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Book SynopsisThis book presents a new interpretation of the development of the French army during the 'personal rule' of Louis XIV. Based on massive archival research, it examines the army not just as a military institution but also as a living political, social and economic organism.Trade ReviewReview of the hardback: 'This is an extraordinarily well-researched and important book which does much more than improve our understanding of the administration of the army under Louis XIV; it forces us to reconsider the very nature of the late seventeenth-century state.' The English Historical ReviewReview of the hardback: 'This is an impressive study, founded on extensive research in the French army archives, one which throws important light on Louis XIV, his military and his nobility … Guy Rowlands has made an important contribution to the history of the armed forces of the Sun King, one with important implications for our understanding of army, government and society - and their interaction - elsewhere in ancien régime Europe.' Christopher Storrs, Journal of Continuity and ChangeTable of ContentsGeneral introduction: 'Absolute monarchy', dynasticism and the standing army; Part I. 'Patrimonial Bureaucracy': The Le Tellier Dynasty and the Ministry of War: Introduction; 1. The Secretary of State for War and the dynastic interests of the Le Tellier family; 2. The ebb and flow of Le Tellier power, 1661–1701; 3. The use and abuse of servants: the Ministry of War, venality and civilian power in the army; 4. Financing war: the treasury of the Extraordinaire des guerres; 5. Corruption and the pursuit of self-interest in the Ministry of War; Part II. The Forging of the French Officer Corps and the Standing Army under Louis XIV: Introduction; 6. In the name of sustainability: reforming the structure of the standing army and the officer corps; 7. The business of a regiment; 8. The pressures and temptations of service; Part III. The High Command of the French Armies: Introduction; 9. The commanders-in-chief and the delegation of royal authority; 10. The appointment of general officers; 11. The summits of ambition and the rewards of good service: the bienfaits du roi and the high command; Conclusion: the preservation of the dynasty; Appendix 1: Defining the grands; Appendix 2: The proportion of revenue generated by the Extraordinaire des guerres as a 'primary receiver'; Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisIn many ways the German soldiers who marched back from the Western Front at the end of World War I held the key to the future of the newly-created republic that replaced the Kaiser's collapsed monarchy. To the radical Left, the orderly columns of front-line troops appeared to be the forces of the counterrevolution while to the conservative elements of society they seemed to be the Fatherland's salvation. However, in their efforts to get home as soon as possible, most soldiers were indifferent to the political struggles within the Reich, while the remnant that remained under arms proved powerless to defend the republic from its enemies. This book considers why these soldiers' response to the revolution was so different from the rest of the army and the implications this would have for the course of the German Revolution and, ultimately, for the fate of the Weimar Republic itself.Trade ReviewReview of the hardback: 'Scholars will find much to engage with in this powerful book. Stephenson's descriptions of the German retreat following 11 November and his analysis of the soldiers' councils are among the book's strengths. His investigation of the conduct of German soldiers has implications beyond the rather unusual environment of 1918 and will speak to those interested in the behavior of veterans of all wars. The Final Battle is a worthy contribution to Cambridge University Press's prestigious Studies in the Social and Cultural History of Modern Warfare series and a valuable addition to our understanding of the critical year of 1918.' Michael Neiberg, Michigan War Studies ReviewReview of the hardback: '… a moving and often brilliant book that should serve as a model for the so-called 'new military history'.' ParametersReview of the hardback: 'No historian of the Imperial army or the Weimar Republic can afford to ignore this thought-provoking and, in many ways, provocative study.' English Historical ReviewReview of the hardback: 'This well crafted and thoroughly researched monograph is the first in many years to explore the return home of the defeated Imperial Army.' Stand To! The Journal of the Western Front AssociationTable of ContentsPreface; 1. The divided army; 2. The last ditch: German front-line soldiers in the last days of the First World War; 3. Caesar without legions: the field army and the abdication of the Kaiser, November 8–9, 1918; 4. Legions without Caesar: the German army's response to armistice and revolution, November 9–14, 1918; 5. The last march: the German Westheer's march to the Rhine, November–December, 1918; 6. Dissolution and conspiracy: the army's homecoming and demobilization, December 1918; 7. The last parade: the Guards return to Berlin, December 10–22, 1918; 8. The last battle: 'Bloody Christmas,' December 23–24, 1918; 9. From debacle to civil war: the aftermath of 'Bloody Christmas,' December 1918–January 1919; 10. Conclusion: Frontschweine and revolution.

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Book SynopsisThis book studies the importance of North India's military labour market for state and sect formation, social change and the survival strategies of Hindustani villages, and shows how North Indian politics and decision making reflected the multiple alliances and fluid identities of the peasantry.Trade Review""Naukar", Rajput and Sepoy challenges long-held assumptions about the nature of military power and peasant society in northern India before British ascendance. It will add to our knowledge of Indian state formation and to the growing body of scholarship questioning the historical pervasiveness of caste in Indian society." Journal of Asian History"...the argument that military free agency, or naukari, was an important career alternative for late medieval Indian peasants is compelling and energetically sculpted, making this a welcome addition to the social and economic history of South Asia." Richard B. Barnett, The International History ReviewTable of ContentsPreface; List of abbreviations; Glossary; 1. Beyond the control of the state; 2. A Warlord's fresh attempt at empire; 3. The Rajput of pre-Mughal North India; 4. Politics and entrepreneurship of a 'spurious' Rajput clan; 5. Bhojpuri soldiering and the vicissitudes of Empire; Epilogue; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisOriginally published in 1927, this book demonstrate the possible applications of psychological techniques to the training and deployment of soldiers. Bartlett examines features in the life of a soldier, including fatigue and the effects of battle, and offers some suggestions on how modern psychology can better be employed in the service of the army.Table of ContentsPreface; General introduction; Part I. Choosing and Training the Recruit: 1. The general examination: testing the special senses; 2. The general examination: testing intelligence; 3. Tests of special abilities; 4. Training bodily skill; 5. Practice and motives in learning bodily skill; 6. The study of fatigue; Part II. Leadership, Discipline and Morale: 1. Appetite and instinct groups; 2. Interest, sentiment, and ideal groups; 3. The nature and importance of social change; 4. Discipline and punishment; 5. Discipline and suggestion; 6. Leaders and leadership; 7. Morale, with special reference to group games; Part III. Mental Disorders of Warfare: 1. The general background; 2. The normal soldier in war; 3. Conversion hysteria; 4. Anxiety neurosis; 5. Predisposing conditions; 6. Methods of treatment; A review and some suggestions.

