Advance and Destroy

"Rickard's scholarship is impeccable. His presentation and mastery of the material is equally effective."—Carlo D'Este, author of Patton: A Genius for War

"Advance and Destroy is the best book on operational command I have read. John Rickard's success at merging events, intelligence, decisions, and commanders in real time is both gripping and successful in putting the reader inside the command posts and on the field during the Battle of the Ardennes. Clearly, the best in-depth examination of Patton the Commander ever done."—General Gordon R. Sullivan, USA (Ret.), 32nd Chief of Staff

"This is a detailed operational study of Patton's Third Army during the German counter-offensive in the Winter of 1944-45, Patton's finest hour. In this sequel to his Patton at Bay, Rickard examines Patton's decisions based on what was known at the time, force levels in action on both sides, terrain, weather, and directions from Eisenhower and Bradley."—Library Journal

"Advance and Destroy bills itself as the 'first rigorous analysis' of Patton's generalship over the course of the entire Ardennes campaign. Clearly written and well researched, the volume fits that bill."—Military Periscope

"Examines [Patton's] strategy and actions during the Battle of the Bulge."—WWII History

"A tour de force on the history of the military art...Puts paid to the idea that nothing new can be said about this campaign about which so much has been written."—Army Magazine

"The author . . . turns his analytical skills to an assessment of Patton's effectiveness as a commander during the Battle of the Bulge in terms of command and operational technique, mission accomplishment, and cost in lives relative to the gains made by his forces."—The Historian

"An informative historical study that creates a fascinating encounter between an event of great importance and a magnetic personality."—H-Net Review

"A masterpiece on Patton's operational performance throughout the entire Ardennes campaign, from the first attacks to the relief of Bastogne and beyond the spring of 1945."—Past in Review

"Apart from good history, author Rickard captures the essence of George Patton: conident, profane, and optimistic."—Journal of America's Military Past

"A detailed operational history."—Military Review

"An impressive, important work. . . . Without Rickard's detailed, painstaking analysis, such an appreciation of Patton in the Bulge would never have been possible."—War in History

"A book like this offers much for readers trying to understand the complexities of command in a rapidly changing environment such as occurred with Patton and his Third Army in the Bulge."—Journal of Military History