Eisenhower's Thorn on the Rhine

"...scrutinizes a lesser-known campaign from the closing days of World War II. After the success of the Normandy invasion, as well as the expulsion of German forces from northern France and most of the Low Countries, a fierce pocket of German resistance around the city of Colmar continued to frustrate Allied forces. This last-ditch holdout was so fierce that in January of 1945, President Eisenhower said to George Marshall, It is a very bad thorn in our side today." Eisenhower's Thorn on the Rhine examines this military juncture from all perspectives; chapters describe in detail the military strategies utilized and their repercussions, as well as the hardships and bravery of troops pressed to their limit on both sides. Extensive notes, a bibliography, and an index round out this scholarly military history, highly recommended especially for public and college library World War II collections." ~Midwest Book Review

"Nathan N. Prefer has a reputation for re-examining World War II battles that history, for whatever reason, has overlooked, and in Eisenhower's Thorn On The Rhine, he's uncovered a humdinger" ~History of War

"A brutal winter, rugged terrain and devastated towns are the backdrop for the writer’s factual but dramatic chronicle of how Allied and Axis forces traded blows in this costly but relatively overlooked clash of arms." ~Toy Solder & Model Figure

"The difficult fighting in the Colmar Pocket is brought to vivid life in this new work. Details of many small actions are woven into the overall narrative, enabling the reader to get a sense of the hardship and cost the fighting in this region brought for the soldiers of both sides. Clear maps and good appendices provide added detail." ~WWII History

“Prefer provides a compelling and lucid account of the combat operations of the 6th Army Group… Overall, Prefer provides a welcome addition to the history of the Allied campaign in Western Europe. This book is highly recommended because it fills a gap in the historiography of the Allied effort in the European theater and provides long overdue recognition to the noteworthy combat record of the 6th Army Group.” ~Army History