In the first volume of a remarkable trilogy, Pulitzer Prize winner Rick Atkinson provides the definitive history of the war in North Africa.
The liberation of Europe and the destruction of the Third Reich is an epic story of courage and calamity, of miscalculation and enduring triumph. An Army at Dawn begins on the eve of Operation TORCH, the daring amphibious invasion of Morocco and Algeria. After three days of hard fighting against the French, American and British troops push deeper into North Africa.
But the confidence gained after several early victories soon wanes; casualties mount rapidly; battle plans prove ineffectual, and hope for a quick and decisive victory evaporates. The Allies discover that they are woefully unprepared to fight and win this war. North Africa becomes a proving ground: it is here that American officers learn how to lead, here that soldiers learn how to hate, here that an entire army learns what it will take to vanquish a formidable enemy. Many great battle captains emerged in North Africa, including Eisenhower, Patton, Bradley, and Montgomery. Atkinson brings these commanders vividly to life. He takes us to the front lines of every major battle -- from Oran to Kasserine to Tunis. In North Africa, the Allied coalition came into its own, the enemy forever lost the initiative, and the United States -- for the first time -- began to act like a great power.
Atkinson casts a clear eye on the dark tragedies that haunt every war. The first volume of the Liberation Trilogy, An Army At Dawn is history of the highest order -- brilliantly researched, rich with new material and surprising insights, the deeply human story of a monumental battle for the future of civilization.
I truly enjoyed this book, having see part of the story on War Stories, which included the author. It is well written though a little hard to follow without a map in hand. Victory costs lives as do mistakes and the author shows the need to obtain Victory
army at dawn
Written by Michael Manning on June 15th, 2006
Book Rating: 5/5
One of the best books on Operation Torch and subseqent operations. I highly recommend it.
An Army at Dawn
Written by Peter Maugle from Hatfield, PA
on November 29th, 2005
Book Rating: 4/5
I thoroughly enjoyed this account of an often overlooked theater of WWII. I thought the author used a good combination of narrative mixed in with some personal stories from the soldiers. Just FYI, this book does not cover the entire North Africa campaign, but specifically the American involvement from late 1942 and after.
Great Read
Written by Anonymous from Norfolk, MA
on June 20th, 2005
Book Rating: 4/5
I was unaware of how ill-prepared we were as an army and did not know much if anything of the French fighting with the Germans in North Africa. Helps to place Casablanca in context . Enjoyable read.
Good Historical Book
Written by Daniel Wainwright from Fresno, CA
on February 17th, 2005
Book Rating: 4/5
A very interesting historical look at the Allied invasion of North Africa in '42-'43. Not as many personal stories of individuas as Stephen Ambroise. This is much more of a historical look at the decisions and the decision makers as opposed to the ground soldiers. I enjoyed it.
