-
Once Upon a Time in War
- The 99th Division in World War II
- Narrated by: Frank Graham
- Length: 11 hrs and 42 mins
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Prime members: New to Audible?Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Once Upon a Time in War
Buy for $24.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Against All Odds
- A True Story of Ultimate Courage and Survival in World War II
- By: Alex Kershaw
- Narrated by: Mark Bramhall
- Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 626
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 569
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 566
As the Allies raced to defeat Hitler, four men, all in the same unit, earned medal after medal for battlefield heroism. Maurice “Footsie” Britt, a former professional football player, became the very first American to receive every award for valor in a single war. Michael Daly was a West Point dropout who risked his neck over and over to keep his men alive. Keith Ware would one day become the first and only draftee in history to attain the rank of general before serving in Vietnam. In WWII, Ware owed his life to the finest soldier he ever commanded, a baby-faced Texan named Audie Murphy.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Not just a war story
- By E. J. W. on 07-20-22
By: Alex Kershaw
-
Helmet for My Pillow
- From Parris Island to the Pacific: A Young Marine's Stirring Account of Combat in World War II
- By: Robert Leckie
- Narrated by: James Badge Dale, Tom Hanks (introduction)
- Length: 10 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 6,861
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 6,161
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 6,144
The celebrated 2010 HBO miniseries The Pacific, winner of eight Emmy Awards, was based on two classic books about the War in the Pacific, Helmet for My Pillow and With The Old Breed. Audible Studios, in partnership with Playtone, the production company co-owned by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, and creator of the award-winning HBO series Band of Brothers, John Adams, and The Pacific, as well as the HBO movie Game Change, has created new recordings of these memoirs, narrated by the stars of the miniseries.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Should be required reading in high school
- By Randall on 04-03-19
By: Robert Leckie
-
Beyond Band of Brothers
- The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters
- By: Dick Winters, Cole C. Kingseed
- Narrated by: Tom Weiner
- Length: 9 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 5,839
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 4,994
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 4,979
They were called Easy Company, but their mission was never easy. Immortalized as the Band of Brothers, they suffered huge casualties while liberating Europe in an unparalleled record of bravery under fire. Dick Winters led them through the Battle of the Bulge, the attack on Foy, where Easy Company reached its breaking point, and finally into Germany, by which time each member had been wounded. Outside Munich, they liberated an S.S. death camp and captured Berchtesgaden, Hitler's alpine retreat.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
I listen to this over and over
- By David Ewing on 08-10-07
By: Dick Winters, and others
-
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
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 1,658
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1,495
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 1,483
A masterful biography of the U.S. Army in the European Theater of Operations during World War II, Citizen Soldiers provides a compelling account of the extraordinary stories of ordinary men in their fight for democracy. 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.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Required reading, excellent narration
- By Jeremy on 06-30-11
-
Rogue Heroes
- The History of the SAS, Britain's Secret Special Forces Unit That Sabotaged the Nazis and Changed the Nature of War
- By: Ben Macintyre
- Narrated by: Ben Macintyre
- Length: 13 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,280
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,977
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,972
Britain's Special Air Service - or SAS - was the brainchild of David Stirling, a young, gadabout aristocrat whose aimlessness in early life belied a remarkable strategic mind. Where most of his colleagues looked at a battlefield map of World War II's African theater and saw a protracted struggle with Rommel's desert forces, Stirling saw an opportunity: Given a small number of elite, well-trained men, he could parachute behind enemy lines and sabotage their airplanes and war matériel.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Those Who Dared, Won!
- By Matthew on 10-07-16
By: Ben Macintyre
-
Hue 1968
- A Turning Point of the American War in Vietnam
- By: Mark Bowden
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 18 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,986
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,799
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,782
By January 1968, despite an influx of half a million American troops, the fighting in Vietnam seemed to be at a stalemate. Yet General William Westmoreland, commander of American forces, announced a new phase of the war in which "the end begins to come into view". The North Vietnamese had different ideas. In mid-1967, the leadership in Hanoi had started planning an offensive intended to win the war in a single stroke.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
I KNEW This Book Would Sting Me . . . .
