Remember Us: American Sacrifice, Dutch Freedom, and A Forever Promise Forged in World War II

by Robert M. Edsel

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Amazon Editor’s Pick

“An intimate, moving look at the war that extracts deep meaning from the carnage and loss.” – Publishers Weekly

What happens when you lose your freedom and the people who eventually get it back for you are no longer alive to thank?

Remember Us, by Robert Edsel—#1 New York Times bestselling author of The Monuments Men—begins in the pre-dawn hours of Hitler’s invasion of Western Europe on May 10, 1940, when his forces rolled into the small rural province of Limburg in the Netherlands shattering more than 100 years of peace. Their freedom gone, the Dutch lived through four-and-a-half years of occupation until American forces reached Limburg in September 1944, the last portion of Western Europe liberated by the Allies before their advance on Nazi Germany slammed to a halt.

Like The Monuments Men, Remember Us is an ensemble piece that follows twelve main characters over a six-year span, zeroing in on ordinary people including Frieda van Schäik, a teenager who falls in love with an American soldier; Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cole, the first member of the 101st Airborne to receive the Medal of Honor; and Sergeant Jeff Wiggins of the 960th Quartermaster Service Company, who escaped the poverty and racism of Alabama for yet another indignity—digging graves.

Drawing on never-before-seen letters, diaries, and other historical records, Edsel shows the painful price of freedom, on the battlefields and inside American homes. In this rich, dramatic, and suspenseful story, he captures both the horrors of war and the transcendent power of gratitude, showing the extraordinary measures the Dutch have taken to thank their liberators. Remember Us is exactly the book we need—a reminder that grief is universal, that humanity knows no national or racial boundaries, and that we all want to be remembered, somehow, someway, by somebody.

Genres: History, World War II, Nonfiction, American History, Military Fiction, Audiobook, World History

524 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 29, 2025

About the author

Robert M. Edsel is the best-selling author of Saving Italy, The Monuments Men and Rescuing da Vinci and co-producer of the award-winning documentary film The Rape of Europa. Edsel is also the founder and president of the Monuments Men Foundation, a recipient of the National Humanities Medal, and a trustee at the National WWII Museum. After living in Florence for five years, he now resides in Dallas, Texas.

Reviews

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-written, informative, WWII historical account of American soldiers who lost their lives during WWII, and the remarkable Dutch people who made sure that their sacrifices were never forgotten. I listened to the audio book, and Dion Graham and the author, Robert M. Edsel, do an outstanding job narrating this book.

[Thomas George Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most definitive book yet written, in this reader's opinion, about the loved and lost American soldiers in World War Two.

Mr. Edsel interviewed dozens of families of the soldiers who lost their lives in Europe fighting the Germans. And this book is a testimony of what he learned from them.

Below is a poem that Mr. Edsel included in his book composed by Archibald MacLeish:

'The Young Dead Soldiers
Do Not Speak'

Nevertheless they are heard in the still houses:
who has not heard them?

They have a silence that speaks for them at
night and when the clock counts.

They say, We were young. We have died
Remember us.

They say, We have done what we could but
until it is finished it is not done.

They say, We have given our lives but until it is
finished no one can know what our lives gave.

They say, Our deaths are not ours: they are yours:
they will mean what you make of them.

They say, Whether our lives and our deaths were for peace
and a new hope or for nothing we cannot say: it is you who
must say this.

They say, We leave you our deaths: give them their meaning;
give then an end to the war and a true peace: give them a
victory that ends the war and a peace afterwards: give them
their meaning.

We were young, they say, We have died.

Remember us.'

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I looked forward to reading this book from the moment I saw information on it. I really did not know what to expect but found that exceeded any expectations I might have had. I found the stories to be interesting and compelling. The information to be relevant and descriptive.

There were more than once that I found my heart in my throat from the emotional responses I had. I do have a personal connection with the story as my father is buried in Margraten. He was killed in Germany April 1945 only six days after my birth. I visited his grave on Memorial Day 1973 when stationed in Germany but I did not know of the adoption program or its background.

