Watch on the Rhine (Posleen War Series #7)

Book Description

The invaders are coming¿the Posleen, a seemingly unstoppable horde who have conquered one star system after another, literally feeding on their conquests. Earth¿s dubious allies, the Darhel, have given the humans a number of highly-advanced technological devices, including a process for rejuvenating the aged, including trained and proven soldiers who otherwise would be too old to fight. Rejuvenation may give a critical edge, since to survive, the Earth must use every resource at hand. Every resource . . .

In the dark days after the initial Posleen attack, but before the primary invasion, the Chancellor of Germany faces a critical decision. Over the years, with military cutbacks, the store of experienced German military personnel had simply dwindled. After the destruction of Northern Virginia, he realized that it was necessary to tap the one group he had sworn never, ever, to recall: the few remaining survivors of the Waffen SS. Has he made a devil¿s bargain, or is this a chance for the reviled SS at last to fight the good fight? And, perhaps, gain redemption. . . ?

Watch On the Rhine, a new chapter in the New York Times best-selling Posleen War saga, is perhaps the most unbiased, and brutal, look at the inner workings of the Waffen SS in history. Meticulously researched, it explores all that was good, and evil, about the most infamous military force in history using the backdrop of the Posleen invasion as a canvas.

Customer Reviews:

A desperate battle in this fast-paced adventure........2007-08-04

John Ringo and Tom Kratman's WATCH ON THE RHINE tells of evil invaders - the Posleen, a space-conquering horde with an insatiable appetite for aliens - and allies of Earth who give earthlings the rejuvenation key to limitless warriors to battle them. Whether this technology is friend or foe will be told in a desperate battle in this fast-paced adventure.

Military Philosophy in Action.......2007-06-26

Watch on the Rhine (2005) is a standalone novel in the Legacy of the Aldenata universe, following Hell's Faire in the Posleen War subseries. Unlike the prior volumes, this novel takes place in France, Germany and Poland, with most of the action occurring along the Rhine River.

When the Posleen started landing on Earth, the German Chancellor considered the state of the Federal Republic's military forces and foresaw disaster. Germany had not fought in any war since World War II and all the veterans of that conflict were very old. Of course, the Galactic rejuvenation technology could restore anyone living or recently dead to perfect health, but who had the requisite experience?

In this novel, the Germans rejuvenated every man they had, including the men of the Waffen SS, despite great objections from every political spectrum except the Neo-Nazis. In most cases, these men -- and they were ALL males -- were not the deathcamp guards of many horror stories, but the grunts who had served at Stalingrad and other battlefields throughout Europe. Some were heroes by any standard, but most were just soldiers who had served the Fatherland faithfully for over a decade.

Lieutenant General Muhlenkampf was a battle machine. He had lived for war. The Waffen SS had given him an opportunity to use his talents to the fullest extent. Now he has been rejuvenated, placed in command of the new German SS Korps, and charged with resisting the expected Posleen invasion. His Korps is not alone in this mission, but they have the most experience and the best trained recruits.

Colonel Hans Brasche had been a junior officer during World War II. Although he had been Waffen SS, he had avoided the deathcamps. Now he is charged with training the new soldiers. General Muhlenkampf has trusted Hans with this great responsibility and he will do his duty to his last breath.

Sergeant Major Helmut Krueger had also been Waffen SS during the Second World War, but he had spent considerable time as a deathcamp guard. He had fond memories of gypsy, Jew and other girls in the women's camps where the guards spent their spare time. The girls would do anything a man wanted for a few trinkets.

Gunter-- the chancellor's aide -- is a Green. The very thought of SS men in uniform is abhorrent to him. Even the threat of alien Posleen grazing on the German people doesn't deter him from spreading the word to his fellow Greens of this great atrocity. The Darhel Tir provides as much support as he can.

Dieter Schultz is an eighteen year old volunteer in the newly formed SS Korps training center. He hates the training and his trainers -- particularly Sergeant Krueger -- but he is determined to do his best. Then the Greens have a nonviolent demonstration that clubs down the camp commandant. Schultz and his fellow trainees get a chance to apply their training in a very realistic exercise.

In this story, the invasion is every bit as bad as expected. The Posleen overwhelm most of France and Poland and converge on Germany. Many civilians are overrun and eaten. Many soldiers flee from the enemy and are eaten. Some hold their positions as long as possible and fall back to previously prepared fortifications. Still, the Posleens are winning and eating every body available.

The German engineers develop new weapons and rush them into production. Then they go back and develop better weapons and hope to have them ready for use before being overrun. One Tiger IIIB prototype is produced and the plans are transmitted back to the Scandinavian Sub-Urbs, but no more will be available for at least another year. Its builders decide to field test it, potting Posleen aerial vehicles and troops as they appear.

This story is more about the mystique of soldiering than about the war itself. The Waffen SS has gotten a bad name due to a few of its troops and officers. Yet most of the Waffen SS were among the best soldiers in the world. The French government -- who had nothing good to say about them publicly -- still preferentially recruited them for the Foreign Legion over even former French soldiers. The war against the Viet Minh was often fought by German speaking troops.

This work reflects the conservative slant of the authors, but I doubt that many military men/women are liberals. The US military is still composed primarily of conservatives, especially since the draft was abolished. Unfortunately, the effects of that decision have reduced the moderate elements in the US military. Now more of the command elements of all armed forces come from the service academies than in the past.

