“The Fighting Bunch” is a compelling yet little known piece of history, regarding an armed rebellion that took place in Athens, Tennessee in 1946. Local politics had become so corrupt that it affected every level of government, disenfranchising local voters and all but stripping them of civil rights. Demobilized GIs returning from the battlefields of World War II took a stand, making their own local political party and ultimately resorting to armed resistance to defend democracy at home just as they had done abroad.

DeRose has written a fabulously well-researched book here, fascinating and in depth without being dry, as sometimes occurs with history. Unprecedented access to first hand sources makes “The Fighting Bunch” really stand out. What I found so compelling about this book was not just that what DeRose outlined really took place - I had never thought something like this would happen on American soil - but that it is so timely with the current political climate in America. We deal today with voter suppression, disenfranchisement, and corruption; the legitimacy of elections are being called into question, the prevailing political party will stop at nothing to hold onto their power…It’s all too real, and truly I think we all as citizens of this nation could take a few tips from the GIs in Athens, Tennessee in terms of defending not only our rights but those of our neighbors.

A fascinating book I would recommend to any interested in domestic political history.

This is a pretty remarkable story that I had never heard about before. War veterans came home to a corrupt political system and fought to restore power to the people. What an incredible story this is and it blows my mind that I had never heard of this before.

These guys held an armed rebellion in our country to restore the broken system. Did you get that? An armed rebellion against the government on US soil after WWII. I've been a history buff since high school and I never once had heard about this before.

It is a truly remarkable story and these guys are heroes for standing up for what is right against a corrupt system.

5 Stars, you need to read this book, it is incredible.

I received a free ARC of this excellent history at the invitation of the publisher, St. Martin's Press, the author Chris DeRose, and Netgalley. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me, I have read this work of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. This history is set up and rounded up enticingly, a hard book to set aside when necessary, and at times it seems nearly impossible to have transpired on our soil in the mid-1940's, but it did and can again. I sure am glad these fellows were on OUR side. The way things are going post-election in 2020, I hope those folk, similarly inclined, are out there, again on our side.

A very interesting story about a period of time that I was not aware of. I have not read a story by this author before, but it was an engaging read and kept me interested in the story.

This is a true story about what was named "The Battle of Athens" that took place in Athens, Tennessee in 1946. A group of WWII veterans decided to take things into their own hands to fight corruption in their town after coming back home. It is an interesting story that is perfect to read right now that will also give you hope.

This is the account of the most incredible thing I have read in a long time. Athens and McMinn County, Tennessee, were so corrupt in the 1930s and 40s that a group of veterans returning from WWII determined to take it back and make it clean. They finally determined that they only way to do it was with armed conflict.

I had never heard anything about this. The corruption was bad. Elections were stolen blatantly. Laws were made or used to the benefit of the people in charge.

The GIs decided to run a slate of good government candidates and make sure that the votes were counted accurately. A group said that, since the crooks did it with guns, they would too, if necessary.

This is well researched, especially for something done so far after the fact. I was impressed with how detailed it was. It flowed well and was easy to read. I found myself rooting for the GIs and appalled at how the so-called public servants were taking the citizens for a ride.

If you want to read about a story of citizens taking action to bring about good government, this could be it.

I personally love untold historical events such as this. I was wrapped up in this book from the beginning. I do admit that some of it seemed far fetched at times but there are facts listed for such times that prove them true. Overall a great read.

This book brought to light a historical event I had no idea had even occurred. I’ve read extensively on World War II and somehow every book I’ve read and all the history I’ve been taught missed this story of WWII veterans coming home to fight a corrupt local government. The story is fascinating and well written. I highly recommend reading this novel for insight into an event that should remind everybody that the right to vote and have voted counted has continued to go on throughout our country’s history. The story of how these men fought to make sure votes were counted should be even more poignant in the climate of 2020.

GIs Battle Corrupt Politicians

After WWII the GIs returning to Athens, Tennessee discovered that while they had been fighting for freedom in Europe a group of corrupt politicians and their enforcers had tightened their grip on the county. The corruption had existed in the county for generations, but now that the returning soldiers had tasted the ability to fight dictatorship and win, they wanted freedom for their families.

