Modern warfare Books

Book SynopsisWorld War II was truly a ‘world’ war, and many nations joined the fight against Germany and the Axis. This latest supplement for Bolt Action covers the armies of France, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Norway, Holland and Belgium that stood against the German Blitzkrieg, as well as the resistance forces that sprung up in the aftermath of occupation.Table of ContentsIntroduction /Army Lists /Theatres

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Book SynopsisThe thrilling and true story of the development and operational deployment of human torpedoes - 'Chariots' - and 'X-craft' midget submarines in British naval service during WWII, and of the extraordinary men who crewed these dangerous vessels. The commando frogmen who rode the Chariots and operated as divers from the X-craft were the forerunners of today's Special Boat Service, the SBS. Their aim was to attach an explosive charge underneath an enemy ship to destroy the vessel. Their hope was to return to their submarine unscathed. The Real X-Men tells the story of the sacrifice and heroism of the individual men, many of them little more than teenagers, who volunteered for this dangerous duty and who crewed both the Chariots and the X-craft without knowing the full extent of the risks entailed, nor indeed the very small chances they had of coming back alive.Trade ReviewUnbearably tense . . . will make you feel proud to be British. - Daily ExpressHeroism, adventure, tragedy, a superman hero and the loathsome Boche. This comprehensive retelling of the story has not lost any of its firepower. - Daily Mail

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Book SynopsisOn 3 September 1939, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain sat tensely at a microphone, using radio to declare that ‘this country is at war with Germany’. During the ensuing wartime years, the BBC was the sole radio broadcaster in Britain, boosting morale through programmes such as ‘ITMA’ and ‘Worker’s Playtime’; helping the Home Front with useful hints and advice; transmitting government messages; and providing news. Personalities and stars became household names – Tommy Handley, Arthur Askey, Ethel and Doris Walters, Mr Middleton – and their catchphrases could be heard everywhere. And yet, as this fascinating book explains, the BBC chose to avoid propaganda, and had to tread a fine line between what the people wanted to hear and what it was felt they should hear.Table of ContentsEarly Days Entertainment International For Your Information The Forces Programme The End of the War Conclusion Further Reading Places to Visit Index

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Book Synopsis*Highly Commended by the British Records Association for the 2019 Janette Harley Prize* In September 1943, at the height of World War II, the Aegean island of Leros became the site of the most pivotal battle of the Dodecanese campaign as the British tried, in vain, to retain control of the island. Over the course of two short months - from 15 September 1943 to 17 November 1943 - almost 1500 men lost their lives and hundreds more ended up in Prisoner-of-War camps. In this book, Julie Peakman, a modern-day resident of Leros, brings to life the story of the men caught up in the battle based on first-hand interviews and written accounts including diaries, letters and journals. She tells of the preparations of the soldiers leading up to the battle, the desperate hand-to-hand fighting, and the suffering endured from continual bombings. She also shows the extent of the men's despair at the allied surrender, the many subsequent daring escapes as well as the terrible years of incarceration for those who were captured and imprisoned. Many of the heart-rending accounts of the battle are told here for the first time, providing a unique eyewitness take on this forgotten corner of World War II.Table of ContentsIntroduction List of Illustrations Chapter One The Island of Leros Chapter Two Behind Enemy Lines Chapter Three Drop into Rhodes Chapter Four Troops to Leros Chapter Five Fall of Kos Chapter Six Making Preparations Chapter Seven Waiting Under Bombs Chapter Eight The First Day of Battle Chapter Nine Central Collision Chapter Ten And the Fight Goes On Chapter Eleven Inbound Royal West Kents Chapter Twelve Tired, Hungry and Lost Chapter Thirteen Final Day of Battle Chapter Fourteen Surrender or Escape Chapter Fifteen The Rescuing Parties Chapter Sixteen Prisoners of War Chapter Seventeen The German POW Camps Chapter Eighteen Aftermath Considerations Chronology Glossary Bibliography Index

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The Spanish Civil War was fought on land and at sea but also in an age of great interest in air warfare and the rapid development of warplanes. The war in Spain came a turning point in the development of military aircraft and was the arena in which new techniques of air war were rehearsed including high-speed dogfights, attacks on ships, bombing of civilian areas and tactical air-ground cooperation. At the heart of the air war were the Condor Legion, a unit composed of military personnel from Hitler's Germany who fought for Franco's Nationalists in Spain. In this book, Michael Alpert provides the first study in English of the Spanish Civil War in the air. He describes and analyses the intervention of German, Italian and Soviet aircraft in the Spanish conflict, as well as the supply of aircraft in general and the role of volunteer and mercenary airmen. His book provides new perspectives on the air war in Spain, the precedents set for World War II and the possible lessons learnt.

