They were not your typical World War II soldiers. Most were not in particularly good physical shape, and many had trouble handling their weapons. They differed widely in their ages, politics, and skills. Many worked in academia, media, and the arts. They were a strange mix of Americans and foreign nationals, immigrants, and refugees, linked by their language skills, knowledge of Europe, and a desire to defeat the Axis. During the war, the U.S. Army trained them in psychological warfare at a secret camp on the Gettysburg battlefield and then sent them to Europe. They became known as “Psycho Boys,” a group of soldiers who have never received their due respect. In this book Beverley Driver Eddy, author of Ritchie Boy Secrets, tells their rarely heard story and argues for their importance to the Allied war effort.
At Gettysburg the Psycho Boys were taught the various skills that would be necessary in the European campaign from D-Day onward: prisoner and civilian interrogation, broadcasting, loudspeaker appeals, leaflet and newspaper production, and technical support. The 800 men were divided into four mobile radio broadcasting companies and sent to Europe to land on D-Day, fight in Normandy and at the Bulge, and participate in the conquest of Germany and the liberation of the concentration camps. Some of the soldiers operated well out in front of Allied lines and – in German – called on enemy soldiers to surrender. Others worked behind the lines, printing propaganda leaflets and making radio broadcasts.
Drawing on company histories, memoirs, and veteran interviews, this book traces the history of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Mobile Radio Broadcasting Companies and the individuals who served in them. For far too long, these soldiers were maligned as mere “paragraph troopers,” because they fought with words rather than bullets. As Eddy shows, the Psycho Boys hastened victory and saved countless lives by encouraging enemy soldiers to desert or surrender. Their story is an important and fascinating contribution to World War II scholarship.
This book title, The Psycho Boys (How a Unit of Refugees, Artists, and Professors Fought Back against the Third Reich), ISBN: 9780811773621, by Beverley Driver Eddy, published by Stackpole Books (September 1, 2023) is available in hardcover. Our minimum order quantity is 25 copies. All standard bulk book orders ship FREE in the continental USA and delivered in 4-10 business days.
Unlike Amazon and other retailers who may also offer The Psycho Boys (How a Unit of Refugees, Artists, and Professors Fought Back against the Third Reich) books on their website, we specialize in large quantities and provide personal service, from trusted, experienced, friendly people in Portland, Oregon. We offer a Price Match Guarantee, and QuickQuote form, to make purchasing quick and easy.
Prefer to work with a human being when you order The Psycho Boys (How a Unit of Refugees, Artists, and Professors Fought Back against the Third Reich) books in bulk? Our Book Specialists are standing by Monday-Friday 8-5 PST, ready to help!