Fighting the corruption ended in a bloody battle. In the aftermath, the GIs realized that they could be in big legal trouble, so they took a vow of silence. Even their families didn’t know the whole story. Now many years later, DeRose believed that the full story should be told. He tracked down any remaining participants, talked to relatives, and read documents. This book is the result.

I had never heard of the shocking incident, so I found the book an eye opener. DeRose does a good job of presenting all the background as well as the battle in a readable way. While the material in the beginning detailing the history of the settlement of Athens and how the corruption started was interesting, I found it a bit slow. I was eager to see how the GIs battled the entrenched politicians and won.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in politics and history. It’s a good lesson about how freedom is lost and what it can take to regain it.

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

Interested in a bit of history that’s fascinating yet probably unknown to most? I’m wholeheartedly recommending “The Fighting Bunch,” authored by Chris DeRose. There is history, small town culture, and a good example of what happens when you back the wrong people up against a wall and give them no way out.

Such was the town of Athens, Tennessee. For years they had been under the thumb of a political machine, enduring rigged elections and other major and minor atrocities. Something had to be done, and should have been done long ago. Up until 1946, there seemed to be no answers. Fighting fair by using the courts and writing to state and federal politicians were not the answers.

This is a story that was hidden to protect those who had taken part. Mr. DeRose had to become a detective and search for those who might know the truth, although over 70 years later, many of the those who knew the story firsthand had passed on. Others who had previously attempted to follow the same path gave up. The author continued on this quest, assembling information from many sources (documented in the back of the book) in order to bring out the truth.

I felt “The Fighting Bunch” read more like a good novel. It was informative, exciting in parts, and came to a satisfying conclusion. Mr. DeRose has not only offered a fantastic story for us to read, he has performed a service to the families and ancestors of those connected, brave soldiers who risked everything for what they believed was right. I can’t recommend this book enough. Five stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a complimentary electronic copy of this title.

As someone who takes great pride in their reading abilities, I nearly missed out on this fantastic book because I DIDN'T FULLY READ THE SUBTITLE.

I know, right?

When I receive the email from St Martin's Press inviting me to read the book, I saw 'The Battle of Athens' and my mind immediately went to Greece. I assumed it would have something to do with Greece's civil war that erupted in 1946, and that was not something I had much interest in. The book cover showed up rather small in the email as well, so I could not clearly see the cover.

THANK GOODNESS I CHECKED GOODREADS BEFORE DECIDING YAY OR NAY.

Turns out, this book is fucking brilliant and I am so glad I did not pass up the chance to read it.

DeRose has crafted a masterpiece that details little-known events in Athens, Tennessee. To say that local government officials in McGinn County were corrupt would be putting it mildly. The political machine hard at work in Tennessee did everything possible to ensure that their candidates remained in power. Voter intimidation was a constant, ballot box stuffing was the norm, and anyone who spoke out against it regretted their decision pretty quickly.

One can see then why returning WWII veterans might take offense to this chicanery and blatant law-breaking. These men fought in the worst of conditions all over Europe and the Pacific, only to return home to find their own local governments were not abiding by the very rules and laws set down by our founders. They could not abide this.

The non-partisan GI all-veteran ticket would make sure that Election Day, 1946 (August 1st) would be the dawning of a new era in politics in McGinn County. Naturally those in power had no intention of giving up their voter-intimidating, voter fraud-committing ways without a fight.

A fight is certainly what they got, as the literal battle waged long into the night, carrying over into the early hours of August 2nd before finally wearing itself out.

What occurred prior to that ending is one of the craziest stories I have ever read, and I am so glad that DeRose has brought these heroes into the light where they belong. Once I began reading, I could not put the book down.

