Mines

Anti-personnel mines are often mentioned by Wilson as the (likely) most frightening thing of battle (invisible, removes limbs, takes lives)

Bouncing bettys mentioned, remember they are the type that shoot up to head level, then explode, sending metal balls out in a sphere of doom

At one point, Wilson mentions home-made mines made of glass, wax, and explosive. These mines were not detectable (no metal)

Power/Importance of Air Force

Throughout this book, Wilson witnesses various bombings, at day, night, and blanketing runs

He mentions how much easier taking ground that had been bombed the night before was

He also mentions how Allied air superiority allows observation planes to have great recon and intelligence value, and how Germans lacked this advantage

One napalm bomb is dropped on a tank/few infantry under wilson's command (three of four low-lying planes saw they were allies, fourth didnt)

Artillery/Mortars (Allied)

Wilson mentions the Forward Observer and his role in bringing deadly barrages often.

Artillery proves crucial various times, taking ground, ambushes, clearing out pockets of resistance

Mortars' speed makes them silent until impact, devastating when used properly.

Once in the book, a n00b to mortars fires one upward, forcing his allies to gtfo

“Tree Bursts” used against infantry in woods, general tactic used by both sides

Artillery (German)

Supersonic 88mm artillery feared and respected by allies, no warning, accurate german FOs

Massacre of Villebodoun Ridge was largely due to German infantry and artillery pinning down Wilson's unit, and, well, massacring them.

Wilson was aware Germans liked to barrage hilltops and valleys, warned his CO, still got led there (see Military Command Shortcomings)

Salvo- A barrage of 4 rounds fired from each artillery piece at (roughly) the same target (general term, not specifically german)

Shortcomings of Military Command

Inexperienced retreads (desk workers thrown into battle) can outrank experienced commanders (like Wilson)

Many losses occur in this book (and in the war itself) due to the inability of the lower-ranked veteran to disobey n00b commanders

Wilson goes on a page+ long rant about this shortcoming and its implications (pgs 240-241 in my book)

Liberated Populations

As the Allies liberated countries closer and closer to germany, it became more evident how the conquered still feared the Germans (belgians straight up wary of Allied troops)

French are ecstatic when first released, grow less so when Paris becomes R&R destination

Prostitution grows in war-torn Paris, and the citizens resentfully allow it

Luxembourg described as nearly apathetic by the time Wilson has R&R there

“Pitiful Losses”

Throughout this book, Wilson mentions many times when men are lost “unnecessarily”

His first loss occurred early in the Saint-Lo campaign when a rifleman tried to shoot at an armored half-track (i.e. foolhardy moron)

Other stupid losses:-Man behind hedgerow run over by allied tank-Man sniped when pausing to p/u helmet-Officer demonstrating rifle grenades uses a live round instead of blank, detonating and killing 3-17 killed when one of Wilson's men dropped a rifle grenade he forgot to disarm in a farmhouse

Traps!

Booby traps were common in recovering German-occupied lands

Trip wire, pressure sensing, and other types used

Problem in Hurtgen Withdrawing Germans left un-fueled tanks, but

booby trapped them. US forces were warned, then they started getting curious; more stupid losses occur

Hürtgen Forest (US “victory”)

THERE IS AN UMLAT OVER THE U, FAILING TO PUT THIS IN AN ESSAY WILL EXPOSE YOU AS NEVER HAVING READ THE BOOK

US high command feared forest could be guerrilla resistance base for defeated germans; therefore it must be taken (uh..)

Horrendous terrain, bad visibility, ~pitch black at night, Germans hold good defensive positions

Costly, possibly unneeded campaign, kills many of Wilson's men, name comes to be resented and reminiscent of slaughter

Saint-Lô Breakthrough

NOTE THE CHEVRON OVER THE O First campaign Wilson participates in Was a push through german-held lands,

bombing important in campaign, 4 day long campaign, 4th day is when Massacre of V Ridge occurs

Counterattacks feared In first day, Wilson saves his 24 men through

grenade-and-run tactics, gets Silver Star

Withdrawing Germans

Wilson notes various things about the retreating German forces

Burials hasty, mass graves, etc Many wounded left behind with the corpses of

their teammates to be found by the Allies Generally, useful things left behind are

destroyed, though some are left in haste Often times Germans tried to make advance of

Allies as difficult as possible, laying new mines, traps, road blocks (un-guarded; not to stop; to slow), etc.

Treatment of Wounded/POWs

Wilson often hopes US troops are treated as German POWs and casualties are treated by the Allies

Wounded cared for, men usually taken, not killed, rarely do allies use “info for aid” tactics on Germans, but info was less crucial in “The Chase” part of the war when the most wounded are captured

Mental Breaks/Combat Fatigue

War is hard on the mind Wilson witnesses at least 2 bad breakdowns

(bad enough to be seen and affect other men), and mentions others

Some men try to fake these conditions to get out of combat

Morale of the entire Army can be great, but continued battle can still wear on long-time combatants

Digging in

Every time a unit stops advancing, they must begin to “Dig In”

Foxholes were crucial to avoiding enemy fire, and served as protection against many forms of weaponry

Difficult and hated on frozen ground Depth basically shows how much time and

energy troops have, as deeper foxholes were often safer; deep enough to sit/stand in? Put a roof on it!

German Fort. types

At Seigfried, Pillboxes are well distributed and are partially subterranean concrete bunkers covered in earth

“Log Bunkers” commonly used, similar to pillboxes of concrete, but 12+” diam logs used in place of concrete; Hurtgen, Seine Eifel, etc

Most were strong against either/both overhead (mortar/artillery) and frontal (tank/TD/artillery) attacks

Most required close combat to clear, grenades/napalm useful for this

Training Notes

When replacements arrived, “tips and tricks” taught

Officer training doesnt teach use of under-strength units, Wilson laments this

Many aspects of real combat never get covered at OCS

Many “tips and tricks” could be taught quickly and easily, raising the question of why the Army didnt include this in basic training (a page-long sheet could cover these hugely important tips)

PATTON! WHAT A GUY!

Wilson often mentions how Patton was not that much better than some other commanders of the WWII army, he simply was both a good strategist and charismatic, allowing him to have sway others could not muster

Due to this, Patton always has the best, newest maps/aerial photos, while Wilson's unit makes do with WWI maps

Wilson actually brings this up 2+ times in the book, and felt Patton really was a good commander, but was all this fair? Could army do better about this?

Medics

In this book, Medics often prove to be the most courageous and important men on the field

One medic gets shot in the side recovering Wilson's second loss (guy who stopped for his helmet)

Medics were supposed to be immune, but some were fired upon (like the above story)

Many lives were saved due to medics' quick action and disregard to the bullets whizzing by

General Newcomb's death

Just after Wilson is injured in the foot by artillery shrapnel, he learns of his best Army friend's death

Newcomb killed entering a building when an artillery shell blew up at his doorway

Wilson calls Newcomb the “best company commander in combat that [he] ever knew”

This passage is on page 247 in my book, and I recommend reading it in full (it's short). It starts after a break with “During my months of front...”

Review the Following Tank Destroyers Trench Foot The Index of the book (look for things you feel

you should know) The “Wilson, George” section of the Index

(know which medals he won and why, I guess) Retreads Split Platoon Tactics Why would germans be using horse-drawn

stuff? Buzz Bombs, 88mm, american artillery types