Wijers' Bulge books now in Stackpole !

Hans Wijers is a noted authority on the Northern area of the Ardennes Offensive and a few years ago self-published a series of highly-regarded books on the subject. These were/are frustratingly difficult to locate (being mainly available in very small print-runs through Wijers' own website).

Serious Bulge students can now rejoice - Stackpole have condensed four of the books into two paperback volumes ('Battle Of The Bulge Vol 1 : The Losheim Gap/Holding The Line' and 'Battle Of The Bulge Vol 2 : Hell At Butgenbach / Seize The Bridges' ).

These seem to be pretty much straight reprints in a smaller format and even include many of the original photos (including Wijers' useful 'Now' location shots ).

The books focus on the activities of 1st SS Panzer Division ( including KG Peiper ) and the US units which faced them. Much use is made of first-hand accounts from both sides.

Stackpole , as ever , are to be applauded for making scarce research readily available. I have two criticisms - photo reproducton is poor (maybe inevitable in this format ) but - much worse - all German ranks have been 'translated' into their US equivalents. Maybe this has been done for the US market but it makes for a confusing read

But that's a niggle.These books maybe aren't for the Bulge 'beginner' but there's some really serious reading here for the enthusiast - and Amazon will happily sell them to you !

Highly recommended.

 

Im greatful to hear about this. Wijers did one hell of a great job in his works on the BoB. I remember he had one hell of a great website. Its been several years since I last had time to think of visiting it. I wish he would do a similar thing about the Battle of Stalingrad.

 

I have vol. I and must purchase vol. II soon. I agree with your last point, in that Wijers provides very brief background information to set the stage, so to speak, but instead delves right into small unit actions. In other words he assumes substantial prior knowledge from his readers. As a seasoned reader, I was jolted at first, so I can imagine how difficult the read would be for a beginner.

Another recent Stackpole addition (2007) is Colossal Cracks: Montgomery's 21st Army Group in Northwest Europe, 1944-45 by Stephen Ashley Hart. This book was only previously available in hardback by Greenwood Press and was quite expensive at about $100 USD.

Greg C.

 

Over the past few weeks, I've read right through both books. They will now have a permanent place on my 'Bulge' bookshelf.

As mentioned and confirmed above, they're in no way for the 'Bulge beginner'. Having said that, I found that many gaps in my knowledge were filled. Criticisms : really, these are four separate books 'stitched together' and some editing would have been good ie the same accounts appear sometimes giving the reader a distinct 'deja vu' feeling. The pace of the first 3 books is rather slow, but really this reflects the fighting in such places as Elsenborn, Dom Butgenbach etc - a hard slog.

As ever, the pace picks up quickly once the actions of KG Peiper are being described in book 4. Valuable first-hand accounts from both sides, and detailed descriptions of the various actions in such places as Ligneuville, Stavelot and Stoumont. Dramatic reading. Wijers restricts himself to the best-known conclusions about the massacre at Baugnez and refrains from passing any judgement.

Recommendation stands....

 

Picked up my copies yesterday -

- am trying to research my Dad's experiences during the Battle (Co. F - 394th Inf. Reg. - 99th Div) - but, needless to say, things were SO confused during the opening stages of the battle, all he recollects is confusion, shellbursts in the trees, glimpses of German tanks and infantry, occasional violent exchanges of fire, and stumbling through the snow to Elsenborn.

Quite frankly, he didn't even know where he was at the time (as he so succinctly puts it '...privates weren't issued maps - just orders!') or how he got to the relative safety of Elsenborn. I'm looking forward to reading these to try and shed a little light for BOTH of us!

Thanks for the heads-up, Martin.

-whatever

-Lou

 

Look forward to acquiring them.

As for the photo reproduction quality, I believe it is inevitable, Stackpole's reprinting of Tigers In Combat I & II also had, IMHO, poor quality photos - compared to the original TIC I & II.

 

Martin any info about Han's Stalingrad books going into main steam print ??

 

Hi Paul, I have not heard anything on that myself but, if you do not know about Jason Mark yet? this guy has several great books out that is only about Stalingrad. All are expensive but well worth it. I bought his: Island of Fire-and only could find a paperback copy-still cost me near $100 to get it. Anyway, most of this book was about the Pioneer Battalions and their special missions within Stalingrad. Also, I dont know if you know anything about that famous photo of a German Infantry Captain? which is the one where you see him wearing his Silver IAB-and part of it is broken off-and shows him with that 1,000 yard stare. Well, Jason Mark found out who this Captain was and has several more photos of him in the book. Sadly, I thinik he "dissappeared" during the BAttle for Stalingrad-or shortly afterwards.

Anyway, other great Jason MArk titles are: Death of the Leaping Horsemen (which is the 24th Panzer Division) Angriss, An Infantryman At Stalingrad and a couple of others. Jason MArk is an Australian Author and I have been in touch with him a few times. He and another guy co-wrote a book that just came out which is about a reinforced Croation Infantry Regiment on the Eastern Front. I plan to get that book when I can afford it.

Marks site I THINK is: www.leapinghorsemen.com.au I THINK I might have posted about this in the Eastern Front books thread I started.

Take care MAte--C.