Land forces and warfare Books

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Book SynopsisProviding everything the modeller needs to recreate an accurate representation of the Panther tanks that fought in the East in 1943.

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Book SynopsisThe armour clashes in May 1940 were the biggest the world had yet seen, as the sweeping German advances of that period came to epitomize Blitzkrieg. The Wehrmacht's Panzer III was well matched by the French Somua S35 tanks, the two representing very different design philosophies and yet both ranking among the best in the world at the time. Fully illustrated with specially commissioned colour artwork, this work draws upon the latest research to provide a definitive analysis of the clash between these two high-quality, cutting-edge tank designs. It describes one of the key duels at the heart of a new type of warfare, in the epic battles at the outset of Hitler's conquest of France and the Low Countries.Table of ContentsIntroduction /Chronology /Design and Development /Technical Specifications /The Combatants /The Strategic Situation /Combat /Statistics and Analysis /Conclusion /Further Reading /Index

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Book SynopsisOn paper at least the French army in 1939 was the most powerful land army in the world. Sheltered behind the fortifications of the Maginot line was an army which drew its troops from colonies and territories all over the world. It included spahis from algeria, calvary from Morocco, Chasseur Alpin from the high Vosges and some of the world's most modern and powerful tanks. The horrendous losses of the Great War had developed a psychological dependence on fortifications and a lack of flexibility in both tactics and strategy. It's officers were prepared to fight the positional warfare of 1914-18 not the 'Blitzkrieg' of 1940. This book, the first of a five volume set, looks at the uniforms, equipment and organisation of France's military forces during WW2. It details the French army on the eve of war and the troops which fought the "Phoney War", the campaign in Norway and the lightning invasion of France in May-June 1940. Also detailed are the forces of "Greater France" in North Africa, the Middle East and Indochina. Finally, it examines the army and armistice and Vichy France.Table of ContentsThe Army of 1939-40 and Vichy France · The Organisation of the Army in 1939-40 · Uniforms and Equipment 1939-40 · The Army of the Armistice 1940-42 · The Plates

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Book SynopsisIn 1963 West Germany and the United States signed an agreement to develop the best tank in the world the MBT/KPz-70. Though by 1970 this project was stopped, West Germany used the components created for the MBT/KPz-70 to develop a new main battle tank the Leopard 2. Since 1979, when the first Leopard 2 rolled off the production line, the Leopard 2 has undergone various modifications, and has been exported to various European countries. Enhanced by Osprey's signature colour plates and cutaway artwork, this book examines the development of the Leopard 2 from the first batch to its evolution into the improved Leopard 2 A5, detailing its features and variants.Table of ContentsDesign and Development · The Leopard 2 AV · Series Production · Inside the Leopard 2A4 · The Improved Leopard 2 · The Leopard 2 in Foreign Service · Swedish Leopard 2

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Book SynopsisThe fourteenth and fifteenth centuries were a time of great upheaval for medieval France. In 1328 the Capetian line came to an end. This was the trigger for the Hundred Years War as successive English kings attempted to uphold their claim to the French throne. Catastrophic defeats at Crécy and Poitiers shook the French kingdom to its core. A period of respite followed under Bertrand du Guesclin, but an even more devastating assault was to follow, under the warrior-king par excellence Henry V, and the French disintegration continued until 1429. This book details how the French began a recovery, partly triggered by the young visionary Joan of Arc, that would end with them as the major European military power.Table of ContentsBackground and overview; chronology; recruitment; organisation; equipemnt; tactics; naval aspects.

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Book SynopsisAs the nation that conceived the first tank more than a hundred years ago, Britain has a long and fascinating series of tank designs to its credit. Despite a period of apathy from the relevant authorities about the value of tanks, which led to its grateful reliance on American-made models during the Second World War, Britain bounced back to become an important innovator once again - notably with the development of the still-secret Chobham armour for the 1980s. In addition to the outstanding successes of British tank design, there were many unsuccessful designs along the way. The sheer quantity of proposals, prototypes and production models is bewildering to all but the non-specialist, and yet fascinating to those who persevere in their search for information. The Complete Catalogue of British Tanks therefore aims to make the essential information available in readily digestible form, as well as to suggest further sources of information for those who wish to take their interest a stage further. Completed with useful Appendices about the variety of engines used in British tanks, and about the multiple main weapons that have been employed, this book will be a rapid-reference standby for anyone with an interest in the story of these armoured fighting vehicles.

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Book SynopsisTommy Atkins is the English soldier, who joking broke the cavalry of France at Minden, who singing marched with the Great Duke to the Danube, who grumbling shattered Napoleon''s dreams at Waterloo, who sweating in his red coat tramped back and forth across Indis, who kept his six-rounds-to-the-minute at Mons, and who died in the mud at Passchendaele, the sands of the Western Desert, and the jungles of Burma. If his name has been eclipsed by his more illustrious commanders - Cromwell, Marlborough, Moore, Wolfe, Wellington, Allenby, Slim - they at least will accord him his rightful place beside them. They knew his worth. Tommy Atkins is his story - the story of this most versatile, most adaptable, most un-military soldier.