This scenario is probably more pessimistic than reasonable. Technical objections about nuclear weapons, air superiority and other subjects are relevant, but problematical. Moreover, the machinations of the Darhels are not the only aspects of the psywar in Europe.

Certain elements of the European populace are incapable of facing the realities of an alien invasion. Unlike the Americans in the War of the Worlds broadcast incident, the Europeans seem to deny the possibility of any such threat. OTOH, a similar denial process occurred in the American populace prior to World War II over the German threat. FDR is hated by some people even today because he happened to be right about Hitler.

BTW, many liberals in the US seem to be denying the possibility of any threat from Islamic terrorists. Plug in "alien Posleens" for "Islamic terrorists" and you have the basic premise of this story. Even official word of millions of aliens would be ignored by some people as "just another government scare tactic". Of course, the government DOES use scare tactics, but so do other groups. Sometimes they are true!

Highly recommended for Ringo & Kratman fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of alien invasions, military tactics and light romance.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Certainly not for Everyone.......2007-06-01

This was the first book I have read in the Posleen War series. I found it full of action and reasonably involving. Fans of the subgenre (apocalyptic shoot-em-ups or aliens-invade-Earth) will most likely be satisfied. But this novel comes with buckets of gore, and a less than subtle rightward political slant, in which leftist opponents tend to be either won over or are actual traitors to their species. The rejuvination of the SS and the suspension of liberal democratic values under threat of species annihilation seem believable enough to 'suspend disbelief' under the circumstances, but the authors treat the Waffen SS as the elite of elites, which I can't justify. Why would the SS have so much more success than, say, a group of 50's era US army rangers, or the survivors of the storied 45th division, for example? The reason, of course, is that the former are the more shocking, and to shock is a primary goal of this book.

This story will appeal mostly to fans of hard military sci fi, and may indeed appeal to them quite a bit, particularly since such readers will tend to lean towards the authors' politics. For myself, the in-your-face political slant did bother me at times (though I'm not even close to left-wing), particularly those portions that apparently were written at the height of anti-European feeling in certain circles in the US in 2002-2003.. for instance, as the maneating Posleen ravage France, the authors so enjoy their remark about the French people becoming 'French cuisine' that they actually repeat the joke.

"Watch on the Rhine" is a well executed example of its subgenre, but has limited appeal outside of it.

Sloppy and boring........2007-05-30

I finally got a copy of this book after reading several negative reviews, to see for myself. Unfortunately they were right. This is an abysmal book, which is a pity because I have enjoyed the series. There are two main weaknesses. Firstly the lack of an actual story. We already know the background, so I guess meeting aliens and so on is out, but basically it's just fighting. Secondly it's full of mistakes. Some have been mentioned in previous reviews, but even leaving aside the technical impossibility of fighting a tank that weighs thousands of tonnes, (the Germans found it hard to use their extra large tanks in World War two) there are many technical errors- such as the use of hobnails in army boots. I doubt if anyone does any more, particularly in "the coldest winter in 50 years" - they freeze your feet. Of course, the sound of thousands of SS men marching needs hobnails -- silly to hear them going squeak, squeak. This book is sloppily written and needed editing. Then of course there is the politics, which some might see as a strength. Apparently the rehabilitation of the SS was a theme meant to shock. This is adolescent nonsense. As is the idea that left wing people would want to appease the Posleen. Makes you wonder how those pantywaist commies managed to beat the Germans in 1944 -- 5. 9/11 seems to have rendered this author incapable of rational thought. What a waste.

Less lame politics and more aliens getting blasted.......2007-04-27

The real problem I had isn't about the redemption of the SS its how so much of the book is full of ranting about euro-commies and left wingers who are - for some reason - actively hoping for the end of the human race which includes themselves and their families.

If I wanna read page after page of attacks against cartoon character liberals I'd hit the blog circuit. Time to get the series back to the basics. Massive amounts of artillery raining down on aliens; realistic portrayals of people who are not either mad dog lefties or ultra decent upright righties; and descriptions of cool armored fighting suits.

Cycling the Rhine Route: Bicycle Touring Along the Historic Rhine River

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How honest is the preview web page

Cycling the Rhine Route: Bicycle Touring Along the Historic Rhine River
John Powell
Manufacturer: Cycle Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1892495236

Book Description

A tour guide for bicycle touring along one of the historically and scenically most interesting routes in Europe. Linking the North Sea coast in Holland with the heartland of Germany, France, and Switzerland, this route provides an easily accessible cycling tour.

Detailed route descriptions with route maps and information about the places visited, including accommondations and excursions.

Customer Reviews:

How honest is the preview web page.......2006-07-31

Of course I think this is a great book - I spent a number of years researching and writing "Cycling the Rhine Route". I had so much information that I had to edit out two-thirds of the original manuscript to fit in with the publisher's requirements and I still had to persuade him to make the book longer than originally planned. So I had to make informed choices about what to leave in and take out, and after having cycled the route quite a few times, in all seasons and weathers, I feel that I have done my best within the constraints placed upon me.
The bibliography contains book titles that are either unobtainable nowadays, or out of print, and it seems that whoever built the Amazon web page has replaced those titles with others which are available. I don't think this is honest, and I have told Amazon this, but with no result. This shouldn't prevent you from owning a book which will give you the opportunity to enjoy a wonderful journey along one of the oldest routes in Europe. Best wishes and happy cycling.

