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A Dark and Bloody Ground: The Hurtgen Forest and the Roer River Dams, 1944-1945
- Narrated by: Peter Hassinger
- Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins
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Publisher's summary
A victorious American army, having driven through Belgium almost unopposed, ran head-on into German soldiers on their own home ground, in some of the most rugged country in western Germany - and at the beginning of the worst fall and winter weather in decades.
In late 1944, American forces advanced into the hilly, heavily wooded Hürtgen Forest southeast of Aachen, Germany. For weeks, without a clear-cut reason for attacking through the forest, US commanders nevertheless ordered units of as many as seven divisions into the woods to be chewed up by German infantry and artillery. Many companies suffered huge numbers of casualties.
The Battle of the Bulge interrupted the Hürtgen Forest battles but did not end them. The Bulge provided a hiatus for the wartorn countryside around the forest and the Roer River dams. Then, beginning in January 1945, American forces resumed their offensive and were finally able to break through after one of the bloodiest and, for the US Army, most disastrous campaigns of World War II.
The book examines uncertainty of command at the army, corps, and division levels and emphasizes the confusion and fear of ground combat at the level of company and battalion - "where they do the dying." Its gripping description of the battle is based on government records and a rich selection of first-person accounts.
Forrest C. Pogue Award, presented by the Eisenhower Center for American Studies. The book is published by Texas A&M University Press.
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On December 16, 1944, Hitler launched his "last gamble" in the snow-covered forests and gorges of the Ardennes in Belgium, believing he could split the Allies by driving all the way to Antwerp and forcing the Canadians and the British out of the war. Although his generals were doubtful of success, younger officers and NCOs were desperate to believe that their homes and families could be saved from the vengeful Red Army approaching from the east. Many were exultant at the prospect of striking back.
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Beevor excellent as always
- By Reed on 11-30-15
By: Antony Beevor
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The Darkest Summer
- Pusan and Inchon 1950: The Battles That Saved South Korea---and the Marines---from Extinction
- By: Bill Sloan
- Narrated by: Michael Prichard
- Length: 13 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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The outcome of the Korean War was decided in the first three months. The Darkest Summer is the hour-by-hour, casualty-by-casualty story of those months---a period that saw American and UN forces almost driven into the sea by the North Korean invaders, then stage an incredible turn-around that reversed the entire course of the war.
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Great intro to Korea
- By I Ate Your Pug For Lunch and It was Tasty on 01-14-11
By: Bill Sloan
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Brothers in Arms
- The Epic Story of the 761st Tank Battalion, WWII's Forgotten Heroes
- By: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Anthony Walton
- Narrated by: Richard Allen
- Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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A powerful wartime saga in the best-selling tradition of Flags of Our Fathers, Brothers in Arms recounts the extraordinary story of the 761st Tank Battalion, the first all-Black armored unit to see combat in World War II.
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MAKES ME PROUD TO BE A (BLACK) AMERICAN!!!
- By The Louligan on 04-20-14
By: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and others
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Snow & Steel
- The Battle of the Bulge 1944-45
- By: Peter Caddick-Adams
- Narrated by: Paul Boehmer, Tim Reynolds
- Length: 31 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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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.
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fascinating and thorough, painful narration
- By richard on 01-05-15
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Betrayal at Little Gibraltar
- A German Fortress, a Treacherous American General, and the Battle to End World War I
- By: William Walker
- Narrated by: Robertson Dean
- Length: 11 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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The year is 1918. German engineers have fortified Montfaucon, a rocky butte in Northern France, with bunkers, tunnels, trenches, and a top-secret observatory capable of directing artillery shells across the battlefield. Following a number of unsuccessful attacks, the French deem Montfaucon impregnable and dub it the Little Gibraltar of the Western Front. Capturing it is a key to success for AEF commander in chief John J. Pershing's 1.2 million troops.
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Compelling narrative, meticulous research
- By JKW on 07-18-16
By: William Walker
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A Frozen Hell
- The Russo-Finnish Winter War of 1939-1940
- By: William R. Trotter
- Narrated by: Matthew Lloyd Davies
- Length: 11 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1939, tiny Finland waged war - the kind of war that spawns legends - against the mighty Soviet Union, and yet, their epic struggle has been largely ignored. Guerrillas on skis, heroic single-handed attacks on tanks, unfathomable endurance, and the charismatic leadership of one of this century's true military geniuses - these are the elements of both the Finnish victory and a gripping tale of war.
