Military History Books

Book SynopsisA new and definitive account of the German invasion of Poland that initiated WWII in 1939, written by a historian at the height of his abilities.'Deeply researched, very well-written... This book will be the standard work on the subject for many years to come' - Andrew Roberts, author of Churchill: Walking with DestinyThe Polish campaign is the forgotten story of the Second World War.The war began on 1 September 1939, when German tanks, trucks and infantry crossed the Polish border, and the Luftwaffe began bombing Poland's towns and cities. The Polish army fought bravely but could not withstand the concentrated attack. When the Red Army invaded from the east, the country's fate was sealed.This is the first history of the Polish war for almost half a century. Drawing on letters, memoirs and diaries from all sides, Roger Moorhouse's dramatic account of the military events is entwined with a human story of courage and suffering, and a dark tale of diplomatic betrayal.'Important... Moorhouse has a wonderful knack for reminding us about the parts of the Second World War that we are in danger of forgetting' Dan Snow** Shortlisted for the Duke of Wellington Medal for Military History 2020 **Trade ReviewWe tend to overlook “the war that Hitler won”, but Roger Moorhouse brilliantly underlines its crucial importance for the future course of the Second World War. This deeply researched, very well-written and penetrating book will be the standard work on the subject for many years to come -- Andrew Roberts, author of ‘Churchill: Walking with Destiny’[A] chilling, indignant narrative… Moorhouse has expertly laid bare…[the] truth -- Roger Boyes * The Times *Moorhouse’s book remedies that gap [in history of The Polish War], weaving together archival material, first-hand accounts, perceptive analysis and heartbreaking descriptions of Poland’s betrayal, defeat and dismemberment * Economist *[A] fascinating book… Moorhouse has mastered a large body of material… this is…a very valuable book, as it gathers a mass of detail into a lucid narrative for general readers -- Noel Malcolm * Sunday Telegraph *An important book. Roger Moorhouse has a wonderful knack of reminding us about the parts of the Second World War that we are in danger of forgetting -- Dan Snow

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Book Synopsis'Excellent ... a raw and visceral, bird's-eye view of the action from the men who were there' The Times This is the story of a tank regiment: the 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in the Second World War. Raw and visceral personal recollections from the men themselves recall some of the most dramatic and horrific scenes imaginable - the sheer nerve-wracking tension of serving in highly inflammable Sherman tanks, the sudden impact of German shells, the desperate scramble to bail out, and the awful fate of those who couldn't. Even if they made it out of the tank, they were still vulnerable to being brutally cut down by German infantry. Yet amidst these horrors, the humanity of these men shines through. And as we follow in their tracks, through letters, diaries and eye-witness accounts, they will change how we think about tank warfare forever.Trade ReviewWhat Hart has done superbly is to weave many voices into one seamless narrative ... Conveys in sobering detail the relentless grind of modern warfare -- Simon Griffith * Mail on Sunday *Dramatic and horrific scenes ... Peter Hart puts us in the shoes of the soldiers who served in tanks in the 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry * BBC History Magazine *Excellent ... a raw and visceral, bird's-eye view of the action from the men who were there -- Saul David * Times *Praise for Peter Hart: 'A superb account of the tactics that finally brought victory on the Western Front -- Max HastingsThought provoking, erudite, yet eminently readable and entertaining: Peter Hart is a historian and author at the peak of his powers -- Richard van EmdenExquisite ... Hart lets these [men] speak -- Gerard de Groot * The Times *Memory can play false, of course, but these recollections, admirably curated, have authenticity -- Allan Mallinson * Spectator *

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Book Synopsis'A cracking good read... I will recommend this book to anyone' - Professor Richard Holmes, CBE 'The Falklands, Yom Kippur, Tet and Pearl Harbor? Avoidable intelligence blunders or much worse? Altogether a compelling read from someone who knows the business' - Nigel WestThis book is a professional military-intelligence officer's - and controversial insider's - view of some of the greatest intelligence blunders of recent history. It includes the serious developments in government misuse of intelligence in the US-led coalition's 2003 war with Iraq, as well as failures of intelligence in Ukraine following Russia's invasion in February 2022. Colonel John Hughes-Wilson analyses not just the events that conspire to cause disaster, but why crucial intelligence is so often ignored, misunderstood or spun by politicians and seasoned generals alike. This book analyses: how Hitler's intelligence staff misled him in a bid to outfox their Nazi Party rivals; the bureaucratic bungling behind Pearl Harbor; how in-fighting within American intelligence ensured they were taken off guard by the Viet Cong's 1968 Tet Offensive; how overconfidence, political interference and deception facilitated Egypt and Syria's 1973 surprise attack on Israel; why a handful of marines and a London taxicab were all Britain had to defend the Falklands; the mistaken intelligence that allowed Saddam Hussein to remain in power until the second Iraq War of 2003; the truth behind the US failure to run a terrorist warning system before the 9/11 WTC bombing; and how governments are increasingly pressurising intelligence agencies to 'spin' a party-political line.

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Book SynopsisThe second volume of a new narrative history of the rise and fall of the Nazi regime, by an expert on the Third Reich. 'This book is like a time machine because McDonough writes so vividly' History of War 'McDonough writes clearly and readably with just enough detail on the huge canvas that he covers' Spectator 'A book of big themes, big ideas and world changing events […] a masterpiece' History of War Magazine At the beginning of 1940 Germany was at the pinnacle of its power. By May 1945 Hitler was dead and Germany had suffered a disastrous defeat. Hitler had failed to achieve his aim of making Germany a super power and had left her people to cope with the endless shame of the Holocaust. In The Hitler Years: Disaster 1940-1945, Professor Frank McDonough charts the dramatic change of fortune for the Third Reich, and challenges long-held accounts of the Holocaust and Germany's ultimate defeat. Despite Hitler's grand ambitions and the successful early stages of the Third Reich's advances into Europe, Frank McDonough argues that Germany was only ever a middle-ranking power and never truly stood a chance against the combined forces of the Allies.Trade ReviewThis book is like a time machine because McDonough writes so vividly [...] One minute you're dining in private with Churchill and Stalin, the next you're watching the Wehrmacht advance and retreat in the east * History of War Magazine *An impressive tome, beautifully presented with a body of illustrations... McDonough's narrative rattles along, constantly engaging and enlightening and thankfully free from turgid academic jargon... Rarely has the odious story of the Third Reich been so elegantly presented' * History Today *I have read many books on the period and Frank McDonough's ranks above them all. Bravo -- Danny BakerMcDonough is not content with repeating age-old arguments but seeks to challenge mainstream historiography, bringing into question the real role Hitler played in Nazi Germany * Aspects of History *McDonough writes clearly and readably with just enough detail on the huge canvas that he covers * Spectator *An amazing achievement... If you are going to read one book over the Christmas period or early next year then read this -- Paul Ross, talkRadio

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Book SynopsisThe Jeep is among a handful of motor vehicles, along with other classics such as the VW ''Beetle'', the Mini, the E-Type Jaguar and the Citroën 2CV which are deserving of that over used adjective; iconic.During WW2, the Jeep could be found wherever the Allies were fighting and soldiers soon learned that here was a dependable, go-anywhere machine. Waterproofed Jeeps took part in the D-Day landings, before fighting their way across France and the Low Countries and into Germany. In the appalling conditions of the Eastern Front, Jeeps struggled against the odds to win the admiration of the Red Army and in the Far East where roads were non-existent, Jeeps were even adapted to travel on rails. By the time the war was over, more than 640,000 Jeeps had been built by Ford and Willys. After the end of the war another 28,000 were built in France by Hotchkiss during the 1950s.This book, now enlarged and revised with many new pictures covers the story of the development of this iconic military vehicle and the myriad post-war ''lookalikes''. It also provides insights into what is involved in finding, restoring and running a military Jeep more than 80 years since the first prototype was delivered to the US Army in July 1940. It is a reliable guide to help enthusiasts find parts and decide how a particular Jeep can be authentically restored. The book''s author, Pat Ware, is amongst the world''s foremost writers on historical military vehicles, with more than 60 titles and countless magazine articles on his credits.

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Book SynopsisThe Eastern Front was where the war against Nazi Germany was lost and won. More people died there in the battles and destruction than all the other theatres put together. From the Arctic snows of Finland to the vast steppes of the Ukraine, the fighting took place in every sort of landscape and every weather condition: sub-zero temperatures that froze engines and weapons, mosquito-infested swamps, the raputitsa mud that brought mechanised armies to a halt, and the huge industrial cities that were fought over street by street and house by house. What was it like to fight there? Hitler's War of Extinctionfrom the Eastern Fronttakes the reader into the thick of the battle lines in vivid colour. First-hand accounts from reports and diaries provide soldiers' insights to accompany the candid photos of life and death to provide an evocation of what it was like to fight for survival on the Eastern Front. Boasting more 250 original colour photographs, Hitler's War of Extinction: Rare German Colour Photographsshows the visceral nature of the battle between two intolerant ideologies that would leave upwards of 25 million servicemen and civilians dead.

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Book SynopsisA revelatory journey into the physical and visual legacies of the Spanish Civil War, investigating how a brutal conflict is memorialised, and obscured, today.

