Brothers in Arms: One Legendary Tank Regiment's Bloody War from D-Day to VE-Day

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They had 150% casualties among their tank crews and lost dozens of tanks from mines and Panther and Tiger tanks. The American-made Sherman tanks the Rangers fought in were as deadly as the shells they fired; their casualties were horrific, but their ranks immediately refilled. Informed by never-before-seen documents, letters, photographs, and other artifacts from Sherwood Rangers' families-an ongoing fraternity-and by his own deep knowledge of the war and of tank warfare, Holland offers a uniquely intimate portrait of the conflict at ground level.

Together, they represent a cross-section of the personalities that made the Sherwood Rangers such a celebrated and successful armoured regiment.

The text is best suited for military buffs, as Holland delivers an intense, 400-page description of the regiment’s nearly yearlong battle across France, Belgium, and Germany. In the annals of World War II, certain groups of soldiers stand out, and among the most notable were the Sherwood Rangers. It's quite sobering to read about the constant stream of replacements and the steady attrition, particularly of tank commanders and troop leaders who had to keep their heads outside the vehicles to see what was happening, which left then exposed to snipers. By using the Web site, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by the Terms and Conditions. If Joseph Stalin was right about one thing it was his assertion that “the death of one man is a tragedy, the death of millions is a statistic.

From the bestselling author of Normandy '44 and Sicily '43, a brilliant new history of the last days of the war. However, the "Band of Brothers" treatment of a tank unit did seem like a worthwhile exercise, and from here on out I'm going to be paying attention to this author. The book is replete with tables of organization, specifications of the tanks used, M4 Sherman V and the Sherman VC (Firefly). While the focus is on the men who passed through this unit, and the sheer awfulness of the war of attrition that they were thrown into, Holland does a very good job of imparting hard information on just how all the moving parts worked, making no presumptions that the reader understands how such a basic tank unit does its job. One of WWII’s finest historians, James Holland is the author of The Savage Storm, Brothers in Arms, Sicily ’43, Normandy ’44, Big Week, The Rise of Germany and The Allies Strike Back in the War in the West trilogy, and Dam Busters.This page-turner surges forward with the pacing of a true-crime thriller, elevated by Grann's crisp and evocative prose and enhanced by dozens of period photographs.

Later in the campaign he was wounded, but he survived the war, came home to Marion, and died in 1986.

Inspired by Stephen Ambrose’s Band of Brothers, historian James Holland profiles this extraordinary group of citizen soldiers. It never ceases to amaze me when I read the exploits of service personnel in war; their suffering, courage and resourcefulness, and then am reminded that most of them were so young, often teenagers. Holland, author of World War II magazine’s “Need to Know” column, is a historian at the height of his powers with an enviable mastery of his subject.

When I picked up the book in the library I was thrilled to see pages and pages of maps near the front of the book. The SRY suffered >100% casualities during the war, but learned how to accept and quickly train replacements.They were not professional but temporary solders, who wanted nothing more than to see the job through to the end, be “demobbed,” and go home to their families. Along the way, they’ll unlock wisdom for those of us navigating our own coupledoms, and for those still seeking their perfect match. With his remarkable keen insights that provide riveting descriptions, the author transports the reader, day by day, hour by hour, to Victory in Europe (V-E Day). I hope to be laughing at life with you again before so many months,” English lieutenant Bill Wharton wrote to his pregnant wife Marion, “[and I’m] looking forward with so much anticipation to seeing that smile of yours when we next meet.