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X Troop: The Secret Jewish Commandos of World War II
“ Brilliantly researched, utterly gripping the first full account of a remarkable group of Jewish refugees—a top-secret band of brothers—who waged war on Hitler. ” —Alex Kershaw, New York Times best-selling author of The Longest Winter and The Liberator
The incredible World War II saga of the German-Jewish commandos who fought in Britain’s most secretive special-forces unit—but whose story has gone untold until now
June 1942. The shadow of the Third Reich has fallen across the European continent. In desperation, Winston Churchill and his chief of staff form an unusual a new commando unit made up of Jewish refugees who have escaped to Britain. The resulting volunteers are a motley group of intellectuals, artists, and athletes, most from Germany and Austria. Many have been interned as enemy aliens, and have lost their families, their homes—their whole worlds. They will stop at nothing to defeat the Nazis. Trained in counterintelligence and advanced combat, this top secret unit becomes known as X Troop. Some simply call them a suicide squad.
Drawing on extensive original research, including interviews with the last surviving members, Leah Garrett follows this unique band of brothers from Germany to England and back again, with stops at British internment camps, the beaches of Normandy, the battlefields of Italy and Holland, and the hellscape of Terezin concentration camp—the scene of one of the most dramatic, untold rescues of the war. For the first time, X Troop tells the astonishing story of these secret shock troops and their devastating blows against the Nazis.
“Garrett’s detective work is stunning, and her storytelling is masterful. This is an original account of Jewish rescue, resistance, and revenge.”—Wendy Lower, author of The Ravine and National Book Award finalist Hitler’s Furies
The incredible World War II saga of the German-Jewish commandos who fought in Britain’s most secretive special-forces unit—but whose story has gone untold until now
June 1942. The shadow of the Third Reich has fallen across the European continent. In desperation, Winston Churchill and his chief of staff form an unusual a new commando unit made up of Jewish refugees who have escaped to Britain. The resulting volunteers are a motley group of intellectuals, artists, and athletes, most from Germany and Austria. Many have been interned as enemy aliens, and have lost their families, their homes—their whole worlds. They will stop at nothing to defeat the Nazis. Trained in counterintelligence and advanced combat, this top secret unit becomes known as X Troop. Some simply call them a suicide squad.
Drawing on extensive original research, including interviews with the last surviving members, Leah Garrett follows this unique band of brothers from Germany to England and back again, with stops at British internment camps, the beaches of Normandy, the battlefields of Italy and Holland, and the hellscape of Terezin concentration camp—the scene of one of the most dramatic, untold rescues of the war. For the first time, X Troop tells the astonishing story of these secret shock troops and their devastating blows against the Nazis.
“Garrett’s detective work is stunning, and her storytelling is masterful. This is an original account of Jewish rescue, resistance, and revenge.”—Wendy Lower, author of The Ravine and National Book Award finalist Hitler’s Furies
368 pages, Hardcover
Published May 25, 2021
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December 22, 2022
X-Troop: The Secret Jewish Commandos Who Helped Defeat the Nazis.
Deeply researched, including interviews with a couple of X-Troop veterans, this history of one of the most secret special forces of WWII is as fascinating as it is incredible. X-Troop was a commando unit made up of Jewish Germans, Czechs, Austrians and Hungarians (and others) who had escaped or been sent to England before the war to avoid persecution by the Nazis, many as teenagers. In many cases their families back ‘home’ were deported to the camps and gassed or shot, after suffering abuse and foul treatment from the SS, Gestapo and, horribly, their neighbours.
The British government was reluctant to allow ‘enemy aliens’ to have weapons but after a good deal of angst, hand wringing and argument, it was agreed the unit could be formed – in great secrecy. This was because if they were captured by the Germans while on a mission, they would be murdered just for being Jewish. For this reason, they were all required to live under an alias, so they all took typically British names, and invented back stories to relate to any captor – and their colleagues, friends, everyone.
Owing to the members’ fluent German language skills and massive passion for killing the enemy who was killing their families in the occupied territories, X-Troop men were extremely brave and fearless.
This book tells the story of three of them in great depth, as well as touching on several others in the unit. These stories are amazing, moving, and worthy of much praise. These men were intelligent, brave and resourceful. On occasions they were able to negotiate the surrender of German units that were surrounded, thus saving lives on both sides.
It’s a great book.
Deeply researched, including interviews with a couple of X-Troop veterans, this history of one of the most secret special forces of WWII is as fascinating as it is incredible. X-Troop was a commando unit made up of Jewish Germans, Czechs, Austrians and Hungarians (and others) who had escaped or been sent to England before the war to avoid persecution by the Nazis, many as teenagers. In many cases their families back ‘home’ were deported to the camps and gassed or shot, after suffering abuse and foul treatment from the SS, Gestapo and, horribly, their neighbours.
The British government was reluctant to allow ‘enemy aliens’ to have weapons but after a good deal of angst, hand wringing and argument, it was agreed the unit could be formed – in great secrecy. This was because if they were captured by the Germans while on a mission, they would be murdered just for being Jewish. For this reason, they were all required to live under an alias, so they all took typically British names, and invented back stories to relate to any captor – and their colleagues, friends, everyone.
Owing to the members’ fluent German language skills and massive passion for killing the enemy who was killing their families in the occupied territories, X-Troop men were extremely brave and fearless.
This book tells the story of three of them in great depth, as well as touching on several others in the unit. These stories are amazing, moving, and worthy of much praise. These men were intelligent, brave and resourceful. On occasions they were able to negotiate the surrender of German units that were surrounded, thus saving lives on both sides.
It’s a great book.
August 27, 2022
Leah Garrett has offered a compelling narrative about the little known X-Troop of WWII.
X-Troop comprised a group of (majority) Jewish men who fled their countries to avoid Nazi persecution and managed, in some instances, with great difficulty, to arrive in a country where they presumed they would be safe.
This was not necessarily the case as many of these foreigners were eventually rounded up and sent off to enemy alien camps in England, Canada and Australia where conditions were anything but pleasant.
There they remained until the British government, realizing that these highly intelligent men who spoke several languages could be put to good use in the war effort. X-Troop was formed.
