One of the better books about the men in the armored division during WWII. Here the author also focuses on Maurice Rose who leads his men into battle most of the time either at the front or close to it. Follows from Normandy past the Bulge and up to where he is killed when he does get too close to the front. An excellent book and well-researched, very much worth the read.

I was really intrigued by the synopsis, it did not transfer well to the story. I found the book to be very dry and underwhelming.

I took me awhile to read this book, but I really enjoyed it. I've read many books about World War II, but this one had a lot of information that I was unaware of. The author's research was in=depth and this book will resonate with me for a long time. Thank you for the advance copy.

Here a general (retired) writes one of the best campaign histories I've ever read. I reviewed it for the Wall Street Journal, May 17, 2021, and on my own website.

A great WWII addition to any aficionado's shelf. The writing style is precise and to the point. The author's knowledge of combat tactics and armored weaponry is unmatched. A solid read!

The "3rd Armored Division" was one of the most successful of the original Normandy landing groups. Brigadier (later Major General) Maurice Rose led the "Spearhead" Third through the bocage, sprint across France, across the Western Wall and the Rhine, and into central Germany. He is not remembered like many other generals because he was killed in the last weeks of the war.

Rose was a "fighting" general who was always at the front lines where his men fought. He was able to direct his combat groups because he was always there with them and knew where his 'lines' needed help. He spent most of the war, driving around the front lines with his headquarters staff in a specially prepared "peep". This eventually put him in a situation where he was captured and shot.

Bolger who spent thirty-five years in the military, does a good job of explaining why you don't know this man. Unlike Montgomery and Patton who spent more time telling newsmen about how great they were, Rose seldomly spoke to the media or even his subordinates (except to give them orders). Rose felt it was his job to kill Germans and not to advertise how great a general he was.

Bolger spends a lot of time savaging Montgomery for his incompetence when it came to reacting to what happened after one of his set-piece attacks failed (such as Market Garden and the failure to secure the land north of the Antwerp estuary (the Schelde) which later led to huge Canadian casualties when they had to clear the area of enemy troops. Bolger also contends that those above Rose (Bradley and Hodge) were to tentative and many times held him back, unable to make a decision.

Though Rose had crossed the Rhine, he had to wait while Mongomery got to play out his set piece further down the Rhine, and helping out when the Germans attacked through the Ardennes/Battle of the Bulge. He turned north along with Patton and the 3rd Army to block part of the assault. He was killed in late March 1945 and this is why he is little known.

At the end of the war when all the 'winning' Generals were lauded for their 'bravery', he wasn't around to accumulate the accolades. Though Rose was the son of a Rabbi (he never spoke of his religion) he listed himself as Protestant to protect himself from the anti-semitism that was rampant among the West Pointers. So to add insult to injury, he was buried in an allied cemetery in the Netherlands (where he never fought) under a cross.

The almost day-by-day style of telling the story of the 3rd Armored Division is a eye opener as we learn about the average soldiers dissatisfaction of the troops with equipment (the Sherman M$s were never equal to the German Panthers) and their opinion of "chateau" generals (think Douglas Haig of WWI) who spent the was putting pins in huge wall maps comfortably behind the lines.

My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for an advanced copy of this new military history.

The Panzer Killers: The Untold Story of a Fighting General and His Spearhead Tank Division's Charge into the Third Reich by Daniel Bolger is a new history that tells two tales. One is a history of the 2nd Armored Division from the Normandy landings to the ending days of the Second World War in Germany. The second is a biography of a little known Brigadier General Maurice Rose and his importance to the division and to the war in general. The research is in-depth with new information on Rose and how it made the man that he became, a leader of men.

Mr. Bolger is an author who suffers not fools, and is quick to point out, on both sides many of the mistakes both honest and ego driven that lead to men dying for no reason. Mr. Bolger is very in the ground the smell of diesel, fire, gun smoke and other war odors to numerous to mention fill the pages. This is a bloody book, not afraid to say what a tank battle will look like on the casualties, nor the survivors. Numerous familiar faces show up Patton, Dick Winters, Monty, but it's Mr. Bolger's attention to both General Rose and the tank crews that really make this book. A perfect Father's Day gift for the historian or for those just interested in World War II.

432 pages

5 stars

Funny, I don't remember ordering this book, but it turned out to be very good.

This book is about a little known hero, Brigadier General Maurice Rose during the time he served in WWII.