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Book SynopsisWorld War II is one of the first conflicts to be extensively recorded in detail by both combatants and journalists, and many iconic photos of the fighting and battlefields have been passed down to us today. But how do these battlefields look now, following the extensive rebuilding of the postwar era? Featuring 75 battlefield sites divided by wartime theatre, World War II Battlefields allows the reader to explore well-known battle locations today and compare them to images captured during the height of the conflict. Examine the huge concrete bunker at Fort Eben Emael, Belgium, captured by German glider troops in May 1940 and still intact today; see the beaches at Tarawa atoll, a scene of fierce fighting between the US Marines and the Japanese defenders in 1943; or the streets of the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, the centre of a bloody battle between the II SS Panzer Korps and the Red Army; explore the Norman village of Villers-Bocage, where a few German Tiger tanks halted the advance of the British 7th Armoured Division a week after the D-Day landings; see the twin-medieval towers of the bridge at Remagen on the Rhine river, made famous in photos and movies; see the dozens of Japanese ships sunk in Truk Lagoon following comprehensive American air attacks, and today a popular dive site; and examine Monte Cassino monastery in Italy, destroyed by Allied aerial bombing and since completely rebuilt as a place of pilgrimage.Table of ContentsContents include: Western Europe Dunkirk beach, France Atlantic Wall, France St Nazaire, France Omaha Beach, Normandy, France Pont du Hoc, Normandy Carentan, Normandy, France Villers-Bocage, Normandy, France Operation Dragoon, landings in Southern France Fort Eben Emael, Belgium Ardennes forest, Belgium Bastogne, Ardennes Offensive Ludendorff Bridge, Remagen, Netherlands Arnhem Bridge, Netherlands Führerbunker, Berlin, Germany Trondheim, Norway Eastern Europe Ruins at Westerplatte, Gdansk, Poland Gleiwitz Radio Station, Poland Kaunas Bridge, Lithuania Pripet marches, Belarus Old Steam Mill, Volgograd (Stalingrad), Russia Pavlov’s House, Volgograd (Stalingrad) Kharkiv, Ukraine Sumska Street, Kharkiv, Ukraine Prokhorovka, Russia Seelow Heights, Germany Oder River Warsaw Berlin Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate Mediterranean, Africa & Middle East Tobruk, Libya Bir Hakeim, Egypt El Alamein, Egypt Catania, Sicily Monte Cassino Monastery, Italy Crete Battle of Malta – defences Operation Torch landings, Oman, Algeria Kasserine Pass, Tunisia Gothic Line defences, Italy Anzio beach Asia and the Pacific Pearl Harbor / USS Arizona Johor Causeway, Malaysia Bukit Chandu/Kent Ridge, Singapore Midway Island Kokoda Trail, New Guinea Tarawa defences Saipan landing beaches Mt Suribachi, Iwo Jima Landing beaches, Okinawa, Japan Macarthur wades ashore, Leyte Gulf, Philippines Truk Lagoon, Micronesia Mitsubishi Ki-21, Rabaul, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea US Amphibious LVT, Bloody Nose Ridge, Peleliu, Palau Islands Hiroshima, Japan

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Book SynopsisThis title presents a detailed account of the development of swords, sabres, spears and lances illustrated with over 230 photographs and images. It provides a fascinating history of edged weapons, written by a leading antique sword expert and lavishly illustrated with over 230 images. It includes information on Japanese, Chinese, African and Indian swords as well as covering in detail the development of the weapon in Western Europe. It contains descriptions of the fighting techniques of some of the most skilful warriors of their time, including the hoplite spearmen of ancient Greece, Roman gladiators, and the Japanese Samurai. It is a superb reference work for military historians, curators, and all enthusiasts of edged weaponry of every period. This book traces the fascinating history of swords, spears and lances through to the 21st century. From their Palaeolithic origins and the appearance of the first swords in Bronze Age Europe and Mesopotamia, it describes how the weapons carved out some of the greatest civilizations in the world. With special sections on the sword in Japanese, Chinese, African and Indian cultures as well as an examination of the American sword and Naval swords, this book presents a broad-ranging work on swords throughout world history, and forms an indispensable resource for the keen collector and enthusiast.

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Book SynopsisThe crusades of 1200-1588 in Palestine, Spain, Italy and Northern Europe, from the Sack of Constantinople to the crusades against the Hussites, depicted in over 150 fine art images. This title offers an evocative account of what are known as the Late Crusades: the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eight and ninth crusades between 1200 and 1588. It explains the political and religious background to the struggles in Palestine, the Christian determination to regain Spain, and the rise of the Ottomans in Egypt. It includes the wars waged by fellow Christians with the papal campaigns against the Cathars and Hussites, as well as against the pagan tribes in the Baltic states. It features the brotherhoods of warrior monks, including the Knights of St John, and the Knights Templar. It includes special sections on the crusading knights, generals and princes of that time such as: Prince Edward of England, King Peter of Cyprus, and Grand Master Jacques de Molay. This title is richly illustrated throughout with over 150 images of the battles, fortresses and epic journeys of the crusaders. This expertly researched and vividly illustrated book details the fascinating later crusades, which were fought between 1200 and 1588. These began with the attempts to regain the city of Jerusalem, held by the Christians for two generations but lost to Saladin in 1187. Conflict soon spread to Egypt, Spain and Italy, and then beyond, as the Pope used his call to arms to invoke campaigns against European pagans and Christian heretics. Charles Philips succeeds in explaining this complex period of history, and examining how the crusades impacted on the religious, social and political aspects of life in that time.

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Book SynopsisThis new edition of Paul Reed's classic book Walking the Somme is an essential travelling companion for anyone visiting the Somme battlefields of 1916. His book, first published over ten years ago, is the result of a lifetime's research into the battle and the landscape over which it was fought. From Gommecourt, Serre, Beaumont-Hamel and Thiepval to Montauban, High Wood, Delville Wood and Flers, he guides the walker across the major sites associated with the fighting. These are now features of the peaceful Somme countryside. In total there are 16 walks, including a new one tracing the operations around Mametz Wood, and all the original walks have been fully revised and brought up to date. Walking the Somme brings the visitor not only to the places where the armies clashed but to the landscape of monuments, cemeteries and villages that make the Somme battlefield so moving to explore.

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Book SynopsisItalian history is not widely read but the period under Mussolini's shadow is both interesting and relevant to understanding the wheeling and dealings of the 1930s and into WWII. Through sheer nepotism Galeazzo Ciano married Mussolini's daughter and became Italy's Foreign Secretary, the youngest in Europe and at first scorned at home and abroad. There are many salacious stories of their open marriage and promiscuity, but the focus is Ciano's political life as a man regarded as second only to Mussolini. Through his diary and diplomatic papers, access is gained to the European diplomatic squabbles of the 1930s. The study of Ciano provides insights into Hitler and his leading henchmen, especially Ribbentrop and Goering, as well as the Spanish dictator Franco. Most importantly the figure of Mussolini is exposed in both his professional and somewhat dubious private life. The book explores the question of the Italian Fascist attitudes towards the Jewish population, the Vatican, and the monarchy. The Nazis at first courted him but soon realised he saw them for what they were, and he proved incapable of containing either his criticisms or the growing threat against him. Ciano finally turned against Mussolini only to find after his master's downfall that he had left himself encircled by personal enemies. His flight to Germany initiated his descent into personal chaos, leading to his trial and execution in Italy seemingly supported by his father-in-law. Perhaps the strangest twist in the personal story is the way his wife Edda turned to support him after years of an open and promiscuous marriage. There was considerable German and international interest in his diaries and diplomatic papers because of their revealing insights. He has been described as egotistical and arrogant, clever, perceptive, corrupt and a man with potential. Many despised him, but historically he was an interesting personality who above all left historians with some incisive observations of the critical years of 1935 to 1942.

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Book SynopsisThe Baltic Cauldron commemorates several centuries of Anglo-Swedish relations, which, after events in Eastern Europe in 2022, have acquired a new resonance as a record of the struggle for survival and independence of nations bordering the Baltic. This is a history of navies in the Baltic Sea and its approaches, from the Skaggerak to the Gulfs of Bothnia and Finland. This book portrays the relationship between the Swedish and British Navies over the centuries. In the 1700s Britain was a global naval power and developed doctrine, ships and culture which were copied by others, but the relationship with Sweden became special. While Britain and its navy depended upon Baltic Sea trade for timber, tar, iron and grain, the foundation was laid for the Swedish Navy, its self-image, tactics, materials and traditions. Among the subjects addressed are: the origins of the Swedish navy; the first English fleet to visit the Baltic; Charles XII’s amphibious campaigns; the English influence on Swedish shipbuilding; the quixotic Admiral Sir Sidney Smith; Admirals Lord Nelson and James Saumarez at war and peace; and, in the 20th century, the hunt for the Bismarck, Churchill’s planned attack on arctic Luleå in 1940, and blockade-runners in the Second World War. This ground-breaking study is filled with new insights, and contains much previously unpublished information, some based on Swedish sources which are not often quoted in the English-speaking world. The book is brought up to date with an account of the capture by Iranian forces of Stena Impero. Lessons in sea power are drawn throughout the book. The Baltic Cauldron is a fitting and worthy tribute to both the Royal Navy and to the Royal Swedish Navy at its quincentenary.

