Military History Books
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC 21 Days to Baghdad
Book SynopsisAn authoritative military history of the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division in Operation Iraqi Freedom, describing the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the siege and fall of Baghdad, and the nation-building mission that followed.In 21 Days to Baghdad, historian Dr. Heather Stur describes the commitment of the division to Kuwait, the invasion of Iraq and the three weeks of violent desert conflicts on the way to Baghdad before the siege and battle for the city itself, and the thunder runs that saw its fall to U.S. forces. She then details the complex security mission that required the soldiers and their commanders to convince Iraqi citizens that the U.S. was there to help them, while at the same time they continued fighting Saddam Hussein's elite Republican Guard, paramilitary forces, and terrorists. This new history is based on exclusive, extensive interviews with General Buford Buff Blount, the U.S. Army two-star general who led the 3rd Infantry DivisionTrade ReviewAccompanied by a series of informative maps, 21 Days to Baghdad is an interesting perspective on the Iraq War. * Classic Military Vehicle *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Maps Introduction 1. The Making of a Seventh-Generation Soldier 2. The Arabist: Blount in Saudi Arabia 3. War Planning 4. Preparations in Kuwait 5. Invasion 6. Pushing Through Karbala 7. The General’s Gamble: Seizing Baghdad 8. Now What? 9. Fallujah Conclusion Appendix: Third Infantry Division Order of Battle, Iraq 2003 Acronyms Notes Selected Bibliography Index
£21.25
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Soviet Tanks in Manchuria 1945
Book SynopsisA new illustrated study of the devastating, but little-known, Soviet armored blitzkrieg against the Japanese in the last weeks of World War II, and how it influenced Soviet tank doctrine as the Cold War dawned.Although long overshadowed in the West by the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the USSR''s lightning strike into Manchuria in August 1945 was one of the most successful and unique campaigns of the era. Soviet forces, led by over 5,500 tanks and self-propelled guns, attacked across huge distances and deserts, marshes, and mountains to smash Japan''s million-strong Kwantung Army in a matter of days.Japanese forces were short of training and equipment, but nevertheless fought fiercely, inflicting 32,000 casualties on the Soviets. Red Army operations were characterized by surprise, speed, and deep penetrations by tank-heavy forces born of the brutal lessons they had learned during years fighting the Wehrmacht. Lessons from the campaiTrade ReviewIt can be confidently said that this text will obtain a very good reputation as a concise summary of the campaign and any enthusiast of the Soviet / Japanese / Chinese campaign ought to obtain a copy. * Military Archive Research *Despite my lifelong interest in the history of WW2, this is a story I knew nothing about beforehand, so I found this one especially fascinating. * Military Model Scene *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION - Red Blitzkrieg SOVIET ARMORED FORCE EVOLUTION, ORGANIZATION, AND DOCTRINE TECHNICAL FACTORS - Self-propelled guns - Miscellaneous AFVs THE CAMPAIGN - Forces and plans - Across deserts and mountains: The Trans-Baikal Front - Through the fortified hills and forests: The First Far Eastern Front’s attack - Supporting attack: The Second Far Eastern Front - Amphibious operations on the flanks - Surrender and seizing the spoils BATTLE ANALYSIS - Japanese tank, antitank tactics, and operations AFTERMATH FURTHER READING INDEX
£999.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC US Destroyers vs German UBoats
Book SynopsisAn absorbing study of the duels fought between the US Navy''s escort warships and Hitler''s U-boats between December 1941 and May 1945. Although the Battle of the Atlantic lasted several years, its most critical phase began once the United States entered World War II. By December 1941, the British had mastered the U-boat threat in the Eastern Atlantic, only to see the front abruptly expand to regions the US Navy would patrol, chiefly the Atlantic Seaboard. Unless the US Navy overcame the U-boat threat, the Allies would struggle to win. The Battle of the Atlantic was made up of thousands of individual duels: aircraft against U-boats, aircraft against aircraft, aircraft against ships-but most crucially, ships against U-boats. The individual clashes between Germany''s U-boats and the Allied warships escorting the vital convoys often comprised one-on-one actions. These stories provide the focus of this detailed work. The technical details of the U-boats, destroyeTrade ReviewLardas writes well and clearly knows his material, and he is ably supported by Osprey’s usual excellent illustrations, including some 3D colour graphics and maps. -- Neil Smith * Wargames Illustrated *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chronology Design and Development The Strategic Situation Technical Specifications The Combatants Combat Analysis Aftermath Further Reading Index
£14.39
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Mighty Eighth
Book SynopsisThe perfect companion to Masters of the Air on Apple TV+, this is a superbly illustrated examination of the aircraft, pilots, crews and operations of the US Eighth Air Force.The US Eighth Air Forceknown as the Mighty Eighthwas a combat air force activated in Georgia, USA on January 28, 1942. Its bomber command soon moved to Northern Europe to conduct strategic bombing missions, seeking to destroy Germany's ability to wage war. Among the major operations it participated in were Big Week in February 1944; the D-Day landings in June 1944; and the defeat of the Luftwaffe and destruction of German industry. Eighth Air Force was the largest of the deployed combat Army Air Forces in numbers of personnel, aircraft, and equipment. At peak strength, Eighth Air Force had 40 heavy bomber groups, 15 fighter groups, and four specialized support groups. This work provides a superbly illustrated and fully comprehensive exploration of the Mighty Eighth's bomber and fighTable of ContentsIntroduction Genesis VIII Fighter Command Chapter 1: The Friendly Invasion: “Over Paid, Over Sexed, and Over Here!” Strategic Air Depots Daily Life and Conditions of Service Easily Replaced Love, London, and Longing Tents and Castles “Consider Yourselves Already Dead” Chapter 2: The Light of Day: The USAAF Strategic Bombing of Germany 1942–45 1942: First Missions 1943: A Decisive Year 1944: Winning the Argument 1945: Crippling Nazi Germany Chapter 3: Organization of Eighth Air Force: Air and Ground Units Air Units Ground Crews and Personnel Eighth Air Force order of battle, January 1945 Chapter 4: Aircraft of the Eighth Air Force: Bombers, Fighters, Reconnaissance Bombers Fighters Photo-recon and Reconnaissance Chapter 5: The Tools of Battle: Training, Formations, Technology, Armament, Tactics Training Formations Technology Armament Fighter Tactics Chapter 6: The Experience of Battle: Facing the Flak, Dueling the Fighters Enemy Coast Ahead 12 O'Clock High Receiving Flak Bailing Out Air Sea Rescue Returning Home Relief and Debrief Casualties Combat Focus: 303rd Bomb Group “Hell’s Angels” Fighter Mission Combat Focus: 4th Fighter Group “Debden Eagles” Combat Focus: 56th Fighter Group The Opposition: Defending the Reich Chapter 7: Eighth Air Force Personnel: Leaders and Aces Senior Leadership of Eighth Air Force Heroes at the Sharp End Chronology Further Reading and Research List of Acronyms and Abbreviations Acknowledgments Index