- By Rum Runner on 07-28-17
By: Mark Bowden
-
Against All Odds
- A True Story of Ultimate Courage and Survival in World War II
- By: Alex Kershaw
- Narrated by: Mark Bramhall
- Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 626
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 569
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 566
As the Allies raced to defeat Hitler, four men, all in the same unit, earned medal after medal for battlefield heroism. Maurice “Footsie” Britt, a former professional football player, became the very first American to receive every award for valor in a single war. Michael Daly was a West Point dropout who risked his neck over and over to keep his men alive. Keith Ware would one day become the first and only draftee in history to attain the rank of general before serving in Vietnam. In WWII, Ware owed his life to the finest soldier he ever commanded, a baby-faced Texan named Audie Murphy.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Not just a war story
- By E. J. W. on 07-20-22
By: Alex Kershaw
-
Helmet for My Pillow
- From Parris Island to the Pacific: A Young Marine's Stirring Account of Combat in World War II
- By: Robert Leckie
- Narrated by: James Badge Dale, Tom Hanks (introduction)
- Length: 10 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 6,861
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 6,161
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 6,144
The celebrated 2010 HBO miniseries The Pacific, winner of eight Emmy Awards, was based on two classic books about the War in the Pacific, Helmet for My Pillow and With The Old Breed. Audible Studios, in partnership with Playtone, the production company co-owned by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, and creator of the award-winning HBO series Band of Brothers, John Adams, and The Pacific, as well as the HBO movie Game Change, has created new recordings of these memoirs, narrated by the stars of the miniseries.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Should be required reading in high school
- By Randall on 04-03-19
By: Robert Leckie
-
Beyond Band of Brothers
- The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters
- By: Dick Winters, Cole C. Kingseed
- Narrated by: Tom Weiner
- Length: 9 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 5,839
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 4,994
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 4,979
They were called Easy Company, but their mission was never easy. Immortalized as the Band of Brothers, they suffered huge casualties while liberating Europe in an unparalleled record of bravery under fire. Dick Winters led them through the Battle of the Bulge, the attack on Foy, where Easy Company reached its breaking point, and finally into Germany, by which time each member had been wounded. Outside Munich, they liberated an S.S. death camp and captured Berchtesgaden, Hitler's alpine retreat.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
I listen to this over and over
- By David Ewing on 08-10-07
By: Dick Winters, and others
-
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
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 1,658
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1,495
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 1,483
A masterful biography of the U.S. Army in the European Theater of Operations during World War II, Citizen Soldiers provides a compelling account of the extraordinary stories of ordinary men in their fight for democracy. 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.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Required reading, excellent narration
- By Jeremy on 06-30-11
-
Rogue Heroes
- The History of the SAS, Britain's Secret Special Forces Unit That Sabotaged the Nazis and Changed the Nature of War
- By: Ben Macintyre
- Narrated by: Ben Macintyre
- Length: 13 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,280
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,977
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,972
Britain's Special Air Service - or SAS - was the brainchild of David Stirling, a young, gadabout aristocrat whose aimlessness in early life belied a remarkable strategic mind. Where most of his colleagues looked at a battlefield map of World War II's African theater and saw a protracted struggle with Rommel's desert forces, Stirling saw an opportunity: Given a small number of elite, well-trained men, he could parachute behind enemy lines and sabotage their airplanes and war matériel.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Those Who Dared, Won!
- By Matthew on 10-07-16
By: Ben Macintyre
-
Hue 1968
- A Turning Point of the American War in Vietnam
- By: Mark Bowden
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 18 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,986
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,799
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,782
By January 1968, despite an influx of half a million American troops, the fighting in Vietnam seemed to be at a stalemate. Yet General William Westmoreland, commander of American forces, announced a new phase of the war in which "the end begins to come into view". The North Vietnamese had different ideas. In mid-1967, the leadership in Hanoi had started planning an offensive intended to win the war in a single stroke.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
I KNEW This Book Would Sting Me . . . .
