SECOND FRONT : The Allied Invasion of France, 1942-43 (An Alternative History)

SECOND FRONT                                               ALEXANDER M. GRACE, SR.

One of the great arguments of World War II took place among Allied military leaders over when and where to launch a second front against Germany in Europe. Stalin, holding on by his teeth in Russia, urged a major invasion from the west as soon as possible. The Americans, led by Marshall and Wedemeyer, argued likewise. It was Churchill who got his way, however, with his Mediterranean strategy, including a campaign on the Italian peninsula, which he mistakenly called the “soft underbelly of Europe.”

This realistic, fact-based work posits what would have happened had Churchill been overruled, and that rather than invading North Africa in the fall of 1942, then Sicily and Italy, the Allies had hit the coast of southern France instead. The key element that enables the alternative scenario is the cooperation of Vichy, which was negotiated at the time but refused. If the Allies had promised sufficient force to support the French, however, the entire southern coastline of France would have been undefended against a surprise invasion.

In this book, once the Allied armies are ashore, Germans stream toward the front, albeit through a gauntlet of Maquis, Allied paratroopers, and airpower. Meantime the Allied forces push up the Rhône Valley and titanic armored clashes take place near Lyons. Already in desperate straits at Stalingrad, where they had committed their air and armored reserves, the Germans had also yet to switch to a full total-war economy, with tanks like the Panther and Tiger not yet deployed.

This fascinating alternative history comes close to informing us exactly what might have happened had D-Day in Europe come as early as some had wished.

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
In this book the author takes was through what he thinks might have happened if we invaded France when Eisenhower wanted to at the very beginning of our enrollment into the war. Though I found it interesting at least with the invasion of France. The loss of life might not be as high. I am not so sure with other parts of the story. The Germans at the beginning and still at the end had some very good weapons, and though he mentions the tiger, and Panzer tanks would not have been around. We would not have had some of are better weapons, planes and such as we did towards the last year of the war. What people miss is that it took some time for our factories to change into fighting production, and our troops for example on Guadalcanal were using world war one weapons. For me this was the part of the story that would not work now knowing what we know now. Other than that it was an interesting read and a good look at what might have been. I got this book from netgalley. I gave it 3 stars. 
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GERMANY ASCENDANT : The Eastern Front 1915 (General Military)

GERMANY ASCENDANT                                       PRIT BUTTAR

While millions of men died in France and Belgium in 1915, battles equally as large and bloody were being fought on the Eastern Front, as Imperial Germany, Hapsburg Austria-Hungary, and Tsarist Russia clashed on a scale greater than anything seen on the Western Front. These massive offensives were shocking in their scale and intensity, and hugely important. Yet they are largely ignored in the West. Now, with the work of internationally renowned Eastern Front expert Prit Buttar, this story of the unknown side of World War I is finally being told.

In Germany Ascendant, Buttar examines the critical year of 1915, when Germany launched the great Gorlice-Tarnow Offensive, lead by Field Marshal Mackensen. The move, which started as a minor German operation to relieve their Austro-Hungarian allies, ultimately resulted in the utter collapse of Russian forces from all of Poland and Gallacia, and came tantalizingly close to knocking Russia out of the war altogether. Next the Germans led the invasion of Serbia, leading Britain and France to intervene with ground troops, an operation that ultimately failed.

Yet despite this unbroken string of successes, Germany was still hamstrung by a two-front war. Her every attempt to knock Russia out of the war--military and diplomatic--has failed. The stage was then set for the next phase of the war when Russia launched its own counter-offensive that nearly brought the Central Powers to their knees.
 

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
This is an excellent book about WWI and mainly the Eastern front which is normally just a passing reference. More books are written about the Western front, but the stories are tragic and in some cases horrific. You are taken through not only destruction of armies, but of townspeople, and how anti-Semitic was going on back then by both sides. You are taken through the failures of the Germans Generals to take advantage of breakthrough that they have accomplished only to be pushed back by more fighting, and how some of their planning actually lead to more men being killed or captured. You can see really that Russia was on the verge of collapse and being out of the war but the advantages that were gained were never followed. Also because of tactical mistakes Russia not only stayed around but within two years would have their own revolution and I wonder if maybe that might not have happened. Just my thought. Overall a very good book my only complaint was the maps, but overall the book and content were excellent. I got this book from netgalley. I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com

HAPPY EVER AFTER CHRISTMAS (Christmas, Colorado #7)

HAPPY EVER AFTER CHRISTMAS                            DEBBIE MASON

It's beginning to look a lot like love . . .

As her thirtieth birthday approaches, deputy Jill Flaherty decides it's time to live a little. When she walks into Sawyer Anderson's bar in her sexiest dress, she's not thinking that he's her brother's best friend or about the many women he dated during his years as a pro hockey player. All she's thinking is that it's finally time to confess to her longtime crush how she truly feels.

Sawyer is done being a player on and off the ice. Yet no one in the small town of Christmas seems to believe he's ready to settle down, not Jill, and certainly not Jack, who is determined to keep Sawyer from breaking his little sister's heart. But as Sawyer and Jill's relationship heats up, can he prove that he's her happy ever after?
 

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
Jill Flaherty is a deputy in a small town and her thirtieth birthday is just around the corner. With prospects of a serious guy on the horizon she has set her sights on being the next sheriff. The problem with that is she has a slight anger management issue and after numerous complaints she is now doing community service at the senior center. Sawyer Anderson, is a former professional hockey player, and a player in general. Now that his best friend is back from the service after being missing in action, story from another book. Jack, Jill’s brother has made it a point to let Sawyer know to stay away from his sister. The problem is that they like each other, and most of the town knows Jill has been in love with Sawyer since forever. Even Jack’s wife knows. This all come to a head when Sawyer and Jill are asked to watch Jill’s nephew. From there the story really takes off. There are serious moments, funny moments, and guys punching their friends. This is a very good book and has very good characters that I think most people can relate too. Take time to give it a read you won’t be disappointed. I got this book netgalley. I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com

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