My gratitude to the author for telling me the story of what happened upon his death and the wonderful support and response from the Dutch people. Now I know “the rest of the story.”

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first, I was a little thrown by the number of characters introduced. By the end, I loved each storyline and couldn’t imagine the book without them. This book is many things - well written, excellently researched and poignant. But most importantly, it’s a gut wrenching reminder of the price of freedom and the families who know that cost all too well.

[Star Gater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Harper Horizon for allowing me to read and review Remember Us, American Sacrifice, Dutch Freedom, and A Forever Promise Forged in World War II by Robert M. Edsel on NetGalley.

Published: 04/29/25

Stars: 4

I didn't fact check Mr. Edsel. I chose Remember Us looking for stories. It didn't cross my mind that this would be more of a text book writing. It's factual, thorough, and for me dry. I'm at a point where I want to relax not study.

I would recommend the book for history lovers.

This would have been a nice resource during my college debate years.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of a cemetery. Oh what a story. Powerful and poignant. Impossible to read without Kleenex.

We meet many American soldiers from colonels to African American tankers. We meet determined Dutch men and women who went above and beyond for our soldiers. After fighting and enduring the Germans the Dutch had to contend with a military bureaucracy that deemed their concern and efforts as irrelevant and inappropriate.

This book took a long time to write because the author wanted to get it right. He did so. And then some.

[Fredr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book with engaging stories of soldiers doing their duty in face of danger. The cruelty that the Nazis carried with them is horrific and we should be careful not to let nationalistic arrogance sweep into our world again. These stories of young men who died to keep us free and the world free from fascism.
It tells the story of the Dutch gratitude for people who helped them regain their freedom from fear and oppression and the closeness between the Dutch people and the soldiers.
It also tells the story through African American soldiers view that they were very proud to help provide freedom to Europe and fight for their Country but that they did not have these freedoms for themselves in many parts of the United States.

[Vicki DeLuzio · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent book. lots of different stories intertwined. stories I never knew. loved this book!!

[Mark Elstgeest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vanuit de opzet met 13 personages geeft het originele inkijk in tweede wereldoorlog in Limburg. Voor mij bijzonder omdat ik een van de personages familie is

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't finish the book right now. The subject matter, as important as it is, is just hard to deal with.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Remember Us” starts in the morning hours of May 10, 1940, when Hitler’s forces roll into the small province of Limburg in the Netherlands shattering more than 100 years of peace. The Dutch live under German occupation until American forces reach Limburg in September 1944. Edsel (also brought us the stories of “The Monuments Men”) has us follow 12 people whose lived were changed during this time. Some people many of us know like American soldier; Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cole, and new heroes of the Dutch resistance and who spent the rest of their lives to thank their liberators.

As I read these stories, that Edsel tells us by researching through never seen before letters, diaries, and other historical records, I felt I was there and experience the pain and fear. I cried the last 1/3 of the book. While the Dutch have shown and continue to show their thanks, I felt very thankful how much they cared for the American soldiers. I want to visit the Netherlands more now than ever. As always, Robert Edsel shares his thanks and passions through the stories he tell. Hij is een magische verhalenverteller, die je een verbondenheid laat voelen met de plekken en de personen waarover hij schrijft. (He is a magical storyteller, who makes you feel connected to every place and person he writes about. (I felt some of this review needed to be in Dutch))

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Horizon. #RememberUs #NetGalley

[Anne Vandenbrink · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book follows 6 residents of Maastricht, Netherlands and 6 American military from 1940 to 1946. There was Frieda van Schäik, the teenager who loved to go into the labyrinth of Sint Pietersberg caves with her father, who worked there. Precious paintings were hidden in the caves to protect them from the Nazis. There was a little known, secret passage way where Jews were escorted into Belgium. Freida's mother would bury their identities in a jar in the backyard. Many Dutch families would feed and shelter American soldiers.
There was Jay Wiggins, who lied about his age to join the army to escape poverty in Alabama. The black brigade was tasked with digging graves in Margraten for fallen soldiers. But they also fought, and were successful in the American push through Belgium, in the famous Battle of the Bulge.
This is a great book with many more personal stories like this in great detail. Of destitute and starvation...horrible times. Many stories of the battles fought by American soldiers.
Towards the end, the book's focus is establishing the American Cemetery in Margraten. The Dutch adopted, and took care of the graves (and still do to this day) and communicated, and established relations with the next of kin of the fallen soldiers.

