“Crusade In Europe” is General Eisenhower’s memoir of the period from the early days of World War II, during which America waited for its involvement to begin, through the early post-war dealings with our erstwhile allies. As the premier figure among the Western Allies, his story and observations are crucial to an understanding of the Great Crusade.
Ike takes the reader along with him through each stage of the Crusade. We view events from a perspective which lets us see aspects which we otherwise might have missed. Having attracted attention for his performance in Army maneuvers in Louisiana in 1940, Ike was called to Washington immediately after Pearl Harbor because of his recent experience in the Philippines. He was immediately assigned to work on plans for the Pacific. At this point the reader is reminded that, in contrast to the later Germany First Policy, the American public, for a time, screamed for revenge on Japan before dealing with Germany.
Assigned to command Operation Torch, the invasion of French North Africa in 1942, Ike was charged with obtaining Allied Cooperation and was plunged into the morass of French politics. The disappointing involvement with Gen. Giraud presented an intra-allied problem, as did cooperation of Adm. Darlan, who while too helpful to rebuff, brought with him the stigma of association with a collaborator. The age-old Arab-Jewish hostility further complicated the administration of the liberated territory.
With North Africa cleared out, Ike was charged with the conquest of Sicily. Management of the Patton-Montgomery rivalry was a major challenge of the campaign. Success having been achieved, the Patton slapping incident forced Ike to reprimand a close friend while threatening to deprive him of one of his most effective Army commanders.
Speculation that Ike would return to the Washington as Chief Of Staff while Gen. Marshall commanded Overlord, the invasion of Europe, distracted Ike’s attention from problems at hand. Ike’s eventual appointment to command Overlord forced him to leave the Mediterranean while the Italian campaign was still in doubt. Upon arrival in England he immediately switched gears to plan the size, timing, supply and location of the invasion of France.
With the invasion ashore, Ike skillfully managed his coalition of impetuous commanders in their march across Europe. Ike brings the reader into the thought processes and conferences leading to decisions on the liberation of Paris, Operation Market-Garden (“A Bridge Too Far”) and the Battle of The Bulge.
Americans are familiar with Patton’s claim that, with supplies, he could capture Berlin and win the war. Ike relates that Monty bothered him with similarly impractical suggestions. He then explains why the proposals were doomed to failure. Spirited arguments with the British over Project Anvil (Invasion of Southern France) come within the reader’s vision through Ike’s eyes.
The greatest criticism of Ike’s wartime leadership is reserved for questions about whether the Western Allies should have advanced further to limit the Red Army’s area of occupation. Ike assesses the claims and presents support for his decisions.
After V-E Day, Ike’s role shifted more into that of a statesman as he attempted to obtain cooperation with the Russians over the administration of occupied Germany.
Some things come clearly through the pages of this book. The reader is constantly impressed with the importance of supplies, bringing to mind the adage that “Amateurs speak of tactics, professionals speak of logistics.” Despite later controversies, Ike’s admiration for Gen. George Marshall is made clear on the pages of this book. Written in 1948, I find the statement that Ike disagreed with many of FDR’s domestic policies to be surprising and a hint of his later political initiatives. “Crusade In Europe” is written in a very clear, easy to read and follow, style. It never becomes bogged down in boring details. Among memoirs, this is a gem.
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Spitzenrezensionen aus anderen Ländern
Paul Cornfield
Ike was crucial to Allied success in WW II
Kundenrezension aus Kanada 🇨🇦 am 6. Juni 2021M. Lee
A must read to understand WWII
Kundenrezension aus Großbritannien 🇬🇧 am 7. Juli 2019Thomas A. Regelski
Five Stars
Kundenrezension aus Großbritannien 🇬🇧 am 21. Juli 2017