Books

"Company Commander" by Charles B. MacDonald is a classic grunt's eye view of infantry fighting in Europe in World War II. MacDonald was a young captain who took command of a company in France and continued in that capacity all the way to Czechoslovakia and VE Day. Although an officer, MacDonald thinks like a typical ground pounder. Pretty girls, alcohol, dry socks and getting a little sleep are among his top concerns.
This book provides an excellent example of the importance of combined operations, as often armor and artillery support play a huge role int he fighting.
MacDonald didn't have much use for German soldiers or civilians, but his embrace of the liberated people of Czechoslovakia is as heart warming as his indifference to "war crimes" against German prisoners is alarming.
MacDonald wrote a gentleman's account of the way, at least in terms of his relatively tame language. But no make mistake, his story is a tough, honest appraisal of the fighting he saw.