Military institutions Books

Book SynopsisThe Battalion's experiences are well recorded here and typify those of tens of thousand servicemen whose efforts secured a unique victory.

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Book SynopsisThe Royal Army Medical Corps was present during all engagements in the Second World War. From the frozen wastes of Norway through to liberation from the death camps of Germany and the Far East, RAMC personnel were frequently close to the front line, risking their lives to provide medical support to a mobile army in a mechanised war. Nearly 3,000 army medics were killed during the war as a result of enemy action and exposing themselves to dangerous tropical diseases. Using much previously unpublished material from public and private family archives, this book charts the story of those who remained true to the motto of the RAMC: Faithful in Adversity.

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Book SynopsisSouth of the Norman city of Caen, the twin features of the Verrières and Bourguebus ridges were key stepping stones for the British Second Army in late July 1944 - taking them was crucial if it was to be successful in its attempt to break out of the Normandy bridgehead. To capture this vital ground, Allied forces would have to defeat arguably the strongest German armoured formation in Normandy: the I. SS-Panzerkorps "Leibstandarte." The resulting battles of late July and early August 1944 saw powerful German defensive counterattacks south of Caen inflict tremendous casualties, regain lost ground and at times defeat Anglo-Canadian operations in detail.Viewed by the German leadership as militarily critical, the majority of its armored assets were deployed to dominate this excellent tank country east of the Orne river. These defeats and the experience of meeting an enemy with near-equal resources exposed a flawed Anglo-Canadian offensive tactical doctrine that was overly dependent on the supremacy of its artillery forces. Furthermore, weaknesses in Allied tank technology inhibited their armored forces from fighting a decisive armored battle, forcing Anglo-Canadian infantry and artillery forces to further rely on First World War "Bite and Hold" tactics, massively supported by artillery. Confronted with the full force of the Panzerwaffe, Anglo-Canadian doctrine at times floundered. In response, the Royal Artillery and Royal Canadian Artillery units pummelled the German tankers and grenadiers, but despite their best efforts, ground could not be captured by concentrated artillery fire alone.This is a detailed account of the success of I. SS-Panzerkorps' defensive operations, aimed at holding the Vèrrieres-Bourgebus ridges in late July 1944.Trade ReviewGullachsen's attention to detail, analysis, and honest appraisal of controversial aspects of this combat are all to be commended. He does not pull his punches. Nor does he attempt to muddle through when a clear answer to a given issue has of yet not been revealed by the historical record. The reader can trust when he speculates that such theorizing is from a well-informed position backed by a considerable effort to get to the heart of the matter in question. * Globe at War *Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Fighting East of the Orne 18-31 July 1944 Chapter 1: The German way of war in Normandy, Summer 1944 Chapter 2: The I. SS-Panzerkorps south of Caen 17 July 1944 Chapter 3: Operation Goodwood: The Attack of the Leibstandarte against the British 8th Corps 18 July 1944 Chapter 4: Operation Atlantic Day 1: The 272. Infantrie Division is pushed back 18 July 1944 Chapter 5: The Leibstandarte and Hitlerjugend hold the line: Days 2 and 3 of Operation Goodwood: 19-20 July 1944 Chapter 6: Atlantic Day 2: The Canadian Infantry Divisions advance 19 July 1944 Chapter 7: Atlantic Day 3: The Leibstandarte and 2. Panzer Division Counterattack, 20 July 1944 Chapter 8: Atlantic Day 4: The Defeat of the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade 21 July 1944 Conclusion Bibliography Appendices Index

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Book SynopsisThe story of the inspiration for, establishment and evolution of the National Memorial Arboretum is a fascinating one. Sited at Alrewas, Staffordshire, the Arboretum has become the Nation's all year round focus for remembering and paying tribute to all who have served their country in both peace and war not only in the armed forces and merchant navy but in the emergency services as well.rnrnPlanting began in 1997 and was supported by hundreds of organisations both serving and retired. Among the early memorials was a life-size wooded polar bear, for 49th Division, a grove of Irish trees for the Royal Irish Regiment, an Avenue of Chestnuts for the Police and a Chapel of Peace and Forgiveness to mark the coming of the Millennium. Britain's war-widows had a rose-garden planted for them while the Far East Prisoners of War managed to fund a small museum to stand alongside a length of railway track brought back from the notorious Burma Railway. In October 2007 HM the Queen confirmed the importance of the site when she opened the Armed Forces Memorial to commemorate all service personnel lost on active service since the end of the Second World War; this is especially poignant given the on-going conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The importance of the National Memorial Arboretum is well demonstrated by the growing number of stands and the steady increase in visitor numbers.

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Book SynopsisOften typified by the large tank battles of the Eastern Front, the hunt for U-boats in the Atlantic and the dogfights over European skies, the Second World War saw mechanised warfare on an unprecedented scale. Yet there was another side to the fighting. This was also the infantryman’s conflict where an individual fighting man and the comrades to whom he was attached were asked to play a more diverse – and decisive – role than ever before. The Second World War was as much a war of small units as of big battalions. Here, Alexander Shaw explores the significance of this emphasis on small units for the men who fought between 1939 and 1945. He describes the evolution of the infantry rifle section of the British Army and brings together the history of their weaponry, their small-unit tactics and the soldiers’ personal experiences. Covering every major theatre of operations where British infantrymen saw action, Shaw offers a compelling narrative of Britain’s fighting philosophy and the part played by the individual. Drawing upon unpublished research into War Office publications, government documents, soldiers’ memoirs and several archives, this is a new and methodologically original interpretation of Britain’s war.

