"The incredible World War II saga of the Jewish refugees who fought in Britain's most secretive special-forces unit--but whose story has gone untold until now"-- June 1942. Winston Churchill and his chief of staff form an unusual plan: 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; they will stop at nothing to defeat the Nazis. Known as X Troop, some simply call them a suicide squad. Garrett follows this unique band of brothers from Germany to England and back again, to tell the astonishing story of these secret shock troops and their devastating blows against the Nazis. -- adapted from jacket Provided by publisher.

Exile -- Behind the Wire -- The Pioneer Corps -- Joining the Fight -- Disaster at Dieppe -- The Elite of the Elite -- Italy -- The Field Marshal, The Water Polo Star & The Codebreaker -- Southampton, June 4, 1944 -- Sword Beach, June 6, 1944 -- Pegasus Bridge, June 6, 1944 -- Varaville and Beyond, June 7-15, 1944 -- Normandy Breakout -- The Adriatic -- Walcheren -- Crossing the Rhine -- The Final Push -- Into the Abyss -- Denazification -- Afterword: The legacy of X Troop.