Military History Books
Little, Brown Book Group If This is a Woman
Book SynopsisThe compelling story of the only concentration camp for women by the acclaimed author of A Life in Secrets.Trade ReviewCompelling ... [Helm] has painstakingly sought out many survivors and talked to them herself. The results are devastating ...What one is left with at the end of this momentous book is a sense of the power of human nature, both for good and evil Independent on Sunday A profoundly moving chronicle Observer An epic feat of scholarly investigation Spectator Where Helm's history excels is in her refusal to reduce any of the people in her history to stereotypes. Complexity is respected. She pays attention to the specificities of people's lives, including their religious beliefs, political aspirations and dreams. Even when discussing brutal female guards, Helm avoids demonisation -- Joanna Bourke Telegraph Helm has done us all a great service in this compelling, magisterial volume ... Read this book. Be appalled. Be moved. And be angry that so little action was taken to help, or to remember, until it was nearly too late. Read it, and weep Jewish Chronicle A sense of urgency infuses this history, which comes just in time to gather the testimony of the camp's survivors ... meticulous, unblinking ... [Helm's] book comes not a moment too soon The Economist Splendidly researched and tremendously moving ... Helm's book, based in part on interviews with survivors, is a model of sensitivity and seriousness Sunday Times Sarah Helm's momentous uncovering of Ravensbruck -- Rachel Holmes Guardian A groundbreaking chronicle -- Nicholas Shakespeare Telegraph It not only fills a gap in Holocaust history but it is an utterly compelling read -- Taylor Downing History Today
£12.34
Taylor & Francis Godels Proof
Book Synopsis'Nagel and Newman accomplish the wondrous task of clarifying the argumentative outline of Kurt Godel's celebrated logic bomb.' â The GuardianIn 1931 the mathematical logician Kurt Godel published a revolutionary paper that challenged certain basic assumptions underpinning mathematics and logic. A colleague of physicist Albert Einstein, his theorem proved that mathematics was partly based on propositions not provable within the mathematical system. The importance of Godel's Proof rests upon its radical implications and has echoed throughout many fields, from maths to science to philosophy, computer design, artificial intelligence, even religion and psychology. While others such as Douglas Hofstadter and Roger Penrose have published bestsellers based on Godelâs theorem, this is the first book to present a readable explanation to both scholars and non-specialists alike. A gripping combination of science and accessibility, Godelâs Proof by NagelTable of ContentsChapter 1 Introduction; Chapter 2 The Problem of Consistency; Chapter 3 Absolute Proofs of Consistency; Chapter 4 The Systematic Codification of Formal Logic; Chapter 5 An Example of a Successful Absolute Proof of Consistency; Chapter 6 The Idea of Mapping and Its Use in Mathematics; Chapter 7 Gödel's Proofs; Chapter 8 Concluding Reflections;
£15.58
Thames & Hudson Ltd Great Battles of All Time
Book SynopsisA distinguished team of 26 military historians reveal the decisive conflicts that have shaped world history from the 5th century BC to the 21st century. The course of history rarely changes so swiftly and decisively as on the battlefield. In this masterly overview, an international team of historians reconstructs and analyzes seventy key clashes from 490 BC to the 21st century and appraises their impact on the world order. Their studies encompass not only the great land battles, but sieges such as Constantinople and Tenochtitlan; naval battles at Trafalgar and Tsushima; and aerial struggles including the Battle of Britain. Truly global in scope, the collection marches from the Teutoburg Forest in AD 9, where the German tribes annihilated a Roman army, to Hakata Bay in 1281, where the Japanese defeated the Mongols, to the heart of the American Civil War at Gettysburg in 1863 and beyond. Together they show how technology and tactics advance in tandem, as battlefield commanders respond to advances in mobility, communications and firepower, how certain principles endure, and how victory in battle may not win the war. Illustrated with over 80 specially commissioned battle plans, this is an essential introduction to the great battles in history.Trade Review'Intelligently conceived and well written… brings out the great continuities of war' - The Scotsman'Essential reading for anyone interested in military history' - New Books NetworkTable of ContentsContributors World map Introduction Ancient World Introduction 1 Marathon (490 BC) 2 Salamis (480 BC) 3 Gaugamela (331 BC) 4 Cannae (216 BC) 5 Gaixia (203 BC) 6 Actium (31 BC) 7 Teutoburg Forest (AD 9) 8 Adrianople (378) Medieval World Introduction 9 Poitiers (732) 10 Lechfeld (955) 11 Hastings (1066) 12 Manzikert (1071) 13 Hattin (1187) 14 Liegnitz (1241) 15 Hakata Bay (1281) 16 Bannockburn (1314) 17 Crécy (1346) 18 Ankara (1402) 19 Agincourt (1415) 20 The Fall of Constantinople (1453) 21 Bosworth (1485) Sixteenth Century Introduction 22 Flodden (1513) 23 Tenochtitlan (1521) 24 Pavia (1525) 25 Panipat (1526) 26 Mohács (1526) 27 Lepanto (1571) 28 The Armada (1588) Seventeenth Century Introduction 29 Sekigahara (1600) 30 Breitenfeld (1631) 31 Nördlingen (1634) 32 Shanhaiguan (1644) 33 Naseby (1645) 34 Vienna (1683) Eighteenth Century Introduction 35 Blenheim (1704) 36 Poltava (1709) 37 Belgrade (1717) 38 Rossbach (1757) 39 Plassey (1757) 40 Quebec (1759) 41 Saratoga (1777) 42 Yorktown (1781) 43 Jemappes (1792) Nineteenth Century Introduction 44 Trafalgar (1805) 45 Leipzig (1813) 46 Waterloo (1815) 47 Ayacucho (1824) 48 Mexico City (1847) 49 Inkerman (1854) 50 Antietam (1862) 51 Gettysburg (1863) 52 Sadowa (1866) 53 Omdurman (1898) Modern Times Introduction 54 Tsushima (1905) 55 Tannenberg (1914) 56 Jutland (1916) 57 Verdun (1916) 58 The Western Front (1918) 59 Battle of Britain (1940) 60 Battle for Moscow (1941) 61 Stalingrad (1942-43) 62 Midway (1942) 63 Battle of the Atlantic (1940-43) 64 Battle for Normandy (1944)< br/> 65 Operation Bagration (1944) 66 The American Air Attack on Japan (1945) 67 Huai-Hai (1948-49) 68 Dien Bien Phu (1953-54) 69 The Tet Offensive (1968) 70 The Iraq War (2003) Further Reading Sources of Illustrations Sources of Quotations
£11.69
Transworld Publishers Ltd Debriefing the President