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Book SynopsisThis study of Russia's home front mobilization in the Great War explores topics as wide-ranging as the press and propaganda, the Orthodox Church, 'spymania', memorialization, and philanthropy. It should appeal to individuals interested in World War I, nationalism and national identities, citizenship, gender and war, and the Russian revolution.Trade Review'Mobilizing the Russian Nation challenges the notion that Russians had no or insignificant national identity and anything resembling 'healthy patriotism' and, for most authors who argue this thesis, this 'failure' left a blank slate for Bolshevik militancy and dictatorship to become the new regime. On the contrary, Professor Stockdale shows Russian elites as very conscious of the importance of such national identity and patriotism, and as willing to devote considerable resources to their various projects even against the backdrop of the urgently competing priorities of munitions, manpower, and the national food supply. Although many of the 'achievements' of these various projects were undermined by the exhausting, long war - above all any loyalty to the tsar as an embodiment of the nation - other practices were adapted and adjusted by the new Bolshevik leadership. Stockdale offers wonderful institutional histories of several imperial and public associations that played important roles in these multiple wartime nation-building projects.' Mark Von Hagen, Arizona State University'Drawing on a dazzling diversity of original materials, Melissa Kirschke Stockdale upends conventional notions about how Russians experienced the First World War. Through her lucid, nuanced, and compelling analysis, Stockdale has masterfully recast our understanding of wartime patriotism's transformed and transformative role in the shaping of society and politics across a vast imperial state.' Aviel Roshwald, Georgetown University, Washington DC'Mobilizing the Russian Nation examines the powerful crystallization of nationalism, citizenship, and patriotism in Russia in the course of the First World War. She challenges the idea that Russia's war effort was unpopular and that the common people failed to conceive of the war as a patriotic project. Rather, she shows 'the endurance of soldiers and civilians, and the generosity of the entire population, through years of hardship and staggering losses'. She convincingly argues that the First World War transformed Russian civic life and public structures. In doing so, she is always attentive to comparative developments in other combatant societies. Her treatment is fluidly written and highlights the arc of individual lives - be it the high-born governor of St Petersburg, Count Ivan Tolstoy, or the semi-literatate peasant woman Maria Bochkareva. Readers interested in twentieth-century Russia, the First World War, and the global twentieth century will find much of interest in Melissa Kirschke Stockdale's very fine book.' Peter Holquist, University of Pennsylvania'Stockdale's outstanding book overturns the received wisdom on Russian nationalism by convincing readers that even though the Russian state failed in a spectacular and violent way at the end of the First World War, the war nonetheless 'played a significant role in the emergence of the modern Russian nation'. She persuasively shows that the attributes of the Russian national community forged during the First World War 'would outlive the war and civil war, and be worked into Soviet renderings of Russian national identity'.' Karen Petrone, University of Kentucky'How was Russian society mobilized during the Great War? What were the primary forms of patriotic mobilization? How did these efforts influence modern concepts of citizenship and nation in Russia? How has the war 'sold' to different social, ethnic, and confessional groups? And why did Russian soldiers continue to attack the enemy even after the monarchy had collapsed? In order to answer these questions, Professor Melissa Kirschke Stockdale has studied government propaganda, patriotic discourse, civil society activity and charity, theological debates and national projects, and gender and memory politics. She draws on sources from archives in both Moscow and St Petersburg, and has applied new approaches and methods to interpret them. This innovative book will be important both for historians of Russia and for scholars who study the political and cultural history of the Great War.' Boris Kolonitsky, European University, St Petersburg'The book is a panoramic tour of war attitudes that crosses boundaries of class, gender, and (to a lesser degree) ethnicity. Her book is arranged thematically, with chapters on patriotic narratives, the place of the press, the role of the church, war relief, support for soldiers, the discourse of treason, and on patriotism in the revolutionary year of 1917.' Joshua Sanborn, The Journal of Modern History'Melissa Stockdale's richly textured book discusses how Russian - and, by extension, Soviet - identity was fashioned by the war, showing how a variety of very different groups were instrumental in creating a patriotic discourse that had an impact even after the war had ended.' Peter Waldron, The Slavonic and East European Review'Stockdale's work is highly effective in synthesizing a variety of sources to create a well-rounded picture of the concept of patriotism during the war. The result is a nuanced and balanced assessment of the issue, indicating that concepts of patriotism and citizenship were dynamic and fluid, but certainly present. As such, it is an important contribution to the growing body of literature on Russia's Great War.' Laurie S. Stoff, European History QuarterlyTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. A sacred union: patriotic narratives and the language of inclusion; 2. National mobilization: government, propaganda, and the press; 3. 'On the altar of the fatherland': the orthodox church and the language of sacrifice; 4. 'All for the war!': war relief and the language of citizenship; 5. 'United in gratitude': honoring soldiers and defining the nation; 6. Fantasies of treason: sorting out membership in the Russian national community; 7. 'For freedom and the fatherland': shaping citizens in revolutionary 1917; Conclusion; Select bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisThe uplifting and unforgettable true story of a US Marine, the stray dog he met on an Afghan battlefield, and how they saved each other and now travel America together, spreading the message of stubborn positivity.In 2010, Sergeant Craig Grossi was doing intelligence work for Marine RECON—the most elite fighters in the Corps—in a remote part of Afghanistan. While on patrol, he spotted a young dog with a big goofy head and little legs who didn’t seem vicious or run in a pack like most strays they’d encountered. After eating a piece of beef jerky Craig offered—against military regulations—the dog began to follow him. Looks like you made a friend, another Marine yelled. Grossi heard, Looks like a ''Fred.'' The name stuck, and a beautiful, life-changing friendship was forged.Fred not only stole Craig’s heart; he won over the RECON fighters, who helped Craig smuggle the dog into heavily fortified Camp Leatherneck in a duffel bag—risking jail and Fred’s life. With the help of a crew of DHL workers, a sympathetic vet, and a military dog handler, Fred eventually made it to Craig’s family in Virginia. Months later, when Craig returned to the U.S., it was Fred’s turn to save the wounded Marine from Post-Traumatic Stress. Today, Craig and Fred are touching lives nationwide, from a swampy campground in a Louisiana State Park to the streets of Portland, Oregon, and everywhere in between. A poignant and inspiring tale of hope, resilience, and optimism, with a timeless message at its heart—it is not what happens to us that matters, but how we respond to it—Craig & Fred is a shining example of the power of love to transform our hearts and our lives.

