The Liberator: One World War II Soldier's 500-Day Odyssey from the Beaches of Sicily to the Gates of Dachau

The Liberator tells the story of U.S. Army officer Felix Sparks and his infantry unit's 500-day journey through World War II, from the invasion of Sicily to the liberation of Europe. Written by Alex Kershaw, the account follows Sparks and his men as they fought across the beaches of Sicily, through the mountains of Italy and France, and into brutal winter combat against SS forces on the German border. After surviving the extended campaign across Europe, Sparks was chosen to lead a final advance into Bavaria, where American forces engaged in some of their most intense street fighting of the war. Upon reaching the gates of Dachau, Sparks encountered scenes that tested his humanity in profound ways. The book examines the bloodiest and most dramatic march to victory of the Second World War through the lens of small-unit combat and one soldier's remarkable battlefield odyssey.