- By Rum Runner on 07-28-17
By: Mark Bowden
-
Enemy at the Gates
- The Battle for Stalingrad
- By: William Craig
- Narrated by: David Baker
- Length: 13 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,392
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,219
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,211
On August 5, 1942, giant pillars of dust rose over the Russian steppe, marking the advance of the 6th Army, an elite German combat unit dispatched by Hitler to capture the industrial city of Stalingrad and press on to the oil fields of Azerbaijan. The Germans were supremely confident; in three years, they had not suffered a single defeat. The Luftwaffe had already bombed the city into ruins. German soldiers hoped to complete their mission and be home in time for Christmas.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
An Unforgettable and Haunting Read
- By Jean on 02-03-16
By: William Craig
-
The Liberator
- One World War II Soldier's 500-Day Odyssey from the Beaches of Sicily to the Gates of Dachau
- By: Alex Kershaw
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders
- Length: 11 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,456
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,299
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,300
From July 10, 1943, the date of the Allied landing in Sicily, to May 8, 1945, when victory in Europe was declared - the entire time it took to liberate Europe - no regiment saw more action, and no single platoon, company, or battalion endured worse, than the ones commanded by Felix Sparks, who had entered the war as a greenhorn second lieutenant of the 157th "Eager for Duty" Infantry Regiment of the 45th "Thunderbird" Division. Sparks and his fellow Thunderbirds fought longest and hardest to defeat Hitler.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Now I Know What a Hero Really Is
- By Steven on 11-27-12
By: Alex Kershaw
-
Immortal Valor
- The Black Medal of Honor Winners of World War II
- By: Robert Child
- Narrated by: Vaughn Johseph
- Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 22
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 20
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 20
The remarkable story of the seven African American soldiers ultimately awarded the World War II Medal of Honor, and the 50-year campaign to deny them their recognition. In 1945, when Congress began reviewing the record of the most conspicuous acts of courage by American soldiers during World War II, they recommended awarding the Medal of Honor to 432 recipients. Despite the fact that more than one million African-Americans served, not a single black soldier received the Medal of Honor. The omission remained on the record for over four decades.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Long Overdue
- By Adam C. Rouse on 03-01-24
By: Robert Child
-
At First Light
- A True World War II Story of a Hero, His Bravery, and an Amazing Horse
- By: Mike Yorkey, Walt Larimore MD
- Narrated by: George Guidall
- Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 49
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 48
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 48
Landing on the Anzio beachhead in February 1944, Phil is put in charge of an Ammunition Pioneer Platoon in the 3rd Infantry Division. Their job: deliver ammunition to the frontline foxholes—a dangerous assignment involving regular forays into No Man’s Land. As Phil fights his way up the Italian boot, into Southern France and across the Rhine River into Germany, he is caught up in some of the most intense combat ever. But it’s what happens in the final stages of the war and his homecoming that makes Phil’s story incredibly special and heartwarming.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Outstanding
- By Mike on 02-01-24
By: Mike Yorkey, and others
-
Soldiers of a Different Cloth
- Notre Dame Chaplains in World War II
- By: John F. Wukovits, Fr. John I. Jenkins CSC CSC, Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh CSC
- Narrated by: Robertson Dean
- Length: 13 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 99
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 90
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 88
In Soldiers of a Different Cloth, New York Times best-selling author and military historian John Wukovits tells the inspiring story of 35 chaplains and missionaries who, while garnering little acclaim, performed extraordinary feats of courage and persistence during World War II. Ranging in age from 22 to 53, these University of Notre Dame priests and nuns were counselor, friend, parent, and older sibling to the young soldiers they served. These chaplains experienced the horrors of the Death March in the Philippines and the filthy holds of the infamous Hell Ships.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
the characters shine through
- By Paul Forrest on 11-09-18
By: John F. Wukovits, and others
-
Tears in the Darkness
- The Story of the Bataan Death March and Its Aftermath
- By: Michael Norman, Elizabeth Norman
- Narrated by: Michael Prichard
- Length: 17 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,369
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 909
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 902
For the first four months of 1942, U.S., Filipino, and Japanese soldiers fought what was America's first major land battle of World War II, the battle for the tiny Philippine peninsula of Bataan. It ended with the surrender of 76,000 Filipinos and Americans, the single largest defeat in American military history. The defeat, though, was only the beginning, as Michael and Elizabeth M. Norman make dramatically clear in this powerfully original book.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Powerful, anguishing story
