The Last Hill is a very powerful and engaging read, especially if you enjoy military history. The authors, Bob Drury and Tom Clavin, did a wonderful job in their research to pull together this narrative of a major battle that history has tended to ignore.

The story begins with the history of the Army Rangers, and centers on the 2nd Battalion under the leadership of Colonel James Rudder. We are with the newly formed Rangers as they go through their own versions of Boot Camp/Hell Week as Rudder prepares his men for battle in what is anticipated to be very tough positions.

We are with the Rangers on D-Day, and continues on as the men push the Nazis back towards the border and eventually make their way in to Germany. The "HIll" is actually called Castle Hill, and it is a heavily fortified target the Allies need to take in order to make its way on to Berlin.

The battle is extensive, with many casualties. You feel you are with the Greatest Generation as they suffer losses and winter conditions to take the last hill. You come away with even more respect and admiration for these men and the sacrifice they gave for our liberties.

Highly recommend this work if you are interested in the subject. The pace is a little slow at the start, but quickly picks up and builds to a heart-wrenching climax. I particularly enjoyed the end of the book as it followed the principal players after the war and as they returned to the States.

I thank NetGalley and the authors and publishers for the opportunity to review an ARC of this book.

“The Last Hill: The Epic Story of a Ranger Battalion and the Battle That Defined WWII,” ISBN 9781250247162, by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin, publication date 1 Nov 2022, is a brilliant book that easily earns five BIG stars.

Bob Drury and Tom Clavin's, “The Last Hill,” is an incredible story of selfless service, bravery, and sacrifice. It is meticulously researched and unflinchingly told story of the 2nd Ranger Battalion’s unmatched WWII combat accomplishments.

From being the lead element on Omaha Beach at Normandy’s Ponte du Hoc, to their ultimately successful 7 December 1944 battle for Hill 400 (Castle Hill) in the Hurtgen Forest where they emerged victorious over numerically superior German Wehrmacht, Reserve, and Fallschirmjäger regiments with only 16 Rangers remaining, it is a timeless tale that is extraordinary by any measure.

Whether the authors are describing touchingly personal moments or brutal combat, the narrative unfolds with artistry…the reader is there. Helpfully, strategy and tactics are appropriately woven throughout the telling to give the reader context for the highly personalized sacrifices and combat engagements of individual Rangers. This is a book that cannot be put down, that must be read without stopping.

Sincere thanks to the publisher, St. Martin's Press/Kindle (EPUB), for granting this reviewer the opportunity to read this Advance Reader Copy (ARC), and thanks to NetGalley for helping to make that possible

An outstanding look at the history of the US Rangers in WW2 from their inception to the end of the war. The stories were incredible and gut wrenching. Their is plenty of action and first hand accounts to keep you thoroughly engrossed. A great read!

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What an incredible book! Very detailed accounts of Army Rangers in WWII. The author brings you along with these brave men highlighting the bravery they exhibited in the face of the horrors of war. Not for the faint of heart - it's war from the view of the front line.

First of all thank you to all the men and women past and present who have taken up the awesome responsibility of defending our nation. Thank you Bob Drury and Tom Clavin for researching this story and writing it. Thank you Net Galley and St Martin's Press for the priviledge of reading this account.

The history of the Rangers Second Battalion from its formation at the beginning of WWII, through training, deployment and action on the European Theater. The Rangers landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day and we’re tasked with silencing the guns atop the cliffs of Ponte du Hoc. They fought in Forest Brest and finally took Hill 400, “The Last Hill” in the Hurtgen Forest. Much is written about their exploits on D-Day being the longest day. However, to a man December 7, 1944 was the longest and worst day of their lives as they assaulted an entrenched German position on Hill 400.
The authors do a good job of personalizing the account. At times the narrative bogs down in military strategy, but for the most part the book provides a grunt’s eye view of the war. The account is graphic and is not for the squeamish or those who would glorify combat.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I can’t imagine what the Army Rangers (honestly, anyone who fought in WW2 )went through. There were times during this book that I started to feel extremely anxious because the situations and circumstances looked so dire. I find it truly admirable that these men continued to fight, to hold their ground, even in the face of what was often certain death. The loyalty to our country is amazing and I think it’s so important for all Americans to understand and respect.

