Squandered Victory: The American First Army at St. Mihiel

(Hardback)

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Description

This is the first book ever devoted entirely to the St. Mihiel operation and its ramifications. It details Pershing's struggle to form an independent American army in France and the importance of the St. Mihiel operation from both political and military perspectives. It links historical events and details in a way that has never been done on this subject, pulling from a variety of sources to depict motivations, events, and political and military thought. It supports the conclusiondebated by historians and military men for over 75 yearsthat Pershing might have been able to end the war in September 1918, if not held back by the machinations of the Allies.

Reviews

"Hallas has covered one of the more controversial episodes in American military history--General Pershing's assault on the German position in the St. Mihiel Salient in September 1918. This is not an impersonal "campaign history"; the personal experiences of U.S. troops are included. Recommended for World War I and military history collections."-Library Journal
.,."a good history of the campaign and its controversies. All levels."-Choice
," . . vivid presentation, based on first-hand accounts from long-neglected sources, of the nature of frontline combat in the Great War's final stages."- Publishers Weekly
Hallas has covered one of the more controversial episodes in American military history--General Pershing's assault on the German position in the St. Mihiel Salient in September 1918. This is not an impersonal "campaign history"; the personal experiences of U.S. troops are included. Recommended for World War I and military history collections.-Library Journal
. . . vivid presentation, based on first-hand accounts from long-neglected sources, of the nature of frontline combat in the Great War's final stages.- Publishers Weekly
...a good history of the campaign and its controversies. All levels.-Choice
The value in Hallas's book lies in his brief but elegant sketches of the AEF's leaders (Pershing, MacArthur, Marshall, Patton, Donovan, many of whom went on to prominence in WWII), and his accounts of America's first use of tanks and air power drawn from participants' first-hand descriptions of the battle. Not neglecting the German side of the story, he also offers insightful analysis of the Imperial Army's situation strategically and tactically, as well in terms of its eroding morale. An excellent effort and a recommended read.-Trench-Linex
This book is worthy of purchase by any institution which can make use of detailed WWI history materials....will be of substantial value to individuals researching the military history of WWI from the American perspective.-Academic Library Book Review
This clear combat narrative is enhanced by details of units and individual soldierd, of one of the finest armies America ever fielded. Maps, photos, and Praeger Publication's usual excellent index.-Amazon.comBooks
..."a good history of the campaign and its controversies. All levels."-Choice
." . . vivid presentation, based on first-hand accounts from long-neglected sources, of the nature of frontline combat in the Great War's final stages."- Publishers Weekly
"This book is worthy of purchase by any institution which can make use of detailed WWI history materials....will be of substantial value to individuals researching the military history of WWI from the American perspective."-Academic Library Book Review
"This clear combat narrative is enhanced by details of units and individual soldierd, of one of the finest armies America ever fielded. Maps, photos, and Praeger Publication's usual excellent index."-Amazon.comBooks
"The value in Hallas's book lies in his brief but elegant sketches of the AEF's leaders (Pershing, MacArthur, Marshall, Patton, Donovan, many of whom went on to prominence in WWII), and his accounts of America's first use of tanks and air power drawn from participants' first-hand descriptions of the battle. Not neglecting the German side of the story, he also offers insightful analysis of the Imperial Army's situation strategically and tactically, as well in terms of its eroding morale. An excellent effort and a recommended read."-Trench-Linex

Author Bio

JAMES H. HALLAS is publisher of the Glastonbury Citizen, a newspaper in Glastonbury, Connecticut. He has published articles in American History Illustrated and Yankee Magazine. His first book, Devil's Anvil: The Assault on Peleliu, was published by Praeger in 1994.