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Book SynopsisItalian performance in the First World War has been generally disparaged or ignored compared to that of the armies on the Western Front, and troop morale in particular has been seen as a major weakness of the Italian army. In this first book-length study of Italian morale in any language, Vanda Wilcox reassesses Italian policy and performance from the perspective both of the army as an institution and of the ordinary soldiers who found themselves fighting a brutally hard war. Wilcox analyses and contextualises Italy''s notoriously hard military discipline along with leadership, training methods and logistics before considering the reactions of the troops and tracing the interactions between institutions and individuals. Restoring historical agency to soldiers often considered passive and indifferent, Wilcox illustrates how and why Italians complied, endured or resisted the army''s demands through balancing their civilian and military identities.Trade Review''Italians welcomed the Fascist salute because they were tired of putting up both hands.' Such dismissals of Italy's military morale in World War I remain the subtext of much work on the subject. Wilcox makes a correspondingly major contribution by concentrating on compliance as central to sustaining fighting power in a war where motivation was otherwise limited. Italy's soldiers, still subjects as much as citizens, came from a culture of obligation tempered by reciprocity and negotiation. Wilcox demonstrates how that balance, often unstable, nevertheless sustained a war effort often brave and ultimately victorious.' Dennis Showalter, Professor Emeritus of History, Colorado CollegeTable of Contents1. Introduction; Part I. Army Policies and Morale: 2. Leadership, command culture and organisation; 3. Incentivising high morale; 4. Discipline; 5. Combat readiness; Part II. Italians under Arms: 6. Endurance: experience and the negotiation of identity; 7. Consent and compliance; 8. Refusal: indiscipline, protest and nervous collapse; 9. Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisThe importance of regional cooperation is becoming more apparent as the world moves into the third decade of the 21st century. An Army of Influence is a thought-provoking analysis of the Australian Army''s capacity to change, with a particular focus on the Asia-Pacific region. Written by highly regarded historians, strategists and practitioners, this book examines the Australian Army''s influence abroad and the lessons it has learnt from its engagement across the Asia-Pacific region. It also explores the challenges facing the Australian Army in the future and provides principles to guide operational, administrative and modernisation planning. Containing full-colour maps and images, An Army of Influence will be of interest to both the wider defence community and general readers. It underscores the importance of maintaining an ongoing presence in the region and engages with history to address the issues facing the Army both now and into the future.Table of ContentsIntroduction Ian Langford; Part I. The Concept of an Army's Influence Abroad: 1. Eighty Years of Regional Engagement David Horner; 2. The Australian Army through the Lens of Australian Defence White Papers since 1976 Brendan Sargeant; 3. Defence Attaché in Indonesia: Lessons from 20 Years Ago Ken Brownrigg; Part II. Lessons from Past Relationships: 4. General Blamey and the Backroom Boys: Colonel Conlon and Army's Adaptation and Access in the Pacific and Asia, 1942-1946 Graeme Sligo; 5. 'Not rich in standing armies or immediately available resources': Plans, realities and the Australian Regular Army's deployment to Korea, 1950 Dayton McCarthy; 6. Helping the Americans help the Vietnamese? Defence engagement with the RVN, 1955-1975 Tom Richardson; 7. East Timor and the crisis of 1999: a case study on the limitations of relationships Craig Stockings; 8. Onward & Onya: The involvement, interaction and influence of the New Zealand and Australian Armies Stephen Clarke; Part III. Ongoing Relationships: 9. Access but how much influence? An historical overview of Australia-Indonesia army-to-army cooperation Garth Pratten; 10. An Army of Influence: Australia's military engagement with Malaysia 1955–2020 Richard Niessl; 11. Cambodia – More than 'a Signals Show' Peter Bartu; 12. Was the Juice Worth the Squeeze? Australian Defence Force Investment in Nation Building in Bougainville and the Solomon Islands Reuben Bowd; 13. Achieving influence through advising relationships Deborah Jeppesen; 14. Training Teams as a Force of Choice: Building Partner Capacity in the Philippines Luke Holloway; 15 A perspective on diplomacy in Army's contemporary regional relationship building Fergus McFarlane.

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Book SynopsisThe book deals with the future of land warfare on the Indian subcontinent. To predict the future is extremely difficult particularly in the field of Warfare. This is due to the fact that wars are impacted by doctrine, technology and people. Also, the introduction of nuclear weapons has made war less frequent and reduced the duration. There are trends which keep changing with the passage of time. Conflicts in the 21st century are short and swift with a combination of effects. Further aspirations of leaders often point towards different military objectives. In such a scenario we could plan at best for a decade and maybe visualise for about 15 years.By and large wars of the future will be conventional, hybrid and would be interstate or with non-state actors. The causes could be territorial or related to historical differences, ideological biases, economic disparity, security and water distribution. Further issues could exacerbate due to impact of climate change, higher rate of population growth of minorities and sectarian or ethnic extremism.The future wars are likely to follow three types. It could be overt, covert and finally outsourced. The future battle space as visualised in the next 15 years would have characteristics which would make it non linear in time and space. Unlike wars of the past they would be swift and would be based on speed. Targets would need to be precisely engaged to avoid collateral damage. Operations would demand jointness between the three services. Further they would be continuous with no pauses. They could be termed as 24x7 operations. In these operations connectivity would play an important part and communications would be available to soldiers, commanders and autonomous weapon systems and vehicles. There would be a need for synergy between air, sea, and outer space while undertaking land warfare. Perception management becomes extremely important as this alone would lead to an effective reorganisation of people. Finally technology would play an important role particularly, the application of artificial intelligence.

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Book SynopsisThe story of the great battles of the First World War has been told by historians, journalists and others. The shock and slaughter of the Somme, Verdun and Passchendaele are a major theme of most books. Large scale battles, however, comprised the smaller part of soldiers' total time in combat. For 90% of that time soldiers fought small scale battles . These small conflicts were violent, continual and involved complex weaponry and specialised tactics. Yet, during small battles, soldiers could and often did, make choices not possible during large ones. From these choices, there evolved between enemies a curious culture of live and let live which constrained the war culture of kill or be killed in fundamental ways.

