• Age: 12 to 15
• Grade: 7 to 10
• Reading age: 12 to 15

Take a trip back in time to the chaos and destruction of the greatest invasion in military history, viewed through the lens of Canadian paratroopers. Men of Steel is the exciting story of some of Canada’s toughest and most daring soldiers in the Second World War.

In the dead of night, on 5/6 June 1944, hundreds of elite Canadian paratroopers hurled themselves from aircraft behind enemy lines. That daring act set the stage for the eventual success of the Allied invasion fleet. From aircraft formations striking out from England on a turbulent flight across the English Channel to the tumultuous drop over Occupied Europe and deadly close combat in the Normandy countryside, Men of Steel is a detailed account of Canadian paratroopers and their instrumental role in D-Day.

Colonel Bernd Horn, an experienced Canadian Forces infantry officer, is currently chief of staff of the Land Forces Development and Training System. Dr. Horn is also an adjunct professor of history at the Royal Military College and has authored, co-authored, or edited 28 books. Some of his recent publications are Fortune Favours the Brave and Show No Fear. He lives in Kingston, Ontario.

Bernd Horn's profile page

"It is a valuable addition to the books written for youths about Canadas military history."

CM Magazine

"Men of Steel is a good introductory source on the topic of Canadian paratroopers during WWII and is ample in describing the circumstances they faced on the ground and in the air."

Esprit de Corps