The men were overjoyed to finally have the opportunity to strike a blow to the Nazis who had killed their families and forced these men to flee their homelands.
Garrett takes us through their rigorous training and most profound their initiation where they had to shed every visage of their former lives including their Jewish names and become as British in speech and appearance as they could be. All of which was not easy but the men gladly complied as their only interest was to strike back at the Nazis.
The accomplishments of these brave commandos are paramount to the purpose of this book but the author (unfortunately) goes into great detail about specific battles during WWII which made the story feel as if it had stalled.
Of special interest is the author’s “Afterword: The legacy of X-Troop” and the “Appendix: Principal Figures”.
X-Troop comprised a group of (majority) Jewish men who fled their countries to avoid Nazi persecution and managed, in some instances, with great difficulty, to arrive in a country where they presumed they would be safe.
This was not necessarily the case as many of these foreigners were eventually rounded up and sent off to enemy alien camps in England, Canada and Australia where conditions were anything but pleasant.
There they remained until the British government, realizing that these highly intelligent men who spoke several languages could be put to good use in the war effort. X-Troop was formed.
The men were overjoyed to finally have the opportunity to strike a blow to the Nazis who had killed their families and forced these men to flee their homelands.
Garrett takes us through their rigorous training and most profound their initiation where they had to shed every visage of their former lives including their Jewish names and become as British in speech and appearance as they could be. All of which was not easy but the men gladly complied as their only interest was to strike back at the Nazis.
The accomplishments of these brave commandos are paramount to the purpose of this book but the author (unfortunately) goes into great detail about specific battles during WWII which made the story feel as if it had stalled.
Of special interest is the author’s “Afterword: The legacy of X-Troop” and the “Appendix: Principal Figures”.
April 28, 2021
Let us Fight
I cannot believe some of the happenings in this book. I knew of the cruelty and anti-semantic beliefs of the German's but I did not know how badly they were treated by the British after the war started. They were kicked out of Germany, Poland and other occupied areas, they went to Britain where they were welcomed and when the war started they were suddenly German Aliens and put in internment camps many that were not so good.
One of the worse stories in the book is about the men sent on the ship Dunera from Liverpool England to New South Wales in Australia. The captain that ran the ship was a Nazi loving anti-semantic person and treated the Jewish passengers very cruelly. The 400 German POW's most of them Nazi's or Nazi sympathizers on the boat were given cabins. The 1450 Jewish immigrants from Austria and Germany were stuffed in the hold of the ship with almost no water or sanitary conditions and little food and what food they got was full of weevils. Soon men were sick from Dysentery and diseases caused from the horrible unsanitary conditions and many died. If they complained, they were beaten. They were then taken to Camp Hay in New South Wales in Australia. The camp was dry, barren and hot.
When they had been there awhile they were allowed to transfer to the Pioneer Corps which built bridge and roads and such. Many of the Jewish immigrants were in the Pioneer Corps.
The British government came up with a plan to recruit German speaking immigrants for a special unit in the service. They called it X Troop. These soldiers were trained to be commandos and go in and not only gain important information by theft but by interrogating the German prisoner's on the spot. This information was to be used to help the British win the war.
These Jewish immigrants only wanted to fight against Hitler. They were not a danger to Britain. This new troop was made up of very successful Jewish men as you can read in the book with their missions. They were brave, courageous and hated the Nazi's.
I enjoyed reading history that I knew nothing about before. I was sad that the Jewish immigrants were treated so badly, but happy that those in the X Troop found a way to fight.
It was good that at the end of the book the author told the continuing story of some of the main characters and what happened to them after the war. That this was a true story made it much more interesting.
Thanks to Leah Garrett, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers, and Netgalley for allowing me to read a copy of the book for an honest review.
I cannot believe some of the happenings in this book. I knew of the cruelty and anti-semantic beliefs of the German's but I did not know how badly they were treated by the British after the war started. They were kicked out of Germany, Poland and other occupied areas, they went to Britain where they were welcomed and when the war started they were suddenly German Aliens and put in internment camps many that were not so good.
One of the worse stories in the book is about the men sent on the ship Dunera from Liverpool England to New South Wales in Australia. The captain that ran the ship was a Nazi loving anti-semantic person and treated the Jewish passengers very cruelly. The 400 German POW's most of them Nazi's or Nazi sympathizers on the boat were given cabins. The 1450 Jewish immigrants from Austria and Germany were stuffed in the hold of the ship with almost no water or sanitary conditions and little food and what food they got was full of weevils. Soon men were sick from Dysentery and diseases caused from the horrible unsanitary conditions and many died. If they complained, they were beaten. They were then taken to Camp Hay in New South Wales in Australia. The camp was dry, barren and hot.
When they had been there awhile they were allowed to transfer to the Pioneer Corps which built bridge and roads and such. Many of the Jewish immigrants were in the Pioneer Corps.
The British government came up with a plan to recruit German speaking immigrants for a special unit in the service. They called it X Troop. These soldiers were trained to be commandos and go in and not only gain important information by theft but by interrogating the German prisoner's on the spot. This information was to be used to help the British win the war.
These Jewish immigrants only wanted to fight against Hitler. They were not a danger to Britain. This new troop was made up of very successful Jewish men as you can read in the book with their missions. They were brave, courageous and hated the Nazi's.
I enjoyed reading history that I knew nothing about before. I was sad that the Jewish immigrants were treated so badly, but happy that those in the X Troop found a way to fight.
It was good that at the end of the book the author told the continuing story of some of the main characters and what happened to them after the war. That this was a true story made it much more interesting.
Thanks to Leah Garrett, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers, and Netgalley for allowing me to read a copy of the book for an honest review.
December 8, 2021
Two excellent historical books with people who are MY SONS almost in a row! What have I done to deserve such riches?
(Literally, y'all, if I can only give two reasons for loving this group: these men, they LOVED their CO so much, AND they had someone who was designated as the "lady of the X Troop". @Megan Chappie, I think you would love this book, too.)