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Book SynopsisIn a rousing account of one of the critical turning points in American history, Through the Perilous Fight tells the gripping story of the burning of Washington and the improbable last stand at Baltimore that helped save the nation and inspired its National Anthem.   In the summer of 1814, the United States of America teetered on the brink of disaster. The war it had declared against Great Britain two years earlier appeared headed toward inglorious American defeat. The young nation’s most implacable nemesis, the ruthless British Admiral George Cockburn, launched an invasion of Washington in a daring attempt to decapitate the government and crush the American spirit. The British succeeded spectacularly, burning down most of the city’s landmarks—including the White House and the Capitol—and driving President James Madison from the area. As looters ransacked federal buildings and panic gripped the citizens of Washington, beleaguered American for

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewYou can put down your ‘future war’ novels and read instead the actual study of the deployment of modern weapons and systems from someone who has seen many of them in action, often as a frequent visitor to the battlefields of Ukraine. Jack Watling examines critically and thoughtfully how forces will fight in the mid-decades of the century, exploding the hyperbolae, war-scares, and myths with some very hard truths. For each technology, working from the tactical to the strategic, he focusses on its functional logic and its dependencies. If you want to know how to ‘find, fix, and finish’ in the battlespace, and you want to know how the technology works in practice, you have just found the book you need. -- Dr Rob Johnson, Director of the Office of Net Assessment and Challenge, Ministry of Defence, UKIn the last ten years, Dr Jack Watling, a research fellow at RUSI, has become a leading commentator on military affairs in the UK. In this perceptive, timely and provocative book, Dr Watling lays out his vision of the future of ‘informationized’ land warfare. In the light of ubiquitous sensors and long-range precision fires, the twentieth century doctrine of manoeuvre and its associated forces structures, so ingrained in contemporary military thinking, may now have become obsolete. In its place, Dr Watling describes a new battlefield geometry in which attacks forces will have to remain dispersed and concealed out of range of enemy strikes, until they have created the opportunity to concentrate for an attack on an objective, which will almost certainly be urban. To prevail on this battlefield, Dr Watling convincingly argues that land forces will need to be re-organised. This book represents a major contribution to current debates in military science and will be of profound interest to military professionals, scholars, and policymakers. -- Anthony King, Warwick University, UKJack Watling is among the most knowledgeable and perceptive observers of modern war. His studies of the war in Ukraine have set a benchmark for rigour and insight. He has now written a richly detailed account of how technology is changing warfare and what militaries can do about it. Drawing on experiments, exercises and battlefield data from California to Kyiv, it explains why modern sensors make it hard for armies to achieve surprise on an increasingly transparent battlefield. The advantage will lie with the side that can obtain sensor dominance: the ability to see and strike the enemy first. But "Arms of the Future" is also refreshingly honest about the dangers of fixating on equipment over ideas and organisation. Armies that chase new technologies without adapting their logistics, training and other vital enablers will end up with brittle forces that cannot fight for long. Here is a book with much to teach both those who wage war, and those who simply want to understand it. -- Shashank Joshi, Defence Editor, The EconomistTable of ContentsIntroduction Part One: From Mechanised to Informatized Warfare Chapter One: Navigating the Transparent Battlefield Chapter Two: Contesting the Spectrum Chapter Three: When Protection is an Illusion Chapter Four: When the Tail Needs Teeth Chapter Five: Blood in the Streets Part Two: The Arms of the Future Chapter Six: The Geometry of the Future Battlefield Chapter Seven: The Manoeuvre System Chapter Eight: The Fires System Chapter Nine: The Assault System Chapter Ten: The Support System Part Three: The Continuation of Policy Chapter Eleven: Divergent Domains Chapter Twelve: Priorities in Transformation Chapter Thirteen: An Instrument of Power Conclusion

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Book SynopsisAlmost a century ago a small body of men engaged in combat with the armed forces of an Empire. Militarily they were weak. Their strength lay in their faith in their cause and in the unflinching support of a civilian population which refused to be cowed by threats or by violence.This new edition of Kerry's Fighting Stories features stories and reports from every aspect of the conflict, from the formation of the Volunteers in Kerry early in the twentieth century, through the first casualties as the Easter Rising took its toll and on to the campaigns in the East and West of the county during the war of Independence itself. With barracks attacks, ambushes, shootings and even engagements with warships, it brings to life a conflict that is fading from the collective memory of the county and country.Kerry's Fighting Stories offers a fascinating perspective on the struggle for independence in Kerry directly from the men who took part in the actions themselves.

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Book SynopsisLimerick's Fighting Story offers eye witness and first hand accounts of the struggle for independence in Limerick city and county.When the Truce was declared in the War of Independence in July 1921, each of Limerick's brigade areas, west, mid and east had flying columns in the field. While the challenge of city fighting and urban guerrilla tactics were high on the list of concerns for the mid brigade, the east and west flying columns were active raiders and ambush artists.This new edition of the classic Limerick's Fighting Story features stories and reports from every aspect of the conflict in Limerick from the Limerick Heroes of 1916, through the nights of terror and violence in Limerick city as Tans killed residents, to the exploits of the women of Cumman na mBan.

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Book SynopsisOriginally published by The Kerryman in 1947, this is one of the four titles in the Fighting Stories Series. It records the events of the War of Independence in the words of the people who fought it and those who wrote about it at the time. The book features reports on the Cork City Volunteers, the ambushes at Tureengarriffe, Clonbanin, Rathcoole, Tureen and many others, the murder of Tómas MacCurtain, the disastrous battle of Clonmult and the campaigns of the flying columns around the county from Mitchelstown to Blarney.With a selection of original pictures from the conflict and reports from both Kilmichael and Crossbarry, Rebel Cork's Fighting Story is a treasure trove of information and intriguing detail.

