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jgcully's review against another edition
informative
tense
medium-paced
5.0
An absolutely incredible book. Whilst I have enjoyed all 3 books of the 'liberation' trilogy this one in particular I must point out as the best of the 3. To cover so much detail yet remain so personal, so readable and such an enjoyable experience; that is a rare thing. Covering the final liberation of Europe and the end of the war, Rick once again proves himself a master of detail and description. This is a must for any history buff. Exceptional.
sarahd3's review against another edition
5.0
The final book in the Liberation Trilogy and while it is not as good as the first one in series, it is still worth reading. There is so much information available in regards the the European Theatre of WWII, this book does a good job at gathering it all together and making it accessible to the average reader. Some parts are very hard to read but it needs to be said. I highly recommend for those who love WWII history.
eldiente's review against another edition
5.0
FANTASTIC
This final volume of the three part WW2 series was my favorite - perhaps because I already was familiar with some of the locations and the rough chronology.
This final volume of the three part WW2 series was my favorite - perhaps because I already was familiar with some of the locations and the rough chronology.
mkesten's review against another edition
5.0
As I sit in the warm, quiet comfort of my home, watching the falls leaves drift from the trees in my yard, I close the book on the third of Rick Atkinson's The Liberation Trilogy. Nothing, nothing can be so sad as war, certainly not WW2 where the skies rained so much steel upon mankind, and where ovens swallowed the slaughtered millions. So many of those soldiers in the Allied forces could not have had an inkling of what awaited them in defeated Germany. Those soldiers, those who lived and those who died, experienced more pain and fright and danger in a day than I will ever experience. For that I am grateful. I learned in this last volume how Allied soldiers sometimes misbehaved much in the way that Soviet soldiers misbehaved in their march west, or as French colonials misbehaved in conquered Italy. I learned how splintered the Allies were throughout the invasion of Europe. I also learned much more about the Canadian role in the conflagration than I knew in the past. Pray there isn't a next time.
mark_lm's review against another edition
4.0
A swell history of the Allies in Western Europe. Part three of Atkinson's five star trilogy about the campaigns in North Africa/Italy/Western Europe. I have read a lot about this story (The longest day, Is paris burning?, A bridge too far, The last battle, etc.), but I think I appreciated this history more because of it. It must be a daunting task to write this complex story, after all, what do you include? But Atkinson has done a great, even swell, job. Most fascinating are the assorted weirdos who were in charge of things (Le Lattre, De Gaulle, Montgomery, Patton); it seems almost impossible that they could accomplish anything together. I also enjoyed the various parts of the story that I knew little or nothing about, the landing at Marseilles and campaign in central France, the problems in the Colmar pocket, accusations against the French in Stuttgart, the US fear that the Germans were massing a secret army in the Alps, Patton's attempt to use an armored battalion to try to rescue his son-in-law from a POW camp, a detailed account of the meeting at Yalta including the problem with bedbugs. Highly recommended - read all three.
By the way, nowhere in the book did I find the quote attributed to Paul Reynaud that "De Gaulle has the character of a pig, but he has character."
Also the author mistakenly uses the word "gutful" to mean brave two or three times.
By the way, nowhere in the book did I find the quote attributed to Paul Reynaud that "De Gaulle has the character of a pig, but he has character."
Also the author mistakenly uses the word "gutful" to mean brave two or three times.
sleepyboi2988's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely astounding, the strongest of the trilogy. Atkinson ends his series with a tour de force finish that in the end leaves you wanting more (Pacific Theater Mr. Atkinson?). An excellent history of the Allied war in the West, provokes much emotion. At the end I simply wept and felt like I had lost a friend. Highly recommended.