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Book SynopsisWar is often prosecuted in conjunction with other services, as also with para-military forces. Indian Army is also involved in safeguarding disputed borders along mountainous and high altitude terrain. Such deployment often leads to clashes arising out of political decisions and military compulsions. India is also facing two nuclear nations; one of them operates below the thresh-hold, yet there can be nuclear weapons use. The Army is also employed in aid to civil authority, natural calamities and disaster management. The human role will continue to predominate, as such, identifying ingredients that constitute a soldier’s potential becomes necessary. The study of Psychology for the Soldiers seems not adequately carried out, at least on the surface, for selection, training, allotment of trades; and eventually for leadership, tactics, strategy and operational employment. This book aims at initiating more study and research on the subject.Table of Contents"Preface 1. Physical and Mental Fitness 2. The Eye 3. The Ear 4. Loyalty 5. Martial Law And Military Governance 6. Yoga 7. Smell In War 8. Stress 9. Emotions 10. Basic And Secondary Needs 11. Compensation 12. Leadership 13. Morale 14. Rumour 15. Psychological War And Propaganda 16. Fear 17. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) 18. Professionalism 19. Connect With Their Base 20. Festivals of India And Relevance to Armed Forces 21. Drugs 22. Cross Border Terrorism and Soldiers 23. NBC Environment 24. Para Military Forces 25. Military History 26. Leadership in Navy and Air Force 27. Conclusion Bibliography Index"

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Book SynopsisHis violin saved his life. August 1914: Renowned violinist Lucien Durosoir (1878-1955) was taking a break from his busy concert schedule in a small town in Brittany with his mother, when the world and his life changed forever. In the space of a two or three days, he was off to the front. Good luck, his companion throughout four hard years of war, placed him in a regiment led by officers who loved music, and Lucien was asked to create a chamber music ensemble. Luck also placed around him other excellent musicians, and, within a few months they were playing some of the great chamber music repertoire. Lucien wrote his first letter to his mother as soon as he got out of the cattle car and officially became part of the fighting force, and until the end of the war he wrote at least daily. She, in turn, replied in lengthy, daily letters, sharing news and offering maternal guidance. This translation brings the story of these two strong-willed, loving, troubled, people to the English-speaking world for the first time. It provides a unique perspective on war, music, and a mother-son relationship. This is an account of the horrors of the Great War from someone who managed to create beauty within its gruesome trenches. This is the first English translation of their letters.Trade ReviewPraise for Ma Chere Maman – Mon Cher Enfant: "Lucien Durosoir is not nearly as well- known as a composer in the English-speaking world as he should be. In the lyricism and sheer beauty of his music, he can remind the listener of Edward Elgar. But unlike Elgar, Durosoir was young enough to serve in the trenches of the Great War. Like millions of his comrades, he was also a prolific letter writer. The letters between him and his mother, Louise, are elegantly translated and wonderfully presented here. They present a rich tapestry of the grim circumstances in and out of the trenches of the Great War. They also present strategies of survival, physical and emotional, but also romantic. Elizabeth Schoonmaker Auld has done us a great service by making these letters available. They can only increase our admiration for this great composer and exemplary survivor of this horrible conflict."--Leonard V. Smith, Professor of History, Oberlin College; "These letters provide important first-person perspective on both a typical and atypical experience of a solider at the front and a musician fulfilling national duty. We see the evolving relationship between a mother and a son, initial optimism, moments of deep grief for lost friends, and more, all in a highly readable translation."--Joseph T. Acquisto, Professor of French, University of Vermont;"A professional violinist in his mid-thirties is called to fight in the 'Great War'. Suddenly wrenched from a career and a widowed mother, many musicians would not have had the strength of character to withstand the long years of deprivation and trauma. Lucien Durosoir's extended correspondence with his mother reveals his exceptional courage and leadership as a soldier, as well as his ingenuity in finding ways to make music amidst the deprivations of war. Via his vivid descriptive writing, and Elizabeth Auld's superb translation, we experience the immediacy of war through the eyes (and ears) of a mature and artistic spirit."--Linda Laurent, Professor Emerita of Music, Central Connecticut State University

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Book SynopsisDuring World War II, tens of thousands of African Americans served in segregated combat units in U.S. armed forces. The majority of these units were found in the U.S. Army, and African Americans served in every one of the combat arms. They found opportunities for leadership unparalleled in the rest of American society at the time. Several reached the field grade officer ranks, and one officer reached the rank of brigadier general.Beyond the Army, the Marine Corps refused to enlist African Americans until ordered to do so by the president in June 1942, and two African American combat units were formed and did see service during the war. While the U.S. Navy initially resisted extending the role of African American sailors beyond kitchens, eventually the crew of two ships was composed exclusively of African Americans. The Coast Guard became the first service to integrate—initially with two shipboard experiments and then with the integration of most of their fleet. Finally, the famous Tuskegee airmen are covered in the chapter on air warfare.Proud Warriors makes the case that the wartime experiences of combat units such as the Tank Battalions and the Tuskegee Airmen ultimately convinced President Truman to desegregate the military, without which the progress of the Civil Rights Movement might also have been delayed.

