The timing for this book is spot on as we approach the D-Day 75th year anniversary but more importantly this fast-paced biography of Rommel by Samuel Mitcham Jr. is a closer look at the man himself, surrounded by the forces of – if I may take liberty with Jungian archetypes – good and evil and incredibly his inner self remained the same man until his tragic end. Mitcham makes no apology about this account of Rommel as human and a professional soldier in spite of his fighting on the wrong side of history. This is great and the book covers very nicely early life and education and his WWI service and also detailed sections of the North Africa campaign. A lot of information made easy to read and enjoy.

Rommel did not seem to be a boy born to be a great military leader but sometimes the aptitude exists, it only needs the right encouragement. The boy who was sickly and lacked interest in sports or even academics – his father was a teacher – got his call by fate after a teacher made a cruel but accurate comment about his lack of academic skill. His transformation came about during adolescence whereby young Erwin endeavored to become not only quite the outdoors man – he would eventually become more athletic. Rommel, in spite of the fact that he had not been a great student, was a natural instructor and taught from his combat experiences and was very much liked by his students.

He also encouraged his officers to go on hunts with him to learn terrain analysis. The great lull between the wars did not offer Rommel with a lot of promotion opportunities – in spite of the fact that after the great war he was one of only thousands of officers left in service – until Hitler’s invasion of Poland in 1939. Rommel distinguished himself in the first world war and the middle years between conflicts would prove to be the honing grounds for his greatness as field marshal. He had served 21 years by that time and was a Major when he and Hitler first met in 1933.

Rommel had been assigned command of a mountain unit in Goslar, the 3rd battalion of the 17th Infantry Regiment. His time in this remote outpost Hitler was inspecting troops during his visit and Rommel’s battalion was scheduled to parade before the chancellor but Rommel refused to do so after finding out from a junior SS goon that a line of SS troops would line up in front of Hitler as to protect from an attack. Rommel being Rommel demanded the insult to his troops be taken back ended up taking his demand to Hitler’s uber goons Goebbels and Himmler. Both men amazingly agreed with him and apologized and the parade was back on. While Rommel detected Himmler was not a guy he wanted to befriend, Goebbels cranked up his efforts to befriend Rommel, whom he probably saw as having potential. Rommel found Goebbel’s public persona agreeable enough. Their friendship would come crashing in a ball of fire about the time Rommel discovered he, Himmler and other Nazi cronies and Hitler himself were hell-bent on throwing every German soldier at the Allies only to hold on to power a little longer and to win without honor.

While Rommel began his career in the infantry after he witnessed the genius of Heinz Guderian’s Blitzkrieg in Poland he was hooked. He broke some serious protocol by asking Hitler to make him a Panzer division commander – earning even more enemies within the officer ranks – but Hitler gave it to him. The Fuhrer was still a seemingly reasonable, friendly boss. Rommel would not see his true personality until well into 1941-1942. Goebbels and his propaganda capitalized on Rommel’s excellent reputation among his troops and his adversaries spoke in even better terms than his German superiors and therefore a fantastic PR tool even if Rommel wasn’t that impressed with the publicity.

Rommel was so popular he received at least 100 letters per day from women all over Germany, many young immodest women. While he protested many times after seeing his picture plastered on the cover of magazines or newspapers – in particular the propaganda rag Illustrierter Beobachter (Illustrated Observer) or as the author explains, Germany’s version of Time Magazine. Hands down, Rommel was good at public relations and it didn’t hurt that the propaganda machine back home was cranking out excellent promotions of his exploits. During one of their meetings at Fuhrer HQ, Rommel addressed the PR nightmare of how Jews were being treated. This did not set well with Hitler. He figured Rommel was with the program. Questions like this further set the stage for his demise. He was also not impressed with the acts of thuggery by the SS and Gestapo but was far removed in the fields of combat to have a greater appreciation for the atrocities committed by the Nazis.

Rommel is portrayed as a talented, professional, and sometimes vulnerable officer who enjoyed the art of combat. He was also a devoted family man with two books published and an unburnished public image. Surely to the average German citizen he was one of the country’s greatest heroes but his public life never reflected the realities of the political environment at Fuhrer HQ. Was he too naïve to realize his country was led by an evil despot? While Rommel never did care much for some of the Nazi propaganda, he like many weary Germans had their reservations about their situation following the Treaty of Versailles. The treaty was really harsh on Germans, affecting their economy and in particular the industrial sector and eventually lead into the Second World War.

This is something Rommel would keep track of during the war since he keenly identified the rate of industrial production of military armaments between the American and the British put Germany at a terrible disadvantage. Hitler had lied to him more than once promising more fuel, tanks, and heavy artillery in North Africa, to his face. Working with the Italians was also no picnic since the Germans had to frequently take the lead because of poor leadership and low troop morale. But the Italians also brought two additional caveats; they were infiltrated by the British intelligence and were feeding them plenty of information on Rommel’s plans and second the Brits also had cracked Ultra and captured coded messages, giving them a greater advantage. Regardless, Rommel’s reputation still proved intimidating to the Allies and even Marshal Montgomery – who took over operations in North Africa after Lt-Gen William Gott was killed.

Even Monty gave chase to the Desert Fox with caution and restraint, not going for a major direct attack. Rommel would have given anything to have had the resources he requested that would have prevented his disastrous exit from Africa. Rommel wouldn’t have figured out he was working for a maniac or that there was a significant change in mindset of many a Nazi-sympathizing officer within his professional circle. He would not be made aware of the plot to kill Hitler until the Fuhrer himself fired him from his post in Italy and sent him to inspect and reinforce the Atlantic wall in preparation for the Allied invasion of Normandy.

There he encountered major issues of the so called wall being a joke and set out to build it up to withstand the attack. There were some major detractors in the leadership who went against his plan to repel the Allied invasion at the beach while his opponents argued the Allies should be allowed to land then engage them in a land battle. But Rommel did have some officers in his inner circle who were supportive. The troops certainly felt their morale improve with the news of Rommel taking over the coastal defenses. The beach defenses as the Allies faced (In particular Omaha beach) during the invasion were his idea and based on what he learned in North Africa.