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Book SynopsisThe three civil wars that wracked England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, between 1642-1651 saw a greater percentage of the population killed than in the First World War. Hartlebury Castle, the home of the bishop of Worcester, saw involvement in all three wars. If you look for it in books on the civil war you will rarely find it mentioned and yet it was one of the two main fortresses guarding the north of the county and also a vital communication route for the Royalist troops from Wales and Ireland. Its troops were involved in skirmishes and battles and yet, when it was besieged in 1646, the governor of the Castle, William Sandys, is said to have surrendered without a shot being fired. A contemporary chronicler described this as done 'most poorly and cowardly'. Was this a justified accusation or did Sandys have no choice?

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Book Synopsis "I have never read anything that so fully and perfectly captured the personal experience and the personal aftermath of war" P. J. O'RourkeA young, devil-may-care Englishman reporting on the Soviet war makes a fateful commitment to a swashbuckling Afghan guerrilla commander. Not only will he go inside the capital secretly and live in the network of safe houses run by the resistance, he will travel around the city in a Soviet Army jeep, dressed as a Russian officer. Waiting in the mountain camp, from where Niazuldin's band of fighters lived and planned their hit-and-run attacks on Soviet troops, Ed Gorman discovers what it means to experience combat with men whose only interest is to be killed or martyred.After that summer in Kabul province the young freelancer became a staff reporter for The Times, covering conflicts in Northern Ireland, the Gulf, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Balkans, but Afghanistan never let him go. Death of a Translator is a searingly honest description of a mind haunted and eventually paralysed by the terror of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder."Death of a Translator is a powerful and personal read. Ed Gorman discusses his experiences in an incredibly open and moving way. His story is an example to us all" - Brigadier Ed Butler CBE, DSOWith a new preface by Ed GormanTrade ReviewI have never read anything that so fully and perfectly captured the personal experience and the personal aftermath of war. This is a brave book. Ed Gorman has a lonely struggle, but, excellent reporter that he is, he shows us how the struggle is not his alone.By turns gripping, enlightening and deeply moving, Ed Gorman's story should be required reading for any editor in charge of sending journalists into harm's way. * author of AFTERSHOCK *Few autobiographies are page-turners. Ed Gorman's is. I cannot recommend this well crafted, exciting yet moving book too much. * author of TAKING COMMAND *

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Book SynopsisDark haired, slight, with deep-set haunted eyes, Herschel Grynszpan is an undocumented Jewish alien living in Paris. He receives a postcard from his parents – recently bundled from their Hanover flat, put on a train and dumped, with 12,000 others on the Polish border. Enraged, Herschel buys a gun and kills a minor German official in the German Embassy. The repercussions trigger Kristalnacht, the nationwide pogrom against the Jews in Germany and Austria, a calamity which some have called the opening act of the Holocaust. Intertwined is the parallel life of the German boxer, Max Schmeling, who as a result of his victory over the then ‘invincible’ Joe Louis in 1936 became the poster boy of the Nazis. He and his movie-star wife, Anny Ondra, were feted by the regime – tea with Hitler, a passage on the airship Hindenburg – until his brutal two-minute beating in the rematch with Louis less than two years later. His story reaches a climax during Kristalnacht, where the champion performs an act of quiet heroism.

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Book SynopsisPeople are disappearing. I spoke to my neighbour yesterday, we laughed at some nonsense, and today he is gone. We only discovered he was missing because the dog wouldn't stop howling and we all knew he would never leave his beloved pet. So I am careful, extremely careful.Two families divided by war. An entire city on the edge of disaster. 'I was blown away not just by the gripping story, which had my heart thumping at times, but the sheer eloquence of writing.  It is a story of the strength of the human spirit, and of love which will not be defeated. I know I will be recommending it to everyone' LESLEY PEARSE1948, Berlin. World War II has ended and there is supposed to be peace; but Russian troops have closed all access to the city. Roads, railway lines and waterways are blocked and two million people are trapped, relying on airlifts of food, water and medicine to survive. The sharp eyes of the Trade ReviewI was blown away not just by the gripping story, which had my heart thumping at times, but the sheer eloquence of writing. It is a story of the strength of the human spirit, and of love which will not be defeated. I know I will be recommending it to everyone * LESLEY PEARSE *An impressively researched, powerfully emotional tale of two women surviving post-war Berlin . . . Child of the Ruins will have you gripped in suspense from the first line to the last * LOUISE CANDLISH *In Kate's inimitable style we are immediately drawn into this impeccably researched and terrifying period of history. Stunning from the very first line, this is a masterclass in historical fiction writing. An absolute triumph! * DINAH JEFFERIES *An absolutely stunning book from the Queen of Historical Fiction. Emotional, powerful, meticulously researched, sharp writing, just wonderful * LOUISE SWANSON *There is only one word to describe Child of the Ruins and that is awesome. It is compelling and evocative, thrilling and yet hugely touching. Kate Furnivall has really steeped herself in the period and faced the horrors of those times. I congratulate her * DILLY COURT *An extraordinarily tense and gripping story set in a city brought to its knees in the aftermath of war, where life is cheap and crusts of bread are currency. The plotting is ingenious and the writing beautifully atmospheric * GILL PAUL *Unforgettable characters negotiate desperate times in this vivid, brave and suspenseful novel set in the chaos of war torn Berlin. The final twist made me gasp! * RACHEL HORE *Gripping from the very first page, Child of the Ruins is a powerful and emotionally intense reminder that heartache and hardship linger long after a war ends. Highly recommend! * TERESA DRISCOLL *I have just finished reading Child of the Ruins and now I am bereft. Such an emotionally powerful and compelling story, told with skill and impeccable research. I was immersed from beginning to end * ROSANNA LEY *Each page and each word made me feel as though I was in Berlin at the end of the Second World War, alongside a mother searching for her son. Kate Furnivall has a gift for description, heartbreak and joy. I defy anyone not to read beyond the first killer sentence' * JANE CORRY *Atmospheric and compelling * CAROL McGRATH *A harrowing and compelling portrait of Berlin in the aftermath of World War Two, told through the interconnecting stories of two courageous women struggling to survive in the rubble of their war-torn city * FIONA VALPY *A beautifully written and atmospheric portrayal of life in Berlin in the aftermath of WW2, with exquisitely-drawn characters and a storyline that is both powerful and heart-breaking. Kate has become one of my favourite writers and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next * B.A. PARIS *Brilliantly written and incredibly moving. I was gripped from the first page * MILLY JOHNSON *

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Book SynopsisThe astonishing true story of Heinrich Himmler's personal physical therapist who used his influence over the S.S. commander to save the lives of thousands. Felix Kersten, an exceptional masseur, was the only person able to relieve Himmler's crippling and chronic abdominal pain. Although he was resolutely anti-Nazi, he continued to work for Himmler throughout the war, trading his services for that of prisoners' lives.François Kersaudy's meticulously researched Kersten's Lists, explores how by the end of the war, Felix Kersten had helped to obtain the liberation of some 100,000 people, including 60,000 Jews. It is a vital and too little known chapter of the Second World War and one worthy of greater recognition.Trade ReviewKersaudy shows the hidden Himmler, temperamental but inflexible, obstinate yet influenced by astrology, rational and irrational: a living contradiction. And Kersten used all his skills ... for good and for humanity * Le Point *

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Book SynopsisRetelling the most spectacular cock-ups in military history, this graphic account has a great deal to say about the psychology of military incompetence and the reasons even the most well-oiled military machines inflict disaster upon themselves. Beginning in AD9 with the massacre of Varus and his legions in the Black Forest all the way up to present day conflict in Afghanistan it analyses why things go wrong on the battlefield and who is to blame.

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Book SynopsisThe inside story of the most expensive and controversial military program in history, as told by those who lived it. The F-35 has changed allied combat warfare. But by the time it’s completed, it will cost more than the Manhattan Project and the B-2 Stealth Bomber. It has been subject to the most aggressive cyberattacks in history from China, Russia, North Korea, and others. Its stealth technology required nearly 9 million lines of code; NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover required 2.5 million. And it was this close to failure.F-35 is the only inside look at the most advanced aircraft in the world and the historic project that built it, as told by those who were intimately involved in its design, testing, and production. Based on the authors' personal experience and over 100+ interviews, F-35 pulls back the curtain on one of the most heavily criticized government programs in history from start to finish: the dramatic flights that won Lockheed Martin the contract over Boeing; the debates and decisions over capabilities; feats of software, hardware, and aeronautical engineering that made it possible; how the project survived the Nunn-McCurdy breach; the conflicts among all three branches of the U.S. military, between the eight other allied nation partners, and against spy elements from enemies. For readers of Skunk Works by Ben Rich and The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes, F-35 will pique the interest of airplane enthusiasts, defense industry insiders, military history aficionados, political junkies, and general nonfiction readers. Trade Review“During the Cold War, the F-16, which I flew, dominated the skies over Europe. Many nations anchored their fleets on its capabilities. Europe's security now requires the capabilities of the F-35, which will dominate not only the air domain, but support information dominance across all domains, including our ground forces. Building that coalition was a strategic imperative. This book tells that story.”—General Phil Breedlove, former Commander, U.S. Air Forces, Europe; Supreme Allied Commander, Europe "A carrier without jets is nothing! The RN/RAF F35 partnership is an operational necessity, but the RN/USMC F35 partnership is strategic, and a game changer.”—Admiral Sir George Zambellas, First Sea Lord 2013-16 “A fascinating tale of the birth of the Joint Strike Fighter. From the halls of Congress to the office of the Secretary of Defense, the fight to terminate fielding of the Lightning II was relentless. And yet because of the visionary leadership and tenacity of a few, we fly this magnificent airplane today…Bravo!”—General James F. Amos, USMC (ret) 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps “The F-35 is a tale of many innovations and firsts because of the commitment of many talented individuals and the creation of true partnerships across industry and nations. The significant impact the F-35 has had on reshaping air power and transforming air dominance operations is unmatched. We have overcome the challenges of that journey and I am proud to be part of the global F-35 team.”—Greg Ulmer, Executive Vice President, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics; former Lockheed Martin Executive Vice President and General Manager, F-35 “The long-standing Pacific alliance of the United States and Australia has been taken to a new level with the F-35 partnership. The F-35 has proven to be a powerful catalyst for change in whole Australian Defence Force. It has been a long and challenging journey, well told in this book, but the result has been well worth the wait." —Air Marshal Geoff Brown, former Australian Chief of Air Force "Remarkably, few authors have attempted yet to write the definitive history of this most puzzling and historically significant program. Fortunately, a new book, entitled F-35: The Inside Story of the Lightning II, has arrived, seeking to lend an insiderʼs context and insight into the three-decade history of what is often described as the most expensive weapon system in history." —Aviation Week “The future of fighter aviation in the first decades of the 21st century will be centered around the F-35's ability to rule the sky. This compelling history, as told by many of the key participants, is a tribute to the inspired leadership, dedication, and genius of thousands that made the seemingly impossible dream of the Joint Strike Fighter come true.”—Jon Beesley, F-35 Chief Test Pilot “This book captures the heroic efforts that brought forth 5th Generation fighter technology to the world.”—Alan B. Norman, F-35 Chief Test Pilot