The Bridge at Remagen: The Amazing Story of March 7, 1945-The Day the Rhine River was Crossed

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Book Review: "The Bridge at Remagen"
brigde at remagen
Brilliant History
Locating History
Superlative account

The Bridge at Remagen: The Amazing Story of March 7, 1945-The Day the Rhine River was Crossed
Ken Hechler
Manufacturer: Pictorial Histories Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 092952179X

Book Description

The incredible story of the capture of the Ludendorff Bridge, a strategic bridge crossing the Rhine river at the town of Remagen. This updated volume contains bandw photos of American and German troops, artillery and aerial shots of the Rhine, and the Ludendorff Bridge before its ultimate destruction.

Customer Reviews:

Book Review: "The Bridge at Remagen".......2007-09-26

I bought the book because my Ballantine paperback copy of "The Bridge at Remagen" (published in 1957 and sold for 50 cents) was falling apart. I was pleasantly surprised to find many additional photographs in the Pictorial Histories version along with an updated biography of Ken Hechler.

brigde at remagen.......2005-10-04

great book it a must have I have the movie and when I read the book it was great.

Brilliant History.......2004-08-19

Hopefully this review will provide prospective buyers what they need to know.

As good as the original paperback version of this book was when it was first written, Pictorial Histories have put out an even better version with this large softcover offering, including rare photos of the major participants that the original lacked.

This is an excellent account of the encounter between Company A of the 27th Armored Infantry Regiment and the German defenders of the Ludendorff Bridge in March 1945. The main characters on both sides are brilliantly fleshed out by the author, and the strategies and tactics on both sides give a good look of both the big picture and the actual events of the battle itself.

Very nice additional chapter on the making of the movie is just icing on the cake.

Hechler was actually in the US Army in 1945 and is a solid historian. Only drawback may be lack of footnotes for the scholarly minded, but this book still gets a 5 for its coverage of the battle itself, and the aftermath - including German efforts to destroy the bridge, the postwar careers of some of the main players, the final collapse of the span itself, and the summary trials of the German defenders.

All battles deserve the kind of coverage this little skirmish recieves in this well written, suspenseful, and exciting book. So well written you might think it is fiction.

Locating History.......2001-11-20

One of my favorite books relating to WWII is "The Bridge at Remagen" and had I the opportunity to witness a portion of the movie set, on location at Remagen on the Rhine River. I was attending Frankfurt American High School 1968 through 1970 and had the fortune of watching the movie set which was used for all the on-site location shoots for the David Wolper Film. I had gone on a Rhine River Cruise in 1968 and stopped to observe the film shooting that took place. The movie was released a year later and became a huge box office hit in 1969. I read the first paperback in 1978 by Ken Hechler and consequently his 1994 book with the same title. I found the book to be historicaly accurate and intensely focused on the human factor of the major caracters in the story. I would recommend that if all possible, any reader should visit the Museum opened in one of the original Towers at the the site of the former bridge that pays homage to the events and lives from March 7th, 1945. Take the Rhine River Cruise that starts in Bingen and goes north to Bonn past Remagen; you will see the most incredible sights of the Castles and the Rhine Valley, sending you back in time to help you experience the book. My wife and I just took the tour in August and I had to read the book again.

Superlative account.......1999-07-24

My interest in the Second World War was rekindled by reading the bestseller WWII book, "The Triumph and the Glory", part of which was devoted to the Remagen Bridge capture. "The Bridge at Remagen" filled in all of the details about how the Rhine was breached in fine fashion, the author has done a great job describing the events surrounding one of the great episodes of WWII.

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Mandala Miracles
Beautiful Hebrew Calander
Judaica calendar
A Stupendously Beautiful Book
Marvalous

Hebrew Illuminations
Adam Rhine , and Louise Temple
Manufacturer: Sounds True
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1591793459

Book Description

The Judaic art of Adam Rhine is popping up everywhere—from best-selling calendars and greeting cards to magazine covers and even on chocolate candy. Hebrew Illuminations brings together for the first time over 44 stunning images from this visionary artist in a beautiful collector's edition. Intended for use as part of a traditional kabbalistic meditation practice, the breathtaking "mandalas" in Hebrew Illuminations are accompanied by supplementary instruction that invites the reader to contemplate the rich layers of meaning hidden in a wide range of Hebrew letters and symbols, including: • The "Aleinu"—a declaration of faith that beckons the viewer to offer praise for all creation • "Chai"—a tribute to the divine for the miraculous gift of life • Dozens of moving images in honor of Jewish holidays, Torah passages, Sabbath practices, and more.

Like the medieval illuminated manuscripts that inspire them, the ornate and celebratory creations of Adam Rhine will instill a sense of divine majesty in all who behold Hebrew Illuminations.

