The Longest Winter: The Battle of the Bulge and the Epic Story of WWII's Most Decorated Platoon

Allied leaders were unaware of the huge buildup of Nazi personnel and equipment. Three German divisions had been stripped from the Russian front and all German leaders understood that this unprecedented surprise attack was a last chance effort to win a negotiated truce. Everything depended on speed and narrow guidelines. Even needed stores, such as fuel, we’re to come from overrun Allied depots. A fascinating recounting of action against overwhelming odds which stalled a significant Nazi advance and allowed Allies time to begin to organize and allocate men and equipment. Historically accurate and well worth the time.

I read this book after playing several different military (board) games modeling various stages of the Battle of the Bulge and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a riveting account of the heroic deeds of the 99th Infantry Division, critically delaying the 6th Panzer Army (much to Rommel's excessive frustration) and paving the way for the Allies' progress through France.The story is fantastic. Oon the first morning of the Battle of the Bulge, a unit of 18 men led by a 20 year old Lieutenant held off an entire German battalion of over 600 men during a 20-hour-long fight, inflicting between 400 and 500 casualties on the Germans. Eventually captured as POWs, their contribution to the Allies' victory was recognized in 1981 by President Carter.For WWII history buffs, military history buffs, and people who enjoy stories about a group of people bonding with each other against adversity, this is a GREAT book. I highly recommend!!

Fifteen years ago I used a Mac simulation of the Battle of the Bulge ("Patton") that allowed me to fight the American side of the battle. Only I knew what was coming. It did not take long to realize that Lanzerath was a key position in the battle, especially in thwarting the early, surprise advantage of the German forces. Plug this hole and you change the entire battle scenario. Kershaw writes a good, often first-hand story of the Battle of the Bulge.Lt. Lyle Bouck and his intelligence and reconnaissance unit -- fewer than thirty men -- occupied that hole or key gap in the American line that fateful December 16, 1944 morning. While they did not stop the Germans, the I & R unit slowed the assault and informed headquarters, delaying the Germans and perhaps making the difference in the battle and the war.Kershaw, along with his very good "Bedford Boys" may make a good successor to David Ambrose. This is a good read, with backgrounds on individual stories, useful "big picture" context for the unacquainted reader, and useful but not numbered maps. Kershaw writes, "See map 2" on p. 62 and you have to guess that the second map in the book -- an unnumbered page 76 -- is 'map 2'. Kershaw does make other irritating mistakes pointed out by others: "Irwin" instead of "Erwin,'" General "Black" and not General "Balck," "army" when he meant "army group". It is hard to tell if this is poor editing, poor research or simply an inattention to detail. The dust cover includes praise from Douglas Brinkley, author of the Kerry 'biography', "Tour of Duty," which has also been questioned for its accuracy or at least for not telling the complete story, so you can draw your own conclusions on both Kershaw's and Brinkley's editors. Even Ambrose's scholarship has generated criticism, including plagiarism charges. Maybe there is something lost when the story is told so much later by men who have little or no direct experience with the war, with the army, or the period.Don't let that stop you from reading and enjoying this book. The first-person accounts make the story real and memorable. And makes me wish I could find that old simulation...

Alex Kershaw is one of the finest writers of history out there. Once again he brings a history to life through human stories of those on the ground as it happened. While this book is a little older (debuted in 2004), it is an excellent addition to the history on the Battle of the Bulge. In particular it revolves around the intelligence platoon who were in the Belgian town of Lanzerath, just as the Nazi thrust to begin the Bulge. This small group of men held of one of the Nazi's most fierce tank commanders, Jochen Peiper, at bay. The stalled his movement long enough to delay their arrival into the main battle. The platoon's story is compelling and worth reading - don't want to give any spoilers up - and offers details I'd not heard prior to reading this one, based on the stories from the troops themselves. A worthy addition to any WWII book collection.

A great story that you never heard.

Realistic and well written book that takes the reader along throughout the formation of a new type of intelligence gathering unit all the way to the end of the war .Amazing story of how this unit helped determine the course of history

Went looking for an in-depth look at the Battle of the Bulge and found this book from 2004. Enjoyable and informative, but I neglected to focus on the sub-head about the heroic platoon, and therefore was left wanting more detail about "the longest winter" from the standpoint of other soldiers. I gobbled up about 75% of the book, but the pin-point tales toward the end from POW camps -- while interesting -- left me wondering what was going on back on the front lines.

Great story and very easy to read.

Alex Kershaw’s book tells the remarkable true story of a platoon of 18 young Americans led by a 20 year old First Lieutenant Lyle Bouck . In 1944 in the Ardennes Forest while greatly outnumbered, they held up the German’s last major offensive, which allowed the Americans to regroup. Their actions had a positive influence on how the ‘The Battle of the Bulge.’ was won. After these brave young men were forced to surrender after running out of ammunition, the story goes on to give an account of the appalling conditions they and all allied troops had to contend with during the last months of the war. They faced near starvation, lack of sanitation and heating as Germany tried to carry on fighting when it could barely support its own population, let alone 250000 allied prisoners of war. Intertwined with this is also an excellent basic account of the ‘Battle of the Bulge’. I found this book really interesting. It is informative yet a real page turner, that flows like an easy to read novel. This book would be of interest to anyone who reads the historical WW2 books of ‘Stephen E. Ambrose's’ or Antony Beevor.

A great title concerning The Battle of the Bulge.

I previously read a book by this author, I found his style easy to read and informative. If like me you feel it important that we understand and learn from the past then this book chronicles and archives events that are both harrowing and salutary lessons for both our present and future. I read a book about the brave rear guard actions at Dunkirk by a Scottish regiment which led to many casualties and thousands of soldiers taken as POW’s and was appalled at their treatment in captivity. This book augments this by highlighting the the atrocious treatment of GI’s and other POW’s. It also gives us some insight into the devastation wreaked against Civilian populations during the war, such as the bombing of Dresden. Overall a good historical account of the Battle of the Bulge up until the fall of Berlin. Recommended.

Excellent