£24.00
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC F4F Wildcat
Book SynopsisThis book examines the role of the Grumman F4F Wildcat, the US Navy''s standard carrier fighter at the start of the Pacific War, and its clashes against the Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force''s Mitsubishi A6M Zero-sen.The US Navy went to war in December 1941 with the tubby Wildcat, the first of Grumman''s famed ''cats'', as its principal carrier fighter. Ruggedly built and well armed, the F4F''s performance was inferior to the Japanese Zero-sen, yet in the carrier battles of 1942 between the US Navy and the IJN the Wildcat pilots more than held their own against some of the finest naval aviators in the world. Many of the Wildcat pilots that saw action in the South Pacific comprised what respected naval historian John Lundstrom has called the ''First Team'' the small group of highly trained prewar pilots who manned the bulk of the US Navy''s carrier fighter squadrons. Illustrated with specially commissioned artwork, including armament views and ribbon diagramTable of ContentsTable of Contents (Subject to Confirmation) 1. In Battle 2. Setting the Scene 3. Path to Combat. 4. Weapon of War 5. Art of War 6. Combat Aftermath Appendices Index
£14.39
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC 100 Greatest Battles
Book SynopsisA highly illustrated introduction to some of the greatest battles in world history, from the iconic encounters of the Ancient World such as Thermopylae and Cannae, through to the major clashes of the 20th century epitomized by Stalingrad and Khe Sanh.This concise study by renowned military historian Angus Konstam examines one hundred of the most famous battles from world history. It includes great naval engagements such as Salamis, Trafalgar, Jutland and Midway; pivotal land battles that decided the fate of nations, such as Hastings, Yorktown, Gettysburg and the Somme; and the impact of the new dimension of aerial warfare in the 20th century at Pearl Harbor, in the Battle of Britain and in the skies over Hiroshima.This highly illustrated book features 100 full-colour battlescene artworks from Osprey''s comprehensive archive and is the ideal introduction to the battles that changed the course of history.Trade ReviewAn enjoyable pocket-filler. * The Armourer *Table of ContentsIntroduction THE ANCIENT WORLD Marathon, 490 BC Thermopylae, 480 BC Salamis, 480 BC Plataea, 479 BC Leuctra, 371 BC The Granicus, 334 BC Cannae, 216 BC Zama, 202 BC Carrhae, 53 BC Alesia, 52 BC Pharsalus, 48 BC Actium, 31 BC The Teutoburgerwald, AD 9 Strasbourg, AD 357 Adrianople, AD 378 Châlons, AD 451 THE MEDIEVAL WORLD Constantinople, AD 718 Tours, AD 732 Hastings, 1066 Manzikert, 1071 Hattin, 1187 Lake Peipus, 1242 Hakata Bay, 1281 Bannockburn, 1314 Kulikovo, 1380 Tannenberg, 1410 Agincourt, 1415 Constantinople, 1453 Castillon, 1453 Bosworth, 1485 THE RENAISSANCE Tenochtitlan, 1521 Pavia, 1525 Cuzco, 1536–37 Malta, 1565 Lepanto, 1571 Gravelines, 1588 Sekigahara, 1600 Osaka, 1614–15 Lützen, 1632 Marston Moor, 1644 Vienna, 1683 The Boyne, 1690 THE AGE OF REASON Blenheim, 1704 Fontenoy, 1745 Rossbach, 1757 Leuthen, 1757 Ticonderoga, 1758 Quebec, 1759 Saratoga, 1777 Yorktown, 1781 THE NAPOLEONIC ERA Toulon, 1793 The Nile, 1798 Marengo, 1800 Trafalgar, 1805 Austerlitz, 1805 Wagram, 1809 Salamanca, 1812 Borodino, 1812 Leipzig, 1813 Waterloo, 1815 THE AGE OF EMPIRES The Alamo, 1836 Solferino, 1859 Volturno, 1860 First Bull Run, 1861 Vicksburg, 1863 Gettysburg, 1863 Isandlwana, 1879 San Juan Hill, 1898 Tsushima, 1905 WORLD WAR I Tannenberg, 1914 First Marne, 1914 Verdun, 1916 Jutland, 1916 The Somme, 1916 Cambrai, 1917 Amiens, 1918 Warsaw, 1920 WORLD WAR II Sedan, 1940 The Battle of Britain, 1940 Taranto, 1940 Moscow, 1941 Pearl Harbor, 1941 Singapore, 1941–42 Midway, 1942 El Alamein, 1942 Guadalcanal, 1942–43 Stalingrad, 1942–43 Kharkov, 1943 Kursk, 1943 Imphal and Kohima, 1944 Saint-Lô, 1944 Leyte Gulf, 1944 Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 1945 THE MODERN AGE Inchon, 1950 Dien Bien Phu, 1954 The Golan Heights, 1967 Khe Sanh, 1968 Hue, 1968 The Sinai, 1973 Desert Storm, 1991
£13.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC British Light Infantryman vs Patriot Rifleman
Book SynopsisFully illustrated, this book assesses the origins, equipment, and fighting styles of the irregular warfare specialists fighting on both sides during the American Revolutionary War.Amid North America''s often forested, broken, or rugged terrain, 18th-century armies came to rely on soldiers capable of fighting individually or in small groups. During the American Revolutionary War, rifle-armed companies were incorporated into the newly created Continental Army, while Patriot militiamen and partisans also made use of rifled weapons. Facing them were the British Army''s light infantrymen; among the most experienced regular soldiers fighting for the Crown, they were joined by Loyalist units able to operate in dispersed formations and German hired troops skilled in open-order fighting, including the rifle-armed Jäger.The strengths and limitations of both sides'' open-order specialists are evaluated in this book, with particular focus upon three revealinTrade ReviewThis is a well-written text that highlights an important aspect of a peculiar 18th Century conflict. -- Neil Smith * Wargames Illustrated *Table of ContentsIntroduction The Opposing Sides Harlem Heights, September 16, 1776 Freeman's Farm, September 19, 1777 Hanging Rock, August 6, 1780 Analysis Aftermath Bibliography Index
£14.39
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Russias Wars in Chechnya
Book SynopsisWritten by a leading expert on modern Russia, this is an illustrated introduction to the bitter campaigns in Chechnya.In this new edition of his popular 2014 work, Mark Galeotti traces the progress of the wars in Chechnya, from the initial Russian advance through to urban battles such as Grozny, and the prolonged guerrilla warfare in the mountainous regions. Bringing the book up to date, including a revised introduction and new content on the Kadyrovtsy's role in Russia's other conflicts, Galeotti assesses how the wars have torn apart the fabric of Chechen society and their impact on Russia itself.Featuring full-colour maps and 50 new images, and drawing upon a wide range of sources, this succinct account explains the origins, history and consequences of Russia''s wars in Chechnya, shedding new light on the history and prospects of the troubled region.Table of ContentsIntroduction Background to War Warring Sides Outbreak The Fighting The World Around War How the War Ended Conclusion and Consequences Chronology Further Reading Index
£11.69
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Killing Ground
