but had never put together time wise. It was very enlightening. The sheer number of German accounts guarantee the evenhanded presentation. Well worth the time and money.

Great book spoiled by narrator

I really wish the narrator would stop pronouncing the German and French names and places with such silly drama. There's no need for a theatrical pause before each one. Just say the word at the same cadence as normal. We've all heard foreign words before, they are not intimidating.

Ugh.

Ridiculously overpronounced and mispronounced German and French place names, personal names and ranks. Painful at times to listen to in spite of the well written story. The book is superb, the reader, not so much.

well worth the time!!! Awesome!!

the most detailed account of the Battle of the Bulge ever!! a must read for a military history buff.
Get it.

Great book! Poor Reading

Agree with other reviewers. The book is great. But the mispronunciations are very distracting. In addition, there is a segment in Chapter 36 at 7:41 where the reader is heard giving editing instructions.