Military History Books

Book Synopsis____________________As vivid and compelling as the best adventure thriller, and a fitting tribute to a small band of men who became heroes' ANDY MCNAB Gripping, revealing and extraordinarily well-researched, this is a riveting new account of a little known but crucial war' SIR RANULPH FIENNES____________________Dawn. 19 July 1972. A force of nearly three hundred heavily armed, well-trained guerrillas launches a surprise attack on the small fishing village of Mirbat. All that stands in their way is a troop of just nine SAS, aided only by an elite band of fighter pilots overhead.Two years earlier a Communist rebellion had threatened the Arabian Peninsula, in the strategically critical Sultanate of Oman. Following a covert intelligence mission, 22 SAS deployed their largest ever assault force against the rebels.But this was to be a bitter and hard-fought campaign culminating the BattlTrade ReviewCatapulting us from the cockpits of heavily armed, low-level attack jets to the beating heart of elite Special Forces soldiers under siege, Storm Front tells this epic story as only the author of Vulcan 607 can. It's as vivid and compelling as the best adventure thriller, and a fitting tribute to a small band of men who became heroes -- Andy McNabGripping, revealing and extraordinarily well-researched, Storm Front is a riveting new account of a little known, but crucial war. Combining page-turning military action in the air and on the ground with a clear-sighted understanding of the big picture it brings to life the campaign in Oman more vividly than any other book I've read -- Sir Ranulph FiennesThe best account I've ever read of this legendary battle. Takes you right to the heart of the action -- Sgt Dan Mills, author of "Sniper One"This is a rare insight into the battle that defined the modern SAS. Storm Front is the best book you will read this year -- Tim CollinsI loved Storm Front. A period of history - and more particularly a single shining moment - that has been obscured by myth and legend. Here is the truth of it all at last in all its spine-tingling, spine-straightening glory -- Neil Oliver

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Book SynopsisAdmiral of the Fleet Lord ''Jacky'' Fisher (1841-1920) was one of the greatest naval reformers in history. He was also a colossal figure to contemporaries, both loved and loathed, a man of exceptional charm, presence and charisma. Since the late 1940s, Jan Morris has been haunted by his face - with its startling combination of ''the suave, the sneering and the self-amused.'' This evocation is both biography and a love letter, a perfect expression of her passionate interest in mavericks and outsiders, in travel, ships and the glorious pageantry of the British Empire in its prime.

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Book SynopsisPacific Profiles Volume 10 covers the P-47D Thunderbolt which flew combat missions in the New Guinea theatre until mid-1945, serving with a total of eleven Fifth Air Force USAAF combat squadrons, Fifth Fighter Command and the Combat Replacement Training Center.Trade ReviewThe research behind these profiles is a long-time hobby for the author and I think this is another good reference in this Pacific Profiles book series. * Military Model Scene *Table of ContentsContents About the Author Introduction Glossary and Abbreviations Chapter 1 – Markings and Technical Notes Chapter 2 – 9th Fighter Squadron “Flying Knights” Chapter 3 – 36th Fighter Squadron “Flying Fiends” Chapter 4 – 39th Fighter Squadron Chapter 5 – 40th Fighter Squadron “‘Fightin’ Red Devils” Chapter 6 – 41st Fighter Squadron “Flying Buzzsaws” Chapter 7 – 69th Fighter Squadron “The Fightin’ 69th” Chapter 8 – 310th Fighter Squadron Chapter 9 – 311th Fighter Squadron Chapter 10 – 340th Fighter Squadron “The Minute Men” Chapter 11 – 341st Fighter Squadron “The Black Jacks” Chapter 12 – 342nd Fighter Squadron “The Scourgers” Chapter 13 – Fifth Fighter Command Headquarters Chapter 14 – Combat Replacement Training Center Sources & Acknowledgments Index of Names