Book SynopsisAn exploration into why and how Thermopylae is one of the most blood-soaked patches of ground in history and what its past can tell us about our future.''Brilliantly demonstrated.'' - Tom HollandSince the dawn of the Classical Era up to World War II, thousands have lost their lives fighting over the pass at Thermopylae. Historians Cole and Livingston provide an exciting account of each of the 27 battles and holding actions that took place. The epic events of 480 BC when 300 Spartans attempted to hold the pass has been immortalised in poetry, art, literature and film. But no history has ever detailed the other events from the very first battle through to the battles fought by Romans, Byzantines, Huns and Ottomans during the early and late medieval periods and finally the two desperate struggles against German occupying forces during World War II. The Killing Ground details the background and history of each conflict, the personalitiTrade ReviewHighly recommended. * Adrian Goldsworthy *A timely look at the history of war, geography, and myth-making, told through the fascinating story of one of the world’s most recurrent battlefields. * Douglas Boin *A survey spanning millennia of a pass that, as the authors have brilliantly demonstrated, is as well fitted to host battles as any corner of the globe. * Tom Holland *In The Killing Ground Myke Cole and Michael Livingstone combine their proven talents as military historians to examine why the long, narrow stretch of land called Thermopylae in Greece was the site of twenty-seven battles that occurred there over 2,500 years. Their myth busting account of the legendary battle of 480 BC is a tour de force! * Lindsay Powell, author of 'Augustus at War: The Struggle for the Pax Augusta' *Table of ContentsPreface List of Illustrations List of Maps Introduction: The Killing Ground 1. The First Action: The First Battle of Thermopylae, Date Unknown 2. The Second Action: The Second Battle of Thermopylae, 480 BC 3. The Third Action: Crossing, 355 BC 4. The Fourth Action: Holding, 352 BC 5. The Fifth Action: Seizure, 346 BC 6. The Sixth Action: The Third Battle of Thermopylae, 323 BC 7. The Seventh Action: Holding, 316 BC 8. The Eighth Action: The Fourth Battle of Thermopylae, 315 BC 9. The Ninth Action: The Fifth Battle of Thermopylae, 279 BC 10. The Tenth Action: Holding, 224 BC 11. The Eleventh Action: The Sixth Battle of Thermopylae, 207 BC 12. The Twelfth Action: The Seventh Battle of Thermopylae, 191 BC 13. The Thirteenth Action: Crossing, 146 BC 14. The Fourteenth Action: Holding, AD 251 15. The Fifteenth Action: The Eighth Battle of Thermopylae, AD 254 16. The Sixteenth Action: Crossing, AD 396 17. The Seventeenth Action: The Ninth Battle of Thermopylae, AD 447 18. The Eighteenth Action: The Tenth Battle of Thermopylae, AD 517 19. The Nineteenth Action: The Eleventh Battle of Thermopylae, AD 539 20. The Twentieth Action: The Twelfth Battle of Thermopylae, AD 559 21. The Twenty-First Action: The Thirteenth Battle of Thermopylae, AD 997 22. The Twenty-Second Action: Crossing, AD 1203 23. The Twenty-Third Action: The Fourteenth Battle of Thermopylae, AD 1204 24. The Twenty-Fourth Action: The Fifteenth Battle of Thermopylae, AD 1822 25. The Twenty-Fifth Action: The Sixteenth Battle of Thermopylae, AD 1941 26. The Twenty-Sixth Action: Sabotage, AD 1942 27. The Twenty-Seventh Action: Sabotage, AD 1943 Conclusion: A Cauldron of War Notes Index
£21.25
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Farthest Valley
Book SynopsisA history of the legendary extraction of the Fifth and Seventh Marines from a Chinese trap, told for the first time using Chinese sources.Knee-deep in snow, and under a leaden sky, American Marines thousands of miles from home watched more snow settle onto the frozen ground, glittering in the fading light. Suddenly, the still Korean night roared to life with the sound of Chinese mortar fire. The Fifth and Seventh Marine Regiments were besieged and surrounded by the Chinese 9th Army Group in a surprise attack at Chosin Reservoir in what is now North Korea. Vastly outnumbered and outgunned, defeat and death seemed guaranteed. Their improbable escape after a week of brutal combat required all the Marines'' fighting skills and supreme combat leadership. It has become the stuff of legend and is brilliantly brought to life in this book through first-hand accounts by Joseph Wheelan, himself the son of a Chosin veteran. However, The Farthest Valley also uses Ch
£22.50
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Exploring the Britannic
Book SynopsisA revelatory and wide-ranging exploration of HMS Britannic--her life at sea and on the seabed--by the owner of her wreck. Launched in 1914, two years after the ill-fated voyage of her sister ship, RMS Titanic, the Britannic was intended to be superior to her tragic twin in every way. But war intervened and in 1915 she was requisitioned as a hospital ship. Just one year later, while on her way to collect troops wounded in the Balkans campaign, she fell victim to a mine laid by a German U-boat and tragically sank in the middle of the Aegean Sea.There her wreck lay, at a depth of 400 feet, until it was discovered 59 years later by legendary explorer Jacques Cousteau. In 1996 the wreck was bought by the author of this book, Simon Mills.Exploring the Britannic tells the complete story of this enigmatic ship: her construction, launch and life, her fateful last voyage, and the historical findings resulting from the exploration of tTrade ReviewLavishly illustrated...harrowingly honest, Exploring the Britannic is a beautiful and often moving reflection on history, warfare, undersea exploration, friendship, courage and tragedy. * The Daily Telegraph *
£23.80
John Murray Press Fascinating Footnotes From History
Book Synopsis''Giles Milton is a man who can take an event from history and make it come alive . . . an inspiration for those of us who believe that history can be exciting and entertaining'' Matthew Redhead, The TimesDid you know that Hitler took cocaine? That Stalin robbed a bank? That Charlie Chaplin''s corpse was filched and held to ransom? Giles Milton is a master of historical narrative: in his characteristically engaging prose, Fascinating Footnotes From History details one hundred of the quirkiest historical nuggets; eye-stretching stories that read like fiction but are one hundred per cent fact.There is Hiroo Onoda, the lone Japanese soldier still fighting the Second World War in 1974; Agatha Christie, who mysteriously disappeared for eleven days in 1926; and Werner Franz, a cabin boy on the Hindenburg who lived to tell the tale when it was engulfed in flames in 1937. Fascinating Footnotes From History also answers who ate the lTrade ReviewOccasionally, a book comes along that needs remarkably little explanation. Fascinating Footnotes From History is, quite literally, a collection of fascinating footnotes from history. Giles Milton hit the bullseye the day he came up with that title. Milton is a popular historian, in the best sense of those words. He writes incredibly readable narrative histories that tell you stories you didn't know before with a quiet, dry wit that is never allowed to overwhelm the material . . . Milton's delicious book is full of such tasty morsels * Daily Mail *
£11.69
Pen & Sword Books Ltd RAF in Camera 1950s
Book SynopsisGranted extensive official access to the RAF and their archives, the author has been able to create a comprehensive, consolidated history of the Royal Air Force during the 1950s, a dynamic decade of expansion and technological development. This is the first release in a major new series.