As Election Day wore on, the GIs realized that they were not going to get a fair vote, no matter how much they lobbied for things to be done the right way. Polling places were randomly closed, ballot boxes were hidden from view when the counting began, and the all-veteran ticket found themselves and their supporters under assault in some instances. They were arrested, voter intimidation went on like crazy, and a few voters were shot. A small band of veterans decided to take matters into their own hands. Called the Fighting Bunch, this group took up arms and headed to the heart of the ballot-counting, to the town's jail. They demanded a fair and honest count and were immediately rebuffed. The Sheriff and his deputies refused. The battle was on.

It is a miracle that despite the battle waging on for hours as gunfire ricocheted off buildings downtown, not a single person was killed when things finally came to an end. Instead of gloating about their victory, the GIs and the Fighting Bunch in particular realized they might be in some major trouble. After all, they had just lead an armed rebellion that put dozens of people in danger. Criminal charges were possible, and would not have been a surprise. So, instead of glad-handing and celebrating in the streets, the young war-weary men quickly blended back into the crowds of citizens and the incident was rarely spoke of again. In fact, many children didn't even know their fathers had taken part in the event that they had heard whispers and bits and pieces of their entire lives. The veterans had accomplished their goal - a free and fair election. They could return their town and county to respectability again.

Had DeRose not undertaken this project when he did, the truth of that night might really have been lost forever. He conducted extensive interviews with those related to the men who fought just as valiantly for their town as they had their country in the years before. Few witnesses are left, making this book all the more crucial. Many artifacts also helped paint the picture, including radio broadcasts from that evening, previously recorded interviews, journals, letters, and more. It seems that for once, the second amendment did exactly as it was intended - saved democracy in this section of the country.

To be clear, those opposed to the corrupt government of Athens and McGinn County, lead by Boss Crump out of Memphis and Sheriff Paul Cantrell right there in town, tried to call attention to what had been happening for years. Cantrell and his deputies (some of whom were known murderers/criminals, deputized at certain times to 'help out') made sure that their party would always come out on top. Elections were rigged so their candidates won by large margins often - a feat almost unimaginable seeing as how there often ended up being far more votes cast for one of their men than there were eligible voters. They randomly closed polling places with no warning, harassed those who did not vote the way they wanted, threatened voters who asked (as was their right) to witness the vote-counting, and were not above assault and even murder. The corruption extended far beyond election day however, as the elected officials made sure to line their own pockets, as well as the pockets of the men above them that they owed their positions to. the sheriff and deputies often made false arrests and charged the supposed offenders exorbitant sums of money. They also targeted tourists and those passing through. Word got around rather quickly that it would be best to by-pass Athens altogether whenever possible, and in general to just stay out of McGinn County.

This is a fascinatingly comprehensive look at the lives of those involved and the events leading up to that fateful day where a group of residents decided that enough was enough. They would not live in fear, and they would make sure that every vote was counted as it was cast. This is a story of courage, grit, and determination. These men had spent significant portions of their young lives fighting in a war on the other side of the world, only to come home and find there was more fighting to be done.

DeRose is thorough in his research, including scores of footnotes (we all know I LOVE footnotes) and plenty of sources for further perusal. He truly brought this story to life and this is as timely as ever here on the eve of what I believe will be one of the ugliest elections in our nation's history.

I already have two people I will be giving this book to for Christmas. I can not recommend it highly enough. This is a must-read.

I'm sure not many of us have heard this bit of US History.
Quite an eye-opener how corrupt the politicians were in Athens, TN from 1936 to 1946 when the GI's settling in their hometown after returning from fighting during World War II decided to take the future in their own hands. Amazing that nobody got killed in the process. They also realized that once it was over they had to act like nothing happened and forget all about it in order for the area to survive without hatred.
The book went into a bit more details about the war experiences of the GI’s then I would have liked but it did help to understand them that each had fought for the freedom from Nazi Germany and Japan that they would not put up with a terrorizing regime at home. Hopeful this kind of situation will never happen again but this book is maybe available at the proper time when US elections have divided this country in two and police brutality happens a little more than it should. Maybe a strong independent party might shake up our two party system government at one point.

While reading I was most impressed with the careful investigative approach by DeRose to uncover every small yet vital element of this story. After speaking with him at length, it is clear to me why the people of McMinn entrusted Chris to handle this with the respect it deserves. With this book, we are invited on a backstage tour through America's most unknown and unforgettable moment in recent history.

I think it would be a good thing if this book were required reading for all politicians, both before they take office and after they've been in office a year to remind them who they work for. I had never heard of this incident before which doesn't surprise me. History that goes against conventional wisdom is seldom celebrated.

A group of WWII veterans returning to their homes in Athens, Tennessee utilize their hard won fighting skills to take their town back from corrupt politicians that extended from their local "good ole boys" all the way to the governor's mansion. The corruption had been in place for generations, gaining strength until they controlled every inch of the county and city. But these veterans had had enough.

I absolutely loved this book. The details leading up to and after the uprising set the stage perfectly for the readers to see through the eyes of these young men and make the same decision they did....we're not going to take it any longer.

If you want to know what the Greatest Generation, in their youth and idealism, went to war for, it was NOT the enshrinement of a single point of view as the only acceptable one to express and uphold.
More is said at my blog: https://tinyurl.com/y5sjlhex

This is about the battle Athens. Not Greece, but Tennessee.

It's depressingly timely, as a bunch of crooked politicians do their damndest to control the local elections by various criminal means, including threat and violence against voters.

For a bunch of GIs returning from World War II, the war didn't stop, it just shifted to a different type of war, against the political machine controlling the local county. The young veterans, experienced in the war theater, formed their own party and introduced the GI ticket for the upcoming elections. Every person on the ballot was a veteran.

The residents of Athens hailed them with relief, but many with an equal or stronger fear that they couldn't win against a crook who was expert in lying, threatening, and manipulating to stay in power.

The vets witnessed firsthand the theft of ballot boxes, and the threats and intimidation carried out by the thugs working for the crooked politicians, culminating in a shootout at the local jail, where deputies on the payroll of the crooks hid with ballot boxes.

The showdown lasted for hours, but they won, clearing the way for free and honest elections in their county.

It's briskly told, and very well researched--the evidence of firsthand accounts is evident, adding to the color of the story.

The first half is mostly summary, both of the veterans' various experiences in the war (some of those could have made their own books) and an account of the rise of the political machine in Tennessee.

I would have liked more detail on the culminating battle at the jail, though the author seemed to be limited in actual fact, and kudos for not giving in to the temptation to plump things up by fictionalizing. Altogether an interesting account, and alas, so very timely.

The Fighting Bunch by Chris DeRose is an interesting bit of history that’s fascinating yet probably unknown to most. This is a story that was hidden to protect those who had taken part. The Fighting Bunch is a true story that is almost like fiction. The storyline moves well, although it is hard to keep up with the characters at times.

Good, well written true story about local politics in Athens, Tennessee in 1945 - 1946 . The author discusses the political background of the area, including the corrupt, political machine. It then discusses the young men from the area that went off to war, their return to Athens and how they addressed the corruption. The book reads like a novel, very cinematic - should be made into a movie. I plan on keeping my eye out for any stories written by Mr. DeRose.

Simply Excellent! 1930's-40's Athens, Tennessee was in the grip of a corrupt political machine. Repeated efforts and requests were made to the US Government to stop the overwhelming voter fraud and intimidation, with absolutely no results. WWII veterans from all branches came home to find their home town still being terrorized and intimidated by corrupt officials. In addition to very well documented accounts of corruption and violence, this is the inspiring story of the veterans - their WWII exploits, and on their return, how they banded together to save their town. Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-arc. Highly recommend! 4.5 stars

An entertaining history of an armed rebellion of American GIs against a crooked political regime in EasternTennessee. The town, led by young men recently returned from the battlefield in WWII, took up arms to insure a fair election.
The best part of the book is the end. Rather than gloating over their success, the GIs took positions in public service and made peace in the town. The enemies became friends and moved on.
This true story is almost like fiction. The storyline moves well, although it is hard to keep up with the characters at times. It also seems unreal that the uprising is accepted rather than forcefully put down by government forces. It is not a narrative that could be repeated.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.