Antony Beevor ARDENNES 1944 First Edition Signed
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Antony Beevor ARDENNES 1944 First Edition Signed
First edition first print hardback of ARDENNES 1944 (Hitler's Last Gamble) by Antony Beevor and published by Viking in 2015. Signed by Beevor on the title page. Numberline is: 001. 'Signed Copy' sticker to front cover.The book is in very good condition (black cloth boards with gilt lettering to spine) with light bumping to a couple of corners and two very faint circular marks to the front board. The book is in a near fine unclipped dust jacket which is protected in an archival sleever and has light creasing to edges. Internally the pages are clean and tight and there are no tears or other inscriptions.
On 16 December, 1944, Hitler launched his 'last gamble' in the snow-covered forests and gorges of the Ardennes. He believed he could split the Allies by driving all the way to Antwerp, then force the Canadians and the British out of the war. Although his generals were doubtful of success, younger officers and NCOs were desperate to believe that their homes and families could be saved from the vengeful Red Army approaching from the east. Many were exultant at the prospect of striking back.
The Ardennes offensive, with more than a million men involved, became the greatest battle of the war in western Europe. American troops, taken by surprise, found themselves fighting two panzer armies. Belgian civilians fled, justifiably afraid of German revenge. Panic spread even to Paris. While many American soldiers fled or surrendered, others held on heroically, creating breakwaters which slowed the German advance.
The harsh winter conditions and the savagery of the battle became comparable to the eastern front. And after massacres by the Waffen-SS, even American generals approved when their men shot down surrendering Germans. The Ardennes was the battle which finally broke the back of the Wehrmacht.
451 pages including Acknowledgements, Bibliography, Notes and Index. Includes three sections of black & white photographs.
ISBN: 9780670918645
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Antony Beevor ARDENNES 1944 First Edition Signed