Also mentioned is Dick Winters' 101st Airborne “Band of Brothers.” as well as Omar Bradley, General Bernard Law “Monty” Montgomery, General Dwight “Ike” Eisenhower, the Battle of Carentan and other battles in Normandy.

The book is a little dry, but is basically battle-driven, so there are many battles and a lot of action. The fear and horrible consequences of war is fully illustrated. Those poor men must have been terrified, but they were very brave and acted regardless of their own safety.

Mr. Bolger did a great job telling Rose's story and his part in WWII. The book is very well footnoted and is noted by chapter for ease of finding information. There is also a nice listing of the leadership of the Third Armored Division.

I want to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton/Dutton Caliber for forwarding to me a copy of this book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Great World War II history focusing on Major General Maurice Rose and his aggressive battling of panzers in the European theater. The author, a long serving officer in the U.S. Army, is very knowledgeable about what he writes. A detailed history but good for layman history buffs too.

The Panzer Killers: The Untold Story of a Fighting General and His Spearhead Tank Division's Charge into the Third Reich
by Daniel P. Bolger is the story of Major General Maurice Rose and the American 3rd Armored Division during World War II. It begins a month after D-Day with the Allies stalled in the hedgerow country of surrounding Normandy. What was needed was a fighting general who could break the stalemate and get the Army moving. The man picked by General George S. Patton and other top commanders was General Maurice Rose. I have read a lot about this part of the European Theatre, but I admit that I had never heard of General Rose. This is probably the case for most. This is unfortunate given the key role played by him and his division in winning the war. It is good to see him get his due. Like Patton, Maurice Rose chose to lead from the front. He was constantly out in front of his division, scouting, and moving from unit to unit. Also, like Patton he looked the part of the dashing general with his .45 automatic at his side, immaculate uniform, polished brown cavalry boots and green helmet with the single silver star. But there the similarly ends. Unlike Patton he was extremely private and never called attention to himself. Even those on his staff closest to him barely knew him. Rose was raised by Jewish parents. His father was a rabbi. Perhaps this accounts for the ferocity and intensity of his drive against the hated Germans. I say perhaps because Rose never discussed it or his background. His focus was on winning the war and in this he was all business. To accomplish his mission, he handpicked the officers to lead the men under him. It was not until late in the book that a letter home to his wife and young son suggested another, softer side to the man. From the hedgerows of France to the Battle of Bulge and the drive to the Rhine the book closely follows Rose and the 3rd Armored Division. Although the author uses Maurice Rose as the centerpiece of his narrative it is not a biography of Rose. And although it covers the overall European Theater operations in a general sense, it is mostly only concerned with the role of the 3rd Armored Division. I was not very familiar with this division, so I learned a lot and their record is impressive. This was somewhat a tough read for me. The author has done a most thorough job of research, but unless you are a military historian it at times seems too detailed. I enjoyed the author’s thoughts on the other Allied generals and appreciated that he did not pull any punches as to their faults. He also does a fine job of describing battlefield tactics as it comes to armored warfare and the advantages of the various Allied and German tanks and weapons. This is understandable as he himself a retired general and Iraq War veteran. Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton Caliber Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A very interesting read on one of the many facets of WWII. You are brought right into the action and get a taste of what our soldiers encountered. There are so many stories that need to be told and this read brings one of those to the forefront. Thank you Daniel Bolger for you research and writing style and Netgalley for allowing me to review this book.

I recently finished reading an ARC of Daniel P. Bolger's upcoming "The Panzer Killers," to be published by Dutton Citadel (a Penguin imprint). The book is something of an irreverent military history of General Maurice Rose and the 2nd Armored Division. I do not use the term "irreverent" in any kind of a pejorative sense but rather because I found the author's views of Allied military leadership in the ETO singularly refreshing. Too often, Bradley, Montgomery, Eisenhower and the rest (with the sole exception of Patton) are allowed to coast on their supposed accomplishments, and this author is having none of that. The result is a fascinating study of one American armored division's experience in the European theater that doesn't pull any punches. While Bolger puts things into context within the Normandy invasion and the attack into the Third Reich, this is not his strength. He is most illuminating when focusing tightly on the operational history of the the 2nd Armored. He has a fascination with General Rose and uses that to anchor his tale. I would recommend the book principally to those who already have a familiarity with some of the massive amount of literature available on this subject since that allows for the best appreciation of the author's accomplishment in looking at things from a fresh perspective. If you are looking for a biography of General Rose or a comprehensive examination of the 2nd Armored in a broader context, this may not be precisely what you are after; nonetheless, I find the author's insights useful and frequently illuminating, principally as they reflect upon Allied military leadership in Europe, warts and all, as it were.