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Book SynopsisA war memoir of unusual literary beauty and power from the acclaimed poet who wrote the poem “The Hurt Locker.”Trade Review"[A] praiseworthy example of how the empathetic imagination can function beautifully in nonfiction writing…. Turner has a talent for amalgamating disparate experiences, especially between civilian and soldier, but also between history and the present…. History can only be served by this kind of attention. Man must look at what he has done. And Turner looks, brilliantly." -- Jen Percy - The New York Times Book Review"Turner is…a poet, and he cannot help but see the world, even the world of combat, in terms of beauty, fragility and heartbreaking splendor…. [His] eloquent rendering illuminates both the shared space and the painful divide between poet and soldier, mission and memory, war and peace." -- Roxana Robinson - Washington Post"Turner is the rare soldier-writer who takes a deep interest in Iraqis—their language and literature, their past, their daily doings, their inner lives." -- George Packer - The New Yorker"My Life as a Foreign Country is brilliant and beautiful. It surely ranks with the best war memoirs I've ever encountered—a humane, heartbreaking, and expertly crafted work of literature." -- Tim O'Brien, author of The Things They Carried"In Brian Turner's extraordinarily capable hands, language is war's undoing, in the sense that his words won't allow absurdity and terror to be anything less than real. My Life as a Foreign Country is lyrical and restless, both ironic and profoundly empathetic." -- Mark Doty, author of Fire to Fire, winner of the National Book Award"Turner's voice is prophetic, an eerie calm in the midst of calamity…Achingly, disturbingly, shockingly beautiful." -- Nick Flynn, author of The Reenactments and The Ticking Is the Bomb"A brilliant fever dream of war's surreality, its lastingness, its place in families and in the fate of nations. Each sentence has been carefully measured, weighed with loss and vitality, the hard-earned language of a survivor who has seen the world destroyed and written it back to life. This is a profound and beautiful work of art." -- Benjamin Busch, author of Dust to Dust"A book…about the haunted past and a haunted man… A story of working through trauma, but above all it's a book about a man, a country, even a species beleaguered by a terrible attachment to war." -- Tomas Hachard - NPR"The psychological consequences of war are movingly portrayed… [a] standout." -- Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisA New York Times / National Bestseller "America's funniest science writer" (Washington Post) Mary Roach explores the science of keeping human beings intact, awake, sane, uninfected, and uninfested in the bizarre and extreme circumstances of war.Trade Review"A mirthful, informative peek behind the curtain of military science." -- Washington Post"From the ever-illuminating author of Bonk and Stiff comes an examination of the science behind war. Even the tiniest minutiae count on the battlefield, and Roach leads us through her discoveries in her inimitable style." -- Elle"Our most consistently entertaining science journalist…Roach goes where other writers wouldn’t dare….And her search produces images—a kind of technopoetry—that are hard to forget." -- O Magazine"[Roach] takes on the challenges the military faces to keep its fighters safe and healthy with her trademark flair (and zingy footnotes)." -- Entertainment Weekly"Roach is a tenacious investigative journalist with an appetite for the unappetizing...Grunt ranks high in the Roach repertoire." -- USA Today"Mary Roach’s latest bit of brilliance….As meticulously researched, beautifully written, and disturbingly funny as her previous books…Grunt examines the science behind war, as well as the researchers who are leading the charge in these state-of- the-art developments. Roach’s prose is a triumph—an engaging blend of anecdote, research, and reflection." -- Boston Globe"[Roach] writes exquisitely about the excruciating….wildly informative and vividly written" -- Los Angeles Times"Nobody does weird science quite like [Roach], and this time, she takes on war. Though all her books look at the human body in extreme situations (sex! space! death!), this isn’t simply a blood-drenched affair. Instead, Roach looks at the unexpected things that take place behind the scenes." -- Wired"Roach...applies her tenacious reporting and quirky point of view to efforts by scientists to conquer some of the soldier’s worst enemies." -- Seattle Times"Extremely likable…and quick with a quip….[Roach’s] skill is to draw out the good humor and honesty of both the subjects and practitioners of these white arts among the dark arts of war." -- San Francisco Chronicle"Covering these topics and more, Roach has done a fascinating job of portraying unexpected, creative sides of military science." -- New York Post

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Book SynopsisThis first oral history of living Medal of Honor winners evokes Flags of Our Fathers with stirring accounts of patriotic valor.Trade Review"A book of powerful convictions and human values." -- Michael Pakenham - Baltimore Sun"These recollections are the raw stuff of history. They also provide valuable insight into the military, war and courage under fire." -- John Whiteclay Chambers II - Washington Post Book World

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Book SynopsisAn authoritative history of the first black regiments in American history, whose members helped transform the Civil War from a white man's conflict into a revolutionary struggle for freedom

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Book Synopsis"This engaging history of Arlington National Cemetery ... is also the story of America's maturation through death and war ... An editor and journalist, [Poole] is an adroit sketcher of historical events, but even more of character."-EconomistTrade ReviewVivid, compelling, filled with rich and unexpected detail. Geoffrey C. Ward, author of The Civil War Gripping and often deeply moving, On Hallowed Ground chronicles both the evolution of our national cemetery and the profound ways in which treatment of the war dead reflects a nation's soul. Caroline Alexander, author of The Endurance A memorable combination of historical research, firsthand reporting, and sensitive writing. Ernest B. Furguson, author of Freedom Rising Robert M. Poole not only captures the history of a venerable American institution but with it the politics of commemoration and reconciliation. Paul Dickson, coauthor of The Bonus Army Robert Poole has coupled superb storytelling with meticulous research and produced a gem. Robert Timberg, author of The Nightingale's Song