£28.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd M1 Abrams Tank
Book SynopsisA comprehensive record in words and images of America's main battle tank since 1981.
£13.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Luftwaffe Battle of Britain Fighter Pilots
Book SynopsisContains full colour, high resolution images of the various items of uniform and equipment. A valuable reference source for historians, re-enactors, modellers and war-gamers.
£13.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Norfolk at War 1939 1945
Book SynopsisThe first year-on-year study of Norfolk in the war for many years.
£13.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd History of the Green Howards
Book SynopsisThe exploits of one of Britain's finest regiments written by a father and son team who are distinguished members.
£15.29
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Lockheed F104 Starfighter
Book SynopsisThe Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is probably one of the most photographed jet aircraft of all time. Over 200 colour and historic black and white images are included here.
£24.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Tornado Gr1
Book SynopsisFollowing in the wake of Javelin: An Operational History this new release from Mike Napier approaches the subject of the Tornado GR1 from the perspective of the RAF squadrons that actually operated the aircraft.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Hitlers Spanish Division
Book SynopsisContains over fifty full-colour drawings of the various uniforms and insignia. Tells the story of a little-known part of the war on the Eastern Front.
£16.99
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Commandant of Auschwitz
Book SynopsisDescribed as one of the greatest mass-murderers in history, Rudolf Hoss, was born in Baden-Baden on 11 December 1901.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Allied Railways of the Western Front Narrow
Book SynopsisIn this book the metre gauge networks established before the First World War are examined. A companion volume to Narrow Gauge in the Arras Sector by the same authors.
£32.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Tank Wrecks of the Eastern Front 1941 1945
Book SynopsisA history of the destroyed and disabled tanks photographed on the battlefields of the Eastern Front
£13.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd With Paulus at Stalingrad
Book SynopsisThe inside story of Stalingrad from the viewpoint of the German high command
£14.24
Orion Publishing Co Popskis Private Army
Book SynopsisThe bestselling story of an elite desert fighting force in the Second World War.
£12.34
McFarland & Company Too Many Ships Too Late
£37.99
Rowman & Littlefield Warplane
Book Synopsis
£23.75
Pan Macmillan King of Spies: The Dark Reign of America's
Book SynopsisIn King of Spies, prize-winning journalist and bestselling author of Escape From Camp 14, Blaine Harden, reveals one of the most astonishing – and previously untold – spy stories of the twentieth century.Donald Nichols was 'a one man war', according to his US Air Force commanding general. He won the Distinguished Service Cross, along with a chest full of medals for valor and initiative in the Korean War. His commanders described Nichols as the bravest, most resourceful and effective spymaster of that forgotten war. But there is far more to Donald Nichols' story than first meets the eye . . .Based on long-classified government records, unsealed court records, and interviews in Korea and the U.S., King of Spies tells the story of the reign of an intelligence commander who lost touch with morality, legality, and even sanity, if military psychiatrists are to be believed. Donald Nichols was America's Kurtz. A seventh-grade dropout, he created his own black-ops empire, commanding a small army of hand-selected spies, deploying his own makeshift navy, and ruling over it as a clandestine king, with absolute power over life and death. He claimed a – 'legal license to murder' – and inhabited a world of mass executions and beheadings, as previously unpublished photographs in the book document.Finally, after eleven years, the U.S. military decided to end Nichols's reign. He was secretly sacked and forced to endure months of electroshock in a military hospital in Florida. Nichols told relatives the American government was trying to destroy his memory.King of Spies looks to answer the question of how an uneducated, non-trained, non-experienced man could end up as the number-one US spymaster in South Korea and why his US commanders let him get away with it for so long . . .Trade ReviewBlaine Harden’s King of Spies is jaw-droppingly good — a quirky, unlikely, thrilling true story of intrigue and daring and depravity told by a master of the genre * David Maraniss, author of Once in a Great City: A Detroit Story *Blaine Harden has now produced a fascinating trilogy of stranger-than-fiction books about North Korea. His latest, King of Spies, is about a gay, middle school dropout who was one of the few U.S. officials to predict the outbreak of the Korean War and whose espionage activities had a profound impact on the course of the war. You’ve probably never heard of Donald Nichols, but you’ll never forget him after reading King of Spies * Barbara Demick, author of Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea *A must-read for readers interested in Korea, the Korean War, or U.S. intelligence operations * Library Journal *King of Spies is a dark story of espionage and evil by a wild American military spymaster in Korea, a tale both revelatory and tragic. Blaine Harden's superb book throws open a long-ignored chapter in the Korean War; a compelling and disturbing read, not to be missed * David E. Hoffman, author of The Billion Dollar Spy: A True Story of Cold War Espionage and Betrayal *A thrilling real-life spy story told by a terrific writer. * Tim Weiner, author of Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA *Blaine Harden has done what no one else thought to do in seven decades: He’s brought us the full, secret, astonishing story of one of the most improbably powerful characters in American history, and he has done so with crystalline writing and in jaw-dropping detail * Steve Twomey, author of Countdown to Pearl Harbor: The Twelve Days to the Attack *Many accounts of the Korean War are full of mystery, hinting at horrific crimes and large-scale covert operations. King of Spies pierces that mystery through the story of a remarkable American operative who took his mission to mind-boggling extremes. The adventures that fill these pages, from bleak battlefields to the corridors of power, tell us much about how the world really works * Stephen Kinzer, author of Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq *Fascinating account of an espionage pioneer who thrived during the Korean War and then disappeared into disgraced obscurity . . . An engrossing hidden history of wartime espionage, with elements of derring-do and moral barbarity. * Kirkus *
£8.54
Skyhorse Publishing The Spy Who Changed the World: Klaus Fuchs,
Book SynopsisThe incredible true story of a British physicist who was an undercover spy for the Soviets. The world first heard of Klaus Fuchs, the head of theoretical physics at the British Research Establishment at Harwell in February 1950 when he appeared at the Old Bailey, accused of passing secrets to the Soviet Union. For over sixty years disinformation and lies surrounded the story of Klaus Fuchs as the Governments of Britain, the United States and Russia all tried to cover up the truth about his treachery. Piecing together the story from archives in Britain, the United States, Russia and Germany, The Spy Who Changed the World unravels the truth about Fuchs and reveals for the first time his long career of espionage. It proves that he played a pivotal role in Britain''s bomb program in the race to keep up with the United States in the atomic age, and that he revealed vital secrets about the atom bomb, as well as the immensely destructive hydrogen bomb to the Soviet Government. It is a dramatic tale of clandestine meetings, deadly secrets, family entanglements and illicit love affairs, all set against the tumultuous years from the rise of Hitler to the start of the Cold War.