Had the cronies within Hitler’s inner circle and the despot himself – realized the invasion was afoot and not a series of skirmishes – and given Rommel the supplies, men, and armaments needed to fortify existing forces, the outcome of the invasion might have been changed in their favor. By the time Rommel had been notified of the invasion it was too late. At best, the Germans could only hold the Atlantic wall for about 14 days. After surviving an Allied air attack on his vehicle, Rommel returned to Germany. The event also helped unravel the plot against Hitler (The briefcase bomb under a conference table in his bunker) which had failed but Rommel was not directly involved. The conspirators however named him and sealed his fate.

This biography is easy to read and it packs plenty of action – The chapters detailing the battles are as abbreviated as possible covering the essentials of tactical maneuvers. Not exactly a very technical book but also not lacking in humorous anecdotal events about the famed general and other people. Keep this book on your shelf for a quick reference on the Afrika Korps and Rommel that won’t take forever to read.

https://www.cbs.com/shows/60_minutes/video/wOKynSRFNYIfBw2EUOHhh_c_tbDz0Vtd/how-a-japanese-medic-and-american-soldier-became-linked-by-world-war-ii-s-battle-of-attu/

It is fascinating how our seemingly ordinary endeavors can sometimes lead to extraordinary paths in life. An environmental journalist’s search for the best spot to observe rare North American birds was located in the inhospitable but beautiful Aleutian Islands. But the spot – the islands of Attu and Kiska in particular – held a compelling story waiting to be told. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, between June 3 – 7 1942 Japanese forces attacked and invaded the Aleutian Islands (Part of Alaska), capturing Attu and Kiska and taking the local citizens prisoner. A year later the United States sent thousands of troops to the northern and southern parts of Attu Island to expel the invaders. From May 11 1943 raged one of the deadliest battles against a foreign invader on U.S. soil – the first loss of territory was during the war of 1812.

Mark Obmascik’s book is divided into four parts, the background stories of the two main protagonists; First Sergeant Dick Laird and Doctor Paul Tatsugushi – drafted 1940 and inducted into service in 1941. The two men couldn’t have been set more apart in their backgrounds if they tried, but fate and war had worked in many ways as the great equalizer. Laird grew up in hardship in Appalachia while Paul, a Japanese physician trained in the United States who was forced to return to Japan after living here for a decade.

But their stories were not so unusual. While Paul Tatsugushi found a way to escape the devastation left by the 1923 Kanto Earthquake to attend medical school in California. In contrast, Laird – as he was known – sought meaning and purpose in military life which provided the things his family life could not. The story would not work well unless the reader has prior knowledge of Japanese history. In particular its isolationism broken by the arrival of the Portuguese, the introduction of Catholicism and its eventual purge and the reconstruction following the earthquake and the militarization of industry and society. These were of course many of the factors involved in Japan’s thirst for power and expansionism leading to World War II.

And so following Japan’s ascent into an Asian super power (Gobbling up territory from British and Dutch colonies in South East Asia in search for war making materials such as rubber and petroleum). With the backdrop of political and diplomatic tensions between the United States and Japan, a man like Tatsugushi, a Christian who also loved Japan but knew that starting a war with the U.S. was suicide. Tatsugushi’s problem is illustrated in his devotion to his faith and his medical practice but also his family. Newly married, he set off back to his homeland with his wife and first daughter mostly due to a family situation he was only qualified to handle. In time, he would be drafted as an enlisted man in spite of being a qualified physician and he would never be given a commission.

Things were different in Japan ten years after Tatsugushi left and even more so when he returned. He worked at a hospital for tuberculosis patients an was taken aback at the unprecedented rebirth of Japan. The country had moved on and prospered and national pride and confidence renewed. When the orders came for him to deploy the troops did not know they were headed for the Aleutians let alone to invade Attu and Kiska.

Paul Tatsugushi – his Christian name – would then serve in the Imperial Army as Nobuo Tatsugushi. He would be a man allowed to serve because he was a surgeon and was so needed but not completely accepted as fully Japanese. In spite of all this, Tatsugushi would learn to be a soldier and to go by the Kodo (The Imperial Way). Did he turn completely away from his faith? That question would hang over his memory for many decades.

“I thought I was going to capture one of the sons of bitches the other day. I was standing over his foxhole and he was badly wounded. But he reached for his gun and I had to shoot him. I don’t care whether you call it fanaticism or just plain guts, they fight to the last man.They are tough bastards.”

Laird served a short stint in the Army then got out and tried to start a coal hauling business with his brother but after that failed he considered the military was a better option. He had lied about his age the first time he enlisted as he was months away from a birthday but wanted to get on with it. An out of state trip to another recruitment station, where age became murky business and a previously diagnosed heart murmur either ignored or simply overlooked. The second time around he had a better chance. Soldiering seemed to fit him well and managed to move up in rank. He met his future wife, much younger and coming from equally hard upbringing, the pair had issues settling in, mostly his issues. Over time Laird got his act together and married, she already with one child and making one together. He had not choice but to grow up now.

Training took him to the desert, mainly because it was believed the battlefield would be in North Africa against Rommel. Soldiers were issued desert gear but that would not prepare them for what was coming. If he once thought being a coal miner was the worst life he could have, he was about to learn there was a worst fate waiting for him on Attu Island.

The landing on Attu was difficult and perilous. Attu – also known as the cradle of storms – would prove deadly before reaching the shore. The dense fog afforded the Japanese troops plenty of concealment. No shots were fired when Laird and 400 other men reached the beachhead. Instead, the men stepped on a sticky, gooey mess. Movement on Attu was slower than on regular land and the transfer of weapons requiring more men than usual. Laird quickly learned their gear would become a terrible liability and not an advantage. Their boots were designed for dry land and he would experience blisters on top of cold wet feet. Trench foot became a big problem across the board and frostbite. While the Americans were trying to figure out how to fight in this inhospitable cold environs, the Japanese had come prepared with cold weather gear. They simply help their positions and waited on a higher plane, up hill, shrouded by fog. Nighttime fell and between the wetness of the ground, the lack of trees or shrubbery or other shelter, the Americans realized they were sitting ducks.

After making significant gains on the Japanese troops, the Americans dropped leaflets for the enemy to surrender. What happened next was unexpected and horrifying. Not only was the Japanese commander not going to surrender, he would proceed with the plan to conduct a mass suicide attack on American positions, retake supplies and retreat into the mountains to wait for reinforcements. The leadership knew there would be no reinforcements because they had been abandoned. The U.S. blockade had worked well in preventing supply ships from reaching the island and the troops were low on ammunition and food. The Americans risked being shot by their own by wearing captured Japanese coats and soon ran low on food themselves.

