They were not your typical World War II soldiers. Most were not in
particularly good physical shape, and many had trouble handling
their weapons. They differed widely in their ages, politics, and
skills. Many worked in academia, media, and the arts. They were a
strange mix of Americans and foreign nationals, immigrants, and
refugees, linked by their language skills, knowledge of Europe, and
a desire to defeat the Axis. During the war, the U.S. Army trained
them in psychological warfare at a secret camp on the Gettysburg
battlefield and then sent them to Europe. They became known as
“Psycho Boys,” a group of soldiers who have never received
their due respect. In this book Beverly Driver Eddy, author of
Ritchie Boy Secrets, tells their rarely heard story and argues for
their importance to the Allied war effort. At Gettysburg the Psycho
Boys were taught the various skills that would be necessary in the
European campaign from D-Day onward: prisoner and civilian
interrogation, broadcasting, loudspeaker appeals, leaflet and
newspaper production, and technical support. The 800 men were
divided into four mobile radio broadcasting companies and sent to
Europe to land on D-Day, fight in Normandy and at the Bulge, and
participate in the conquest of Germany and the liberation of the
concentration camps. Some of the soldiers operated well out in
front of Allied lines and – in German – called on enemy
soldiers to surrender. Others worked behind the lines, printing
propaganda leaflets and making radio broadcasts. Drawing on company
histories, memoirs, and interviews, this book traces the history of
the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Mobile Radio Broadcasting Companies and
the men who served. For far too long, these soldiers were maligned
as mere “paragraph troopers” who weren’t in the line of fire.
As Eddy shows, the Psycho Boys made important contributions to
victory in World War II by encouraging enemy soldiers to desert or
surrender and in other indirect ways. Their story is interesting,
important, and vital.
General
Imprint: |
Stackpole Books
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
November 2023 |
Authors: |
Beverley Driver Eddy
|
Dimensions: |
229 x 152mm (L x W) |
Format: |
Hardcover
|
Pages: |
224 |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-8117-7362-1 |
Categories: |
Books
|
LSN: |
0-8117-7362-0 |
Barcode: |
9780811773621 |
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