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Book SynopsisThe Second World War was, for Britain, a ''total war''; no section of society remained untouched by military conscription, air raids, the shipping crisis and the war economy. In this comprehensive and engrossing narrative Angus Calder presents not only the great events and leading figures but also the oddities and banalities of daily life on the Home Front, and in particular the parts played by ordinary people: air raid wardens and Home Guards, factory workers and farmers, housewives and pacifists. Above all this revisionist and important work reveals how, in those six years, the British people came closer to discarding their social conventions than at any time since Cromwell''s republic.Winner of the John Llewellyn Rhys prize in 1970, The People's War draws on oral testimony and a mass of neglected social documentation to question the popularised image of national unity in the fight for victory.Trade ReviewFull of vivid anecdote … and of epigrammatic flair … it is a dense, detailed, moving chronicle. -- Richard Eyre * Independent on Sunday *A tour de force of historical reconstruction * Sunday Times *The People's War is more than a salutary iconoclastic analysis of its period and more than an immensely fastidious social history. It is full of vivid anecdote...and of epigrammatic flair... I've read Angus Calder's book several times and passed it on to friends. I've commissioned and directed several plays and films which have been inspired by it. It is a dense, detailed, moving chronicle that I am still unable to read without feeling both nostalgia and pain for the unfulfilled promise of the world I was born into -- Richard Eyre * Independent on Sunday *No verdict can I pronounce on The People's War other than, read it -- Elizabeth Bowen * Spectator *He has provided an engrossing, beautifully organized book that could provide a valuable education for the post-war generation and a salutary re-education for his elders -- Phillip French * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisThe Myth of the Blitz was nurtured at every level of society. It rested upon the assumed invincibility of an island race distinguished by good humour, understatement and the ability to pluck victory from the jaws of defeat by team work, improvisation and muddling through.In fact, in many ways, the Blitz was not like that. Sixty-thousand people were conscientious objectors; a quarter of London''s population fled to the country; Churchill and the royal family were booed while touring the aftermath of air-raids; Britain was not bombed into classless democracy.Angus Calder provides a compelling examination of the events of 1940 and 1941 - when Britain ''stood alone'' against the Luftwaffe - and of the Myth which sustained her ''finest hour''.Trade ReviewThis is a book written with style, scholarship and compassion, which can only enhance and deepen our understanding of a still critical episode in modern British history -- Ian S. Wood * Scotsman *Disturbing as it may be to those who were there, Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain and the Blitz have to be understood on one level as media events, and this Angus Calder does supremely well -- John Vincent * Sunday Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisPart of the ALL-NEW LADYBIRD EXPERT SERIES.____________Why was North Africa such a key component in Britain''s success over Mussolini and his Italian Army?How did they blunt Italy''s actions?What challenges did they face?And what new technologies were brought to bear?When fascist dictator Mussolini declared war against Britain he was taking a huge risk . . . Italy lacked natural resources, and Britain and France''s wealth.He hoped to create a new Roman Empire across the Mediterranean and into Africa. And with Hitler and the Nazi''s by his side he had a great chance of doing so - but what was it that stopped him?Discover the answers and more inside James Holland''s The Desert War, the thrilling and accessible account that explains what happened, who the key figures were and the tactics, triumphs and failures on both sides . . .Trade ReviewPraise for WW2 Ladybird Experts Series * - *Shines a light on some of the darkest and most dramatic moments of the six-year conflict. * Daily Mail *The artwork is gloriously retro, echoing the original Ladybird house style but containing completely up to date information. * Shiny New Books *

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Book SynopsisPart of the new Ladybird Expert series, The Bomber War is an accessible, insightful and authoritative introduction to the airborne Allied fight against Nazi Germany.- How did aeroplane technology change the theatre of war?- How did the Blitz affect Britain''s ability to fight?- How did the Allies finally triumph?DISCOVER how the complex impact of bomber technology shaped the outcome of World War II. From the Blitz to the Battle of the Ruhr, the Bomber War transformed the state of warfare in the twentieth century. GERMANY''S DEADLY TACTICS, THE ALLIES'' BRUTAL VICTORYWritten by historian, author and broadcaster James Holland and with immersive illustrations by Keith Burns, THE BOMBER WAR is an accessible and enthralling introduction to these critical battles and their impact on the outcome of World War II.Trade ReviewPraise for WW2 Ladybird Experts Series * - *Shines a light on some of the darkest and most dramatic moments of the six-year conflict. * Daily Mail *The artwork is gloriously retro, echoing the original Ladybird house style but containing completely up to date information. * Shiny New Books *

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Book SynopsisBOOK 9 OF THE LADYBIRD EXPERT HISTORY OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR, FROM AWARD-WINNING HISTORIAN JAMES HOLLANDFeaturing stunning illustrations from Keith Burns, bringing the story to life in vivid detailWhy did the Allies attack on D-Day?How did the Allies pick Normandy as a target?What was Operation Overload, the second front against the Nazis?JUNE 6 1944D-Day was a deciding conflict in World War II. But the invasion was not a straightforward attack.From feeding Nazi spies false information on the attack, to developing new technology like the Mulberry harbours, D-Day changed the course of the War for good.THE LARGEST SEABORNE INVASION IN HISTORYWritten by historian, author and broadcaster James Holland, The Battle for Normandy is an essential introduction to the naval invasion that began the liberation of Western Europe from the Nazis.__________Discov

