From the bestselling author of Normandy '44 and Sicily '43, a brilliant new history of the last days of the war. Wollaston, Sam (9 November 2013). "Cold War, Hot Jets – TV review". Guardian . Retrieved 23 May 2019. Its of course a rollercoaster story, a story that will probably remain with you for a while as you reflect on the sacrifices these men made and the hardships they entailed.

He is the co-founder, co-chair and programme director of the annual Chalke Valley History Festival, which is the largest festival dedicated entirely to history in the UK. [3] Mr. Holland sympathetically captures the chaos swirling inside the 30-ton beasts . . . [He] ably sets up his main characters: men he had the good fortune to interview, or those who left detailed diaries, letters and reminiscences behind . . . Brothers in Arms tells a superb story of World War II’s destruction with a breadth that small-unit narratives cannot match.”—J onathan W. Jordan, Wall Street JournalFrom the best-selling author of Normandy '44 and Sicily '43 comes the untold story of the Sherwood Rangers. His 2008 book Italy's Sorrow: A Year of War, 1944–1945 was reviewed by Publishers Weekly, which said: "This is popular history at its very best: exhaustively researched, compellingly written and authoritative". [7] In many respects this book is a British counterpart to Stephan Ambrose's "Band of Brothers." It follows a British armored regiment, the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, from landing in Normandy on D-Day, through the fighting in Normandy, Holland and into Germany, ending the war near Bremen. November 2018). The Eastern Front 1941–1943. illus. Keith Burns. London: Penguin. ISBN 978-0-7181-8651-7.

Of all the British units that fought in tanks during the Second World War, the SRY amassed the largest number of battle honours. In total, there were 30 major battles, with a scarcely believable 16 crammed into the last 11 months of the war. Through compelling eye-witness testimony and renowned historian James Holland's expert analysis Brothers In Arms brings to vivid life the final bloody scramble across Europe from the powerful perspective of one of the greatest tank regiments: the Sherwood Rangers. I found this to be an interesting book and full of exciting stories as well as some really heartfelt and tragic ones as well. Reading a lot of WWII books most if not all have been about the U.S. role or about the men and women from the U.S. This is my first book really all about the British and more importantly a tank regiment called the Sherwood Rangers, who was at one time a calvary unit and then became a tank regiment. Their time in battle at least here for this book is from D-Day to the end of the European war. On the other hand, ‘tankies’ and other professional soldiers will pore over the details, eager to understand how an armoured regiment fought then as opposed to now. When it comes to the intricacies of doctrine for infantry–tank cooperation during a battle, Holland finds a few choice lines to explain what others take entire monographs to do.Does not disappoint... Holland takes us down to the individual's experience' Times Literary Supplement This raises a second point. As a military history, Brothers in Arms benefits from having a first-rate historian like Holland penning the story. Having dealt sympathetically with dozens of characters, Holland shows his expertise in the military sphere. There is an excellent appendix listing the exact make-up of the regiment, which is useful for readers unfamiliar with the intricacies of A and B echelon, or so-called ‘soft-skin vehicles’, or the LAD.

Inspired by Stephen Ambrose’s Band of Brothers, acclaimed WWII historian James Holland memorably profiles an extraordinary group of citizen soldiers constantly in harm’s way. 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 Rangers’ families—an ongoing fraternity—and by his own deep knowledge of the war and personal experience driving a Sherman tank, Holland offers a uniquely intimate portrait of the war at ground level, introducing heretofore unknowns such as Commander Stanley Christopherson, squadron leader John Semken, and Sergeant George Dring. He weaves the Rangers’ exploits into the larger narrative and strategy of the war, and also brings to life the German forces against whom the Rangers struggled. The new three-part TV series based very heavily on the book is available now. It’s a journey around Southern England and then the invasion beaches and deep inland across much of Normandy. O'Dell, Nicholas (November 2014). "Dam Busters: The True Story of the Inventors and Airmen Who Led the Devastating Raid to Smash the German Dams in 1943". Aviation History . Retrieved 21 May 2019. History Hit Podcast Network: James Holland on Imphal and Kohima". soundcloud. 31 January 2018 . Retrieved 23 May 2019. Moving away from the usual documentaries that use old, cheap and overused archive as wallpaper, repeat what had already happened every fifteen minutes, we wanted to create something different, and which, instead, bore right down into the nitty-gritty. With more chat, more covering of the ground on which the fighting took place, more explanation of the wider context of the war and yes, more on the operational level – that aspect of the war that was so vital, which explains how it was fought and managed by the various combatant nations, and yet which is invariably totally ignored in documentaries on the subject.Given this relentless call for their services, it is small wonder that Holland engages with the topic of exhaustion and battle-fatigue within the SRY as early as Chapter 13: a chapter, I may add, which is still set in June 1944, with eleven months of fighting yet to come. Tells the story of the hard, bloody, muddy fighting that filled the rest of 1943… this excellent book reinforces Holland’s reputation as the busiest and most popular military historian of the second world war working today’ Spectator A remarkable achievement by a historian at the height of his powers. Holland has successfully illustrated both the signi­ficance and the savagery of the Italian campaign... through a powerful and compelling narrative’ Military History Matters

He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society [2] and a member of both the British Commission for Military History and the Guild of Battlefield Guides. [1] He has his own collection at the Imperial War Museum. [2] Holland's first novel, The Burning Blue (2004), is about a young fighter pilot who is hiding a family secret. It takes place in the months leading up to and after the start of World War II. Nigel Jones wrote the Guardian review of it and said "[Holland] has joined the few who can bring history to life." [15] Pritzker Military Presents – Episode: 'The War in the West: The Rise of Germany, 1939 – 1941 (PBS, 2015) A] captivating and dramatic account. . . Drawn from letters and diaries, Holland’s immersive narrative is told through the eye-level perspectives of dozens of subjects. Readers will be enthralled' Publishers Weekly Inspired by Stephen Ambrose's Band of Brothers, acclaimed WWII historian James Holland memorably profiles an extraordinary group of citizen soldiers constantly in harm's way. 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, Holland offers a uniquely intimate portrait of the war at ground level, introducing heretofore unknowns such as Commanding Officer Stanley Christopherson, squadron commander John Semken, and Sergeant George Dring, and other memorable characters who helped the regiment become the single unit with the most battle honors of any ever in the British army. He weaves the Sherwood Rangers' exploits into the larger narrative and strategy of the war, and also brings fresh analysis to the tactics used.

Following victory in Sicily, the Allies crossed into southern Italy in September 1943 with the aim of driving Axis forces north and taking Rome by Christmas.