Sheer Misery: Soldiers in Battle in WWII

Sheer Misery is a book that focuses on the physical experiences of soldiers in the European theater of World War II. It uses diaries and letters to bring to life the gruesome conditions, injuries, and deaths that the soldiers faced. The book emphasizes that the war was above all about the bodies of the soldiers, and their job was to injure and kill bodies while also being injured and killed.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 20 April 2021
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Amidst the tumultuous march across occupied France in 1944, American GI Leroy Stewart found himself preoccupied with a rather peculiar concern: his underwear. In his memoir, Stewart vividly recounted the challenges he faced with his shorts, as they seemed to have a mind of their own and would constantly crawl up on him, causing discomfort. Such complaints of physical discomfort, albeit mild compared to what many infantrymen endured, are etched in the memories of soldiers from various nations, including the British, American, German, and French. The European theater, characterized by its wet, freezing misery with no apparent end, became the daily reality for millions of enlisted men. While the liberation of millions of people was a noble goal, in the midst of such wretchedness, it is understandable for soldiers like Stewart to lose sight of that ultimate purpose.

Sheer Misery, a poignant work of historical literature, delves into the corporeal experiences of the soldiers who fought in Belgium, France, and Italy during the final two years of World War II. In the horrendously unhygienic and often lethal conditions of the front line, their bodies succumbed to the relentless demands of warmth, rest, and good nutrition. Feet swelled to the point of immobility, fingers became frozen incapable of gripping triggers, and stomachs cramped, often resulting in diarrhea staining their underwear and pants.

Rather than focusing on the high-level military strategy that dominates many accounts of WWII, acclaimed historian Mary Louise Roberts takes a different approach. She relies on diaries and letters to bring to life the visceral sense memories that endure in the minds of those who fought. These memories include the agonizing moans of the "screaming meemies," the pungent odor of cordite, and the shockingly mundane sight of rotting corpses. Roberts emphasizes that for soldiers who engaged in combat, the war was fundamentally about their bodies. It was through their bodies that they were recruited, trained, and deployed. Their duty was to inflict harm upon bodies, both their own and those of their enemies.

The experiences of Leroy Stewart and the countless others who marched across occupied France in 1944 serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of war. The physical and mental toll that soldiers endured during those turbulent times cannot be overstated. Yet, their sacrifices and bravery remain a testament to the resilience and determination of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Through works like Sheer Misery, we are able to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of those who fought in WWII and honor their memory for the sacrifices they made to ensure the freedom and prosperity of generations to come.

Weight: 462g
Dimension: 162 x 236 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226753140