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BAND OF BROTHERS : "E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne, From Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest"
Author(s): Stephen E. Ambrose
Binding: Audio Cassette
Dewey Decimal Number: 940.5421
EAN: 9780671043919
Edition: Abridged
Format(s): AbridgedAudiobook
ISBN: 0671043919
Label: Simon & Schuster Audio
Language(s): English Original LanguageEnglish UnknownEnglish Published
List Price: $25.00
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Audio
Number Of Items: 4
Package Dimensions:
Height: 1.12"
Width: 4"
Length: 1.12"
Weight: 0.37 lbs.
Product Group: Book
Address: 1998-11-01
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Studio: Simon & Schuster Audio
Editorial Reviews
Product Description:
From D-Day to victory in World War II with the men of Easy Company: Utah Beach, Market-Garden, the Bulge, and on to Hitler's Eagle's Nest in Berchtesgaden. They came together, citizen soldiers, in the summer of 1942, drawn to Airborne by the $50 monthly bonus and a desire to be better than the other guy. And at its peak -- in Holland and the Ardennes -- Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, U.S. Army, was as good a rifle company as any in the world. From the rigorous training in Georgia in 1942 to the disbanding in 1945, esteemed WWII historian Stephen Ambrose tells the story of this remarkable company. In combat, the reward for a job well done is the next tough assignment, and as they advanced through Europe, the men of Easy kept getting the tough assignments, from parachuting into France early D-Day morning to capturing Hitler's Barvarian outpost. "Band of Brothers" is a story of the men who fought, of the martinet they hated who trained them well, and of the captain they loved who led them. E Company was a company of men who went hungry, froze, and died for each other, a company that took 150 percent casualties, a company where the Purple Heart was not a medal -- it was a badge of office.
Amazon.com Review:
The men of E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne, volunteered for this elite fighting force because they wanted to be the best in the army--and avoid fighting alongside unmotivated, out-of-shape draftees. The price they paid for that desire was long, arduous, and sometimes sadistic training, followed by some of the most horrific battles of World War II. Actor Cotter Smith--a veteran of numerous TV movies and Broadway plays--spins Stephen Ambrose's tale with almost laconic ease. Anecdote by anecdote, he lets the power of the story build. By the time the company has gotten through D-day and seized Hitler's Eagle's Nest in Bavaria, we feel we know as much about the men and their missions as we do about our own brothers. (Running time: 5 hours, 4 cassettes) --Lou Schuler
Customer Reviews Average rating - 4.5
Rating - 5 Date: 2009-01-08
Content: Ambrose is the master historian. He made history interesting again. He does it by telling the stories of regular people -- not armies, not generals, not national leaders, but rather, the common GI Joe. He did all veterans a great service in his writing. He will be missed. Don't think you know this book just because you've watched the HBO series a dozen times -- you must read the book.
Summary: The Standard!
Rating - 3 Date: 2008-12-19
Content:
In this book, Ambrose crafts a narrative out of recollected war stories of a company of American paratroopers. It's surprisingly unemotional for a war story, largely because the participants aren't characterized very well. The company commander, Dick Winters, and a few others come alive in this story. Unfortunately, most of the men get about the same treatment as the enlisted man in StarTrek episodes who is doomed to die on the planet. When death occurs, it's more matter-of-fact than it should be.
The best part of the book comes, surprisingly, in training camp. Ambrose has time to introduce the regiment to us, and does it well. The most depressing part of the book comes when the war is over. One man after another succumbs to automobile accidents, drunken debaucheries, or cases of mistaken identity.
So, this book was a disappointment. I'm sure that the men thought of themselves as a band of brothers but the reasons for that friendship don't come across at all well.
Summary: A disappointment from a talented author
Rating - 5 Date: 2008-12-13
Content: Biggest Brother: The Life Of Major Dick Winters, The Man Who Led The Band of Brothers
Band of Brothers is a fantastic and real account of Easy Company, 101st Airbourne called into every crucial battle Against Germany in WW-II...never rested enough, no winter clothers, not enough food to eat, they endured the unendurable especially holding the line during the "Battle of the Buldge".
Better than the HBO Series of the "Band of Brothers" both are enjoyable although the book is much more accurate/see Biggest Brother above, an escellent 5 STAR read as well
Summary: MUST READ - Excellent depiction of Special U.S. Warriors
Rating - 5 Date: 2008-11-28
Content: Stephen Ambrose's Band of Brothers has been much praised and I want to add my praise to that chorus. It is the story of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, from their training at Camp Toccoa, Georgia to the capture of Hitler's Eagle's Nest in Bavaria.
They were at the tip-of-the-spear in numerous key engagements of the European Theater of Operations - Normandy, Operation Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge, and beyond.
By the end of the war, Easy Company had spent well over 120 days on the very front lines in combat conditions. The size of the company at full-strength was 140 men. Of the men who fought in the unit, 48 were killed in action, and over 100 wounded, some wounded multiple times.
Several themes run through the story. One of them is the tight camaradery of soldiers fighting side-by-side: "Comrades are closer than friends, closer than brothers" (p. 19). Another is the vital role of leadership in battle. Lt. Harry Welsh's opinion was: "officers go first" (p. 36). That was Capt. Dick Winters style as well-the story revolves a great deal around him-and it was recognized by all: "'Follow me' was his code. He personally killed more Germans and took more risks than anyone else." (p. 155).
One should not assume that Ambrose is denigrating any other unit that saw action in the key battles Easy Company participated in. Rather, understand that he is providing a view into the experiences and actions of combat for the American fighting men of the Second World War through the eyes of a small-unit that fought in numerous key engagements of the war and proved their mettle in battle through their leadership, comradeship, lives, and blood.
Band of Brothers renewed and deepened my appreciation and thanksgiving for the men and women who fought to end the evil that was the Nazi Empire. There is a reason that the Nazi Swastika does not fly over the capitols of Europe today and it is in large part due to the willingness of warriors like the men of Easy Company. Citizens who loved peace and yet responded to the call to arms. They were willing to pick up a rifle and learn to stop the enemy and drive him back. And in battle, when home was distant and ideals driven from the mind, they always found a reason to stand, fight, and sacrifice if for nothing else but the brother standing next to them.
I commend to you, Band of Brothers, it is well-written, flows easily, and is a wonderful testament to the American fighting men of the Second World War.
Summary: Review: Band of Brothers - Simply Excellent
Rating - 5 Date: 2008-11-10
Content: I first got into Band of Brothers (BoB) after the DVD set was released. But I decided I wanted to read the book version to get more of the details (and there is A LOT left out). However, I picked up the audio version so I could listen to in during my commute to and from work. And it REALLY passes the time. Keeps you districted from the horrible traffic but not so much from driving itself. Definitely recommended for that purpose.
My only gripe is that this is the abridged version and I still feel like I missed a lot of the details I was looking for. So if you want to get the full effect...read the book. But if you want something more entertaining that talk radio or the same 20 songs over and over again - this is a GREAT fit!!
Summary: One of the best!
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