Book SynopsisA riveting, revealing and news-making account of the CIA''s interrogation of Saddam, written by the CIA agent who conducted the questioning. In December 2003, after one of the largest, most aggressive manhunts in history, US military forces captured Iraqi president Saddam Hussein near his hometown of Tikrit. Beset by body-double rumors and false alarms during a nine-month search, the Bush administration needed positive identification of the prisoner before it could make the announcement that would rocket around the world. At the time, John Nixon was a senior CIA leadership analyst who had spent years studying the Iraqi dictator. Called upon to make the official ID, Nixon looked for telltale scars and tribal tattoos and asked Hussein a list of questions only he could answer. The man was indeed Saddam Hussein, but as Nixon learned in the ensuing weeks, both he and America had greatly misunderstood just who Saddam Hussein really was. DTrade ReviewExcellent -- John Simpson * New Statesman *Refreshingly candid… [Mr. Nixon] reveals gobsmacking facts about that deposed Iraqi leader that raise new questions about why the United States bothered to invade Iraq to oust him from power * The New York Times *A damning indictment of the perversion of a major intelligence service by little minds inside and above it -- Michael Burleigh * The Times *Gripping…Nixon’s book, Debriefing the President, gives more ammunition to the skeptics; indeed, some of its contents can only be described as sensational * The New Yorker *The gripping behind-the-scenes story of Saddam Hussein's downfall * Soldier *
£11.69
Transworld Publishers Ltd Chindit
Book SynopsisPart of the SECOND WORLD WAR VOICES series in partnership with the podcast We Have Ways of Making You Talk, presented by comedian Al Murray and bestselling historian James Holland.''Heroic, punishing excursions behind enemy lines, the Chindit expeditions are mythical and controversial in equal measure...Rhodes James takes us right to the heart of them'' Al Murray__________________________________1943 - The fight to retake Burma is about to begin. Major-General Orde Wingate surprises the conquering Japanese Army with a daring raid they had no idea was coming. But this is just the beginning.Next, he devises a campaign of guerrilla operation to hit the invaders where it most hurts. Behind their own lines. Marshalling and training a lethal force of 10,000 men deep in the Burmese jungle, the Chindits are born.Cipher Officer Richard Rhodes James was part of that hidden army and chronicles the story of a band of brothers fi
£10.44
Transworld Publishers Ltd In Harms Way
Book SynopsisOn 30 July 1945 the USS Indianapolis was steaming through the South Pacific, on her way home having delivered the bomb that was to decimate Hiroshima seven days later, when she was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. Of a crew of 1196 men an estimated 300 were killed upon impact; the remaining 900 sailors went into the sea. Undetected for five days, they struggled to stay alive, fighting off sharks, hypothermia and madness. By the time rescue arrived, only 317 men were left alive. Interweaving the stories of some of these survivors (including the ship''s Captain Butler McVay, who would be unjustly court-martialled for the loss of his ship and, twenty years later and tormented by the experience, take his own life), Doug Stanton brings this incredible human drama to life in a narrative that is at once immediate and timeless. The definitive account of a near-forgotten chapter in the history of the last war, In Harm''s Way has become a classic.And, some 72 years laTrade ReviewThe story of the 1945 sinking of the USS Indianapolis ... 1196 men went into the Pacific... their entire ordeal, from the intial fireball to the 1968 suicide of the captian, is spelt out here in vivd, horrific detail. Brilliant stuff. * Later *A thoroughly researched, powerfully written account of a nightmare at sea, one of the most poignant tragedies and injustices of World War II -- Mark Bowden, author of Black Hawk DownSuperb...it's the stuff about the men in the sea that'll make you weep. Four days without water, being picked off one by one by sharks...and no-one in the world even realising they are missing. Gripping * FHM *How could a WWII battleship carrying over 1,000 men be torpedoed by a Japanese submarine and sink, leaving the survivors to bob in the Pacific Ocean at the mercy of elements and predators, without anyone realizing the loss for more than four days? Stanton not only offers a well-researched chronicle of what is widely regarded as the worst naval disaster in U.S. history, but also vividly renders the combatants' hellish ordeal during the sinking, and the ensuing days at sea as well as attempts to cope with the traumatic aftermath . . . absorbing, novelistic . . . illuminating and emotional without being maudlin * Publishers Weekly *
£9.49
Transworld Publishers Ltd The Making Of The British Army
Book SynopsisA professional solder for thirty-five years, Allan Mallinson began writing while still serving. His first book was a history of four regiments of British light dragoons, one of which he commanded. His debut novel was the bestselling A Close Run Thing, the first in an acclaimed series chronicling the life of a fictitious cavalry officer before and after Waterloo (The Tigress of Mysore is the fourteenth in the series). His The Making of the British Army was shortlisted for a number of prizes, while 1914: Fight the Good Fight won the British Army's Book of the Year' Award. Its sequel, Too Important for the Generals, is a provocative look at leadership during the Great War, while Fight to the Finish is a comprehensive history of the First World War, month by month.Allan Mallinson reviews for the Spectator and the TLS and also writes for The Times. He lives on Salisbury Plain.Trade ReviewFascinating... clear and concise... important. It is hard to see this book being bettered in the near future -- Simon Heffer * DAILY TELEGRAPH *I learned a lot -- Jeremy Paxman * OBSERVER *This is no mere paperback edition of Mallinson's acclaimed 2009 hardback. He presents a revised and updated version that no self-respecting defense commentator can risk being without * THE TIMES *A compelling history of the British Army -- Emmanuelle Smith * FT *Mallinson is surely right to stress the one enduring quality of the British Army: 'operational resilience' -- Saul David * SPECTATOR *
£13.49
Faber & Faber When God Made Hell The British Invasion of
Book SynopsisSince 2003, Iraq has rarely left the headlines. But less discussed is the fact that Iraq as we know it was created by the British, in one of the most dramatic interventions in recent history. A cautious strategic invasion by British forces led - within seven years - to imperial expansion on a dizzying scale, with fateful consequences for the Middle East and the world. In When God Made Hell, Charles Townshend charts Britain''s path from one of its worst military disasters to extraordinary success with largely unintended consequences, through overconfidence, incompetence and dangerously vague policy. With monumental research and exceptionally vivid accounts of on-the-ground warfare, this a truly gripping account of the Mesopotamia campaign, and its place in the wider political and international context. For anyone seeking to understand the roots of British involvement in Iraq, it is essential reading.