Customer Reviews:

Mandala Miracles.......2007-04-29

"Looking at the letters as the expressions of creation can bring us back to the creation, to G-d's dream and vision of the world that was intended to be, to the purpose of creation, and to our own seemingly unlimited potential for human creativity." ~ Rabbi David Zeller

Adam Rhine's beautifully illustrated alphabet originates from ballpoint sketches that turn into warm watercolor expressions that seem to be an ever-changing mandala miracle. His fascination with calligraphy and interest in infusing his work with the energy of color takes his black-and-white pen drawing into new realms. Here he paints and tells the story of each letter. When discussing "Beit" we see a drawing and also read:

"Having a solid foundation, the letter beit represents a house or home. Each of us can be a home for the divine and a source of blessings to the world, making it a true home for the Divine."

As you contemplate each holy letter in this book you can gain a deeper sense of purpose in the way letters are arranged to produce deeper meanings in words.

"Chai, the world for `life,' is spelled with a chet and yud. This combination unites the presence of G-d (represented by the yud) to our existence in time (chet)."

The drawings themselves are alive with meaning and beauty. I love the drawing "Ahava" because two hearts are incorporated into the picture to produce a stained-glass effect. The "Tikkun Olam" painting would be beautiful framed.

~The Rebecca Review

Beautiful Hebrew Calander.......2007-01-22

This calander is extraordinary. Beautiful drawings, vibrant colors, what a gem. I will have to frame some of the photos after the year is gone. They are true treasures!

Judaica calendar.......2007-01-09

This calendar can be used as a work of art-Adam Rhine's artwork is unique and very creative. I highly reccommend it!

A Stupendously Beautiful Book.......2006-11-07

Adam Rhine's Hebrew Illuminations is a stupendously beautiful book. Rhine, a professional artist since 1991 and a member of the American Guild of Judaic Art, has put together a coffee table book of illustrations of both the letters of the Hebrew alphabet and a variety of Stars of David (i.e., 6-pointed or Jewish stars).

From the coloring to the fine graphic detail, these hand-drawn letters andstars unflinchingly reveal the magic that is at the core of Hebrew and Jewish written expression.As Rabbi David Zeller says in the book's forward:

"It is indeed illuminating to see how far the Hebrew letters have traveled around the world and into the cosmos. It is a wonder how they have inspired people of many religions, traditions, cultures, and professions. What is this fascination with these strange shapes - the ancient, timeless, Hebrew letters?... As you contemplate these letters now, go beyond the identified letter and its 'sub-atomic' letter particles. Allow your imagination to soar and take you through the portals of these glyphs to the worlds beyond them....

"This is the nature of the contemplative process: we open ourselves to the stimulus - here, the bold and richly colorful illuminations of the Hebrew alphabet - and our inner being supplies the rest, taking us to previously unimagined universes within. The potential of art rooted in the sacred is to take us on a sacred journey on which we discover our own unique relationship to the source of life."

Each letter occupies its own over-sized page, and facing it is a description of the letter along with commentary written by Rhine. Relevant prayers and sayings, in Hebrew, are also sprinkled throughout the book.
After theletters of the Hebrew alphabet come the Stars of David, and these are truly visionary and breathtaking in both their conception and execution. If you are Jewish, or know someone who is Jewish, or are just interested in things relating to the core of the Western esoteric tradition, then this book is a must-have. I truly feel lucky to have a copy to hold in my hands and to show my friends. Children love the beautiful images as well.

Marvalous.......2006-10-02

Absolutely wonderful. Adam does a great job on the Hebrew aleph-bet. Good, accurate discriptions with the numerical value as well. What I am most enamored with are his Magen Davids. They are beautiful, artistic and classically suited to each season and phase of Jewish life. Good Job Adam!

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Rhineland Legends
Okay. Needs a New Working.
Good book

Hero Tales and Legends of the Rhine
Lewis Spence
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0486288706

Book Description

Rich collection of tales inspired by the mystery and romance of one of the most storied rivers in Europe—arranged to illustrate a journey along the Rhine from sea to source. Includes the Niebelungenlied, the greatest of German national epics; as well as legends of Odin, Brunhild, Venus and Tannhauser, Lorelei, Siegfried, the Jester of Heidelburg, Lohengrin and many more. 24 illustrations.

Customer Reviews:

Rhineland Legends.......2002-02-10

Perhaps the reviewer below should learn his German well enough to find and read the German sources, rather than criticise that stuffy Brit who wrote this book. Let him also consider that the Brits are cousins of the Germans and that these legends are as much a part of British tradition as German. As for the stuffy British style, the author was writing in the early 20th century when such language was considered proper, rather than the modern American travesty of the English language. Lewis Spence deserves great respect as a scholar. He is a most interesting writer.

Okay. Needs a New Working........2001-05-05

This would be a very good book if it were not written in boring, stuffy and stilted British English. Then again it was written in 1915, and by a Brit. This book first introduced English readers to the legends of the Lorelei, the Mouse Tower, the Wild Hunt. If only someone can come along and retell these stories as if a real Rhinelander was speaking and not some tedious British aristocrat this would be a marvelous book!!

Good book.......1999-04-10

Very good book of stories from the Rhine. It first came out in 1915 but the stories are time less, it not only deals with the German part of the Rhine but also the tales from France.

