Book: “An Army at Dawn” - 11/23/20
It’s been out since 2002 but I just found it in half price books. It’s a Pulitzer Prize winning history of the US landings in North Africa and subsequent campaign ‘42/‘43.
Turns out it was a good thing we first tried invasion tactics on a place like Vichy North Africa, against the Germans it would have been no contest. Took a while for us to get our act together.
Eisenhower at that stage in the war was still learning his craft and could’ve easily been relieved of command.
One thing that really surprised me was the relatively minor role played by Patton in that campaign. I had always heard that we got thrashed at Kasserine Pass and then Patton came in and turned things around. It didn’t play out that way, far more complicated than that, and Patton’s role was relatively brief and no more successful than other commanders.
I ain’t finished yet but it’s a good read.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=an+army+...tag=hydsma-20&ref=pd_sl_64vugzysw6_e
Turns out it was a good thing we first tried invasion tactics on a place like Vichy North Africa, against the Germans it would have been no contest. Took a while for us to get our act together.
Eisenhower at that stage in the war was still learning his craft and could’ve easily been relieved of command.
One thing that really surprised me was the relatively minor role played by Patton in that campaign. I had always heard that we got thrashed at Kasserine Pass and then Patton came in and turned things around. It didn’t play out that way, far more complicated than that, and Patton’s role was relatively brief and no more successful than other commanders.
I ain’t finished yet but it’s a good read.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=an+army+...