Brothers in Arms: One Legendary Tank Regiment’s Bloody War from D-Day to V-E Day

Recognized as a Second World War historian from his previous books on the subject, Holland brings us this narrative that reflects Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose, albeit with a decidedly British slant. The book is well organized with all of the maps and aerial photographs of battlefields at the front of the book along with a list of the main characters. Holland sandwiches in a much-needed glossary of military abbreviations and an illustrated appendix of amour with notes and other helpful information.

The story documents the progress of the Sherwood Rangers, who began as saber-toting part-time cavalrymen only to be refitted as a tank regiment. Holland follows them across the Sahara through the invasion of Normandy to Belgium, the Netherlands, and finally to Berlin in some of the most intense fighting of the Second World War.

The cast of characters is quite large in the beginning, until the wholesale slaughter thins out the ranks. At times this makes for a melancholy read, sparsely peppered with ultra-dry British wit. In spite of the overwhelming volume of material already in print on the subject, Holland finds a fresh angle of approach.