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Book SynopsisA poignant description of one of Europe's most well known war cemeteries. Based on interviews and personal experiences, this work includes images, including photographs by Corporal Eric Gunton of Number 32 Graves Registration Unit, who photographed the cemetery as it took shape. Look out for more Pitkin Guides on the very best of British and French history, heritage and travel.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Bayeux - Liberation; The battlefield graves; The Army chaplains; The medics (The cutting edge); Nursing staff (Quiet heroines); Aerial map (A countryside transformed); Grave registration; Burial and exhumation; Grave concentration; The entrance to the cemetery; Winter months (To absent friends); 1945 - The price of victory ... and solidarity; Conclusion; Simply Me When I'm Dead (poem)poem

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Book SynopsisThere is a hidden legacy of war that is rarely talked about: the children of native civilians and enemy soldiers. What is their fate?This book unearths the history of the thousands of forgotten children of World War II, including its prelude and aftermath during the Spanish Civil War and the Allied occupation of Germany. It looks at liaisons between German soldiers and civilian women in the occupied territories, and the Nazi Lebensborn program of racial hygiene. It also considers the children of African-American soldiers and German women. The authors examine what happened when the foreign solders went home and discuss the policies adopted towards these children by the Nazi authorities as well as postwar national governments. Personal testimonies from the children themselves reveal the continued pain and shame of being children of the enemy.Case studies are taken from France, Germany, the Netherlands, Czechoslovakia, Norway, Denmark and Spain.Trade Review'Breaking a long post-war taboo, this book broaches the subject of sexual intimacy between enemy soldiers and female civilians. It focuses especially on the stigma attached not only to the women but also the children born of such liaisons. This is essential reading for anyone interested in the wider impact of the Second World War and occupation on European societies.'Nicholas Stargardt, author of 'Witnesses of War: Children's Lives under the Nazis' and Lecturer in Modern History, Oxford University'A subtle and moving account of the children left behind by the forces of occupation in the Second World War. This collection for the first time gives voice to children who were stigmatized as the forbidden fruit of collaboration and until now have had to live with shame and silence.'Robert Gildea, Professor of Modern French History, University of OxfordTable of ContentsIntroduction * War, Cultural Loyalty and Gender: Danish women's Intimate Fraternisation--Anette Warring, University of Roskilde, Denmark * War Children: Foundlings of Europe?--Eva Simonsen, University of Oslo * Besatzungskinder and Wehrmachtskinder: Germany's War Children--Ebba Drolshagen, Freelance Journalist, Frankfurt. * Black German 'Occupation children': Objects of Study in the Continuity of German Race Anthropology--Yara-Colette Lemke Muniz de Faria, Institute for the History of Medicine, Berlin * Enfants de Boches: The War Children of France--Fabrice Virgili, CNRS, Paris * Life Stories of German-Norwegian war children--Kjersti Ericsson, University of Oslo, and Dag Ellingsen, Editor, Statistics Norway * Challenges for War Children in Denmark--Arne land, Freelance Writer, Frup, Denmark * Ideology and the Psychology of War Children in Franco's Spain--Michael Richards, University of the West of England * German Mother and Czech Father/Czech Mother and German Father - The Alchemy of Nationality and Collective Identity in Their Children--Michal Simunek, Charles University, Prague * Meant to be Deported Lars Borgersrud, University of Oslo * The Norwegian War Children and their Mothers: A summary of their History During the War and the First Postwar Period--Kre Olsen, National Archives of Norway * Stigma and Silence: Dutch Women, German Soldiers and their Children--Monika Diederichs, Nederlands Instituut voor Oorlogsdocumentatie (NIOD), Amsterdam * A Topic for Life: Women and Men Born in a German Lebensborn Home (Dorothee Schmitz-Kster, Freelance Writer, Bremen * Epilogue

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Book SynopsisD-Day, the largest amphibious invasion in history, took place on 6 June 1944. The subsequent battle of Normandy involved over a million men, and helped seal the fate of The Third Reich. This is a graphic account of the planning and execution of Operation Overlord, as well as the campaign which effectively destroyed the German forces in France, opening the way for the Allied advance. Including a wealth of superb photographs and maps, the book also contains 10 facsimile items of rare memorabilia, including diaries, letters and memos. This title includes top-secret hand-drawn map showing the minute-by-minute position on the way in to the drop zone just west of Ste-Mere-Eglise for elements of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division. This is an extract from the pocket diary of Sergeant G.E. Hughes, then a corporal, landed with the 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment at Arromanches.Table of ContentsThe planning; The Leaders - Allied; The Leaders - German; German Forces and Defences; Deception and Intelligence; The Resistance and SOE; Pegasus Bridge; British Airborne Assault; US Airborne Assault; Utah Beach; Pointe du Hoc; Omaha Beach; Gold Beach; Juno Beach; Sword Beach; Villers-Bocage; Pluto & Mulberry: Logistical Superiority; Operation Epsom; Bocage Fighting and Capture of Cherbourg; Operation Charmwood; Medics; The Battle for St Lo; Operation Goodwood; Operation Cobra and Breakout; Allied Tactical Air Support; Operations Totalize and Tractable; The Falaise Pocket; The Liberation of Paris.