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Book SynopsisThe Spitfire and the Lancaster were the two RAF weapons of victory in the Second World War, but the glamour of the fighter has tended to overshadow the performance of the heavy bomber. Yet without the Lancaster, Britain would never have been able to take the fight to the German homeland. Highlights the scale of the bomber''s achievements, including the famous Dambusters attacks. With its vast bomb bay, ease of handling and surprising speed, the mighty Lancaster transformed the effectiveness of the Bomber Command. Whilst addressing the political controversy surrounding the bombing offensive against Germany, Leo McKinstry also weaves individual tales into this compelling narrative. Rich characters are brought to life, such as Roy Chadwick the designer, who taught himself engineering at night school and Sir Arthur Harris, the austere head of the Bomber Command. This is a rich saga, a story of triumph over disaster and the history of an iconic plane.Trade ReviewConvincing...excellent book * The Daily Telegraph, Phillip Addison *This thorough, engaging new history seeks to draw together all aspects of the bomber and its career...and the controversies which still surround it today * The Spectator, Daniel Swift *'Brilliantly researched and sharply written' * News of the World *'The saga is one of courage, tragedy and drama...all the more fascinating because of its rich cast of characters' * Kent Messenger / Kentish Gazette Group *'Fascinating...rich cast of characters..the definitive record' * Driffield Leader *(Leo McKinstry) describes the Lancaster as a heavy machine rendered graceful by its elegant design. The same description might be applied to his own book * The Literary Review *'Impressive...storytelling. [McKinstry] describes the Lancaster as a heavy machine rendered graceful by its elegant design. The same description might be applied to his own book' * Literary Review, Keith Lowe *'Brilliant' * International Express *'This is one of the most interesting wartime books that I have read for many a day. I recommend it to others' * Dover Express / Folkestone Herald *Extremely readable...rich narrative * Kent on Sunday *'Meticulously researched . . . a first-rate account of a unique British creation whose success and brave crews helped to keep Europe free' * Sunday Express *'There were a good number of high-quality books on military history published last year but none were better than LANCASTER by Leo McKinstry...this is a meticulously researched story ... a first-rate account of a unique British creation whose success and brave crews helped to keep Europe free' * Sunday Express *

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Book SynopsisIn 1941 Hitler's armies blocked the last roads leading into Leningrad. What followed was one of the most horrific sieges in history.Trade Review'A tribute to the resilience of the human spirit' * Herald *'Where the book stands out is in the portrait of ordinary life in extraordinary circumstances... Fluently written... the uniquely terrible experience of suffering, especially of 1941-2, is effectively described' * BBC History *'Jones's book is set apart from other histories by his careful and judicious use of witness accounts' * Sunday Business Post *'Detailed account of the 872-day siege of the Soviet Union's iconic city' * Morning Star *

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Book SynopsisThe thrilling history of the turning point of the Second World War, when Hitler's armies were halted on the Eastern Front.Trade Review'A gripping account . . . told with verve and scholarship' * Andrew Roberts *Praise for STALINGRAD and LENINGRAD by Michael Jones - * : *'A milestone in the treatment of the battle ... highly effective and utterly captivating. Previous accounts have been unable to fully convey the desperate ferocity of the battle. Now we see it in all its horror - and better understand the courage of Stalingrad's defenders. This is the finest history of its type published to date' * David Glanz *'Where the book stands out is in the portrait of ordinary life in extraordinary circumstances ... Fluently written ... the uniquely terrible experience of suffering, especially of 1941-2, is effectively described' * BBC History *'A tribute to the resilience of the human spirit' * HERALD *'A mass of first-person material that has been cleverly assembled to paint a striking picture' * BBC History Magazine *

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Book SynopsisNow fully revised for 2023, this is the essential and comprehensive guide to the Australian battlefields of the Western Front for anyone who wants to walk in the footsteps of the Anzacs.From one of Australia''s leading battlefield historians, Mat McLachlan, Walking with the Anzacs covers the fourteen most important Anzac battlefields, including Passchendaele, Pozières and Bullecourt. With illustrated walking tours and comprehensive descriptions of battles, this is the definitive guide for anyone who wants to walk in the footsteps of the first Anzacs, see where they fought, and marvel at their spirit and bravery.Each tour is designed around easily accessible walking routes and features a detailed description of the battle and moving quotes from the men who witnessed the battle first-hand. Areas of interest that you can expect to see on your walk including battlefield landmarks, memorials to the men who fought there and the cemeteries where many of them still li