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Book SynopsisWhen four-star general John Rogers Galvin retired from the US Army after 44 years of distinguished service in 1992, the Washington Post hailed him as a man without peer among living generals. In Fighting the Cold War, the soldier, scholar, and statesman recounts his active participation in more than sixty years of international history.Trade ReviewGeneral Jack Galvin has given us an insightful, important analysis of one of history's mega events - the Cold War when the future of the planet was at stake. This soldier-statesman was an insider's insider and we should be very grateful for his service and wisdom."" - Tom Brokaw""Widely respected as a soldier, scholar, and statesman - who stood out in his generation as a brilliant strategic thinker - General Jack Galvin was also a voracious reader with a wonderfully inquiring mind and a keen intellect. The joy he takes in observing, commenting, and writing-with a wry sense of humor-on an extraordinary range of experiences emerges wonderfully in the pages of this book. Fighting the Cold War thus is an exceptional commentary not only on General Galvin's life and times, but also on timeless issues like leadership, strategic thinking, family, and relationships."" - General David H. Petraeus, USA (Ret.), from the foreword""The Cold War could not have been won, nor ended so peacefully, without individuals like Jack Galvin manning the front lines. Fighting the Cold War is a thoughtful record of service by a distinguished leader in a tumultuous period."" - Henry Kissinger""Galvin played a vital role in the Cold War, and his experiences spanned much of America's history from the 1960s to the 1990s - from Vietnam to Central America to Europe. In Fighting the Cold War he tells this important story with style and verve."" - Lawrence S. Kaplan, author of The Conversion of Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg: From Isolation to International Engagement""During his more than forty-five years of service, during which he rose to become NATO Supreme Commander, General Jack Galvin was one of the brightest stars of his profession. Far more than just the memoir of one of the Army's finest, Fighting the Cold War is also the unusually candid, modest and insightful story of an exceptional teacher, scholar and diplomat whose dedication to the nation has made him a role model for us all. His book is a rare gem."" - Carlo D'Este, Author of Patton: A Genius For War""General Jack Galvin's career spans a critical period in American history, from before the start of Vietnam through the end of the Cold War. His memoir provides a keen personal perspective on all of those events, and reminds us of what we owe to those who have served as he has."" - Francis Fukuyama, author of Political Order and Political Decay: From the Industrial Revolution to the Globalization of Democracy""General 'Jack' Galvin's extraordinary service was marked by dedication, wisdom, and absolute integrity. In this appealing memoir he describes with modesty and candor the challenges he faced during eventful times for our Army and our nation. It is quite simply a very fine account by a very fine soldier."" - General John W. Vessey Jr., Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (1982-1985)""General Jack Galvin is one of the greatest soldiers this country ever had."" - President George H.W. Bush""I was a warrant officer helicopter pilot for General Galvin when he commanded a battalion in Vietnam. I worked decades in and for the Army and never served under or met another officer of his caliber. I would literally charge Hell with a bucket of ice water for him and am thrilled by this terrific book about soldiers and service and sacrifice."" - Bruce James, Ghostrider 11 ""Zorba""Gen. Jack Galvin was the kind of warrior intellectual the U.S. Army produces at its very best. This wonderful memoir distills what Galvin learned in his 44 years of service - building toward his role as Supreme Allied Commander when the Cold War ended. A moment that sums up this book is something Galvin says he told Henry Kissinger in 1988 about the darkest days of World War II. Watched young second lieutenants head off to their commands from the Anzio beachhead, an observer asked: ""I wonder if they are well read?"" Still the right question. Those who love the U.S. Army will want to add this volume to their shelves."" - David Ignatius, Columnist, The Washington Post""General Jack Galvin is a true Cold War hero. Few Americans combined the roles of soldier, scholar, and statesman during those decades, as ably as he. His leadership has been exemplary, and we are fortunate to have it reflected so clearly in this excellent memoir."" - John Lewis Gaddis, Yale University""From his early days in the atomic army of the 1950s, through two tours in Vietnam, to top commands in Europe and Panama, General John Galvin witnessed nearly half-a-century of American military history. Honest, insightful, reflective, and entertaining, his memoir is a fascinating insider's perspective of Cold War soldiering."" - Brian McAllister Linn, author of The Army's Way of War""[I]ntriguing... A valuable read for anyone interested in the continuing evolvement of the American military."" - Washington Times""This engaging memoir of a solider's service is an altogether superb work. [He] is candid, lucid, meticulous in research, and writes with verve on a wide canvas."" - Richard Halloran, US Army War College Parameters""He has a unique perspective on many of the momentous events of the latter half of the twentieth century. It is not only his access, but also his perspicacity that gives this memoir its unique value. Young men and women considering military service will appreciate this book. Galvin recounts both the hardships and rewards that come with service."" - Survival""Students of military history will find much in the book about the Vietnam War, as well as about the American Cold War presence in Europe and Latin America.""Superbly written memoir....Galvin is a gifted writer and writes in a highly conversant style that allows him to tell a story very succinctly. It is unquestionably one of the most readable soldier's memoirs published in recent years."" - On Point""Galvin's memoir (introduced by an admiring Petraeus) is a characteristically modest, wry, and thoughtful account, not only of leadership but also of the rise, fall, and rise again of U.S. military power in the second half of the twentieth century. And it is, as well, a reminder that now and again, one comes across generals with the stuff of greatness in them."" - Foreign Affairs""He provides a unique perspective that includes candid thoughts on his personal engagements with leaders such as Ronald Reagan, George H. Bush, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Colin Powell. Superbly written, highly detailed."" - Military Review""A delight to read. The real Galvin - son of Boston, family man, soldier-scholar, mensch - comes through on every page.Galvin reveals the people and personalities behind the policy.He artfully showed how the general-statesman navigated political-military issues, lined up the allies, openly consorted with ambassadors, and coordinated with multiple bosses, all while simultaneously developing new warfighting concepts and arms-control proposals. Worth every minute that you invest in it, whether you are a historian, a student of leadership, a NATO-phile, a USSOUTHCOM staffer, or just interested in the Cold War as seen through the eyes of a general raised in Boston's working class"" - Joseph J Collins, Joint Forces Quarterly""Galvin is a skilled raconteur, and his narrative holds a reader's attention as he moves from story to story. Galvin's memoir is an entertaining endeavor full of fascinating observations on the personalities and events of the Cold War. It captures the feel of that epoch's waning years as East and West moved toward a wary rapprochement. Reading the book is time well spent for both military personnel and civilians interested in the career of one of the Army's most distinguished officers of the Cold War period, as well as the history of the era itself."" - Army History""His memoir is superbly written; it will be a treat for all who read it."" - Army Magazine""A highly interesting and informative autobiography."" - VVA Veteran""It is an intelligent, complete analysis untouched by the hubris and arrogance of so many other leadership biographies. The colour and texture he provides makes the reader feel part of the discussion - a skill few writers manage with such effectiveness.Not only was Galvin a most capable soldier, but he wrote engagingly, with breadth, perspective and humor."" - RUSI Journal""The rich detail emanates from [Galvin's] own copious notebooks and journals, supplemented by material from his wife and, most importantly, a series of letters to his father that extended over thirty-seven years. [The book] offers insightful and compelling stories from the Cold War, told by a capable and engaging writer."" - Journal of Military History""General Jack Galvin has written a fascinating memoir that is both an important lesson in history and a tutorial in strategic leadership."" - Prism"" Fighting the Cold War, which spans Galvin's life from youth to West Point to Vietnam to NATO command and beyond, is a free-roaming reflection on the events, people, and causes that made Gen. Galvin one of the key architects to the peaceful end of the Cold War.The fine balance between thinking and acting is one of the consistent themes in Fighting the Cold War. Whether dealing with the paperwork headaches in the 101st or disarmament talks with his Soviet counterparts, Gen. Galvin's memoir reveals an astute and self-reflective leader who grasped the many dimensions of senior command. The book offers ideas and examples of how to be an effective commander and staff officer at all levels, how to deal with foreign forces, and how to deal with profound change. As we prepare for an uncertain future, Fighting the Cold War provides insights on how to approach change thoughtfully, with emphasis on self-reflection, teamwork, and communication."" - Infantry

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Book SynopsisThis book opens up a new area in modern Chinese history and Chinese military history by revealing that the cultural discourse on the soldier image is essential to understanding Chinese nationalism, state-building, and civil-military relations in the early twentieth century.