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Book SynopsisAlthough tanks have become a symbol of military power, the first tanks were created as a temporary solution to the deadlock created by trench warfare. This book covers the design and development of tanks during the First World War, describing the types that were used in action and the most important battles in which they fought.Table of Contents1) The Landships Committee 2) The tank in action 3) French and German tanks 4) 1918 5) Conclusion 6) Further reading 7) Places to visit

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Book SynopsisIn 194144, Nazi Germany''s Gebirgsjäger--elite mountain troops--clashed repeatedly with land-based units of the Soviet Navy during the mighty struggle on World War II''s Eastern Front. Formed into naval infantry and naval rifle brigades, some 350,000 of Stalin''s sailors would serve the Motherland on land, playing a key role in the defense of Moscow, Leningrad, and Sevastopol. The Gebirgsjäger, many among them veterans of victories in Norway and then Crete, would find their specialist skills to be at a premium in the harsh terrain and bitter weather encountered at the northern end of the front line. Operating many hundreds of miles north of Moscow, the two sides endured savage conditions as they fought one another inside the Arctic Circle.Featuring archive photographs, specially commissioned artwork, and expert analysis, this is the absorbing story of the men who fought and died in the struggle for the Soviet Union''s northern flank at the height of World War I

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Book SynopsisA detailed illustrated study of Putin's shadowy security and paramilitary armed forces. While the size of Russia’s regular forces has shrunk recently, its security and paramilitary elements have become increasingly powerful. Under the Putin regime they have proliferated and importantly seem set to remain Russia’s most active armed agencies for the immediate future. In parallel, within the murky world where government and private interests intersect, a number of paramilitary ‘private armies’ operate almost as vigilantes, with government toleration or approval. This book offers a succinct overview of the official, semi-official and unofficial agencies that pursue Russian government and quasi-government objectives by armed means, from the 200,000-strong Interior Troops, through Police and other independent departmental forces, down to private security firms. Featuring rare photographs, and detailed colour plates of uniforms, insignia and equipment, this study by a renowned authority explores the Putin regime’s shadowy special-forces apparatus, active in an array of counter-terrorist and counter-mafia wars since 1991.Table of ContentsIntroduction: Historical overview of Russian security and paramilitary forces, including their part in the failed coup against Gorbachev in 1991, the successful take-over by Yeltsin in 1993, and the rise of Putin The Police: Roles, organization and equipment, OMON riot police, SOBR and OMSN snatch squads, and the fight against the Mafiya The Interior Troops (VV): Roles, organization and equipment, VV Spetsnaz, Vega, ODON, MVD, and the war in Chechnya The FSB: commando units Al’fa, Vympel, Zenit, etc., and FSB control of Border Troops ’Warlords in Suits’: Independent ministerial forces, Federal Protection Service, Justice Ministry, Ministry of Emergency Situations Guns for the Masses: Private security firms and vigilante forces The Opposition: Anti-Moscow organizations in the North Caucasus Tools of the Trade: Special weapons and equipment Select bibliography Plate commentaries Index

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Book SynopsisThe Mehdi Army militia was a towering force in Iraq during the early years of the post-Saddam era. As an aggressive opponent of foreign occupation and one of the principal antagonists in Iraq's brutal sectarian civil war, the militia was central to the violence that ravaged the country and a pivotal political actor. Growing rapidly in size and strength, and controlling entire districts of Baghdad and broad swathes of southern and central Iraq, the Mehdi Army seemed poised to become a Hezbollah-like 'state within a state' that would remain enormously powerful for years to come. Drawing from extensive field experience in one of Baghdad's most volatile militia-held districts, Krohley exposes how, and why, the militia suddenly and unexpectedly collapsed in the midst of the Americans' 'Surge' of forces during 2008. Building from an examination of the Mehdi Army's social and ideological roots, he presents a neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood study of the militia's changing fortunes that offers unparalleled local detail and specificity. Krohley shows how the Mehdi Army's demise was ultimately a self-inflicted 'death' as opposed to a triumph of its foes.In so doing, he not only challenges prevailing orthodoxies of counterinsurgency doctrine and the mythology of the Surge, but also offers penetrating insights into the battered state of Iraqi society after decades of dictatorship, privation and war.Trade Review'Few subjects in the study of Iraq are as important or as opaque as the military mobilisation of the Shia community, and notably those loyal to the Sadr family. When coalition forces arrived in Iraq in 2003 they and the government they put in place had to contend with the firebrand son of the late Ayatollah Muhammad Sadiq al-Sadr and his Jaish al-Mahdi (the Mehdi Army), which numbered as many as 50,000 fighters. Nicholas Krohley has provided a fine first-hand analysis of the history and development of the Sadr Movement and the Mehdi Army which spells out what the latter's return to the field of battle against ISIS may mean for the future of Iraq.' -- Gareth Stansfield, Professor of Middle East Politics, University of Exeter'Krohley's account of the Mehdi Army's campaign in East Baghdad contextualises the Shia insurgency, offering rare insight into the politics and strategy of the Sadrist movement. His book is a stunning example of extraordinary war-time social science research that will have an enduring legacy in the literature of insurgency and counterinsurgency.' -- Montgomery McFate, Minerva Chair, Center for Naval Warfare Studies, US Naval War College and author of Social Science Goes to War: The Human Terrain System in Iraq and Afghanistan'Nick Krohley has produced the first book-length manuscript in English that details the Iraq war through the eyes of Iraqi participants. His examination of the role of the Sadrist movement and its Mehdi Army militia in Eastern Baghdad is absolutely critical to moving beyond the US-centric military histories that have dominated the narrative to date.' -- Douglas A. Ollivant, Managing Partner, Mantid International LLC and ASU Senior Fellow, Future of War Project, New America'A most valuable and original insight into issues and dynamics that have eluded the grasp of Iraq specialists for far too long ... an urgently needed scholarly contribution to our understanding of modern Iraqi history.' -- Fanar Haddad, Research Fellow at the Middle East Institute, National University of Singapore, and author of Sectarianism in Iraq: Antagonistic Visions of Unity'Nicholas Krohley weaves a masterwork of recent Baghdadi and Iraqi political history, setting his study apart from previous analyses of the surge, which tend to be long on journalism but short on understanding the nuances of Iraqi society. The author's inner anthropologist shines through as he examines the heavily Shiite administrative district known as "New Baghdad" on a sub-district by sub-district level. Indeed, leafing through the nearly 100 pages of notes, scholars may sense the spirit of the late historian Hanna Batatu's classic studies of Iraqi society, albeit with a narrower focus. Krohley challenges the idealization of the U.S.-led surge "as a triumph of full-spectrum counter-insurgency." Indeed, he argues convincingly that the demise of the Mahdi Army was self-inflicted--more of a tactical decision by the Mahdi Army itself to fade into the woodwork and perhaps survive to fight another day--rather than the U.S. victory so many hagiographers of Gen. David Petraeus claim. Krohley's work may be challenged by future writers, but they will need to marshal significant resources to counter his deep and well-researched study.' -- Michael Rubin, Middle East Quarterly