There was undoubtedly a remarkable amount of research that went into the writing of this book, so I give huge kudos to the authors for their meticulous gathering of information.

Overall, this was a deviance from my typical reading and I’m glad I picked this one up because I learned a lot and developed a further appreciation for our soldiers.

"The Last Hill" is a history of the Ranger battalions that landed on D-day and follows them throughout their efforts to defeat the Nazis. It is well written and seen to be meticulous researched and has lots of places where the reader feels the war in all of its dangers and brutality of what men do to other men.

The last hill is called Hill 400 by the Allies and Castle Mountain by the Germans. It is hard to believe that such bravery and dedication to a cause went on. Men who were often badly wounded would do extraordinary acts of heroism.

The book is not for the squeamish as there are descriptions of unbelievable savagery that occur -- on both sides although the view taken is from the American/Allied side. It was awful and awesome at the same time.

It would make a great study in humanity, bravery, savagery, conquest, and defeat as well as victory for a class in US History or even World History looking at wars. I definitely recommend it with the caveat that it will cause you some internal pondering as to what was right about WW II as well as the battles leading up to the "Last Hill."

Bob Drury and Tom Clavin are no strangers to epic stories especially about the military. This is another one of their excellent books which follows a Ranger Battalion in World War II to (essentially) their final action on Hill 400.

The book traces the story not only of the Ranger Battalion as an organization but also multiple soldiers within the unit from their arrival until the end of the war (or sometimes unfortunately sooner). If you like a good book on World War II then this should be on your list. It is detailed without becoming a military science book and each man has his own clear character traits which makes them easy to distinguish.

My only minor quibbles are that it seems like there might be too many men who get a chance at the spotlight. As a former military member, I understand the pull to give every hero their due. For the narrative though, it can feel like too much bouncing between positions. Doc Block probably needs his own biography. The other quibble is that the book is more a battalion biography than a focus specifically on the battle for Hill 400. As I said, these are minor quibbles. This is still a great read.

(This book was provided to me as an advance copy by Netgalley and St. Martin's Press. The full review will be posted to HistoryNerdsUnited.com on 11/1/2022.)

The Rangers of the Second World War are legendary in every sense of the word. This duo of authors have done a phenomenal job of detailing the rise of the Rangers and their most critical missions. I would highly recommend this.

“The Last Hill” came to me as through Net Galley . My thanks to NG, the publishers and the authors.
I am a frequent reader of military histories of all wars, and” The Last Hill “ is one of the better books I have read. It details , from their inception, the US Army Ranger units of WW2. The well-written narrative history covers the Rangers from the early days of their rigorous training to their deeply organized t to England, then to The landings at Normandy to the climax of the book, the horrifying battle for the hill of the title.
Called the last hill, the Rangers engaged in a titanic struggle for the hill, situated at the Rhône river, just inside the German border. Few lived to tell the tale. It is their personal stories, from official records and best of all, from personal reminiscences, that make the book worth a read from anyone who is interested in military history.
The authors use of those memoirs to weave together an illustration of the determination of a group of men trained to break through and break out, using strength and undaunted courage to survive searing combat and achieve victory. That victory came at a terrible cost of blood and life, and it is a story that needed to be told. In the epilogue, the authors mention that in many noted histories of the war in Europe, the period between the Allies liberation of Paris and the Battle of the Bulge, is written as being relatively quiet,.”The Last Hill” tells a different story, and tells it extremely well. I recommend the book to all those who read military history.

Free ARC from NETGALLEY

As a graduate of class 1483 "white thread", this is why the school is so tough and why the tab means so much. To top it off alone these two are two of the absolute best writers hands down, together they write a HOOYAH book.

If you don't like this one go back to bed!