- By Book and Movie Lover on 07-22-09
By: Michael Norman, and others
-
The Deserters
- A Hidden History of World War II
- By: Charles Glass
- Narrated by: Barry Press
- Length: 13 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 164
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 151
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 151
A tale that redefines the ordinary soldier in the Second World War, The Deserters is a breathtaking work of historical reportage, weaving together the lives of forgotten servicemen even as it overturns the assumptions and prejudices of an era. The Deserters reveals that ordinary soldiers viewed "desertion" as a natural part of conflict, as unexpected and inexplicable as bravery. The Deserters moves beyond the false extremes of courage and cowardice to reveal the true experience of the Allied soldier.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
war is hell
- By Stevon on 10-08-13
By: Charles Glass
-
A Foot Soldier for Patton
- The Story of a "Red Diamond" Infantryman with the US Third Army
- By: Michael C. Bilder, James Bilder
- Narrated by: Johnny Heller
- Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 134
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 125
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 126
A rarely frank account of the US infantry experience in northern Europe, A Foot Soldier for Patton takes the listener from the beaches of Normandy through the giddy drive across France to the brutal battles on the Westwall, in the Ardennes, and finally to the conquest of Germany itself. Patton's army is best known for dashing armored attacks; its commander combining the firepower of tanks with their historic lineage as cavalry. But when the Germans stood firm, the greatest fighting was done by Patton's long undersung infantry.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Wonderful book
- By Dr. Z on 09-16-21
By: Michael C. Bilder, and others
-
All the Way to Berlin
- A Paratrooper at War in Europe
- By: James Megellas
- Narrated by: Richard M. Davidson
- Length: 2 hrs and 34 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 67
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 51
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 50
In mid-1943 James Megellas, known as "Maggie" to his fellow paratroopers, joined the 82nd Airborne Division, his new "home" for the duration. His first taste of combat was in the rugged mountains outside Naples.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Incredible book - narrator was terrible
- By joseph metz on 01-06-22
By: James Megellas
-
Honor Before Glory
- The Epic World War II Story of the Japanese American GIs Who Rescued the Lost Battalion
- By: Scott McGaugh
- Narrated by: Traber Burns
- Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 286
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 262
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 262
On October 24, 1944, more than 200 American soldiers were surrounded by German infantry deep in the Vosges Mountains of Eastern France. When their food, ammunition, and medical supplies ran out, the area's army headquarters turned to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, a segregated unit of Japanese American soldiers, to achieve what other units had failed to do: rescue the "lost battalion".
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Sincere gratitude for the honor, courage and integrity of all of the Japanese/American soldiers who served in WW2
- By Michael on 12-30-20
By: Scott McGaugh
-
Sacrifice on the Steppe
- The Italian Alpine Corps in the Stalingrad Campaign, 1942-1943
- By: Hope Hamilton
- Narrated by: James Langton
- Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 38
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 34
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 34
When Germany’s Sixth Army advanced to Stalingrad in 1942, its long-extended flanks were mainly held by its allied armies - the Romanians, Hungarians, and Italians. But as history tells us, these flanks quickly caved in before the massive Soviet counter-offensive which commenced that November, dooming the Germans to their first catastrophe of the war. However, the historical record also makes clear that one allied unit held out to the very end, fighting to stem the tide - the Italian Alpine Corps.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Tens of thousands of my countrymen dead.
- By Meliannos on 06-03-15
By: Hope Hamilton
-
Those Who Hold Bastogne
- The True Story of the Soldiers and Civilians Who Fought in the Biggest Battle of the Bulge
- By: Peter Schrijvers
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 107
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 97
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 96
In this dramatic account of the 1944-45 winter of war in Bastogne, historian Peter Schrijvers offers the first full story of the German assault on the strategically located town. From the December stampede of American and Panzer divisions racing to reach Bastogne first, through the bloody eight-day siege from land and air, and through three more weeks of unrelenting fighting even after the siege was broken, events at Bastogne hastened the long-awaited end of WWII.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
How Did Anyone Survive?
- By Sher from Provo on 09-26-15
By: Peter Schrijvers
Publisher's summary
For the soldier on the front lines of World War II, a lifetime of terror and suffering could be crammed into a few horrific hours of combat. This was especially true for members of the 99th Infantry Division who repelled the Germans in the Battle of the Bulge and engaged in some of the most dramatic, hard-fought actions of the war.