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Book SynopsisBEFORE HE COULD FORGE A BAND OF ELITE WARRIORS... HE HAD TO BECOME ONE HIMSELF.Adapted from Webb''s Adult Bestseller The Red Circle for a Young Adult AudienceBrandon Webb''s experiences in the world''s most elite sniper corps are the stuff of legend. From his grueling years of training in Naval Special Operations to his combat tours in the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan, The Making of a Navy SEAL provides a rare and riveting look at the inner workings of the U.S. military through the eyes of a covert operations specialist.Yet it is Webb''s distinguished second career as a lead instructor for the shadowy sniper cell and Course Manager of the Navy SEAL Sniper Program that trained some of America''s finest and deadliest warriors-including Marcus Luttrell and Chris Kyle-that makes his story so compelling. Luttrell credits Webb''s training with his own survival during the ill-fated 2005 Operation Redwing in Afghanistan. Kyle went on to become th

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Book SynopsisThis richly illustrated volume tells the story of the seven regiments of the Household Division, along with the supporting personalities and units of London District. A subject as fascinating as it is multifarious. From the key personalities responsible for the razor-sharp execution of state ceremonial and public duties, to the historical figures who helped establish and shape a military dynasty. Travel through the history of the Household Division from its birth in 1660, with the restoration of Charles II, to its role in establishing Britain's Special Forces. It is a journey of political intrigue, cementing empire, and fighting terrorism. From the founding fathers such as George Monck, who laid the foundations for a professional British Army, to adventurers like David Stirling and Sir Frederick 'Boy' Browning, the history of the Household Division is one of almost continuous action and innovation. Supported by the Honourable Artillery Company and the King's Troop, The Royal Horse

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Book SynopsisCelebrated historian Winston Groom tells the uniquely American tales of George Patton, Douglas MacArthur, and George Marshall, from World War I to World War II. These three remarkable men-of-arms who rose from the gruesome hell of the First World War to become the finest generals of their generation during World War II redefined America's ideas of military leadership and brought forth a new generation of American soldier. Their efforts revealed to the world the grit and determination that would become synonymous with America in the post-war years.  Filled with novel-worthy twists and turns, and set against the backdrop of the most dramatic moments of the twentieth century, The Generals is a powerful, action-packed book filled with marvelous surprises and insights into the lives of America's most celebrated warriors.

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Book SynopsisThe Anglo-Zulu War lasted only six months in 1879, but in that relatively short time twenty-three men were awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry under most trying and dangerous circumstances. Zulu warriors gave no mercy and expected none in return, yet half of the awards were given to men who went back into the midst of fierce fighting to rescue stranded comrades, well-aware that they risked suffering a particularly brutal death. Two men received posthumous awards for their efforts to save the Queen's Colour of their regiment after the disastrous engagement against overwhelming numbers of warriors at Isandlwana, and perhaps the most famous of all awards of the Victoria Cross were the eleven gained for the immortal defence of Rorke's Drift, the battle brought back to the public consciousness by the motion picture _Zulu!_ The conflict has never left the public's imagination, and continues to stir hot debate among military historians and enthusiasts. With information compiled over four decades by James W. Bancroft, a well-known and respected historian and author of several publications on the subject, this book brings together more information about the men than has ever before been collected together in one publication.

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Book Synopsis_'This is a brilliant account of how leadership is made.'_ - Andy McNab This is the true story of 21 young men desperately trying to survive the most brutal leadership course of modern times. A throw back to the Highland Fieldcraft Training Centre, the revolutionary brain child of Lord Rowallan during the Second World War, this fascinating insight explains the extraordinary lengths Sandhurst goes to in pursuit of generating the world's greatest military leaders. No one could have known that the intensity of their training was coincidentally little more than a prelude to a decade of war in Afghanistan and Iraq where attrition rates became comparable to those reached during the Second World War. This captivating story is full of emotion brought on by physical and mental endeavour that leads to success and failure. This intimate and revealing story of camaraderie is the first of its kind. But learning how to lead subordinates during the darkest of hours, living in the most austere of environments comes at a price. Unconventional and at times controversial, this is the only authentic account of life in Rowallan Company Sandhurst at a time when the world teetered on the brink of war with insurgents and dictators armed with weapons of mass destruction.

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Book SynopsisWith Schwarzkopf is Gus Lee's remembrance of his mentor and friend H. Norman Schwarzkopf, and his firsthand account of how Schwarzkopf shaped his life. In 1966, Lee, a junior-year cadet at West Point, was bright, athletic, and popular. He was also on the verge of getting kicked out. Nearing the bottom of his class due to his penchant for playing poker and reading recreationally instead of studying engineering, he was assigned a new professor: then-Major Norman Schwarzkopf. Schwarzkopf's deeply principled nature and fierce personality took hold of the wayward cadet, and the two began meeting regularly and discussing what it meant to be a scholar, a soldier, and a man. Lee's vibrant, witty narrative brings his more than forty-year relationship with Schwarzkopf to life. Readers get an inside look at West Point culture; they see Schwarzkopf's bristling anger with his rebellious pupil as well as his tenacity, intellect, and moments of surprising emotional warmth; and they watch as Lee starts to absorb his teachings. As he left West Point and took on more professional and personal roles, Lee approached every crisis or difficult decision by channeling his mentor. Over the years, Schwarzkopf's instilled values, wise counsel, and warm conversations shaped Lee and brought the two together in an unlikely friendship. In With Schwarzkopf, Lee passes along the lessons he learned so future generations can hear Schwarzkopf's important teachings.

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Book Synopsis“Character is destiny” wrote Greek Philosopher Heraclitus more than twenty-five centuries ago. Douglas Southall Freeman, the Army of Northern Virginia’s preeminent historian, echoed that view when he wrote, “Further study . . . may prove both more profitable and more interesting when it deals with men and morale than where it merely described in new terms the familiar strategy and battles.” Better than any historian of his age, Freeman appreciated the impact character played on Gen. Robert E. Lee’s judgment and actions. Indeed, the foundation of his Pulitzer Prize-winning Lee biography is constructed around this theme. Most writers of military history stress strategy and tactics at the expense of the character of their subjects. Larry Tagg remedies that oversight with The Generals of Shiloh, a unique and invaluable study of the high-ranking combat officers whose conduct in April 1862 helped determine the success or failure of their respective armies, the fate of the war in the Western Theater and, in turn, the fate of the American union. Tagg’s new book, which is modeled after his bestselling The Generals of Gettysburg, presents detailed background information on each of his subjects, coupled with a thorough account of each man’s actions on the field of Shiloh and, if he survived that battle, his fate thereafter. Many of the great names tossed up by civil war are found here in this early battle, from U. S. Grant, William T. Sherman, and Don Carlos Buell, to Albert S. Johnston, Braxton Bragg, and P. G. T. Beauregard. Many more men, whose names crossed the stage of furious combat only to disappear in the smoke on the far side, also populate these pages. Every one acted in his own unique fashion and in a manner worthy of study. This marriage of character (“the features and attributes of a man”) with his war record, offers new insights into how and why a particular soldier acted a certain way, in a certain situation, at a certain time. Nineteenth century combat was an unforgiving cauldron. In that hot fire some grew timid and listless, others demonstrated a tendency toward rashness, and the balance rose to the occasion and did their duty as they understood it. Each of their stories are found within these pages. The Generals of Shiloh will be hailed as both a wonderful read and an outstanding reference work for the general student and scholar alike.