£20.24
Skyhorse Publishing Brady's Civil War Journal: Photographing the War
Book Synopsis“My greatest aim has been to advance the art of photography and to make it what I think I have, a great and truthful medium of history.” —Mathew Brady Mathew Brady and his team of assistants risked their lives to capture up-close images of the fury of the American Civil War and its aftermath. Brady actually got so close to the action during the First Battle of Bull Run that he only narrowly avoided capture. Brady's Civil War Journal chronicles the events of the war by showcasing a selection of Brady's moving, one-of-a-kind images and describing each in terms of its significance. Brady’s team not only captured thousands of portraits of the combatants, the generals, the fighting men, the sick, the dead, and the dying, but also documented the infrastructure of the war machine itself, recording images of artillery pieces, the early railroads, and extraordinary engineering feats. The text by Theodore P. Savas, an expert on the Civil War, adds context to Brady's memorable photographs, creating an unrivaled visual account of the most costly conflict in American history as it unfolded. His unique record of the war gives modern readers a fascinating insight into the terrible maelstrom that shaped our nation.
£18.70
Manchester University Press Creating the People’s War: Civil Defence
Book SynopsisWhy has the ‘people’s war’ been such a durable and attractive myth? Creating the people’s war examines how civil defence personnel engaged with this narrative during the war and in the following decades to answer this question. Civil defence was the most significant voluntary organisation of the Second World War, involving millions of men and women of every class, generation and locality in Britain. This book shows how local communities of civil defence personnel co-developed narratives about the value of their work which challenged hierarchies of war service. In their social groups volunteers wrote themselves into the ‘people’s war’ and invested it with meaning, creating national identity from the bottom up. Community was both central to these representations and vital for their production.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 Community 2 The people’s war 3 Veterans 4 Housewives 5 Adolescents 6 Lovers 7 Conscientious objectors ConclusionBibliographyIndex
£72.00
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Vanishing: The Twilight of Christianity in
Book Synopsis**Longlisted Moore Prize for Human Rights Writing** 'A tragic portrait of a disappearing world, created with passion and literary grace' SALMAN RUSHDIE ‘Janine di Giovanni is a humane and persistent witness’ HISHAM MATAR 'Profoundly moving' MARK TULLY _______________________ The Vanishing reveals the plight and possible extinction of Christian communities across Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine after 2,000 years in their historical homeland. Some of the countries that first nurtured and characterized Christianity - along the North African Coast, on the Euphrates and across the Middle East and Arabia - are the ones in which it is likely to first go extinct. Christians are already vanishing. We are past the tipping point, now tilted toward the end of Christianity in its historical homeland. Christians have fled the lands where their prophets wandered, where Jesus Christ preached, where the great Doctors and hierarchs of the early church established the doctrinal norms that would last millennia. From Syria to Egypt, the cities of northern Iraq to the Gaza Strip, ancient communities, the birthplaces of prophets and saints, are losing any living connection to the religion that once was such a characteristic feature of their social and cultural lives. In The Vanishing, Janine di Giovanni has combined astonishing journalistic work to discover the last traces of small, hardy communities where ancient rituals are quietly preserved amid 360 degree threats. Full of faith and hope, di Giovanni's riveting personal stories make a unique act of pre-archeology: the last chance to visit the living religion before all that will be left are the stones of the past.Trade ReviewA tragic portrait of a disappearing world, created with all of the great Janine di Giovanni’s passion and literary grace -- Salman RushdieJanine di Giovanni, a former winner of the Courage in Journalism prize, is a shining example of the dwindling band of investigative reporters -- Martin Chilton * independent.co.uk *di Giovanni brings a compassionate perspective to her narrative, interweaving complex, sometimes dense history with evocative vignettes and interviews * Economist *Extraordinary ... di Giovanni has a fine way of capturing landscapes and people * Spectator *Janine di Giovanni is a humane and persistent witness who knows when to stand out of the way, has a unique ability to be both unflinching and tender and, most importantly, never forgets that war is always a human tragedy. And because the story of Arab Christians is also the story of the Arab Middle East, the book is a record of the painfully fractured region, the consequences of war and foreign intrusion, of which its peoples, of all faiths, but particularly its minorities, have suffered most -- Hisham MatarProfoundly moving -- Mark TullyJanine di Giovanni’s beautifully written and deeply researched study of Christian communities in Iraq, Gaza, Syria, and Egypt is important not only for what it reveals about those vital but largely effaced communities, but also for its careful examination of an issue that is far more complex - as so much is in the Middle East - than typically presented or understood … A compelling and powerful study -- Sara RoyGorgeously written and deeply felt -- Elle HardyJanine di Giovanni, a former winner of the Courage in Journalism prize, is a shining example of the dwindling band of investigative reporters * independent.co.uk *Each book of hers should be required reading … In addition to contextualising the conflicts, Janine shared the human stories … She exposes what we find so hard to confront in humanity * Tablo, The Secret Life of Writers *Moving and insightful * Catholic Herald *The Vanishing is unique because di Giovanni is not seeking a solution, and indeed knows there may not be one. As a war reporter for 30 years she knows the reality of man ... I like The Vanishing because it’s true, and people in the West need to read the truth, even if they don’t like it and can’t do anything about it * First Things *Praise for Janine di Giovanni: It is crucial to reveal the human stories behind the news - and Janine di Giovanni does this with heartbreaking eloquence -- Elif Shafak * Financial Times *Like the work of the Belarussian Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich, Ms. di Giovanni’s book gives voice to ordinary people living through a dark time in history * New York Times *Such reporters as Giovanni, who not only visit but also live (and often die) through wars not their own, are heroic -- Robin Yassin-Kassab * Guardian *Few writers can match her evocations of individual suffering in wartime * Newsweek *Compelling reportage at its best * Economist *Janine di Giovanni has described war in a way that almost makes me think it never needs to be described again -- Sebastian JungerRead this book and you may begin to understand what war looks and feels like * Spectator *Janine di Giovanni writes with unblinking courage about war, death, marriage, motherhood, loss, love, redemption, fear - indeed, about all the world's most pressing risks and dangers ... Her writing here (as ever in her remarkable career) is a great and important achievement -- Elizabeth Gilbert
£10.44
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Speak, Silence: In Search of W. G. Sebald