Once Upon a Time in War presents a stirring view of combat from the perspective of the common soldier. Author Robert E. Humphrey personally retraced the path of the 99th through Belgium and Germany and conducted extensive interviews with more than 300 surviving veterans.
When Humphrey discovered that many 99ers had gone to their graves without telling their stories, he set about to honor their service and coax recollections from survivors. The memories recounted here, many of them painful and long repressed, are remarkable for their clarity. These narratives, seamlessly woven to create a collective biography, offer a gritty reenactment of World War II from the enlisted man's point of view.
Although focused on a single division, Once Upon a Time in War captures the experiences of all American GIs who fought in Europe. For listeners captivated by Band of Brothers, this book offers an often tragic, sometimes heartwarming, but always compelling listen.
The book is published by University of Oklahoma Press.
Critic reviews
More from the same
Related to this topic
-
The Deserters
- A Hidden History of World War II
- By: Charles Glass
- Narrated by: Barry Press
- Length: 13 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 164
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 151
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 151
A tale that redefines the ordinary soldier in the Second World War, The Deserters is a breathtaking work of historical reportage, weaving together the lives of forgotten servicemen even as it overturns the assumptions and prejudices of an era. The Deserters reveals that ordinary soldiers viewed "desertion" as a natural part of conflict, as unexpected and inexplicable as bravery. The Deserters moves beyond the false extremes of courage and cowardice to reveal the true experience of the Allied soldier.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
war is hell
- By Stevon on 10-08-13
By: Charles Glass
-
A Foot Soldier for Patton
- The Story of a "Red Diamond" Infantryman with the US Third Army
- By: Michael C. Bilder, James Bilder
- Narrated by: Johnny Heller
- Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 134
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 125
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 126
A rarely frank account of the US infantry experience in northern Europe, A Foot Soldier for Patton takes the listener from the beaches of Normandy through the giddy drive across France to the brutal battles on the Westwall, in the Ardennes, and finally to the conquest of Germany itself. Patton's army is best known for dashing armored attacks; its commander combining the firepower of tanks with their historic lineage as cavalry. But when the Germans stood firm, the greatest fighting was done by Patton's long undersung infantry.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Wonderful book
- By Dr. Z on 09-16-21
By: Michael C. Bilder, and others
-
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
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 1,658
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1,495
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 1,483
A masterful biography of the U.S. Army in the European Theater of Operations during World War II, Citizen Soldiers provides a compelling account of the extraordinary stories of ordinary men in their fight for democracy. 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.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Required reading, excellent narration
- By Jeremy on 06-30-11
-
The Liberator
- One World War II Soldier's 500-Day Odyssey from the Beaches of Sicily to the Gates of Dachau
- By: Alex Kershaw
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders
- Length: 11 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,456
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,299
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,300
From July 10, 1943, the date of the Allied landing in Sicily, to May 8, 1945, when victory in Europe was declared - the entire time it took to liberate Europe - no regiment saw more action, and no single platoon, company, or battalion endured worse, than the ones commanded by Felix Sparks, who had entered the war as a greenhorn second lieutenant of the 157th "Eager for Duty" Infantry Regiment of the 45th "Thunderbird" Division. Sparks and his fellow Thunderbirds fought longest and hardest to defeat Hitler.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Now I Know What a Hero Really Is
- By Steven on 11-27-12
By: Alex Kershaw
-
All the Way to Berlin
- A Paratrooper at War in Europe
- By: James Megellas
- Narrated by: Richard M. Davidson
- Length: 2 hrs and 34 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 67
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 51
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 50
In mid-1943 James Megellas, known as "Maggie" to his fellow paratroopers, joined the 82nd Airborne Division, his new "home" for the duration. His first taste of combat was in the rugged mountains outside Naples.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Incredible book - narrator was terrible
- By joseph metz on 01-06-22
By: James Megellas
-
Tank Rider
- Into the Reich with the Red Army
- By: Evgeni Bessonov, Bair Irincheev - translator
- Narrated by: P.J. Ochlan
- Length: 9 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 95
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 87
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 88
Tank Rider is the riveting memoir of Evgeni Bessonov telling of his years of service at the vanguard of the Red Army and daily encounters with the German foe. He brings large-scale battles to life, recounts the sniping and skirmishing that tried and tested soldiers on both sides, and narrates the overwhelming tragedy and horror of apocalyptic warfare on the Eastern Front. So much of the Soviet experience of World War II remains untold, but this memoir provides an important glimpse into some of the most decisive moments of this overlooked history.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Wish more about the Soviet POV was written.
