Fred Brems was drafted in 1941, six months before Pearl Harbor. He spent all of World War II as a tanker, serving in the European Theater in the U.S. Army's most celebrated division, the 2nd Armored Division, known as “Hell on Wheels.” One of the most renowned units in American military history, the 2nd served in North Africa, Sicily, and Europe and fought in celebrated engagements including Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge, and the Rhine campaign. Brems, who rose up the ranks to command a platoon and then a company of Sherman tanks, photographed it all. Through over 600 photos, many never before published, supplemented by firsthand accounts from Brems, Knights of Freedom follows the 2nd Armored through some of the toughest fighting of World War II. It is a visual feast depicting American tank combat as it has never been seen before.
Knights of Freedom: With the Hell on Wheels Armored Division in World War II: A Story in Photos is unique because a US Army tank commander’s personal account is accompanied by more than 600 photos.
Fred Brems nailed exactly what it was like! Well done!
This well-researched account not only enriches our understanding of WWII but provides insights into the human and tactical aspects of any war, including today’s conflict in Ukraine. Far more than a story about a commander in the 2nd Armored Division, Knights of Freedom is a compelling narrative about how people organize, commit, and sacrifice for goals larger them themselves and, in so doing, make our world a better place.
Company F, 66th Armored Regiment’s journey through the last months of World War II as told in Knights of Freedom is well documented and captivating. The first-person perspective of the narrative allowed me to get a glimpse of what our fathers had to go through. The vivid details made it feel like we were right there with them.