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Book SynopsisFeaturing full-color artwork, this book describes and illustrates the Chinese and North Korean troops who fought US and UN forces in Korea during 195053.In June 1950, North Korean forces armed and equipped by the Soviet Union invaded South Korea, forcing back the US and South Korean troops facing them and threatening them with complete defeat. After the US and UN forces mounted a series of counter-offensives, the Chinese People's Volunteer Army crossed into the Korean Peninsula and entered the fray; the conflict would continue for three years until the armistice of July 1953, and tensions remain high today.The exploits of the North Korean and Chinese forces in the Korean War are renowned, but many misconceptions have grown up about these armies. In this study, carefully chosen photographs and specially commissioned artwork combine with authoritative text to reveal the evolving organization, tactics, uniforms, insignia and equipment of these formidable Communist troops during three years of warfare in the Korean Peninsula. Benjamin Lai and Zhao Guoxing reveal the real story of the North Korean and Chinese troops engaged in the Korean War, setting the record straight and deepening our understanding of the conflict.

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Book SynopsisOrganised chronologically by type, Russian Tanks of World War II offers a highly-illustrated guide to the main armoured fighting vehicles used by the Red Army during World War II. The book offers a comprehensive survey of Soviet AFVs, from the pre-war T-18 light tank and BT fast tank series to the heavy Joseph Stalin tanks and self- propelled guns of the final months of the war. All the major and many minor tanks are featured, including every significant variation of the T-26 light tank, KV series and T-34 to see action on the Eastern Front. There are also chapters on the many types of self-propelled guns developed by Soviet industry, as well as Allied Lend-Lease AFVs, such as the British Churchill and Valentine tanks and American Sherman and Stuart tanks. Each featured profile includes authentic markings and colour schemes, while every separate model is accompanied by exhaustive specifications. Packed with 120 newly-commissioned, full-colour artworks with exhaustive specifications, Russian Tanks of World War II is a key reference guide for military modellers and World War II enthusiasts.Table of Contents1. Light Tanks Light tanks of the 1920s and 1930s, including the T-18, T-26, T-40, T-50 and T-60. 2. Medium and Fast Tanks Tanks such as the T-24, T-28 and BT fast tank series. 3. The T-34 The classic Soviet tank: includes the A-20 prototype, Model 1940, Model 1941, Model 1942 and Model 1943, plus the T-34/85 and the limited production T-44. 4. Heavy Tanks Including the T-35, KV-I and KV-II, IS-1, IS-2 and IS-3 tanks. 5. Self-Propelled Guns Includes the SU-76, SU-85, SU-100, SU-122, SU-152, ISU-122 and ISU-152. 6. Lend-Lease Tanks Allied tanks like the M3, Sherman, Churchill, Matilda that were supplied to Russia by her allies and used on the Eastern Front. Appendices Tanks compared, production numbers, losses Index

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Book SynopsisIllustrated with detailed artworks of combat aircraft and their markings, Aircraft of World War I: The Essential Aircraft Identification Guide is a comprehensive study of the aircraft that fought in the Great War of 1914–18. Arranged chronologically by theatre of war and campaign, this book offers a complete organizational breakdown of the units on all the fronts, including the Eastern and Italian Fronts. Each campaign includes a compact history of the role and impact of aircraft on the course of the conflict, as well as orders of battle, lists of commanders and campaign aces such as Manfred von Richtofen, Eddie Rickenbacker, Albert Ball and many more. Every type of aircraft is featured, including the numerous variations and types of well- known models, such as the Fokker Dr.I, the Sopwith Camel and the SPAD SVII, through to lesser-known aircraft, such as the Rumpler C.1, and the Amstrong Whitworth FK8. Each aircraft profile is accompanied by exhaustive specifications, as well as details of individual and unit markings. Packed with more than 200 colour profiles of every major type of combat aircraft from the era, Aircraft of World War I 1914–1918 is an essential reference guide for modellers, military historians and aircraft enthusiasts.Table of ContentsChapter 1 Opening Moves Chapter 2 Air Combat Turns Deadly Chapter 3 Strategic Bombing Chapter 4 Maritime Aviation Chapter 5 The Eastern Front Chapter 6 The Italian Front Chapter 7 The Middle East Chapter 8 Air Combat Comes of Age Index

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Book SynopsisThe US Navy's 1944 Philippines raids were the first time naval aircraft had challenged and beaten a land-based air force. With artwork and rare photos, this is the first book to study them. During September 1944, the US Navy's Task Force 38 launched a series of huge airstrikes against Japanese forces in the Philippines. Seventeen carriers, wielding over 1,000 combat aircraft, made up the most powerful naval fleet assembled to date. It was the first time aircraft carriers had dared to confront a major land-based air force. Over a period of two weeks, TF 38 demonstrated the power and mobility of the Fast Carrier Task Force. The strike forces claimed 368 Japanese aircraft shot down and 446 destroyed on the ground, with over a hundred ships destroyed and significant damage to ground installations.This book is the first to focus on the campaign, and is illustrated with archive photos, original artwork, maps and 3D diagrams. Renowned Pacific War historian Edward M.

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Book SynopsisA Washington Post Best Book of 2021 ​The #1 New York Times bestselling investigative story of how three successive presidents and their military commanders deceived the public year after year about America’s longest war, foreshadowing the Taliban’s recapture of Afghanistan, by Washington Post reporter and three-time Pulitzer Prize finalist Craig Whitlock.Unlike the wars in Vietnam and Iraq, the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 had near-unanimous public support. At first, the goals were straightforward and clear: defeat al-Qaeda and prevent a repeat of 9/11. Yet soon after the United States and its allies removed the Taliban from power, the mission veered off course and US officials lost sight of their original objectives. Distracted by the war in Iraq, the US military become mired in an unwinnable guerrilla conflict in a country it did not understand. But no president wanted to admit failure, especially in a war that began as a just cause. Instead, the Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations sent more and more troops to Afghanistan and repeatedly said they were making progress, even though they knew there was no realistic prospect for an outright victory. Just as the Pentagon Papers changed the public’s understanding of Vietnam, The Afghanistan Papers contains “fast-paced and vivid” (The New York Times Book Review) revelation after revelation from people who played a direct role in the war from leaders in the White House and the Pentagon to soldiers and aid workers on the front lines. In unvarnished language, they admit that the US government’s strategies were a mess, that the nation-building project was a colossal failure, and that drugs and corruption gained a stranglehold over their allies in the Afghan government. All told, the account is based on interviews with more than 1,000 people who knew that the US government was presenting a distorted, and sometimes entirely fabricated, version of the facts on the ground. Documents unearthed by The Washington Post reveal that President Bush didn’t know the name of his Afghanistan war commander—and didn’t want to meet with him. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld admitted that he had “no visibility into who the bad guys are.” His successor, Robert Gates, said: “We didn’t know jack shit about al-Qaeda.” The Afghanistan Papers is a “searing indictment of the deceit, blunders, and hubris of senior military and civilian officials” (Tom Bowman, NRP Pentagon Correspondent) that will supercharge a long-overdue reckoning over what went wrong and forever change the way the conflict is remembered.Trade Review"Fast-paced and vivid... chock-full of telling quotes" — The New York Times Book Review “Craig Whitlock has forged a searing indictment of the deceit, blunders and hubris of senior military and civilian officials, with the same tragic echoes of the Vietnam conflict. The American dead, wounded and their families deserved wiser and more honorable leaders.” — Tom Bowman, NPR Pentagon correspondent "The excellent new book... Bombshell revelations... [and] damning evidence of things we already intuited.” — The Washington Post“At once page-turning and rigorous, The Afghanistan Papers makes a lasting and revelatory contribution to the record of America's tragic management of our longest war. In transparent and nuanced detail, Whitlock chronicles how American leaders and commanders undermined their country's promises to the Afghans who counted on them and to the U.S. troops who made the ultimate sacrifice after 9/11.” — Steve Coll, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Ghost Wars and Directorate S“The Afghanistan Papers is a gripping account of why the war in Afghanistan lasted so long. The missed opportunities, the outright mistakes and more than anything the first-hand accounts from senior commanders who only years later acknowledged they simply did not tell the American people what they knew about how the war was going.” — Barbara Starr, CNN Pentagon correspondent "Whitlock is unsparing in his assessment of presidents Bush, Obama and Trump, as well as U.S. military leaders, saying all failed to level with the American public....Whitlock's book is based on hundreds of ‘lessons learned’ interviews conducted privately by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. ...The candid interviews are revealing.” —NPR "A hallmark achievement of primary source reporting....The Afghanistan Papers reminds readers of the power of reportage built on documented evidence with names attached." — The Daily Beast“A damning account of America’s longest war that reveals what top generals and government officials really knew about the cost and futility of the mission. Whitlock puts the pieces together in a way nobody has before, bringing us the most comprehensive, inside story of this conflict ever told.” — Rajiv Chandrasekaran, author of Little America: The War Within the War for Afghanistan“The Afghanistan Papers is an autopsy of America’s folly into central Asia. It chronicles years of recklessness and bad decision-making that the nation is still grappling with today. This book is one part indictment of mission creep and American hubris, and one part warning to future leaders.” — Kevin Maurer, co-author of The New York Times bestsellers No Easy Day and American Radical“Like the Pentagon Papers of the Vietnam War, The Afghanistan Papers expose decades of deceit and the persistence of an American brand of imperialism. Examined by the sharp eye of Craig Whitlock, this history provides ample evidence that citizens should finally reject the baseless claim that U.S. military power is a unique force for good in the world.” — Christian G. Appy, author of American Reckoning: The Vietnam War and Our National Identity "An unputdownable account of imperial hubris, blundering and deception." — The Spectator