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Book SynopsisBletchley Park, known to those who worked there as Station X, was the scene of one of the greatest Allied triumphs of the Second World War. The breaking of the Nazi Enigma cyphers by Britain''s wartime code-breakers continues to fascinate, with well over 100,000 people visiting the scene of their successes every year. Bletchley Park provided the intelligence that ensured Allied victories in the Battle of Atlantic, the war in North Africa and, most crucially, the D-Day invasion of Europe, and it was also the birthplace of the modern computer. The code-breakers were led by men like Dilly Knox and Alan Turing, but also included thousands of ''ordinary'' people, the vast majority of them young women. This book contains previously unpublished photographs showing them at work and play. It not only explains how their work influenced the battle against Nazi Germany and its Italian and Japanese allies, but also describes how they lived and loved.Table of ContentsCaptain Ridley’s Shooting Party Breaking Enigma Sink the Bismarck A Crime Without a Name The Shark Blackout Colossus: the World’s First Programmable Computer D-Day and Double Cross Further Reading Places to Visit Index

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Book SynopsisHow much can you really find out about the War in the Air during the First World War in five minutes? This handy little history book will surpass all your expectations and leave you well versed on all you wish to know, and maybe even a little bit more…Who was the highest-scoring ace?

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Book SynopsisThe first book on this prestigious and exceptional liner, the pinnacle of ship-building in her day

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Book SynopsisThe fascinating story of the 1907 RMS Mauretania, the then-most-famous liner in the worldTrade Review[Pride of the North Atlantic is] an exceptional volume, noteworthy for its engaging and fact-packed style.[QE2: A Ship for All Seasons] keeps the historical record moving along . . . a first-class tome.[RMS Titanic: Owner’s Workshop Manual] comes through loud and clear that the authors know ships from stem to stern.

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Book SynopsisThe adventures of some sixty pilots and ground crewmen who flew or worked on the Spitfire during World War 2

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Book SynopsisA pictorial celebration of the women's services of the Second World War

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Book SynopsisBestselling author Michael Smith's investigation into what makes the perfect spy and how the intelligence services induce ordinary men and women to spy for themTrade Review'There are very few ex-intelligence officers who know their stuff better than Michael Smith. If you’re want to know why spies put their lives in danger, this is the book for you.' -- Andy McNab'Definitely an essential handbook for the layman as well as the molehunter and counter-intelligence professional.’ -- Nigel West“A forensic, enthralling, and extremely accurate analysis of what motivates spies. Bags of history. Bags of intrigue. The Anatomy of a Spy is an unprecedented and instant classic.” -- Matthew Dunn, former MI6 officer and author of the Spycatcher series and Ben Sign series."A wide-ranging survey of the reasons why people spy which mixes the familiar with the less well-known , corrects numerous myths and provides many new insights by a master intelligence expert." -- Andrew Lownie, author of Stalin's Englishman

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Book SynopsisThe definitive, engaging and previously little-known account of the 4,227 soldiers who comprised Force K6 of the British Indian ArmyTrade ReviewGroundbreaking ... On the trail of the Indian Contingent, Ghee Bowman has travelled thousands of miles across Britain, Europe, India and Pakistan. He has tracked down lost family archives and photographs from private albums, and conducted interviews with the descendants of soldiers who thought their family histories had been rendered irrelevant to the greater story of Britain’s involvement in the Second World War. He has also written a riveting and moving account of these men’s lives, which has enabled him to get much closer than any previous writer to understanding the Indian soldier’s experience in Europe in the 1940s ... This book deserves a wide readership and to be in the vanguard of shaping new histories of the Second World War -- Yasmin Khan, author of The Raj at WarThe racist comedian Bernard Manning once remarked that "There were no Pakis at Dunkirk". Ghee Bowman does important and essential work exposing this lie, which itself fuels the myth that Britain's multiculturalism is a modern creation. The story of how our ancestors fought in massive numbers for the country that colonised them needs to be told again and again and again -- Sathnam Sanghera, author of EmpirelandThis book is a fitting recognition of the contribution of Dunkirk's forgotten soldiers, including the British Indian Army. At a time of rising division and in the face of the hateful rhetoric of the far-right, now more than ever we need to learn the lessons of our diverse history -- Anas Sarwar MSPA rigorous, meticulously researched and engagingly written challenge to the parochial whiteness of British Second World War memory ... A rich repository of Indian wartime experiences -- Dr Diya GuptaEvocative ... a labour of love -- Neil Drysdale * Press and Journal *Thought-provoking ... Bowman weaves into the history the experiences of a number of the men themselves, not just as soldiers, but as human beings, experiencing British culture and life for the first time ... Bowman does this so well that the reader can almost enter their world -- Hamish Johnston * Northern Times *