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Book SynopsisForeword by His Royal Highness Charles, Prince of Wales Hospital ships filled the harbour of Le Havre as the 75th Mississauga Battalion arrived on 13 August 1916. Those soldiers who survived would spend almost three years in a tiny corner of northeastern France and northwestern Belgium (Flanders), where many of their comrades still lie. And they would serve in many of the most horrific battles of that long, bloody conflict - Saint Eloi, the Somme, Arras, Vimy, Hill 70, Lens, Passchendaele, Amiens, Drocourt-Quéant, Canal du Nord, Cambrai, and Valenciennes. This book tells the story of the 75th Battalion (later the Toronto Scottish Regiment) and the five thousand men who formed it - most from Toronto - from all walks of life. They included professionals, university graduates, white- and blue-collar workers, labourers, and the unemployed, some illiterate. They left a comfortable existence in the prosperous, strongly pro-British provincial capital for life in the trenches of France and Flanders. Tommy Church, mayor of Toronto from 1915 to 1921, sought to include his city's name in the unit's name because of the many city officials and local residents who served in it. Three years later Church accepted the 75th's now heavily emblazoned colours for safekeeping at City Hall from Lieutenant-Colonel Colin Harbottle, who returned with his bloodied but successful survivors. The author pulls no punches in recounting their labours, triumphs, and travails. Timothy J. Stewart undertook exhaustive research for this first-ever history of the 75th, drawing from archival sources (focusing on critical decisions by Brigadier Victor Oldum, General Officer Commanding 11th Brigade), diaries, letters, newspaper accounts, and interviews.Trade Review"This book explores the role of the 75th Battalion during the Great War. It is particularly useful in correcting some misunderstandings about the 75th in battle, especially at Vimy and Passchendaele. It also analyses Toronto's militia before the war, providing new insight into the intersection of citizen-soldiers in society. Stewart takes the story forward beyond demobilization in 1919 and reconstructs the enduring bonds of comradeship and how veterans reflected upon their war experience over time." -- Tim Cook, C.M., Canadian War Museum"To understand how and why a battle or campaign developed the way it did, it is essential to study the ground, and Tim Stewart has certainly done that. I accompanied him on two tours of the Western Front (and as the grandson of a soldier of the 243rd Overseas Battalion of the CEF I felt privileged to do so) where in meticulous detail he walked the ground of the 75th Battalion's actions from its blooding on the Somme in 1916 to the victorious advance of the Battle of Amiens in 1918. With a population of less than eight million in 1914 Canada mobilised 620,000 men, and 60,000 of them were killed in that titanic struggle. Tim has produced a fitting tribute to those men of the 75th, volunteers all, who answered the call in the darkest days of the Empire." - Gordon Corrigan MBE, author Mud, Blood and Poppycock: Britain and the First World War"Tim Stewart's account of the 75th (Mississauga) Battalion CEF during and after the Great War sheds new light on the most formative and perhaps even the most important years in the history of The Toronto Scottish Regiment, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's Own. Indeed it was in those early years in France and Flanders that the spirit, ethos and reputation of our proud regiment were forged and it is the example set by Lieutenant Colonel Beckett and the officers and men of the 75th Battalion that we continue to follow to this day. Stewart's account is gripping, candid, and ultimately befitting of the story of this proud regiment. I have no doubt that this book will become mandatory reading for all soldiers of the Toronto Scottish and those seeking to fully understand the contributions made by those men of Toronto and its surrounding areas who served in the 'war to end all wars.' " - Graham Walsh, Director, Lieutenant Colonel , Commanding Officer, The Toronto Scottish Regiment, (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's Own)"The Fighting 75th is a rich tribute, beautifully illustrated, with vignettes culled from thousands of hours of research. ... Stewart documents their stories with genuine warmth and a police reporter's eye for detail." -- Holly Doan -- Blacklock's ReporterEven before one picks up this history it's clear that this is a beautiful book and a labour of love. A true bibliophile will hold this book with reverential hands and promise to care for it accordingly. The quality of its manufacture, at least, demands no less.... Toronto's Fighting 75th is a fine examination of one battalion of the CEF and the people behind it. Members of the Toronto Scottish will find the book a treasure, and they won't be the only ones. The only flaw of the book is one that very few modern writers could rectify: that after 100 years, we still don't really understand what drove these very ordinary Canadians forward and made them such formidable fighting men. -- John Thompson -- The Fife and Drum, 20180401