This is such an interesting and well-researched look at the X Troop, a group of Jewish soldiers from inside Nazi Germany who were assembled into an INCREDIBLY well-disciplined group of men, a band of brothers, if you will. Their training was reminiscent of Ranger training (i.e. from The Ruins of Gorlan) and they could accomplish incredibly impressive things!
Their drive to defeat the Nazis, and the clever, brave, and dauntless ways in which they achieved that, were so amazing and inspiring as well!
I learned new things, too--I had no idea about the enemy alien internment processes in the UK, which were HORRIFIC, and I also hadn't considered the difficulty of reconstructing Germany when so many people in it were still Nazi sympathizers.
The whole narrative was written in such a way that it was engaging, memorable, and easy to read, which is extraordinarily impressive in an academic historical work.
There were a couple of flaws: a grammatical weirdness, a typo, and a part where it refers to homosexual relationships among the soldiers, which I don't condone. But overall, it was amazing.
4 stars!
(Literally, y'all, if I can only give two reasons for loving this group: these men, they LOVED their CO so much, AND they had someone who was designated as the "lady of the X Troop". @Megan Chappie, I think you would love this book, too.)
This is such an interesting and well-researched look at the X Troop, a group of Jewish soldiers from inside Nazi Germany who were assembled into an INCREDIBLY well-disciplined group of men, a band of brothers, if you will. Their training was reminiscent of Ranger training (i.e. from The Ruins of Gorlan) and they could accomplish incredibly impressive things!
Their drive to defeat the Nazis, and the clever, brave, and dauntless ways in which they achieved that, were so amazing and inspiring as well!
I learned new things, too--I had no idea about the enemy alien internment processes in the UK, which were HORRIFIC, and I also hadn't considered the difficulty of reconstructing Germany when so many people in it were still Nazi sympathizers.
The whole narrative was written in such a way that it was engaging, memorable, and easy to read, which is extraordinarily impressive in an academic historical work.
There were a couple of flaws: a grammatical weirdness, a typo, and a part where it refers to homosexual relationships among the soldiers, which I don't condone. But overall, it was amazing.
4 stars!
September 16, 2023
I had not intended to read these two books simultaneously, nor just before the beginning of the Jewish year of 5784. But here we are. The two books are of such contrast and together so thought provoking, I decided to try and review them together. The most accessible it the history, X Troop: The Secret Jewish Commandos of World War II by Leah Garrett and the multi-lingual Shmutz by Felicia Berlinger.
X Troop is what it says it is. A history of a roughly company sized unit of very highly trained and elite British commandos, almost all observant Jews from Germany and Austria. Each had fled the holocaust and later volunteered to return. Most hoping to extract vengeance, all seeking survivors from their family and all uniquely aware of the evil that was Nazi Germany. All by the fact of being Jewish particularly at terrible risk.
Almost all of this history was new to me. Unknown to most Americans was that at outbreak of WWII had the British pushed Germans and Austrian nationals and new-made British citizens into camps not unlike what American did to the Japanese Nisei. For both the US and England a shameful overreaction. One that allowed conservative xenophobia to rule over reasonable thinking. The result of the decision to label the Jewish escapees hostile aliens was that many were twice branded and ripe for abuse. The future warriors for the King, would be victims of British, and for some Canadian and Australian antisemitism plus a more generalized suspicion that they were somehow acting in favor of Germany.
Eventually, the British Army recognized that native German speaking troops, trained as translators/interrogators, and able to sight read German documents were valuable assists. If properly place in forward, high risk locations they could achieve critical intelligence gains.
From those who volunteered for what became a very highly trained unit were a variety of advanced skills from multilingualism, to engineering. But, the first assignment for all of them was to abandon every aspect of their civilian identity, especially any part that would identify them as Jews. They all had to adopt new English sounding names, Church of England habits and drop any private Jewish practices. No more Friday night Sabbath, and yes eat, with gusto, pork.
It is with this loss of identity that takes me into the second book Shmutz.
Shmutz is a Yiddish word for dirt, or in this case, porn. Ms. Berliner is telling the story of 18 year old New Yorker, Rachael. She is our contemporary. However, she is the child of an ultra-orthodox Jewish family, strict practitioners of Hasidism. The Chasids (either spellings can be used), even or especially in New York tend to speak in Yiddish. This makes this book a challenge to those who have to understand every word in the text. There is and needs to be a 14-page Yiddish to English dictionary.
Her family and its community are a very male dominated, pre modern society. The expectation is that all things modern are at best suspect and that every individual, what ever their unique personalities are, at all times subjected to the most stringent requirements of what is an old form of Jewish practice. All things are sacrificial in favor of protecting the soul.
Rachael has all of the roles of a Chasid girl, becoming a woman, but she is also allowed to go to college. Not because anyone cares if she becomes learned, especially learned in non-Jewish topics, but because she is a book keeper and with more training, she can increase the income she provides to the family. Income that allows the men more time to devote to religious studies.
Rachael is allowed a lap top computer and access to the internet. Via the internet she finds internet porn.
She arrives in this world with no knowledge of her sexuality and almost no language for anything sexual. She reacts with a combination of shame, innocence, curiously and lust. Every video is of interest not only for its visceral effect on her body, but also on her mind. Why do these people do this? Are these things normal? Will they be expected of her, or allowed for her? Why do some of the videos appear to mix pain and pleasure? Having no vocabulary or prejudgments for people who are hetro, homo or bi or trans sexual she can only be aware of how her body responds; what actions attract or disinterest her. It is on her to decide if any images, such as one with an underage girl are beyond her tolerances. (This one repels her immediately)
Clearly these are two very different books. But are they?
Ms Garrett tells us that the men of X Troop, being authorized to use violence and to kill are given agency. Agency is something Rachael gets by stealth and in careful defiance. The men of X Troop are and are required to be invisibly part of the larger world. It is demanded of Rachael that she be apart, visibly and habitually apart for all things worldly.
Both books are about people in highly disciplined worlds. Both are subject to a multitude of restrictions and rules. For most of us these rules range from silly and inconvenient to outrageously against our beliefs in individualism and freedom of expression. Both are of value to their community only to the degree they fulfill the roles they have been given. Both are subjected to organizations that are, very much defined by and operating within classical patrimonies.