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Book SynopsisThis complete history incorporates the voices' of the Holocaust, not only the perspectives of the victims, but also the perpetrators and bystanders. Bergen reveals the common misunderstanding that the Holocaust was aimed solely at Jews. In actual fact the Holocaust claimed the lives of 12 million people and incorporated many different social and ethnic groups. The Nazi program of destruction not only focused on Jews, but the disabled, Gypsies, Poles, Soviet POWs, homosexual men, Afro-Germans and Jehovah's Witnesses. The Second World War enabled this carnage by conquering territories and people, turning soldiers and doctors into trained killers, and creating a veneer of legitimacy around vicious acts of ethnic cleansing' and genocide. Bergen's pathbreaking study uses cutting-edge and original research to reveal how these attacks were linked in a terrifying web of violence and brings to light the real extent of the most notorious and far reaching campaign of genocide in modern

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Book SynopsisThe story of the woman who ensured that Churchill never let state secrets slip

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Book SynopsisBlack propoganda

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Book SynopsisRAF Marham's history reaches back into the First World War when its aircraft served a vital home defence role, intercepting raiding Zeppelins and Gothas. In the late 1930s the station was reopened as a bomber base and, post-war, operated bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Its squadrons played a leading role in the Falklands and Gulf Wars, and over Bosnia and Iraq. Today the Marham Wing is one of the largest and busiest in the RAF, operating four squadrons of Tornado GR4 aircraft in the attack and reconnaissance roles.

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Book SynopsisAn epic novel of passion, betrayal and danger, set in wartime Britain and EuropeIn the spring of 1936 Kay Garland embraces an exciting new life of glamour when she becomes companion to Russian Konstantin Denisov''s daughter, Miranda. The two girls become firm friends, and when Miranda falls in love with a young Parisian, Kay helps her keep the relationship secret. But Konstantin learns of the affair and promptly dismisses Kay, leaving her penniless and stranded in Nazi Berlin. By chance she meets Tom Blacklock, who pays for her ticket home, and is destined to play an important part in her life. As for Miranda, she makes a decision that will put her in the path of disaster. With the outbreak of war come death and destruction and, for both women, consuming passion, along with the fear of losing all that they hold dear. After Hitler''s defeat, there are new dangers - and opportunities to find love where least expected.Trade Review'[A] wonderfully creative tale of how ordinary people across Britain and Europe lived through an extraordinary time... The characters are in many ways so normal, yet in other ways so unbelievably wonderful, in this gripping and heartfelt story' * Newcastle Herald, Australia *'Compelling storytelling...a novel of passion and betrayal set aginast the Second World War' * Woman & Home *A compelling novel...Lennox's prose is detailed but never overly dense and powerful when describing prosaic scenes. This is a beautiful tale of war through a new vantage point * Sunday Express *

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Book SynopsisBjorn Brenner serves as Military Advisor to the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria. Prior to joining the UN, he was Lecturer at the Swedish Defence University in Stockholm and Research Fellow at Institut francais du Proche-Orient in Amman, Jordan. He is the author of numerous articles on Palestinian and Israeli politics and is a frequently appearing commentator in the media on Middle Eastern affairs.Trade ReviewAgainst heaps of reductionist literature and media portrayals that render Hamas as an extremist terrorist group, Bjorn Brenner provides in this book an authoritative and empirical study that debunks such Western, and mainly official, depictions of the movements. Disintersted in either vilifying or glorifying Hamas, this finely structured book is based on four years of direct field research, firsthand observations, and data collection. * Journal of Palestine Studies *What makes Brenner’s account especially valuable is its focus on how Hamas has managed to create a functioning government in Gaza – a subject that is little known – as opposed to Hamas’s behavior towards Israel, which the author explains is not discussed in this book as it has been extensively studied by others [...] This book is recommended for providing other insights into the nature of its [Hamas's] rule which, due to the author’s access to Hamas leaders and operatives, will not be found in other studies. * Perspectives on Terrorism *A useful contribution to the study of Hamas’s exercise of state power. * The Times Literary Supplement *For academic researchers, policy makers, NGOs and broader civil society members interested in Islamist experiences and practices of governance this is a must read. The book not only helps address many misconceived notions about the challenges which Hamas has faced since it was elected in 2006 but it also assists readers in nuancing the particular context in which such a case of Islamist governance actually operates. * Michelle Pace, Professor of Politics and International Studies, Department of Social Sciences and Business, Roskilde University; Honorary Professor, University of Birmingham *This is one of the rare books about Hamas that manages to be both balanced and insightful. Based on a broad range of primary sources, this in-depth study of Gaza under Hamas rule provides as full and comprehensive a picture as possible. A must-read for scholars, students, and diplomats alike! * Peter Neumann, Professor of Security Studies at the War Studies Department, King’s College London; Director of the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation *Björn Brenner has contributed invaluable research through his book “Gaza under Hamas: from Islamist democracy to Islamist governance” (2017). Apart from establishing the centrality of Hamas rule to a political solution for Palestine, the book also expounds upon the spectrum of misconceptions, strengths and flaws associated with the movement. This approach provides a detailed assessment of Hamas in relation to Gaza and its unique circumstances, while dispelling mainstream manipulation, to which, as Brenner points out, academia has also contributed. * Israel Book Review *Constitutes a significant contribution to the Hamas-related literature. It departs from the conventional discussion about the group's role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and treats Hamas as an instance of Islamic governance. Moreover, the book is written in a way that renders it useful to both the specialized and the general readership. It contains information that helps one reconstruct the conditions leading to the status quo in the Gaza Strip and also provides the full picture, including the background and aftermath, of incidents that made headlines but soon fell into oblivion. * Middle East Policy *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Foreword by Shaul Mishal Preface to the second edition Glossary of terms Introduction by Magnus Ranstorp 1. Islamists in power by democratic means 2. Gaining power and relating to the opposition 3. Radicalisation and the emergence of splinter groups 4. The de-radicalisation of Islamists by Islamists 5. Social order in the midst of political chaos 6. The new political order and the judicial system 7. Islamist governance Hamas-style 8. Hamas beyond elections and governance Epilogue by Benedetta Berti Notes Select bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisDue to the specific nature of the Marine Corps'' mission, the Marines has a acute need for amphibious vehicles. From the Vietnam War through today, the USMC has relied on four primary types of tracked amphibians: the T46E1/M76 Otter, M116 Husky, LVTP5, and LVTP7/AAV7A1. This new book provides a useful photographic overview of all these vehicles. More than 300 black-and-white and color photos make this a valuable resource for modelers, artists, and restoration experts.

