Casemate, 2002, $29.95, ISBN: 1-86227-122-4, 198 pgs., hardback

This is a pleasant book; short and not too taxing on the mind. It does a workman-like job of retelling the battles around Strassbourg with a decidedly Allied focus. You don’t often see the words “Kraut” and “Heine” in history books.

ON follows the format of strategy-operation-tactical anecdote to give a flavor of WWII combat. I’ve seen this sort of book a hundred times. The Free French forces receive little praise, but he Americans show grit and determination. Strangely, the SS get better billing then the French.

The two maps are miserable. I rarely matched the text to the map. Typical, I’m afraid.

All in all, ON is an acceptable introduction, and well worth the discount bin price of $7 I paid.