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Book SynopsisTheir ferocity is as legendary as their loyalty to the British Monarch and their regimental histories are crammed with actsof incredible bravery and sacrifice. The Gurkhas'' particular reputation as fearsome fighting men remains undisputed and the mere threat of their kukri knives has put fear into the hearts of opposing forces throughout the world.The Gurkhas have been on the British frontlines since 1815 and these small but extraordinarily tough fighters have demonstrated their courage ever since, in battles ranging from the Indian Mutiny through Afghanistan to Kosovo.John Parker has fully updated his bestselling book to include the Gurkhas'' recent operations in Africa and to celebrate their successful campaigning for British citizenship. His book is a fascinating testimony to a fighting force that standsdramatically apart in British military history.Trade ReviewParker provides a comprehensive look at the Gurkhas and their history right up to the present day. * Forces News - Lockdown Reads 2020 *The incredible story of these feared warriors * Daily Mail *John Parker's book is a fascinating testimony to a fighting force that stands dramatically apart in British military history * Heartland Evening News *The incredible story of these feared warriors * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisCaferro has mined more than twenty archives in Britain and Italy, creating an authoritative portrait of Hawkwood as an extraordinary military leader, if not always an admirable human being.Trade ReviewThis is much more than a biography in the ordinary sense of the word... An excellent contribution to our understanding of both the mercenary phenomenon and the history of Italy in the late fourteenth century. Speculum Engaging book... Caferro has made sense of the life of a mercenary captain, who during his career influenced diplomacy, altered finances, and changed lives in fourteenth-century Italy. -- Duane Osheim Renaissance Quarterly A model of clear writing and an authoritative treatment of the military and political situation in Italy from the 1360s. -- John E. Law History It is... so well written and provides such a gripping account of John Hawkwood and his milieu that it will surely gain a wide audience among general readers as well. -- David S. Bachrach Historian The depth of Caferro's archival research has established him as Hawkwood's preeminent biographer. -- Dane Swango Comitatus Meets a real need... well researched and clearly presented, an important work for everyone interested in fourteenth-century Italy and medieval war. -- John Larner English Historical Review Superb biography... Sterling piece of work. -- Niccolo Capponi Journal of Military History A useful read for anyone interested in Renaissance Italy, the evolution of the practice of war, and even the interrelationship of art and society. NYMAS ReviewTable of ContentsList of Figures and MapsPrefaceHawkwood ChronologyIntroduction1. John Hawkwood in PerspectivePart I2. Essex Lad, King's Soldier, and Member of the White Company, 1323–13633. Italy and the Profession of ArmsPart II4. The Fox and the Lion5. John Hawkwood of Pisa and Milan, 1365–13726. In the Service of God and Mammon, 1372–1375Part III7. John Hawkwood and the War of Eight Saints, 1375–13778. Love and Diplomacy, 1377–13799. At Home in the Romagna, 1379–138110. Neapolitan Soldier and Tuscan Lord, 1381–1384Part IV11. The Deal with the Devil, the Birth of a Son, and a Victory at Castagnaro, 1385–138712. At the Center of the Storm13. The War against Milan, 1390–139214. Two Weddings, a Funeral, and a Disputed Legacy, 1392–1394–1412ConclusionAppendixesNotesReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisSome of the most brutally intense infantry combat in World War II occurred within Germany's Hrtgen Forest. Focusing on the bitterly fought battle between the American 22d Infantry Regiment and elements of the German LXXIV Korps around Grosshau, Rush chronicles small-unit combat at its most extreme.Trade ReviewA heartbreaking, day-by-day account - beautifully written - of the small unit action in the forest." —Army History"One of the finest case studies of modern infantry combat in any language." —Dennis Showalter, author of Tannenburg: Clash of Empires"Rush successfully marries combat analysis with social history to provide a new assessment of the American infantry units that battled the Wehrmacht from the beaches of Normandy to the Elbe River. In an exhibition of brilliantly imaginative and thorough research, he examines the training, leadership, tactics, and replacement policies that permitted American infantry regiments to remain cohesive enough to keep gaining ground despite personnel losses that totaled sixty-four percent by the war's end. Cutting edge scholarship on the U.S. Army's war in the ETO." —Journal of American History"A gripping tale of American GIs facing combat under the worst imaginable conditions." —Peter Mansoor, author of The GI Offensive in Europe: The Triumph of American Infantry Divisions, 1941-1945"A superb combat history that shatters long-held concepts on American versus German performance and vividly describes the horror and agony of close combat." —Edward G. Miller, author of A Dark and Bloody Ground: The Hurtgen Forest and the Roer River Dams, 1944-1945

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Book SynopsisThe divisions of the Waffen-SS were among the elite of Hitler's armies in the Second World War. But alongside the Germans in the Waffen-SS fought an astonishingly high number of volunteers from other countries. By the end of the Second World War these foreign volunteers comprised half of all Hitler's Waffen-SS, and filled the ranks of over twenty-four of the nominal thirty-eight Waffen-SS divisions. So during the most brutal war that mankind has ever known, hundreds of thousands of men flocked to fight for a country that was not theirs, and for a cause that was one of the most monstrous and barbaric in history. Who were these men, and why did they fight? Hitler's Gauls is an in-depth examination of one of these legions of foreign volunteers, the Charlemagne division, who were recruited entirely from conquered France. The men in Charlemagne, often motivated by an extreme anti-communist zeal, fought hard on the Eastern Front including battles of near annihilation in the snows of Pomerani

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Book SynopsisThe Black Watch is one of the finest fighting forces in the world and has been engaged in virtually every worldwide conflict for the last three centuries. Named after the dark tartan of the soldiers'' kilts, it is the oldest Highland regiment. As part of the British army, their first battle abroad was in Flanders in 1745 but the regiment soon moved to North America to fight the French, and then shared the capture of Montreal, the Windward Islands and Martinique. The American War of Independence saw the regiment once again in America, fighting horrific battles and eventually storming Fort Washington in 1776. Since then the regiment has held its own from the Napoleonic Wars to the Indian mutiny to Iraq. The Black Watch is the UK''s most decorated regiment, combining the proud history and tradition of an organisation that has been soldiering for over 250 years.Trade ReviewA compelling account of an often heroic history * THE SCOTSMAN *Parker laces his narrative of the broad sweep of military events with poignant snapshots * GLASGOW HERALD *A cracking tale of courage... a wonderfully readable account * FOCUS *

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Book SynopsisA survey of the history of the French Foreign Legion that outlines the Legion's vicissitudes, victorious campaigns, marches, dirtiest combats and dramatic defeats. This book discusses the Legion in the historical background of France and also describes its development, organization, uniforms, equipments and weapons.