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Book SynopsisIn WWII Poland, two sisters fight against the darkness engulfing their homeland, one by entering a daring network of women sheltering Jewish children and the other by joining the ranks of Poland's secret army. As Warsaw buckles under German oppression, they must rely on the courage that calls the ordinary to resist.

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Book SynopsisIn this illuminating volume, Justin Solonick offers the first detailed study of how Grant’s midwesterners serving in the Army of the Tennessee engineered the siege of Vicksburg, placing the event within the broader context of US and European military history and nineteenth-century applied science in trench warfare and field fortifications.Trade Review "Solonick’s emphasis is on common soldiers, united by their western character and experience. Their success in taking Vicksburg is what matters most to Solonick, and he demonstrates how innovation produced a unique siege, different from those in the past and those that followed in the wars of the next century. This book offers a considered look at the siege of Vicksburg and should generate conversations about the decisive role western soldiers played in the Civil War."—Cecily Zander, American Nineteenth Century History "Engineering Victory is a truly original study that offers unprecedented insight into the mechanics of the Vicksburg siege from the Union perspective. It also serves as a powerful reminder that ultimate victory was not just a question of starvation but also one of skillful execution of the siege tactics of the period. Justin Solonick's impressive work is richly deserving of a place of high honor in the Vicksburg Campaign literature canon."—Civil War Books and Authors “By showing why Vicksburg fell when it did, Justin S. Solonick’s book sheds new light on one of the most important campaigns of the Civil War. By exploring how Grant’s army achieved that success, it illuminates the nature of Civil War armies and on the society that raised them.”—Steven E. Woodworth, author of Nothing but Victory: The Army of the Tennessee, 1861–1865 “If Vicksburg was the front door to the Confederacy, it was engineering that proved to be the key to opening the door. Thus argues Solonick, as he proceeds to methodically and convincingly make his case. Lacking professional engineers, U. S. Grant’s Army of the Tennessee often relied upon western ingenuity for mining and trenching. Their efforts, not fully appreciated by West Point theorists even after the war, won the day. Must reading not only for western theater enthusiasts but also for those who wish to grasp how the war evolved.”—Larry J. Daniel, author of Days of Glory: The Army of the Cumberland, 1861–1865 “Justin Solonick has produced an important and necessary study of siege operations at Vicksburg, setting the story within the context of European siege craft and pointing to new directions in the history of Civil War military operations. This book is a breath of fresh air.”—Earl J. Hess, author of Kennesaw Mountain: Sherman, Johnston, and the Atlanta Campaign "The author covers the spectrum of siege as practiced at Vicksburg, from establishment of the line of circumvallation to the saps, approaches, and parallels that led to the final phase of the siege. He also discusses the mining intended to destroy the earth and log bastions that guarded the city and blocked unfettered navigation of the Mississippi River. Solonick gives readers an excellent and comprehensive understanding of the complexities of the siege operations that sealed the doom of Vicksburg and with it the Confederacy. . .this book is a truly significant contribution to our understanding of the Vicksburg campaign. Engineering Victory is an outstanding work that fills one of the few, yet major, voids in the literature on the Vicksburg campaign and taps into scores of soldier memoirs, diaries, and letters that add much human interest to this study. Engineering Victory is an essentially important work that will enhance the most complete colelction of Vicksburg titles." —Terrence J Winschel, author of Triumph Defeat: The Vicksburg Campaign, volumes 1 and 2 "Solonick's book provides a thorough and engaging study of the Union army's siege operations against the pivotal river city of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Readers will walk away from the volume with a great deal of respect for the hardworking engineers of the Army or the Tennessee who faced various obstacles and challenges. Rather than just surrounding Vicksburg and waiting for its defenders to capitulate, Grant's men transformed themselves from a marching army into a besieging one."—Kanisorn Wongsrichanalai, Angelo State University "There is a lot to like about this book. Solonick demonstrates skill as both a researcher and a writer. He has scoured archives from New York to North Carolina...On the whole, Engineering Victory is a fine examination of the siege tactics used by the Federals at Vicksburg. It presents the complex story of Grant's efforts to topple the “Gibraltar of the West" in a clear and coherent manner."—Mark Barloon,The Annals of Iowa “Professor Solonick’s work offers the first detailed, single-volume study of the siege of Vicksburg. Instead of covering the entire campaign for the city, Solonick places a narrow focus on the federal army and the actual siege techniques it used. . . . The book is both insightful and important to our understanding of why the federals were finally successful in forcing a Confederate surrender.”—Dr. John D. Fowler, The Civil War Monitor “Justin S. Solonick offers the first detailed study of how Grant’s midwesterners serving in the Army of the Tennessee engineered the siege of Vicksburg, placing the event within the broader context of U.S. and European military history and nineteenth-century applied science in trench warfare and field fortifications. In doing so, he shatters the Lost Cause myth that Vicksburg’s Confederate garrison surrendered due to lack of provisions.”—Jim Miller, Civil War Notebook “This book is great for anyone interested in Civil War history or engineer operations. It sheds some light on a topic that is often overlooked. This work also provides an extremely useful, illustrative example of how a well-trained, well-informed cadre of leaders can have a positive influence on their Soldiers and affect the outcome of an operation.”—David S. (Scott) Franklin, Engineer: The Professional Bulletin of Army Engineers

