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

The heroic exploits of the British Army’s Sherwood Rangers tank unit over the last 11 months of WWII are richly documented in this sweeping chronicle from historian Holland (Sicily ’43). After helping to secure victory in North Africa, the regiment, which up until 1941 had fought on horses, re-assembled and trained in England before taking part in the D-Day landings at Normandy. Weeks of “inch-by-inch, yard-by-yard” fighting ensued, as regimental officers struggled to coordinate with infantry, artillery, and air support, while crews quickly learned how to get out of a burning tank before being incinerated. Holland describes the unit’s chaplain bringing bodies back from the front lines for burial, and commanding officer Stanley Christopherson’s agony over the condolence letters he wrote to families. There are also lighter moments, such as when a trio of officers swilled champagne at the Hotel Ritz in recently liberated Paris. By the time the Rangers crossed the German border in November 1944, the regiment had suffered more than 300 casualties. In May 1945, they were battling the last diehard Nazis near Bremen when word came down that Germany had finally surrendered. Vivid eyewitness accounts, colorful character sketches, and lucid tactical discussions make this a must-read for military history buffs. Agent: Patrick Walsh, PEW Literary. (Nov.)