The Battle for Western Europe, Fall 1944 An Operational Assessment [Hardcover]

This engrossing and meticulously researched volume reexamines the decisions made by Dwight D. Eisenhower and his staff in the crucial months leading up to the Battle of the Bulge. In late August 1944 defeat of the Wehrmacht seemed assured. On December 16, however, the Germans counterattacked. Received wisdom says that Eisenhowers Broad Front strategy caused his armies to stall in early September, and his subsequent failure to concentrate his forces brought about deadlock and opened the way for the German attack. Arguing to the contrary, John A. Adams demonstrates that Eisenhower and his staff at SHAEF had a good campaign strategy, refined to reflect developments on the ground, which had an excellent chance of destroying the Germans west of the Rhine.

List of Maps
Preface
1. Culmination
2. Logistics
3. SHAEF's Plan
4. It Wasn't Arnhem versus Antwerp
5. Concentrate, General Bradley
6. Patton's Lorraine Campaign
7. November Rerun
8. Opportunity in the South
Conclusion: Unity of Command
Notes
Bibliography
Index

Adams' great achievement is including the necessary level of detail to support analysis of a broad spectrum of historical events without boring the reader. Scholars have already examined many of the topics Adams addresses, but they have seldom drawn them together in a coherent evaluation of operational challenges as Adams has.A book that is long overdue.

John A. Adams is author of If Mahan Ran the Great Pacific War (IUP, 2008).