May 29, 1943 – The Banzai Attack

The enemy worked quickly in distributing grenades to every wounded man in their hospital. Nobuo had already written his emotional goodbyes to his wife and daughters (One still an infant) and his siblings. There would be no rescue. This had been a suicide mission all along, he wrote in his diary. Many Japanese soldiers were committing suicide enmasse with hand grenades or other methods even during the fight. Surrender was not an option for them. The object was to die and take the enemy along with them. Laird had survived the first wave of the attack when he accidentally shot his own runner. Friendly fire was not unheard of but it happened to him and his grief was unbearable. As he continued on with other soldiers, he observed eight Japanese soldiers had taken over a mortar position. He threw a grenade then engaged the survivors with small arms fire. Nobuo Tatsugushi was one of them. Laird and other soldiers conducted a search for papers or other intelligence when he found a satchel. It contained Nobuo’s diary, an address book with his California contacts and his bible. The diary would be turned over to the intell guys for translation. He was awarded the Silver Star for this but somehow he thought it wasn’t right.

Attu was taken back by the United States May 30, 1943 but not before 2,351 Japanese killed less than 30 captured. The U.S. lost 549 and 1,148 wounded out of the 15,000 troops deployed. Not to be overshadowed by combat casualties, disease and non-combat injuries put over 2,000 men out of commission. For what it’s worth, this colossal mess at least made the brass rethink better ways to equip men according to climate and environment. Ironically, Attu is a place like no other and no other battles were fought there again. No humans live on the island. The original residents, of the ones who survived Japanese internment were repatriated and not allowed to return.
Laird fought in Attu, then was sent to Kiska where thanks to a major SNAFU by the American leadership, the Japanese army on the island made its evacuation quietly, then Kwajalein, Leyte, and Okinawa being reassigned to Hawaii. First Sergeant Laird of 7th Infantry Division Company H got his last set of orders. He was being discharged from the Army as part of a points system designed to account for time served, where and when and how many times he was in combat, number of awards and even the number of children he had. And with that, Laird put the military and war behind him and moved on with his family life. But the memories of the war, the friendly fire that killed his runner, the armed action against the kamikaze attack on a mortar position that killed Nobuo Tatsugushi by his own hand, the horrors of what he survived would continue to plague his dreams.

This unique story would have been lost had it not been for two factors; the recovery of the doctor’s diary and its contents which underwent translation and the reproduction of many copies had been distributed and the perception that the doctor had been part in helping fellow Japanese soldiers commit suicide. The main focus of the story is the effort by many people who knew the doctor – a Seventh Day Adventist – that such a statement made in his diary ran contrary to his character. And the fight was on to defend and clear the memory and honor of the man who died on Attu. But only one person could contribute to the effort to clear the doctor’s good name and that was the man who killed him.

Obmascik spent seven years researching for this book and packed a lot of historical information into 228 pages. The last section of the book addresses Laird’s search for peace of mind and meeting Nobuo’s daughter Laura. Truly a compelling story of grave peril and the peace that comes from love and forgiveness. Highly recommended.

The Atlantic wall – George Lane, a British officer and commando seeking some new type of German coastal landmine takes a snapshot in the dark, the flash goes off and it’s fireworks. Two of four team members get back on the boat and head back across the English Channel while he and another fellow are stranded on the beach. Their capture means they’re both dead. Hitler’s orders that commandos be shot. So it’s a matter of time he figures. But he’s wrong. Instead, he’s transported to Erwin Rommel’s headquarters at his request. Rommel knows the Allies want to invade France but he wants Lane to tell him where. Lane manages to charm his way through that conversation without revealing any details and still have a civil exchange with the celebrated Field Marshall. Incredibly, Lane was not shot, but sent to a prison in central Germany. Within a few hours, Rommel would get the terrible news that the invasion was underway. His idyllic French getaway he had planned for his wife Lucie’s birthday and his son Manfred was cut short.

Irmgard Meyer, the fertile Nazi wife of an officer with 12th Panzer Div 30 miles from Normandy, pregnant with her 5th child. She’s moved in with her husband like many of the officers wives because there’s tense talk an invasion is imminent. She, and other Nazi officer’s wives may not see their husbands again as they are awakened that morning and told to pack and head out of France.

Fräulein Eifler was a teenaged girl forcefully drafted into the Reich Labor Service and trained as transmit morse code telegrams. She hated the long shifts listening for code and being away from her family. On June 6 1944 she knew something really big was taking place, perhaps the Allied invasion.

Franz Gockel – drafted at 17 and manning a M42 in Normandy – terribly shy, in particular around girls. He’s not sure he really wants to shoot the Americans as they reach his beach front but it’s either kill or be killed. The Germans were initially shocked and terrified at the sight of warplanes dropping gliders and paratroopers and Franz would have to just push aside his misgivings and squeeze that trigger.

Operation Overlord would need a full moon and good weather, Eisenhower’s weather guessers were going crazy trying to figure out a window of opportunity. James Stagg, head weather guesser, gives him the thumbs up for a weather forecast that will make the invasion possible. Or so he hoped.

One commando landing craft is led by Simon Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat and nicknamed The Mad Bastard. A 30-year old whose personal bag piper Bill Millin was ‘asked’ to play a little tune as the men waded their way from their landing craft at Sword Beach as rounds zipped by and as many other men dropped dead around them. When he asked Lovat if he’d like for him to walk up and down the beach while playing, he enthusiastically said yes. Luckily, the German snipers did not waste him because they thought Millin was a Dummkopf. But Lovat was determined to get past the beach because he had an important promise to keep. His commandos were needed at Bénouville. The Mad Bastard may be late, but he was about to make history.

Major John Howard had led the assault on the two bridges between Bénouville and Ranville earlier in the attack on Normandy and the crash landings of their Horsa gliders had not all gone to plan. Men had scattered all over and somehow managed to converge on the area of the bridges as scheduled. But Howard and his men waited for hours for the commandos to arrive and with no way of communicating with troops on the beach they were trapped. Things were not getting better either, after several failed attacks on the bridges by the Germans, they turned to snipers. Howard’s men were being eliminated one at a time to force them to give up. Until a daring capture of a magnificent German anti-tank gun by one of Howard’s men did the tides turned but only kept the snipers at bay for so long. Where are the commandos?

