Hell's Highway: A Chronicle of the 101st Airborne in the Holland Campaign, September-November 1944 [Mass Market Paperback]

George Koskimaki (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 30, 2007

September 17, 1944. Thousands of Screaming Eagles–101st Airborne Division paratroopers–descend from the sky over Holland, dropping deep behind German lines in a daring daylight mission to seize and secure the road leading north to Arnhem and the Rhine. Their success would allow the Allied army to advance swiftly into Germany. The Screaming Eagles accomplish their initial objectives within hours, but keeping their sections of “Hell’s Highway” open takes another seventy-two days of fierce round-the-clock fighting against crack German troops and tank divisions.

Drawing on interviews with more than six hundred paratroopers, George E. Koskimaki chronicles, with vivid firsthand accounts, the dramatic, never-before-told story of the Screaming Eagles’ valiant struggle. Hell’s Highway also tellsof the Dutch citizens and members of the underground who were liberated after five years of Nazi oppression and never forgot America’s airborne heroes. This renowned force risked their lives for the freedom of a small country . . . and the world.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

George E. Koskimaki, a noted historian of the 101st Airborne Division, is the author of D-Day with the Screaming Eagles and The Battered Bastards of Bastogne. He lives in Northville, Michigan.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: Presidio Press (January 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891418938
• ISBN-13: 978-0891418931
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.9 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #509,973 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #80 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > Military > World War II > General

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Oral History, October 29, 2008

By 

David W. Nicholas (Van Nuys, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hell's Highway: A Chronicle of the 101st Airborne in the Holland Campaign, September-November 1944 (Mass Market Paperback)

There is a wealth of information on the United States Army's airborne forces during the Second World War. This book, by a former Technical Sergeant in the 101st Airborne Division, recounts in some detail the struggle the 101st had to keep open the road to Arnhem during the Allied airborne landings in Holland.

The book is mainly a series of anecdotes collected by Koskimaki, who apparently has interviewed numerous of his comrades in the decades since the war. There is no real analysis of what's occurring, just recounting of series of events one by one, sometimes with several soldiers providing different viewpoints of the same event. He includes experiences of his own when appropriate.

I think that this book is valuable as far as it goes. It is, as I said, rather light on analysis or overall strategy, and discussion of what was happening in terms of the general battle, as opposed to the individual battles. The accounts of the various bits of fighting, however, are valuable and interesting, and on that level I recommend the book heartily.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Death from Above, June 5, 2010

By 

A. Austin "DeathFromAbove" (Boro,Tn USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hell's Highway: A Chronicle of the 101st Airborne in the Holland Campaign, September-November 1944 (Mass Market Paperback)

All three of George Koskimaki's books are first rate historical tributes to the brave men of the 101st AB during World War II. I believe one has to understand these books were written by a paratrooper for his brother paratroopers that lived, ate, slept, fought and died with him during that time...just as much as they were written for future generations and military history readers. In saying this, you will not receive a book written in novel format by a military historian. This is oral history by the author and his fellow paratroopers, specifically on their experiences and the actions of their division. This is not a thorough history of all actions by all army groups during D-Day, Operation Market Garden ( Holland Drop ) and the Bulge ( Bastogne ).
If your a WWII paratrooper enthusiast, or for anyone interested in more detail on the 101st combat actions during WWII, these books are a great addition to your library. The historical importance of first hand accounts is worth the price of the book alone.

4.0 out of 5 stars 101st Airborne, April 11, 2011

By 

Mg42 Pa - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hell's Highway: A Chronicle of the 101st Airborne in the Holland Campaign, September-November 1944 (Mass Market Paperback)

I enjoy anything that is well researched and historically correct on WWII and this book was it was well written and and researched. I have read other books from this author and have enjoyed them..