• Sons and Soldiers

  • The Untold Story of the Jews Who Escaped the Nazis and Returned with the U.S. Army to Fight Hitler
  • By: Bruce Henderson
  • Narrated by: Brett Barry
  • Length: 13 hrs and 18 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (797 ratings)

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Sons and Soldiers  By  cover art

Sons and Soldiers

By: Bruce Henderson
Narrated by: Brett Barry
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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
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about Sons and Soldiers

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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

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7 people found this helpful

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Excellent book, highly recomendable!

Very well written, great narrative, shocking story, increidibly revealing, moving and thought provoking, I strongly recomend it

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4 people found this helpful

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Well researched history

An Excellent well written historical account that's memorable engaging and unique. A must read.

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Wonderful

One of the best books I have listened to. Well read story of true heroes who lost so much yet gave so much.

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Excellent history of Jews who fought Nazis

This is an excellent history of the young Jews who came to the U. S. And took part in fighting the Germans during the Second World War. The became the Ritchie Boys.

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loved it

An incredible story about some incredible men. I was not aware of the Richie boys but this at this book should be required reading for any historian Or lover of history. It is extremely well written and well performed. I highly recommend it!

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A phenomenal story not often told

Not a popular, publicized side of WWII. I learned so much from this incredible story.

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  • JR
  • 08-10-18

Factual, inspirational and must read for those desiring more information concerning World War II

My hat goes off to the author for all of his pains-taking research. The American German Jews brought to life has made a big impact on me. Hypocrisy, prejudices, turning a blind eye, focus, determination, family values, and moral values; I wonder where I fail in those. The narrator handled all the German, French words extremely well. There was even a touch of Russian. Very glad I chose the book.

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Everyone should read this book

In a time that there is a rise in antisemitism and people denying that the holocaust happened, this book is very clear in the Jewish killings in WWII. We should never let history repeat itself!!

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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!

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5 people found this helpful