Reviews
PRAISE FOR THE THRILLING MILITARY HISTORIES BY DAMIEN LEWIS CHURCHILL'S SHADOW RAIDERS "Lewis presents a richly detailed and nail-biting tale. For readers who enjoy well-told history and scholars of World War II." -- Library Journal "This highly informative book almost reads like a genuine techno-thriller as the author describes the "wizard's war" between England and Germany over the use of radar in the air war during 1940-1942 . . . blending technology and action to tell the amazing true story of one of the most daring but almost unknown special operations of the war. . . . Engaging and suspenseful . . . a real page-turner, balancing the blend of describing electronic gadgetry and heroic adventure to bring to life one of World War II's most audacious special operations." -- New York Journal of Books "Superb. . . . Reads like an adventure novel and the reader may be excused in forgetting that it is a history book." -- SOFREP Military Grade Content "Rather than a dry recounting of the history of the Paras and the raid, Lewis recognizes tells this story as a human drama of daring and bravery. The personalities of the raiders and the challenges they faced makes this book highly readable and gives it a page-turning quality. . . . One of the most readable World War 2 history books I have read in years" -- We Are the Mighty "Scholarship and readability combine to intertwine the themes of radar technology, the growth of special operations, and the development of airborne forces. . . . A work that reads like a thriller and tells a compelling story." -- Army University Press "Anyone who wants to learn more about the origins of the British Special Forces should read this book. It intertwines historical research and eyewitness testimony to tell the untold story of heroism, courage, and ingenuity." -- Military Press "A true story that reads better than any thriller." --Dan Snow, award-winning British historian, author, and BBC host CHURCHILL'S HELLRAISERS "A little-known behind-the-lines spectacular led by two heroic British officers. Successful niche military history for a popular audience." -- Kirkus Reviews "Military historian Lewis delivers an action-packed account of special operations missions against Nazi forces in Northern Italy during WWII...He sets a brisk pace and laces the narrative with colorful character sketches. Battleground history buffs will be entertained." -- Publishers Weekly "Exhaustively researched, powerfully written and utterly gripping. Blows the doors off!" --Bear Grylls, host of "Running Wild" and former British SAS Serviceman
Synopsis
Award-winning war reporter and internationally bestselling military historian Damien Lewis explores one of WWII's most remarkable Special Forces missions during the Normandy landings on D-Day--and the extraordinary hunt that followed to take down a cadre of fugitive SS and Gestapo war criminals. By the author of The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare - now a major motion picture. On the night of June 13th, 1944, a twelve-man SAS unit parachuted into occupied France. Their objective: hit German forces deep behind the lines, cutting the rail-tracks linking Central France to the northern coastline. In a country crawling with enemy troops, their mission was to prevent Hitler from rushing his Panzer divisions to the D-Day beaches and driving the Allied troops back into the sea. It was a Herculean task, but no risk was deemed too great to stop the Nazi assault. In daring to win it all, the SAS patrol was ultimately betrayed, captured, and tortured by the Gestapo before facing execution in a dark French woodland on Hitler's personal orders. Miraculously, two of the condemned men managed to escape, triggering one of the most secretive Nazi-hunting operations ever, as the SAS vowed to track down every one of the war criminals who had murdered their brothers in arms...all with Churchill's covert backing. With Nazi Germany's lightning seizure of much of Western Europe, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill had called for the formation of specially trained troops of the "hunter class." Their purpose was to incite a reign of terror across enemy-occupied Europe. Churchill's warriors were to shatter all known rules of warfare, taking the fight to the enemy with no holds barred. In doing so, the Special Air Service would be tested as never before during the pivotal D-Day landings, and the quest for vengeance that followed. Breathtaking and exhaustively researched, Churchill's Band of Brothers is based upon a raft of new and unseen material provided by the families of those who were there. It reveals the untold story of one of the most daring missions of WWII, that not only had ramifications for the war itself but led to the most extraordinary and gripping of aftermaths., Award-winning war reporter and internationally bestselling military historian Damien Lewis explores one of WWII's most remarkable Special Forces missions during the Normandy landings on D-Day--and the extraordinary hunt that followed to take down a cadre of fugitive SS and Gestapo war criminals. On the night of June 13th, 1944, a twelve-man SAS unit parachuted into occupied France. Their objective: hit German forces deep behind the lines, cutting the rail-tracks linking Central France to the northern coastline. In a country crawling with enemy troops, their mission was to prevent Hitler from rushing his Panzer divisions to the D-Day beaches and driving the Allied troops back into the sea. It was a Herculean task, but no risk was deemed too great to stop the Nazi assault. In daring to win it all, the SAS patrol was ultimately betrayed, captured, and tortured by the Gestapo before facing execution in a dark French woodland on Hitler's personal orders. Miraculously, two of the condemned men managed to escape, triggering one of the most secretive Nazi-hunting operations ever, as the SAS vowed to track down every one of the war criminals who had murdered their brothers in arms...all with Churchill's covert backing. With Nazi Germany's lightning seizure of much of Western Europe, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill had called for the formation of specially trained troops of the "hunter class." Their purpose was to incite a reign of terror across enemy-occupied Europe. Churchill's warriors were to shatter all known rules of warfare, taking the fight to the enemy with no holds barred. In doing so, the Special Air Service would be tested as never before during the pivotal D-Day landings, and the quest for vengeance that followed. Breathtaking and exhaustively researched, Churchill's Band of Brothers is based upon a raft of new and unseen material provided by the families of those who were there. It reveals the untold story of one of the most daring missions of WWII, that not only had ramifications for the war itself but led to the most extraordinary and gripping of aftermaths.
