To Conquer Hell has ratings and 19 reviews. and previously untold story of the bloodiest battle in American history: the epic fight for the Meuse-Argonne in World War I .. First, it is the definitive account of the battle in the Meuse-Argonne . . Ed makes no attempt to glorify this war that should have ended all wars.
Table of contents
This is amplified by the paucity of maps--and those included are of such poor quality as to be nearly useless. He thought failure of will was at fault for his green Divisions' inability to break well-placed German machi A ok book, but it could have been far better. He thought failure of will was at fault for his green Divisions' inability to break well-placed German machine gum Maxim nests with interlocking fields of fire.
The untried Colonels and Lieutenant Colonels were little better--if regulars, their last combat experience typically was San Juan Hill; if National Guard, their last combat experience was the stylized drama of representing clients in a Courtroom. Interestingly, the author of the attack's logistical plan was Colonel George C. There were some brave and competent field and company grade officers who led from the front; many of them got shot in the front.
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To be fair, having been handed weapons at best two weeks before battle, little or no training as opposed to parading was possible. Also, officers were given senseless orders to "attack at all costs" without knowlege of local terrain or resistance. And their arrival changed the balance of numbers on the Western Front, decisively. But at a frightening cost, as a Sargent of the Missouri-Kansas Division recounted: They'd lost the soldier's bullet-proof ego, the feeling that "others may get hit, bit I never.
Not even the clowns were wisecracking any more. Truman, American Artillery was thoroughly outclassed by the Pickelhaubes. Having the advantage of defense, the Germans had registered many points along lines of the US attack--to deadly effect from moment of any attack: A few minutes after the attack started, half of them were dead or wounded.
To Conquer Hell: The Meuse-Argonne, 1918
As the last remaining officer, he took command of the company. The next highest-ranking soldier was a corporal. Jul 03, Tony rated it really liked it Shelves: Definitely worth wading through the plus pages. Detailed account of America's main battle on the western front. I thought it lacked some historical context and didn't make much reference to what had been going on for the previous three years before the Americans turned up, but that would easily have added another pages.
One bit in particular stands out: No the Definitely worth wading through the plus pages. No they say, they're just looking for food. He says he's a coward and is too scared to go out there any more. That's OK they replied, we understand, good luck. Dec 08, Joseph rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: This book is really important to me. First, it is the definitive account of the battle in the Meuse-Argonne. Second, and more importantly, my dad's oldest brother, Raymonde was killed in this fight. There is a reference to the rd being at St.
The 86th had hoped to go into action as an integral unit. However, that was not to be and the 86th was essentiall This book is really important to me. However, that was not to be and the 86th was essentially used as a manpower pool to fill other divisions which had suffered combat losses. The 78th was to have been guided into battle lines by soldiers of the 77th Div which was already in the fight. But almost all of the 77th guides failed to carry out this assignment due to fog and rain on the night of the 15th.
There were other complicating factors and the 78th probably should not have been ordered in, but the order to attack was not rescinded.
To Conquer Hell by G, Lengel- Edward
Lengel recounts what followed: Juvin, they advanced across the open ground below the Bois des Logs and Champigneulle. They moved forward in short rushes, and as men fell to long-range machine-gun fire and artillery fire, their neighbors moved over to fill the gaps. The enemy fire increased as the infantry approached their objectives, obscuring the lines with the smoke and debris of exploding shells for minutes at a time as the troops retreated down slope out of the clouds, then rallied by their officers, turned and rushed back in.
This went on for much of the day, until the attack stalled, on a line parallel with Hill , north of St. So yeah, that's why this book means a lot to me. Some have criticized this book as being too detailed and as being too heavily weighted to eye witness accounts. For me, that is the book's strength. If you want to know what it was like for the 'grunts' in WW I, this is your book. Feb 02, Matthew Collins rated it it was amazing. It presents personal accounts of soldiers, from generals to privates, which highlighted the disconnect Army leadership had from the actual conditions on the front.
Like another reviewer noted, more maps would have been useful. Otherwise, a great book. Mar 19, Burton Yale Yale rated it it was amazing. Excruciatingly researched, well-written and carefully focused. Must reading for an understanding of America's role in WWI -- and how America's contribution was essential to the defeat of Germany. Jan 13, Roger Myles rated it really liked it. Easy to read, good historical description.