Eisenhower’s angst at the thought he would not be able to lead the invasion of Normandy in the field but remotely. In the meantime, Omar Bradley squints as he tries to see through binoculars onboard the USS Augusta what is going on at Omaha Beach. Wireless communications were pretty much shot but he got his bad piece of news when the crew of the latest barge returned from the shore and reported that the beachhead was a disaster. Maimed bodies, others stacked on top of others, in the water, the beach, the water tinged in pink and survivors were trapped by intense gunfire from above the wall. Desperate to get those men off the beach and up the cliffs.

(Colonel Charles Canham) was yelling and screaming for the officers to get the men off the beach. ‘Get the hell off this damn beach and go kill some Germans!’ There was an officer taking refuge from an enemy mortar barrage in a pillbox. Right in front of me Colonel Canham screamed, ‘Get your ass out of there and show some leadership!’ To another lieutenant he roared, ‘Get these men off their dead asses and over that wall!’ -Sergeant John R. Slaughter

Enter two even bigger mad bastards on the U.S. side. Brigadier General Norman Cota and Colonel Charles Canham. Bradley’s idea was to send the two officers to break up the stalemate on Omaha beach and get the men moving inland. Cota’s bold trek to the beach along Canham, much needed wireless radios, and fourteen other men was only the beginning of a legend, though rarely talked about. Upon landing at Omaha, Cota began his fearless task of rounding up officers and soldiers and rallying them away from the beach. But how? Under heavy fire – which he easily brushed off – Cota bumped into Rangers who were itching for a fight but were pinned down by enemy fire. Without hesitation, Cota directed the Rangers to breach a section of wire fencing. The first man was gunned down by a sniper, seeing this, the men froze but Cota, armed with his .45 pistol, went in second and up the hill where they followed him. Cota and Canham, under terrible circumstances, ignored the dangers present and helped take Omaha. It was about 9 AM and the fighting was just beginning.

At last, Omar Bradley got the update on the situation: “Troops formerly pinned down on beaches Red, Easy Green, Fox Red advancing up heights behind beaches.”

And the 60,000 French civilians about to be trapped in Caen, as the Allies will proceed with a major bombing operation hoping they had already fled. This is indeed the longest day. Until now, about 34,000 people had already perished during the Nazi occupation and there was no place for the survivors to go but to seek shelter and hope for the best.

Hitler awoke probably around 8 AM in a cheerful mood after a drug-induced slumber the night before. His generals did not agree that the Allied invasion could be repelled by pushing them into the sea. For that matter, Hitler had dragged his feet and not ordered the release of his Panzer divisions, giving Rommel the tools needed to fight. Hitler would not authorize their release until after he finished a meeting with a Romanian dignitary. Everyone around him did not share his enthusiasm that things would work as he thought they would.

This book is a decadent account of D-Day told by the stories of the people who lived and witnessed the invasion of Normandy. The stories bring a multidimensional view of the invasion through military and civilian eyes, the cost of lives due to unforeseen events, mistakes or simply fate that makes this book unique. This book is an excellent primer for all things D-Day in that while it allows for some technical and military order of battle stuff as many history books do. However it weaves witness accounts into the fabric of the story whereby the reader can transition from one chapter to the next without feeling like they have to go over material. You can follow the buildup of the invasion, the log jam at Omaha beach, the race for the bridges, the bombing of Caen, and the German counter-attack in a smooth narrative that begs you not to put the book down. Soldier, Sailor, Frogman, Spy, Airman, Gangster, Kill or Die: How the Allies Won on D-Day is a marvelous read.

The colonists really just wanted the British crown to give them some respect, not to sever ties with it. After all, they were British subjects, right? But when things got dicey at Lexington and Concord, well, the consensus was probably reached quickly; the Americans were on their own. On this day, this review couldn’t be any more relevant. This revolution was different than many others. Why? The future and successes of George Washington’s life were intrinsically linked to the success of the American Revolution, possibly affecting the outcome had he chosen a different path in his military career. At least this is one of the points in Robert L. O’Connell’s new book Revolutionary: George Washington at War. But GW, as is referred to in the book, while his personal demeanor and social acumen had been consistently part of his personality throughout the revolution and his later life, it was the stumbling blocks along the way which paved the way for the new republic. And GW did stumble a lot. There’s the unpleasant business of his firing the first shot of what would be the Seven Year’s War (Known also as the French and Indian War) as a twenty-something upstart. His introduction to the higher echelons of Virginia’s aristocracy – mainly the workings of his older half-brother Lawrence – whose military career afforded him excellent social connections, which were also extended to his little brother George. GW was the first born son of Mary Ball Washington, his father’s second wife. But after Augustine Washington’s passing, Mary pulled off the huge task of running an estate and other properties and still raise her family. The often told story of how Mary refused to pay tribute to George’s accomplishments – including his role in the revolution – briefly mentioned in the book. Historical accounts still picture Mary Ball as being resentful that her son did not take over the family estate and took care of her. But George was destined for other endeavors which he was not afraid to follow. (More on Mary Ball Washington later on this year!)

The author appears to be inclined to believe that even if the revolution’s success was secured either way, whether Washington was its leader or not, that the outcome would have been similar to that of the French and other revolutions which we are aware dove into self-destruction. And while many revolutions with that fateful ending of civil war underwent full recoveries. With that said, what was different about the American revolution that in spite of it being fought with force, it was also a revolution of ideas already burning in the hearts and minds of Englishmen in Britain and their brethren in the colonies. Washington’s work as a land surveyor in his teens clearly gave him some advantages in that he had knowledge of the land but also seemed to be a decent scout in the wilderness and an even better judge of the risks involved in these ventures once he had learned his craft.

