Joseph Balkoski concludes his landmark series on the U.S. 29th Infantry Division in World War II with the story of the 29ers during the war's final five months. Opening with the division's participation in Operation Grenade, Balkoski follows the 29ers through the crossing of the Roer River, the blitzkrieg-style drive across the Rhineland to the Rhine River, their military-government duties while helping to reduce the Ruhr pocket, and the survivors' return home.
Industry Reviews
""The Last Roll Call" completes Joseph Balkoski's magnificent five-volume history of the 29th U.S. Infantry Division in World War II as it fought its way from Omaha Beach on D-Day to the Elbe River and Germany's defeat. This final volume, describing the division's actions during the war's last five months, is as meticulously researched and masterfully written as each of Balkoski's previous volumes. "The Last Roll Call" is a 'must read' for anyone interested in how U.S. Army leaders and soldiers fought the real war to defeat Hitler's war machine."--Col. Jerry D. Morelock, USA (Ret), PhD."HISTORYNET editor at large and author of "Generals of the Bulge: Leadership in the U.S. Army's Greatest Battle"" (05/30/2015) "Endlessly absorbing. Joe Balkoski shows us again that he is the master of that rare and rich combination of narrative skill which allows readers to get inside the heads of commanders and at the same time feel the bullets the lowest ranking 29er took during combat."--Robert Baumer"author of "Aachen: The U.S. Army's Battle for Charlemagne's City"" (06/03/2015) "Joe Balkoski is one of America's premier military historians; no one on earth knows the 29th division like he does. "The Last Roll Call" brilliantly documents an area of World War II that hasn't received enough attention--the closing months of the war in Europe. With his sterling prose and deft research, Balkoski puts the reader in the boots of the men of the 29th Division, capturing the final battles against the Third Reich. It fills a void and provides a priceless piece of World War II historiography."--Patrick K. O'Donnell"best-selling author of "First Seals: The Untold Story of the Forging of America's Most Elite Unit"" (06/05/2015) "Joe Balkoski has done it again. Through primary research, veteran interviews, and excellent writing, he puts the reader into the combat boots of the front-line soldier, completing the story of the 29th Infantry Division's campaign across Europe. As with his other books, he tells the story from top to bottom: from the generals directing armies into the heart of Germany, to the soldiers--muddy, bloodied, and cold, yet determined--whose job it was to pry the enemy out of their final defenses. A triumph of military history writing. I wish every World War II Army division had a Joe Balkoski."--Kevin M. Hymel"author of "Patton's Photographs: War as He Saw It"" (06/02/2015)