Ultimately Rachael must decide, and decide in a moment if she is a Chasid, or if she must leave her home. The soldiers come to a day when they are warriors no longer. Each must decide if they going to return to their Jewish Identities.
The Yiddish of the one book, and the particulars of the histories in the other may give all readers a sense of separation. These people are not us and we do not live these limitations or need to make these decisions. All of us are members of families, communities, cultures and countries. All of us balance between the roles that are part of these memberships, and our beliefs in free choice. Maybe we can take sexual identity as a matter of choosing one from the other or one at a time, or none of the above. But both of these books encourage us to be more aware of choices, decisions and the degree to which we own ourselves.
X Troop is what it says it is. A history of a roughly company sized unit of very highly trained and elite British commandos, almost all observant Jews from Germany and Austria. Each had fled the holocaust and later volunteered to return. Most hoping to extract vengeance, all seeking survivors from their family and all uniquely aware of the evil that was Nazi Germany. All by the fact of being Jewish particularly at terrible risk.
Almost all of this history was new to me. Unknown to most Americans was that at outbreak of WWII had the British pushed Germans and Austrian nationals and new-made British citizens into camps not unlike what American did to the Japanese Nisei. For both the US and England a shameful overreaction. One that allowed conservative xenophobia to rule over reasonable thinking. The result of the decision to label the Jewish escapees hostile aliens was that many were twice branded and ripe for abuse. The future warriors for the King, would be victims of British, and for some Canadian and Australian antisemitism plus a more generalized suspicion that they were somehow acting in favor of Germany.
Eventually, the British Army recognized that native German speaking troops, trained as translators/interrogators, and able to sight read German documents were valuable assists. If properly place in forward, high risk locations they could achieve critical intelligence gains.
From those who volunteered for what became a very highly trained unit were a variety of advanced skills from multilingualism, to engineering. But, the first assignment for all of them was to abandon every aspect of their civilian identity, especially any part that would identify them as Jews. They all had to adopt new English sounding names, Church of England habits and drop any private Jewish practices. No more Friday night Sabbath, and yes eat, with gusto, pork.
It is with this loss of identity that takes me into the second book Shmutz.
Shmutz is a Yiddish word for dirt, or in this case, porn. Ms. Berliner is telling the story of 18 year old New Yorker, Rachael. She is our contemporary. However, she is the child of an ultra-orthodox Jewish family, strict practitioners of Hasidism. The Chasids (either spellings can be used), even or especially in New York tend to speak in Yiddish. This makes this book a challenge to those who have to understand every word in the text. There is and needs to be a 14-page Yiddish to English dictionary.
Her family and its community are a very male dominated, pre modern society. The expectation is that all things modern are at best suspect and that every individual, what ever their unique personalities are, at all times subjected to the most stringent requirements of what is an old form of Jewish practice. All things are sacrificial in favor of protecting the soul.
Rachael has all of the roles of a Chasid girl, becoming a woman, but she is also allowed to go to college. Not because anyone cares if she becomes learned, especially learned in non-Jewish topics, but because she is a book keeper and with more training, she can increase the income she provides to the family. Income that allows the men more time to devote to religious studies.
Rachael is allowed a lap top computer and access to the internet. Via the internet she finds internet porn.
She arrives in this world with no knowledge of her sexuality and almost no language for anything sexual. She reacts with a combination of shame, innocence, curiously and lust. Every video is of interest not only for its visceral effect on her body, but also on her mind. Why do these people do this? Are these things normal? Will they be expected of her, or allowed for her? Why do some of the videos appear to mix pain and pleasure? Having no vocabulary or prejudgments for people who are hetro, homo or bi or trans sexual she can only be aware of how her body responds; what actions attract or disinterest her. It is on her to decide if any images, such as one with an underage girl are beyond her tolerances. (This one repels her immediately)
Clearly these are two very different books. But are they?
Ms Garrett tells us that the men of X Troop, being authorized to use violence and to kill are given agency. Agency is something Rachael gets by stealth and in careful defiance. The men of X Troop are and are required to be invisibly part of the larger world. It is demanded of Rachael that she be apart, visibly and habitually apart for all things worldly.
Both books are about people in highly disciplined worlds. Both are subject to a multitude of restrictions and rules. For most of us these rules range from silly and inconvenient to outrageously against our beliefs in individualism and freedom of expression. Both are of value to their community only to the degree they fulfill the roles they have been given. Both are subjected to organizations that are, very much defined by and operating within classical patrimonies.
Ultimately Rachael must decide, and decide in a moment if she is a Chasid, or if she must leave her home. The soldiers come to a day when they are warriors no longer. Each must decide if they going to return to their Jewish Identities.
The Yiddish of the one book, and the particulars of the histories in the other may give all readers a sense of separation. These people are not us and we do not live these limitations or need to make these decisions. All of us are members of families, communities, cultures and countries. All of us balance between the roles that are part of these memberships, and our beliefs in free choice. Maybe we can take sexual identity as a matter of choosing one from the other or one at a time, or none of the above. But both of these books encourage us to be more aware of choices, decisions and the degree to which we own ourselves.
August 9, 2021
The historical account of the little known X Troop was a secret just bursting to be revealed, 75 years after WWII. The 87 mainly Jewish refugees from Germany and Austria were teenagers when they arrived in Britain after having been sent by their families to escape the Nazi threat in Europe. Selected for training in a new secret unit to be formed within the British army, these young men, "enemy aliens", were chosen because of their fluency in German, their intelligence, and their "anger and hunger for revenge" against the Nazis, those who had destroyed their childhoods and, in many cases, murdered their families. This secret commando unit became "central to the allies' success during the war and later to their denazification effort."
Garrett's research is astounding, covering the training and the subsequent three years of operations in which these brave young men truly steered the course of the war with their work as commandos and intelligence officers. The text reads like a compelling novel, with its narrative focused on the individuals featured and the close relationships that developed between the men. Garrett also revealed the steps taken by the British Army to guarantee that the men's Jewish identities were concealed, requiring them to adopt new names and identities, which many of the men carried into civilian life post-war. Their experiences were breath-takingly dangerous, Garrett's research presenting their eye-witness accounts of battles, infiltrations into German territory and, especially, the battle of Normandy on D-Day.
