Pritzker Military Library Presents

- Season 15

(2020)

Hew Strachan explores the last major German offensives in the First World War. He focuses on the Spring Offensives of 1918, which were Germany's last attempt to defeat the British and French armies on the Western Front. Germany needed a decisive victory which could turn the war in their favor before the American forces could be fully deployed. Germany's failures in this campaign are discussed.

Gerhard Weinberg and Jay Williams discuss Hitler's defining decision to launch a major offensive against the Americans and British in the west instead of focusing on the Soviet Union in the east. Hitler, the Chief of State, acting as Commander in Chief of the Wehrmacht, overrode the judgement of his military advisers, going against military logic and previously strategic decisions. He sent some of his best troops, the men who stood between the Red Army and their march to Berlin, to fight the Americans and British in Belgium. The reasons behind this decision - whether ...

Dennis Showalter and Professor John W. Hall discuss the human characters and capabilities of those on both sides of the Battle of the Bulge, from the leaders in high command to those on the ground. Conflicting personalities and viewpoints, intelligence failures, and diverging strategies contributed to the chaos of war and the toll of the Battle of the Bulge. But for the men at the top and the men on the ground, this fight came with the underlying prospect of making or breaking the German offense.

Allan Millett and Jay Williams dive deeper into the Siege of Bastogne, exploring how it was the key to Allied victory in the Battle of the Bulge. They cover the significance of the city; the attack itself; its effects; and its aftermath.

David Abrutat discusses his book which provides an excellent historical account for anyone wanting to understand the Allies military success on D-Day. Vanguard is the untold story of this work performed by the intelligence machine and of the covert reconnaissance missions that went into the D-Day planning, such as the signals intelligence intercepts the agent running operations orchestrated by the 15th Flotilla to the secret work of the X-Craft and COPP (Combined Operations Pilotage Parties) diver teams that scoured the Normandy coast months before the June 1944 ...

Lt. Gen. Warren D. Barry discusses his service, his position as Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics Engineering and Force Protection at the headquarters of the U.S. Air Force in Arlington, Virginia, and the role of United States Air Force in the world today.

Larrie Ferreiro shows that at the time the first shots were fired at Lexington and Concord the colonists had little chance, if any, of militarily defeating the British. The nascent American nation had no navy, little in the way of artillery, and a militia bereft even of gunpowder. In his detailed accounts, Ferreiro discusses how without the extensive military and financial support of the French and Spanish, the American cause would never have succeeded.

A poor Jewish kid from Chicago's Lawndale neighborhood, Admiral Hyman G. Rickover served more than 30 years as the head of the U.S. Navy's Nuclear Propulsion Program and more than 63 years on active-duty. During his tenure, Rickover used unorthodox methods and challenged much of the military's conventional wisdom to build America's nuclear Navy. The panelists explore Rickover's far-reaching impact on the Navy and on the nuclear technology industry has made him a legend and a source of inspiration for future leaders.

David Roll discusses the extraordinary career of George Catlett Marshall, whose selfless leadership and moral character influenced the course of two world wars and helped define the American century.

Dr. Krewasky A. Salter discusses the African American Experience in World War II.

Rear Admiral Nowakowski discusses his service, his role as Deputy Commander to Navy Recruiting as well as Naval Education and Training Command, and the history of United States Navy.

Dean Reuter discusses harrowing realities of SS commander General Hans Kammler.

David Stahel discusses his book about the German Winter Campaign between 1941 and 1942. Far from a self-evident triumph, the Soviet counteroffensive was a Pyrrhic victory. Though the Red Army managed to push the Wehrmacht back from Moscow, the Germans lost far fewer men, frustrated their enemy's strategic plan, and emerged in the spring unbroken and poised to recapture the initiative.

Donald Miller discusses his book which provides a richly revealing portrait of Ulysses S. Grant within the enthralling story of the Civil War.

Greg Fontenotdiscusses his book which provides a compelling account of the 7th Armored Division in the Battle of the Bulge. Loss and Redemption at St. Vith closes a gap in the record of the Battle of the Bulge.