These Are the Days: Reading Rainbow: Citizen Soldiers

Vitals

Book: Citizen Soldiers: The U.S. Army From the Normandy Beaches to the Bulge to the Surrender of Germany
Author: Stephen Ambrose
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 1997
Chapters/Pages: 9/528
My Rating: 10/10

My second book review is of the Stephen Ambrose book Citizen Soldiers. I was recommended the book by a guy in one of my history classes so I ordered it. It is by the author of Band of Brothers. I didn’t know until after reading it that it is actually the sequel to Ambrose’s D-Day book which I haven’t read yet.

The book is awesome. It is right up my alley. As the title suggests, its covers the average man in the army the day after D-Day in Normandy, France through the Russos taking Berlin. I have never read such a thorough book. Ambrose is careful to include accurate soldier accounts. I was further draw to the book when members of E-Company (The men featured in Band of Brothers.) were continuously mentioned.

Citizen Soldiers looks at the war from the soldier on up through the ranks rather than featuring the leaders such as Eisenhower, Bradley, & Patton. The book is obviously written from an American perspective, however is careful to include perspectives from both GI’s & Krauts. Additionally, it is very interesting to hear criticisms of the Allied Brass (Surprisingly Patten & even Eisenhower, no so surprisingly Monty.).

This book is incredibly rich with accounts & descriptions & easily one of the top 5 books I have ever read. I found myself rereading sections just to fully take in the experience. Much of the book & details were obviously used in the making of Band of Brothers, often giving you great insight & further explanation of the movie. You aren’t going to find a much better book than this. But don't take my word for it...

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