Includes bibliographical references.

"The Rhine is Germany's main commercial highway, containing many of its major ports. In war, it is vital for the Germans to push an enemy to outflank the entire river barrier preparatory to taking the industrial target. During World War II, there were three great Rhine campaigns, the last which was the Allies' final push for the victory and the Germans' last hope of resistance. The soldiers who went forward to the attack of counterattack--or who dropped from the skies--were of many nationalities: Dutch, French, German, British, Canadian, and American. As the Germans lost ground, the ineveitable order to blow the bridges behind them came. Hitler ordered that any officer who failed to blow a bridge in time was to be shot. But he complicated the difficult decision by adding that anyone who blew a Rhine bridge too early was also to be shot." -- Taken from dust jacket.

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