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Book SynopsisA new study of how the first purpose-built anti-tank helicopter gunship the Bell AH-1 Cobra engaged communist armor and well-armed irregular fighters in the war for control of Vietnam.The Vietnam War was often dubbed the helicopter war' because it was the first conflict in which helicopters took a dominant role. As the only dedicated gunship to be fielded by US forces during the conflict, the AH-1 Cobra saw combat against North Vietnamese Army (NVA) tanks, armored personnel carriers (APCs), and heavy anti-aircraft weaponry while joining OH-6A "Loach" scout helicopters on "Pink Team" hunter-killer flights. There were more than 700 Cobras operational in Vietnam by 1972, and it proved such an effective weapon that the NVA often avoided shooting at it, fearing massive and instant retribution. In this action-packed new study, Vietnam War expert Peter E. Davies examines the development and deployment of the Cobra, its engagements with Soviet- and Chinese-supplied tanks and heavy machine guns, and how it was adapted to counter devastating surface-to-air missile attacks in 1972. Numerous key clashes including the Tet Offensive and actions at Loc Ninh and An Loc are explored in detail, with first-hand accounts, newly commissioned artwork, and more than 50 photographs bringing the operations of this iconic helicopter to life.

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Book SynopsisWe live in an age of subterfuge. Spy agencies pour vast resources into hacking, leaking, and forging data, often with the goal of weakening the very foundation of liberal democracy: trust in facts. Thomas Rid, a renowned expert on technology and national security, was one of the first to sound the alarm. Even before the 2016 election, he warned that Russian military intelligence was 'carefully planning and timing a high-stakes political campaign' to disrupt the democratic process. But as crafty as such so-called active measures have become, they are not new. In this astonishing journey through a century of secret psychological war, Rid reveals for the first time some of history's most significant operations - many of them nearly beyond belief. A White Russian ploy backfires and brings down a New York police commissioner; a KGB-engineered, anti-Semitic hate campaign creeps back across the Berlin Wall; the CIA backs a fake publishing empire, run by a former Wehrmacht U-boat commander that produces Germany's best jazz magazine.Trade ReviewMindbending... The Kremlin's renewed efforts will ensure that Active Measures appears on the reading list of government officials and security experts. But it would be a disservice to reduce it to such a narrow space. For this is a book about something much bigger: our relationship with truth and our desire for lies -- Peter Pomerantsev * Spectator *In rich detail, Rid walks us through a hundred years of political warfare, recounting the exploits powers both major and minor inflicted on one another via the disinformation units of their intelligence agencies. Some of the stories are hair-raising -- Jonathan Freedland * NYRB *Groundbreaking ... Thomas Rid looks deep into neglected East European State Security archives, tracks down Cold War-era active measures officers, and examines fresh digital forensics in order to tell the true history of what we now know as disinformation. Active Measures is full of great stories that give contemporary events the historical context that has, until now, been missing. -- Anne Applebaum * Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Gulag: A History *Clausewitz for the cyber era -- John S Gardner * Guardian *Thomas Rid's timely Active Measures is an instant classic. He provides a comprehensive look at the political attacks we witnessed in 2016, and reminds us that deception and disinformation have deep historical roots. He also shows that the effects of active measures can be long-lasting, but can also boomerang on those who initiate them. As free societies look to defend against future deception campaigns, they will need to understand both the past and the new technologies that help to weaponize the practice in the present. Thomas Rid's excellent book is the best place to start. -- John Sipher * former member of the CIA's Senior Intelligence Service *Thomas Rid, a recognized expert in information security, investigates the history of disinformation, taking us back to its modern origins. He tells a series of thrilling stories of how this subtle game was played by the founder of the Soviet secret police, his successors at the KGB, their Western counterparts, and contemporary Russian intelligence operators. Rid has produced a book that is destined to become a seminal work on the topic. -- Andrei Soldatov * coauthor of The Red Web: The Kremlin's War on the Internet *Active Measures provides a comprehensive look at the disinformation game, from the 1920s through the digital revolution. Thomas Rid gives the reader an insider's view of how high-profile influence campaigns are designed and executed, thus providing historical perspective that can help us blunt the impact of disinformation. For that reason alone, Active Measures is a must-read. -- Nada Bakos * former analyst and targeting officer at the CIA *Skillfully illuminates and demystifies this ballyhooed but much-misunderstood subject * Publishers Weekly starred review *Engrossing ... invaluable -- James Gibney * The American Scholar *

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Book SynopsisOperation Nordwind was the last major German offensive of World War II on the Western Front. It began on 31 December 1944 in Rhineland-Palatinate, Alsace and Lorraine in southwestern Germany and northeastern France, and ended on 25 January 1945. Normally overshadowed by the Battle of the Bulge, Nordwind battles were just as intense and the troops involved faced the same bitter weather conditions and battle conditions their fellow units did to the north. The goal of the offensive was to break through the lines of the U.S. Seventh Army and French 1st Army in the Upper Vosges mountains and the Alsatian Plain, and destroy them, as well as the seizure of Strasbourg, which Himmler, who had been placed in charge, had promised would be captured by 30 January. The campaign also showcased the difficulties of inter-Allied cooperation between the Americans and the French. The U.S. VI Corps which bore the brunt of the German attacks was fighting on three sides by 15 January. By 15 January at least 17 German divisions (including units in the Colmar Pocket) from Army Group G and Army Group Oberrhein, including the 6th SS Mountain, 17th SS Panzergrenadier, 21st Panzer, and 25th Panzergrenadier Divisions were engaged in the fighting. Another smaller attack was made against the French positions south of Strasbourg, but it was finally stopped. Vicious battles at Hatten and Rittershoffen, Gambsheim and Herrlisheim took place and while the Germans could not employ near the same amount as armor as they did in the Ardennes, the armor engagements were nonetheless ruthless. The American 12th Armored Division lost almost an entire tank battalion in the battles in and around Herrlisheim. Action would engulf the entire front and areas like Strasbourg, Wingen, the Colmar Pocket and Haguenau would be engrained in the minds of the troops that fought in these battles.

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Book SynopsisFrom the first shots fired at Fort Sumter in 1861 to the final clashes on the Road to Appomattox in 1864, The Atlas of the Civil War reconstructs the battles of America's bloodiest war with unparalleled clarity and precision. Edited by Pulitzer Prize recipient James M. McPherson and written by America's leading military historians, this peerless reference charts the major campaigns and skirmishes of the Civil War. Each battle is meticulously plotted on one of 200 specially commissioned full-color maps. Timelines provide detailed, play-by-play maneuvers, and the accompanying text highlights the strategic aims and tactical considerations of the men in charge. Each of the battle, communications, and locator maps are cross-referenced to provide a comprehensive overview of the fighting as it swept across the country. With more than two hundred photographs and countless personal accounts that vividly describe the experiences of soldiers in the fields, The Atlas of the Civil War brings to life the human drama that pitted state against state and brother against brother.

