America's Choice

Excellent. Written from real experiences during the Battle for North Africa. Wagner succeeds in presenting POV's from various sources. British, American, Canadian, German, Italian and Arab. It reads like a spy novel in that one is thrust into the behind the scenes machinations of battle plans, strategies and tactics. While at the same time, delving into the humanity of the combatants, revealing the commonality of men thrust into the Hell of war. Gritty, shocking and sensual. Worthy of film depiction, but alas, such movies aren't made anymore.

I have read many war accounts, this one stands out. The reader is presented with various accounts of the Italian Campaign, through the eyes of different men, women and children. That in of itself is not unique. What is unique is Woodruff's ability to peel back the layers of humanity in the face of untold suffering, savagery and violence. The Battle for the Plain of Latium following the Anzio Landings devolved into a tragic series of missteps and miscalculations. The result? Probably the most miserable campaigns of the ETO. Rain, cold, mud, snow, vermin, disease and starvation. The Allies were confronted with some of the best the Wehrmacht could muster, under the able hand of Field Marshall Kesselring. Woodruff carefully presents different actions and encounters to illustrate the absolute despair of the people sucked into this woeful Battle. I come away from reading it moved to tears...this book is aptly names.