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Book SynopsisThe Gurkhas are an elite fighting force from Nepal who have served the British Crown since 1815. They occupy a unique place in the public's imagination, and are renowned for their loyalty, professionalism and resolve. Through stunning photography, Arc of the Gurkha explores the span of the Gurkha career from recruitment through to training and deployment up to post-military employment and retirement. Alex Schlacher has accompanied the Gurkhas on operations in Afghanistan, on exercises in the Brunei jungle and Australia, and has visited all the units in the Brigade as well as retired and medically discharged Gurkhas. She has taken intimate portraits of hundreds of soldiers and heard their stories, many of which are recounted in this book. There have been other books on the Gurkhas, but none has portrayed the individual soldiers and focused about their backgrounds, lives and thoughts. This unique and insightful publication is the first to explore what it really means for a Gurkha to be a Gurkha.Trade Review"Everything about this project is extraordinary... The book Arc of the Gurkha - From Nepal to the British Army is the ultimate portrait of this cast of warriors." --Special Operations Forces Report "a vivid book of images." --The Washington PostTable of ContentsIntroduction by Brigadier Ian Rigden 8 A short history of the Brigade of Gurkhas 10 chapter 1: RECRUITMENT 17 chapter 2: BASIC TRAINING 67 chapter 3: SERVICE 107 Training and Development 110 Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas 128 Gurkha Staff and Personnel Support Company 134 Training Support Companies 140 Queen's Gurkha Engineers 148 Queen's Gurkha Signals 162 Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment 176 Royal Gurkha Rifles 188 Exercises and Operations 204 chapter 4: RETIREMENT 255 Acknowledgements 282 Index 284

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Book SynopsisA full and authoritative illustrated history of Russia's army since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, including Air Assault and Navy ground forces.Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia''s army has undergone a turbulent transformation, from the scattered left-overs of the old Soviet military, through a period of shocking decay and demoralization, to the disciplined force and sophisticated ''hybrid war'' doctrine that enabled Vladimir Putin to seize Crimea virtually overnight in 2014. Using rare photographs and full colour images of the army in action, profiles of army leaders and defence ministers, as well as orders of battle and details of their equipment and dress, this is a vivid account of the army's troubled history and of its character, capabilities and status.Written by an internationally respected author with remarkable access to Russian-language sources and Russian veterans, this study is essential reading for anyone wishing to understand the growing power Table of ContentsIntroduction Born in Crisis – the 1990s: creating a new army in the wreckage of the USSR – First Chechen War – peacekeeping missions – the damaging 'grandfather' culture in the ranks. 'Reform Tomorrow' – the 2000s: slow beginnings of reform under Putin – Second Chechen War – uncertainty and inertia at the top – the Cossack revival. The Georgian Turning Point - 2008: profiting from errors and lessons – Defense Minister Serdyukov and Chief of General Staff Makarov force through reforms. The Russian Army Today: structures, organization, chain of command – major annual exercise cycles, and what they teach us. Two Armies: the reformed one-third, and the unreformed two-thirds. The human dimension: volunteer soldiers and conscripts – Ukraine – continuing problem of crime in the military. Intervention Forces: Air Assault and Naval troops – Spetsnaz – anti-piracy operations – Crimea – 'non-linear war' doctrine. Tools of the Trade: weapons, vehicles, specialist AFVs – latest 'Ratnik' uniforms and equipment – drones. Select Bibliography

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Book SynopsisA stunning full-colour tribute to the British Tommy in the last centenary year focusing on RemembranceTrade ReviewThis is a beautifully illustrated and highly detailed book, well worth reading if you are going to the battlefields for commemorations or are just interested in the very tough life of a WW1 soldier. * The Cultural Voyager *

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Book SynopsisRoman Jarymowycz recounts the story of the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada in three volumes, tracing its history from the roots to present day. Through diaries, letters, classified documents, and the regimental archive, he weaves the strands of a complex story into an epic narrative.

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Book SynopsisIn 1943, the New Brunswick Rangers were sent to Britain, converted into a heavy weapons support unit, and shipped off to Normandy.Originating as a 19th century militia, the New Brunswick Rangers were placed on active service for the first time during the Second World War, serving first in the Maritimes and Newfoundland. In 1943, the Rangers were sent to Britain, where they were converted to a heavy weapons support unit, armed with machine guns and mortars in preparation for the invasion of Normandy.In this illuminating account, Matthew Douglass uncovers their participation in the war: their arrival in Normandy and their contributions to the battles in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. Present at many of the critical moments of the campaign, the Rangers participated in the Battle of the Falaise Gap, which cleared the way for the advance on Paris and the German border; the Battle of the Scheldt, which secured the vital supply lines of the port of Antwerp; and the Battle of the Reichswald, when German resistance on the west bank of the Rhine was finally broken. Drawing on archival photographs and original source documents, Douglass's account of the Rangers' wartime experiences is a crucial piece in understanding the role of heavy weapons support units on the Western Front.The New Brunswick Rangers in the Second World War is volume 27 of the New Brunswick Military Heritage Series.