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Book SynopsisOf all the infantry small arms developed during World War II, one that generated the most interest was the German ‘assault rifle’, the StG 44 Sturmgewehr. This innovative weapon inspired the Soviet AK-47 in 7.62x39mm calibre. In the West, the NATO countries looked hard at new weapons to upgrade their own infantry arsenals and counter the AK-47, resulting in the design of the Fusil Automatique Léger or FAL. It proved to be a successful battle rifle and was soon adopted by the military and police forces of no fewer than 93 nations. The FAL dominated the militaries of the West to such a degree that its nickname became the Right Arm of the Free World. The FAL fulfilled every role it was asked to perform and remains a viable and well-respected weapon to this day.Trade ReviewFor those of us who did have a love affair with this rifle, it is a book that should be on our bookshelves if not in our hands, and for those who have never experienced the weapon, it's an interesting and illuminating read that may help to understand why it was so revered. - arrse.co.ukTable of ContentsIntroduction/ Development /Use /Impact /Conclusion /Bibliography

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Book SynopsisUntil 1945, Indonesia was a Dutch colony known as the Netherlands East Indies. In 1930, the area had over 60 million inhabitants and was a major exporter of oil, rubber, tin and quinine. It was a particularly strong trading partner for Japan, providing some 13 percent of Japan''s oil needs--second only after the United States. Following Germany''s occupation of the Netherlands in May 1940, Japan decided to expand its influence in the Netherlands East Indies via diplomatic negotiations to acquire the necessary strategic goods of oil, rubber and tin. However, the negotiations did not provide Japan with the access it had hoped to gain.Up until the mid-1930s the colonial authorities considered the probability of military conflict between the major powers in Asia to be very low and that any military presence in the colony was primarily aimed at enforcing Dutch rule. This task was mainly the responsibility of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL). This force, designed primTable of ContentsIntroduction Geopolitical developments Defence of the Netherlands East Indies: principles Command and control Organisation Infantry Tanks Artillery Air defence artillery Cavalry Engineers Signals Motor transport Medical Service Supplies Aviation Indigenous auxiliary corps Army formation Weapons Combat history Uniforms and insignia Bibliography Glossary

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Book SynopsisThe nature of war is constant change. We live in an era of exponential technological acceleration which is transforming how wars are waged. Today, the battlespace is transparent; multi-domain sensors can see anything, and long-range precision fire can target everything that is observed. Autonomous weapons can be unleashed into the battlespace and attack any target from above, hitting the weakest point of tanks and armoured vehicles. War now develops at hyper-speed, risking operational, informational, and organisational paralysis induced by the rapid convergence of key disrupters in the battlespace. Hit with too many attacks in multiple domains, all occurring simultaneously, the force is paralysed.Imagine a peer fight against Communist China, a new war in Europe against a resurgent Russia, or a conflict against Iran in the Middle East. How can our forces survive an enemy-first strike in these circumstances? Can we adapt to the ever-accelerating tempo of war? Will our forces be able to mask from enemy sensors? How will leaders execute command and control in a degraded communications environment? Will our command posts survive, and will our commanders see and understand what is happening in order to plan, decide, and act in real time? Written by military strategy and leadership expert, John Antal, this book addresses these tough questions and more.Table of ContentsIntroduction: How War is Changing 1. Learning from the Second Nagorno Karabakh War and the Russian-Ukrainian War 2. The Transparent Battlespace 3. The First Strike Advantage 4. The Tempo Of War 5. Top Attack 6. Full Automation 7. The Kill Web 8. Visualizing the Battlespace in All Domains—Executing Mission Command 9. Decision Dominance 10. Conclusion: Implications for the Defense of Taiwan

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Book SynopsisFully illustrated, this book assesses the US Marines and Japanese troops fighting in three bloody battles of World War II in the Pacific. In June 1944, the United States military launched an offensive against the Japanese forces holding the Mariana Islands and Palau. The US Marine Corps played a vital role in this campaign alongside Army and Navy forces, while their Japanese opponents mounted a desperate defense of their conquests amid the harsh island terrain. This book assesses both sides' doctrine, tactics, weapons, and battlefield effectiveness in three battles of this stage of the Pacific War. Landing on Saipan on June 15, the Marines established a beachhead as the Japanese defenders strove to fight to the last man. On July 21, US Marine Corps and Army forces landed on Guam. Only on August 10 was Guam declared secure by the Americans, and even then resistance continued. US forces landed on Tinian on July 24 and wrested the island from its conquerors. Alon

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Book SynopsisThe Long Range Desert Group has a strong claim to the first Special Forces unit in the British Army. This superb illustrated history follows the LRDG from its July 1940 formation as the Long Range Patrol in North Africa, tasked with intelligence gathering, mapping and reconnaissance deep behind enemy lines. Manned initially by New Zealanders, in 1940 the unit became the LRDG with members drawn from British Guards and Yeomanry regiments and Rhodesians. So successful were the LRDG patrols, that when the Special Air Service were formed, they often relied on their navigational and tactical skills to achieve their missions. After victory in North Africa the LRDG re-located to Lebanon before being sent on the ill-fated mission to the Dodecanese Islands in the Aegean. Serving independently, when the Germans overwhelmed and captured the British garrisons, many LRDG personnel escaped using their well-honed skills. Many images in this, the first pictorial history of the LRDG, were taken unofficially by serving members. The result is a superb record of the LRDG's achievements, the personalities, their weapons and vehicles which will delight laymen and specialists alike.

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times bestsellerOne of the most dramatic forgotten chapters of the war, as told in a new book by the incomparable Max Hastings' DAILY MAILIn August 1942, beleaguered Malta was within weeks of surrender to the Axis, because its 300,000 people could no longer be fed. Churchill made a personal decision that at all costs, the island fortress' must be saved. This was not merely a matter of strategy, but of national prestige, when Britain's fortunes and morale had fallen to their lowest ebb.The largest fleet the Royal Navy committed to any operation of the western war was assembled to escort fourteen fast merchantmen across a thousand of miles of sea defended by six hundred German and Italian aircraft, together with packs of U-boats and torpedo craft. The Mediterranean battles that ensued between 11 and 15 August were the most brutal of Britain's war at sea, embracing four aircraft-carriers, two battleships, seven cruisers, scores of destroyers and smaller craft. The losses were aTrade Review The #1 Times bestseller and #3 Sunday Times bestseller (May 2021) ‘Over this past year of pandemic, we’ve lost so much. People have died, great institutions have gone under, life itself seems permanently altered. Yet one certainty remains: Max Hastings still churns out military histories, and they continue to be outstanding. This book like all the others … is a cracker. With his usual combination of sensitivity to human suffering and superb dramatic instinct, Hastings has given us a gripping tale …The immediacy of this book obliterates the cold detachment that time’s passage usually allows … We feel in our bones torpedoes hitting home … the four-day ordeal British sailors endured … is a drama superbly told …The delight lies in the detail, the percussive power of tiny facts …is what makes Hastings such a superb storyteller’The Times ‘Superb … as ever Hastings gives excellent pen portraits of the personalities involved … Hastings has written many wonderful books … but few combine so well his unique gifts as a historian: an understanding of human nature, a nose for a telling quotation, and the ability to write gripping prose’Sunday Telegraph ‘The white-knuckle ride of Hastings’s gripping narrative … is a high-octane adventure served up with torpedoes, Stuka dive bombers and catastrophic U-boat attacks … heart-stirring …memorable … and highly readable’Sunday Times ‘One of the most dramatic forgotten chapters of the war, as told in a new book by the incomparable Max Hastings’Daily Mail ‘Veteran military historian Hastings’ first full-length narrative of war at sea measures up to his usual high standards … Vividly chronicling the sinking of the aircraft carrier Eagle, Hastings initiates 250 pages of gripping fireworks and insights … Another enthralling Hastings must-read’Kirkus, starred review

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Book Synopsis'Every so often, a new work emerges of such immense scholarship and weight that it really does add a significant difference to our understanding of the Second World War and its consequences. Judgement in Tokyo is one such, a monumental work in both scale and detail, beautifully constructed and written, leaving the reader not only moved but disturbed as well.' – James Holland, The Sunday Telegraph'A work of singular importance . . . balanced, original, human, accessible, and riveting' – Philippe Sands, author of East-West Street'Always engrossing . . . a breathtakingly ambitious and well-executed piece of history, unlikely to be bettered as a portrait of the trials and their place in postwar global history' – History TodayA landmark, magisterial history of the postwar trial of Japan’s leaders as war criminals, and their impact on the modern history of Asia and the world.In the weeks after Japan finally surrendered to the Allies to end World War II, the victorious powers turned to the question of how to move on from years of carnage and destruction. For the Allied powers, the trials were an opportunity both to render judgment on their vanquished foes and to create a legal framework to prosecute war crimes and prohibit the use of aggressive war. For the Japanese leaders on trial, it was their chance to argue that their war had been waged to liberate Asia from Western imperialism and that the court was no more than victors’ justice.Gary J. Bass' Judgement at Tokyo is a magnificent, riveting story of wartime action, dramatic courtroom battles, and the epic formative years that set the stage for the postwar era in the Asia–Pacific.'A comprehensive, landmark and riveting book' – The Washington Post, 'The 10 Best Books of 2023'Trade ReviewThis important book . . . Magisterial' -- Max Hastings, The Sunday TimesEvery so often, a new work emerges of such immense scholarship and weight that it really does add a significant difference to our understanding of the Second World War and its consequences. Judgement in Tokyo is one such, a monumental work in both scale and detail, beautifully constructed and written, leaving the reader not only moved but disturbed as well. -- James Holland, The Sunday TelegraphA work of singular importance – balanced, original, human, accessible, and riveting. It is of huge relevance to our times. -- Philippe Sands, author of East-West StreetMagisterial . . . A well-crafted, warts-and-all account from which almost no one emerges unscathed. * Financial Times *A meticulously researched and authoritative account -- The Economist, 'The Best Books of 2023'Bass has written a massively long and detailed book, always lively and judgmental. He brings out not only the legal arguments, but the colour of the great tribunal itself. * The Observer *This magisterial account – long but never sprawling; thick with detail yet always engrossing . . . This is a breathtakingly ambitious and well-executed piece of history, unlikely to be bettered as a portrait of the trials and their place in postwar global history. -- Christopher Harding, History TodayFascinating -- The New Yorker, 'Best Books of 2023'Comprehensive, landmark and riveting. . . . Bass employs the complexities of the trial as a fulcrum to sketch a wide canvas. . . . Fascinating * The Washington Post, 'The 10 Best Books of 2023' *Immersive -- The New York Times, 'Notable Books of 2023'Magnificent . . . Vivid . . . Profound * Foreign Affairs *Magisterial . . . Bass is a marvelous writer. * Air Mail *In this superb work of transnational history, Gary Bass uses the Tokyo trial to illuminate the making of the modern world. -- Ramachandra Guha, author of India After GandhiTo understand the dynamics of post-World War II Asia, Gary Bass’s Judgement at Tokyo is fascinating, essential reading. -- Barbara Demick, Baillie Gifford prize-winning author of Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North KoreaGary Bass has written nothing less than a masterpiece. With epic research and mesmerizing narrative power, Judgement at Tokyo has the makings of an instant classic. -- Evan Osnos, US National Book Award-winning author of Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth, and Faith in the New ChinaA vivid and meticulously crafted account, rich in detail, fair-minded, superbly nuanced. -- Fredrik Logevall, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Embers of War: The Fall of an Empire and the Making of America’s VietnamDestined to become a classic, Judgement at Tokyo is meticulously researched and elegantly written: it is also a necessary book. -- Anna Sherman, author of The Bells of Old Tokyo