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Causes and consequences of ruso-finish 1939 war
- By William R. Todd-Mancillas (Name includes hyphen and capitalized M). on 04-06-18
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Okinawa
- The Last Battle
- By: Roy E. Appleman, James MacGregor Burns, Russell A. Gugeler, and others
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 15 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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On 1 April, 1945, the largest amphibious assault of the Pacific Theater began. The battle for the island of Okinawa would last for the next 82 days. Through the course of this dramatic battle, over 20,000 Americans would lose their lives, and over 75,000 Japanese were killed in one of the bloodiest clashes of World War II. Okinawa: The Last Battle is a remarkably detailed account of this monumental event by four soldiers who witnessed the action first-hand.
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Good Okinawa History
- By Derail on 03-10-20
By: Roy E. Appleman, and others
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D-Day
- The Battle for Normandy
- By: Antony Beevor
- Narrated by: Cameron Stewart
- Length: 19 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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Renowned historian Antony Beevor, the man who "single-handedly transformed the reputation of military history" (The Guardian) presents the first major account in more than 20 years of the Normandy invasion and the liberation of Paris. This is the first book to describe not only the experiences of the American, British, Canadian, and German soldiers, but also the terrible suffering of the French caught up in the fighting.
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A commendable book
- By Michael on 01-19-10
By: Antony Beevor
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The Frozen Chosen
- The 1st Marine Division and the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir
- By: Thomas McKelvey Cleaver
- Narrated by: Norman Dietz
- Length: 15 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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The Frozen Chosen is an account of the breakout from the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea by the First Marine Division from November to December 1950, following the intervention of Red China in the Korean War. Fought during the worst blizzard in a century, it is considered by the US Marine Corps to be the Corps' finest hour. Fourteen Medals of Honor, a record for any American battle, and 85 Navy Crosses attest to the intensity of the battle.
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Fascinating story, very bad narration
- By Mat J Monk on 03-31-17
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No Better Place to Die
- Ste-Mere Eglise, June 1944 - The Battle for la Fiere Bridge
- By: Robert Murphy
- Narrated by: Stephen Bowlby
- Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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As part of the massive Allied invasion of Normandy, three airborne divisions were dropped behind enemy lines to sow confusion in the German rear and prevent panzer reinforcements from reaching the beaches. In the dark early hours of D-Day, this confusion was achieved well enough, as nearly every airborne unit missed its drop zone, creating a kaleidoscope of small-unit combat.
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Eeh, I'm luke warm about it.
- By Matthew on 11-07-14
By: Robert Murphy
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All the Way to Berlin
- A Paratrooper at War in Europe
- By: James Megellas
- Narrated by: Richard M. Davidson
- Length: 2 hrs and 34 mins
- Abridged
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In mid-1943 James Megellas, known as "Maggie" to his fellow paratroopers, joined the 82nd Airborne Division, his new "home" for the duration. His first taste of combat was in the rugged mountains outside Naples.
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Incredible book - narrator was terrible
- By joseph metz on 01-06-22
By: James Megellas
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D-Day in the Pacific
- The Battle of Saipan
- By: Harold J. Goldberg
- Narrated by: Gary D. MacFadden
- Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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In June 1944, the attention of the nation was riveted on the events unfolding in France. But in the Pacific, the Battle of Saipan was of extreme strategic importance. D-Day in the Pacific: The Battle of Saipan is a gripping account of one of the most dramatic engagements of World War II. The conquest of Saipan and the neighboring island of Tinian was a turning point in the war in the Pacific, making the American victory against Japan inevitable.
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Written like an amateur's account of his battle
- By jack on 12-18-13
What listeners say about A Dark and Bloody Ground: The Hurtgen Forest and the Roer River Dams, 1944-1945
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- John C
- 09-23-16
Excellent account on the battle at Hurtgen Forest
First off if you are looking for a first hand account of the battle this isn't the story for you. Though an excellent story this book is primarily a high level account of the battle and contains only a few anecdotal accounts from a soldiers point of view. With that said the author does an excellent job of educating the listener on the motivations, mistakes, and plans of both sides of the battle. The narrator has an easy to understand voice and does a great job.
A solid listen and well worth your time if you want to understand the battle for the Hurtgen forest from an operational perspective.
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- The Bookwyrm Speaks
- 09-24-16
Gripping story of a little known corner of WW2.
This is a very well researched and laid out narrative of the US Army's advance through the Hurtgen Forest, on their way to capture the Roer River Dams, which were vitally improtant to securing the region.Unfortunately, The Army didnt realize how important these dams were, and instead concentrated on taking the towns and crossroads, which kept the Army bogged down until the winter, which was bitterly cold that year, and actually ended up costing the lives of a lot of soldiers that ddint have to die. It covers the personalities of the commanders, with little personal notes of regular soldiers interspersed throughout. Peter Hassinger does an excellent job narrating, keeping a serious tone while not letting it become dry and boring. Any history buff should be interested in this book.
