Robert W. Baumer
Autor von Aachen: The U.S. Army's Battle for Charlemagne's City in World War II
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SnickerdoodleSarah | Sep 12, 2022 | Originally I was looking for a biography that would tell about General William K. Harrison, as I had learned some things about him and wanted to know more. There is no biography that I could find that was in print about him, but I came across this recently published book about the division he was assistant commander of, "Old Hickory: the 30th Division by Robert W. Baumer
This account of the 30th division was interesting in and of itself. These guys were quite tough, and determined. Made up of National Guards, they remained vigilant with their duties even when, in preparation for them to be trained to join the fight, higher ups demanded that their national guard commanders be replaced with regular army commanders.
They were not a part of the first wave of D-Day, they were in a following wave some days later, but they were a big part of Operation Cobra, which was to break through further into France. Before I read this book, I had never really considered the problems that military air force bombers would have in hitting their targets accurately. In Operation Cobra, the 30th division is set to push further into France, but there would be an air bombing of the enemy first to soften things up for the men on the ground, to make their advance easier. There was some concern beforehand that the bombers would have difficulty in telling where to drop the bombs, but those concerns were brushed over. It was a disaster. The bombers hit their own men, killing many. Their losses were more than the Germans. The attack wasn't followed through with that day and postponed until the next. The Germans didn't know that the Americans had hit their own men, and they thought that what had happened was some sort of trick. And then the same thing happened on the following day. I almost laughed with amazement at the message that was sent to one of the Generals: "They've done it again". It was horrific and quite demoralizing. But the attack by the men still had to happen, and so they set out, even traveling through the carnage of their own side caused by friendly fire. You feel so bad, not just for the guys who were traumatized by it on the ground, but also for the pilots who were the cause of such demoralization to their own side. They had a really tough job.
Also, although Harrison is talked about quite a bit in the volume, I thought it interesting that it doesn't mention that he's a Christian until he acts uncharacteristically and uses some inappropriate language, and then it makes sure to note that he was a "deeply religious man". It goes to show that the world knows that Christians are supposed to be different and will notice inconsistency their faults more than in those who are not believers. One of the things Baumer emphasizes is that Harrison was very brave, and wanted to lead from the front. "He would become one of the most frequently seen general officers of WWII in the front lines with his men, and widely admired for his courage." At one point, He ends up getting wounded while at the front and the general he served under saw him and Harrison felt the need to defend his actions, saying something along the lines of, "How else was I supposed to lead my men?" He apparently took the responsibilities that God had given him very seriously, and wanted to them well.
Before I wrap up, I do want to mention that there is a bit of foul language in the book, mainly in the quotations of various people. Also, the description of the guys having gone through "hell" in their multiple difficulties was WAY overused (not that it's accurate in the first place), I don't know that I've ever read a military book that used that description as much as is used in this volume.
That said, the book was pretty well written, and really 'pulled' me in places. I found it intense, and parts are quite intriguing, I also liked that it included maps that give an idea of what was going on and where what the objectives were, I also found some things quite funny. To give an example, during one of the 'war games' that the 30th division participated in, they were up against Patton, and he quit just before he was about to lose to them!
Many thanks to the folks at Stackpole Books for sending me a free review copy of this book (My review did not have to be favorable)… (mehr)
This account of the 30th division was interesting in and of itself. These guys were quite tough, and determined. Made up of National Guards, they remained vigilant with their duties even when, in preparation for them to be trained to join the fight, higher ups demanded that their national guard commanders be replaced with regular army commanders.
They were not a part of the first wave of D-Day, they were in a following wave some days later, but they were a big part of Operation Cobra, which was to break through further into France. Before I read this book, I had never really considered the problems that military air force bombers would have in hitting their targets accurately. In Operation Cobra, the 30th division is set to push further into France, but there would be an air bombing of the enemy first to soften things up for the men on the ground, to make their advance easier. There was some concern beforehand that the bombers would have difficulty in telling where to drop the bombs, but those concerns were brushed over. It was a disaster. The bombers hit their own men, killing many. Their losses were more than the Germans. The attack wasn't followed through with that day and postponed until the next. The Germans didn't know that the Americans had hit their own men, and they thought that what had happened was some sort of trick. And then the same thing happened on the following day. I almost laughed with amazement at the message that was sent to one of the Generals: "They've done it again". It was horrific and quite demoralizing. But the attack by the men still had to happen, and so they set out, even traveling through the carnage of their own side caused by friendly fire. You feel so bad, not just for the guys who were traumatized by it on the ground, but also for the pilots who were the cause of such demoralization to their own side. They had a really tough job.
