Sons and Soldiers: The Untold Story of the Jews Who Escaped the Nazis and Returned with the U.S. Army to Fight Hitler
- Narrated by:
- Length: 13 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Release Date:25/07/2017
- Publisher: Harper Audio
People who bought this also bought...
Publisher's Summary
Joining the ranks of Unbroken, Band of Brothers, and The Boys in the Boat, the little-known saga of young German Jews, dubbed the Ritchie Boys, who fled Nazi Germany in the 1930s, came of age in America, and returned to Europe at enormous personal risk as members of the US Army to play a key role in the Allied victory.
In 1942 the US Army unleashed one of its greatest secret weapons in the battle to defeat Adolf Hitler: training nearly 2,000 German-born Jews in special interrogation techniques and making use of their mastery of the German language, history, and customs. Known as the Ritchie Boys, they were sent in small, elite teams to join every major combat unit in Europe, where they interrogated German POWs and gathered crucial intelligence that saved American lives and helped win the war.
Though they knew what the Nazis would do to them if they were captured, the Ritchie Boys eagerly joined the fight to defeat Hitler. As they did, many of them did not know the fates of their own families left behind in occupied Europe. Taking part in every major campaign in Europe, they collected key tactical intelligence on enemy strength, troop and armored movements, and defensive positions. A postwar army report found that more than 60 percent of the credible intelligence gathered in Europe came from the Ritchie Boys.
Bruce Henderson draws on personal interviews with many surviving veterans and extensive archival research to bring this never-before-told chapter of the Second World War to light. Sons and Soldiers traces their stories from childhood and their escapes from Nazi Germany, through their feats and sacrifices during the war, to their desperate attempts to find their missing loved ones in war-torn Europe. Sons and Soldiers is an epic story of heroism, courage, and patriotism that will not soon be forgotten.
©2017 Bruce Henderson (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers
More from the same
What Members Say
-
TAG P.South Carolina, US01/08/17
"Gripping story that won't let me go"
Even when I'm not reading this, I find myself thinking of it. I literally spent every spare free minute reading this book! Make sure and buy it NOW!
2 of 2 people found this review helpful -
P. VoelkerMartinez, CA06/08/17
"Couldn't put it down"
Would you listen to Sons and Soldiers again? Why?So heartbreaking, when decent people look the other way bad things happen. I didn't know or I was just obeying orders is no excuse because they did know. The politics of fear and division are still with us.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Sons and Soldiers?Rev. George B. Woods eulogy for the victims of the death camps.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful -
William R. ToddmancillasChico, California United States09/08/17
"WW2: Jews Who Fought Back"
What did you love best about Sons and Soldiers?The courage of these young men. The intelligent, creative ways they effected their success.
What did you like best about this story?The explanations of how the Jewish agents got captured Germans to reveal hugely important information allowing the allies to avoid powerful German positions, their tactics, and strategies. Gentle interview weeks proved effective, excellent counterpoints to the cruel enhanced interrogation techniques and policies.
What about Brett Barry’s performance did you like?Actually, I thought his pitch higher than I would prefer. I like manly voices. His is not poor, merely less satisfactory than some.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?Every instance in which Nazis ridiculed, abused, punitively injured, killed, and deprived Jews of their possessions, employment, and justifiably earned achievements in German society.
The take away message is how commonly even average citizens abandon their humanity and seek opportunism at others expense when encouraged to do so. A reminder of how callow are the hears of so many, which we would otherwise not suspect of inhumanity. Particularly relevant to the sentiments being stirred up by Trump, his cronies, and extremists.
Any additional comments?How dreadful the circumstances causing these young men to escape the only country and homeland they knew.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful -
Daniel Gilliam02/08/17
"Great Story!!"
I never write reviews but I enjoyed this one so much I listened to it twice back to back. Such a great story and the narration was well done too!
1 of 2 people found this review helpful -
Saundra Allen01/08/17
"Totally engrossed"
Couldn't put the book down. I went on vacation and ignored the tour guide because I was so totally engrossed in the book. It brought new perspective to WWII
2 of 4 people found this review helpful