O’Connell takes us through a tour of Washington’s social climbing and such but most importantly his growing knowledge and education of how armies are built and managed. This growing up paid off during the revolution. His interest in a career in arms became reality after the blunder at Fort Necessity but also after returning to Virginia to report to Governor Dinwiddie of what had transpired. Fairly scandalous his blunder had become that the finger pointing traveled all the way back to Britain. Washington still had set his sights on a military career, but what happened in Ohio was too much political fallout for the governor to allow the young man to keep his rank of Colonel – which came with a large stipend – and ordered that no ‘Provincial’ could be promoted above Captain. Washington was not pleased. Dinwiddie wanted Washington to lead another expedition to the Ohio Valley against the French but Washington chose to throw in the hat after being demoted. The tantrum lasted for a time before the governor came up with a great idea actually. How about he appointed Washington to a military family? Since Virginia was all about social status, the loss of his rank made things even more unbearable for Washington, who took the demotion as a grave insult. Luckily, and this would not be the first time Washington had something wonderfully and conveniently life-saving happen to him; he got a chance to move up after all.

A timely letter sent to Major General Edward Braddock after he arrived in Virginia welcoming him got him noticed. The general’s chief of staff was smart enough to suggest that Washington could be hired as the an aide de camp, though without a military rank, but adopted into the general’s military family. Washington jumped at the chance. Not only would the arrangement restore Washington’s good name (He perceived the loss of the commission as a insult) and reputation but it also provided a military education he so craved. Military service in the British forces went mostly to sons of the aristocracy with some exceptions but these two worlds would often clash. Gaining access to military leaders and learning from them was a big deal and an opportunity given to few. Though he also wanted to run for a seat in the House of Burgesses after his brother’s passing, Washington held off on that plan and pursued his unpaid internship. 

Braddock liked Washington right off the bat, making their association profitable for him. By closely taking notes and studying what the military professionals were doing, Washington soon enough realized that the next invasion into the Ohio Valley would be a disaster. Braddock would not enlist the help of the indian tribes in the area who in turn went to work for the French. His disdain for the indians was palpable and in spite of being warned by Benjamin Franklin that they were dangerous. Braddock sent the indians away early in the game and quickly found out how wrong he was. He really needed their help but had squandered away native eyes and ears and Braddock’s regulars and Washington’s Virginia would have to face the French and indian onslaught on their own. When the French attacked Fort Duquesne Washington saw first hand how Braddock’s regulars – who were actually not combat tested troops – handle themselves like a group of scared children, shooting at nothing, panicking over what to do next. Braddock was mortally wounded himself but Washington took charge and led the Virginia irregulars to disperse and engage their enemies one on one successfully and were much more disciplined than their professional counterparts. Even Braddock was not a combat arms officer; he had been a training officer, but had not fought in combat. This encounter would feed the suspicions of Benjamin Franklin and other patriots that the British forces were not exactly as great as they claimed to be.

O’Connell here drives the point that in his estimation the American revolution would be won anyway because the British response would have not been as effective. Given the different terrain and climate and layout of the population in the colonies compared to the European theatre, fighting in America would prove to be a challenge. When Washington returned to Virginia, the security of the colony was at stake and the governor took swift action to order reinforcements to the his regiments and beefed up troop numbers. Naturally, after Washington’s excellent performance the governor selected him to be the commander in chief of all of Virginia’s forces. And he got his rank back. One point to brought up by O’Connell is that Washington, while caring and nurturing of his officers, there was a marked disconnect with the rank and file. Desertions were on the rise no matter how hard the punishment, men were not receptive to training or to taking orders. Desertions even in modern forces can be linked to poor leadership. This was just the case. Washington would finally understand the importance of treating his troops with a higher regard around the time of Valley Forge. His men where there fighting as volunteers, not conscripts. That would be one of the many leadership lessons he would have to undertake in his career. His leadership model was predicated mostly in his exposure to the British military model and that gave him a narrow picture of leadership.

Once the Virginia frontier was deemed safe, Washington turned back to politics and ran for a seat in the House of Burgesses which he won in Frederick County. At that point he was done with the Virginia Regiment, much to the surprise of his officers. This was only the beginning for his ascent to command in the future armed forces of the republic. He did his damnedest to get a commission in British Army with no luck. The only two men he served under who could have effectively helped him secure the coveted Royal commission – unlike his big brother had so easily attained a commission – were dead. He was cunning in how he did it though; by requiring his men be trained both in standard British warfare and also integrating wilderness training and then selling the concept to the British superiors. But still, that one dream eluded him yet propelled him ahead to what would be his fate.

O’Connell places emphasis on Washington’s upbringing as an officer, a commander in chief, a statesman and American. His timely marriage to Martha Custis – in spite of having a soft spot for his friend’s wife, Sally Fairfax – Washington as we know him began to take shape. The book covers Washington’s life about ten years before the revolution, running his home and enterprises and living pretty large. Heavy consumerism was the pastime of Virginia’s elite. He and Martha were known to enjoy entertaining at their home and many other Virginia land owners were doing the same. There was a lot of buying going on enough to make any late night HGTV channel buyers proud. This period of indulgence and material acquisition would soon catch up to everyone including Washington, who saw their fortune quickly disappearing. Though he devised ingenious ways of generating other sources of income from home, stopped using tobacco as a cash crop and slowed down spending, his financial situation did not improve – in the way of paying all of his debts – but he devised some innovative measures at home by shifting focus on homegrown goods that were manufactured at his estate and other ventures that proved equally profitable.

O’Connell covers Washington’s role as a delegate to the house of burgesses as a resolute and introspective legislator. While young and energetic disruptors like Patrick Henry delivered compelling arguments against the Stamp Act and other perceived affronts to colonial life, Washington did a lot of listening and thinking before speaking. But when he spoke his words mattered. A more poised and controlled George at that point was a long way from his high-charging and over ambitious younger self. The author emphasizes the perceptions on both sides of the Atlantic regarding the colonist’s grievances. While in America it seemed that the untimely arrival of red coats were aimed at enslaving them but the British side told a different story. The colonies had been an expensive investment (Not counting sugar cane crops in Jamaica, which in turn were even much more valuable to them) after funding expensive wars and continuing to build empire, someone had to help pay for all that. It was just the circumstances of time and distance in the 18th century whereby communications moved at a slower pace, often too late to take proper action or clarify misunderstandings. Britain did not take the rebelling Americans as anything more than small pockets of discontent that could be stopped by using

Not that the Stamp Act and other taxation schemes after it was repealed did not have an effect on the colonists, to include Washington, but many like him observed the progress carefully and not apt to pounce on the problem with force (He thought the Boston tea party incident was a bit over the line). In fact, early on there was no talk of independence, just people with short tempers and a list of demands for change. Perhaps the the tipping point for Washington was two-fold and mostly aimed at finances and land expansion. He and other planters had invested in land holdings of millions of acres out west but the venture was squashed by Britain’s decree that westward expansion would not be pursued. The main rationale for that involved having to build the roads and tear down thick wooded areas and the landscape which was costly. The British only had approved land development along the Eastern seaboard because it had access to the sea, ports to support life inland. In spite of that, Washington and other planters thought they would be able to invest in these lands. He pulled his money out of that deal. However but turned out the lands Washington wanted to acquire as war payment for his regiment’s veterans was held for buyers back in Britain, so it was all a rigged game. He knew most things were rigged but this stunt in particular seem to have truly irked him.