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Book SynopsisFirst book in English on Germany's failed experiment with independent armored brigades in World War II.

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Book SynopsisIn this riveting book, Steven Zaloga describes how American foot soldiers faced down Hitler’s elite armored spearhead—the Hitler Youth Panzer Division—in the snowy Ardennes forest during one of World War II’s biggest battles, the Battle of the Bulge. Zaloga carefully reconstructs how American G.I.s stymied Hitler’s panzers and grand plans.

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Book SynopsisA volume in the BATTLEGROUND EUROPE series, a battlefield guide which draws upon material in national and local archives, documentary evidence, personal reminiscence and British and German unit histories of the Somme battlefield during World War I.

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Book SynopsisAn addition to the BATTLEGROUND EUROPE series published to coincide with the 80th anniversary of Passchendaele, which gives details of the attacks and provides a guide to the battlefield as it stands today, illustrated with maps and 'then and now' photographs.

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Book SynopsisThe guide will take the visitor beyond the ferry terminal and hypermarkets to reveal the hidden Calais and the actions of individuals and units in this defence.

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Book SynopsisHelen Lewis survived the greatest nightmare ever dreamed by man. Her story is appalling, mesmerising, and one reads with increasing gratitude for her clarity, honesty and courage.' Ian McEwanHelen Lewis, a young student of dance in Prague at the outbreak of WW2 was herded, like Madeleine Albright, into the Terezin ghetto, then shipped to Auschwitz, in 1942. Separated from her family, she struggled to survive amidst the carnage of The Final Solution. How she did so, and what she did in order to survive, is a gripping story, told with wit, candour, and controlled anger.Widely praised by many, including Jennifer Johnston, Michael Longley, and the Guardian, and hailed by the Independent for its elegiac simplicity and lucidity', A Time to Speak is an elegant memoir of the Holocaust, humbling in its freedom from bitterness, which will leave no reader unmoved.Trade ReviewOnly the dead know the whole truth and some of those witnesses who survived have taken upon themselves the painful task of speaking for them… This book is the testimony of a woman who has survived the unsurvivable. -- Jennifer JohnstonThe world needs testimonies like Helen Lewis's... a book of utmost distinction. -- Michael LongleyHer writing does not need any embellishment or fancy prose; she simply describes scenes as close to hell on earth as it is surely possible to be.harrowing but upliftingso much more than a mere memoirIn 117 staggering pages, A Time to Speak is everything a book can and should hope to be.