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Book SynopsisOver 8 million women stayed at home during the Second World War and their story has never been told. Using brand new research from the Mass-Observation Archive, Jennifer Purcell brings to life - in all its tragedy, pathos, joy and fear - the lives of six ordinary women made extraordinary by the demands of war. In their diaries and notes they record the inner thoughts and everyday activities as they tried to survive come what may. Nella Last, the archetypal housewife struggles between the demands of her husband and her desire to help the war effort. Cambridge-educated, middle-class Natalie Tanner sneaks out to the cinema whenever possible and discusses politics in town, leading a leisured life while others try to scrape by. Saddled with a draughty and unwieldy centuries-old home directly in the path of German bombs, Helen Mitchell constantly tries to escape the war and her domestic life. Opinionated and patriotic Edie Rutherford uses the war to escape the home and go to work. Alice Bridges endures the horrors of the Blitz on her home town of Birmingham and finds a new and exciting social life as she reports the war for Mass-Observation. Housebound for most of the war with debilitating arthritis, working-class Irene Grant struggles to keep her family fed and dreams of a better Britain.Intensely moving and personal, each woman reveals their most secret fears and hopes, as well as the everyday problems of wanting to contribute to the war effort, keeping a house together under difficult circumstances, the travails of rationing, work and volunteering, whilst maintaining their duties as wife and mother. Jennifer Purcell redraws a new, emotional and unexpected history of the Second World War as it was experienced by those left behind, the domestic soldiers.Trade ReviewBook of the week * Daily Mail *The book gives a diverse flavour of experience. * Who Do You Think You Are? *This is an enjoyable and rewarding social history of the war. * BBC History Magazine *Fascinating read. * Sunday Post *

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Book SynopsisOn the morning of April 3, 1941, 'Orlando Mazzotta', a man posing as an Italian diplomat, walked up the steps of the German Foreign Office on the Wilhelmstrasse in Berlin, having arrived from Moscow the previous afternoon. The Under-Secretary of State, Dr Ernst Woermann, immediately received him and listened carefully as he spoke of establishing a government-in-exile and launching a military offensive. The government he had in mind was Indian and the target of his offensive was British India. Although Woermann was taken aback by the nature of these proposals, he should not have been. 'Orlando Mazzotta' was in fact Subhas Chandra Bose, an Indian leftist radical nationalist and former President of the Indian National Congress who had escaped a few months earlier from Calcutta and reached Kabul. From there, the German and Italian legations assisted him in reaching Berlin, via Moscow, under Italian diplomatic cover. Bose is one of India's national icons, practically on a par with Gandhi, a hero of anti-colonial resistance against the British, who established the Indian National Army in order to recruit Indian soldiers to fight the imperial power. His activities in Nazi Germany - particularly taking into account their inevitably highly controversial implications - merit scrupulous, scholarly and detailed study, yet till today almost everything published on the subject has been suffused with hagiography. This book is the first to focus exclusively on Bose's interactions with Nazi Germany during the Second World War. Hayes's narrative makes extensive use of German, Indian and British documents, including memoranda, notes, minutes, reports, telegrams, letters and broadcasts, and he also presents the reader with fresh scholarly sources from the German historical archives. His book takes not only the political dimension into consideration but the intelligence and propaganda angles too, including the recruitment and training of Indian POWs captured in North Africa. Emphasis is also placed on the specific roles of key actors including Hitler, Joachim von Ribbentrop, Gandhi, Nehru, Mussolini, Churchill, Sir Stafford Cripps, Chiang Kai-shek, General Hideki Tojo and, to a lesser extent Dr Goebbels, Heinrich Himmler and Count Galeazzo Ciano. Hayes's objective is to reveal a lesser-known aspect of Nazi foreign policy and to challenge and provide an alternative to Gandhi-centric portrayals of the Indian independence movement. His book, augmented by a fascinating selection of hitherto largely unpublished photographs, will appeal to those interested in the Third Reich, Indian nationalism and anti-colonialism and the Second World War.Trade Review'A thoughtful narrative of the actions and words of Bose during his war years in Germany. The author has set out a valuable description that follows the evidence very closely.' --Professor Michael H. Fisher, Oberlin College 'As the only Indian to lead a military assault against the British empire in the twentieth century, Subhas Chandra Bose is an important figure who interrupts the conventional narrative of India's nonviolent resistance against colonialism. The fact that Bose fought Britain with German and Japanese help during the Second World War, however, has led to his efforts being glossed over, downplayed or dismissed merely as an example of collaboration with fascism. This book's great achievement is to demonstrate that Bose's relations with the Nazis were far more complex than has generally been thought, and in doing so it allows us to see both German diplomacy and Indian nationalism in a new light. Rather than dealing with imperialism as a side issue in the war, Hayes shows us that it was an integral part of this great conflict, so often seen only as a battle between freedom and tyranny.'- * 'A thoughtful narrative of the actions and words of Bose during his war years in Germany. The author has set out a valuable description that follows the evidence very closely.' --Professor Michael H. Fisher, Oberlin College 'As the only Indian to lead a military assault against the British empire in *'Egotistical, autocratic, hubristic, Subhas Chandra Bose was an ambivalent figure but also widely admired; a tragic hero who stood on the wrong side of history. This book is a nuanced elucidation of a complex national leader, one both impressive and infuriating. Hayes effectively evokes the subtleties of Bose's relations with the Congress Party, a Party he once led, and with the masses of his fellow Indians. And above all the moral ambiguities: neither Nazi nor Quisling, he nevertheless made fatal moral compromises with ascendant totalitarian power. - A highly original, erudite and scholarly work based on intensive new research and new sources, this book represents a lucid contribution to our understanding of both India's independence movement and its relationship to the great global conflict of nations wherein it struggled to make its voice heard; and to the massive propaganda fight engaged in with frenzy by all the warring parties of World War Two.' * Nicholas O'Shaughnessy, Professor of Communication, Queen Mary, University of London *'[A] short and fascinating study of Bose in Germany ... The thrust of the argument in the book is to dispute an account of Bose as an Indian Quisling and to insist on his credentials as an anti-imperialist nationalist. ... Written with a great economy of style ... [it throws] the whole story of wartime India into a new perspective to discover how engaged the Nazi leadership became with Bose and India. ... This is Hayes' first book and it is an impressive beginning.' * Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society *