- By brian on 10-07-18
By: Evgeni Bessonov, and others
-
The Deserters
- A Hidden History of World War II
- By: Charles Glass
- Narrated by: Barry Press
- Length: 13 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 164
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 151
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 151
A tale that redefines the ordinary soldier in the Second World War, The Deserters is a breathtaking work of historical reportage, weaving together the lives of forgotten servicemen even as it overturns the assumptions and prejudices of an era. The Deserters reveals that ordinary soldiers viewed "desertion" as a natural part of conflict, as unexpected and inexplicable as bravery. The Deserters moves beyond the false extremes of courage and cowardice to reveal the true experience of the Allied soldier.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
war is hell
- By Stevon on 10-08-13
By: Charles Glass
-
A Foot Soldier for Patton
- The Story of a "Red Diamond" Infantryman with the US Third Army
- By: Michael C. Bilder, James Bilder
- Narrated by: Johnny Heller
- Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 134
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 125
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 126
A rarely frank account of the US infantry experience in northern Europe, A Foot Soldier for Patton takes the listener from the beaches of Normandy through the giddy drive across France to the brutal battles on the Westwall, in the Ardennes, and finally to the conquest of Germany itself. Patton's army is best known for dashing armored attacks; its commander combining the firepower of tanks with their historic lineage as cavalry. But when the Germans stood firm, the greatest fighting was done by Patton's long undersung infantry.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Wonderful book
- By Dr. Z on 09-16-21
By: Michael C. Bilder, and others
-
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
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 1,658
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1,495
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 1,483
A masterful biography of the U.S. Army in the European Theater of Operations during World War II, Citizen Soldiers provides a compelling account of the extraordinary stories of ordinary men in their fight for democracy. 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.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Required reading, excellent narration
- By Jeremy on 06-30-11
-
The Liberator
- One World War II Soldier's 500-Day Odyssey from the Beaches of Sicily to the Gates of Dachau
- By: Alex Kershaw
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders
- Length: 11 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,456
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,299
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,300
From July 10, 1943, the date of the Allied landing in Sicily, to May 8, 1945, when victory in Europe was declared - the entire time it took to liberate Europe - no regiment saw more action, and no single platoon, company, or battalion endured worse, than the ones commanded by Felix Sparks, who had entered the war as a greenhorn second lieutenant of the 157th "Eager for Duty" Infantry Regiment of the 45th "Thunderbird" Division. Sparks and his fellow Thunderbirds fought longest and hardest to defeat Hitler.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Now I Know What a Hero Really Is
- By Steven on 11-27-12
By: Alex Kershaw
-
All the Way to Berlin
- A Paratrooper at War in Europe
- By: James Megellas
- Narrated by: Richard M. Davidson
- Length: 2 hrs and 34 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 67
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 51
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 50
In mid-1943 James Megellas, known as "Maggie" to his fellow paratroopers, joined the 82nd Airborne Division, his new "home" for the duration. His first taste of combat was in the rugged mountains outside Naples.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Incredible book - narrator was terrible
- By joseph metz on 01-06-22
By: James Megellas
-
Tank Rider
- Into the Reich with the Red Army
- By: Evgeni Bessonov, Bair Irincheev - translator
- Narrated by: P.J. Ochlan
- Length: 9 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 95
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 87
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 88
Tank Rider is the riveting memoir of Evgeni Bessonov telling of his years of service at the vanguard of the Red Army and daily encounters with the German foe. He brings large-scale battles to life, recounts the sniping and skirmishing that tried and tested soldiers on both sides, and narrates the overwhelming tragedy and horror of apocalyptic warfare on the Eastern Front. So much of the Soviet experience of World War II remains untold, but this memoir provides an important glimpse into some of the most decisive moments of this overlooked history.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Wish more about the Soviet POV was written.
