Includes bibliographical references (pages 343-350) and index.
Contents:
Prologue: Bombardment -- An unlikely Olympian -- The master of all horses -- The Polish prince -- Rau's dominion -- The Spanish Riding School of Vienna -- The hidden stud farm -- Podhajsky's choice -- Horses in peril -- The escape -- Machine versus horse -- A horseless commander -- America's fightin'est General -- Two hands and a Purple Heart -- -- Armies closing in -- The photographs -- The plan -- Dressed up as a plenipotentiary -- Change of heart -- Lessing takes charge -- The tanks are coming -- The fallen -- The Americans -- The Generals -- The craziest caravan in the world -- The Lipizzaner farewell -- The super horses are ours -- Departure! -- The riderless horse -- The victory parade -- Finding a home -- The war orphans -- The auction -- The widow's rose -- The birthday party -- A mighty good American -- The veterans -- The Spanish Riding School today -- Epilogue: What became of them?
Summary:
In the chaotic last days of World War II, a small troop of American soldiers captures a German spy and learns that on a secret farm behind enemy lines, Hitler has stockpiled the world's finest purebred horses in order to breed the perfect military machine -- an equine master race. But with the starving Russian army closing in, the animals are in imminent danger of being slaughtered for food. With only hours to spare, one of the U.S. Army's last great cavalrymen, Colonel Hank Reed, makes a bold decision, with General George Patton's blessing, to mount a covert rescue operation.
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