Marshall and His Generals

U.S. Army Commanders in World War II

By: Stephen R. Taaffe

Narrated by: James Anderson Foster

General George C. Marshall, chief of staff of the US Army during World War II, faced the daunting task not only of overseeing two theaters of a global conflict but also of selecting the best generals to carry out American grand strategy. Marshall and His Generals is the first and only book to focus entirely on that selection process and the performances, both stellar and disappointing, that followed from it.

Stephen Taaffe explores how and why Marshall selected the Army's commanders. Among Marshall's chief criteria were character (including "unselfish and devoted purpose"), education (whether at West Point, Fort Leavenworth, or the Army War College), and striking a balance between experience and relative youth in a war that required both wisdom and great physical stamina. As the war unfolded, Marshall also factored into his calculations the combat leadership his generals demonstrated and the opinions of his theater commanders.

Delving deeper than other studies, this path-breaking work produces a seamless analysis of Marshall's selection process of operational-level commanders. Taaffe also critiques the performance of these generals during the war and reveals the extent to which their actions served as stepping stones to advancement.

©2011 The University Press of Kansas (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Taaffe's penetrating look at the Army's 'one indispensable man' shows how commanders like Omar Bradley, 'Vinegar Joe' Stilwell, Courtney Hodges, and their peers were selected and deployed - and how they kept their jobs." ( Wall Street Journal)

A good lecture for HR

Why USA won the war? Thanks to the competitive, dynamic and careful HR decision by wise and dedicated leaders like Marshall.

Excellent!

A fantastic, in depth look at American generals of World War 2. Would highly recommend to anyone interested in learning more about the commanders who

An excellent description of the lower tiered generals of WW2.

A detailed analysis of each of the various war generals of WW2. Worth the listen.

Excellent

Great insight into the thoughts and lives of the greatest generals that lived. Their sacrifice and discipline will always be remembered.

An Excellent Story of US Generals in WWII

This was an excellent book detailed Chief of Staff George C. Marshall and all of our senior generals in World War II. We researched, and the performance was outstanding.