Amongst the incidents recorded was the incredible rescue of his parents from Theresienstadt by Manfrad Gans, the long-held goal of this trooper throughout his three years with his unit. It also touched me that there was an atttempt by the Jewish troopers to replace the crosses that had been set on the graves of their fellow soldiers with Jewish stars. Most outstanding is Garrett's presentation of the resistance to the Nazis by a mainly Jewish unit, adding to the recent publications that finally defeat the long-held myth that the Jews went to their deaths "like sheep to the slaughter". These resistance narratives, like Batalion's "The Light of Days", break through the misinformed stereotypes that have overshadowed Holocaust history.
Garrett's research is astounding, covering the training and the subsequent three years of operations in which these brave young men truly steered the course of the war with their work as commandos and intelligence officers. The text reads like a compelling novel, with its narrative focused on the individuals featured and the close relationships that developed between the men. Garrett also revealed the steps taken by the British Army to guarantee that the men's Jewish identities were concealed, requiring them to adopt new names and identities, which many of the men carried into civilian life post-war. Their experiences were breath-takingly dangerous, Garrett's research presenting their eye-witness accounts of battles, infiltrations into German territory and, especially, the battle of Normandy on D-Day.
Amongst the incidents recorded was the incredible rescue of his parents from Theresienstadt by Manfrad Gans, the long-held goal of this trooper throughout his three years with his unit. It also touched me that there was an atttempt by the Jewish troopers to replace the crosses that had been set on the graves of their fellow soldiers with Jewish stars. Most outstanding is Garrett's presentation of the resistance to the Nazis by a mainly Jewish unit, adding to the recent publications that finally defeat the long-held myth that the Jews went to their deaths "like sheep to the slaughter". These resistance narratives, like Batalion's "The Light of Days", break through the misinformed stereotypes that have overshadowed Holocaust history.
January 7, 2023
* bought this on a whim at the bookstore and stumbled upon an extremely fascinating story about people i had no idea had existed
* the commando troop at the center of this story was made up of Jews of different nationalities, that had fled their countries (including Germany and Austria) once anti-Semitic laws started sweeping Europe and the Third Reich started its expansion
* most of them were teenagers or young adults and all ended up in the UK, where they found refuge, despite being considered enemy aliens at some point (and treated accordingly, the British did fucked up shit as well)
* together they were eventually trained in an elite commando troop, which had tremendous importance in obtaining crucial information during the war, and whose actions were incredibly important, especially before the onset of D-Day in june 1944
* they were forced to completely shed their former identities, hide the fact that they weren't British citizens, hide their Jewish identity, and most of them kept these identities after the end of the war, especially since the majority of their family members (or in some cases, all), had been killed in concentration or extermination camps
* did i cry? lmao yes 😃
* it was a fascinating story, i especially recommend it if you're interested in WW2 history
* the commando troop at the center of this story was made up of Jews of different nationalities, that had fled their countries (including Germany and Austria) once anti-Semitic laws started sweeping Europe and the Third Reich started its expansion
* most of them were teenagers or young adults and all ended up in the UK, where they found refuge, despite being considered enemy aliens at some point (and treated accordingly, the British did fucked up shit as well)
* together they were eventually trained in an elite commando troop, which had tremendous importance in obtaining crucial information during the war, and whose actions were incredibly important, especially before the onset of D-Day in june 1944
* they were forced to completely shed their former identities, hide the fact that they weren't British citizens, hide their Jewish identity, and most of them kept these identities after the end of the war, especially since the majority of their family members (or in some cases, all), had been killed in concentration or extermination camps
* did i cry? lmao yes 😃
* it was a fascinating story, i especially recommend it if you're interested in WW2 history
July 5, 2022
‘Although he had escaped internment, as he said later, the impact of being classified as an enemy alien had a profound effect on [Colin Anson]. It made him feel, as he said later, as if he had to “apologize for every breath of English air.”’
Well-documented history of a unique unit of the British army in World War Two consisting almost exclusively of young German and Austrian Jews who had barely escaped the wrath of Hitler only to be mistrusted by the British. Wherever and whatever the mission, if it was important one or two X Troopers probably led the way.
“We were reborn in Aberdovey [training site]. As far as I was concerned, five years living as a pariah and four years of being an enemy alien were behind us, and we were somebody new now.” Manfred Gans
Garrett writes a clear and compelling story of courage and heroism. She deserves credit for assuring this tale is documented and recorded. The text begs proofing and tightening.
‘Of the forty-five X Troopers who had landed in Normandy on D-Day, more than half, twenty-seven, had been killed, wounded, or taken prisoner.’
The sad epilogue to these men’s service was that the country for which they sacrificed, and many died, begrudged them recognition. They were patched up, promoted, and sent back into the fight. When it was over, they were again classified as enemy aliens and barred from further service. They were eventually granted citizenship, but to this day their Jewishness is obscured.
Oft I listened to the chime, To the dulcet, ringing rhyme,
Of the bells of Aberdovey. I first hear them years ago
When, careless and light-hearted, I thought not of coming woe,
Nor of bright days departed; Now those hours are past and gone,
And when the strife of life is done, Peace is found in heaven alone,
Says the bells of Aberdovey.
Well-documented history of a unique unit of the British army in World War Two consisting almost exclusively of young German and Austrian Jews who had barely escaped the wrath of Hitler only to be mistrusted by the British. Wherever and whatever the mission, if it was important one or two X Troopers probably led the way.
“We were reborn in Aberdovey [training site]. As far as I was concerned, five years living as a pariah and four years of being an enemy alien were behind us, and we were somebody new now.” Manfred Gans
Garrett writes a clear and compelling story of courage and heroism. She deserves credit for assuring this tale is documented and recorded. The text begs proofing and tightening.
‘Of the forty-five X Troopers who had landed in Normandy on D-Day, more than half, twenty-seven, had been killed, wounded, or taken prisoner.’