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Book SynopsisWhen the first Balkan War broke out in October 1912, few Ottomans anticipated that it would prove to be a watershed moment for the Empire, ending in ignominy, national catastrophe, and the loss of its remaining provinces in the Balkans. Defeat at the hands of an alliance of Balkan powers comprising Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia and Montenegro set the stage for the Balkan Crisis of 1914 and would serve as a prelude to WWI. It was also a moment of deep national trauma and led to bitter soul-searching, giving rise to a so-called 'Culture of Defeat' in which condemnation and criticism flourished in a way seemingly at odds with the reformist debate which followed the Young Turk Revolution of 1908.Eyal Ginio's clear-eyed and rigorously researched book uncovers the different visual and written products of the defeat, published in Ottoman Turkish, Arabic and Ladino, with the aim of understanding the experience of defeat - how it was perceived, analysed and commemorated by different sectors in Ottoman society - to show that it is key to understanding the actions of the Ottoman political elite during the subsequent World War and the early decades of the Turkish Republic.Trade Review'A major achievement.''This is the best work I have seen on the Balkan Wars. Eyal Ginio's deep understanding of the causes and sociopolitical consequences of the conflicts make the reading this book an undiluted pleasure. The book is empirically well-crafted and theoretically-guided work of the highest level.' * M. Hakan Yavuz, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Utah *'Eyal Ginio has masterfully composed a social history of one multi-ethnic society s reactions to an empire s collapsing place in the world. His investigations into hitherto ignored Arabic, Ottoman and Ladino sources are especially insightful, promising to influence how future historians write about the Balkan Wars.' * Isa Blumi, Stockholm University, author of Reinstating the Balkans: Alternative Balkan Modernities, 1800-1912 *'Eyal Ginio deftly moves between sources penned in Ottoman Turkish, Arabic, Hebrew, Ladino, and French to expose the wide-ranging impact of the Balkan Wars on Ottoman society. Covering topics as diverse as military and philanthropic mobilisation, children s literature, war refugees, and attempts to shape a 'national economy', Ginio convincingly argues that the Balkan Wars represented the Ottomans first experience with 'total war.'' * Julia Phillips Cohen, author of Becoming Ottomans: Sephardi Jews and Imperial Citizenship in the Modern Era *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Ottoman Society, the Balkan Wars and the Defeat1. The Balkan Wars and Ottoman Societies: The Devastating Shift from Celebration to Defeat2. The Balkan Wars and the Shaping of the Ottoman Culture of Defeat3. Regeneration, Revenge and Regaining Honour4. Children in the Ottoman Literature of Defeat: From War's Victims to the Citizens-Soldiers of the Future5. The Project of National Economy: Excluding the Enemy "Within"6. Commemorating the Victorious Second Balkan War and the Reinstatement of Edirne - Celebrating the Rebirth of the Nation7. The Retracing of Communal Borders in Eastern Thrace: Cisr-i Mustafa Pasa and Dimetoka as Case-Studies8. Conclusion: The Defeat in the Balkan Wars and Its Legacy

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Book SynopsisThis book gives a focused, military biography of Heinz Guderian, perhaps the most highly respected tank commander of World War II. Guderian was a typical product of the Prussian military elite; the son of a general in the army, there was little doubt that he would follow in his father's footsteps. Some consider Guderian to be the founding father of blitzkrieg warfare, and he certainly brought the whole concept to public attention and prominence, chiefly through the publication of his book Achtung Panzer in 1937. He commanded the XIX (Motorized) Army Corps in the 1939 Polish campaign, and Panzergruppe Guderian during Operation Barbarossa. In March 1943 he became chief inspector of the Panzer forces, but even the great tank commander could achieve little more than to delay the inevitable defeat of Germany.Trade ReviewA fascinating and useful reference source -- Military Modelcraft International

