Citizen Soldiers

The U.S. Army from the Normandy Beaches to the Bulge to the Surrender of Germany

By: Stephen E. Ambrose

Narrated by: George K. Wilson

Length: 21 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Citizen Soldiers opens on June 7, 1944, on the Normandy beaches, and ends on May 7, 1945. From the high command on down to the enlisted men, Stephen E. Ambrose draws on hundreds of interviews and oral histories from men on both sides who were there. He recreates the experiences of the individuals who fought the battles, the women who served, and the Germans who fought against us.

Ambrose reveals the learning process of a great army: how to cross rivers, how to fight in snow or hedgerows, how to fight in cities, how to coordinate air and ground campaigns, how to fight in winter and on the defensive, how citizens become soldiers in the best army in the world.

A masterful biography of the U.S. Army in the European Theater of Operations, Citizen Soldiers provides a compelling account of the extraordinary stories of ordinary men in their fight for democracy.

©1997 Stephen E. Ambrose (P)2011 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

" Citizen Soldiers [is] a high point in Ambrose's long fascination with the nature of leaders and followers. (John Lehman, The Wall Street Journal)

"History boldly told and elegantly written.... Gripping." (Kyle Smith, People)

"Ambrose proves once again he is a masterful historian.... Spellbinding.... The book captures the bizarre contradictions, random kindness and unexpectedly comic moments of the push to Berlin as memorably as a great war novel." (John Omicinski, Detroit Free Press)

Extremely insightful

Very well researched and written. A significant historical reference for the actions and geography of the war in Europe.

Fabulous

Must read for anyone interested in WWII. I always love hearing the stories as told by the men & women who were there. I'm glad i listened ri this book.

Excellent first hand stories, awful narrator.

What a great book, I feel like I should have been taking notes, so many stories!

Sadly the narrator constantly licks his lips, speaks with dry lips and makes other extremely annoying mouth sounds. I had to struggle through to finish.

Great book!

I absolutely love this book! I love hearing and reading the history of our great military and the struggles it took to build it.

Very listen worthy

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's hard to imagine what people had to get through during the second world war. This book opens the door a little and gives us a glimpse at the daily lives of those who served during this dark period.

A Great Work

This is not a complete military history of the war or even of individual battles. It is however the history you would learn if fortunate enough to sit among them and let them tell their stories. It covers almost everything and every type of soldier and event in the war in the ETO.

The performance Mr Wilson makes it even better. Having been an audible member for some time a poor performance can make a great book difficult to listen to and a difficult book better. Every once in a while you are fortunate enough to have both a great book and narrator. This is what you have here.

Perhaps it was my dads love of history or his respect for those who fought in WW2-( he served during Korea) but I have always held that the WW2 soldier was unique-was if fact part of that " greatest generation". Here Stephen Ambrose's book reinforces that belief. So though it may be 70+ years later, Thank You to all who served.

Wonderfull broad storytelling.

Well crafted segments. Truly captures the aspects of war that never appear in the Movies or TV productions.

The Audio engineer needs to find a new career. Through out the program various “Biological” sounds are picked up by the mic and not cleaned up in postproduction. In the last 3/4 of the reading the Narrator as a “ Whistler “ for about 20mins.

Outstanding

If you are a World War II buff Kama it doesn't get any better than this. Great additions to the story at the end that are not in the original book.

Great read for WW2 history buffs!

Steven Ambrose is my favorite WW2 author and this book exceeded my expectations! Details the life of a US soldier in the ETO during WW2. Even gave the German soldiers prospective which is hard to find!

Great book

Probabably the best military history I have come actress to date. Ambrose's ability to put you in the field with our grandparents goes unmatched