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Book SynopsisWorld War II was the greatest conflict in the history of mankind. It penetrated into every corner of the globe, from the Arctic to the Pacific Oceans. Immense armed forces engaged one another in battle in every type of environment, from the desert sands of North Africa to the jungles of Burma and New Guinea. The Allied and Axis forces met in brutal encounters ranging from small commando raids to gigantic armoured battles. World War II Illustrated Atlas is a comprehensive visual guide to this complex conflict. It plots the exact course of the land, sea and air campaigns in fine detail, enabling the reader to trace the ebb and flow of the fortunes of both sides. With the aid of over 160 full-colour maps, every theatre of war is covered. Contents include the land campaigns in North-west Europe, Italy, North Africa, Russia, South-East Asia and the Pacific; the naval war in the Atlantic and Mediterranean; the great carrier battles of the Pacific war; and the strategic bombing campaigns of Europe and the Pacific, culminating in the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This new edition provides another 25 maps showing the key raids and battles of the war, ranging from the St Nazaire raid in 1942 to the battle for Corregidor in February 1945. The isometric map views give a new perspective on the war, and are accompanied by detailed descriptions of the battles and raids along with photographs from the event. This complete atlas provides an invaluable work of reference for both the general reader and the serious student of World War II.Table of ContentsIntroduction The Build Up To War 1. Europe 1914–18 2. Europe after the Peace Treaties 1920-21 3. The Depression in Europe 4. Fascist States in Europe 5. European Political Agreements 1934–35 I 6. European Political Agreements 1936–37 II 7. European Political Agreements 1938–39 III 8. Revolution and Invasion in China to 1912-35 9. Expansion of Japan 1920–41 10. Hitler’s Annexations 1936–39 September 1939: The Blitzkrieg 11. Invasion of Poland 1-28 September 1939 12. The Winter War November 1939-March 1940 The Phoney War: German and Allied Plans - September 1939 to April 1940 13. Battle of Suomussalmi - 11 December 1939 to 8 January 1940 14. Denmark and Norway - April to June 1940 15. Invasion of the West – May to June 1940 16. Panzer strike through the Ardennes – 12 to 14 May 1940 17. Dunkirk Operation ‘Dynamo’ – 27 May to 4 June 1940 18. Fall of France and Vichy – June 1940 19. The Battle of Britain – July to September 1940 20. The Blitz – September 1940 to May 1941 The Air War 21. The Bombing of Europe 1939–41 22. The Thousand Bomber Raid 30/31 May 1943 23. Strategic Bombing 1943 24. Dambusters Raid 16/17 May 1943 25. Schweinfurt Bombing Results The Sea War 26. Battle of the Atlantic I – September 1939 to May 1940 27. Battle of the Atlantic II – June 1940 to March 1941 28. Battle of the Atlantic III – April to December 1941 29. Battle of the Atlantic IV – January 1942 to February 1943 30. Battle of the Atlantic V – May to September 1943 North Africa and Italy 31. Campaign in East Africa - June 1940 to November 1941 32. Iraq, Syria and Persia – April to September 1941 33. North Africa: Operation Compass – 9 December 1940 to February 1941 34. North Africa: Operation Sonnenblume – April 1941 35. North Africa: Operation Crusader – November to December 1941 36. Operation Crusader: Battle of Sidi Rezegh - 18 November to 7 December 1941 37. Rommel Returns 38. Gazala and the Fall of Tobruk – May to June 1942 39. The Eve of Battle (El Alamein) – 23 October 1942 40. El Alamein Operation Lightfoot – 24 to 29 October 1942 41. El Alamein, Operation Supercharge – 2 to 4 November 1942 42. The Mediterranean Naval Operations – Late 1942 43. Battle of Matapan – 28 to 29 March 1941 44. Taranto Attack – 11 November 1940 45. Operation Pedestal – 11 to 13 August 1942 46. Operation Torch – 8 November 1942 47. British Advance to Tunisia – November 1942 to February 1943 48. Kasserine Pass – 14 to 22 February 1943 49. Axis Defeat in Tunisia – 20 to 29 March 1943 50. Capture of Tunis – April to May 1943 51. Invasion of Sicily - 10 July to 17 August 1943 52. Southern Italy – 3 September to 15 December 1943 53. Landings at Salerno – 9 to 16 September 1943 54. Southern Italy Operational Plans – 1942 to 43 55. Monte Cassino 56. Landings at Anzio – 17 January to 26 May 1944 The Liberation of Rome and Advance North – June to December 1944 57. The End in Italy – April to May 1945 The Eastern Front 58. The Balkan Campaign – 6 to 20 April 1941 59. The Conquest of Greece and Crete – 6 to 28 April 1941 60. Operation Barbarossa I – 22 June to early October 1941 61. Operation Typhoon – September to December 1941 62. Battle for Moscow – January to June 1942 63. The Caucasus – June to November 1942 64. The Siege of Sevastopol 65. The Siege of Leningrad – September 1941 to January 1944 66. Dispersion of Soviet Industry 67. The Battle for Stalingrad – September 1942 to February 1943 68. Battle of Kharkov - 29 January to 20 February 1943 69. Eastern Front - March 1943 70. Battle of Kharkov – 2 to 23 March 1943 71. Eastern Front – July 1943 72. Kursk ‘Operation Zitadelle’ – 5 to 13 July 1943 73. Battle of Prokhovovka – 12 July 1943 74. Soviet Advance to Dnieper – 5 July to 1 December 1943 75. Liberating the Ukraine and the Crimea – January to May 1944 76. Leningrad and the Kerelian Front – January to October 1944 77. Karelian Front – September to October 1944 78. Yugoslavia – 1941 and 1942 79. Yugoslavia 1943 80. Operation Bagration – June to July 1944 81. The Warsaw Rising – 1 August to 2 October 1944 82. Soviet Advance into Poland – July 1944 83. Soviet Advance into Romania and Hungary – 8 August to 15 December 1944 84. The Balkans – November to December 1944 85. The Liberation of Greece – October to November 1944 86. The Advance to Koenigsberg – October 1944 to April 1945 87. Battle for Koenigsberg 88. Battle of Budapest and Vienna – December 1944 to May 1945 89. The Advance to the Oder – January to February 1945 90. The Battle for Berlin – 15 April to 6 May 1945 91. The Battle for Berlin - 26 April to 2 May 1945 The Western Front 92. Global Strategy – 1941 to 1945 93. COSSAC Plan – August 1943 94. Allied D-Day Landing Plan and Objectives – 6 June 1944 95. Breakout Plan – 22 July to 6 August 96. Falaise Pocket – 6 to 19 August 1944 97. The Liberation of Paris – 14 to 25 August 1944 98. Invasion of Southern France – August 1944 99. Allied Advance to September 1944 100. The Air Lift – 17 September 1944 101. Airborne Drop Zones – September 1944 102. First Airborne Division landing zones – September 1944 103. Battle of the Bulge – 16 to 24 December 1944 104. Battle of the Bulge counterattack – 26 December 1944 to 7 February 1945 105. Advance to the Rhine – 8 February to 21 March 1945 106. Crossing the Rhine – March 1945 The War in the Pacific 107. Hawaii Operation, track of Japanese attack force - 26 November to 7 December 108. Pearl Harbor: The Japanese Attack - 7 December 1941 109. Japanese Expansion - December 1941 to July 1942 110. Invasion of Malaya - 8 December1941 to 31 January 1942 111. Capture of Singapore – 8 to 15 February 1942 112. Indian Ocean March – March to April 1942 113. Japanese Invasion of Burma – January to May 1942 114. Japanese Invasion of Philippines – 8 December 1941 to June 1942 115. Bataan and Corregidor 116. Manila and Bataan 117. Japanese Invasion of the Dutch East Indies – January to March 1942 118. Battle of Midway – 4 to 5 June 1942 119. Admiral Yamamoto’s plans to seize Midway – May to June 1942 120. Battle of the Coral Sea – 28 April to 11 May 1942 121. Battle of Midway I – 4 June 1942 04:00 to 10:30 122. Battle of Midway II – 4 June 1942 10:30 to 6 June 00:00 123. US Landings and the Battle of Savo Island – August 1942 124. US Landings 125. Guadalcanal 126. The Solomon Islands – 12 to 13 November 1942 127. Guadalcanal – 13 November 1942 128. Guadalcanal – 14 to 15 November 1942 129. Operation Cartwheel – March 1942 to November 1943 130. New Guinea – August to September 1943 131. The Aleutians – June 1942 to May 1943 132. Chindits in Burma – February to March 1943 133. Pacific situation to October 1944 134. Carrier Raids in the Central Pacific to October 1944 135. Tarawa Atoll – 20 to 23 November 1943 136. Makin Atoll – 20 to 23 November 1943 137. Japanese merchant shipping routes - 1941 to 1945 138. Japanese merchant shipping losses – 7 Dec 1941 to 31 Dec 1942 139. Japanese merchant shipping losses 1943 140. Japanese merchant shipping losses 1944 141. Japanese merchant shipping losses 1945 142. Battle of the Philippine Sea I – 19 June 1944 143. Battle of the Philippine Sea II – 20 to 21 June 1944 144. War in China – July 1937 to December 1944 145. Second Arakan Campaign – December 1943 to April 1944 146. Japanese Invasion of India – March to June 1944 147. Allied Recapture of Burma – December 1944 to February 1945 148. The Saipan Landings – 15 June to 9 July 1944 149. Guam – 21 July to 10 August 1944 150. Tinian – 24 July to 1 August 1944 151. Pacific situation up to August 1945 152. The Battle of the Philippines – 20 to 27 October 1944 153. Liberation of the Philippines – January to August 1945 154. Allied Recapture of Burma – December 1944 to 5 May 1945 155. Landings on Iwo Jima – 19 February to 26 March 1945 156. The Fall of Okinawa – 1 April to 21 June 1945 157. The Japanese Empire – August 1945 158. Bombing of Japan – June 1944 to August 1945 159. Soviet Invasion of Manchuria – September 1945 160. Operations Against Japan – February to August 1945 161. Allied Invasion Plan – August 1945 version 162. Nagasaki – 9 August 1945 The Aftermath 163. Mobilization for War – 1939 to 1945 164. Original Members of the United Nations 1945 165. The Casualties of War – 1939 to 1945