[Greg Schloesser · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the author of Monuments Men, Remember Us tells the story of Margraten, a small town in The Netherlands that has tended the graves of hundreds of American soldiers who perished in nearby battles. This act of gratitude by the townsfolk is a true inspiration, and speaks volumes to the country's appreciation of the sacrifices that were made to free them from Nazi tyranny.

The book tells the story of several individuals who stayed and/or passed through Margraten and endeared themselves to the local folk. The stories are quite interesting, but I must admit that I had trouble following them as the author jumped back-and-forth between the various stories, making it difficult to keep everything straight and sorted in my mind.

The book also tells the story of the efforts of a few town residents who worked tirelessly to secure approval from the United States military to keep the cemetery active and secure the blessings of the families of those who had fallen.

[Teresa Fales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not just another World War II story (which I would still want to read) Remember Us tells the story of The Netherlands American Cemetery through the lives of the people who created it, the people who care for it, and the people who rest in it. While most war books focus on the people who made it home to tell their stories, Remember Us brought me a more realistic picture of war in which many good people don't make it home, and you never know if anyone you have come to care about will make it out alive. This book also paints a picture of a Dutch village during and after Nazi occupation and provides a fascinating history of how the United States handles the remains of its war dead. I received an advanced reader copy of Remember Us from Publisher's Weekly's Grab a Galley giveaway, and I can recommend it without reservation to WWII buffs as well as those who just like a good story.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the history of the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, Netherlands told through vignettes of those that are buried there, those that built the cemetery and the town that welcomed the American liberators and continues to care for the graves of those that will never leave.

Why I started this book: Placed a hold on Libby because of the title.

Why I finished it: Cried my way through this book. I recommend listening, as it's hard to read through tears. Like Edsel's first book, The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History this book personalizes the vast global consequences of a world war. Perfect for your Memorial Day reflections.

[Katie Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is an American cemetery in Margraten, in the Netherlands. 8300 American soldiers from World War II are buried there, and every soldier's grave has been adopted by a local Dutch person or family, who care for it as if it were their own family member. The Dutch do not forget the soldiers who gave their lives for their freedom.

In this book, Edsel tells the story of the Netherlands American Cemetery and how it came to be. His cast of characters includes Dutch men and women (civilians, civic officials, resistance fighters), American soldiers and chaplains, and the town of Margraten itself. It is a sad book, as most of the featured Americans profiled end up buried in Margraten. But it is a very strong book, and the people whose stories Edsel tells will stay with me for a long time. And as much of Edsel's story is about memory and remembrance, this feels fitting.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an amazing true story about a horrible time in the history of our world - when Hitler’s Nazis invaded Western Europe in the early 1940s. The story is an ensemble piece that follows twelve different characters over the time of the Nazi occupation, the liberation by Allied forces es, and the years following the war when American families dealt with the loss of family members who died and were buried far from home. I loved the details about the Dutch people who lived and appreciated the sacrifices of the American men and women and the ways they showed that love to families of the fallen. However, I did find the book difficult to keep up with, given twelve different characters that were followed. But it was worth the confusion and backtracking in the book for me to have some understanding of this time in our history.

[Liora Ellington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember Us by Robert Edsel is a deeply moving and profoundly human story of courage, loss, and remembrance. Through the intertwined lives of ordinary people, Dutch civilians and American soldiers Edsel reveals how the darkest moments of World War II brought out extraordinary acts of compassion and sacrifice. The book reminds us that freedom is never free and that gratitude must extend beyond generations. Rich with historical detail and emotional depth, Remember Us honors those who gave everything for a better world. It’s a haunting yet hopeful testament to the enduring strength of humanity and the power of remembering.