- By brian on 10-07-18
By: Evgeni Bessonov, and others
-
Honor Before Glory
- The Epic World War II Story of the Japanese American GIs Who Rescued the Lost Battalion
- By: Scott McGaugh
- Narrated by: Traber Burns
- Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 286
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 262
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 262
On October 24, 1944, more than 200 American soldiers were surrounded by German infantry deep in the Vosges Mountains of Eastern France. When their food, ammunition, and medical supplies ran out, the area's army headquarters turned to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, a segregated unit of Japanese American soldiers, to achieve what other units had failed to do: rescue the "lost battalion".
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Sincere gratitude for the honor, courage and integrity of all of the Japanese/American soldiers who served in WW2
- By Michael on 12-30-20
By: Scott McGaugh
-
Sacrifice on the Steppe
- The Italian Alpine Corps in the Stalingrad Campaign, 1942-1943
- By: Hope Hamilton
- Narrated by: James Langton
- Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 38
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 34
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 34
When Germany’s Sixth Army advanced to Stalingrad in 1942, its long-extended flanks were mainly held by its allied armies - the Romanians, Hungarians, and Italians. But as history tells us, these flanks quickly caved in before the massive Soviet counter-offensive which commenced that November, dooming the Germans to their first catastrophe of the war. However, the historical record also makes clear that one allied unit held out to the very end, fighting to stem the tide - the Italian Alpine Corps.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Tens of thousands of my countrymen dead.
- By Meliannos on 06-03-15
By: Hope Hamilton
-
Those Who Hold Bastogne
- The True Story of the Soldiers and Civilians Who Fought in the Biggest Battle of the Bulge
- By: Peter Schrijvers
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 107
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 97
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 96
In this dramatic account of the 1944-45 winter of war in Bastogne, historian Peter Schrijvers offers the first full story of the German assault on the strategically located town. From the December stampede of American and Panzer divisions racing to reach Bastogne first, through the bloody eight-day siege from land and air, and through three more weeks of unrelenting fighting even after the siege was broken, events at Bastogne hastened the long-awaited end of WWII.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
How Did Anyone Survive?
- By Sher from Provo on 09-26-15
By: Peter Schrijvers
-
If You Survive
- From Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge to the End of World War II - One American Officer's Riveting True Story
- By: George Wilson
- Narrated by: Brian Keeler
- Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 679
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 618
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 618
George Wilson has garnered much acclaim for this shattering and enlightening memoir. Detailing his odyssey from July, 1944 until the following summer, If You Survive is a startling first-person account of the final year of World War II. Wilson was the only man from his original company to finish the war. As a Second Lieutenant, he went ashore at Utah Beach after the D-Day invasion amidst burned vehicles, sunken landing craft, and broken fortifications.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
the best story of the war in Europe I've read
- By David on 02-18-17
By: George Wilson
-
Enemy at the Gates
- The Battle for Stalingrad
- By: William Craig
- Narrated by: David Baker
- Length: 13 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,392
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,219
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,211
On August 5, 1942, giant pillars of dust rose over the Russian steppe, marking the advance of the 6th Army, an elite German combat unit dispatched by Hitler to capture the industrial city of Stalingrad and press on to the oil fields of Azerbaijan. The Germans were supremely confident; in three years, they had not suffered a single defeat. The Luftwaffe had already bombed the city into ruins. German soldiers hoped to complete their mission and be home in time for Christmas.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
An Unforgettable and Haunting Read
- By Jean on 02-03-16
By: William Craig
-
Fighting With the Filthy Thirteen
- The World War II Story of Jack Womer - Ranger and Paratrooper
- By: Jack Womer, Stephen Devito
- Narrated by: John Allen Nelson
- Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 78
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 76
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 76
In this long awaited work one of the squad’s integral members - and probably its best soldier - reveals his own inside account of fighting as a spearhead of the Screaming Eagles in Normandy, Market Garden, and the Battle of the Bulge.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Interesting listen
- By Nick on 11-27-14
By: Jack Womer, and others
-
Beyond Band of Brothers
- The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters
- By: Dick Winters, Cole C. Kingseed
- Narrated by: Tom Weiner
- Length: 9 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 5,839
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 4,994
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 4,979