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Book SynopsisA new softcover edition of a classic work at a very pleasing price. Superb photographs from the author's exhaustive collection. Simply the best reference book available on the most popular subject in naval history -destined for bestseller status.

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Book SynopsisIn this fully illustrated introduction, leading Vietnam War historian Dr Andrew Wiest provides a concise overview of America''s most divisive war. America entered the Vietnam War certain of its Cold War doctrines and convinced of its moral mission to save the world from the advance of communism. However, the war was not at all what the United States expected. Dr Andrew Wiest examines how, outnumbered and outgunned, the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces resorted to a guerrilla war based on the theories of Mao Zedong of China, while the US responded with firepower and overwhelming force. Drawing on the latest research for this new edition, Wiest examines the brutal and prolonged resultant conflict, and how its consequences would change America forever, leaving the country battered and unsure as it sought to face the challenges of the final acts of the Cold War. As for Vietnam, the conflict would continue long after the US had exited its military adventure in SoutheTrade ReviewAn excellent read -- John Ham * Gun Mart & Militaria Mart magazine *Table of ContentsIntroduction Background to War Warring Sides Outbreak The Fighting The World Around War How the War Ended Conclusion and Consequences Chronology Further Reading Index

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Book Synopsis''The English Civil War is a joy to behold, a thing of beauty this will be the civil war atlas against which all others will judged and the battle maps in particular will quickly become the benchmark for all future civil war maps.'' - Professor Martyn Bennett, Department of History, Languages and Global Studies, Nottingham Trent UniversityThe English Civil Wars (163851) comprised the deadliest conflict ever fought on British soil, in which brother took up arms against brother, father fought against son, and towns, cities and villages fortified themselves in the cause of Royalists or Parliamentarians. Although much historical attention has focused on the events in England and the key battles of Edgehill, Marston Moor and Naseby, this was a conflict that engulfed the entirety of the Three Kingdoms and led to a trial and execution that profoundly shaped the British monarchy and Parliament. This beautifully presented atlas tells the whole story of Britain's revolutionary civiTrade ReviewThis superb work provides a visually stunning guide to Britain’s civil wars from the opening Bishops’ War to the rule of Cromwell’s major generals. Based on the latest historical and archaeological research, the 156 detailed maps show not only the better known large battles and sieges, but also numerous smaller engagements and key political events. Essential for comprehending the full extent of the war and for understanding it conduct and outcome. * Professor Peter Wilson, Chichele Professor of the History of War, University of Oxford *There has long been a need for a good atlas of the English Civil War, and Nick Lipscombe, who has already fully met the need for one for the Peninsular War, now does so again. Effective and clear maps are ably combined with a text that reflects Lipscombe’s understanding of weapons characteristics, the complexity of battle, and the nuances of command. An important work that deserves wide attention. * Professor Jeremy Black, author of World War Two in 100 Maps *Nick Lipscombe’s The English Civil War is a joy to behold a thing of beauty, but much more than that book is clearly of no small importance. I am convinced that this will be the first port of call for all enthusiasts and scholars looking for a cartographic interpretation of the civil wars. This will be the civil war atlas against which all others will judged and the battle maps in particular will quickly become the benchmark for all future civil war maps. * Professor Martyn Bennett, Department of History, Languages and Global Studies, Nottingham Trent University *Without doubt one of the most foremost reference sources on the Civil Wars available today. * Tim Williamson, History of War *An absolutely essential volume for anyone interested in the period. -- Duncan Evans * The Armourer *The Atlas is an excellent work, which is a must for anyone who has any interest in the War of the Tree Kingdoms. -- Chris May * Battlefield *...An expert commentary and analysis, by a good historian linked into the Battlefields Trust. Highly recommended. * Miniature Wargames *This is a wonderful volume, hugely impressive in its breadth and depth, very attractive in its cartography and presentation, which makes a weighty contribution to the history of the civil war in every sense. -- Professor Peter Gaunt * University of Chester for The Protector's Pen *Table of ContentsForeword Preface Chronology – The Wars of The Three Kingdoms, 1639–52 Legend to Maps Introduction – Origins of Conflict Civil War Armies, Fighting Components and their Tactics 1 – The Early Stuarts and the Divine Right of Kings, 1603–37 2 – The Bishops’ Wars, 1639–40 3 – Rebellion in Ireland, 1640–42 4 – The Road to Civil War, 1641–42 5 – The Campaign and Battle of Edgehill, June to October 1642 6 – Advance to London, October to November 1642 7 – Nationwide Struggle, December 1642 to March 1643 8 – The Nation Divides, Mid-March to end of May 1643 9 – Events in The South-West, March to June 1643 10 – The Struggle for the North and Centre, June to August 1643 11 – The Struggle for Bristol and the South-West, June to August 1643 12 – Operations in the North, September to December 1643 13 – Events in Devon, September to the end of 1643 14 – The First Battle of Newbury, September 1643 15 – Irish Cessation and the Scottish Covenant, 1643 16 – The Scottish Invasion, Early 1644 17 – Nantwich And Newark: The Battles for Central England, January to March 1644 18 – Wales: The Conquest of Pembrokeshire, January to March 1644 19 – Waller’s Operations in the South, January to April 1644 20 – The Great Siege and Battle in Yorkshire,April to August 1644 21 – The Oxford Campaign, May to August 1644 22 – Events in the South-West, April to August 1644 23 – War in the Centre: the Second Battle of Newbury, August to November 1644 24 – Wales, Scotland and the North of England, August to the end of 1644 25 – A Time to Reflect: the end of 1644 26 – Nationwide Developments, Early 1645 27 – The Great and Decisive Battle at Naseby, 14 June 1645 28 – Taunton and Langport: Events in The South-West, January to July 1645 29 – Scotland in 1645: Montrose’s Royalist Campaign 30 – Post-Naseby, Part 1: Wales and the South, to the end of 1645 31 – Post-Naseby, Part 2: the North, to the end of 1645 32 – Sweeping up the South-West, January to April 1646 33 – The end of the First Civil War, 1646 34 – Wales, Scotland and Ireland in 1646 35 – Ireland 1647: Beyond Redemption 36 – The King’s Intransigence, 1647 37 – War Reignites in Wales, 1648 38 – War Reignites in England, 1648 39 – The Battle of Preston: the Death Blow to Royalism, 1648 40 – The ‘Endgame’: Regicide, 1649 41 – Cromwell and Parliament’s Army in Ireland, 1649–52 42 – The Invasion of Scotland, July 1650 to September 1651 43 – Worcester, 1651: The Final Battle 44 – The Interregnum, 1649–60 Notes to Maps Appendices Glossary Bibliography

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