The sad epilogue to these men’s service was that the country for which they sacrificed, and many died, begrudged them recognition. They were patched up, promoted, and sent back into the fight. When it was over, they were again classified as enemy aliens and barred from further service. They were eventually granted citizenship, but to this day their Jewishness is obscured.
Oft I listened to the chime, To the dulcet, ringing rhyme,
Of the bells of Aberdovey. I first hear them years ago
When, careless and light-hearted, I thought not of coming woe,
Nor of bright days departed; Now those hours are past and gone,
And when the strife of life is done, Peace is found in heaven alone,
Says the bells of Aberdovey.
January 3, 2026
Absolutely brilliant.
October 6, 2021
This is an extremely important book because it does so much to completely combat the antiSemitic myth that the Jews went to slaughter like sheep in the Holocaust. Not only did they fight back in impossible situations but they fought back in the traditional sense of the word. More than 95% of the troop nicknamed the X troop, were Jewish refugees from the Holocaust. Many had been sent to England on the Kindertransport, many others got to England in other ways. But all were recruited after a period of being distrusted as enemy aliens by the British. All were anxious to grab the chance to finally get into the war against Germany, many for obvious personal reasons. Many either knew their family had been captured and interred by the Nazis or were afraid that had happened after loosing touch with them. One man after the war was officially over, got permission for a leave of absence, and with a driver, drove throughout most of Europe in the week after the war was won to the Theresienstadt concentration camp and located his parents there (Made easier by the German fanatic record keeping)! He then managed to find connections to where he was able to speak with Princess Juliana of Holland and get his parents and other Dutch inmates released! One man during the denazification of Europe, actually came face to face with the Nazi that was responsible for the death of his father. He spent a morning wrestling with what to do then managed to choose simply making certain that the authorities knew about his Nazi past and bring him to justice that way rather than giving in to the impulse to avenge his father personally. Note that this guy was still in the military and had his gun available during this morning. The guy who rescued his parents had his father say to him we cannot get fully even with the Nazis because we cannot be as cruel as they. Not a quote since I haven't looked up the precise wording, but very close. Truly impressive when you recall most of these troopers had their childhood taken from them and many also lost family or endured personal cruelty. as a result.
These men played important roles in D-Day, landing in Holland, an effort on the same scale and effort as D-Day), and many incredible events. One was recorded on a news film roll, driving his armored truck, followed by an entire unit of Germans he had captured single handedly and persuaded to give up the fight! Another pretty much single handedly relieved the island of Corfu of the Nazi unit there! Note that I am using the word "unit" rather than looking up the specific grouping because I haven't a clue as to the size of the various military units. Many were deeply involved in the denazification of Europe and gathered information and testimony for the Nuremberg trials. Their successes were due in part to their ability to speak German and other languages from childhood. Many went on to the ultimate triumph over Hitler: having loving families and grandchildren and life. Most actually ended up staying in Britain as naturalized citizens under their nom de guerre. A few ended up moving to the United States and those were the ones who ultimately went back to their childhood names.
This book is highly recommended for the complete destruction of that myth that Jews went meekly to their murders by Nazis. Oh, and a note of gratitude to the author for calling these deaths MURDERS. Rarely have I seen this word used for the Holocaust, but that is what it was: slavery and murder in the camps. It also is fascinating and well written. There were a few dry moments but not many.
These men played important roles in D-Day, landing in Holland, an effort on the same scale and effort as D-Day), and many incredible events. One was recorded on a news film roll, driving his armored truck, followed by an entire unit of Germans he had captured single handedly and persuaded to give up the fight! Another pretty much single handedly relieved the island of Corfu of the Nazi unit there! Note that I am using the word "unit" rather than looking up the specific grouping because I haven't a clue as to the size of the various military units. Many were deeply involved in the denazification of Europe and gathered information and testimony for the Nuremberg trials. Their successes were due in part to their ability to speak German and other languages from childhood. Many went on to the ultimate triumph over Hitler: having loving families and grandchildren and life. Most actually ended up staying in Britain as naturalized citizens under their nom de guerre. A few ended up moving to the United States and those were the ones who ultimately went back to their childhood names.
This book is highly recommended for the complete destruction of that myth that Jews went meekly to their murders by Nazis. Oh, and a note of gratitude to the author for calling these deaths MURDERS. Rarely have I seen this word used for the Holocaust, but that is what it was: slavery and murder in the camps. It also is fascinating and well written. There were a few dry moments but not many.
May 21, 2021
I thought I knew a decent amount about the war from books and movies that I've read in the past. X Troop showed me parts of an impressive and important story that I had never heard. The stories of British and Canadian troops fighting fail to mention how horribly they also treated Jewish refugees. They highlight their heroes, but don't talk about how critical these immigrants were.
Leah Garrett does a great job of detailing a lot of facts about different men and battles while still making it feel personal and exciting. I was worried X Troop would be like a text book, but you really got a sense for who these men were, bringing their different personalities to life. They each had presence and you were cheering them on.
I don't read a lot of non-fiction, but I'm so grateful to Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing this book for a review. It is a great reminder of how people's real lives can be so much greater than fiction.
Leah Garrett does a great job of detailing a lot of facts about different men and battles while still making it feel personal and exciting. I was worried X Troop would be like a text book, but you really got a sense for who these men were, bringing their different personalities to life. They each had presence and you were cheering them on.
I don't read a lot of non-fiction, but I'm so grateful to Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing this book for a review. It is a great reminder of how people's real lives can be so much greater than fiction.
April 16, 2022
‘X Troop would be Britain’s secret shock troop in the war against Germany.’
In this book, Ms Garrett draws our attention to the men of X Troop and their role in World War II.
Who were X Troop? A new commando unit formed in 1942 by Winston Churchill and Lord Mountbatten, which included Jewish refugees from Germany and Austria who had escaped to Britain. Some had been sent to Britain on the kindertransport. But all of them were initially regarded as enemy aliens, (and often subjected to antisemitism) with some deported to Australia as ‘enemy German aliens’ before being recruited. Once recruited, these men were given new British identities, were trained in counterintelligence and advanced combat to undertake their dangerous assignments. Their knowledge of German culture and language was invaluable, and many of them knew that their families had been captured and interred by the Germans.
