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The last hill : the epic story of a ranger battalion and the battle that defined WWII / Bob Drury and Tom Clavin.

by Drury, Bob, author.

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New York : St. Martin's Press, 2022.

United States. Army. Ranger Battalion, 2nd.

World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- France -- Normandy.

World War, 1939-1945 -- Regimental histories -- United States.

9781250247162 (hardcover) :

1250247160 (hardcover)

xi, 398 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, maps ; 25 cm

PART I: THE RANGERS -- Commandos -- Darby's Recruits -- Torch -- Heat and Dust -- "Big Jim" Rudder -- A New Beginning -- Sea Change -- Swim and Swat -- The Cliffs -- PART II: THE BEACH -- "The Most Dangerous Mission of D-Day" -- Gin Blossoms -- Charon's Craft -- Charnel Ground -- Thermite -- "No Reinforcements Available" -- 'All Rangers Down!' -- Graves Registration -- PART III: THE FORTRESS -- Hurry Up and Wait -- The "Fabulous Four" -- Brittany -- Festung Brest -- The "Fool Lieutenant" -- Credentials -- PART IV: THE FOREST -- "End The War In '44" -- The Green Hell -- The QUEEN'S Gambit -- The Return of the Fabulous Four -- "How Bad Is It?" -- PART V: THE HILL -- Bergstein -- Rudderless -- The Sugarloaf -- "Let's Go Get the Bastards!" -- The Crest -- Fallschirmjagers -- A Last Stand -- Howls and Whistles -- Trudging Away.

"Bob Drury and Tom Clavin's The Last Hill is the incredible untold story of one Ranger battalion's heroism and courage in World War II. They were known as "Rudder's Rangers," the most elite and experienced attack unit the Army had. In December 1944, they would be the spearhead into Germany, taking the war into Hitler's homeland at last. Their colonel was given this objective: Take Hill 400. The second objective: Hold Hill 400. To the last man, if necessary. The battle-hardened battalion had no idea that the German Volks-Grenadiers, who greatly outnumbered the Rangers, had been given the exact same orders. The clash of the two determined forces was one of the bloodiest and costly ones of World War II. Castle Hill, the imposing 400-foot mini-mountain the grunts simply called Hill 400, was the gateway to still-powerful Nazi Germany. Even an entire division had been repulsed by the desperate defenders. The Allies had to have it to drive a dagger into Germany's heart. Hitler had to hold onto it because hidden behind it was the massive army of men and machines poised to smash their way through Allied lines in the Battle of the Bulge. The stalemate could not continue. For Gen. Dwight Eisenhower and his top brass, there was only one solution: Send in the Rangers. After two days, when they were finally relieved, only 16 Rangers remained to stagger down from the top of Hill 400. The Last Hill is filled with unforgettable action and characters-a gripping, finely detailed saga of what the survivors of the battalion would call "our longest day.""--

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