 Back in 1917, when members of the American Expeditionary Force were asked what AEF stood for, the Yanks replied, after England failed. But in 1943, AEF stood for Allied Expeditionary Force. As against the untested, cocky, damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead, American army and the war-weary, too cautious British army, the Germans could put into the battle troops who, as described by Max Hastings,