Also, although Harrison is talked about quite a bit in the volume, I thought it interesting that it doesn't mention that he's a Christian until he acts uncharacteristically and uses some inappropriate language, and then it makes sure to note that he was a "deeply religious man". It goes to show that the world knows that Christians are supposed to be different and will notice inconsistency their faults more than in those who are not believers. One of the things Baumer emphasizes is that Harrison was very brave, and wanted to lead from the front. "He would become one of the most frequently seen general officers of WWII in the front lines with his men, and widely admired for his courage." At one point, He ends up getting wounded while at the front and the general he served under saw him and Harrison felt the need to defend his actions, saying something along the lines of, "How else was I supposed to lead my men?" He apparently took the responsibilities that God had given him very seriously, and wanted to them well.
Before I wrap up, I do want to mention that there is a bit of foul language in the book, mainly in the quotations of various people. Also, the description of the guys having gone through "hell" in their multiple difficulties was WAY overused (not that it's accurate in the first place), I don't know that I've ever read a military book that used that description as much as is used in this volume.
That said, the book was pretty well written, and really 'pulled' me in places. I found it intense, and parts are quite intriguing, I also liked that it included maps that give an idea of what was going on and where what the objectives were, I also found some things quite funny. To give an example, during one of the 'war games' that the 30th division participated in, they were up against Patton, and he quit just before he was about to lose to them!
Many thanks to the folks at Stackpole Books for sending me a free review copy of this book (My review did not have to be favorable)… (mehr)
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SnickerdoodleSarah | Aug 20, 2018 | Statistikseite
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It starts and ends by telling about the author's research into his uncle. With the semi-fictional retelling of his uncle's history in the middle. It is written from various perspectives, that of Bob's mom, his brother and of course Bob himself. It also gives high level overviews of what was happening at various times. It 'pulls you in' in many places, making you feel as if you are with them while the various events are happing.
Bob joins the army before the war, not really expecting to actually have to fight, but then war breaks out. You then follow Bob and his fellow soldiers to various countries where they are sent to fight.
One of the things I found very interesting about this book, something that made me really feel as though I were 'in' the time period, was the descriptions of actual documents of the time. There are things like written announcements from commanding officers that were send to all of the soldiers, a detailed description of what was in an issue of Life magazine at the time, a summary of what was in pamphlets introducing them to whatever country they were about to enter, even the inspiring message given over a loudspeaker to the men when they were on a transport ship to North Africa.
A part that I especially liked in the book was where Bob's Mom was listening to the radio hearing about the Normandy invasion. Let me give a small excerpt from that part here: "Viola now knew she would be up for the rest of the night so she gave up any thought of even trying to go to bed. She'd pay for that at work tomorrow, but she did not care. Minutes were running together, and at 2:55 a.m., a new voice, that of Richard Harkness and ringing with clarity, broke in to tell his NBC listeners: 'The German radio claims this morning that the Allied invasion has begun…..' Viola cringed when she again heard, 'There is no confirmation from Allied sources,' before Harkness followed by offering, 'the German broadcast could be one which Allied leaders had expected would be made with the purpose of upsetting plans inside the conquered country.' But listeners were also cautioned that Prime Minister Winston Churchill had previously warned that any news of a landing at places like Le Havre could be a feint, and Allied forces may land elsewhere in the main invasion. Viola ,like other Americans who were hearing this broadcast felt nothing but total frustration. Was this real, or not? Then the broadcast took a new turn….."
That part was toward the beginning of the book and it was what really started drawing the picture in my imagination and giving me the sense of the times.
I really love the use of (and really appreciate the research that must have gone into) these little details that really bring this book to life.
Now the book is quite accurate to the time so I do want to mention that there is some foul language, off color jokes, and some descriptions given of some of raunchy entertainment given to the troops. Bob and some of his buddies do ultimately decide against going to a brothel when the opportunity comes up.
It was an interesting way to learn more about World War II. You'll learn many things along the way, from the beginning where you'll learn something in a discussion between Bob's brother Sonny and their mother, that America initially had a smaller military than Germany, smaller even than Switzerland! To the end where Bob's mother gets a letter telling where in France Bob was temporarily buried and a photograph of the cemetery. All in all, I think that this book, in its giving the perspective of Bob Baumer, his mom and brother, gives the perspective of the average soldier in World War II and the average family with relatives on the front.
Many thanks to the author and the publisher, Hellgate Press, who sent me a free review copy of this book (My review did not have to be favorable)!… (mehr)