A Pennsylvanian of Dutch heritage with turned-out ears and a big grin, Devers was the odd man out in the SHAEF (Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force) fraternity, never having played cards or polo with Ike, Patton or Bradley. As a result of some combination of these factors, Ike “chose not to pass to the open man” but “to throw into coverage,” slowly grinding the enemy, Colley writes. Tragically, Ike may have missed a chance to shatter remaining German resistance, undermine or avoid the December panzer offensive in the Ardennes and shave months from the European war.

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Of course, the "what-ifs" about the German front are endless. But before reading this, I would have said Eisenhower’s biggest mistake was his failure to insist that Montgomery get the port of Antwerp clear for service sooner. Now I’m not sure.

Although this is a very readable work of military scholarship, there were times I wanted to pull the string tighter on Colley’s narrative to cut out some repetition. My difference with Colley comes over his placing too much blame on Ike, who remained loyal to the charismatic, infuriating Patton and necessarily tolerant in dealing with the equally infuriating Montgomery. Tellingly, Devers never penned a memoir. Modesty? Yes. But Devers may have lacked the personal tact needed to win Ike’s respect for his ideas. He may have needed a charm arsenal. And if that was true, it is a shortcoming that belonged to Devers, not Ike.

ACG Intel

Decision at Strasbourg

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