Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #795566 in Books
• Published on: 2001-09
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 344 pages

Synopsis
In these interviews, veterans of the First Special Service Force tell their stories. They describe their experiences being recruited to the unit, in training, and in combat. They tell of battles in the Aleutian Islands, Italy, and France. Numerous maps and photographs are included. Appendices feature training material, organizational charts, comman

Customer Reviews

Gripping and Enthralling Read!!! 5 *'s just not enough!!
I started to read this book on the back of my Grandfather being in the service (yes i am really proud!). After buying the book i realised that i had bought more than i bargained for. The story is told from the points of view of those who were there, and not a man who did not know what combat in WW2 felt like. Joseph Springer does however, direct the story through the life of the First speacial Service Force from its formation to disbandment. I think his direction of the many accounts of actions against the enemy was amazing, the book really does work well.

I was totally emursed in the action scenes, in which the some veterans told of their actions and feelings of being in close cambat with German soldiers, one forceman even tells of what its like to be shot!). The book is simply remarkable and a must for all those who want to know what it was really like to be in some of the bloodiest actions of WW2. Reading was like being there with them. An absolutely fantastic read! Can't Stress this enough!

Excellent ONE DAY READ!
[THE BLACK DEVIL BRIGADE] IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS THAT I HAVE HAD MY HANDS ON IN TEN YEARS!! It covers the story of the First Special Service Force, a joint Canadian and US commando unit. One of my friends suggested this book. I had never even heard of the First Special Service Force or have ever heard of this book. I simply could not put it down! I read it in one day! This is an AWESOME story told by the guys who pulled the triggers. The men of this unit speak in ways that I have never heard vets speak. It's funny in places, but there is the blood and gore of war on every page. They were mountian climbers, amphibious assault troops, paratroopers, explosive specialist, commandos, night fighters, and weapons specialsit. The book provides the guys with an outlet for them to describe their own horrors of war in their own words. Theirs is a moving and extraordinary story and the text stands on its own. I recommend this book to EVERYONE who is intersted in infantry, commando, or airbourne WWII combat. These guys are true to life warriors.

TEN STARS!
This is a moving account the 1st Special Service Force, a small brigade of Canadian and American warriors. Written by Joseph A Springer...this work presents the quotes of the men of the unit to tell the story. Others have declared this book a one or two day read. Indeed, it is that and much, much more. What this book really is, is a thought provoking, masterfully packaged, powerful and overwhelming presentation of a generations sacrifice and a lasting record of human behavior in extraordinary and remarkable circumstances. The soldiers tell of their views and reactions to combat as if these events happened yesterday. And their stories of combat are quite uncommon to the usual genre of oral histories that are appearing on the shelf. This book reveals the truth of combat and what it can do to the mind. The book details the combat in depth but reads surprisingly fast. The combat described in these pages is just as volatile now as it was for the Canadian and American servicemen of "the Force." Springer has unselfishly shown that the story is in the story itself in allowing these men of the "Force" to tell of their extraordinary stories in their own words. It is a tribute to the resilience of the greatest generation, and the great North Americans. I recommend this book to all students of history. It is a remarkable and watershed achievement in oral history genre.