Alamo in the Ardennes

The Untold Story of the American Soldiers Who Made the Defense of Bastogne Possible

By: John C. McManus

Narrated by: John Glouchevitch

Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's Summary

At last, here is a book that tells the full story of the turning point in World War II's Battle of the Bulge - the story of five crucial days in which small groups of American soldiers, some outnumbered 10 to 1, slowed the German advance and allowed the Belgian town of Bastogne to be reinforced. Alamo in the Ardennes provides a compelling, day-by-day account of this pivotal moment in America's greatest war.

©2007 John C. McManus (P)2017 Tantor

Critic Reviews

"Will become one of the classics of the literature of World War II combat." (Thomas Fleming, author of The New Dealers' War)

hard to listen to this great story

loved the story but it was a struggle to listen the narrator. I was not able to finish the book.

devoted history lover

A must read for anyone looking for indepth info on the Battle of the Bulge . McManus tells their story with intensity and heart giving these men their deserved respect and appreciation so long overdue.

Either the narrator or the author really messed up

I don't usually do this, so you know it's bad.
There was no such thing as a Combat Company A, B, or R in an American Armored Division in WWII. They were called Combat COMMANDS, not companies. There was no such thing as a Half-Truck in any army in WWII. They were called Half-TRACKS. Also a key point in the Battle of the Bulge that this book claims to be about is the Elsenborn Ridge, not the Eselborn as it is called in the book. Some of the stories were great, but the narrator reads in a loud whisper, and the constant use of wrong or made up terms makes it unreadable. Either the author messed this stuff up and no one corrected him or the narrator messed it up and no one corrected him.

Did not like the reader at all

I had to struggle to listen to this book due to the way the readers voice dropped off at he end of every sentence. The information was good but it couldn’t hold my attention due to the reader.

Alamo

I have enjoyed listening to this book about the battle of the Ardens. I hope you will enjoy you it too.

Great detail

Highly detailed overview of a specific aspect of the battle many armchair historians know little about. Most histories provide little on the specifics of what happened to this division in the first days of the offensive, other than that they were overrun. Most of us have read about the Bulge, but this provides the how and why the US forces delayed the Germans in the lead up to the Bastogne encirclement.

I try to read/listen to a book about the Battle of the Bulge every year around Xmas. This is among the very best.

The reader takes some getting used to in his overly (IMO) breathy narration. Could be better, but not a dealbreaker.

Excellent: inspiring, and thoroughly researched!

I learned a lot from this well written slice of history. Both the author and narrator deserve accolades.

Incredible!

A very unknown part if the Bulge story, especially the first days is told surprisingly well! Highly recommend

Top marks

Great balance of overall strategy and big picture overview but lots of added personal individual soldier memories which really add to the perspective. Well worth buying if your interested in the campaign right up to the attack on Bastogne ( which it does not cover, just the fighting before )

A rather unknown part of the battle of the bulge

The story is a rather unknown aspect of this famous battle and sheds some light as well on the battles that were fought in the second world War.