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't believe that there is a superlative in the dictionary to describe this book. It is heartbreaking and it is uplifting. It is so well researched that it reads more like a Wouk novel than the telling of the ultimate sacrifice paid by young American soldiers eighty years ago. The Dutch response to the liberation of their village and promises kept since the end of WWII; the connection they made with American families of the fallen soldiers is a gift to be cherished. This is truly one of the best books I have ever read.

[Dee S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had seen the movie Monuments Men a few years ago . Remember Us is written by Robert Edsel who wrote the book the movie was based on. The author weaved the stories of 12 people - US soldiers and residents of a small town in Holland into this moving, rich story.
The horrors of war and the gratitude of those lives liberated during WWII are part of what was Remembered in this book. Letters , Life magazine articles and photographs increase the books ability to vividly share the price of freedom. The care of the graves at the American cemetery Margraten continues to this day.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the daughter of a soldier who fought in this area and survived to share the stories, this book was one that made me have a new appreciation for and understanding of why there is such gratitude for the American soldiers by the Dutch people. I read this in preparation of a visit to the area including tours by the local people who honor the WWII veterans that liberated their country through the sharing of stories with their ancestors on said tours. It was an emotional read for me as it has such a personal connection. It’s an important and meaningful read.

[Texas · Rating 5 out of 5]

REMEMBER US - I found this a well-written telling about a bit of WWII history in the rural province of Limburg in The Nederlands. The effects, the hardships, the community involvement, and the survival of all, both the Dutch and the Allies soldiers. Just as interesting and immersing as the history of the Monuments Men. The care given to the graves of the fallen soldiers today is amazing. Source: Netgalley. 5*

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I have devoured so far this year. Since I hate Nazis, this book was a no brainer for me to adore. Edsel has created a masterpiece of true stories about the Dutch who wound up caring for American WW2 soldiers' graves, and how those heroes wound up dying during the attempt to liberate them, and the rest of Europe. Hard to put down. A book you didn't want to stop reading after you finished. Great labor of love, Mr Edsel.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting stories, but the structure was weak. It cycled by chapter over the various characters covered, which made it difficult to keep track of who was whom. One thing I especially liked, though, was its focus on grave registration. This is not something I have ever seen covered in any other military book I ever read and found it very compelling; I could read an entire book on that alone. The epilogue is unbearable, go ahead and skip it, it adds nothing to the book.

[Millie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The research for this book is amazing . It was difficult to read about some of the atrocities, even though I knew they had happened. But the writing is so glorious that the personalities of the soldiers and townspeople come alive. The photos provide a valuable affirmation. If I had a library, I would buy this book.

[Barbara Clements · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting story about Dutch civilians under the Nazi occupation and the Allied soldiers who liberated them. The author tell individual stories of the Dutch and the American soldiers. It is so touching the dedication of the Dutch to those who won them their freedom and lost their lives in the process. I thought it go a bit slow I the last quarter of the book, but otherwise, I found it to be a compelling story of the evils of the Nazi's and the goodness of the Dutch and the soldiers who gave their lives in the pursuit of their iberation.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This incredible book will stay with me for a very long time. Edsel shares how the Dutch have honored the roughly 10,000 Americans buried there for over 80 years. In gratitude for their liberation, Dutch families adopted the graves of Americans who gave the ultimate sacrifice and continue to care for them in the present day. It's a beautiful, emotional story filled with inspiring people.

[Pat Molloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning book. It's about a place in time, the story of the people who lived there and the American soldiers who freed them from the Nazis. It's about heroism and sacrifice and honor and remembrance. and every word of it is true.

The author spent years researching this book and he writes like a poet. I have rarely been touched so deeply by a book.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. I am a pretty stoic person and this book had me choke up. I knew of the program to adopt the graves because of a Dutch school teacher in the 1990s where I went to high school, but im glad the cemetery has now put the photos and stories to the men and women there.
grateful the author took time to include the quartermaster corps and their silent contribution.

[Julie Sparks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every American should read this book. It is amazing. One of the best books I’ve read in a very long time. The wonderful young men fighting for our country and the freedom of those who were held captive under Nazi rule. What they did to the people in the Netherlands was so criminal. Starving the people while they ate and drank well. This is an incredible book.