Beyond Band of Brothers

The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters

By: Dick Winters, Cole C. Kingseed

Narrated by: Tom Weiner

“Tells the tales left untold by Stephen Ambrose, whose Band of Brothers was the inspiration for the HBO miniseries…laced with Winters’s soldierly exaltations of pride in his comrades’ bravery.”—Publishers Weekly

In war, great commanders lead soldiers into hell to do the impossible.

They were called Easy Company—but their mission was never easy. Immortalized as the Band of Brothers, they suffered huge casualties while liberating Europe in an unparalleled record of bravery under fire. Dick Winters led them through the Battle of the Bulge, the attack on Foy—where Easy Company reached its breaking point—and finally into Germany, by which time each member had been wounded. Outside Munich, they liberated an SS death camp and captured Berchtesgaden, Hitler’s alpine retreat.

Beyond Band of Brothers is Winters’s memoir, based on his wartime diary, but it also includes his comrades’ untold stories. Only Winters was present from the activation of Easy Company until the war’s end. This is their story, told in his words for the first time.

©2006 Major Dick Winters and Brecourt Leadership Experience, Inc. (P)2006 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Winters tells the tales left untold by Stephen Ambrose, whose Band of Brothers was the inspiration for the HBO miniseries." (Publishers Weekly)

A decent listen

Although this title does offer more insight into Maj. Winters personal experiences it also repeats a lot of what was in Band of Brothers.
The beginning states that one of the purposes of the book was to get more of the stories from the members of E Company, that Ambrose left out of his book for whatever reason, into print so that they would be told, well there are some very short quips and quotes but I don't remember any real stories other than what Mr. Winters relates about his own experiences.
Don't however get me wrong about the content it is informative and I think anyone interested in the history of WW2 and Easy Company will enjoy the book but I would have really liked to hear stories by other members related through Winters like Lipton, Compton, Rendleman, or any number of other members who I am sure have told stories to Winters and others but we have not heard them, maybe not but I am sure there are some.
Finally the end of the book and I don't want to spoil it for anyone but it really saddens me to learn of the passing of so many of these men in the past few years and I hope that thier families and friends were able to get to know what these men went through and to understand just what they did for us and everyone who lives in freedom today. Unfortunatly for me my father who served in WW2 passed away before I was old enough to ask about what he went through and all of his information was lost in the fire at the St. Louis archives back in the seventies. So if you have a relative who served talk to them listen to them and learn.

Outstanding

A truly in depth look into combat in WWII. I would recommend this to anyone wanting to be a real leader.

A hero's tale

This book fills in the details (sometimes too determinedly) of the Easy Company story. The author is scrupulous but to be honest, has a pedestrian style that leaves no cliche unturned. A must for those who, like me, had parents (or grandparents) on the front lines in that noble cause.

The story of a Good man.

Would you listen to Beyond Band of Brothers again? Why?

Yes. There is so much to learn from Major Winter's story about leadership and character that it can't be digested all in one look over.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Beyond Band of Brothers?

The description D-Day and D+1 are still fantastic even after having watched and read Band of Brothers. It was great getting to hear about how and why decisions were made, instead of just seeing their results.

What does Tom Weiner bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He does a pretty good voices for the various men who show up in the story, especially Colonel Sink.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Winter's feeling of responsibility for his men was particularly moving. There are a few times when he talks about things he would have done differently that may have brought home more men, and you can hear the regret and sorrow in his words.

Strange pronunciations

It's unsettling to hear a reader drop from English into 'native' pronunciations of foreign words. I keep wondering if I accidentally hit the French translation button far too often on Audible's WWII books. Strangely, they don't do that on German words.... Is it a condescending patrician affectation? Dunno, but it's annoying

a great book by a great man

This book is well worth the time to read (listen).
I highly recommend it. It adds to the mini-series

Band of Brothers fans should get this!

if you were enthralled by Band of Brothers then you owe it to them and yourself to hear the story from those who were actually there.

A must read to those that are asked to lead

Every time I read/listen to this, I ask myself if I could ever measure up to his soldiers. If you are in NC a leadership position, then this is a must read

Great Read

A read that makes you proud of our great country, because of some great men.

Remember, WE ARE HOME Of THE FREE, BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE.

I encourage all ages to read this great memoir.

Great and Honorable story

These memoirs of Winters shed a closer and personal light on E Company. Full of great lessons on leadership and discipline, as well as the daily life of a WW2 paratrooper. Cant recommend enough, a must read/listen.