Book SynopsisA SPECTATOR, NEW STATESMAN AND THE TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR ‘The best biography I have read in years' Philippe Sands ‘Spectacular’ Observer ‘A remarkable portrait’ Guardian W. G. Sebald was one of the most extraordinary and influential writers of the twentieth century. Through books including The Emigrants, Austerlitz and The Rings of Saturn, he pursued an original literary vision that combined fiction, history, autobiography and photography and addressed some of the most profound themes of contemporary literature: the burden of the Holocaust, memory, loss and exile. The first biography to explore his life and work, Speak, Silence pursues the true Sebald through the memories of those who knew him and through the work he left behind. This quest takes Carole Angier from Sebald’s birth as a second-generation German at the end of the Second World War, through his rejection of the poisoned inheritance of the Third Reich, to his emigration to England, exploring the choice of isolation and exile that drove his work. It digs deep into a creative mind on the edge, finding profound empathy and paradoxical ruthlessness, saving humour, and an elusive mix of fact and fiction in his life as well as work. The result is a unique, ferociously original portrait.Trade ReviewA remarkable biography . . . The first major study of revered author and academic WG Sebald reveals an obsessive and brilliant mind . . . In her long and scholarly book, a testament to the powers of research and detailed dissection, Angier has presented a remarkable portrait of a writer consumed by work * Guardian *Meticulously researched … The brilliance of [this] biography, a spectacularly agile work of criticism as well as a feat of doggedly meticulous research, lies in Angier’s ability to look her subject straight in the eye while holding on to the sense of adoration that made her want to write it in the first place * Observer *The product of years of sleuthing … Angier’s openness about the difficulties she has encountered in trying to untangle [Sebald’s] enigma if anything adds to her portrait … The portrait which ultimately emerges convinces: of a tormented man, an isolated misfit, riven by self-doubt, who wrote to stave off depressive breakdowns and even madness and suicidal impulses * Spectator *It is a considerable achievement to unpick, so convincingly, mysteries Sebald has taken care to contrive. And to do it with such respect, and indeed generosity, that the great originals are burnished -- Iain SinclairSpeak, Silence is an extraordinary achievement. Carole Angier has been able to capture the genius of Sebald without trapping him in facile definitions, allowing his portrait the many hues and changing angles that those who knew him will recognize as profoundly true -- Alberto ManguelSebald once wrote to me that he would just like to be “a guardian of the lesser domains”. His work is enough, but this enticing and thorough book on his life and art proves that he was, in spite of his tragic and early death, an absolute master of the highest domains of literature -- Javier MaríasCarole Angier extends the scope of biography by turning her intense admiration for Sebald’s work into a personal quest for this enigmatic and disturbing writer -- Hilary SpurlingA biographer of great sympathy -- Michael HolroydEnthralling . . . I was exhilarated from start to finish, by subject, style and substance. It is the best biography I have read in years -- Philippe SandsA suitably unorthodox life of this singular writer . . . Angier’s strategy pays off: this is an insightful, compulsively readable book * Atlantic *W.G. Sebald so deliberately and cunningly blurs the boundaries between fact and fiction in his books that every reader longs for a clear-eyed guide to what is invented and what is ‘real’, while at the same time dreading the damage this might do to the delicate webs he weaves. Carole Angier’s tireless detective work has cleared up many of the mysteries, both in his life and in his work, while her critical acumen and manifest admiration for the latter ensures that it emerges enhanced rather than diminished from her labours. A riveting book -- Gabriel JosipoviciRemarkable, the definitive biography . . . Deeply researched, subtle, sympathetic * Claire Tomalin on 'Jean Rhys' *An acute literary intelligence . . . The reader comes to trust instinctively Angier’s assessments * New York Times on 'Jean Rhys' *Allows us to see Levi’s life in its full historical meaning * Financial Times on 'The Double Bond: Primo Levi' *Marvellous and visionary . . . Remarkable in all senses of the word * New York Times on 'The Double Bond: Primo Levi' *Angier writes with brio and occasional brilliance . . . By the end, I felt convinced that she had got to the heart of Levi * Guardian on 'The Double Bond: Primo Levi' *
£15.29
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Welsh at War: Through Mud to Victory: Third Ypres
Book SynopsisThe Welsh at War trilogy is the culmination of over twelve years of painstaking research by the author into the Welsh men and infantry units who fought in the Great War. These units included the four regular regiments-the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, South Wales Borderers Welsh Regiment and Welsh Guards-as well as the Territorial Monmouthshire Regiment, the Yeomanry regiments: the Denbighshire Hussars, Pembroke Yeomanry, Montgomeryshire Yeomanry, Glamorgan Yeomanry and Welsh Horse Yeomanry and their amalgamation into service battalions for the regular regiments during 1917. Welsh troops fought with great courage in every theatre of the war-the Western Front, Aden, China, Gallipoli, Egypt, India, Italy, Salonika and in Palestine-and as well as the casualties who were suffered during these campaigns, many men gained recognition for acts of gallantry. The three volumes, split chronologically, cover all of the major actions and incidents in which each of the Welsh infantry regiments took part, as well as stories of Welsh airmen, Welshmen shot at dawn, Welsh rugby players who fell, Welsh gallantry winners and the Welshmen who died in non-Welsh units, such as the Dominion forces and other units of the British armed forces. While chronicling a history of the war through the events and battles that Welshmen took part in, the stories of many individual casualties are included throughout, together with many compelling photographs of the men and their last resting places. Volume III-'Through Mud To Victory'-'Third Ypres And The 1918 Offensives'-records the stories of the Welsh troops involved in the Third Battle of Ypres, from the Welsh battalions of the 19th (Western) Division at Messines Ridge, through the storming of the Pilckem Ridge by the 38th (Welsh) Division and the Guards Division; and the Welsh troops who fought in the final offensives at Passchendaele Ridge. The actions of Welsh troops during the Battle of Cambrai carry through to the final winter of the war and the volume records the sufferings of Welsh troops fighting during the desperate German 'Kaiserschlacht', offensives of the spring of 1918; and carries through the summer of 1918, when the 38th (Welsh) Division moved back to the Somme, to the actions of Welsh troops during the 100 Days Offensive which finally ended the war. The volume also covers the stories of the final battles in Italy, Salonika and Palestine, which saw Welsh troops play a large part.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Up to Mametz...and Beyond
Book SynopsisLlewelyn Wyn Griffiths Up to Mametz, published in 1931, is now firmly established as one of the finest accounts of soldiering on the Western Front. It tells the story of the creation of a famous Welsh wartime battalion (The Royal Welsh Fusiliers), its training, its apprenticeship in the trenches, through to its ordeal of Mametz Wood on the Somme as part of 38 Division. But there it stopped. General Jonathon Riley has however discovered Wyn Griffiths unpublished diaries and letters which pick up where Up to Mametz left off through to the end of the War. With careful editing and annotation, the events of these missing years are now available alongside the original work. They tell of an officers life on the derided staff and provide fascinating glimpses of senior officers, some who attract high praise and others who the author obviously despised. The result is an enthralling complete read and a major addition to the bibliography of the period. Llewelyn Wyn Griffiths was born into a Welsh speaking family in Llandrillo yn Rhos, North Wales. He joined the Civil Service as a Tax Surveyor. Aged 24 on the outbreak of War, he was accepted for a commission in the 15th (1st London Welsh) Battalion of the Royal Welch Fusiliers and served in the Battalion or on the staff for the rest of the War. Returning to the Inland Revenue he was responsible for the pay-As-You-Earn tax system, retiring in 1952. He filled many distinguished appointments, such as the Arts Council, and was a regular broadcaster. Awarded an Honorary DLitt by the University of Wales, he was holder of the CBE, OBE, Croix de Guerre and an MID. He died in 1977.