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A Synthesis that Glorifies Montgomery
The history of these last battle strongholds comes to life

The Rhine Crossings 1945 (Campaign)
Ken Ford
Manufacturer: Osprey Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1846030269
Release Date: 2007-02-27

Book Description

'The last great heave of war,' according to Churchill, took place with the crossing of the Rhine in 1945. No invading army had crossed this great river since Napoleon's in 1805, and the task fell to Field Marshal Montgomery's 21st Army Group. Opposing them were the forces of a failing fascist regime, including battalions of old men and boys, strengthened by several formations of crack troops, including paratroopers and Panzer Grenadiers.

This book details the devastating Anglo-American assault from Arnhem, starting with the battle of Arnhem, and leading on to the successful crossing of the Rhine and eventual breakout, and continuing with the advance across northern Germany. Including comprehensive details on all aspects of the operation, including the amphibious assault, airborne landings, special forces' attack and armored land battle, this book charts the history of the last great set-piece battle of the war, second in magnitude only to the Normandy invasion, that ultimately brought the defeat of Hitler's Nazi regime one step closer.

Customer Reviews:

A Synthesis that Glorifies Montgomery .......2007-04-15

For some readers, British Field Marshall Montgomery's crossing of the Rhine River in March 1945 would seem like the climactic moment of the Second World War. Yet for other readers, this campaign appears more of a foregone conclusion since the Germans lacked the ability to prevent the Allied crossings. This a priori impression will greatly influence the reader's impression of Ken Ford's The Rhine Crossings 1945, number 178 in Osprey's Campaign series. Overall, it is a satisfactory volume, although it is more the result of thorough synthesis of existing secondary works rather than original research. The reader's opinion of the Montgomery's skills as a general - at the core of this account - will also influence assessment of this volume.

In standard Osprey format, the author succinctly lays out the origins of the campaign and the development of each side's operational plans. In the section on opposing commanders, the author provides capsule biographies of 9 Allied and 8 German leaders; the inclusion of Crerar (not directly involved in the campaign) and von Runstedt (relieved weeks before the campaign) didn't make much sense. However, it is when the author gets to describing Montgomery that many readers may take umbrage. First, the author states that Montgomery was "Britain's most famous and well-loved soldier." Was Montgomery really more famous than the Duke of Marlborough, Wolffe or the Duke of Wellington? As for well-loved, Field Marshall Slim was selected by Sandhurst cadets in a post-war survey as the most respected British commander of the war, not Montgomery. The author then states that Montgomery "had accomplished many victories." Like what? Actually, it is questionable that Montgomery every clearly won a battle (El Alamein being an incomplete victory - no breakthrough and DAK got away), but he clearly lost at Arnhem just a few months prior. Adding insult to injury, the author states that "to his men, Monty was infallible" (go ask Roy Urquhuart if he thought Monty was infallible) and that "his name was associated with some of the finest feats of arms of the British Army." Really, like the Battle of Blenheim, the capture of Quebec, Rorke's Drift, Wavell's 1940 campaign in Libya? This section infuriated me for its lack of basis in historical fact and lapse into polemics. There was also an odor of anti-Americanism underlying the author's defense of Montgomery - somehow it was the fault of Americans that Monty has been criticized. Sure, go ask the Canadians what they thought of Monty's 1942 Dieppe Plan, or Urquhuart what he thought about Monty's Market-Garden Plan.

The section on opposing forces is sub-par for several reasons. First, the author paints a picture of the British Army in 1945 that makes it appear stronger than it was. In fact, the British Army was running desperately short of infantry replacements after the 1944 campaigns and had to disband formations. Nor does the author discuss the German defenses in sufficient detail, such as what exactly were the defenses at the river's edge and the composition of the mobile reserve (how much armor in 47th Panzer Corps?). The order of battle provided only goes down to division level, with no mention of artillery brigades, engineer units that supported the crossing or air units. Indeed, the author makes little effort to discuss the Allied air interdiction efforts to isolate the battlefield and the artillery support plan is rather vague.
Graphically, this volume is appealing like most volumes in the series. This volume includes five 2-D maps (the Rhine with Allied and German positions; 21st Army Group Operations; Operation Plunder; Operation Flashpoint; from the Rhine to the Baltic), three 3-D BEV maps (1st Commando Brigade attack on Wesel; Operation Varsity; Expanding 21st Army Group's bridgehead, 24-28 March 1945) and three battle scenes by Howard Gerrard (15th Scottish Division reinforces its bridgehead, 24 March 1945; Glider troops of 17th Airborne Division arriving on landing zone S, 24 March 1945; Royal Engineers build the first Bailey bridge over the Rhine).

The actual campaign narrative is sub-divided into sections covering the British assault, the American assault, the airborne landings and the breakout. These sections are the best written and describe the Allied operations in significant detail, although the emphasis is on British rather than German or American perspectives. It is clear that the author has carefully mined existing secondary sources for all pertinent facts about these operations and he succeeds in melding them together into a careful, if dry, synthesis. In the aftermath sections, the author makes a brief nod to the two main criticisms of the campaign - that Montgomery's crossing was overblown in scale and that the airborne operations were unnecessary - and then shrugs his shoulders, avoiding making any conclusions. There seems to be an element of British ego-soothing in this account, as if being on the winning side was not enough, but that Monty has to be credited with achieving some great feat of arms that brought the war to a close. For an operation that involved hundreds of thousands of soldiers, this seems a very narrow and parochial interpretation.

