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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 940.5421092
EAN num: 9780375754210
ISBN number: 0375754210
Label: Modern Library
Manufacturer: Modern Library
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 688
Printing Date: May 04, 1999
Publishing house: Modern Library
Release Date: May 04, 1999
Sale Popularity Level: 69692
Studio: Modern Library
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge, the liberation of Paris, the relentless drive through Germany toward Allied victory--Omar Bradley, the 'GI General,' was there for every major engagement in the European theater. A Soldier's Story is the behind-the-scenes eyewitness account of the war that shaped our century: the tremendous manpower at work, the unprecedented stakes, the snafus that almost led to defeat, the larger-than-life personalities and brilliant generals (Patton, Eisenhower, Montgomery) who masterminded it all. One of the two books on which the movie Patton was based, A Soldier's Story is a compelling and vivid memoir from the greatest military tactician of our time.
The books in the Modern Library War series have been chosen by series editor Caleb Carr according to the significance of their subject matter, their contribution to the field of military history, and their literary merit.
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Rated by buyers 
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General Bradley gives us the reasons and the inside look at interactions between a commanding general and his subordinate commanders. There are plenty of issues such as logistics, strategy, and management of the battlefield that are detailed in this book. We get a bird's eye view of the strategy. Reasons are given for moving Terry Allen and Theodore Roosevelt Jr. from the command of the 1st Infantry Division to the halting of Patton from closing the Falaise Gap. In addition to this, there is plenty of anecdotes and thoughts on the leadership and characteristcs of his subordinate generals like General Hodges and General Patton. General Bradley does not spend too much time reflecting on the losses and tragedies of the war. He moves fairly quickly on the actions of the U.S. Army.
For the most part, General Bradley tends to be as objective as he can until he deals with Field Marshal Montgomery. Bradley does not hide his irritation towards Field Marshal Montgomery, who is pictured as a commander who is somewhat coddled by General Eisenhower. Field Marshal Montgomery does not seem to be a team player in the Allied command structure. Bradley gives us hints at Montgomery's selfish nature in his descriptions of the Field Marshal.
The impressive aspect of this book is General Bradley's sharp attention to details. He seems to have his handle from everything from logistics to personnel to the frontline situation.
There is plenty of discusion of the different levels of command and the units. This is balanced with numerous maps and diagrams. There are also charts on the content of a U.S. Field Army, Infantry Division, and Armored Division. These maps and diagrams help out those who are not so familiar with basic military unit sizes.
The book would be fine for both the experienced military historian or someone who is a beginner reader of World War II in the European Theater.
Rated by buyers 
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This is one of the finest historical accounts ever written. There is
little room for boredom here. I have seen the movie "Patton" many
times, and while it is one of the best war films of all time, it is
always interesting to learn more about one of the key components behind
it. General Bradley takes the reader through each phase of the war,
explaining the fundamentals of each stage, as if we were right there
at that moment in time. I highly recommend this book to any serious
student of American History.
Rated by buyers 
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A well written account of high command in the Med and Eurpoe during the Second World War, but biased towards the writer. This book serves better as memoir because of the way Bradley puts his his version of events.
The battle of the Falaise gap and the Ardennes offensive are points to consider. Bradley lauds the pedestrian Courtney Hodges but derides Patton who admittedly had his faults and for his actions was treated accordingly.
Rated by buyers -
I have rarely enjoyed a book so much. It is thoroughly engrossing, illuminating us to so many aspects of the European Theater, many of the great men of the war, and general command principles.
Bradley recounts, in some detail, battle by battle the move through Africa, Sicily, France and Germany. His account seems straightforward and humble, tackling failures of Monty (including Market Garden) Patton, and even himself in his failure to anticipate the Ardennes Offensive that led to the Battle of the Bulge.
His accounts of interactions with great men of the era such as Eisenhower, Monty, and Patton are worthwhile, but what I found fascinating were the figures new to me such as Hodges, Middleton, Ridgeway, Heubner, Gerow, Devers, and even Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. The hard-charging, do your duty feeling that was evident in this book makes me proud to be an American. It is simply amazing to see that men such as Eisenhower and Bradley moved from relative obscurity as colonels to leaders of enormous armies in some of the most important battles of history in a period of only 5 or 6 years.
An added plus are the motivational and management lessons learned from Bradley.
One suggestion: While the book is filled with helpful maps, search for WW2 Battlefield maps online and print them for reference. Keep them with you when you read Bradley's accounts. They will make following the detail of movement much easier.
Rated by buyers -
"A Soldier's Story" by Gen. of the Army Omar Bradley is a impressively engaging book dealing with his experiences in Europe and Africa during World War II. Being in every major engagement from Algeria to the Elbe, Bradley retraces the steps of the American and British armies from TORCH and the thrust in North Afica through Sicily and finally into mainland Europe in OVERLORD and subsequent battles.
General Bradley offers excellent advice on command and his views and Allied views on the war. Throughout the book, frequent maps illustrate the battle plans and make for a better situational awareness.
As a valuable war book, "A Soldier's Story" is an excellent choice to learn about WWII in detail. It offers excellent command advice and allows the reader to form his personal viewpoints on our role in the fight. An excellent read.
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