£13.49
The History Press Ltd Freedom Trails
Book SynopsisEx-RAF officer and researcher for the RAF Escaping Society, Terry Treadwell, tells the incredible tales of some of the lesser known attempts to escape POW camps during the Second World War.
£17.09
The History Press Ltd HM Naval Base Clyde
Book SynopsisThe Clyde submarine base was officially commissioned in 1967. The Faslane site had originally been used as a military port during the Second World War and was built and manned by the army. HMS Adamant, the Depot ship of the 3rd Submarine Squadron, first anchored in Faslane Bay in 1957, and over the years the base has increased in size to accommodate the growing sophistication of the squadron submarines and the increasing number of hulls. This book traces the development of the base in unsurpassed pictorial detail, from its initial use by the army to October 1996, when the base became HM Naval Base Clyde. Chronicling the histories of the two submarine squadrons based at Faslane, the 3rd and 10th Squadrons, this collection is sure to provoke nostalgia among submariners and personnel who have served at the base, while providing a fascinating insight for those not so familiar with its story.
£12.34
Anness Publishing World War II Complete Illustrated History of An
Book SynopsisA detailed and insightful chronological study of the war, including the decisive encounters, profiles of important political and military figures, as well as the experiences of those who lived through it.
£13.50
New Directions Publishing Corporation Early Light
Book SynopsisEarly Light gathers three tales by Osamu Dazai, author of the wildly popular No Longer HumanTrade Review"I like Dazai a lot." -- Wong Kar-Wai"Dazai offers something permanent and beautiful." -- The New York Times Book Review"It is here that themes explored throughout the series – identity’s abnegation under the weight of art and history, the attendant wish for an alternative that fails to arrive – appear in their most unvarnished form." -- J.W. McCormack - The New Left Review"[An] impressive demonstration of Dazai’s psychological insight." -- Andrew Martin - The New York Times
£12.99
Stackpole Books The Psycho Boys
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£17.99
Globe Pequot Dive Bomber
Book Synopsis Details on planes like the German Stuka, the American Dauntless, the Japanese Aichi D3A1 Val, the Soviet PE-2, and numerous others Riveting accounts of aerial combat Includes maps, diagrams, tables, and photos For many, it is a dive bomber that conjures the most dramatic, quintessential image of World War II: a screaming German Stuka hurtling toward the ground as part of the frightening blitzkrieg that opened the war. In this illustrated history of Allied and Axis dive bombers, Peter C. Smith traces these formidable aircraft from the earliest experiment, through the planes'' first operation, to their emergence as devastatingly effective tools of aerial warfare in World War II.