The history of these last battle strongholds comes to life .......2007-04-10

Ken Ford's THE RHINE CROSSINGS: 1945 covers the last major battle of World War II in a region which no invading army had crossed since Napoleon's forces. The history of these last battle strongholds comes to life in a survey filled with black and white vintage photos and detailed discussions of crossing tactics and logic.

Beyond the Rhine: A Screaming Eagle in Germany

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Excellent first hand account
The fall of a dictator
The war is drawing to a close
Well Written
Beyond the Rhine

Beyond the Rhine: A Screaming Eagle in Germany
Donald R. Burgett
Manufacturer: Dell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0440236363
Release Date: 2002-07-30

Book Description

"I was nineteen years old and now had three major campaigns under my belt. I had been wounded three different times, and, in seniority, was one of the oldest of the old men..."

In 1945 the paratroopers of the 101st Airborne came staggering out of the frozen killing fields of Bastogne. Tired, ragged, and hungry, the Screaming Eagles had proven their valor from D-day through horrendous battles in France, Holland, and Belgium. Now it was time for a lethal strike against the Nazis, and an all-out assault on Germany itself.

This powerful memoir chronicles the death throes of World War II in Europe as witnessed by a young soldier grown old before his time. From daring night raids behind enemy lines to river crossings and assaults on die-hard pockets of resistance, Burgett recounts acts of courage, cowardice, and anger in the face of a splintered but still dangerous enemy. Most of all, Beyond the Rhine is an unforgettable portrait of war’s aftermath. For as the Screaming Eagles fought on through sniper-infested towns, through the Black Forest in Bavaria to Hitler’s famous mountaintop retreat, they would come face-to-face with the unspeakable horrors the Nazis left behind... Beyond the Rhine.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent first hand account.......2007-01-30

Excellent book in a series of four written by Burgett. Seldom does an author who was as young as Burgett was during the war, write so vividly and clearly. I have enjoyed all four of his books and recommend them all highly.

The fall of a dictator.......2006-11-05

If you read the previous books in this series; don't miss the final book. We all know how the war ended in Europe, but this is the real story told by a real soldier in the trenches. It gives meaning to the prase "Freedom is not free"!

The war is drawing to a close.......2005-12-20

This is the fourth book in a set of 4 books by the author, the books start with his training as a paratrooper in WWII, and follow his time in the war until he gets discharged after the war. The books in chronological order are 1)Currahee! 2) The Road to Arnhem 3) Seven Roads to Hell 4) Beyond the Rhime. By all means, read every one of them.

For those who call WWII, the last "good war", this is a wake up. This war was just as full of horror and nightmare as any conflict, and the men treated as poorly. We get a view of the daily misery of the troops between the episodes of their bravery driven by the urge to kill or be killed. The author was a member of the newly formed Screaming Eagles 101st Airborne Division, and they made history and a reputation in this war.

The newly formed division gets the supreme test as paratoopers. Paratroops or Airbonre units are dropped behind enemy lines to shock the enemy, draw the enemy to them, diverting resources from the main line of attack so infantry and mechanized untis can move in. This may include seizing a key road or river crossing until the main units arrive. It is incredibly tough for them as they are often outmanned, outsupplied, and outgunned, facing tanks and artillery with nothing more than their own rifles, bazookas, and mortars they can fly in with. While they are only supposed to hold out until the infantry arrives with larger numbers and tanks in a day or two, the reality is they were often left practically abandoned without support or re-supply for weeks at a time.

In the first 3 books, Burgett took us to his training as a 19 year old Paratrooper in 1944, and then on to England. He fought in the D-Day invasion in Normandy behind the lines for 7 days straight. Then on to Holland for the poorly led Operation Market Garden by Field Marshal Montgomery where 80% of the allied paratroopers from Poland, Britain, and the US were wasted away in a series of inept decisions, security breaches, and failures to provide support. The men were finally relieved 70 days later than promised. Then without rest or resupply the men were rushed to Bastogne, to do the impossible. Hold an area where seven roads intersected against armoured divisions, outnumbered 10 to 1. The 101, along with two armored tank battalions, a tank destroyer platoon, and a artillary battery - held off nine full full strngth armoured Panzer Divisions for eight days until relief arrived, then fought alongside their relief for another 22 days until the Germans were beat back to their own border.

Now in this fourth book, the job is not complete, and the trops are chasing the Germans into the heartland. Along the way they would uncover the horrors in deathcamps the Nazis left behind. This book series by Donald Burgett is the most graphic and honest description of being an active fighting soldier in WWII I have read and left a deep impression on me. Simple words and detailed memeories from a simple man. It is a great read, and I could not put it down.

Well Written.......2005-08-20

Another excellant account about the WWII experience from someone who was there. A real tribute to the people that fought the war with Don Burgett and the 101st Airbourne Division.