The second blow came in 1774 – and by then Washington was fed up with Britain – with the news that recent treaties with the Indians had opened up land for white settlements (Going against the original edict from Parliament about not wanting to go west) the bounty lands promised to veterans of the French and Indian wars would only go to veterans who served as regulars and not militia members. The insult of not being able to collect on a war prize or payment O’Connell believes, was one of the factors to (And the popular following of the Country Party politics) ‘revolutionize’ Washington. When Washington accepted the appointment to lead a non-army into battle against big brother in Britain, he knew he was a marked man. If things went bad there would be a noose waiting for him but he accepted the challenge as we all know. The book is not a comprehensive account of the entire revolution or of every campaign but hits some of the best parts of the war and showcases Washington’s growth as a leader.

The narrative takes of to Boston through the end of the push of the rage militaire which soon enough lost steam and the city was fraught with incidents of public disturbances, fighting among troop companies and continued desertions, threatening good order. Given the lack of pay and supplies for the Americans the situation was quickly degrading. He then pushes through to Philadelphia and to Bunker Hill then Valley Forge; the issue of food supply, pestilence (Small pox was a problem for five years, to which Washington had immunity) hostilities with the native American tribes and the threat to the Continental Army’s food supply and the westward expansion.

O’Connell describes the logistical issues Washington faced and the mounting financial troubles as the congress was slow to send funds for pay and supplies and the states were reluctant to pay their share. One innovation to note for the American side was Washington’s obsession with intelligence gathering and the formation of the Culper ring. His spy network was a veritable force against the enemy in that Washington The capture and execution of the charming John Andre. Conversely, Washington’s show of force in this case also shows him in a more tempered mode with the capture of another British officer whose execution he halted. There were some serious connotations if the young officer was hanged and after issuing the sentence, politically, Washington knew he didn’t want to proceed but couldn’t back down either. Some timely lobbying between the British and other Americans offered him a decent way out that pleased everyone and avoided an international incident. Also a letter from the officer’s terrified mother got to him and he issued a pardon, so the evolution of moderate leader was well underway in spite of making mistakes along the way.

His time in office is briefly covered whereby he faced farmers uprising with more sensitivity and cautioned for their treatment of them as Americans, an approach that was most successful in preventing bloodshed. Washington’s desire to keep the Continental Army together following the victory at Yorktown had spiralled into nasty talk that he could be poised for a military takeover of the congress. This potential for temptation was not lost on Washington but his swift dismissal of such propositions showed his discipline and character and wanted no part in it. A moving description of Washington’s farewell tour and resignation to the Congress and his mic drop performance after serving for so many years wraps up this fantastic tale. His address to Congress could have been done in a letter just the same, but then it wouldn’t have made his walking away from service any more tangible and final if he hadn’t appeared before them. He is now ready to call it quits and let a central government, however screwed up, take charge and conduct the business of a new country. He headed for Mount Vernon where Martha awaited his return.

This book shows Washington as a man who enjoyed either great luck or protection from the heavens in that he was at the right place and time and lived to accomplish what he set out to do. In spite of all the stumbling and failures and difficulties, Washington can be credited with the only time he may have been humble in his life which is at the end of the war and his measured and public resignation as commander in chief. That even King George would be quoted to his own amazement that anyone could walk away from such power and go home was impressive and admirable. Lastly, Washington can be credited with the measured yielding of power in a revolution which shed just enough blood on both sides but not so much that the newborn country would survive compared to other revolutions is worthy of recognition. The book should be a great companion to the modern leader and it is filled with great humor and easy to read. Keep this book in your library to read over and over.

George Washington made one hell of an impression as he welcomed the arrival of the newest French Minister to the United States at the banks of the Hudson river in Fishkill, New York in 1779. Even more impressive was the fact that Washington was steering the boat that would take them both to West Point for their meeting. Philbrick opens this excellent book with a flashback-like recap of Washington’s almost naval career. He recounts how a 14 year old George Washington was ‘this close’ to setting out to sea and that though his bags were packed, his mother Mary mounted a counter offensive and managed to keep him from going on a sea voyage at the very last minute. Washington’s older brother Lawrence – the handsome Captain in the British Army and hero of the Siege of Cartagena – figured out a way to give young George a way to a brighter future when a British vessel docked in the Chesapeake and had secured a spot for him as a midshipman. But we know by now that was not to be and that he would forever be a career soldier. Rather than a romanticized memory of boyhood dreams of a commission in the British forces, the scene is more revealing of his state of mind and what he was pursuing.

If there was a more emphatic desire to convey the importance of getting the French fleet north, then Washington was laying it on pretty thick. It was not that France wouldn’t send a naval expedition but given the terrible storms that ravaged the Caribbean on October 10, 1780, the expedition was still possible but just not at the top of their list. The big storm had ravaged Barbados – Washington had traveled there with his brother Lawrence aged 19 – causing terrible damage to life and property extending from Barbados to St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Martinique, and Jamaica’s Montego Bay. A casualty report listed at 22,000 and reached the Spanish port of Havana in Cuba. Spain had planned an attack on Pensacola when the second storm hit. The attack had to be postponed until the next year due to the Spanish fleet sustaining numerous casualties and damage to its ships. This was a hard year to wage war on all sides.

