Rodney W. Schmisseur

Another Shirer classic

Revisado: 11-25-24

One of my first major reads as a young adult was “The Rise and Fall” - the sweeping narrative of the wartime journalist stepping into the role of historian was imminently readable - warts and all.
His lesser-known follow up is an amazing work. The journalist knows how to write a gripping story. I constantly found myself going back and enjoying various sections.
Grover Gardner’s calm, steady voice makes for a pleasant listen, as always. A consummate professional and a personal favorite. Pipes.

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A classic - flowing, gripping

Revisado: 11-13-24

Alistair Horne was a great writer. He tells a great story, laced with facts, fused with characters and prose that flows and guides the listener in an encouraging and engaging manner.

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Thought-provoking strategic overview of the Great War

Revisado: 10-30-24

A strategic level overview of the entire war - covering the leaders, combatants and societal forces at work over the four-plus years of war. Sweeping in narrative, flowing as prose, and very listenable as an audiobook.
Maps are not critical, the narrative supports a campaign level understanding without immersion into tactical details.
There is abundant material presented. The transformation of industrial production needs,
“The Shell Crisis”, the mobilization of manpower versus skilled labor, the role of the colonies, the role of the blockade and its subtle impact on German strategic output. The strategic manpower pools, the class call-ups, the raising of the British Army, the ordeal of the French army, the “shackling to a corpse” of the German army to the Austrian-Hungarian conglomerate, the Russian masses.
The author also provides valuable insight on the linkage of the 14-18 and 39-45 wars in the afterword.
Very listenable, I found myself returning to sections and the entire book several times. Looking forward to listening to Three Armies on the Somme and some of his other works. Greatly enjoyed this work.

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A critical, chilling, and gripping review of an oft neglected campaign

Revisado: 07-26-24

The opening hook is masterful (as is the appendix, if bittersweet and frustrating from the standpoint of Justice). The campaigns, naval engagements and air strikes are retold masterfully with actors and roles brought to the fore. I‘ve thoroughly enjoyed each of his works - biting criticism, accolades, and the human interest tales in a savage campaign fighting the enemy and Mother Nature and her flora and fauna.

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Thought-provoking overview of the United States’ Pacific War

Revisado: 07-06-24

A substantial, but fast-moving, chronicle of the War in the Pacific. Valuable for the casual student of history, albeit a detailed World Atlas would be a necessary supplement. The other allies are given fairly short shrift. The Australian focus is largely on the American social invasion. The Brits lurk in the shadows in Burma and the Russian’s flirt with their entry, stonewalling Japanese peace feelers. The shortcomings of American strategic focus (dual and rivalry-plagued) are given ample play and sturdy argument. Solid narration and well-paced.

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Those gallant young men… a story well told

Revisado: 06-22-24

An amazingly thorough, thoughtful, and thrilling tale of the Air War in World War I from the British perspective. The science, the machines, the men, and the experience is wonderfully told. An absolute delight from start to finish. Well-written, excellently narrated, and engaging from start to finish.

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Thorough review of Reichswehr in Weimar years

Revisado: 06-19-24

An excellent and fairly fast-moving overview of the interwar development and evolution of the Reichswehr during the years of the Weimar Republic. Very interesting coverage of the evolving Panzerwaffe conceptually, the decline of the mounted cavalry arm and VERY extensive reviews of the methodology and events of the major interwar maneuvers.

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A gripping tale of incredible, consuming tragedy

Revisado: 06-09-24

Overy paints an amazing landscape of the 20th Century’s Eastern Colossus and the Second World War and its aftermath. It is a sweeping, bittersweet tale of onslaught and revenge, victory and annihilation, friend and foe.
If Nazism presented the West with a “Good vs Evil” struggle for the triumph of freedom and democracy, the Nazi-Soviet struggle defies such simple logic. The ordeal of the Soviet people is vividly captured in this bloody tale of struggle and defiance within a cauldron of conspiracy, coercion, and sheer human depravity. There are no winners, only victims and vanquished, tyrants and traitors and those soon to become traitors to the motherland. Deeply moving and simultaneously grippingly sad and maddeningly troubling.
Thoroughly enjoyed the experience and, dare say, the ordeal.

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Gripping and intriguing

Revisado: 05-22-24

Fast-paced narrative, primarily focused on the 42-44 major bombing campaign with interesting insight into the ‘45 finale. For a “German eyes” perspective, there is ample background from the Allied side, especially Bomber Command. Focus is on the Luftwaffe as a military force, and the impact of bombing on the German people, versus the impact of strategic bombing on the German economy. Worthwhile addition to any library.

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Exhausting the Blitzkrieg

Revisado: 05-19-24

Delighted that all of Stahel’s works on the first year of the Russo-German War of 1941-45 are now recorded! A superb overview of the final desperate push towards Moscow, Operation Typhoon. A truly hallow victory- impressive numbers of booty yet still no closer to finally ending this war of annihilation. This round of German victories simply further blunted the tip of the German military spear. Dangling at the very end of its logistical tether, the Wehrmacht is bruised, bloodied, but refuses to admit it is beaten. Seemingly bereft of options, the only visible option is to push onward come the frosts of the Russian Winter.

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