Beyond the Rhine.......2005-03-14

The 101st Airborne continues their very dangerous, physical, and mentally straining journey throughout WWII. This novel in the series starts you off right where you last herd about the 101st screaming eagles, in the middle of one of the biggest battles in WWII, The Battle for Bastonge. This outfit struggles to keep their moral and state of mind on a good track while physically battling the harsh winters of France and Germany, in subzero temperatures, just to defend this worthless frozen region.
Donald R. Burgett puts you right in the middle of WWII and shows the reader the aches and pain of war, but also the glory of victory. After he has survived three major campaigns in WWII he, "Had been wounded three different times, and, in seniority, was one of the oldest of the old men". Burgett makes the reader feel sympathy for the soldiers as they struggle to keep warm in frozen fox holes, get into fights over warm food, and decide on who gets to take the first helmet bath.
This novel is part of a series of stories that shows Burgett's experience in WWII. It is the 4th and last book in the series of four that caps off Mr. Burgett's WWII experience. These unbelievable experiences show the honor and dedication all of our WWII veterans had for there country. This is one of the best WWII novels I have ever read, so I highly recommend this novel for anyone with even a small interest in the military field.

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Very interesting and worthy alt-hist, but it could have stood some more fleshing out
Great book.
Good Alternate History Reading
Not recommended
good but overestimated soviet capabilties

Fox at the Front (Fox on the Rhine)
Douglas Niles , and Michael Dobson
Manufacturer: Forge Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0765343991
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Book Description

The Third Reich has been routed....But the war is far from over. A new adversary is poised to attack on the eastern front.Former opponents George S. Patton and Erwin Rommel must join forces to neutralize the remnants of SS forces bent on carrying out the Reich's "Final Solution" in Eastern Europe. They are unaware of an intended Soviet land grab that could lead to the Stalinist occupation of postwar Europe and an ongoing Cold War that might destroy any chance for a lasting peace in our time.

Customer Reviews:

Very interesting and worthy alt-hist, but it could have stood some more fleshing out.......2007-08-03

I really enjoyed _Fox on the Rhine_, which I'll have to get to reviewing one of these days; it was an imaginative look at how Erwin Rommel might have planned and executed "Wacht am Rhein" (Watch on the Rhine, the Bulge offensive, here called "Fuchs am Rhein", Fox on the Rhine) had he not been implicated in the July 1944 coup attempt and forced to commit suicide.

_Fox at the Front_ is a look at what happens next. Rommel, having surrendered himself and his entire command after having come _this_ close to breaking through and storming to the English Channel, is now offered the opportunity to switch sides and become the leader of the army of a new, democratic Germany that will take its place among the Allies as they seek to finish the Third Reich once and for all. The Nazis aren't quite finished yet, though; they - especially Heinrich Himmler - have other plans. Not to mention what Joseph Stalin is plotting at...

If I have a problem with this book, it's that it seems somewhat rushed in places. This is especially apparent in the section dealing with the siege of Berlin by the Soviets; as another reviewer points out, the Allies at this point in 1945 had significant assets and advantages that would have gone a long way toward balancing, if not outright overcoming, the Soviet superiority in numbers. Niles and Dobson might have spent some more time thinking out, for example, how American artillery might have counterbalanced Soviet guns, or how a huge raid of Anglo-American heavy bombers protected by swarms of Mustangs and Spitfires (along with the new German Democratic Republic's Me-262s) might have broken up Zhukov's assault from Potsdam without having had to resort to the atomic bomb. (On the other hand, their point that the Soviets would have focused first on getting revenge by smashing up as many German units as they could is well taken; their description of the destruction of Panzer Lehr is chilling.)

Nonetheless, the book has many good points. Chief among them is the description of Rommel's discovery of the depths of Nazi depravity and bestiality at Buchenwald. I personally think their estimate of what his reaction, and that of the men under his command, might have been is spot-on. To the reviewer who complained that this section is unrealistic because most Germans knew something about what was happening to the Jews even if they chose to ignore it, I would respond that this is precisely what makes Rommel's anguish so powerful. He is grappling with his own conscience here, and the sense of guilt that he feels over not having done anything to try to stop the Holocaust even though he had intimations that something dreadful was happening. That's why he reduces himself to the status of menial laborer trying to clean up the wreck of Buchenwald, resisting all entreaties to return to command until a dramatic confrontation with the book's main POV character.

I'll certainly be looking at trying their new book, _MacArthur's War_, because of these two books. Well done overall.

Great book........2007-02-09

I really enjoyed this book. As a retired army sergeant I only docked it one star for mistakes on the military angle; any general's staff rates a G (G-2 for Intelligence, for example)not an S. Shortly after promotion to full colonel the officer reported himself as lieutenant colonel, etc.

Good Alternate History Reading.......2006-03-23

This one is a stretch but as alternate history goes, it's good readingd. Once I started I couldn't stop. Made for some interesting views on the potential Wehrmacht options and reactions of the Soviet Union and Stalin. If you are in to this type of reading, this one is a must read.

