• 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
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (141 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
Alamo in the Ardennes  By  cover art

Alamo in the Ardennes

By: John C. McManus
Narrated by: John Glouchevitch
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $18.05

Buy for $18.05

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

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
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic reviews

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

What listeners say about Alamo in the Ardennes

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    93
  • 4 Stars
    36
  • 3 Stars
    9
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    84
  • 4 Stars
    26
  • 3 Stars
    15
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    4
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    101
  • 4 Stars
    19
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The Ardennes is a story that is layered in snow

This book is an excellent overview of not just the Ardennes but what individual men did with little but their own courage and refusal to quit. Sometimes the truth is more throat closing than all the fictional battles every created.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Account of bulge battle small unit engagements

Narration is crystal clear, comfortably paced and varied in rhythm, and all-around professional.

Engagements are clearly described in interesting detail, and chronologically, logically organized.

Perspective is from standpoints of individual GIs and small units, and honors the bravery and prowess of engagements occurring PRIOR four days prior to siege of Bastogne.

Only analysis and account of equally important engagements occurring just to Bastogne siege, which credits accurately, justifiably to these equally as important fighting.

Highly recommended.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Personal Stories from 28th Div & Armor that Made Bastogne Possible

Really enjoyed listening to the personal stories of those who made the defense of Bastogne possible. Having read Time for Trumpets, several 101st Airborne autobiographies, Lyle Bouck of the I & R Platoon’s autobiography and numerous other books on the Bulge several of the stories were familiar however there were many I’d never read before.

There are maps online that allow the reader to view the battle and of course online maps with satellite view that can help the reader follow the paths of the battle.

As for those who describe the story as chaotic and hard to follow, the fact is that the Battle of the Bulge was chaotic! The reader has the advantage of going back and rereading or listening again. If one uses a map and listens more than once it becomes clearer.

Agree with Kindle reader RE the mistakes made by either the narrator or author- Half-Tracks referred to sometimes as Half Trucks and tank commands referred to as companies. Yes for someone who knows the difference it’s annoying. Tragically those who don’t know the facts are being taught incorrectly.

Thank you to the author for memorializing the men who sacrificed so much for Freedom. When I thank veterans for their service I always want to tell them how sorry I am for the losses they experienced and the nightmares that haunt them.

It needs to be corrected ASAP. Today it is common for books published by established publishing companies to have NUMEROUS typos including the misspelling of common words and misuse of punctuation symbols. One infamous book published by Stackpole had typos on EVERY page.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Solid

Lots of action, interesting account of the horrors these heroes endured. However at a certain point you get lost in the chaos. I got everything I could take away from the read with a few hours left. It’s a bit tough to follow characters as there are so many involved.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Alamo

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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful