A paragraph break is appropriate here (so Good News Bible).

When Judas heard of the cruelty visited on his countrymen may be rendered “When Judas heard about the cruel thing that the Gentiles had done to his own people.”

He gave orders to his men: Good News Bible shifts the focus a little by rendering gave orders as “informed.” Judas actually sent out word that his men were to come together for military service again. For this clause New English Bible is helpful with “he alerted his troops,” and so are New American Bible and Goldstein with “he summoned his men.” Another possibility is “he sent word to his men that they were needed.”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.