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George Marshall: Defender of the Republic

by David L. Roll

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1523179,421 (4.6)1
"The extraordinary career of George Catlett Marshall--America's most distinguished soldier-statesman since George Washington--whose selfless leadership and moral character influenced the course of two world wars and helped define the American century. Winston Churchill called him World War II's "organizer of victory." Harry Truman said he was "the greatest military man that this country ever produced." Today, in our era of failed leadership, few lives are more worthy of renewed examination than Marshall and his fifty years of loyal service to the defense of his nation and its values. Even as a young officer he was heralded as a genius, a reputation that grew when in WWI he planned and executed a nighttime movement of more than a half million troops from one battlefield to another that led to the armistice. Between the wars he helped modernize combat training, and re-staffed the U.S. Army's officer corps with the men who would lead in the next decades. But as WWII loomed, it was the role of army chief of staff in which Marshall's intellect and backbone were put to the test, when his blind commitment to duty would run up against the realities of Washington politics. Long seen as a stoic, almost statuesque figure, he emerges in these pages as a man both remarkable and deeply human, thanks to newly discovered sources. Set against the backdrop of five major conflicts--two world wars, Palestine, Korea, and the Cold War--Marshall's education in military, diplomatic, and political power, replete with their nuances and ambiguities, runs parallel with America's emergence as a global superpower. The result is a defining account of one of our most consequential leaders"--… (more)
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One of the best biographies I have read in some time. An overall great history of World War Two and the Early Years of the Cold War. Highly recommend for anyone interested in this period of history. Great quarantine read. George Marshall wanted to be a front line combat officer having seen some combat in WW1. However his superiors noticed early on that he had a superior ability at planning large military operations. He was destined to plan some of America’s final offensives in WW1, the build up of the Post WW2 Army Air Corps, most of the major offensives in WW2, the rebuilding of Post-War Europe that took his name, “The Marshall Plan”, and NATO’s early positions during the onset of the Cold War. He was a man who wasn’t afraid to tell his superiors when he thought they were wrong, which gained him the admiration and respect of General Pershing and FDR. The bio gives the reader behind the scenes views of the dealings to get aid to Britain and Russia despite Congress reluctance to do so prior to the US entering WW2, the basic creation of the US Air Force, the debate between the British and the Americans about how to best fight the Germans, the Island Hopping Strategy in the Pacific Theater, the decision to use the Atomic Bomb against Japan. This book offers great behind the scenes views about the mistakes made leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor. America’s First Five Star General. A great great biography. I gives easily 5/5 stars. ( )
  tkgbjenn1 | Mar 29, 2020 |
Referring to the Archduke's automobile as a "carriage" took me by surprise right at the beginning of the book, something I'd never seen before.
  dgk53 | Feb 6, 2020 |
Excellent, not Pogue but I wouldn't expect it to be. Not four volumes either.

A good look at the closest to the the level of Washington as a soldier/statesman we have had. ( )
  wwj | Oct 6, 2019 |
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"The extraordinary career of George Catlett Marshall--America's most distinguished soldier-statesman since George Washington--whose selfless leadership and moral character influenced the course of two world wars and helped define the American century. Winston Churchill called him World War II's "organizer of victory." Harry Truman said he was "the greatest military man that this country ever produced." Today, in our era of failed leadership, few lives are more worthy of renewed examination than Marshall and his fifty years of loyal service to the defense of his nation and its values. Even as a young officer he was heralded as a genius, a reputation that grew when in WWI he planned and executed a nighttime movement of more than a half million troops from one battlefield to another that led to the armistice. Between the wars he helped modernize combat training, and re-staffed the U.S. Army's officer corps with the men who would lead in the next decades. But as WWII loomed, it was the role of army chief of staff in which Marshall's intellect and backbone were put to the test, when his blind commitment to duty would run up against the realities of Washington politics. Long seen as a stoic, almost statuesque figure, he emerges in these pages as a man both remarkable and deeply human, thanks to newly discovered sources. Set against the backdrop of five major conflicts--two world wars, Palestine, Korea, and the Cold War--Marshall's education in military, diplomatic, and political power, replete with their nuances and ambiguities, runs parallel with America's emergence as a global superpower. The result is a defining account of one of our most consequential leaders"--

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