
The Soldiers' General
Bert Hoffmeister at War
Douglas E. Delaney(Author)
University of British Columbia Press
Published on 1. January 2006
Book
Paperback/Softback
320 pages
978-0-7748-1149-1 (ISBN)
Description
Self-doubt so plagued him that he suffered a nervous breakdown even before fighting his first combat action. But, by the end of the Second World War, Bert Hoffmeister had exorcised his anxieties, risen from Captain to Major-General, and won more awards than any Canadian officer in the war. Fighting from the invasion of Sicily in July 1943 to the final victory in Europe in May 1945, this native Vancouverite earned a reputation as a fearless commander on the battlefield - one who led from the front, one well loved by those he led. How did he do it?
The Soldiers' General explains, in eloquent and accessible prose, how Hoffmeister conducted his business as a military commander. With an astute analytical eye, Delaney carefully dissects Hoffmeister's numerous battles to reveal how he managed and how he led, how he directed and how he inspired. An exemplary leader, Hoffmeister stood out among his contemporaries, not so much for his technical ability to move the chess pieces well; there were plenty who could do that. Rather, Bert Hoffmeister was exceptional for his ability to get the chess pieces to move themselves.
The Soldiers' General explains, in eloquent and accessible prose, how Hoffmeister conducted his business as a military commander. With an astute analytical eye, Delaney carefully dissects Hoffmeister's numerous battles to reveal how he managed and how he led, how he directed and how he inspired. An exemplary leader, Hoffmeister stood out among his contemporaries, not so much for his technical ability to move the chess pieces well; there were plenty who could do that. Rather, Bert Hoffmeister was exceptional for his ability to get the chess pieces to move themselves.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Vancouver
Canada
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
32 b&w photos and illustrations, 15 maps
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Weight
440 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7748-1149-1 (9780774811491)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Douglas E. Delaney is an assistant professor of History at the Royal Military College of Canada, and Infantry Officer (Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry).
Content
Foreword
1 Looking at Command
2 A Young Man before the War
3 The Years of Company Command and Personal Turmoil
4 Battalion Command: Training For War
5 Battalion Command: The Battlefield Test
6 Brigade Command
7 Division Command and the Liri Valley
8 The Lessons From Liri
9 Gothic Line to the End in Italy
10 Northwest Europe and After
11 Hoffmeister and Command
Notes
Bibliography
Index
1 Looking at Command
2 A Young Man before the War
3 The Years of Company Command and Personal Turmoil
4 Battalion Command: Training For War
5 Battalion Command: The Battlefield Test
6 Brigade Command
7 Division Command and the Liri Valley
8 The Lessons From Liri
9 Gothic Line to the End in Italy
10 Northwest Europe and After
11 Hoffmeister and Command
Notes
Bibliography
Index