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Book SynopsisThe 12th Virginia has an amazing history. John Wilkes Booth stood in the ranks of one of its future companies at John Brown’s hanging. The regiment refused to have Stonewall Jackson appointed its first colonel. Its men first saw combat in naval battles, including Hampton Roads and First Drewry’s Bluff, before embarrassing themselves at Seven Pines—their first land battle—just outside Richmond. Thereafter, the 12th’s record is one of hard-fighting from the Seven Days’ Battles all the way to Appomattox. Its remarkable story is told here in full for the first time in John Horn’s The Petersburg Regiment in the Civil War: A History of the 12th Virginia Infantry from John Brown’s Hanging to Appomattox, 1859-1865. The Virginians of the 12th found themselves in some of the most pivotal battles of the war under Generals William Mahone and later, David Weisiger. After distinguishing themselves at Second Manassas, they were hit hard at Crampton’s Gap in the South Mountain fighting and were only able to field 25 men three days later at Sharpsburg. Good service at Chancellorsville followed. Its Gettysburg performance, however, tied to General Mahone’s mysterious behavior there, remains controversial. The Virginians played a key role in Longstreet’s flank attack at the Wilderness as well as in his near-fatal wounding, launched a bayonet charge at Spotsylvania, and captured their first enemy flag. The regiment truly came into its own during the nine-month siege of Petersburg, where it fought in a host of bloody battles including the Crater, Jerusalem Plank Road, Globe Tavern, Second Reams Station, Burgess Mill, and Hatcher’s Run. Two days before the surrender at Appomattox the regiment fought in the rear guard action at Cumberland Church—General Lee’s final victory of the war. Horn’s definitive history is grounded in decades of archival research that uncovered scores of previously unused accounts. The result is a lively, driving, up-tempo regimental history that not only describes the unit’s marches and battles, but includes personal glimpses into the lives of the Virginians who made up the 12th regiment. Tables compare the 12th’s fighting prowess with friend and foe, and an appendix resolves the lingering controversy over the fate of the regiment’s last battle flag. With thirty-two original maps, numerous photos, diagrams, tables, and appendices, a glossary, and many explanatory footnotes, The Petersburg Regiment in the Civil War will long be hailed as one of the finest regimental histories ever penned.Trade ReviewExcellent value and highly recommended for collectors of Civil War regimental histories and for wargamers who wish to recreate any of the battles in which the 12th Virginia served. * Miniature Wargames - Arthur Harman *

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Book SynopsisWhen Mao Zedong proclaimed The People’s Republic of China in 1949, China was a poor and wrecked society after years of continuous wars. For centuries, in fact, China had been seen as a sort of plunder-zone to be invaded, and then a backwater until the late 1980s, when domestic policy brought about monumental changes. The result was that in the past quarter-century China has grown to be the second largest economy in the world, and its military has grown proportionately.Successive decades of economic growth have transformed China—in addition to the weapons revolution during the computer age—so that by now the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has become a modern fighting force. No longer having to rely on massed infantry attacks, it now features a formidable arsenal including nuclear submarines, ICBMs, stealth fighters, and modern battle tanks. Perhaps ominously for other maritime powers, the Chinese have also focused on beyond-the-horizon missile technology, as well as anti-aircraft systems, and have also explored the possibilities of cyber-warfare.What is today’s PLA really like? What are its traditions and histories, and how is it armed and equipped? How does it recruit and train? This book describes some of the lesser known battles and wars the Chinese have undertaken, and the development of their key weapons systems. The United States, having opened the door to “drone warfare,” have had an attentive audience for such technologies in Beijing.The last chapter provides thoughts on how the Chinese view matters of security. It is not yet known whether foreign powers can still enforce their territorial wills on China, but future attempts will meet an increased challenge. This book will be of interest not only to general readers but to policy-makers and militaries in the West, who may not yet realize that a new China has replaced the old.Trade ReviewExtensive appendices offer considerable tabular data. * The Historical Miniatures Gaming Society 02/11/2022 *The title of the book, the Dragon's Teeth, refers to the People's Liberation Army, and author Benjamin Lal tells the unprecedented story of its formation, its strengths and weaknesses, its exploits since its formation and the force it represents should a foreign power attempt to encroach on its terrain. Unparalleled information on the force and its history through the last seventy-five years. * Books Monthly *Many of us will know about Russian, US and NATO armed forces, so very interesting to see this level of detail on the modern Chinese PLA. It has put China in a very different position from old. * Military Model Scene *I found the book to be an extremely comprehensive read...a well-researched, and well-sourced history of the Chinese military. * NetGalley *

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Book SynopsisAn army marches on its stomach—so the classic saying goes. This book brings together excerpts from contemporary manuals for U.S. Army cooks to show how the U.S. Army fed and provisioned its troops in the early 20th century and lift the lid on what daily life must have been like both for those preparing and consuming the rations. The oldest manual included dates from 1896. At this time, the U.S. Army was involved in the last skirmishes of the Indian Wars, the Spanish-American war and the Philippine-American war. The manual prepares a cook for any eventuality whether in garrison, at camp in the field, or on the march, with instructions on everything from butchery to preserving meat and how to organise the serving of the food and clean utensils (a stew pan with fine sand and salt). As well as classic American fare such as chowder, numerous hash recipes and Rhode Island pancakes, more exotic influences are apparent with such delights as Crimean Kebobs, Turkish pillau, "Bombshells" (giant meatballs) and Tamales (chilli beef stew wrapped in corn leaf parcels). By contrast a 1916 manual offers a detailed consideration of nutrition for the men, and what must be one of the first calorie counters for different dishes. Instructions are given on how to assemble a field range in a trench and on a train. Among the more unusual recipes are "head cheese" (meat stew made from scraps) and pickled pigsfeet. Manuals produced during WWII instructed cooks how to bake a variety of breads, cakes and pies, or how to cook dehydrated products. With an introduction explaining the historical background, this is a fascinating and fun exploration of early 20th-century American army cooking, with a dash of inspiration for feeding your own army!Trade ReviewAs I said, a quirky but very interesting wee book which is worth keeping on the shelf just to dip in to now and again for amusement, knowledge of US Army infrastructure and general military history. Very useful also if you have 60 US servicemen popping round for tea! * Army Rumour Service *