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Book SynopsisPlucked from every background, and led by an N.K.V.D. Major, the new recruits who boarded a train in Moscow on 16th October 1941 to go to war had much in common with millions of others across the world. What made the 586th Fighter Regiment, the 587th Heavy-bomber Regiment and the 588th Regiment of light night-bombers unique was their gender: the Soviet Union was creating the first all-female active combat units in modern history.Drawing on original interviews with surviving airwomen, Lyuba Vinogradova weaves together the untold stories of the female Soviet fighter pilots of the Second World War. From that first train journey to the last tragic disappearance, Vinogradova''s panoramic account of these women''s lives follows them from society balls to unmarked graves, from landmark victories to the horrors of Stalingrad. Battling not just fearsome Aces of the Luftwaffe but also patronising prejudice from their own leaders, women such as Lilya Litvyak and Ekaterina Budanova are Trade ReviewWhat has been missing until now is a thoroughly researched account of all these pilots' wars, based on primary sources and stitched into the larger picture of the epic battle for what Hitler called the "world island" of central Russia. Defending the Motherland fills that void -- Giles Whittell * The Times *Brings to light the fascinating story of the world's first and only all-female aviation regiments . . . Not for the first time, one can't help being flabbergasted by the heroic achievements of the poverty-stricken and hounded peoples of the USSR -- Charlotte Hobson * Spectator *[Vinogradova's] assiduous research, including numerous interviews with elderly veterans, has uncovered fascinating nuggets about the young female pilots' experience -- Dominic Sandbrook * Sunday Times *A gripping, unforgettable and heart-breaking story of female heroism in war and terror, written elegantly, filled with new research - archival and oral - and told here fully for the first time. Not just a tale of amazing derring-do, but a terrifying window into Stalinist Russia. Simply superb -- Simon Sebag MontefioreLyuba Vinogradova tells the poignant story of the determined young women who fought and died in the air above Stalingrad and elsewhere in the epic struggle to expel the German invaders from their country. It is an absorbing and meticulously researched account -- Sir Rodric BraithwaiteRemarkable . . . Vinogradova tells the stories Russian pilots with verve -- Erica Wagner * New Statesman *A feat of historical research and a wonderful, stirring read -- Rachel PolonskySuperbly written and researched . . . Vinogradova takes her place in the top flight of Russian historians -- Anna ReidThe story of the Soviet airwomen is well told by Lyuba Vinogradova . . . She has done a huge amount of research, which shines through the pen portraits of the aviators and some of the vivid descriptions of the aerial battles -- Leo McKinstry * Literary Review *Vinogradova is excellent on the technical aspects and experience of flying the various aircraft . . . She is at her best, though, in bringing alive the quotidian details of wartime -- Wendy Slater * Times Literary Supplement *Russian historian Vinogradova dove deeply into the archives and conducted an admirable amount of legwork to craft this revelatory study of Soviet female fliers during WWII * Booklist *Following these women's stories with a focused lens and allowing the background themes to add to the narrative without shifting emphasis, this engaging work adds to the knowledge of the Soviet military effort of World War II, profiling its lesser-known heroines while also offering a straightforward critique of Soviet culture * Library Journal *

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Book SynopsisThe Third Reich was the name Hitler and the Nazi Party gave to the dictatorship that began in 1933 and ended twelve years later with the utter destruction of Germany and Hitler''s suicide. Defined by the messianic, iconic figure of the Führer, the Third Reich was one of the pivotal periods of the modern age. From small beginnings in the 1920s, Hitler''s movement came to dominate German society in the 1930s, bringing with it the militarization of German society, the apparatus of state terror and a policy of violent discrimination against political opponents, the so-called ''asocials'': gypsies, homosexuals, and, above all, the Jews. The history of the Reich is bound up with territorial aggression, total war and genocide. The end result was the complete defeat of Germany and the annihilation of millions of Europeans, a historical drama without precedent that still lies as a shadow over modern-day Germany. Richard Overy charts the rise and fall of Nazi power in a compelling narratiTable of ContentsMaps. Introduction. Rise to Power 1923-1933. Building the Third Reich 1933-1934. The Fuhrer State 1935-1936. Building the New Order 1937-1939. The Years of Victory 1940-1941. Genocide and Defeats 1942-1943. The Ruined Reich 1944-1945. Legacy of the Third Reich 1944-1945. Bibliography. Acknowledgements. Index.

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Book SynopsisA summary of how the Islands hotels were put to use by their German guests may intrigue present-day visitors, and a review of the war museums gives an insight into the variety of relics that enthusiasts have had the foresight to preserve.

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