Summary

"Sons and Soldiers" tells the remarkable, little-known story of the Ritchie Boys, a group of young German-Jewish refugees who fled Nazi Germany in the 1930s, found refuge in America, and then returned to Europe as U.S. Army soldiers during World War II to fight against Hitler. These men, driven by a fierce desire to liberate their homeland from the tyranny that had forced them to flee, possessed a unique understanding of the German language, culture, and psychology, making them invaluable assets in the Allied war effort.

The book follows the lives of four Ritchie Boys, detailing their experiences growing up in Germany, their harrowing escapes to America, and their training at Camp Ritchie, a top-secret military intelligence training center in Maryland. At Camp Ritchie, they honed their skills in interrogation, document analysis, and psychological warfare, preparing them for the dangerous missions that lay ahead. Each Ritchie Boy's personal history fuels their determination to defeat the Nazis, but also brings unique challenges and emotional burdens to the battlefield.

As the war progresses, these young men find themselves on the front lines of some of the most pivotal battles in Europe, from the D-Day landings to the Battle of the Bulge. They face constant danger, not only from the enemy but also from the lingering threat of discovery as German Jews fighting for the American army. Their expertise in interrogation allows them to gather crucial intelligence, saving countless American lives and helping to turn the tide of the war.

Beyond the battlefield, "Sons and Soldiers" explores the personal struggles and emotional toll of these soldiers as they confront the horrors of the Holocaust and grapple with the fate of their families left behind in Nazi-occupied Europe. The book also reveals the often-overlooked contributions of German-Jewish refugees to the Allied victory, highlighting their courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to freedom and justice.