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Book SynopsisThis book gives a focused, military biography of Heinz Guderian, perhaps the most highly respected tank commander of World War II. Guderian was a typical product of the Prussian military elite; the son of a general in the army, there was little doubt that he would follow in his father's footsteps. Some consider Guderian to be the founding father of blitzkrieg warfare, and he certainly brought the whole concept to public attention and prominence, chiefly through the publication of his book Achtung Panzer in 1937. He commanded the XIX (Motorized) Army Corps in the 1939 Polish campaign, and Panzergruppe Guderian during Operation Barbarossa. In March 1943 he became chief inspector of the Panzer forces, but even the great tank commander could achieve little more than to delay the inevitable defeat of Germany.Trade ReviewA fascinating and useful reference source -- Military Modelcraft International

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Book SynopsisFor millennia, cavalry was the premier combat arm. Horses gave armies mobility and speed; often cavalry charges, either on the enemy’s flanks and into his rear or through his center, led to the decision in a battle. This book analyzes the use of mounted troops from prehistoric times to recent conflicts in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. In contrast to many military history treatises that seek to identify a decline of cavalry over time in favor of modern infantry, Alexander Querengässer argues that only modern motor vehicles were able to replace cavalry. The book examines the many historical uses of cavalry, analyzing conditions for its employment, the role of geographic and climatic factors in its use, and developments in equipment and tactics. More than two hundred contemporary illustrations round out the volume.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Foreword Mounts as Weapons Cavalry in Early Antiquity Cavalry in Antiquity - The Mediterranean Region - Rom - Asia Middle Ages - The Sassanid Empire - India under the Gupta - China - Europe in the Early Middle Ages - The Islamic Expansion - Europe in the High Middle Ages - The Mongols - Tamerlane - Africa - India in the High and Late Middle Ages - Japan - Europe in the Late Middle Ages 1500-1650 - Europe - Africa - Latin America - Japan 1650-1815 - Europe - North?America - Persia - India - China - Indochina - Africa - Latin America An Age of Decline? 1815-1914 - Europe - North?America - Latin America - Africa - Asia The First World War 1919 to the Present - The Inter-War Period - The Second World War - Cavalry in the Cold War 1945-1990 - From 1990 to the Present - Asymmetric Conflicts In Conclusion Sources Literature Picture Credits

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewPraise for the first edition:""Now, Western readers can learn for the first time the full extent of the Soviet achievement. Essential reading for anyone wanting to know the true story of how the Red Army snatched victory in 1945 from the jaws of defeat in 1941.""- Washington Post Book World;""This major advance will supplant John Erickson's two massive volumes on the war in the east, The Road to Stalingrad and The Road to Berlin, as the standard reference book for nonspecialists.""- Foreign Affairs;""Simply put, this is the best book yet published on the epic Russo-German War of 1941-1945 and the first written entirely from the Soviet point of view.""- World War II;""Easily the best operational account of the eastern front to appear in the West.""- American Historical Review;""Required reading for all who seek to understand the Second World War and its aftermath.""- Journal of Military History

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Book SynopsisAt the beginning of the twentieth century, field artillery was a small, separate, unsupported branch of the US Army. By the end of World War I, it had become the ‘King of Battle’, a critical component of American military might. Million-Dollar Barrage tracks this transformation.

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Book SynopsisOffers an authentic firsthand account of the daily nightmare that was Con Thien. An enticing and fascinating read featuring authentic depictions of combat, the book allows readers to fully grasp the enormity of the fierce struggle for Con Thien.Trade ReviewA vivid, compulsively page-turning and often gut-wrenching narrative." - Arizona Daily Star"Con Thien certainly has been re-created here. I have read few personal narratives from the Marine war in Vietnam that get as close to the sheer sacrifice and misery that I have always suspected to be their lot." - Philip D. Beidler, US Army Vietnam War veteran and author of Beautiful War: Studies in a Dreadful Fascination, The Victory Album: Reflections on the Good Life after the Good War, and American Wars, American Peace: Notes from a Son of the Empire"James Coan provides a clear description of the battlefield cutting through the fog of war. His gritty realism creates a riveting experience for the reader….The book is a good read, flows wells and clearly articulates the story without distracting expletives" - Bob Borka, Semper Fi"Time in the Barrel brings to life a significant and often overlooked event in America’s war in Vietnam: the siege of the Marine firebase at Con Thien during the critical months of September–October 1967. James P. Coan has delivered a gritty and impassioned book, one that will enlighten general military history readers as well as Vietnam War and Marine Corps specialists." - Gregg Jones, author of Last Stand at Khe Sanh: The U.S. Marines’ Finest Hour in Vietnam, winner of the 2015 General Wallace M. Greene Jr. Award for distinguished nonfiction from the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation

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Book SynopsisDuring America's participation in World War I, 1917-1918, only a single commander of a division, William M. Wright, is known to have kept a diary. In it, General Wright relates his two-month experience at St. Mihiel and especially the Meuse-Argonne, the largest and most costly battle in American history.Trade ReviewAs our only document of its kind, Wright's diary shows in detail how a division headquarters operated and what its commander did day by day, how he kept informed about the qualities of his principal subordinates, assessed their performances, and guided and sometimes dismissed them. While Wright was an assertive individual, the diary is informative also in showing how limited were the decision-making options of even such a character in the highly structured American Expeditionary Forces. . . . The diary also candidly reflects the weaknesses of the young American Army of 1918."" - Russell Weigley

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Book SynopsisMerry Hell is a captivating tale for those who enjoy stories of war and battle, and one that will entertain readers with Clements's richly colourful anecdotes and witty poems, none of which have been published before.Trade Review'I enjoyed reading every page of Merry Hell - couldn't put it down, really. Part history and part memoir, it is a singular contribution to our knowledge of the First World War and those who fought it. Anyone who calls himself or herself a First World War historian will read this book with a smile of satisfaction on their face - it just rings true and genuine, and is more immediate than existing studies. And for those who haven't read much on the First World War, at least at the battalion history level, this will be a revelation.' -- Steve Harris, Chief Historian, Directorate of History and Heritage, Department of National Defence 'Merry Hell is an amazing book... As we approach the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, Merry Hell is an invaluable addition to the literature of that war and Nova Scotia's role in it.' -- John Boileau The Chronicle Herald, September 14, 2013 'Merry Hell is a well written book that can be used for casual reading or academic study... It is rare to come across such a book, especially in the study of history.' -- Erich N. Lenz Canadian Military History vol 25:01:2016 'Canadians everywhere, and not just those of us in Nova Scotia, owe a debt of gratitude to Robert Clements for writing this book - and to Brian Tennyson for placing it so resolutely in the public realm. This is a work permitting us to see with searing clarity the vile nature and devastating toll of modern warfare.' -- Wilf Cude The Antigonish Review #180 'This is a useful contribution to our understanding of the experiences of that generation of young Canadians who marched off to war 100 years ago.' -- Patrick Brennan University of Toronto Quarterly vol 84:03:2015Table of ContentsIntroduction Preface Chapter 1 In the Beginning Chapter 2 Growing Pains Chapter 3 Oh What a Lovely War Chapter 4 Under Way at Last Chapter 5 Summer Days Chapter 6 Away to the Races Chapter 7 Phooie Il Pluie Chapter 8 What Next? Chapter 9 Waiting Time Chapter 10 Dear Old Blighty Chapter 11 You Can Have It Chapter 12 In the Good Old Summer Time Chapter 13 Notes from the Observers Chapter 14 Birth of the Battalion Canteen Chapter 15 Why? Chapter 16 The Corps Comes of Age Chapter 17 In Again Out Again Chapter 18 Dirty Jobs Chapter 19 Cleaning Up Chapter 20 The Last 100 Days Chapter 21 The Long Road Home Appendix Nominal Roll of Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men of the 25th Battalion Recommended Reading

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Book SynopsisMerry Hell is the only complete history of the 25th Canadian infantry battalion, which was recruited in the autumn and winter of 1914–15 and served overseas from spring 1915 until spring 1919. Author Robert N Clements, who served in the battalion throughout that period and rose from private to captain, wrote the story many years after the war, based on his personal memories and experiences. As such, his story reflects two unique perspectives on Canadian military history – the remarkably fresh recollections and anecdotes of a veteran, and the outlook of a man eager to share what his generation contributed to the nation’s history, character, and identity.Professional military historian Brian Douglas Tennyson buttresses Clements’s story with a valuable critical apparatus, including an analytical introduction that contextualizes the history and notes that explain unfamiliar points and people. Merry Hell is a captivating tale foTrade Review‘Merry Hell is a well written book that can be used for casual reading or academic study... It is rare to come across such a book, especially in the study of history.’ -- Erich N. Lenz * Canadian Military History vol 25:01:2016 *‘This is a useful contribution to our understanding of the experiences of that generation of young Canadians who marched off to war 100 years ago.’ -- Patrick Brennan * University of Toronto Quarterly vol 84:03:2015 *‘Canadians everywhere, and not just those of us in Nova Scotia, owe a debt of gratitude to Robert Clements for writing this book – and to Brian Tennyson for placing it so resolutely in the public realm. This is a work permitting us to see with searing clarity the vile nature and devastating toll of modern warfare.’ -- Wilf Cude * The Antigonish Review #180 *‘I enjoyed reading every page of Merry Hell – couldn’t put it down, really. Part history and part memoir, it is a singular contribution to our knowledge of the First World War and those who fought it. Anyone who calls himself or herself a First World War historian will read this book with a smile of satisfaction on their face – it just rings true and genuine, and is more immediate than existing studies. And for those who haven’t read much on the First World War, at least at the battalion history level, this will be a revelation.’ -- Steve Harris, Chief Historian, Directorate of History and Heritage, Department of National Defence‘Merry Hell is an amazing book…. As we approach the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, Merry Hell is an invaluable addition to the literature of that war and Nova Scotia’s role in it.’ -- John Boileau * The Chronicle Herald, September 14, 2013 *Table of ContentsIntroduction Preface Chapter 1 In the Beginning Chapter 2 Growing Pains Chapter 3 Oh What a Lovely War Chapter 4 Under Way at Last Chapter 5 Summer Days Chapter 6 Away to the Races Chapter 7 Phooie Il Pluie Chapter 8 What Next? Chapter 9 Waiting Time Chapter 10 Dear Old Blighty Chapter 11 You Can Have It Chapter 12 In the Good Old Summer Time Chapter 13 Notes from the Observers Chapter 14 Birth of the Battalion Canteen Chapter 15 Why? Chapter 16 The Corps Comes of Age Chapter 17 In Again Out Again Chapter 18 Dirty Jobs Chapter 19 Cleaning Up Chapter 20 The Last 100 Days Chapter 21 The Long Road Home Appendix Nominal Roll of Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men of the 25th Battalion Recommended Reading