The story of X Troop is largely told through the stories of four of its members. Ms Garrett writes of their lives before World War II, their treatment during the war, their lives after the war. Some men returned to their pre-war identities, others did not. Many found it difficult to obtain their naturalisation, which seems both cruel and absurd.
Until I read this book, I was unaware of X Troop and the valuable work carried out by these brave men. An important, lesser known, aspect of World War II.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
In this book, Ms Garrett draws our attention to the men of X Troop and their role in World War II.
Who were X Troop? A new commando unit formed in 1942 by Winston Churchill and Lord Mountbatten, which included Jewish refugees from Germany and Austria who had escaped to Britain. Some had been sent to Britain on the kindertransport. But all of them were initially regarded as enemy aliens, (and often subjected to antisemitism) with some deported to Australia as ‘enemy German aliens’ before being recruited. Once recruited, these men were given new British identities, were trained in counterintelligence and advanced combat to undertake their dangerous assignments. Their knowledge of German culture and language was invaluable, and many of them knew that their families had been captured and interred by the Germans.
The story of X Troop is largely told through the stories of four of its members. Ms Garrett writes of their lives before World War II, their treatment during the war, their lives after the war. Some men returned to their pre-war identities, others did not. Many found it difficult to obtain their naturalisation, which seems both cruel and absurd.
Until I read this book, I was unaware of X Troop and the valuable work carried out by these brave men. An important, lesser known, aspect of World War II.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
October 14, 2022
The very interesting story of a group of mainly Jewish refugees from nazi Germany & Australia who became brilliant British commandos.
January 29, 2022
X Troop: The Secret Jewish Commandos of World War II by Leah Garrett is an absolute must read. The X Troop and their story needs to be common knowledge. If you haven't read this powerful history book, you need to move it to the top of your TBR.
February 26, 2021
Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing an ARC for this WWII book set to be published in May, 2021.
Garrett documents a previously little known story of Jewish refugees from various European countries being recruited by the British Army for several assignments in the push to defeat the Nazis. Their assignments were dangerous, sometimes strange, and resulted in lots of surrenders of German soldiers, with little resistance. The commandos had to relinquish their birth identities and take on a British one, complete with backstory. Their advantage in understanding the culture and speaking the language was invaluable.
I found it very fascinating, and while my ARC did not include photos, I was glad to see that the fully published version would have many. A what happened to... section is included at the end, and was of great interest to me - once you get to know the various people through the story, you want to know where they ended up, which was often just as interesting.
Where I feel the book fell short was Garrett's insistence on providing a level of military detail that would not interest most readers; naming a person exact group assignment by letter and number, each and every time slowed the tale down. Only WWII students doing academic research would like that. It affected the tension of some moments negatively, in my opinion. But overall, a good read.
Garrett documents a previously little known story of Jewish refugees from various European countries being recruited by the British Army for several assignments in the push to defeat the Nazis. Their assignments were dangerous, sometimes strange, and resulted in lots of surrenders of German soldiers, with little resistance. The commandos had to relinquish their birth identities and take on a British one, complete with backstory. Their advantage in understanding the culture and speaking the language was invaluable.
I found it very fascinating, and while my ARC did not include photos, I was glad to see that the fully published version would have many. A what happened to... section is included at the end, and was of great interest to me - once you get to know the various people through the story, you want to know where they ended up, which was often just as interesting.
Where I feel the book fell short was Garrett's insistence on providing a level of military detail that would not interest most readers; naming a person exact group assignment by letter and number, each and every time slowed the tale down. Only WWII students doing academic research would like that. It affected the tension of some moments negatively, in my opinion. But overall, a good read.
October 26, 2021
Leah Garrett should be wholly proud of this book, which lifts the lid on one of WWll's secrets. How these men found it within themselves to go to war for a country that had been both kind and harsh to them shows their innate goodness and bravery. What they did has gone unremarked upon for too long. Ms Garrett presents us with a book containing detailed research as well as the human side, and cost, of war. I did something with this book that I have never, ever done before. The minute I finished it, I started it all over again. One listen wasn't enough. I'm just about to head in to my 3rd listen as every time an amazing feat or remarkable achievement blows my mind. A wonderful book exquisitely written and narrated.
June 6, 2022
Insanely readable account of a secret troop of highly trained commandos who fought for the British in WWII despite not being British. Made up of Jewish refugees from Europe who had arrived in the UK to begin their new lives, only to be arrested as enemy aliens at the outbreak of war. This is the anecdotal storytelling of history at its most engaging. Garrett makes a strong case of the impact the member of X Troop had at different times in the war and it's possible she oversells some of it, but there are good stories here and they deserved telling.
The undercurrent that flows throughout of how these soldiers had to hide and deny their identities leading many to be buried under crosses throughout Europe is tragic. The race across Europe of Manfred Gans, a commissioned British officer traveling as Fred Gray, culminating with him finding his parents alive in Theresienstadt is unutterably moving.
It's a boys' own adventure, but it's also a story of Jewish agency and self-determination in the defeat of Nazism.
The undercurrent that flows throughout of how these soldiers had to hide and deny their identities leading many to be buried under crosses throughout Europe is tragic. The race across Europe of Manfred Gans, a commissioned British officer traveling as Fred Gray, culminating with him finding his parents alive in Theresienstadt is unutterably moving.
It's a boys' own adventure, but it's also a story of Jewish agency and self-determination in the defeat of Nazism.
August 19, 2022
World War II has been written about so exhaustively that it's rare that I read about some aspect of the War that I'd never heard of before. Much of X Troop was totally unknown to me. This includes the story of X Troop itself. But also the horrifying story of how England incarcerated German and Austrian Jews fleeing Nazi Germany in internment camps as potential enemy agents before training them for special military operations relying on their German language ability. X Troop also discusses several military operations I'd never read about such as the battle of Walcheren and the reconquest of several Greek and Italian islands.
The book focuses on about a half dozen X Troopers, with a story starting in Germany and proceeding through internment camps, training and combat. It's a bit challenging to remember which trooper is which because the book constantly jumps between them, though I can't think of a better way to tell the story.