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Book Synopsis...It is remarkable that one man should have been involved in so much action in so few years...I commend his biography to the reader: ...by any standard he was a hero, and he tells his life's story with modesty and humour. Extract from the Foreword by Admiral Lord Boyce Captain Mervyn Wingfield was one of the last of his generation of submariners who made their reputation in the Second World War. Pre-war he had served on the China station and lived the riotous life of a young officer; in the war he commanded three submarines, Umpire, Sturgeon and Taurus, survived a collision in the North Sea, spent a winter in the Arctic, penetrated the Norwegian fjords submerged through a minefield, surfaced off St Nazaire in view of German guns to act as a navigation marker for the raiding force, fought cavalry in the northern Aegean, and later, off Penang, was the first British submariner to sink a Japanese submarine - and barely survived the subsequent, vicious counterattack after Taurus was severely damaged and became stuck in the mud at the bottom. Any one of these incidents would have merited a place for Wingfield in the history of naval warfare and the pantheon of submarine heroes. The Royal Navy's most senior submariner, Admiral Lord Boyce, notes in his Foreword that the diesel-powered submarines in which both men served were not so different, but the risks which Wingfield took in wartime were greater and Lord Boyce admired the way in which Wingfield led his crew and was loved by them. Many men were burned-out by the war, but in the postwar years Wingfield enjoyed a successful peacetime career in the Royal Navy where, finally, his personal qualities and his diplomacy were put to the test as a naval attache. In retirement Wingfield was well-known for hosting lively beef and Stilton lunches at the London Boat Show! He was also one of the last of the generations of Anglo-Irish families who served the Crown and provided officers and men for the Army and the Navy, and his story additionally gives some insights into his early days, especially with regard to being a young officer in the Royal Navy in the 1930s.Trade Review'Even in an era when submarine captains were often a bit mad or eccentric, the amazing Mervyn Wingfield stood out a mile! ...Second World War submarine Captain Wingfield played a vital part in our victory.' The Weekly News -------------------- 'Mervyn Wingfield was a submariner who commanded three boats, UMPIRE, STURGEON and TAURUS during World War 2; he did not serve with the RAN but his stories of the RN from 1925 onwards describe an organisation that will be familiar to generations of Australians who were trained by or who served with the RN. He spent time on the China Station during the 1930s in the submarine ODIN, sister ship of the OTWAY and OXLEY operated by the RAN between 1927 and 1931, and writes of a way of life that is now almost forgotten with quiet humour that brings his adventures to life in the reader's imagination. - This is a delightful book that gives insight into historical events through the eyes of the author which are carefully edited to ensure their accuracy. I thoroughly recommend it.' Headmark -------------------- '...As one of the more successful and decorated wartime submarine commanders his book is well worth a read'. In Depth -------------------- 'Wingfield's memoirs ... make fascinating reading. His wartime exploits ... are related with quiet understatement, leavened with amusing anecdotes and reminiscences of well-known characters... The book is highly recommended ... and is a thoroughly good read'. Forces Postal History Society Journal -------------------- '...Wingfield's entertaining - in places rather thrilling - and always fascinating autobiography. ...Wingfield's fantastic story... We are plunged into a lost age of fading empire and the life or death struggle against the Nazis and Japan's militaristic fanatics. ...We discover amazing incidents and people in the light he shines on the fine grain of history. They inspire us and provide a few chuckles. Among the highlights is Wingfield's submarine (HMS Taurus) duelling with Bulgarian cavalry and his courageous intrusion (in command of HMS Sturgeon) through a minefield in a Norwegian fjord to sink an enemy cargo vessel'. Warships International Fleet Review -------------------- '...Mervyn Wingfield's autobiography sets a high standard... This is an absorbing story of a distinguished naval officer and outstanding submarine captain's war record'. RNSA Journal '...there is more than enough colour to make all the memories very interesting. ... He writes in an engaging and direct way, self-deprecating but always with the confidence of one who is far more able and conscientious than he would claim. ...this is an easy book to read and enjoy. ...this is a delight - honest, informative, humourous, totally recognisable and, by this reviewer, highly recommended'. The Naval Review -------------------- 'A very good read'. WPS Newsletter -------------------- `…via this book I much enjoyed `meeting him’. Army Rumour Service