£13.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd El Alamein 1942: Turning Point in the Desert
Book SynopsisThe Battle of El Alamein is well established as a pivotal moment of the Second World War. Following the wildly fluctuating fortunes of the opposing sides, there was a real risk that Rommel s Afrika Korps and his Italian allies would break through and seize Cairo with catastrophic strategic and political implications for the Allies. That this never happened is, of course, well known but, as this highly readable yet authoritative work reveals, there were moments of extreme peril and anxiety. Churchill s bold, nay desperate, decisions concerning key appointments, Montgomery s stubborn refusal to be rushed, Rommel s chronic logistic problems and critical air superiority are all examined in expert detail. The author s description of the actual fighting is brought to life by personal accounts as well as his complete grasp of the plan and tactics involved. The result, seventy-five years on, is a delightfully fresh and fascinating account of one of the iconic battles, not just of the War but in military history.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Waterloo: Rout and Retreat
Book SynopsisThis, the fourth volume in Andrew Field's highly praised study of the Waterloo campaign from the French perspective, depicts in vivid detail the often neglected final phase the rout and retreat of Napoleon's army. The text is based exclusively on French eyewitness accounts which give an inside view of the immediate aftermath of the battle and carry the story through to the army's disbandment in late 1815\. Many French officers and soldiers wrote more about the retreat than they did about the catastrophe of Waterloo itself. Their recollections give a fascinating insight to the psyche of the French soldier. They also provide a first-hand record of their experiences and the range of their reactions, from those who deserted the colours and made their way home, to those who continued to serve faithfully when all was lost. Napoleon s own flight from Waterloo is an essential part of the narrative, but the main emphasis is on the fate of the beaten French army as it was experienced by eyewitnesses who lived through the last days of the campaign.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Armoured Warfare in the Battle of the Bulge
Book SynopsisThe Battle of the Bulge took the Allied armies by surprise in 1944\. It was a result of the extraordinary recovery of Hitler's panzer divisions following crushing defeats on the Eastern and Western fronts. In a daring offensive he hoped his panzers would unhinge the American and British push on the Rhine by charging through the Schnee Eifel, thereby prolonging the war. The consequence was one of the best-known battles of the entire conflict, and Anthony Tucker-Jones's photographic history is the ideal introduction to it. The story is told through a sequence of revealing contemporary photographs and a concise text. They give a sharp insight into the planning and decision-making, the armoured forces involved, the terrain and the appalling mid-winter conditions, the front-line fighting and the experience of the troops involved. The armoured battle, which was critical to the outcome, is the main focus. Through a massive tank offensive the Germans aimed to cut through the US 1st Army to Antwerp and Brussels, in the process trapping three Allied armies. The confusion and near collapse of the Americans as their defences were overrun is vividly recorded in the photographs, as is their resistance and recovery as the German spearheads were slowed, then stopped.
£14.24
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Female Railway Workers in World War II
Book SynopsisDuring World War II women took on railway roles which were completely new to females. They worked as porters and guards, on the permanent way, and in maintenance and workshop operations. In this book Susan Major features the voices of women talking about their wartime railway experiences, using interviews by the Friends of the National Railway Museum. Many were working in 'men's jobs', or working with men for the first time, and these interviews offer tantalising glimpses of conditions, sometimes under great danger. What was it about railway work that attracted them? It's fascinating to contrast their voices with the way they were portrayed in official publicity campaigns and in the light of attitudes to women working in the 1940s. These women talk about their difficulties in a workplace not designed for women-no toilets for example, the attitudes of their families, what they thought about American GIs and Italian POWs, how they coped with swearing and troublesome colleagues, rules about stockings. They describe devastating air raids and being thrust into tough responsibilities for the first time. This book fills a gap, as most books on women's wartime roles focus on the military services or industrial work. It offers valuable insights into the perceptions and concerns of these young women. As generations die out and families lose a direct connection, it becomes more important to be able to share their voices with a wider audience.
£16.99
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Vultee Vengeance in Battle
Book SynopsisThis book describes the extraordinary combat career of the American-built Vultee Vengeance dive-bomber in both the Royal Air Force and Indian Air Force service during the Burma Campaigns of 1942-45. This single-engine, all-metal aircraft was ordered by the Ministry of Supply during the darkest days of World War II when the lethal German combination of Junkers Ju.87 Stuka and Panzer tank forces had conquered most of Europe in a campaign that lasted a mere few weeks and the invasion of Britain was considered imminent. The RAF had invented the dive-bomber concept in 1917 but had consistently rejected it in the inter-war period with the obsession of heavy bombing predominating official thinking almost exclusively. By the time the Vengeance arrived a still-reluctant RAF was seeking a precision bomber to prevent a repeat of the Japanese Naval attacks in the Indian Ocean and six squadrons were set up to counter this threat. With the Japanese on the borders of Burma and India, these aircraft, no longer required for the original role, proved by far and away the most accurate bomber aircraft operated by the British up to that time. The Allied Armies on the ground, including Orde Wingate's Chindits, clamoured for their continued use and considered them essential, but in vain, and by 1945 all had been replaced. Their achievements have been ignored, falsified or scorned ever since but here, from eyewitness accounts and official records, is their full and true story.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Hitler's Girls: Doves Amongst Eagles
Book SynopsisHitler's Girls is not just another Hitler Youth history book. Concentrating purely on the role of German girls in Hitler s Third Reich, we learn of their home lives, schooling, exploitation and eventual militarisation from first-hand accounts of women who were indoctrinated into the Jung Madel and Bund Deutcscher Madel as young girls. From the prosperous beginnings of 1933 to the cataclysmic defeat of 1945, this insightful book examines in detail their specific roles as defined by the Nazi state. Few historical literary works have gone as deep to find the truth, the conscience and the regret, and in this sense Hitler's Girls is a unique work unlike any other so far published. Written in an attempt to provide a definitive voice for this unheard generation of German females, it will leave the reader to decide for themselves whether or not the girls were the obedient accessories to genocide, and it will lead many readers to question many aspects of what they have previously thought about the role of girls and young women in Hitler s Third Reich. This is their story.