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Book SynopsisThe Mounted Infantry had a short life spanning from the mid 1880's until disbanded in 1913. To continue the camaraderie of the corps, past surviving members formed the M.I Club and in 1936 decided to publish a short history based on Regimental records and personal reflections. An appeal elicited responses and work was begun by Major Tomlin. The manuscript was almost complete at the start of the Second World War when an enthusiastic cull of papers by Tomlin's family during a wastepaper salvage drive included much of the work he had completed. This would have been the end of the project, but Brigadier Standish G Craufurd intervened and undertook to rewrite the work using what material remained and his own resources. When the draft was substantially completed Sir Ian Hamilton (then in his 91st year) was approached to write the foreword, he responded that he felt this was a makeshift history that would best be left until the end of the war when access to records would be easier, and the ma

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Book SynopsisIn the global theatre of contemporary warfare, courage and endurance are crucial for overcoming adversity. However, for Caroline Paige, a jet and helicopter navigator in the Royal Air Force, adversity was a common companion both on and off the field of battle.In 1999, Paige became the first ever openly serving transgender officer in the British military. Already a highly respected aviator, she rose against the extraordinary challenges placed before her to remain on the front line in the war on terror, serving a further sixteen years and flying battlefield helicopters in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.Detailing the emotional complexities of her transition, Paige reveals the external threats she faced in warzones around the world and the internal conflict she suffered while fighting prejudice at home. The result is a story of secrecy and vulnerability, of fear and courage, of challenge and hope.Criss-crossing battle lines both foreign and domestic, True Colours is the unflinchingly honest and inspirational account of one woman's venerable military career and the monumental struggle she overcame while grappling with gender identity on the quest for acceptance.

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Book SynopsisThroughout the relatively short yet highly distinguished history of the Royal Air Force there has been a tendency for the men and women of the Service to be overshadowed by the glamour of the aircraft. Nonetheless it is surprising that there has never before been a complete record of the uniforms and badges of the RAF and its predecessor, the Royal Flying Corps. Malcolm Hobart and Pen and Sword Books have cooperated to rectify this serious omission with this superbly colour illustrated and comprehensive collector's guide. Badges of rank and trade are all depicted not only for the flying arms but for ground staff. This valuable addition to our Collector series also covers the RAF Reserves and Auxiliary Service, Air Training Corps and the Royal Observer Corps. SELLING POINTS: . Comprehensive collector's guide . Superbly illustrated throughout . Also covers RAF Reserves, Auxiliary Service, Air Training Corps and the royal Observer Corps . ILLUSTRATIONS: Superbly illustrated *Trade ReviewHigh quality colour photographs of virtually evry badge described in the text. The scope of the book was commendably wide..It was thus a valuable aid to anyone collecting RAF badges - and a useful reminder to those of us who would otherwise have forgotten some of the less common badges and accoutrements that have adorned RAF uniform over the years." Royal Air Force Historical Society Journal

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Book SynopsisOffers a thrilling selection of tales illustrating how victories were achieved against the odds from the Peninsula War of 1811 to Vietnam in 1967.

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Book SynopsisThe poignant, deeply moving diary of a British officer who served in the trenches right through the First World WarTrade ReviewAn excellent and provocative book -- A.J.P. TaylorBrilliant ... One of the most fascinating books yet to appear on the First World War -- Asa Briggs

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Book SynopsisFor over a decade, Congress and DOD have led a series of efforts to address the governance structure of the Military Health System. In chapter1, GAO examines (1) measures DOD uses to assess the quality of direct and purchased care, and (2) the extent to which DOD has established performance standards related to the measures and corrective action requirements for providers who do not meet those standards. As reported in chapter 2, or more than a decade, partially in response to congressional mandates, DOD has worked to address inefficiencies in the Military Health System to control costs. Chapter 3 examines the military departments planning processes for determining (1) operational medical personnel requirements, including an assessment of the mix of federal civilian, contractor, and active and reserve medical personnel; and (2) the most appropriate workforce mix at MTFs and any challenges in executing their desired workforce mix. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2008 directed DOD to conduct surveys of nonenrolled beneficiaries and civilian providers about access to care under the TRICARE Standard and Extra options. It also directed GAO to review the surveys results. Additionally, the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2017 included a provision for GAO to review access to care under TRICARE Extra. Chapter 4 addresses both provisions. The NDAA 2017 made several changes to the TRICARE program, including the establishment of a new preferred provider network health plan option called TRICARE Select. The NDAA 2017 made several changes to the TRICARE program, including the establishment of a new preferred provider network health plan option called TRICARE Select. GAO examined program policies, procedures, and contracts and interviewed DOD officials and TRICARE regional contractors as reported in chapter 5.