They were called Easy Company, but their mission was never easy. Immortalized as the Band of Brothers, they suffered huge casualties while liberating Europe in an unparalleled record of bravery under fire. Dick Winters led them through the Battle of the Bulge, the attack on Foy, where Easy Company reached its breaking point, and finally into Germany, by which time each member had been wounded. Outside Munich, they liberated an S.S. death camp and captured Berchtesgaden, Hitler's alpine retreat.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
I listen to this over and over
- By David Ewing on 08-10-07
By: Dick Winters, and others
-
11 Days in December
- Christmas at the Bulge, 1944
- By: Stanley Weintraub
- Narrated by: Patrick Cullen
- Length: 5 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 145
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 106
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 104
11 Days in December tells the unforgettable story of one of the grimmest points of World War II and its Christmas Eve turn toward victory. In December 1944, the Allied forces thought their campaign for securing Europe was in its final stages. But Germany had one last great surprise attack still planned, leading to some of the most intense fighting in World War II: the Battle of the Bulge.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
c-
- By Nikki on 05-11-07
-
I Will Hold
- The Story of USMC Legend Clifton B. Cates from Belleau Wood to Victory in the Great War
- By: James Carl Nelson
- Narrated by: Sean Pratt
- Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 135
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 128
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 125
The incredible true story of Clifton B. "Lucky" Cates, whose service in World War I and beyond made him a legend in the annals of the Marine Corps. Cates knew that he and his small band of marines were in a desperate spot. Before handing the note over to a runner, he added three words that would resound through Marine Corps history: I WILL HOLD.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
I Cannot Hold!
- By Matthew on 10-22-16
-
Hue 1968
- A Turning Point of the American War in Vietnam
- By: Mark Bowden
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 18 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,986
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,799
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,782
By January 1968, despite an influx of half a million American troops, the fighting in Vietnam seemed to be at a stalemate. Yet General William Westmoreland, commander of American forces, announced a new phase of the war in which "the end begins to come into view". The North Vietnamese had different ideas. In mid-1967, the leadership in Hanoi had started planning an offensive intended to win the war in a single stroke.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
I KNEW This Book Would Sting Me . . . .
- By Rum Runner on 07-28-17
By: Mark Bowden
-
Undefeated
- America's Heroic Fight for Bataan and Corregidor
- By: Bill Sloan
- Narrated by: Michael Prichard
- Length: 13 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 78
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 68
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 68
Abandoned by their government, the men and women of the American garrison struggled against impossible military odds, rampant disease, and slow starvation to delay inevitable surrender by the largest American military force ever. Rather than picturing these defenders as little more than helpless victims of an overwhelmingly powerful and sadistic enemy-as most previous books about the Philippines campaign have done- Undefeated credits American troops with the unexcelled heroism and indomitable spirit they displayed under the worst imaginable conditions.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Mesmerizing
- By Amazon Customer on 03-30-17
By: Bill Sloan
-
Voices of the Foreign Legion
- The History of the World's Most Famous Fighting Corps
- By: Adrian D. Gilbert
- Narrated by: Eric Brooks
- Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 72
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 70
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 71
The French Foreign Legion has established a reputation as the most formidable of military forces. Created as a means of protecting French interests abroad, the legion spearheaded French colonialism in North Africa during the nineteenth century. Accepting volunteers from all parts of the world, the legion acquired an aura of mystery—and a less than enviable reputation for brutality within its ranks.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
A good, if not amazing listen
- By Shaun on 03-06-13
What listeners say about Once Upon a Time in War
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance2 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- PCB
- 07-25-17
Narrator???
What made the experience of listening to Once Upon a Time in War the most enjoyable?
It was hard to enjoy this book because of the narrator. I'm reluctant to criticize someone who apparently does this for a living, but Mr. Graham's delivery was like a phrase-by-phrase staccato in many places and he seemed to ignore breaks between sentences. I felt like I was was being rushed through the book to the point where it was hard to follow what went on.
What did you like best about this story?
The soldiers who fought in this war and in this battle were brave men, and their courage is demonstrated in the narrative.
How did the narrator detract from the book?
See above.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall2 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Clint Russell
- 08-12-17
Important story; amatuer narration.
This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?
Social or local historians; perhaps family members of former 99th veterans.
What didn’t you like about Frank Graham’s performance?
His cadence was up and down constantly; not smooth. Consistently mispronounced military words, such as "corps", pronouncing it "corpse", like a dead body.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!