Not to harp on the storm theme too much as to not wear it out of context, but the French delivered enough delay tactics over time which provided Washington with plenty of internal strife and his unexpected but impressive arrival by boat to pick up the French VIP was his way of getting to the point. This is what I’m taking from Philbrick’s narrative, not to be attributed to the text, of course. The reader can probably see past Washington acting like Washington (O’Connell) as he is at this stage a fully developed commander in chief and not the bungling militia man of twenty years prior. But yes, he had a sense of urgency he wanted to convey. At this point in the ‘Glorious Cause’ Washington is wearing the suit of his generalissimo persona and it fits him to a tee. He is not perfect, but this is not New York and he’s not retreating; he just needs a Navy and the United States does not have one, so he has to outsource it.

The French were already onboard since 1778 which in a perfect world would have been an instant boon for the American revolution, but there were issues preventing the employment of Washington’s maritime superiority. The problem in getting these expeditions going – his obsession with taking back New York, being held by Generals Clinton and Cornwallis in the south and moving in on North Carolina – was the French had tried numerous times to engage the British Navy but either the timing was bad or weather did not permit the fight. Then there was the matter of Benedict Arnold’s attempt to surrender the fortress plans and serious vulnerabilities of West Point adding to Washington’s misery. Early in the summer of 1781 the consensus was that Washington would attempt to attack New York and what the British did next was predicated on that belief. Eventually Washington saw that his emphasis on attacking New York would not be such a good move and instead chose to set his sights on the Chesapeake. Washington already knew that maritime superiority would be the key to his success in taking Yorktown. Money was a big problem throughout the war, not for the French, but for the Americans but Washington had Robert Morris (Whose fortune he eventually used and ended up in debtor’s jail until congress changed the bankruptcy law) and Spain’s devoted envoy Francisco Saavedra. Spain went through great lengths to help secure real currency to pay Washington’s troops and to purchase supplies while the French and British ships were playing maritime musical chairs.

After pestering the French for a big show of force by its navy for two years, Washington got what he wanted, though he had to hold back his own misgivings about agreeing to do things the French way. Washington was put off by their secrecy when it came to the approach of the French navy. This information was held by none other than Rochambeau who sometime later confessed that he was ordered not to tell him. It was basically a breakup via text if Washington had a cellphone. After the great battle was waged and the war won, Rochambeau didn’t get the bromantic good bye he bestowed on the other leaders, in particular the Marquis of Lafayette.

But then Lafayette didn’t keep information from him. And Washington sure wasn’t about to tell the French every thought that crossed his mind. Like the business of changing his mind about attacking New York and planning to launch an attack on the Chesapeake. He could be crafty too.

British aristocratic leadership style vs French institutionalized military training which aimed to make their officers more critical thinkers in battle than their enemy would prove to be one key factor in the defeat of the British fleet. Another factors involved a series of mistakes made by British leaders, mainly caused by squabbles between Clinton and Cornwallis. But an incredibly careless omission or perhaps disregard for orders by Samuel Hood in August as his superior Admiral George Rodney – he was about to head back to Britain for medical treatment – left a dispatch for him who was commander of the British squadron in the Caribbean. Hood only had one job; that on his way back to the colonies he should stop by the Chesapeake and Delaware on his way north and if he did not spot the French navy he was then ordered to meet up with Admiral Graves in New York. Sounds simple enough.

However, Admiral Graves never got the memo, at least not for a month since a second dispatch never made it. The second dispatch would have told him that according to intelligence from the Dutch island of St. Thomas that the French were well underway and headed for the Chesapeake. Admiral Rodney almost turned back to the colonies from the Caribbean because his condition was too painful to entertain – some sort of issue with his prostate – and would continue on to England. It wasn’t until September that the intelligence got to the proper recipients giving the French the upper hand. The unfortunate part of the French holding back on details was that Admiral De Grasse – one of the men who would go to battle against the British fleet – had decided to make his landing in Chesapeake instead of Sandy which is what Washington wanted. Why? Because it was easier to transport ground troops by ship than by land, so basically he had ground troops ready to go but no ride.

After probably on the verge of an aneurysm, Washington kept his cool and set out to plot a ground movement south. When Washington’s troops – both Americans and French – set out on their long and arduous march to Chesapeake, only a handful of officers were aware of where they were going. The troops believed they were going to Staten Island to attack New York, but as they passed Staten Island, they made their way through New Jersey and on to the Delaware river without being detected by the British. This was a huge gamble but paid off. Cornwallis in the south and Henry Clinton in New York did not know of their scheme. This time they were quietly mitigating logistical issues of terrain, transporting heavy equipment to include artillery. Amazingly, the British did not prevent them from crossing the Hudson to accomplish any of this.

The arrival of the French fleet, Washington’s rare moment of overt exhilaration and the final confrontation by the two fleets – the American Navy not in existence – the final battle waged on our behalf is an account too excellent in its description to even attempt to cover in this review. Philbrick’s detailed blow by blow of the naval battle and defeat of Lord Cornwallis at his own game are a must read. He crams a lot of information without losing track of events with too much detail. Rather the narrative flows at a good pace whereby the reader can assimilate the material and visualize the events described. The surrender of Cornwallis was epic 18th century drama alright, but the following chapters reveal that in spite of the great victory Washington still had to deal with detractors. The pox that was Horatio Gates made a move on his leadership by conspiring to throw a coup against the civilian leadership in order to get the pay and benefits that were promised to them. While Washington recognized that the military had not been treated fairly, he was not about to let his officers engage in such a plan. His crashing of the secret meeting of officers spearheaded by Gates and his speech to the officers and won yet another battle from within.

Washington was then approaching the end of his military career but on November 4, 1783 he realized congress had taken off a week before he was set to quit. He still had to wrap up the last business of the war. It took the British all that time to round up and repatriate loyalists, freed blacks, and military troops from New York. Philbrick cites Edwin Burrows who described the state of total chaos left of what was once New York city and the place where half the American deaths during the war of independence (Approximately 35,800) happened within Manhattan. So much for appealing to the hearts and minds of the colonists. The story goes as far as Washington’s address to the congress and resignation and a hint of the terrors of revolution brewing in France. At last, by Christmas Eve 1783 Washington can now head home to Mount Vernon and back to Martha.

Philbrick packed this book with so many excellent historical events, tied them to Washington’s ideals and plans, provided extensive context on his relationships with the French and the struggles within the organization of the continental army in under 300 pages and worthy of reading many times.