£18.04
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Tour of the Arnhem Battlefields
Book SynopsisAlthough the Battle of Arnhem was fought over sixty years ago. It still evokes such interest that it would seem to rank with the great victories of Agincourt, Trafalgar, Waterloo and the Battle of Britain, all of which proved to be turning points in the history of our nation. Arnhem was not a victory, but its outcome may have had results equally vital to the more recent history of the world. To many people the Battle of Arnhem was the Battle of Arnhem Bridge, which has now passed into history as The Bridge Too Far. This is understandable
£12.34
Halsgrove European Stamp Issue and the Aftermath of the
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£22.49
Panzerwrecks Limited Panzerwrecks X
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£15.29
Scratching Shed Publishing Ltd The Greatest Sacrifice
Book SynopsisThey were among the sporting elite of 1914, the stars of the Northern Union. Yet despite their heroic status in what was soon to become known as rugby league, these warriors of the playing field were willing to sacrifice their careers - and then lives - on the WW1 killing fields, for King and Country.Trade Review"Timely tales of rugby league gallantry" - Chris Irvine, The Sunday Times
£14.24
Headline Publishing Group The Air Raid Book Club
Book Synopsis''Touching and heartwarming . . . get those tissues ready'' - Jill Mansell ''A warm and tender tale about the power of books'' - Ruth Hogan As the bombs began to fall, the book club kept their hopes alive...London, 1938. Bookseller Gertie Bingham is facing difficult times, having just lost her beloved husband, Harry, and with a lingering sadness at never having been able to have a child of her own. Struggling to face running the bookshop she and Harry opened together, Gertie is preparing to sell up and move away when she is asked if she would be willing to take in a young Jewish refugee from Germany. Gertie is unsure and when sullen teenager Hedy Fischer arrives, Gertie fears she has nothing left to give the troubled girl. But when the German bombers come and the lights go out over London, Gertie and Hedy realise that joining forces will make them stronger, and that books have the power to bring young and old together and unite a community in need in its darkest hour...Readers adore The Air Raid Book Club:''I loved this . . . a sweet and nourishing ode to books that historical fiction fans will love'' - Kate Thompson ''A charming, uplifting story of resourceful women and the healing power of books'' - Clare Chambers''Tender, touching and utterly heart-warming'' - Sarah Steele''A wonderful story of strong female friendship and found family . . . I absolutely adored it'' - ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Real reader review''Beautiful and moving in a way that we need right now'' - ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Real reader review''A beautiful depiction of a community striving to survive together'' - ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Real reader review''A gentle, heartwarming read'' - ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Real reader reviewTrade ReviewA warm and tender tale about the power and healing of friendship and community and the magic of books . . . Annie writes her characters with humanity, humour and respect and their stories will stay with me for a very long time. A wonderful, heart-warming read -- Ruth HoganFull of heart . . . Annie Lyons has cleverly woven the horror and heartbreak of war with the resilience of human nature, the strength of love, and the importance of friends . . . satisfying, funny, uplifting . . . A fabulous story, perfect for fans of Lissa Evans and AJ Pearce. I adored it. -- Kerry BarrettAnnie Lyons has the rare gift of bringing an unfamiliar world alive in such a way that the reader drops right into the heart of the action . . . This is a book to be read and re-read - each time there will be something new to discover . . . a triumph -- Celia AndersonIf you're looking for a warm and nostalgic read, The Air Raid Book Club will definitely be your cup of tea. This story of love, bravery and found family is heart-wrenching and utterly charming. I sobbed my way through the final chapters. -- Fiona LucasThis story of grief, community, friendship and the restorative power of books, is charming, witty and thoroughly absorbing from first page to last. Gertie is the very best of heroines: feisty and compassionate. I adored following her and Lyons' cast of colourfully drawn characters through the desperate landscape of the Second World War to the swooping joy of an ending which left tears rolling down my face. This book is exactly what we need right now to remind us that, with kindness, love and compassion for our fellow man, there is always light beyond the darkness -- Lisa TimoneyI devoured it . . . and was caught up in the world of Gertie and Hedy and the Book Club in WW2, turning the pages to find out more . . . a beautifully written story and a book full of heart. -- Beezy MarshA tender, touching and utterly heart-warming tale, set against the horrors of the Blitz. Readers will adore Gertie and Hedy -- Sarah SteeleA charming, uplifting story of resourceful women and the healing power of books -- Clare Chambers, bestselling author of Small PleasuresImmersive and thought-provoking . . . Through the agony of grief and the darkness of war, Annie weaves persistent hope . . . a triumphant success! -- Laura CarlinI loved this . . . a sweet and nourishing ode to books that historical fiction fans will love -- Kate ThompsonThe Air Raid Book Club is a total gem of a book - it completely swept me away -- Miranda DickinsonI loved The Air Raid Book Club . . . Gertie and Hedy are wonderful characters and their intertwined stories are just so touching and heartwarming. What a beautiful novel this is. And as for that ending . . . get those tissues ready -- Jill Mansell
£17.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Hitlers Heroes During the Advance to Stalingrad
Book SynopsisThis, the second book by Jeremy Dixon on the subject, is a study of those German officers who were promoted to the rank of general and who were also awarded the Knight's Cross during the period of the fighting in Russia between Hitler's assault upon the Soviet Union, Operation Barbarossa, and the complete destruction of the German 6th Army at Stalingrad. The Germans lost 500,000 soldiers during the Stalingrad campaign, some 91,000 of whom were taken prisoner a number which included 2,000 officers, twenty-three generals and one Generalfeldmarschall, Friedrich Paulus. There were 149 officers who later held the rank of general who were awarded the Knight's Cross for their actions on the Eastern Front between 6 December 1941 and 2 February 1943. One such recipient was Maximilian Fretter-Pico, who, as Generalmajor and Commander of the 97th Infantry Division, was awarded the Knight's Cross on 26 December 1941. He was later promoted to Generalleutnant and in June 1942 was Commander of the
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Churchills Enemies 1927 1940
Book SynopsisRemarkably ambitious in scope, Harte manages to knit together a social and cultural history of these years, including how Churchill both influenced the world and was defined by the issues of the day. Harte wants to show when and where the scrawny little twenty-year-old second lieutenant became a global leader.' The question is not a new one, but it never fails to fascinate.- **International Churchill Society**Churchill's Enemies describes Winston Churchill's main challenges when he was out of office from 1929-1939. They were the rise to dictatorship of Benito Mussolini in Italy and the adaptation of his fascist system by the Nazi Party in Germany. It also explains the relevance of Hitler's collaboration with the Mufti of Jerusalem in the Middle East, who spread Nazi ideology in Jerusalem, Gaza, and Lebanon - and how, step by step, the two European dictators destroyed democracy. This account of the first half of Winston Churchill's life should help readers to understand how today's world crisis began. The Cairo Conference was the West's first attempt to bring the Arab world into the twentieth century by solving the Middle East crisis in 1921. It also shows how Churchill changed from an ambitious young politician to an elder statesman, as a consequence of his experiences in the changing world with all its complexities, paradoxes and ambiguities - and how his decisions still impact world politics today. The major menaces with which he was confronted throughout his political career were the chaos caused by Islamist terrorists in the Middle East from 1918 and the spread of communism and fascism when he was Minister for War and then Colonial Secretary. The author described the first two threats in his previous book, Churchill's Challenges.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Portugal 1808 Wellingtons First Peninsular
