The Soldiers’ General by Douglas E. Delaney
$34.95
The Soldier’s General explores the remarkable World War II career of Bert Hoffmeister, who overcame self-doubt and a nervous breakdown to rise from Captain to Major-General. Despite starting with anxieties, Hoffmeister became the most decorated Canadian officer of the war. The book examines his fearless leadership from the invasion of Sicily to the final victory in Europe. Authored by Douglas E. Delaney, it highlights Hoffmeister’s ability to lead from the front and inspire his troops, showcasing how he became an exemplary military leader.
Self-doubt so plagued him that he suffered a nervous breakdown even before fighting his first combat action. But by the end of the Second World War, Bert Hoffmeister had exorcised his anxieties, risen from Captain to Major-General, and won more awards than any other Canadian officer in the war. Fighting from the invasion of Sicily in July 1943 to the final victory in Europe in May 1945, this native Vancouverite earned a reputation for being a fearless commander on the battlefield, one who led from the front and was well loved by those he commanded. How did he do it?
The Soldier’s General explains, in eloquent and accessible prose, how Hoffmeister conducted his business as a military commander. Douglas Delaney carefully dissects Hoffmeister’s numerous battles to reveal how he managed and how he led, how he directed and how he inspired. An exemplary leader, Hoffmeister stood out among his contemporaries not so much for his technical ability to move the chess pieces well as for his ability to get the chess pieces to move themselves.
Major Douglas E. Delaney is Assistant Professor of History at the Royal Military College of Canada and an infantry officer (Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry).
