Band Of Brothers author accused of fabrication for Eisenhower biography [Stephen Ambrose]

The Observer ^ | 25 April 2010 | Paul Harris

[Daffynition]

His book Band of Brothers – which chronicled the exploits of one company of US airborne troops in second world war Europe – was turned into a highly praised TV series.

But now American historian Professor Stephen Ambrose, who was President Dwight D Eisenhower's official biographer and wrote or edited more than a dozen books about him, is embroiled in a posthumous controversy. It is alleged that he invented many meetings he claimed to have had with Eisenhower, and even fabricated entire interviews with him. The revelations have sent shock waves through the scholarly community in the United States.

The books written by Ambrose, who died in 2002, brought him popular acclaim, and director Steven Spielberg used him as a military adviser on his 1998 Oscar-winning film Saving Private Ryan. Band of Brothers became a cultural milestone when it was turned into a TV series on which Ambrose was a producer. It was hailed for educating an entire generation about the sacrifices of their forefathers. But it appears that Ambrose indulged in some sort of fantasy about the extent of his relationship with Eisenhower. In TV interviews, he claimed to have spent "hundreds and hundreds of hours" with the former president. He even once said he would spend two days a week working with Eisenhower in his office.

[snip]

[warchild9]

Actually, several veterans who were parachuted into France on D-Day told me Winters got all kinds of things wrong. (I have their recollections recorded for a couple of books I’m working on.) I don’t want to cast doubt on Winters; he may just have selective memories—however, “Band of Brothers” is pretty much garbage, from the view of serious history.

And don’t get me started on the tv series: “the edelweiss means he was a...(wait for it)...true soldier...” What a load. Gebirgsjager, mountain troops, worse a tin edelweiss in their field caps, and there were NO gebirgsjager at Normandy.
That kind of thing is what I’m talking about. There are a hundred details made up for a television audience that make me cringe. You get the point, right?

[colorado tanker]

I do, thanks.

I too cringed at the edelweiss thing, but over time I've come to terms with Hollywood adding it's touches. Seems to be part of that business. Sometimes they go over the top and my wife is amused when I start talking to the screen. :-))

[warchild9]

Mrs. Warchild has all kinds of “you ought to hear him talking war nerd” stories. When I get together with my wargaming friends, it’s a major warnerd fest, let me tell you...