This story is better than fiction. Odette Sansom wanted to help Britain defeat the Nazis in her homeland of France and joined the SOE, mainly to serve and honor her own father’s service in the first world war. Odette’s endeavors did not come easy but she showed great acumen and courage in her missions. Surviving capture, imprisonment, and torture and two death sentences but she managed to prevail. Married with three children and living in London with her first husband, she initially turned down the SOE’s efforts to recruit her but eventually, when she attended some of their training, did she realize she was hooked. With her husband out fighting in the war, Odette put up her daughters in a convent school and set out to face her new life. She was sent by boat across the English channel to France to help establish a circuit in Burgundy and went to work for Peter Churchill who was in charge of that region. At some point the two were arrested by the Nazis and she saved their lives by stating Peter was a relative of Winston Churchill to see if they could get better treatment in prison.

Odette was sent to Des Fresnes prison where she was subjected to torture until she and several other SOE agents were transported back to Germany to a concentration camp. She continue to play that part about being related to Churchill which helped her convince the camp commandant to let her go in an exchange once the Red Army advanced on the camp, which amazingly he did.

He figured she would be nice and not testify against him during Nuremberg trials but she did. She didn’t play. And yes, she and Peter Churchill married but divorced after nine years. Odette remarried once more to a wine dealer and died aged 86. What an extraordinary life. Code Name: Lise: The True Story of the Woman Who Became WWII’s Most Highly Decorated Spy is available for sale. Thanks for reading my review. See you next week.

Marie-Madeleine Fourcade was born of privilege and wealth but was a fierce patriot, spearheading and running the largest spy network in France during the Nazi occupation. Marie-Madeleine handled every aspect of these operations after its leader was arrested. The Alliance – as it was known – but the Nazis named the organization Noah’s Ark because their spies adopted names of animals. Marie-Madeleine went by the code Hérisson – or Hedgehog – a small but fierce animal and was dedicated leader in this enterprise. She was twice captured but escaped. Her network of spies were the longest lasting group and gathered valuable intelligence that American and British forces used to prepare for D-Day by also providing a large map with all the beaches they would eventually land on during the invasion. Sadly enough, after the war she was not given the proper place as one of France’s resistance fighters but Olson attempts to correct this omission with great skill and sensitivity.

Marie-Madeleine was not a typical French woman. Even though she had married and had two children, her life before the Nazis occupied France was unusual and exciting. After her marriage didn’t work out, Marie-Madeleine got a job in Paris with a publishing company before things unraveled. After the Germans took Paris, Marie-Madeleine went to work for the resistance leader Georges Loustaunau-Lacau and became its leader following his arrest in 1941. Her love of country was her driving force and would be so throughout the war. At some point she packed up her two kids and sent them to Switzerland so that she could better concentrate on her work.

Marie-Madeleine met the British as the leader of the hugely successful spy network after she was smuggled out of France in a diplomatic pouch. After surviving the 9 hour trip from hell in the dead of winter, the Brits were in awe that their contact was a woman. They had misgivings about dealing with a woman surely, but eventually forced to work with her. She had an uncanny ability to tell when she would sense the Germans were on their trail and had to pack up and relocate the operation eight times. While her agents were being shut down by the Germans, she continue to recruit and manage her spies. Captured and escaped of released four times, this incredible young woman’s determination saw her through great dangers and also romance with one of her operatives and a pregnancy. Olson uncovered these facts through excellent research and family interviews, since Fourcade never spoke of this part of her life or wrote about it in her memoir Noah’s Ark in 1974 (And no, I don’t sell any, because the prize is too prohibitive). Fourcade’s position had been so imperilled that the Brits ordered an extraction and brought her to the UK to work until after D-Day. She ventured back too France after the invasion only to face more trouble from the Germans but that did little to deter her. Olson brings life to this forgotten daughter of the French people who work so hard and sacrificed so much for her country and a wonderful tribute. This is a fantastic story that should not be missed.

MADAME FOURCADE’S SECRET WAR: THE DARING YOUNG WOMAN WHO LED FRANCE’S LARGEST SPY NETWORK AGAINST HITLER is on sale. Get a your copy today and follow this extraordinary woman in her amazing life journey.

Die Jägerin had become Ian Graham’s obsession since he left his war correspondent years behind him. He had lost the knack for writing he thought, after witnessing so much carnage during the war, he decided his post-war life would be dedicated to tracking and bringing escaped Nazis to justice. The woman the Nazis counted on to hunt down and kill downed pilots – The Huntress – had an almost perfect record of kills. Except for Nina Markova, who once belonged to the Soviet Union’s Flying Witches squadron who terrorized Nazi troops and the only living witness to the Huntress’s work. She got away and would be instrumental in tracking the mysterious killer and bring her to justice.

Little did Ian and Nina know that their trail would lead them to Boston in their search for the huntress with the help of a teenage girl whose life is turned upside down as she connects the dots. Kate Quinn weaves three stories which converge into a grand finale of suspense in this post-WWII novel. The former flying witch and the retired British war correspondent team up to track and capture the elusive Nazi killer of downed pilots who is then living a comfortable life as a wife and mother. Nina’s upbringing in the Soviet Union was painful and terrifying compared to her time flying rickety old aircraft the men wouldn’t be caught flying. Ian retired from journalism after seeing too much carnage in the battlefields and shifted his focus on hunting escaped Nazis. But what brought the Russian pilot and the Brit was more than a coincidence. They shared a bond without realising it and explained their motivation, in particular Ian’s, to pursue the war criminals. In the meantime, 17 year old Jordan McBride has a knack for photography, though she didn’t get much encouragement.

Regardless, she’s happy but cautious when her widowed father introduces her to his new love, a young German widow and mother of a little girl, Ruth. Both were unusual people; the woman, Annalise, was reserved but Ruth was practically mute and averse to people. It’s not that Jordan does not wish her father to be happy, but there is something about the woman that was always unsettling. After her father and Annalise marry, Jordan still could not shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right about her now step mother. But Annalise managed to explain at some point that she and Ruth had endured too much trauma in the war to account for their demeanor. Unable to find a logical argument against their personal experiences, Jordan accepted things as they were and enjoyed a closer relationship with her new family. But this state of harmony would be shattered; her imagination and intuition calling her and curiosity suddenly endangered the family she had hoped for so long. Quinn starts off in one direction then splits the storylines into three narratives from different timelines. It’s a good read but pay attention in the beginning because you may miss something important.