Not recommended.......2005-09-26

Having read this book, I cannot recommend it to any reader. As some other reviewers have pointed out, the plot is pretty thin and the characters are one dimensional. However, what also has to be pointed out is the fact that there are significant errors and inaccuracies with regard to the weaponry and technology used by both russians, germans and americans. For example, the authors use Il-10 as russian fighter opposing american P-51 Mustang. This is just plain wrong. Il-10 was used by the russians starting in October of 1944, but it was a ground attack airplane, just like Il-2, with top speed of 359 mph. The Mustand would fly rings around it with its top speed being higher by nearly 100 mph. With regard to the russian tanks, the KV5 tank, while being considered as a potential design, was never in production. It was never described as Joseph Stalin either. In fact, JS or IS (depending on proper translation from russian to english) class heavy tanks were manufactured after most of the KV production was ended. What makes it especially silly is that KV was an abbreviation for Klement Voroshilov, one of prewar russia's foremost generals. Significantly, during WWII, he fell out of Stalin's favor after performing miserably as a commander of armies in northwest. IS class heavy tanks, such as IS-1, IS-2, and eventually IS-3, would not be named after a commander who was removed from his post after failing to stop german thrust which led to the siege of Leningrad. Further, these tanks were a design that was a large step beyond KV models. The authors also describe T-34 as ubiquitous and claim that Shermans were able to fight them on equal terms. However, T-34-85 outgunned Sherman, although not as much as the Tiger did. Other things that are also erroneous are depictions of russian attack through Poland. Contrary to what the authors seem to believe, it was russian strategy to bypass fortified resistance points, leaving their reduction to infantry. The entire Operation Bagration in 1944 was done that way. Finally, the authors seem to place a great deal of weight in the claim that Rommel was not a Nazi and that he had no knowledge of the Holocaust and mistreatment of russian prisoners of war, civilians, and other prisoners of concentration camps. This claim defies history as we know it. It was common knowledge within the Heer what was going on in death camps and concentration camps, and regular german army units have played a significant role in documented atrocities and war crimes.

good but overestimated soviet capabilties.......2005-07-01

Fox at the Front is a very original and interesting take at the last few months of World War Two. I would have rated it 5-stars except for what I thought was an overestimation of Soviet capabilities. Consider th following:

1. The Berlin Army that was encircled would also have a substantial artillery complement and add in Allied fire direction superiority, would have been able, together with air power, to neutralize the Soviet artillery.

2. Allied airpower would have been able to smash the easily locatable Soviet artillery and armor concentrations. For example, a two-thousand heavy bomber raid from the USAAF and RAF would have destroyed the main Russian effort in Potsdam even without the A-Bomb.

3. The Allies also had strong armies within striking distance of Berlin despite strong Soviet defensive positions. An Air-land blitzkrieg would be able to crack open this any part of the Soviet position and linked up with the Berlin garrison. The bottom line is that the Soviets do not have enough strength to both besiege Patton and stop the 12, 21st & 6th Army Groups.

4. The focus on Europe means that the US Army is stronger in ETO in that timeline. Add-in the reconstituted German Republican Army, the Brits and the French and the Allies represent a formidable fighting force that could match the Soviets in numbers and would possess superior mobility, air power and logistics.

Average customer rating:

Painless Paper-Piecing

Painless Paper-Piecing

Manufacturer: Make It Easy Sewing & Crafts
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0971450110

Product Description

Improved Technique for Paper-Piecing quilts plus 20 projects. Sew the seams without stitching through the paper. You won't have any paper to pull off -- no mess, no tiny stitches, no special paper. And you can reuse the paper pattern, Quickly and accurately cut fabric patches with less waste and better control. Accurately place the fabric patches onto the paper pattern, the first time, assuring coverage of the pattern area and preventing the need to rip seams and resew. Reduce bulk and create seams that you can easily match because you can press seams in any direction, including open.

Customer Reviews:

Painless Paper-Piecing.......2007-07-22

This book was just what I was looking for. I like the layout, the clear instructions and the projects. I am looking forward to doing these projects.

Average customer rating:

A must read for all Roman Catholics
Valuable insights on Roman Catholic turning point.
informative
Review from the Publisher

Rhine Flows into the Tiber
Ralph M. Wiltgen
Manufacturer: T A N Books & Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0895551861

Customer Reviews:

A must read for all Roman Catholics.......2007-02-25

If you sit in your pew on Sunday and think, "Ugh, this is the worst...where did they come up with this stuff?" you will want to read this book.

In this well written volume, Mr. Wiltgen lifts the rock and lets the light shine on the factions responsible for twisting and redirecting the the Second Vatican Council away from it's original schemata.

Well indexed.

Valuable insights on Roman Catholic turning point........2006-08-02

Detailed analysis well worth the read no matter where your alliances may fall.

informative.......2005-12-16

A very good book explaining the liberlism of vatican II that has destroyed the reverence and mystery of catholicism and turned it into kumbayah, hand holding, p.c. garbage.

Review from the Publisher.......2001-03-09

This is an unparalleled eyewitness account of just what transpired at the Second Vatican Council. The author's integrity and objectivity won him exclusive interviews with a great number of the Cardinal and Bishops, whatever their allegiance within the Council. The title neatly sums up the fact that Vatican II, and the documents of Vatican II, were shaped largely by the liberal ideas of the Fathers from the Rhine lands. In The Rhine Flows into the Tiber, the strategies of the liberals in promoting their ideas come through on every page. Father Wiltgen's journalistic masterpiece shows clearly the two main theological forces that were at work in the church before the Council, during the Council, and after the Council, and which remain very much at work in the Church today. Here are the actions and actual words of the famous personalities of the Council, including Cardinals Ottaviani, Frings, and Suenens; Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre; Fathers Karl Rahner, Joseph Rarringer, and Hans Kung - and of course, Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI. This book is essential for anyone who would understand the new orientations which came to the fore with Vatican Council II - including the famous "Spirit of Vatican II" orientations which have led to momentous destruction and unprecedented changes in the entire Roman Catholic Church. Important reading! 304pp. PB. Imprimatur.

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