£16.99
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Men Who Flew the Halifax
Book SynopsisThis is the story of the air war over Western Europe, much of it told by the Halifax pilots and air crew who took part. It spans the period between 1942 and 1945 and covers the encounters between the Luftwaffe and the air forces of Britain and the Commonwealth. Many unique experiences are recounted from the day bombing raids that were hurled against Hitler's war machine. The author has sought the experiences of RAF and German fighter pilots, who explain how they stalked their prey and pounced from. This book contains vivid accounts of some of the most heroic actions in the history of air warfare.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Cambrai Campaign 1917
Book Synopsis_Cambrai Campaign 1917_ is an account of the British Expeditionary Force s battles in November and December of 1917\. It starts with the plan to carry out a tank raid on the Hindenburg Line at Cambrai. The raid grew into a full scale attack and Third Army would rely on a different style of attack. The preliminary bombardment would be done away with and the troops would assemble in secret. Predicted fire had reached such a level of accuracy that 1,000 guns could hit targets without registration. Meanwhile, over 375 tanks would lead the infantry through the Hindenburg Line, ripping holes in the wire and suppressing the enemy. The study of the German counter-attack ten days later, illustrates the different tactics they used and the British experience on the defensive. Each stage of the battle is given equal treatment, with detailed insights into the most talked about side of the campaign, the British side. It explains how far the Tank Corps had come in changing the face of trench warfare. Over forty new maps chart the day by day progress of each corps on each day. Together the narrative and the maps provide an insight into the British Army s experience during this important campaign. The men who made a difference are mentioned; those who led the advances, those who stopped the counter-attacks and those who were awarded the Victoria Cross. Discover the Cambrai campaign and learn how the British Army s brave soldiers fought and died fighting to achieve their objectives.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Dieppe 1942: Operation Jubilee A Learning
Book SynopsisOn 19 August 1942, an Allied amphibious raid took place on the coastal town of Dieppe in northern France, when a force of some 6,500 infantry soldiers, predominantly Canadian, and supported by a number of tanks were landed by ships of the Royal Navy under a blanket of cover provided by the RAF. The official reason for the raid was to capture the town's port, gather relevant intelligence, and destroy a number of coastal defences, port structures and other identified buildings. Allied authorities believed the raid would not only provide a much-needed boost to Allied morale, but also demonstrate to Stalin that Britain and the United States were serious in their commitment to opening a second front, in order to help the Soviet army fighting on the Eastern Front. It has also been suggested that the real reason for the raid was to capture a new German 4-rotor Enigma code machine, along with related code books. Whatever the reasons for the raid, it was an unmitigated failure. The German defences were more formidable than intelligence reports suggested they would be, Allied aerial and naval support was insufficient, meaning soldiers were unable to achieve their objectives, and most of the tanks failed to make it off the beaches. Indeed, due to the unexpected mounting casualties, the decision was taken to cut short the raid and evacuate the remaining men.
£18.70
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Walking In the Footsteps of the Fallen: Verdun
Book SynopsisA visit to the battlefield of Verdun is usually dominated by the forts of Douamont and Vaux, the museum at Fleury and the striking, huge Ossuary, Although this gives a flavour of the horrific fighting that took place in the area, particularly in 1916, the visitor will be hard pressed to get much more than an impression from such places.This book seeks to guide the battlefield pilgrim into parts of the battlefield that get rarely visited by means of a series of walks, a number of which include the major sites. The four tours have been carefully walked. All are practicable for a reasonably healthy adult; the tours vary in length, most taking a half day to complete and the longest (the last) a day. In a twist to the usual walks to be found in the Battleground series, Christina makes full use of the numerous field graves and isolated memorials that are to be found on the Verdun battlefield, a number of which will bring visitors to the most visited sites. In the course of these walks many physical remnants will be found, such as gun positions, bunkers and trench systems, the significance of which is fully explained. The walks have not been chosen at random: by following these the tourer will get a far greater understanding of why the fighting at Verdun developed as it did and why such places as Fort Vaux were so significant to both sides. The field graves and memorials to the combatants, very often of individuals, provide an opportunity to give their story and the unit action in which they were fighting when they were killed. Verdun is a battlefield where the story of units and individuals can easily become lost in the horror of the incessant fighting that raged over ten months; and over ground which is extremely difficult to read because of the post war forestation programme. Profusely illustrated and with excellent mapping, a hallmark of Christina Holstein's books, a visitor who follows the walks in this book will be left with a far clearer idea of the men who fought and died here and of the features of the battlefield and their significance in this battle that so challenged the endurance of the armies of two nations.
£13.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Verdun 1917: The French Hit Back
Book SynopsisUnlike the popular view, the French army did not cease offensive operations after the disastrous Nivelle Offensive of spring 1917 and the subsequent mutinies. Nor did the fighting at Verdun come to an end in 1916. The successful French counter offensives at the end of that year led to preliminary planning for a two Army operation in 1917 to break out of the Verdun salient and recapture the strategically very significant Briey coal basin. The French Army mutinies of May and June 1917 led to a more limited version of the plan being implemented, with the aim of establishing new lines for a break out in 1918. The need to rebuild morale in the French army meant that nothing was left to chance. The immense logistical effort of this late summer 1917 campaign and the detailed planning and careful training at all levels brought success to an army weary of war but determined to win. The industrial nature of the preparations, the spectacular numbers of guns and the first appearance of the Americans at Verdun presage the campaigns of 1918 and the final Allied victory. Once more Christina Holstein, the premier expert in Britain of the battlefields around Verdun, leads the reader around the various vital points of this largely unknown battle of 1917, one which was vital for the rebuilding of a French army that played such a notable part in the victorious allied campaign of 1918. As for all the books in the Battleground Europe series, it is profusely illustrated and mapped using contemporary and modern material, supported by clear maps to support each of the tours.
£15.29
Pen & Sword Books Ltd German Reconnaissance and Support Vehicles
Book SynopsisThe Wehrmacht used reconnaissance and support vehicles widely in the Second World War and this book sets out to show the full range of both categories using over 200 rare images and descriptive text and captions in true Images of War Series fashion. Both tracked and wheeled vehicles were employed for reconnaissance and screening. These included light tanks mainly comprising of the Pz.Kpfw.I, armoured cars such as the six and eight wheeler Sd.Kfz.231,232,233,234 and its variants, 263, the Sd.Kfz.221,222,223,234 and 247, motorcycles such as the famous BMW R75, the Zundapp KS750. In addition to their recce role they would, when possible, engage similar or light units. Support vehicles such as the tracked Sd.Kfz.2 Kettenkrad, and the renowned Sd.Kfz.251 halftracks were used in the follow-up role, frequently with mounted grenadiers to mop up over-run enemy positions. The book fills a gap by outlining the full range of such equipment including the variety of armaments and power plants, and the crews that performed these missions.
£13.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd 6th SS Mountain Division Nord at War 1941-1945:
Book SynopsisDrawing on a superb collection of rare and unpublished photographs the 6th SS Mountain Division Nord 1941 - 1945 is the 6th book in the Waffen-SS Images of War Series compiled by Ian Baxter. The book tells the story of the 6th SS Mountain Division Nord, which was formed in February 1941 as SS Kampfgruppe Nord (SS Battle Group North). The Division was the only Waffen-SS unit to fight in the Arctic Circle when it was stationed in Finland and northern Russia between June and November 1941\. It fought in Karelia until the Moscow Armistice in September 1944, at which point it left Finland. It suffered heavy losses in the Operation Nordwind in January 1945 and in early April 1945, the division was destroyed by the US forces near Budingen, Germany.
£13.49