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Book SynopsisThe autobiography of Tony Bentley-Buckle, a child of the Empire who was left to grow up in the care of maiden aunts. Having joined the Royal Navy before the war, he found himself on the Northern Patrol during the blockade of Germany and as a teenager in command of captured ships. When he brought a ship through the minefields into Scapa Flow, the young Midshipman Bentley-Buckle was interviewed by the famously ferocious Admirax Max Horton who recommended him for advanced promotion. In a fit of derring-do he volunteered for 'special service' without knowing what this meant and began training for one of Britain's secret navies. As a beach commando he was one of the first ashore at the Allied landings on Sicily and one of the first Allied officers to cross the Straits of Messina. On Reggio beach he became one of the few people to order General Montgomery to stop talking and not to block the exit of the beach! He was soon seconded even deeper into British secret services when he was lent to MI9, the escape and evasion agency, helping to rescue hundreds of British prisoners of war in Italy. He was captured in a fierce hand-to-hand battle with the Germans, escaped, recaptured and was badly-beaten, eventually reaching Prisoner-of-War Camp 'Marlag O'. There he helped organise one the cheekiest escapes from a prisoner-of-war camp by making the eyes for a dummy known as 'Albert RN'. Post-war he learned to fly, sailed a small boat to East Africa and founded a shipping empire and an airline. This is a remarkable and exciting true story including escape and evasion behind enemy lines in Italy, Yugoslavia and Germany; life in a prisoner-of-war camp and adventure in the Indian Ocean.Trade Review'This is a remarkable story recounted by a remarkable man in his own words. Tony Bentley-Buckle (1921-2010) was a real-life James Bond - and more - whose long life was full of adventure and entrepreneurism on a grand scale. ... After reading his biography, you are in no doubt that he packed more into his war and his life than contemporary heros. ...compelling reading... He took part in one of the war's most audacious escapes, his part being to make the moving eyes of the dummy known as Albert RN (hence the book's title) - a story which was turned into a movie after the war. ... This enthralling book ends with some very useful explanatory notes and a comprehensive index.' Nautilus' Telegraph -------------------- '...this is a story of 'daring do' well told with charm and modesty. ... The book is well produced and illustrated with family photographs and drawings, having good footnotes and a useful index. Highly recommended'. South West Soundings -------------------- '...a very interesting book... The author's five war years of the R.N. were rich and enthralling... ...for the author "civvy street" was almost as action-packed as his naval service; not as brief, hectic and dangerous as those five years, but a most absorbing series of varied and fruitful global travel and enterprises'. QSO -------------------- 'This is a well-written and fascinating story and the descriptions of amphibious and asymmetric warfare have topical value in Australia as the RAN begins to establish its own 'beachhead commando' equivalents. Buckle was clearly a resourceful and determined man in both his naval and civilian careers; his story is an interesting one and it is enhanced by a number of John Worsley's wartime sketches. It is a good read and I thoroughly recommend it'. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute -------------------- 'Tony Bentley-Buckle led a particularly adventurous life... ...a well-written and fascinating story and the descriptions of amphibious and asymmetric warfare have tropical value in Australia... ...his story is an interesting one and it is enhanced by a number of John Worsley's wartime sketches. It is a good read and I thoroughly recommend it'. Headmark -------------------- 'A fascinating life, well lived'. Work Boat World '...it's very readable...' Naval Review -------------------- `…is very modestly (and humorously) told, almost concealing the fact he was a man of extraordinary resource and capability … This is a fascinating adventure story, told in a very dryly amusing and laid-back manner, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Army Rumour Service

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Book SynopsisDavid Balme will be forever known as the 20-year-old hero who, on 9 May 1941, boarded a German U-boat in mid-Atlantic, and captured one of the greatest secrets of the Second World War. This capture - or 'pinch' as it was known within secret, inner circles - changed the course of the Battle of the Atlantic and shortened the war itself. Balme was part of a team comprising officers and men of the Third Escort Group ably led by Commander Joe Baker Cresswell, also commander of HMS Bulldog, who shared the danger with other unsung heroes such as Lieutenant Commander George Dodds. Balme was tasked with taking the Bulldog's whaler and a small party to board the U-boat U-110 which had been disabled. However he was alone when initially boarding, entering and searching the U-boat. This put him in a vulnerable position while descending into the vessel - he risked being shot by any German submariner that may have remained or blown-up by a booby-trap device. Furthermore he could have drowned when Bulldog disappeared into the mists of the Atlantic to hunt another U-boat, as U-110 could have plummeted into the depths at any time.However, where others tried and failed or tragically lost their lives, Balme and his boarding party succeeded magnificently in capturing an entire Enigma machine, the essential rotors and months' worth of associated cipher material. This was an absolute gift to the code breakers at Bletchley Park who were able to read all the secret German naval signal traffic for some months and it enabled them to read virtually the whole of the traffic for the rest of the war and with little delay. The capture was kept so secret that few even on the British side knew about it - not even the Americans were told what had been achieved after they entered the war. Balme returned from the war and never spoke about the secret capture which he believed would be hidden forever. The story of the capture and ransack of U-110 is told for the first time in the words and letters of David Balme, his captain Joe Baker Cresswell, George Dodds and others who took part in the most important submarine capture of the whole war.Besides the capture of U-110, Balme enjoyed an astonishing variety of wartime experience including the Spanish Civil War, the Palestine Patrol, the sinking of HMS Courageous, the Battle of Convoy KJF3, the fight with the heavy cruiser Hipper, the Battle of Cape Spartivento, the Battle of Convoy OB318, being sunk during Operation Harpoon, the air war in the Western Desert, the high level diplomacy of Prime Minister Winston Churchill and pioneering work as a Fighter Direction Officer in the war against Japan.Trade Review'Captain Peter Hore has put together a most remarkable story which is well worth a read'. In Depth -------------------- `...in 21 compelling chapters - describes the build-up to the capture of Enigma, the event itself and its aftermath... It's a tale of daring and courage.' Nautilus Telegraph --------------------`A fantastic and enthralling book, I thoroughly recommend it.' Royal Naval Sailing Association--------------------`Balme... made the most astonishing `secret capture' of WW2... his spectacularly ripping yarn in full... is a classic naval biography... hugely enjoyable and entertaining, delivering the last word on various aspects of the U-110 episode.' Warships International Fleet Review-------------------- `This beautifully presented book, however, is more than a classic naval history - it completes a hitherto untold life story... a thrilling and enjoyable read... This book has been eagerly awaited. Peter Hore has succeeded in securing David Balme's role in history.' Ray Mayes -------------------- `The whole account is given a well-written makeover... a thundering good read.' The Naval Review -------------------- `…an exemplar of personal courage and leadership of the highest order. …provides a wealth of materials on technicalities, strategy, events and biographical detail … illuminated by direct quotation from Balme’s midshipman’s journal, letters home, and recollections … This is a fascinating tale … We are truly fortunate that our island, faced with great evil, produced such men’. Army Rumour Service