Book SynopsisWhen Napoleon overreached himself by usurping the Burbon throne of Spain in early 1808, the resulting Spanish resentment and the brutal suppression of the Dos di Mayo Rebellion in Madrid turned Spain, a long-term enemy of Britain, into an ally. Sir Arthur Wellesley's expedition to South America was promptly cancelled and redirected to the Peninsular. Eventually landing in Portugal at the mouth of the Rio Mondego, the army found itself with little transport, but by keeping close to the coast and with logistical support from the Royal Navy, Wellesley set off south to confront Marshal Junot and liberate Lisbon. The first clash of arms was at Obidos and, days later, at the Combat of Roliça, Wellesley achieved his first victory in battle against the willey General Delaborde. With word that reinforcements were expected to arrive at Maceira Bay, the army was deployed at Vimiero to protect their landing. Meanwhile, Junot had assembled his army and decided to attack at Vimiero. In a short b
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Hitlers New Command Structure and the Road to
Book SynopsisAs the war progressed Hitler did not need obedient bureaucrats like Keitel, failures like Paulus and was paranoid about having military leaders who were loyal. The three field marshals in this book were amongst the best. Field Marshal Kesselring gained a reputation in Italy as an expert in defence, and his Allied code name was The Emperor. Kesselring was diplomatic, charming, known as Smiling Albert, but convicted as a war criminal which may not have happened had it not been for the bitter partisan war. Field Marshal Rommel is surrounded by myths which need disentangling. He possessed exceptional qualities of command and leadership, with personal courage and determination, but had problems caused by two major reasons. The first was his relentless ambition, which prevented him from self-criticism and self-evaluation. The second was his meteoric rise in command, and like many other commanders driven by ambition. Field Marshal Model when on the battlefield led his men so well it is su
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Iwo Jima The Marine Corps Epic Victory
Book SynopsisThe campaign for Iwo Jima (Operation Detachment) from 19 February26 March 1945 pitted the USMC Fifth Amphibious Corps (VAC) and the USN's Fifth Fleet against the IJA 109th Division and assorted IJN ground troops under the command of Lieutenant General Tadamichi Kuribayashi. After neutralizing Japanese air assets on Iwo Jima, the objective was to seize Iwo Jima's two completed airfields in the southern and central sectors and make them operational after the heavy pre- and post-invasion aerial, naval and Marine artillery bombardment. USAAF 7th Fighter Command would then have this Volcano Island as a base from which to escort the four-engine B-29 heavy bombers on their Japanese Home Islands' raids from their Mariana Islands bases and to provide emergency airfields for battle-damaged or low-on-fuel Superfortresses on their return flight that otherwise would have crashed in the sea. The combined American force numbered over 100,000 troops against 20,933 Japanese soldiers and sailors. Kuribayashi's defences were so well fortified with caves, tunnels and daunting terrain that the VAC lost 6,821 KIA and 19,217 wounded compared to approximately 18,000 Japanese troops KIA or MIA with only 216 prisoners taken. In a mopping up' phase to clear the remaining Japanese hidden in the island's caves, the Army's 147th IR, 37th Division captured an additional 867 prisoners. This epic USMC campaign resulted in an unprecedented ratio of three American casualties for every two Japanese soldiers. In all, 2,251 emergency B-29 landings were made saving the lives of almost 25,000 aircrew members. The flagraisings atop Mount Suribachi on 23 February 1945 galvanized American morale at home.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd At the Emperors Pleasure
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£23.99
Pen & Sword Books Ltd First Hand Accounts From the Ukrainian Frontline
Book SynopsisThe stories of Ukrainians who stood up to defend their country during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Some of the storytellers had never held a weapon before the full-scale invasion, while for others it was a profession. These stories are not just about war, but about who they are besides being ordinary people, students, workers, priests, teachers and doctors, professors, managers, actors, artists and musicians, pensioners, parents, and children, and so on. In addition to the reconstruction of events, here is also the comprehension of events by the people who are active creators of the history. They talk about the biggest terrorist attacks not only as military men, but also as ordinary people with their own experiences. The narrators talk about different periods of the war in different cities and have different views of what is happening. Their views combine to create a picture of the war's world and the image of a human who stood up to defend his country during the bloodiest war
£18.70
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Hitlers Holocaust in the Ukraine 19411944
£13.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Royal Marines Musicians at War
Book SynopsisThe peerless musicians of the Royal Marines Band Service are no strangers to war, as the Author, Brian Short, himself a musician, reminds us in his book. Brian Short has an engaging style, and sense of humour, combined with a shrewd assessment of his fellow human beings. His description of his training and early years in the Band Service provide a vivid and necessary prelude to what follows, setting the scene and introducing the reader to aspects of life in the Royal Marines Band Service and the Band's experiences at war. From time to time the future existence of Royal Marines Bands is questioned by politicians. They should read this book; perhaps they will come to appreciate what a splendid contribution the Royal Marines Band Service has made to our country, by land and sea, and will continue to do so. **-Major General Julian Thompson Royal Marines**The Royal Marines Band Service are well known for their professional musical performances around the world and at all Royal and major h
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd An IRA Revolutionary at War
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£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Spy Who Helped the Soviets Win Stalingrad and
Book SynopsisIn his short life, Liverpool-born Alexander Foote went from being a volunteer in the International Brigade in Spain to becoming an agent of Soviet military intelligence in Switzerland. Pretending to his friends that he was a dim-witted Englishman with private means, Foote became the key telegraphist of the so-called Red Three' network of radio stations, communicating top secret German intelligence to the USSR from under the noses of the Swiss authorities. The information from Foote's Morse key originated from sources in Germany and came to Foote via the enigmatic figure of Rudolph Rossler, known as Agent Lucy. Where he obtained the information from is a mystery that has never been solved. During the battles of Stalingrad and Kursk, Soviet generals came to depend on the information from Foote's transmitter and those of his comrades. On his release from a ten-month remand in a Swiss gaol on an espionage charge, Foote absconded to Paris in 1944 before being invited for debriefing in Mos
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd From Norway to Burma
Book SynopsisFrom 1939 to 1945, units of The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry were involved in some of the fiercest battles of the Second World War. From the snowy wastes of Scandinavia to the deserts of North Africa, and from the mountains of Italy to the steaming jungles of Asia, the men of the KOYLI fought against the forces of all three of the dictatorships that came so close to conquering the world. Before taking part in the fighting, three battalions of KOYLI had left the regiment to become 53rd, 57th, and 94th Anti-Aircraft Regiments within the Royal Artillery, and 149th Armoured Regiment of the Royal Armoured Corps. Thus, the KOYLI comprised five infantry battalions during the period of the world conflict. They were ordinary men from the quiet towns and villages of Yorkshire, who suddenly found themselves thrown into a deadly fight against the mightiest military machine the world had ever seen, and their story is one of incredible hardship, bravery, and sacrifice in some of the most daunting and inhospitable places on Earth. Illustrated throughout with over 100 photographs and maps, this new history offers a unique and detailed look at one of the Second World War's most extraordinary regiments.
£31.88
Pen & Sword Books Ltd On Afghanistans Plains
Book SynopsisOn Afghanistan's Plains tells the story of four gruelling tours of duty during Operation Herrick, the codename under which British operations in Afghanistan were conducted from 2002 until 2014 when the mission changed from direct combat with the Taliban to oneof mentoring Afghan forces. Allan Mallinson, military historian and former Light Dragoons officer, explains Operation Herrick's complex historical and strategic background and describes the evolving tactical thinking in this multi-national, NATO-led campaign. Almost from the start, The Light Dragoons, a small, tight-knit, family regiment recruiting in Yorkshire and the north-east of England, were in action in Helmand Province, the principal British area of operations. As an armoured reconnaissance regiment they played a leading role in Operation Panther's Claw, the month-long battle in the searing summer heat of 2012, which saw much hard fighting and many casualties, and proved to be a turning point in the campaign. On Afghanistan's Plains describes what it was like to be in Helmand on foot or cooped-up in an armoured vehicle fighting the Taliban. NATO's commander-in-chief in Afghanistan in later years, US General Stanley McChrystal, paid The Light Dragoons the greatest compliment: When I looked into their eyes, which were bloodshot with fatigue, I remember the extraordinary professionalism, competence and the sheer courage of those young men.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Hitlers Order Police 19361942
Book SynopsisThe Ordnungspolizei or Order Police was one of the main apparatus for the security of Nazi Germany. During the 1930s, Heinrich Himmler, Head of the SS, along with the Commander-in-Chief of the Order Police, Kurt Daluege, totally reconstructed the police force of the Weimar Republic into a number of strong militarized formations. Those that served in this new police force were more than ready to carry out any order that the Nazi's required of them including persecution of Jews and anyone deemed inferior to the regime. In fact, in 1938, police units participated in the annexation of Austria and the occupation of Czechoslovakia. A year later when Germany invaded Poland, the role of the police changed forever. Police units were deployed alongside the German military including the special murder squads of the Einsatzgruppen. In Poland, Order Police were transformed into militarized police battalions and participated in combat operations which included carrying out security duties behind enemy lines. These duties were often sinister and alongside some Wehrmacht, Waffen-SS and Einsatzgruppen, the police battalions engaged in the systematic murder and annihilation of Poles and Jews. Following the conquest of Poland the Nazi leadership created a massive recruitment drive conscripting more than 95,000 men in their thirties. Another 26,000 younger men were also recruited and indoctrinated into Nazi ideology and trained for combat.These new recruits would now take part not only in military operations but would be an integral part of the Holocaust, responsible for mass murders and guarding some of the Jewish ghettos. They would also assist in the destruction of the ghettos and helping in the transport of Jews to concentration camps. During the summer of 1941 these Police units were involved in mass killings of Babi Yar, Rumbula and Stanislaviv. Yet after the war, many of the Order Policemen claimed never to have been involved in Nazi crimes.
£15.29
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Secret War Between Hitler and Stalin
Book SynopsisThe intelligence war between Germany and the Soviet Union, ignited by Operation Barbarossa on 22 June 1941, was fiercely contested over four years. Neither side was prepared for the scale of the conflict, and both quickly developed methods to assess and counter each other's military intentions. This book explores the intelligence strategies of Stalin's SMERSH and Hitler's Abwehr. SMERSH coordinated three independent counter-intelligence agencies within the Red Army, while the Abwehr was Germany's military-intelligence service. Focusing on key battles like Stalingrad and Kursk, the book examines how both sides competed for intelligence advantage. The Soviets excelled in strategic deception, manipulating German decision-making. Early in the war, they used counterintelligence to deceive the Germans, notably during their surprise counteroffensive at Moscow in December 1941 and their hidden tank formations in 1942. German intelligence chief Gehlen underestimated Soviet deception and overestimated German superiority, which hindered effective analysis. Meanwhile, the Soviets deployed agents behind German lines and employed terror tactics to destroy German operations. The pivotal battle of Stalingrad revealed the Germans' intelligence failures, and their subsequent losses marked a turning point. By the war's end, Soviet counterintelligence had become a critical weapon, reshaping the intelligence landscape and significantly impacting the outcome of the war.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Serving with Pride
Book SynopsisIn January 2000, the ban on LGBTQ servicemen and women being in the British Armed Forces was finally lifted after a fierce battle at the European Court of Human Rights, by veterans who won freedoms for others that they were themselves denied.. To mark the event's 25th anniversary, this book shares the stories of LGBTQ Armed Forces veterans who have lived remarkable lives. Their stories are profoundly moving testaments to their loyalty, their courage on the battlefield, and their unswerving sense of right and wrong.This book celebrates the lives of servicemen and women who have stood tall and taken their place with pride and dignity in the fighting units of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Air Force and the British Army. These are inspiring stories of people who created amazing careers in their service in the United Kingdom''s Armed Forces, but so many of these careers would ultimately fall victim to the ''gay ban''.
