General Jacob Devers : World War II's Forgotten Four Star

Adams, John A.

ISBN 10: 0253015170 / ISBN 13: 9780253015174

Published by Indiana University Press, USA, 2015

About this Item

438 pages. Very good hardback in very good jacket. No inscriptions. Small crease to cloth, and small crease to jacket, at head of cover spine. --- General information: please email for any more information or condition photos. There may be other minor faults not included here, but this description should include all important points and convey accurately the overall conditon of the book(s). We are happy to give a more detailed description (by volume where applicable) on request. Posted next day (Mon-Fri) from the UK. We normally post by Royal Mail 1st class within the UK, but may use a slower service for books over 1kg or multiple orders or a tracked service for higher value orders. We normally post by Royal Mail Airmail for overseas deliveries, and may request additional postage (at cost) for heavier books or for tracking (buyers always have the option to cancel the order if we do so). Seller Inventory # 006093

Bibliographic Details

Title: General Jacob Devers : World War II's ...

Publisher: Indiana University Press, USA

Publication Date: 2015

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Very Good

Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good

Edition: First Edition

About this title

Synopsis:

Of the leaders of the American Army in World War II, Jacob Devers is undoubtedly the "forgotten four star." Plucked from relative obscurity in the Canal Zone, Devers was one of four generals selected by General of the Army George Marshall in 1941 to assist him in preparing the Army for war. He quickly became known in Army circles for his "can do" attitude and remarkable ability to cut through red tape. Among other duties, he was instrumental in transforming Ft. Bragg, then a small Army post, into a major training facility. As head of the armored force, Devers contributed to the development of a faster, more heavily armored tank, equipped with a higher velocity gun that could stand up to the more powerful German tanks, and helped to turn American armor into an effective fighting force. In spring 1943, Devers replaced Dwight Eisenhower as commander of the European Theater of Operations, then was given command of the 6th Army Group that invaded the south of France and fought its way through France and Germany to the Austrian border. In the European campaign to defeat Hitler, Eisenhower had three subordinate army group commanders―British Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery, Omar S. Bradley, and Jacob Devers. The first two are well-known―here the third receives the attention he properly deserves.

Review:

"Given how many volumes have been devoted to World War II leaders, it is perplexing
that Devers has lacked a major biography until now... solid and informative." ―Wall Street Journal

"The book fills a serious historical gap in the understanding of large unit command during World War II. Adams's use of the Griess interviews [with Devers]... is a significant contribution in itself." ―Stephen A. Bourque, author of Jayhawk! The VII Corps in the Persian Gulf War

"As commander of the right wing of the allies in northwest Europe and one of Eisenhower’s three Army Group commanders, though an outsider to the Supreme Commander’s circle, General Jacob Devers has long deserved more attention by historians of the Second World War. This rich, balanced,and absorbing biography adds importantly to our understanding of this splendid soldier and his important contributions to victory in Europe." ―Brigadier General (Retired) Charles F. Brower, author of Defeating Japan: The Joint Chiefs of Staff and Strategy in the Pacific War