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Book SynopsisForeword by Admiral Lord West Whilst living in Liverpool, Britain's second most heavily bombed city during World War II, the author experienced at first-hand the terrible effects of the war on the civilian population and when studying at Cambridge he witnessed the American heavy bombers and their fighter escorts flying to attack targets in Germany and occupied Europe. Serving as an engineering officer in the Royal Navy in HMS Sheffield provided first-hand realisation of the importance of engineering and emphasised that victories achieved in the Battle of Britain and other campaigns were made possible by newly-developed machines, equipment or techniques. These innovations gave the Allied forces a significant advantage and helped ensure eventual victory. Engineering Hitler's Downfall features numerous inventions such as the decoding machines developed at Bletchley Park; the hand-held mine detectors that cleared pathways through enemy minefields, firstly at the Battle of el Alamein but also in most subsequent actions; the newly-located factories and tanks that enabled the Russians to repulse the German invasion; the escort carriers and long range aircraft that enabled U-boats to be attacked in the mid-Atlantic; the 4000 plus Bailey bridges that allowed narrow ravines and rivers as wide as the Rhine to be crossed; the Mulberry harbours through which the D-Day bridgehead was reinforced and supplied and the pipelines under the ocean that supplied fuel for invading troops. These and many other examples illustrate what was achieved under such immense pressure. The book includes timelines to set it all in context with respect to the course of the war.Trade Review`…Gwilym Robert’s takes an insightful look at hese milestones and the individuals behind them that played such a pivotal role in successof the war effort. …takes a walk through the technical development of the Second World Warthat will both enthrall and fascinate the reader into mysteries of the engineering mind’. Civil Engineering Surveyor -------------------- `...is lavishly illustrated with photographs, maps and diagram. Each chapter covers a single campaign, such as `Radar, Battle in the Air' and `Atlantic Agonies' so that by the end we have, in effect, a potted history of the war from the British perspective'. Warship World -------------------- `It's a fascinating read that includes time-lines of key events... A lasting tribute to the remarkable ingenuity and invention of these amazing scientists'. Sea Breezes -------------------- `I have, to be honest, become a little fed up with WW2 books and Hitler in general. That was until this wee gem of a book arrived. I rate this book very highly for bringing to us the science of war engineering in such a clear and enjoyable way, every time you pick it up you will learn something new... Definitely a keeper and will go into my library under "read here for fantastic facts"... ...a great read'. Army Rumour ServiceTable of ContentsGod, Churchill, and the Engineers; A Battle of Wits; Land Battles Lead to Dunkirk Evacuation; Radar, Battles in the Air, and the Blitz; Women at War; Atlantic Agonies; The Worst Journey in the World; The End of the Beginning; The Beginning of the End; Southeast Asia and the Bellicose Pacific; The 3 Rs of the Post-war World

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Book SynopsisForeword by Admiral Lord West of Spithead Few people, even in the Navy, are even aware of this dreadful incident [the loss of submarine HMS Truculent in the Thames] and certainly not the details of human error that led to this huge loss of life. The account is gripping, and explains the strange title of the book. ... John Johnson-Allen has put Fred Henley's personal accounts in the context of world-changing events, and in particular provides a wonderful snapshot of the Royal Navy of that era. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- This compelling story is the result of many hours spent recording the memories of Fred Henley. His life at sea is at the centre of his being and his own words are at the heart of the book. At the age of 14 Fred worked on a Thames sailing barge, then after his training at HMS Ganges, he joined his first ship which took him from the icy Arctic Ocean to the heat of West Africa where the Bismarck and her support ships were hunted. His experiences included visiting Archangel, sailing on Arctic convoys, capturing German supply ships, the failed attack on Oran, landings in Piraeus, Salonika and the French Riviera and operating with special forces in the Greek Islands. There is inevitably some humour when Fred recounts his encounters with girls. The book then explores the tragic loss of his last submarine, HMS Truculent. In the cold January waters of the Thames Estuary, within sight of Southend, over 60 men were lost in a major disaster, just five years after the end of the war. The voices of the survivors are heard telling how they stood in complete blackness in a sunken submarine, waiting for the water to come in so that they could escape to the surface, only for all but a few to drift away and die in the darkness. The story concludes with happier times with Fred visiting ports in the Mediterranean during peacetime as a married man.Trade Review`Sometime humorous and often poignant, this is an amazing story of a life served in the Royal Navy. Highly recommended'. Sea Breezes -------------------- `...a moving account of the tragic loss of HMS Truculent. ...the book chronicles Fred's incident-filled Service life, providing a fascinating snapshot of the Royal Navy of that era. A touching and atmospheric read'. Julian Stockwin------------------‘…is an absorbing read’. Scuttlebutt Magazine