More maps would have aided the readers understanding. Not a lot of literary references to this particular WW1 battle, even in later day history volumes.
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This is possibly the result of the duration of the battle which is dwarfed by the activities of the previous 4 years and the preponderance of French and English literature covering WW1. This also may explain why it is not specifically remembered by Americans. The unforgettable fact emerging from this pie Easy to read, good historical description. The unforgettable fact emerging from this piece of history is the casualty rate. It was again very high, but seemingly acceptable at the time by WW1 standards.
Unfortunately history tells us that, despite the time, the casualty rate was unnecessary, and was the result of inexperience and hubris on the part of the US Army leadership particularly Pershing and his generals. They did not listen to and learn from the English and French and their experiences garnered from 4 years of war. The tactics adopted by the US Army matched those of the French in , with similar disastrous results. Mar 28, David rated it really liked it. Authoritative, vividly drawn, and packed with arresting anecdotes and new material, To Conquer Hell is destined to be a classic.
I cannot recommend it highly enough. Lengel is an associate professor of history at the University of Virginia. He is the author of several books on military history, including General George Washington: A recipient, with the Papers of George Washington documentary editing project, of the National Humanities Medal, he has made frequent appearances on television documentaries and was a finalist for the George Washington Book Prize.
Would you like to tell us about a lower price? If you are a seller for this product, would you like to suggest updates through seller support? Learn more about Amazon Prime. The authoritative, dramatic, and previously untold story of the bloodiest battle in American history On September 26, , more than one million American soldiers prepared to assault the German-held Meuse-Argonne region of France. Read more Read less. Add both to Cart Add both to List. One of these items ships sooner than the other. Buy the selected items together This item: Ships from and sold by Amazon.
Customers who bought this item also bought. Page 1 of 1 Start over Page 1 of 1. A Memoir of World War I. Meuse-Argonne, Modern War Studies. Never in Finer Company: The Last of the Doughboys: Holt Paperbacks; First edition January 6, Language: Related Video Shorts 0 Upload your video. Try the Kindle edition and experience these great reading features: Share your thoughts with other customers. Write a customer review. Read reviews that mention world war sgt york american generals took place united states back and forth conquer hell general pershing meuse-argonne offensive western front american army civil war hand accounts military history excellent book good job edward lengel well written soldiers who fought reading the book.
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later. Kindle Edition Verified Purchase. My grandfather fought in this battle and I was thrilled to find a book about the battle. I am grateful to the author for pulling together and focusing a large amount of primary material into a concentrated lens on just the American military role in the final months of the war.
You get something close to a skirmish by skirmish account of the battle, but the book transcends a mere timeline and powerfully conveys both the astounding feats of several individual heroes as well as the tragically unnecessary sacrifice of thousands of young men due to the failure of the leaders to grasp the strategic lessons the French and British had already painfully absorbed. Ironically, I learned that my grandfather's regiment and division were not apparently very good at warfare and for that reason were kept back from the front lines after a few unsuccessful days of combat.
It left me to wonder, given the sacrifice of so many others who were apparently deemed more effective, if that ineptitude is one of the reasons he came back in one piece and I am alive today! This was a fairly good military history and analysis of much more detail about the Meuse Argonne Offensive than I've found any place else. Among other things, it details the horrible mismanagement of operations by Pershing It lacks, however, a better tie in with contemporary events on the whole front, adequate mapping and illustration though the author's careful descriptions do help a lot..
Also, I was disappointed in his treatment of the black regiments. The text implies that he found his sources too prejudiced to give him any reliable data. He also did not really discuss the actual impact of the offensive on the Germans. Hindenburg actually said that it chewed up divisions of Germans as rapidly as it did Americans, and its impact was even more decisive that the great British advance. It was has all wars paid for at a high price.
My grandfather was haunted by the war until his death in He never spoke of the war, but at times when he had a few drinks it was like he was fighting the Germans again. Granddaddy was a tough man but how horrible was the war that it lurked in his memory waiting to come out. This book provides a vivid description of the conditions we faced in WW1. No other work has the detail to the extent that the reader can feel the emotions of our soldiers.
It also provides an insight into the leadership of that war-the decisions, the mistakes, the horror, the bravery, the politics of war itself. After reading this book, I now know why my Father never spoke of his Meuse-Argonne experience. The Meuse-Argonne by Edward G. Lengel and Ed Lengel , Hardcover. Their commander, General John J.
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