If you are seeking a story about one of the least well-known American generals of World War II, The Panzer Killers will give it to you. You will find tales of daring, tales of bravery, desperate charges, exultation, and tragedy in this tale of one general and his well-led division.

Maurice Rose took command of the 3rd Armored Division in Lighting Joe Collins' VII corp during the Normandy Campaign right after Operation Cobra got rolling. Rose had worked under Patton in North Africa and Sicily before coming to England to take part in Overlord. So he brought experience and insight into German tactics when he was transferred from 2nd Armored Combat Command A to head the 3rd Armored Division. Rose worked his officers to ensure that they would do what he wanted when he wanted it done. And he did not sit behind the lines in a command post drawing lines on the map. Instead, he and a small group would be moving from unit to unit, assessing how the attack was going, who needed more prodding, or when to halt and switch tactics. It was dangerous to be in Rose's command group as the 3rd Armored fought their way through France, into Netherlands and Belgium. The 3rd Armored took part in the Hurtgen Forest attack and helped stem the Germans in the Battle of the Bulge. Then came the plunge into Germany proper. The 3rd Armored followed the 104th Infantry across the Roer River and finally had a chance to cut loose again. The Pershing tanks (the few that made it to Europe) proved their worth in the taking of Cologne. The 3rd Armored crossed the Rhine at Remagen and moved out in March 1945 into the German hinterland. In the Wild West of the last days of the war, Rose overplayed his hand. He and his small command group was ambushed by a group of Germans and he was killed. He was one of the few American generals killed in action during World War II. The 3rd Armored finished the war under General Doyle Hickey.

Daniel P. Bolger, an experienced armor commander, examines how Maurice Rose shaped the 3rd Armored Division to be a model of a well drilled fighting division. Bolger nicely uses documentation personal stories to provide a rounded look at both the 3rd Armored Division and General Maurice Rose in action. So, if you are looking to fill a gap in your knowledge of American fighting generals and their units, do pick up The Panzer Killers. You will not be disappointed!

I'm familiar with the 3rd Armor Division. I've driven down Spearhead Division Rd on Fort Knox. Until I picked this book up, I'd never heard of MG Maurice Rose.

As a student of history, particularly military history, and possessing a deep admiration for the Soldiers that fought in both World Wars, I was particularly interested in reading this book.

LTG Bolger (RET) did an excellent job of balancing historical accuracy (this book is exceptionally well cited) and maintaining a compelling narrative that does not read like an after action report. I found myself picking this up to make progress at every opportunity, even occasionally while on teleconferences. I think this would most appeal to those interested in military history, and to a lesser extent limited biographies, but absolutely worth reading for those that are. I've already recommended it to some fellow Service Members, and likely will to others as well.

What an amazing story. This book follows the tanks through Europe during WWII starting days after D-Day and actually ties in with Major Dick Winters and the 101st Airborne Division as they take Carentan. Everything from learning to overcome the dense hedgerows that stopped not only ground troops but even the power and the weight of the tanks.

It is amazing to see how these seemingly impenetrable beasts of machinery were so thin-skinned on the floor and how vulnerable they were when they tried to plow over the hedgerows. These brave men risked their lives and fought valiantly throughout the war.

What an amazing account of these true heroes.

5 Stars!

An outstanding read on a famous division in WW2. The author makes good use of developing the characters and providing the interactions and politics of the various individuals. Interwoven into the account are gripping stories of various actions the group faced. A must read for any individual interested in WW2.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book is very precise and talks about the technology and the terminology especially surrounding the word "bazooka" in the early chapters. It debunks some common held myths and talks about the power of Panzer tanks. Most importantly, it focuses on the "counter" weapons of the Panzer, such as the Bazooka, and how hard sometimes they were to use (50 yd distance). Overall very concise and straight to the point.

Free ARC from NET GALLEY

I love WW2 but there are still surprises and the "ROSE" is one. How many other sub-leaders of Patton lie dormant in the history books. A true leader by example and violence and not just volume here is a story a a warrior like those found in the book of Judges. You will enjoy the true life feats of an un- publicized TRUE HERO!!