Hidden in the crevasses of World War II history is the story of the 99th Infantry Battalion (Separate). A small unit that rarely gets any attention, it is part of a fascinating story. Alongside battalions of Austrian, Greek, Filipino and Japanese Americans, the Army decided to create an all Norwegian American battalion, originally trained at Camp Hale, Colorado, along with the 10th Mountain Division, with the original mission of liberating Norway. Their exploits during training brought them enough notoriety that members of the 99th were recruited to start the First Special Service Force and a branch of the OSS. Although they were not initially sent to Norway, they would fight in Normandy, across France and Belgium, helped entrap the Germans at Aachen, protected the city of Malmedy during the Battle of the Bulge (where they stopped an attack by Skorzeny and a SS Panzer Division), helped liberate Buchenwald, guarded the Nazi treasures found in Merkers mine and finally served as the Honor Guard for King Haakon VII on his triumphant return to Norway.

This book tells the story of the 99th Infantry Battalion through an anthology of rarely, if ever, previously seen memoirs, journals, letters and newspaper articles written by or about the Viking soldiers.

About the Author
Kyle Ward is a History and Social Studies Methods professor at Minnesota State University. He has written/edited five other books and a workbook series and currently teaches a university course on World War II. He is joined on this project by two other experts on this specific unit. Erik Brun is the president of the 99th Infantry Battalion Association and has a Master's degree in History and Olaf Minge, whose grandfather served as a medic with this unit during the war, will also be adding his expertise.


Book Information
ISBN 9781636243238
Author Olaf Minge
Format Hardback
Page Count 384
Imprint Casemate Publishers
Publisher Casemate Publishers