I was given a free copy of this book by the narrator in exchange for an honest review through Audiobook Boom.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Skilers
- 02-08-23
Poor reader choice-no preparation
I am a regular listener to audiobooks, and it never ceases to amaze me how the producer or producers can select a performer, who simply either refuses, or doesn’t care enough to prepare to perform the audiobook. In the case of this book, the performer, repeatedly mispronounced or ill-pronounced words that are critical to the story.
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- Mary Karowski
- 10-13-16
Spotlight on a shadowed corner of WW2 history
The author researches and presents us with a a shadowed corner of WW2 and reveals it for what it was. One of many such battle fronts that were swept to the side in favor of Marie spectacular and successful stories that shine through the lens of Hollywood for public consumption. This gritty tale of hard fought yards won and lost for little reason and less direction in the dark of a winter wood will leave you in awe of the men who fought and died there. The author has small personal accounts of heroics in each chapter that convey the feeling of the battles and shine briefly on the short heroic activities of the few that have been remembered for their outstanding acts of bravery as well as the feelings of the front line men of the trenches just grinding through. I received this audiobook from the author narrator or publisher for free via audiobookboom in exchange for an unbiased review
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- Daman
- 10-04-16
An interesting and fascinating piece of history
Any additional comments?
I love history and this is a unique story which was at the footsteps of WW2. The importance of the dams and the sacrifice made will never be forgotten.
"I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom."
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- in1ear (John Row)
- 09-08-16
Easily Equal to The Longest Day, et al
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Absolutely! This is written on the same competent level as Cornelius Ryan's The Longest Day or A Bridge Too Far. To tell you the honest truth, I thought this would be boring and dry. How wrong I was! It's well paced, thorough to its subject matter.
Who was your favorite character and why?
I couldn't have "A" favorite. This is a story of groups of soldiers placed in horrific life and death circumstances, and daily situations whose outcome could affect millions of people. The bravery, adapting to changing weather and tactics. The sacrifices on both sides.
Have you listened to any of Peter Hassinger’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
No. But, I've listened to dozens of audio book voice talents. Hassinger is near the top of my list of excellent narrators. To this untrained American ear, his pronunciation of German names, of cities and towns, of pertinent regions is exceptional. His voice is easy to understand, and enjoyable to listen to for extended periods.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
A World War Two saga you have to learn more about.
Any additional comments?
There are some works that are educational and some that are entertaining. This is both. Very well done. If you call yourself an expert in World War Two, you have to listen and read this!
Thanks for the opportunity to review A Dark and Bloody Ground...
This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom dot com
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- Glenn J Wojcik
- 12-07-17
The Hidden Truth of the Hurtgen Campaign
What made the experience of listening to A Dark and Bloody Ground: The Hurtgen Forest and the Roer River Dams, 1944-1945 the most enjoyable?
A few weeks ago I visited the area and found a museum on the battle. Until last year, I never heard of this battle. On my trip during Thanksgiving, I met many Americans that never heard of this battle. Only locals and a host at the Netherlands US Military Cemetery knew of the true history.
Who was your favorite character and why?
The character that brought this book to life was not in the book. Last year a friend wanted me to research and find a lost Uncle who died in WW 2. I found Private Ralph Mora at the Ardennes US Military Cemetery, Lot A, Row 33, grave 16 along with 5000 of his brothers. Ralph signed up at Fort Logan, Colorado in March 1944 and died 30 November 44 at Groshau, Germany. He was 20 years old.
Which scene was your favorite?
Hurtgen should have never happened. One of the saddest battles in all of American History. The US has done a great disservice to the men who died there, by sweeping it under the rug of history and forgetting them.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes and no. It's a painful book that exposed how command killed many great kids.
Any additional comments?
I hope the battle is resurrected and that our military and country learns from failure.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Max
- 10-27-16
Not bad
book was ok; reader wasnt great. He struggled with German names, there were a few obvious recording mistakes (like repeated sentences)
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- Kindle Customer
- 05-19-17
Gripping story of a little known corner of WW2
Would you consider the audio edition of A Dark and Bloody Ground: The Hurtgen Forest and the Roer River Dams, 1944-1945 to be better than the print version?
Did not read the printed version
What did you like best about this story?
I love history and this is a unique story which was at the footsteps of WW2. The importance of the dams and the sacrifice made will never be forgotten
Have you listened to any of Peter Hassinger’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
No.I've listened to dozens of audio book voice talents. MR. Hassinger is near the top of my list of excellent narrators. His pronunciation of German names, of cities and towns, of pertinent regions is exceptional. His voice is easy to understand, and enjoyable to listen to for extended periods
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
A solid listen and well worth your time if you want to understand the battle for the Hurtgen Forest from an operational perspective
Any additional comments?
I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.
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- Amy
- 05-10-17
Great writing for historians.
The book is very detailed and provides mid-level analysis. The author is not Keegan, but he is not bad at all. The performer cannot pronounce French or German names.
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