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Book SynopsisAfter the shocking fall of France in June 1940, the U.S. Army embarked on a crash program to establish a new armored force. One of the units formed was the 756th Tank Battalion (Light), activated at Fort Lewis in June 1941. Because of severe equipment shortages, the new battalion trained without tanks for several months, but by early 1942 were equipped with new M3 light tanks. While companies A and C took part in Operation Torch, B was withheld for lack of cargo space in the transport ships and re-joined the battalion two months later in north Africa. The units undertook reconnaissance missions following the landings in Salerno.In December 1943 the battalion was ordered to upgrade to a medium tank (Sherman) unit. Given less than a month to reorganize and train in M4s, the battalion was sent into the Mignano Gap on January 11, 1944 and supported the 34th Infantry Division in the capture of Cervaro and Monte Trocchio. Later in January B Company supported the troops of the 100th Battalion on bloody but ill-fated attempts to cross the Rapido river - finally at the third attempt the battalion established a secure bridgehead across the Rapido. During the next two days the nearby town of Caira was also captured, opening a clear avenue for an attack on Cassino.Based on decades of research, and hours of interviews with veterans of the 756th Tank Battalion, Jeff Danby's vivid narrative puts the reader in the turret of B Company's Shermans as they ride into battle.Endorsements:“This is an excellent, in-depth, day-to-day account of the operations of one tank company of a US independent tank battalion, B Company, 756th Tank Battalion, in World War II… With its focus on tank crew members and their commanders this is a unique addition to the literature on WWII.”––A. Harding Ganz, Associate Professor Emeritus of the Ohio State University at Newark, author of Ghost Division“It is very rare to find a book that takes the reader down to the close and personal level of a company of men in battle. We have seen that for paratroopers in Band of Brothers and now we have it for a tank unit, in this case Company B of the 756th Tank Battalion. And what a remarkable book it is … the book is very hard to put down and by the end of it I found myself looking forward to reading the next volume.”––Jeffrey Plowman, author of Rampant Dragons: New Zealander’s Experience in Armour in World War II, Tank Attack at Monte Cassino: The Cavendish Road Operation 1944 and The Battles for Cassino Then and Now“[Danby] brings all his considerable skills to this unique Battalion level history. No lead is left unfollowed and this adds not only to the legitimacy of his work but also tells the personal story of these valiant men … It may be the best US armored unit history ever put together so long after the conflict … For the small unit historian of the Armored Units of the Second World War, I cannot recommend this book more highly.”––Victor Failmezger, author of American Knights, the Untold Story of the Legendary 601th Tank Destroyer Battalion“Jeff Danby weaves an empathetic tale of people in his history of Company B, 756th Tank Battalion. From the very start, he frames portentous global events in terms of how the young men who would fight the war would have seen them. Danby’s prose is punchy, visually evocative, and entertaining.”––Harry Yeide, author of The Tank Killers, The Infantry’s Armor, and Steeds of Steel“Danby introduces and develops an extensive cast of personalities, average American soldiers, as they experience combat and the quiet periods in-between, and gives the reader precious insight in to why this unit was so combat proficient. Jeff has written another great story which I recommend to everyone interested in WWII and especially tank units in that war.”––LTC Timothy R. Stoy, U.S. Army, retired, served 31 years in the U.S. Army as an Infantry and Foreign Affairs Officer. Historian for the Society of the 3rd Infantry Division (2007–2017) and currently Historian of the 15th Infantry Regimental Association since 1997.Table of ContentsThe Setting 1: Origins 2: Formation 3: Preparing for a New Kind of War 4: California and a Captaincy 5: North African Foothold 6: Border Watchers 7: Tunisia 8: Bizerte Bystanders 9: Italy 10: Reorganized 11: The Gates of Hell 12: The Rapido River 13: Attack 14: Bridgehead 15: Caira 16: The Barracks Appendices Bibliography Notes Index

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Book SynopsisThe 597th Field Artillery Battalion, 92nd Division, was the first, last, and only all-black officered direct support field artillery battalion committed to combat in the history of the U.S. Army. It was the first all-black unit in a combat division and, together with the 600th Field Artillery Battalion, constituted the only all-black units in any combat division. Alongside impressive achievements on the battlefield in Italy in 1944–45, the unit provided more key command and staff positions exclusively for black field artillery officers than any other U.S. Army unit in combat, giving combat training and experience to more senior black field artillery officers than any of the other 16 black field artillery battalions during World War II.Colonel Wendell Derricks worked to shelter his troops from the worst of the racism exhibited during the war and, due to his ability to envision an integrated post-war army, he provided unique leadership opportunities for his senior officers. The alumni of the 597th Field Artillery Battalion have an impressive record of success; many of them were inducted into the Field Artillery Hall of Fame, some served at the Pentagon, including Lieutenant Colonel Clark, and others forged successful career in the civilian world.Table of ContentsTHE END OF EXCLUSION 1 A Limited Opportunity 2 The Opportunity Expands 3 A Northern Winter in Indiana 4 Camp Robinson, Arkansas 5 Fort Huachuca 6 Louisiana Maneuvers 7 Programmed for Failure BRIDGING THE OBSTACLE 8 The Tide Turns 9 Over There GAINING A FOOTHOLD 10 By the Sea 11 In the Mountains 12 Changes at the Top 13 A New Year and a New Assignment 14 In the Valley 15 Operation Fourth Term 16 The Aftermath 17 On the Move 18 The Enemy Withdrawal Becomes a Rout THE LONG WAY HOME 19 Two Down and One to Go 20 A Special Mission Carried Out from Varazze 21 Preparing for Redeployment 22 Three Down and We had Earned a Trip Home BEYOND DERRICKS’ DIARY 23 Colonel Wendell Derricks 24 Derricks’ Legacy 25 The Race Continues 26 Success

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Book SynopsisOperation Masher/White Wing targeted the regiments of the North Vietnamese Army Sao Vang Division operating in the Bong Son area in northeast Binh Dinh Province in central South Vietnam. The operation started on January 24, 1966, immediately after the Vietnamese New Year (Tet) and ended six weeks later. It was led by newly promoted Colonel Harold G. Moore, who as a lieutenant colonel commanded the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry in the battle of Landing Zone X-Ray in the Ia Drang Valley two months earlier.In 41 days of sustained fighting, the 1st Cav battled each of the three regiments of the Sao Vang Division, resulting in enemy losses of more than 3,000 KIA. This came at the cost of 199 Americans killed on the battlefield and 46 more who died in the crash of a U.S. Air Force C-123 aircraft en route to the battlefield, making it one of the deadliest battles of the entire Vietnam War.Operation Masher/White Wing was a success. The 1st Cav demonstrated that it had the firepower, mobility, and leadership to find the enemy and deliver a severe blow to it in terms of personnel and equipment losses and in forced evacuation from formerly “secure” base areas, seemingly proving the value of the search-and-destroy strategy.However within a few weeks, intelligence reports indicated that North Vietnamese soldiers were returning to the Bong Son area in small groups. By late April, the Sao Vang Division was back in the area in force. Operation Masher/White Wing proved to be the start of a very long and deadly struggle between the 1st Cav and North Vietnamese for control of Binh Dinh Province—multiple search & destroy operations eventually resulted in more than 9,000 enemy KIA and 2,358 enemy detained, with friendly losses of more than 1,200 KIA, 5,775 WIA, and 27 MIA. While Masher/White Wing demonstrated that search & destroy operations were very effective at the tactical level but without a high-level strategy to stop the unabated flow of fresh Communist troops and supplies into South Vietnam, it wasn’t clear just how they contributed to overall victory. At the start of 1968, General Westmoreland ordered the 1st Cav to terminate its operations in the Bong Son area, bringing the battle to a close.Table of ContentsPrologue 1. Preparing for Battle 2. Tragedy Strikes 3. Attack 4. Breakout from the Cemetery 5. A Pincer Action 6. Closing-out Phase I 7. Into the An Lao Valley 8. The Eagle’s Claw 9. Yelling Like Madmen 10. Death in a Narrow Place 11. The Iron Triangle 12. No Rest for the Weary 13. The Go Chai Mountains 14. Black Horse 15. Conclusion Appendix I: Book of Honor Appendix II: Memorandum Requesting Name Change Appendix III: Citations and Award Bibliography Historical Documents Glossary

