by Douglas E. Nash
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Product Description
As the Allies arrived at the frontiers of Germany itself in the last autumn of WWII, the Germans responded with a variety of initiatives designed to regain the strategic initiative. While the Wonder Weapons such as the V-2 missile are widely recognized, the Volks-Grenadier Divisions (VGDs) are practically unknown. Often confused with the Volkssturm, the Home Guard militia, VGDs have suffered the undeserved reputation as second-rate formations, filled with young boys and old men suited to serve only as cannon fodder. This ground-breaking book shows that VGDs were actually conceived as a new, elite corps loyal to the National Socialist Party and equipped with the finest weapons available. Come follow along with the soldiers of the 272nd VGD's Füsilier Company from their first battles in the Huertgen Forest to their final defeat in the Harz Mountains . . . learn the enormous potential of VGDs . . . and feel their soldiers' heartbreak at their failure.
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Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 Another Hit For Nash, 2008-11-20
I thoroughly enjoyed "Victory Was Beyond Their Grasp". Whether a novice or one well read on German World War II military history this book is a treat. One of the aspects I greatly appreciated was the initial breakdown of the history, equipment, and composition of the Volksgrenadier units thrown into the breach by Hitler in 1944. As he successfully did with "Hells Gate", Mr. Nash provided sufficient detail to inform and maintain the reader's interest, but did not get bogged down in technical minutia as many authors so often do. The book flowed from page to page.
Doug Nash has once again provided the reader with another well thought out and personalized treatise on an aspect of the German War Machine that has received very little coverage. His book has served the brave and honorable Soldiers of the Volksgrenadier Divisions with distinction. I anxiously look forward to his next work.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Outstanding!, 2008-11-11
Doug Nash has produced another outstanding work. "Victory Was Beyond Their Grasp"is packed with detailed research which serious students of military history crave.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Huertgen Forest Veteran's Opinon, 2008-11-07
Huertgen Forest Veteran's Opinon
As a member of the 2nd Battalion, 28th Inf Regt, 8th Inf Div, I have very vivid memories of the horrendous battles that took place during the battle for control of the Huertgen Forest. My unit tangled with the 272nd Volks-Grenadier in the areas of Vossenack, the Kall Trail, Kommerscheidt, Schmidt, Giesenheck and perhaps other areas. My unit found them to be formidable foes especially since they had the advantages of higher terrain, prepared defensive bunkers, mine fields and covered foxholes. I have often wondered how they fared during our engagements.
Author Douglas Nash has provided a very clear and concise picture of how the 272nd Volks-Grenadier Division moved and fought to contain the "hot spots" created by the American Army attacks. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in any knowledge of the strategy in the defense of the western border of Germany. It is a must read.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
 A Good and Unique Read, 2008-10-25
A good and unique read. Not many readable books written with such a detailed focus on operational warfare and a very close look at the small units that make up a fighting force. Especially for a poor old German leg division on the dirty end of the stick. Not much glory there but a lot of drama.
A reader learns about where replacements came from such as Eastern front veterans, HQ staffs, support echelons, Air Force, Flak, Navy, militia levies, etc.
You learn how the Fusilier Company operated in the division as a mini-fire brigade. Usually getting it's tail kicked as it was stuck in the line when heavily outnumbered and ordered to counterattack with very little time for proper recon. The Wehrmacht in WWII were accomplished masters of improvisation, and the examples in Nash's book show how the divisional fusilier company, pioneer and replacement battalions were frequently used to bolster "alarm" units made up of scattered units and returning personnel.
You learn that the 272nd Volksgrenadier Division could, contrary to many other German divisions in 44-45, keep it's artillery battalion at least stocked with guns as 1) they ignored orders to abandon heavy equipment to get across the Rhine, 2) they had a few RSO's (fully-tracked tows), 3) though the TO&E equipped art battalions with two 6-gun batteries, they only fielded two 4-gun batteries in a battalion and kept the left-overs in the rear and so could replace gun losses. Actually having ammo to fire, spotters to spot and radios to communicate was another matter . . .
You learn about the defense of "Fortress" Honningen on the east bank of the Rhine below the Ludendorf Bridgehead. Very handy scenario information and maps for those in the wargaming hobby. "Regiments" were down to company strengths (with stragglers included) and bolstered with Flak Battalion elements, and "alarm" units. Several other good scenarios are possible from the book.
And the book is well researched and well illustrated with maps and photos. Uniquely researched also given the serendipitous retrieval and use of the detailed personnel records of the division fusilier company. A recommended book for the military historian and military wargamer.
2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
 Sorry, 2008-10-23
The author keeps his word about staying within details of basic training and equipment and the personal things the German soldier went through in the first few pages. However the other two thirds of the book are aloof and tell of tactics and general movement of units leaving the personal soldiers stories aside. The remainder of the book is written from the stratosphere and not from the dirt and mud of the regular soldiers. They are left out. I found personal soldier references only every other 3 pages after the first 50 pages. Then it is ho hum military college subject matter. He leaves the soldiers behind.
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