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Book SynopsisThis book, translated from the original Spanish, is the primary academic and historical study of the Blue Division -- a Falangist initiative involving the dispatch of some forty-thousand Spanish combatants (over a half of whom paid with their lives, health, or liberty) to the Russian Front during the Second World War. Xavier Moreno Julia does not limit himself to relating their deeds under arms, but also analyses -- for the first time -- the political background in detail: the complex relations between the Spanish government and Hitler's Germany; the internal conflicts between the Falangists and the Army; the rise and fall of Franco's brother-in-law, Minister Ramon Serrano Suner, who inspired the Blue Division and became the second most powerful person in Spain; and the attitude of General Agustin Munoz Grandes, commander of the Blue Division, who was encouraged by Berlin to seriously consider the possibility of taking over the reins of Spanish power. In the end, there were 45,500 reasons that led to joining the Blue Division -- one for each young man who decided to enlist. To understand all of the complex reasons behind their military service under German command is impossible at this juncture. It is an irrecoverable past that lies in Spanish cemeteries and on the Russian steppes. This book, based on massive documentation in German, British and Spanish archives, is an essential source of information to understand Spain in the 1940s -- an epoch when the Caudillo's power and the regime's good fortune were less secure than is often believed. Published in association with the Canada Blanch Centre for Contemporary Spanish Studies, LSE.

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Book SynopsisThis book, translated from the original Spanish, is the primary academic and historical study of the Blue Division, a Falangist initiative involving the dispatch of some forty-thousand Spanish combatants (more than a half of whom paid with their lives, health, or liberty) to the Russian Front during the Second World War. Xavier Moreno Julia does not limit himself to relating their deeds under arms, but also analyses for the first time the political background in detail: the complex relations between the Spanish government and Hitler's Germany; the internal conflicts between the Falangists and the Army; the rise and fall of Franco's brother-in-law, Minister Ramón Serrano Suñer, who inspired the Blue Division and became the second most powerful person in Spain; and the attitude of General Agustín Muñoz Grandes, commander of the Blue Division, who was encouraged by Berlin to seriously consider the possibility of taking over the reins of Spanish power. In the end, there were 45,500 reasons that led to joining the Blue Division one for each young man who decided to enlist. To understand all of the complex reasons behind their military service under German command is impossible at this juncture. It is an irrecoverable past that lies in Spanish cemeteries and on the Russian steppes. This book, based on massive documentation in German, British and Spanish archives, is an essential source of information to understand Spain in the 1940s an epoch when the Caudillo's power and the regime's good fortune were less secure than is often believed. Published in association with the Canada Blanch Centre for Contemporary Spanish Studies, LSE.Trade Review"Dr. Moreno has written what undoubtedly will remain the definitive treatment of a difficult and multi-layered subject for the foreseeable future. Both as a unit history and as an analysis of a small, but critically important, segment of Francoist Spain's wartime foreign policy it has no peer. A translation would appear to be a highly desirable undertaking" - Dr. Klaus Schmider (Royal Military Academy Sandhurst), in The Journal of Military History, Lexington (Virginia, USA), 70.3, July 2006, page 865."The great merit of this work by Moreno Julia is that it is first to be free from much of the rhetoric of the trenches, and to address the phenomenon of the Blue Division in a spirit of objectivity and completeness. The first-hand research in national and foreign archives is a first, and a delightful novelty." - Dr. Eduardo Gonzalez Calleja (CSIC, Centro Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas), in Melanges de la Casa de Velazquez, 36.1, 2006, page 329."We must welcome the publication of this book with enthusiasm. It is the work of a Spanish author and a fine testament to the best historical writing, about the recent past, from our country. The book by Moreno Julia is of the best in that it respects information from a number of archive sources. It tackles a question of primary importance. It goes beyond the precise object of his study, making a more global approach. It results, in the end, to be an investigation with definitive conclusions." - Dr. Javier Tusell Gomez (Universidad Nacional de Educacion a Distancia), in "Babelia"; El Pais newspaper, Madrid, 11.12.2004, page 24."Such an exhaustive history - subtle, profound, and free from bitterness -emerges only occasionally in some books. Xavier Moreno Julias study of the Blue Division is, without doubt, one of those books." - Dr. Ricardo Garcia Carcel (Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona) in "ABC Cultural"; ABC newspaper, Madrid, 08.01.2005, page 19."In line with the great works by English speaking historians on a similar theme, here is a total history of the events, without leaving anything out, no matter how insignificant." - Rafael Nunez Florencio, critic and historian, in "El Cultural"; El Mundo newspaper, Madrid, 09.12.2004, page 13"Far from the hundreds of hagiographies and memoirs on the Spaniards who fought for Hitler against the USSR, The Blue Division by Xavier Moreno is the result of an investigation of Spanish, British and German archives and from the oral testimonies of, among others, the minister and brother-in-law of Franco, Ramon Serrano Suner." - Dr. Andreu Mayayo Artal (Barcelona University), in El Periodico newspaper, Barcelona, 25.11.2004, page 11"Xavier Moreno is a solid investigator and a good writer who has based his book on unpublished Spanish and German documents The book is entertaining, and its quality sources and solid investigation combine to make it a fascinating and definitive work." - Dr. Gabriel Cardona Escanero (Barcelona University), in Clio history review, 4.39; Barcelona, January 2005, page 93."Xavier Moreno Julia has gone into the history of the Blue Division as never before: with rigorous and detailed investigation, avoiding ideological obsessions... Like a jigsaw puzzle, where one piece leads to another and yet another, Moreno Julia has brought together eleven years of study." - La Razon newspaper, Madrid, 30.11.2004, page 29."Few history books have such extensive investigation behind them or such an impartial point of view." - ABC newspaper, Madrid, 21.11.2004, page 76."An up to date, profound and detailed reconsideration of one of the saddest episodes of the Second World War - forgotten and characteristic of Francos Spain." - "Revista", in La Vanguardia newspaper, Barcelona, 31.10.2004, page 10."The Blue Division returns from the past in a study of its history by Xavier Moreno In over 500 pages, Moreno analyses the political context in which the Division developed, and the later clash of interests between Falangism and the Spanish Army. The international reactions that the initiative generated occupies a good part of the book, as does a detailed description of the military operations in which the Spanish combatants were engaged." - El Pais newspaper, Madrid, 31.11.2004, page 46."Moreno Julia knows it like nobody else and, in a study praised by his fellow historians, explains it with rigor and without prejudices in The Blue Division. Subtitled Spanish Blood in Russia, 1941-1945. Reading it is a lesson in history." - La Vanguardia newspaper, Barcelona, 12.05.2005, back page."Doctor of contemporary history,Xavier Moreno has proved with his book on the Blue Division that the study of detail illuminates much more. In this case he reveals the politics of this early step in Francoism as a strong light on an ant reveals an ant hill". - "El Sabado", in El Faro de Vigo newspaper, Pontevedra, 05.03.2005, page 1."Letras. The Best of the Year - Non Fiction. The Blue Division. Xavier Moreno thoroughly re-examines the history from Serrano Suners first call to arms until the devastating return. It is an overwhelming portrait of a wretched adventure." - "El Cultural", in El Mundo newspaper, Madrid, 30.12.2004, page 15."Spanish history writing congratulates the appearance of this study with its unmistakeable title which reveals in depth what happened to the 40,000 Spaniards sent to fight with the Germans on the Russian front The book has been written by the doctor in contemporary history, Xavier Moreno Julia, who has searched through and poked his nose into Spanish and German archives, and has obtained live testimony from old combatants." - Mercurio, cultural review, 67; Sevilla, January 2005, page 36."Xavier Morenos Blue Division can be considered the most rigorous and comprehensive book on the Blue Division to date". - "Quadern", in El Pais newspaper, 21.02.2013, page 3."The historian Xavier Moreno Julia is the author of The Blue Division, Spanish Blood in Russia, considered the most rigorous and comprehensive study published so far on this question." - "Mes Periodico", weekly review in El Periodico newspaper, Barcelona, 14.07.2013, page 7.

