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The Last Ridge: The Epic Story of America's First Mountain Soldiers and the Assault on Hitler's Europe | 
 enlarge | Author: Mckay Jenkins
Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy Used: $2.12
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Avg. Customer Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 617381
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 336
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.8
ISBN: 0375759514
Dewey Decimal Number: 940.54215
EAN: 9780375759512
ASIN: 0375759514
Publication Date: November 9, 2004
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Condition: EX-LIBRARY; used item may have library binding and show stamps, stickers or other marks. Items not meeting quality expectations may be returned for refund. Buy with confidence - your satisfaction is guaranteed at B-Logistics!
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Product Description
When World War II broke out in Europe, the American army had no specialized division of mountain soldiers. But in the winter of 1939–40, after a tiny band of Finnish mountain troops brought the invading Soviet army to its knees, an amateur skier named Charles Minot “Minnie” Dole convinced the United States Army to let him recruit an extraordinary assortment of European expatriates, wealthy ski bums, mountaineers, and thrill-seekers and form them into a unique band of Alpine soldiers. These men endured nearly three years of grueling training in the Colorado Rockies and in the process set new standards for both soldiering and mountaineering. The newly forged 10th Mountain Division finally faced combat in the winter of 1945, in Italy’s Apennine Mountains, against the seemingly unbreakable German fortifications north of the Gothic Line. There, they planned and executed what is still regarded as the most daring series of nighttime mountain attacks in U.S. military history, taking Mount Belvedere and the sheer, treacherous face of Riva Ridge to smash the linchpin of the German army’s lines.
Drawing on unique cooperation from veterans of the 10th Mountain Division and a vast archive of unpublished letters and documents, The Last Ridge is written with enormous warmth, energy, and honesty. This is one of the most captivating stories of World War II, a blend of Band of Brothers and Into Thin Air. It is a story of young men asked to do the impossible, and succeeding.
From the Hardcover edition.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Different views December 18, 2007
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
It's ever interesting to see different views of some point of "fact" or history. We Brazilians for example, who had our soldiers fighting against the same enemy on the same region at the same time have a very diferent point of view about those facts. Yeah in deed ...A very curious, adaptable and malleable thing are the History...
 The Troops Went Over the Mountain September 4, 2005
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is a winning piece of WWII history from McKay Jenkins, covering the unique and heroic 10th Mountain Division of the US Army. These guys were media darlings in their day, and the time is right for them to be remembered by history. Some WWII battles were taking place in snowy and mountainous areas in Europe. Allied soldiers, who had little mountain experience and no extreme-environment supplies, were being beaten badly by German soldiers who had centuries-old traditional knowledge of the terrain and conditions. A great network of outdoor sports volunteers and experienced recruits convinced the US Army of the need for a regiment of elite troops that would be victorious in the mountains if they received real skills in mountaineering, rock climbing, skiing, and winter survival. Specialized training and equipment testing took place at a special base in the Colorado Rockies, and the 10th Mountain Division soldiers won decisive victories against Axis positions in the mountains of Italy, and were indispensable in contributing to the overall defeat of the Germans. Jenkins utilizes stirring eyewitness accounts from the soldiers themselves, with plenty of nail-biting battle scenes and insights into the extreme hardships faced by these elite troops in their unique circumstances, as well as all soldiers in general. Great war reporting from Jenkins fleshes out the heroic and historic deeds of the 10th Mountain boys. [~doomsdayer520~]
Very good World II story August 8, 2005
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Very good story.
It seems as soon as one finishes a World War II book there is another great one out there. This is truly one of those.
Great story line and a lot of fun to read. The 10th mountain division is one that is not as well known to the general public but should be. Having lived in Europe myself and attended Prep school in the mountains, this story brought back a lot of great memories of the Alps.
These guys were truly great, and it is interesting to read about European ski stars, instructors, famous explorers, Prep School boys and IVY Leaguers wanting to join the US mountain division to fight the Nazis.
Even though they never really got to use their Skiing and climbing talents to fight the war, as the author states at the end of the book, they were nontheless great warriors.
Their entry in the war was a late one, but their service to the cause and their country was a noble one.
The Bob Dole segment is also very interesting and the author takes great care to make us understand what war was like during the Second World War. He also takes great care in telling us what warfare does to soldiers under constant bombardement.
Good read and a great compliment to other WWII stories.
This is a story about heroes.
Soldiers never die they just fade away (General McCarthur)
A Learning Experience and An Excellent Read! February 27, 2005
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Thank you for giving me a book that was so enlightening, educational and still had a wonderful storyline.
In reading certain books you can sense when the author's heart and soul have been poured into the words, and this was my first impression of my read of this outstanding work.
It is strange that when you think you have heard just about every story told about WWII another seems to erupt, more interesting than the last. For years I listened as my father reenacted account after account of the great war, but I never heard of the "Mountain Soldiers," I stand amazed at men such as these. Through this authors words I tasted their courage, skill and became aware of the impact they had on the outcome of the time, certainly giving them a place in the achieve of our nation's history.
The Last Ridge is a true account of these fearless men, their part in the victory over the Nazi's and the challenges and sacrifices it took to achieve that.
Well researched this work gives the reader knowledge of a group of fearless men and the vision they had and accomplished. It is a story that deserves a place in our hearts and should be passed on for generations to come.
Highly recommended.
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