Also, while the men of X Troop were heroic, volunteering for dangerous frontline missions in which 1/4 of them were killed, the treatment of the commandos is annoyingly hagiographic. They were not only brave and capable, but also incredibly smart, cultured, well-mannered, stoic, loyal and self-sacrificing. Garrett even claims that several of them possessed "movie star good looks." It's a bit much - their stories and war records speak for themselves without noting on every page how wonderful they were.
The book focuses on about a half dozen X Troopers, with a story starting in Germany and proceeding through internment camps, training and combat. It's a bit challenging to remember which trooper is which because the book constantly jumps between them, though I can't think of a better way to tell the story.
Also, while the men of X Troop were heroic, volunteering for dangerous frontline missions in which 1/4 of them were killed, the treatment of the commandos is annoyingly hagiographic. They were not only brave and capable, but also incredibly smart, cultured, well-mannered, stoic, loyal and self-sacrificing. Garrett even claims that several of them possessed "movie star good looks." It's a bit much - their stories and war records speak for themselves without noting on every page how wonderful they were.
May 14, 2025
A great tribute to the horrors and difficulties faced by the Jewish community in WW2 from the lens of special forces soldiers. Inspiring that despite the circumstances, so many would want so badly to fight and push back against the oppression they went through. The war stories themselves are just sad reminders of how ugly war actually is (lots of following senseless orders and needless suffering/death) but knowing it was Jewish commandos makes it even more bleak.
December 5, 2022
4.5 stars, rounded down to 4
Things I liked:
-great narrator
-amazing stories (in that they were presented with emotional impact)
-historical value
Things I didn't like:
-the individuals' stories were presented in a weave rather than one after the other. I probably would have enjoyed it more had I been reading it, but as an audio book it made it very difficult to keep track of who was who...
Things I liked:
-great narrator
-amazing stories (in that they were presented with emotional impact)
-historical value
Things I didn't like:
-the individuals' stories were presented in a weave rather than one after the other. I probably would have enjoyed it more had I been reading it, but as an audio book it made it very difficult to keep track of who was who...
November 16, 2024
An extraordinary story, it almost read like a novel although it was filled with carefully researched information about World War II. My heart beat with fear, joy, pride, and concern as I read about the challenges and dangers these young men faced—and their unique accomplishments.
February 19, 2022
Poor storytelling undermines the exceptional actions of these men.
December 9, 2022
An incredible story of a group of German Jewish soldiers trained in secret to infiltrate and interrogate the Germans to get intelligence on Hitler's plans that helped win WWII.
November 3, 2023
Excellent book about the Jewish commandos in WWII.
December 20, 2023
Would work better on a screen either as a series or a movie
July 29, 2024
An eye opening account of Jewish refugees who served in the British Army at the height of Hitlers rule. Well researched and written.
May 10, 2022
Very insightful illuminating read.
An illustration of persecution, perseverance, and triumph. The heart wrenching tale of societal hate, families separated, and children seemingly saved only to be interred as the untrusted and unwanted. The desire for a race to find and save their loved ones, to avenge the atrocities committed, and to find their way back.
Easy and immersive biographical reading outlining the amazingly heroic, often compassionate, wartime feats of the persecuted.
An illustration of persecution, perseverance, and triumph. The heart wrenching tale of societal hate, families separated, and children seemingly saved only to be interred as the untrusted and unwanted. The desire for a race to find and save their loved ones, to avenge the atrocities committed, and to find their way back.
Easy and immersive biographical reading outlining the amazingly heroic, often compassionate, wartime feats of the persecuted.
July 19, 2021
“X Troop: the secret Jewish commandos of World War II,” by Leah Garrett (Houghton Mifflin, 2021). The book opens with an anecdote: Lt. George Lane is captured on a French beach a month before D-Day, and brought to Field Marshall Erwin Rommel for interrogation. Instead, they have tea. George Lane is actually Lanyi György, a Hungarian with a Jewish mother and Catholic father who fled to England before the war and became a member of X Troop, a tiny group of very highly trained German and Austrian Jews who fought in ones and twos in France, Italy, and elsewhere capturing and interrogating hundreds of Germans, undertaking daring reconnaissance missions, and otherwise wreaking small-scale havoc on the Nazis who were killing their families. Several were with Lord Lovat’s commandos who relieved the paratroopers at Pegasus Bridge. One actually convinced several hundred Germans in a massive fortress to surrender to him. The men were all given fake names and identities; their unit was so secret virtually no one has heard of them. This was not the Jewish brigade raised in Palestine in 1944. Once they finished training in Wales they never fought as a unit. They were given battlefield commissions; were killed or wounded; were considered the elite of the elite. Yet during the war and after the British treated them very badly. Several were sent on a horrendous voyage to Australia; many were kept in internment camps on the Isle of Man. And afterward the British refused to make them naturalized citizens until a major general commanding Combined Operations after the war overrode tremendous official opposition to win them citizenship. The official monument at the Welsh town where they trained does not say they were Jewish. Some of them were Orthodox; some of them were largely secular. They were profoundly conflicted: were they Brits, were they Jews, were they Germans? There is one good map of the D-Day landings (they came in on Sword Beach), and many fascinating maps. Garrett is the director of the Jewish Study Center and director of Hebrew and Jewish Studies at Hunter College. She spoke with children of some of the commandos, and interviewed two of the surviving veterans. This is a remarkable story about a group of remarkable men.
https://www.hmhbooks.com/shop/books/X...
https://www.hmhbooks.com/shop/books/X...
April 3, 2022
I have read many WWII accounts from the soldier's perspective. This book was very unique due to the very different backgrounds of the main characters. I found the conclusion of 2 of the soldiers' accounts to be quite moving.
August 23, 2023
This book is extremely well written. Even though it's "just" a historical telling of the so called X Troop, it honestly feels like reading a novel. I honestly can not believe that it's not fiction! Also the research done by Leah Garret is incredibly. There is no Character mentioned in the Book of whom we don't know what happen to them.
Christopher Nolan we need a movie asap!
Christopher Nolan we need a movie asap!
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