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Book SynopsisThis is a very interesting book full of valuable information of particular use to young men who are contemplating entering West Point. The book recalls many pleasant incidents of cadet life from the author's own days at the academy.Table of ContentsIllustrations; Preface; The Appointment; The Preparation; The Candidate; The Plebe in Camp; The Plebe in Barracks; The Yearling; The Furloughman; The Graduate; United States Military Academy; Appendix.

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Book SynopsisThe Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administers directly, or in conjunction with other federal agencies, programs that provide benefits and other services to veterans and their spouses, dependants and beneficiaries. This book outlines a selection of benefits for service members, including Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for survivors of certain service members and veterans; healthcare for dependants and survivors of veterans; benefits for service-connected disabilities; project HERO implementation; health care and benefits for veterans exposed to agent orange and veterans life insurance programs.

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Book SynopsisForeword by Lance-Sergeant Johnson Beharry VCTHE VICTORIA CROSS is Britain and the Commonwealth's most prestigious gallantry medal for courage in the face of the enemy. It has been bestowed upon 1,355 heroic individuals from all walks of life since its creation during the Crimean War.Lord Ashcroft, who has been fascinated with bravery since he was a young boy, now owns 200 VCs, by far the largest collection of its kind in the world. Following on from the bestselling Victoria Cross Heroes, first published in 2006 to mark the 150th anniversary of the award, Victoria Cross Heroes: Volume II gives extraordinary accounts of the bravery behind the newest additions to Lord Ashcroft's VC collection - those decorations purchased in the last decade.With sixty action-packed stories of courageous soldiers, sailors and airmen from a range of global conflicts including the Indian Mutiny of 1857-58, the Second Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902 and the First and Second World Wars, this book is a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit and a worthy tribute to the servicemen who earned the Victoria Cross. Their inspirational deeds of valour and self-sacrifice should be championed and never forgotten.

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Book SynopsisThe Victoria Cross is Britain and the Commonwealth’s most prestigious gallantry medal for courage in the face of the enemy. It has been bestowed upon 1,355 heroic individuals from all walks of life since its creation during the Crimean War. Lord Ashcroft, who has been fascinated with bravery since he was a young boy, now owns 200 VCs, by far the largest collection of its kind in the world. Following on from the bestselling Victoria Cross Heroes, first published in 2006 to mark the 150th anniversary of the award, Victoria Cross Heroes: Volume II gives extraordinary accounts of the bravery behind the newest additions to Lord Ashcroft’s VC collection – those decorations purchased in the last decade. With nearly sixty action-packed stories of courageous soldiers, sailors and airmen from a range of global conflicts including the Indian Mutiny of 1857–58, the Second Anglo-Boer War of 1899–1902 and the First and Second World Wars, this book is a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit and a worthy tribute to the servicemen who earned the Victoria Cross. Their inspirational deeds of valour and self-sacrifice should be championed and never forgotten.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements ix Foreword by Lance-Sergeant Johnson Beharry VC xiii Author’s Royalties xvii Lord Ashcroft and Bravery xix Preface xxi Chapter 1: A Passion for the VC 1 Chapter 2: The Crimean War 21 Chapter 3: The Indian Mutiny and Beyond 57 Chapter 4: The Second Anglo-Boer War and Beyond 107 Chapter 5: The First World War and Beyond: Army VCs 133 Chapter 6: The First World War: Naval and Air VCs 255 Chapter 7: The Second World War 305 Select Bibliography 359 Picture Credits 365 Index 367

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Book SynopsisAs the definitive final volume of the history of The Royal Leicestershire Regiment Marching with The Tigers covers events in that Regiment and its successor, the 4th Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, over the years 1955-75. During this period the Battalions undertook overseas and operational tours in Cyprus, Germany, Hong Kong, Borneo, Aden, Malta and Libya, Bahrain and Northern Ireland. Supported by seventeen maps and many black and white photographs, its lively text describes the Regular battalions' activities up to the disbandment of Tiger Company in 1975, the Territorial Army battalions' up to the disbandment of The Royal Leicestershire Regiment (Territorial) in 1971, the early years of the Leicestershire Companies in the 5th and 7th (Volunteer) Battalions The Royal Anglian Regiment, the Depot, the Museum, the Regimental Chapel in the Cathedral and Affiliations. The final chapter brings The Tigers' History right up to the present day including Royal Tigers' Wood and the dedication of the various national memorials commemorating the Regiment.Its numerous appendices contain a wealth of information such as lists of Honours and Gallantry Awards (including Long Service and Efficiency Decorations and Medals), Colonels and Commanding Officers and of those who commanded other units and formations, Late Entry Commissions and National Service Officers. Marching with The Tigers is not only comprehensive but lavish as well with the four Cuneo paintings, the capbadges and the Colours all displayed in colour.

