Accompany Generals E. N. Harmon and George S. Patton and the other members of the American 2d Armored Division in the climactic days of World War II. Their "Hell on Wheels" division broke out of the Normandy beachhead, raced across France and spearheaded the final drive into Hitler's Germany. Few sagas in World War II can equal the exploits of these tankers with their relentless determination and remarkable bravery in overcoming every obstacle the German defenders could employ."Hell on Wheels" is the detailed story of the 2d Armored Division. From the early evolution of armored doctrine, through the first extensive training maneuvers in the United States and finally to the invasions of North Africa, Sicily and Europe, this path- breaking unit witnessed the development of armored warfare and became one of the illustrious fighting divisions of World War II. This is the story of the men who compiled this distinguished record. The heretofore untold incidents of individual heroism, humor and tragedy now reveal the human element behind the famed reputation.

Creating an idea -- The Fort Benning era -- The Tennessee maneuvers -- The Louisiana maneuvers -- The Carolina maneuvers -- Preparation for war -- Operation TORCH -- North African interlude -- Operation HUSKY -- The Sicilian-English intermission -- The Contentin Peninsula -- Inch by inch -- Mile after mile -- Breaching the Siegfried Line -- Operation QUEEN -- The Battles of the Bulge: Blunting the German spearhead -- The Battles of the Bulge: Reducing the salient -- The near miss -- The race for Berlin -- A backward glance -- Afterword / George S. Patton -- Appendix I: Division commanders -- Appendix II: Division awards -- Appendix III: Division statistics.