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Book SynopsisWith a reputation for being hard to discipline, generosity to their comrades, frankness and sticking it up any sign of pomposity, Australian soldiers were a wild and irreverent lot, even in the worst of circumstances during World War II. In Larrikins in Khaki, Tim Bowden has collected compelling and vivid stories of individual soldiers whose memoirs were mostly self-published and who told of their experiences with scant regard for literary pretensions and military niceties. Most of these men had little tolerance for military order and discipline, and NCOs and officers who were hopeless at their jobs were made aware of it. They laughed their way through the worst of it by taking the mickey out of one another and their superiors. From recruitment and training to the battlegrounds of Palestine, North Africa, Thailand, New Guinea, Borneo and beyond, here are the highly individual stories of Australia's World War II Diggers told in their own voices - warts and all.Table of ContentsIntroductionMilitary units Chapter 1: Joining upChapter 2: Very basic trainingChapter 3: Sailing to warChapter 4: Desert Diggers prepare for warChapter 5: High jinks in EgyptChapter 6: Fighting in the desertChapter 7: Ill-fated Greek adventureChapter 8: Out of the frying pan into the fireChapter 9: The Allied invasion of Lebanon and SyriaChapter 10: The tide turnsChapter 11: Return to AustraliaChapter 12: Prisoners of war of the Japanese Chapter 13: The railway of deathChapter 14: Service at homeChapter 15: The saga of the flying footsloggersChapter 16: The Kokoda Track and the bloody beachheadsChapter 17: The battle for New GuineaChapter 18: An unnecessary campaignChapter 19: Savagery in BougainvilleChapter 20: Bloody Borneo-Tarakan and BalikpapanChapter 21: The lost years and damaged livesChapter 22: Retain all prisoners of war indefinitely Chapter 23: Final thoughtsAcknowledgements NotesBibliography Index

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Book SynopsisSoldiers to the Last Day: Rhineland- Westphalian 6th Infantry Division, 1935-1945 recounts the history of the German 6th Infantry Division from its formation in 1935 to its destruction at Babruysk in July 1944; then its resurrection and continued fighting until the end of the war. Among the first divisions established by the Wehrmacht, the 6th Infantry Division had one of the longest and bloodiest records of continuous combat of any division—Allied or Axis. Engaging in combat within weeks of the outbreak of WWII, the division fought to the last hour of the war. Based primarily on German sources, in particular the rare divisional and regimental histories and war diaries, and on personal accounts and letters of its soldiers, Soldiers to the Last Day presents the German view of the war from inside divisional headquarters and down to the individual Landser as the division marches across France in 1940, advances to the Volga during Operation Barbarossa, fights the brutal battles of Rzhev, Kursk, Babruysk; and makes last desperate attempts to defend the homeland in 1945. It is a tale of courage, determination, suffering, and in the end—betrayal.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments; Author’s Note; Introduction; 1 From the Ashes; 2 Mobilization and War: First Blood; 3 “Kameraden Wir Marschieren im Westen”; 4 Barbarossa I: Into the Unknown; 5 Barbarossa II: The Volga and Beyond; 6 A Winter in Hell; 7 The First Winter Battle of Rzhev; 8 The Summer Battle of Rzhev; 9 “Wir Halten Rshew!” The Second Winter Battle of Rzhev; 10 Operation Büffel; 11 Operation Freischütz; 12 Zitadelle; 13 The Year of Retreat; 14 Death of a Division; 15 Resurrection and the Warka; 16 Silesian Requiem; Epilogue; Endnotes; Appendix I: Men of the Division; Appendix II: Das Ritterkreuz; Appendix III: Das Birkenkreuz; Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisMilitary historians have often regarded the roll of the Italian military as somewhat "bi-polar." During the First World War, Italy sided with the Allies including Britain, France, Russia and the U.S. against Germany and the Central Powers. During the Second World War it signed on as a member of the Tri-Partite powers joining Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. The legacy of the latter often presents a less than positive appraisal of the Italian soldier's performance... one espoused both by its enemies and allies. However a positive consensus appears when focusing on the Bersaglieri... translating as "sharp shooter"... and acting as shock troops often leading both assaults and defences. As "The Tip of the Spear" they would thus pay the price during the Italian Wars of Unification, the early colonial forays into Africa, WWI, the Ethiopian War and lastly WWII with much Bersaglieri blood soaked up by European soil as well as the burning sands of Africa and frozen in the vastness of Russia. Over 300 images including rare unpublished photographs chronicle Italy's elite "Plumed Warriors."

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Book SynopsisWhen war broke out in 1939 over 20,000 Irishmen were serving in the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force with the greatest proportion in the Army. During the war this rose to over 120,000, suggesting that about 100,000 enlisted during the war.Nine earned the Victoria Cross; three members of the Royal Navy, including a Fleet Air Arm pilot, four soldiers, including a member of the Australian forces, and two RAF pilots.The author looks at the seven Irish regiments in campaigns across the globe, at Irish soldiers across the Army, at Irish sailors from the Battle of the River Plate to the final actions against Japan, and at Irish airmen from the first bombing raids of the war to the closing days of war.Included are outstanding personalities such as the Chavasse brothers, who earned three DSOs, three DSCs and two MiDs, Bala Bredin, Corran Purden, Brendan 'Paddy' Finucane, Blair Mayne and Roy Farran, the latter pair highly-decorated SAS officers. There are also Irish generals, such as Paddy Warren who died while commanding 5th Indian Division in Burma and Frederick Loftus Tottenham, who commanded 81st (West African) Division, not to mention giants such as Alexander, Auchinleck, Montgomery and McCreery.Irish women are not forgotten in the book which also takes a brief look at the Irish in other Allied forces, including a most unusual volunteer for the US Navy whose application to serve had to be approved by President Roosevelt. He was William Patrick Hitler, a nephew of Germany's fuhrer.

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Book SynopsisThe military photographs in family albums stand out as different and distinctive and the sight of an ancestor in uniform stirs thoughts of what he or she did and where they served. Neil Storey offers advice on identifying military uniforms, badges, insignia, ranks, medals and the equipment worn by our military ancestors. These items can provide a wealth of information about the person or people in the photograph and can lead to many new avenues of research. The book covers our Nation's military history from the 1870's to the 1940's.Trade Review"For analyzing a photograph of someone in the military anywhere in the British Empire from 1865 to the 1940s, this book is a must."--Maureen Taylor, Providence, RI"National Genealogical Society Quarterly" (06/01/2013)

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