The Viking Battalion: Norwegian American Ski Troopers in World War II

The stories of the 99th "Viking" Battalion (Separate), which fought in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe. 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. 50 photographs

Table of Contents:
Introduction and History of the 99th Editor's Notes   Howard R. Bergen John W. Kelly Yngvar Stensby J. Jarvis Taylor Donald Curtis George Hunsby Robert T. Bjorgum Luverne Ostby Stan Anderson Harold K. Hanson Harold Berndt Harold F. Plank Les Carlson Norris Gustufson Melvin C. Hammerstein Ray Helle Lars Larson Dr. Raymond Minge Kjell Nilsen

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.

Review :
"Few books ever cover the immediate post-war period in Norway. The book closes with the list of commendations and individual medals earned by this remarkable Battalion. A fitting tribute."-- "History Book Chat" "This is a great read for anyone interested in World War II, Camp Hale, Colorado, or the few special U.S. Army units created with language and cultural skills for specific regions during World War II."-- "On Point: The Journal of Army History" "This gem of a wartime memoir is a credit to the men who wrote their impressions, the editors who made the selections and the publisher. It will be well worth the time of any fan of soldier memoirs."-- "The Journal of America's Military Past" "It is of interest to those with a passion about Norwegian immigration and the incredible stories of the men of the Viking Battalion. For scholars, it can serve as a rich resource since it provides several first-hand accounts from the men who served in the various places where the battalion left its collective footprints. The book is well-researched and provides us with fascinating insights into one of the more enduring legacies of the Norwegian-American experience."--Daron Olson, Author & Associate Professor of History, Indiana University East "The book provides a thorough history of the 99th through the words of its veterans...brings the unit well-deserved recognition."-- "WWII History Magazine" "What makes this book such an endearing addition to personal libraries is that it chronicles the 99th Infantry Battalion via the accounts of the troopers themselves."-- "ARGunners.com" "What is engaging about this book is that you get to hear the authentic voices of the soldiers through their memoirs, journal entries, and letters. Some are long, some are short, but all are worth reading for the insights you get into the minds of the ordinary soldier and what catches his eye."-- "The Norwegian American"