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Book SynopsisThe history of the often-overlooked chewa Ethiopian warriors and their crucial role in defending their homeland against invasion, as well as their strong influence on political identity and the social infrastructure. Today best known for their role in defending Ethiopia from Italian invasion 1935-41, chewa warriors protected Ethiopia for centuries. Yet, depicted by some 19th-century Western observers as little more than "a horde" of warmongers, and later suppressed by Ethiopian monarchs who sought to create a centralized modern state, their contribution has been neglected. Drawing on oral and written sources, as well as the zeraf poetry through which theyexpressed themselves, this book explores for the first time in depth the history, practices and principles of warriorhood of the chewa, and their wider influence on society and state. Often self-trained individuals who began by defending their communities, by the end of the 19th century there were chewa warrior groups from almost all linguistic groups who fought together to resist foreign invaders. Some chewa enrolled in the service of the Ethiopian "kings of kings", who organized them as named corps that supplemented the formal defence of the state. Today, chewa political identity, which transcended social, familial, political and other groupings, remains deeply rooted in Ethiopian society.Trade ReviewIn Ethiopian Warriorhood: Defence, Land and Society, Tsehai Berhane-Selassie provides a nuanced analysis of the role of the chewa - voluntary, community supported warriors - in the evolution of the Ethiopian state. .[F]or historians of the Horn, this book provides a valuable analysis of state formation that shifts the focus from individual monarchs to a misunderstood group of intermediary actors, and adds a new layer to the complicated history of land rights in Ethiopia. * CANADIAN JOURNAL OF AFRICAN STUDIES / REVUE CANADIENNE DES ÉTUDES AFRICAINES *[Tsehai Berhane-Selassie's] book is a thoroughly researched contribution in the growing literature of Ethiopian social history. It is truly an insider view carefully drawn from oral testimonies such as heroic recitals and various written accounts of historical importance. .The study should truly interest academic scholars, policy makers, students, and education experts alike. * AFRICAN STUDIES QUARTERLY *The book (composed of ten chapters) is well written and extensively footnoted. [...] She [the author] should indeed be congratulated for her splendid contribution to Ethiopian studies. * Aethiopica *It is very recently that indigenous thought acquired currency in the scholarly world. Tsehai's current book is pioneering in this regard. [...]Her book is a thoroughly researched contribution in the growing literature of Ethiopian social history. It is truly an insider view carefully drawn from oral testimonies such as heroic recitals and various written accounts of historical importance. * African Studies Quarterly *Ethiopian Warriorhood provides a data-rich historical ethnography of an imperial institution. From a scholarly perspective, it is a very useful book for students of the modern history and anthropology of the Horn of Africa, as well as of comparative studies on conflict, militarism, and empire. * Journal of Royal Anthropological Institute *A vast and remarkable undertaking, Tsehai's book is a recommended reading for any serious student of Ethiopian history and for all who wish to understand Ethiopia's enduring traditions today. * Orientalistische Literaturzeitung *Table of ContentsPreface Introduction: Traditions of hierarchical warriorhood The historical context of emergent warriors Military lands and power politics Ecological roots of local leadership Social localities of emergent warriors Military training in sports, horsemanship and hunting Political authority and military power Zeraf: symbols and rituals of power and rebellion First Italian invasion, 1896 Guerrilla warfare, 1935-41 Conclusion

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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