Fatal Decision is a powerful; dramatic; moving; and ultimately definitive narrative of one of the most desperate campaigns of World War II. In the winter of 1943-44; Anzio; a small Mediterranean resort and port some thirty-five miles south of Rome; played a crucial role in the fortunes of World War II as the target of an amphibious Allied landing. The Allies planned to bypass the strong German defenses along the Gustav Line and at Monte Cassino sixty miles to the southeast; which were holding up the American and British armies and preventing the liberation of Rome. By taking advantage of Allied command of the sea and air to effect complete surprise; infantry and armored forces landing at Anzio on January 22 were expected to secure the beachhead and then push inland to cut off the two main highways and railroads supplying the German forces to the south; either trapping and annihilating the German armies or forcing them to withdraw to the north; thus opening the way to Rome. But the reality of one of the most desperate campaigns of World War II was bad management; external meddling; poorly relayed orders; and uncertain leadership. The Anzio beachhead became a death trap; with Allied troops forced to fight for their lives for four dreadful months. The eventual victory in May 1944 was muted; bitter; and overshadowed by the Allied landings in Normandy on June 6. Mixing flawless research; drama; and combat with a brilliant narrative voice; Fatal Decision is one of the best histories ever written of a World War II military campaign.
#2935686 in Books 2003-06-17 2003-06-17Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .83 x 5.31l; .68 #File Name: 0060542292368 pages
Review
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Intimate details of combat horrors-the 8th GeorgiaBy BrasidasThe history of the Eighth Georgia reads like a trail of tears of innocence lost and lives shattered just as certainly as the social fabric of America was rent by the Civil War; and limbs shattered by incessant Minnie Ball fire. This book does a superb job of turning blood soaked battlefield statistics into real personal stories.If you are looking for maps; and tactical wizardry of great Captains; it is not here. If; though; you want to read of the great suffering of the South during the War; of horrible leadership; and battlefield fate; of bonds of unbreakable friendship no matter how long the marches or the odds; this IS the book. From the first hurrah of success at Manassas; to the last shoeless mile marched to Appomattox Court House; this is a great read.Perhaps most interesting is how well the author lays out the direct impact on personal lives and battlefield fortunes the great political decisions at the state level through out the South; from secession to succumbing to defeat. The decision on how to raise regiments; how to officer them; equip them train them; whether to deploy them to far away battlefields; or retain them at home for local defense (ever a more pressing worry as Grant and Sherman pressed from the Mississippi River Valley into the lower Confederacy) all have immediate and dramatic impact on battlefield fortunes.Although told in a chronological order; the author does a wonderful job of cross weaving the many factors of life in the immediate pre-war period into the overall panoramic view of the initial forming of the Eighth Georgia and the many other Southern Regiments. In many ways; the picture he paints of idyllic spring turning to blood drenched winter pre-tells the fate awaiting Europe in 1914.To read this intimate account of the Eighth Georgia; then; is to also read of a war that is in a transition period between the advent of Napoleonic total war in the pre-industrial age; to total war in the Industrial Age; when the means of creating death; moving forces; marshalling armies; and laying waste for the first time outstrip the pace of the foot soldier with a pike or simple musket. The advent and utilization of repeating rifles and machine guns; battlefield entrenchments (as opposed to bastion citadels); aerial observation for concentrated mobile artillery; trains to move troops and supplies; steam power for both ships and trains; and the first time that the leaders of armies no longer stood in front; as Napoleon and Wellington did; but instead may not have even seen the battlefields; relying on dispatch trains and telegraphs to tell them what was happening and allowing them to transmit rapid (often contradictory) instructions all pre-tell the horrors of WWI. After reading this book; you would do well to read "August 1914" and "All quiet on the Western Front" to contrast and compare the developments of modern warfare.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Pa. CopperheadBy T. RooneyAn excellent regimental history . Wilkinson and Woodworth really take you to the battlefield . They give great accounts of when and where the soldiers were wounded or killed . The book follows the regiment from when and how they were formed to the surrender . This is a moving histoical history on one of the most bloodied units in the war . I would recommend 'A Scythe of Fire' to anybody .