£14.24
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Guadalcanal
£16.14
Pen & Sword Books Ltd With the Commandos
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Imperial General
Book SynopsisPetilius Cerealis is one of the few Imperial Roman officers, below the level of Emperor, whose career it is possible to follow in sufficient detail to write a coherent biography. Fortunately his career was a remarkably eventful and colourful one. With a knack for being caught up in big events and emerging unscathed despite some hairy adventures (and scandal, usually involving some local wench) he appears to have been a Roman version of Blackadder and Flashman combined.Cerealis was in Britain when Boudicca''s revolt erupted (60 or 61 AD) and marched to confront her. He lost most of his force but narrowly escaped with his own skin intact. In 69 AD, the infamously tumultuous '' year of the four emperors'', he was in Rome, the seat of conspiracy. When his uncle, none other than Vespasian, decided to make his own bid for the imperial purple (he was to become the fourth emperor that year), Cerealis'' life was at risk of being killed as a traitor and had to escape from the city to join his uncle who was marching to force his way in. A short while later he was commanding a force on the Rhine when the Batavian mutiny broke out. This time he only escaped death because he was in bed with a local girl rather than in his own tent. And so it goes on''Imperial General is both a fascinating insight into the life of an imperial Roman officer during the period of the Principate, and a rollicking good tale told in Philip Matyszak''s trademark lively style.
£24.00
Cambridge University Press Dear John
Book SynopsisAre ''Dear John'' letters lethal weapons in the hands of men at war? Many US officers, servicemen, veterans, and civilians would say yes. Drawing on personal letters, oral histories, and psychiatric reports, as well as popular music and movies, Susan L. Carruthers shows how the armed forces and civilian society have attempted to weaponize romantic love in pursuit of martial ends, from World War II to today. Yet efforts to discipline feeling have frequently failed. And women have often borne the blame. This sweeping history of emotional life in wartime explores the interplay between letter-writing and storytelling, breakups and breakdowns, and between imploded intimacy and boosted camaraderie. Incorporating vivid personal experiences in lively and engaging prose variously tragic, comic, and everything in between this compelling study will change the way we think about wartime relationships.Trade Review'Susan L. Carruthers is an eloquent storyteller. She exposes not only the poignancy of love in times of war, but also how perceptions of girlfriends and wives as 'flight risks' become powerful stimuli to male solidarity. A captivating history.' Joanna Bourke, author of War and Art: A Visual History of Modern Conflict'This fast-moving journey through a century of soldiers' heartbreak and rage at being dumped by their sweethearts reveals the psychological distance between the home front and the war theater, but even more tellingly illuminates the eternal war between men and women.' Nancy F. Cott, author of Fighting Words: The Brave American Journalists Who Brought the World Home between the Wars'Whether distraught, amused, or enraged, jilted GIs have long bonded as victims of betrayal. Susan L. Carruthers's marvellously written new book not only explores the origin and evolution of the 'Dear John' letter, but illuminates the misogyny that often underlies this military brotherhood, the alleged correlation with suicide, and the impact on the writers of these infamous epistles.' Brian McAllister Linn, author of Elvis's Army: Cold War GIs and the Atomic Battlefield'Dear John is, dare I say, a pleasure to read, in addition to being incisive regarding the gendering and biases built around the mythopoeia of the epistolary breakup. Carruthers's multidimensional interrogation of the wartime brushoff encompasses fictions, reality, sexual orientation, POWs, social media, and all manner of telling the loved one So long, see you never. This learned and relevant treatment is a unique and deeply researched addition to the literature of broken hearts.' Anthony Swofford, author of Jarhead: A Marine's Chronicle of the Gulf War and Other Battles'… an eye-opening study of wartime romances and breakups.' Publishers Weekly'Carruthers makes a convincing case that the Dear John letter has helped make women, not war, the culprit for love's breakdown under pressure.' Charlotte Gray, The Wall Street Journal'Her account offers insights into a broader entanglement, involving the militarism that shores up modern nationhood; the emotional and sexual ties that sustain and can destroy men in the military; and the women on whom male soldiers have poured hatred as well as adoration.' Julia Laite, London Review of BooksTable of ContentsIntroduction: Picking up the pieces; 1. The marital and the martial; 2. Rules of engagement, or 'write right!'; 3. Technologies of proximity; 4. 'That's all she wrote': Telling Dear John stories; 5. 'The modern Penelope': Aanalyzing the waiting wife; 6. Emotional injury: Causes and consequences; 7. Severed ties and suicide; Conclusion.