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Book SynopsisIn August 1979 twenty-seven-year-old Mike Trueman set sail from the south-west coast of Wales, en route to Cornwall. The young army helicopter pilot was helping to move his friend's yacht from Northern Ireland to the south coast of England. But as they sailed out into the Irish Sea, the sky turned progressively darker and the winds gathered pace. Over the next twenty-four hours the two young sailors battled to survive force-10 gales in what became known as the Fastnet disaster and which claimed the lives of fifteen sailors off the coast of Ireland.Almost seventeen years later, Trueman was at Camp 2 at 6,400 metres on Mount Everest as the May 1996 tragedy unfolded high above him. As stricken guides, clients and Sherpas tried to survive the fierce storms which engulfed the upper mountain, Trueman was able to descend and - using his twenty-four years of experience as an officer in the British Army - coordinate the rescue effort from Base Camp. The Storms is the remarkable memoir of a British Army Gurkha officer. Trueman, a veteran of twenty expeditions to the Himalaya, gives a candid account of life inside expeditions to the highest mountain in the world. He gives a unique personal perspective on the 1996 Everest storm, as well as on the fateful day in May 1999 when Briton Mike Matthews disappeared high on the mountain after he and Trueman had summited.

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Book SynopsisThe G.I. Bill fueled not only the development of the middle class: it also revitalized American democracy. Americans who came of age during World War II joined fraternal groups and neighborhood and community organizations and took part in politics at rates that made the postwar era the twentieth century''s civic golden age. Drawing on extensive interviews and surveys with hundreds of members of the greatest generation, Suzanne Mettler finds that by treating veterans as first-class citizens and in granting advanced education, the Bill inspired them to become the active participants thanks to whom memberships in civic organizations soared and levels of political activity peaked. Mettler probes how this landmark law produced such a civic renaissance. Most fundamentally, she discovers, it communicated to veterans that government was for and about people like them, and they responded in turn. In our current age of rising inequality and declining civic engagement, Soldiers to Citizens offersTrade Review"As a beneficiary of the GI Bill, I can't recommend enough Suzanne Mettler's examination of the Bill and its transformative effect on the lives of so many veterans like me. It's clear that Mettler has come to know the GI Bill through the veterans she met in the course of her research, and the result is as accurate a description of its design, implementation, and of the experiences of the soldiers who benefited from it as I have read. This book is a must-read not only for those interested in the Greatest Generation but also for anyone who wants to know what it takes to make a great country." --Senator Bob Dole"The GI Bill changed my life after my service in the Korean War just as it changed the lives of the World War II veterans whose experiences Mettler brings to light. They provide unassailable evidence of how a federal program revolutionized America for the better. But do not treat Soldiers to Citizens as simply a portrait of the past. This book offers a potent and timely counter argument to those in power who seek to privatize every non-military function of government and remove all sense of shared sacrifice or shared benefit."--Charles Rangel, U.S. Congressman"Mettler's terrific new book explores a little-known, but momentous chapter in the history of the 'Greatest Generation' of America's WWII veterans--why they became the most civic-minded generation in our history. She shows that the GI Bill was one of the great success stories in American public policy, a story that is astonishingly relevant to debates today about civic renewal and the role of government. For contemporary civic reformers this book is must reading." --Robert D. Putnam, Malkin Professor of Public Policy, Harvard University, and author of Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community"Breaks new ground in the study of the Greatest Generation. Mettler shows conclusively how the GI Bill not only helped male veterans improve "their stake in society" but how it also gave them the direction and tools to improve the society in which they had a stake." --Montgomery C. Meigs, General, US Army, Retired, and Louis A. Bantle Chair, Maxwell School of Syracuse University"Suzanne Mettler has written a magnificent book, showing how the GI Bill enabled soldiers returning from World War II to become fully participating citizens in American democracy. Not only did the GI Bill open access to education; it delivered benefits in a dignified way and demonstrated that government could make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and the nation. The experiences--and many individual voices--of the World War II generation come through loud and clear in this book. Scholars and students will gain a fresh perspective on the effects of public policy on citizen participation. And general readers will see what government at its best can do to spread opportunity and enrich citizenship in America."--Theda Skocpol, Victor S. Thomas Professor of Government and Sociology, and Director of the Center for American Political Studies, Harvard University, and author of Diminished Democracy: From Membership to Management in American Civic Life

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

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Book SynopsisThe candid, poignant, unforgettable writing of the young girl whose own life story has become an everlasting source of courage and inspiration.Hiding from the Nazis in the “Secret Annex” of an old office building in Amsterdam, a thirteen-year-old girl named Anne Frank became a writer. The now famous diary of her private life and thoughts reveals only part of Anne’s story, however. This book rounds out the portrait of this remarkable and talented young author.Newly translated, complete, and restored to the original order in which Anne herself wrote them in her notebook, Tales from the Secret Annex is a collection of Anne Frank’s lesser-known writings: short stories, fables, personal reminiscences, and an unfinished novel, Cady’s Life.

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Book SynopsisLearn to communicate effectively, meaningfully, and lovingly with your partner--even in tense situations.Conflict is part of every relationship, even the healthiest ones. The key to a long-lasting relationship isn't avoiding fights, but rather seeing them as opportunities to work together. In her book, Gottman-certified relationship coach Dr. Gina Senarighi gives us the tools and strategies we need to communicate effectively, rebuild trust, and repair past hurts. Love More, Fight Less features: 30 COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND ACTIVITIES for building self-awareness, identifying and interrupting emotional reactivity, eliminating judgment, separating thoughts from feelings, and more 29 COMMON PITFALLS IN RELATIONSHIPS around issues of intimacy, career, finances, family and home matters, and friendships with other people--and how to navigate them STEP-BY-STEP GUIDANCE AND EXPERT INSIGHT to help you transform your rela

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