£18.75
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Holocaust Representations in History
Book SynopsisHow the Holocaust is depicted and memorialized is key to our understanding of the atrocity and its impact. Through 18 case studies dating from the immediate aftermath of the genocide to the present day, Holocaust Representations in History explores this in detail.Daniel H. Magilow and Lisa Silverman examine film, drama, literature, photography, visual art, television, graphic novels, memorials, and video games as they discuss the major themes and issues that underpin the chronicling of the Holocaust. Each chapter is focused on a critical debate or question in Holocaust history; the case studies range from well-known, commercially successful works about the Holocaust to controversial examples which have drawn accusations of profaning the memory of the genocide. This 2nd edition adds to the mosaic of representation, with new chapters analysing poetry in the wake of the Holocaust and video games from the here and now.This unique volume provides an unmatched survey of key and controTrade ReviewIn engaging prose, Magilow and Silverman show that influential works on the Holocaust were shaped by the historical moment in which they were produced. Their lesson is an important one: what we know of this horrific event is mediated by present concerns and so evolves with time and, once taken to heart, you’ll never read these canonical and controversial texts the same way. * Lisa Leff, Professor of History, American University, USA *This book is an excellent interdisciplinary statement on the narrative challenges of the Holocaust to art, film, literature and memorialisation. A must-use text of close readings for teachers and students alike. * Simone Gigliotti, Senior Lecturer in Holocaust Studies, Royal Holloway University of London, UK *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgements Preface to the 2nd Edition Introduction Part I - The 1940s and 1950s 1. The Boy in the Warsaw Ghetto (Photograph, 1943): What do Iconic Photographs tell us about the Holocaust? 2. Nazi Concentration Camps (Documentary Film, 1945): Can the Holocaust be Adequately Represented on Film? 3. Death Fugue (Poem, 1948): What is the Relationship between the Holocaust and Language? 4. Yizker-bukh Chelm (Memorial Book, 1954): How did the Jews Talk about the Holocaust in its Aftermath? 5. The Diary of Anne Frank (Drama, 1955): What is the Americanization of the Holocaust? 6. Night (Memoir, 1958): What Does it Mean to be a Holocaust Survivor? Part II - The 1960s and 1970s 7. Eichmann in Jerusalem (Magazine Reports, 1963): What Roles do Trials Play in how we Remember the Holocaust? 8. The Deputy (Drama, 1963): What Role did the Catholic Church play in the Holocaust? 9. The Night Porter (Film, 1974): What is the Ongoing Appeal of the Holocaust and Nazism? 10. Holocaust: The Story of the Family Weiss (Television, 1978): Do Representations for Mass Audiences Trivialise the Holocaust? Part III - The 1980s and 1990s 11. Shoah (Film, 1985): What is the Role of Witness Testimony in Representations of the Holocaust? 12. Maus (Graphic Novel, 1991): How is the Memory of the Holocaust Transmitted across Generations? 13. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (Museum, 1993): How do Countries outside Germany Commemorate the Holocaust? 14. Fragments: Memories of a Wartime Childhood (Fiction, 1996): What Does it Mean to Lie about the Holocaust? Part IV - The 2000s until Today 15. The Children's Holocaust Memorial and Paper Clip Project (Memorial, 2001): How is the Holocaust Used to Teach about Diversity? 16. Mirroring Evil: Nazi Imagery / Recent Art (Visual Art, 2002): Has the Memory of the Holocaust become too Commercial? 17. Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (Memorial, 2005): Is there an End to Holocaust Memory? 18. Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus (Video Game, 2017): What role do Games play in Holocaust Representation? Notes Further Reading Index
£23.74
Amberley Publishing Wellingtons American General
Book SynopsisBased on the journals of a New Yorker who would become one of Wellingtonâs senior generals, the story of a remarkable military career from The American War of Independence to the Peninsula, Tobago and Canada.
£17.00
Amberley Publishing French Military Dinky Toys
Book SynopsisA terrific collection of images highlighting some of the most interesting examples of French-made military Dinky toys.Trade Review'This useful collector's guide lists and illustrates each of the French-produced military Dinky Toys together with British military Dinky Toys issues in France, rounded off with some extracts from French Dinky Toys catalogues.' -- Best of British Magazine, June 2023'For the hard-core collector who’s keen to understand the full scope and scale of the Dinky Toys production in France, this book provides a truly invaluable source of reference. It should appeal equally to those of us who still get a warm and fuzzy feeling reminiscing about the toys that defined our childhood.' -- Toy Soldier Collector, September 2023
£14.39
Amberley Publishing Barbarossa Through German Eyes
Book SynopsisNew in paperback - The story of the worldâs largest ever invasion through the voices of the men â and women â who witnessed it first-hand.Trade Review‘Must be read by anyone who wants to understand Hitler’s most disastrous campaign' -- Colonel Richard Kemp, former infantry commander
£10.44
Amberley Publishing Battlefield Trails
£15.29
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Escaping Stalag Luft III
Book SynopsisStalag Luft lll was where Germany sent all its habitual Allied escapers, and the first British and Commonwealth POWs arrived there on 11 April 1942. The following year, on 29 October, what became known as The Wooden Horse Escape took place the name deriving from the use of a gymnastic vaulting horse to cover the fact that a tunnel was being dug underneath. The escape was devised by Flight Lieutenant Eric Williams and Lieutenant Richard Michael Codner. Joined by Pilot Officer Oliver Philpot, all three men escaped and made it safely back to England. The escape inspired others and, five months later, on the evening of 24/25 March 1944, what became known as the Great Escape took place. The intention was to break out more than 200 British and Allied POWs, but a combination of tunnel collapses, a nearby Allied air raid and the discovery of the tunnel exit meant only 76 escapees made it out. Only 3 made it back to the UK, with 73 being recaptured and 50 of those being murdered by the Gestapo on Hitler's orders. Both escapes were made famous first by books and then even more famous by their respective films, and although not entirely accurate, each ensured that the stories told would reach a worldwide audience.
£19.80
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Burma Victory 19441945
Book SynopsisCovers operations by the British multinational 14th Army and also the American-Sino troops of General Stilwell and Chiang Kai-Shek.
£15.29
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Pearl Harbors Revenge
Book SynopsisExplores the events of 7 December 1941, and how the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor affected the US Navy's battleships Bay in 1945.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Tiger I German Army Heavy Tank
Book SynopsisIn the seventh and final book on the Tiger in this series Dennis Oliver examines the first tanks that left the production line to go into service on the Eastern Front in an effort to break the Russian defences around Leningrad.
£15.29