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Book SynopsisIn the early hours of 26th June 1942, six airmen from 102 Squadron return from Bremen in their Halifax, Q for Queenie, having taken part in the third Thousand Bomber Raid. These airmen formed a truly international crew, each one having an interesting back story that had led to their being together, including Len Starbuck, the Wireless Operator and Air Gunner on his 26th operation who is close to the end of his tour. As operations continue, events on the squadron are recounted such as the inevitable toll of losses. German defences develop from uncoordinated concentrations around major towns and cities into a coherent barrier known as the Kammhuber Line. More new crewmen arrive on the squadron as the year progresses and with the arrival of winter, the ageing Whitley is phased out, replaced by the Halifax. As the squadron became familiar with the Halifax, they exchanged six of their new aircraft for six from 35 Squadron who were about to mount an attack on the Tirpitz in a fjord near Drontheim. These aircraft were equipped with the revolutionary new navigational aid known as GEE, which was of no use to crews flying to Norway, but suddenly gave 102 Squadron an accurate blind-bombing capability they had not previously enjoyed. On 25 May 1942, American air gunner Jack Fernie arrived on the squadron. Five days later he was on his first operation, caught up in the demand for maximum effort to support the first of Arthur Harris' Thousand Bomber Raids to Cologne who believed that Bomber Command could win the war from the air. Two days later, 102 Squadron again provided maximum effort for another massed attack on Essen, followed three weeks later by the third and final Thousand Bomber Raid to Bremen. Beginning the journey home at the tail end of the bomber stream, a night fighter was guided to an intercept position by a ground-based radar station that resulted in a fight to the death. This is an incisive look at the RAF's bombing campaign during 1941-42 through the prism of a multinational crew which faced mounting risks from an increasingly organised and integrated German air defence capability.Trade Review'...provides in depth information about the technicalities and performance of these warplanes, but the execution of flying operations is always told as seen through the eyes of its crewmembers. ... Not only the German air defence developments are described but, quite exceptional, also the crews of opposing night fighters are identified... ...is entertaining an easy to read for both technically and people-oriented readers'. Aviation Book Reviews; '...As sometimes occurs when a writer begins researching a book... the subject expanded into something greater, more involved and more interesting... presents a vivid day-to-day record of what it was like for the men who risked their lives night after night over enemy territory during the early phase of Britain's bomber offensive'. Aviation History; '...this highly detailed record of 102 Squadron... is dense in operational technical detail overlaid with the personal stories of 102 Squadron members and the tragedy of war and losses'. Australian Naval Institute

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Book SynopsisDavid Welch is Head of the School of History, University of Kent at Canterbury.Table of ContentsThe history and organization of the Nazi cinema; Goebbels the propagandist; comradeship, heroism and the party; blood and soil (blut und boden); the principle of leadership (fuhrerprinzip); war and the military image; the image of the enemy; conclusion; appendix.

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Book SynopsisBetween 1942 and 1945, tens of thousands of young American servicemen arrived in Britain. This book is an examination of the way their presence affected them and the local people during the Second World War. It is a social history and studies the various relationships forged between the British public and their American guests.

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Book SynopsisThe dramatic story of Valerie and David Denison, two English schoolchildren evacuated to South Africa during the Second World War.

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Book SynopsisAs the third and concluding volume of the series, this work examines the persecution of the Gypsy people in Hungary, Norway, Slovakia and Yugoslavia during World War II, together with Switzerland's policy towards refugees. It also looks at the intertwined fates of the Jews and the Gypsies. Included in the coverage is an overview of the events following 1945—reparations and the postwar trials. Various methodologies associated with research and writings about the Holocaust are also discussed.

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Book SynopsisLancaster pilot Victor Woods aircraft arrived too early over Gelsenkirchen when the target was shrouded in darkness and the Main Force miles behind. His bomber was suddenly struck with terrifying force by flak and turned upside-down. An engine was on fire, the unconscious mid-upper gunner, slumped over his turret, was being sprayed with petrol and their bombload had been struck by shrapnel. Could Vic get his crew back to base safely? Find out in Mel Rolfes expertly researched and narrated book, which records nineteen similarly exceptional stories as night after night young men went off on sorties, knowing the unpalatable truth that they might not see another dawn.Trade Review"'Human drama is the strength of these gripping yarns, offering vivid and compelling pen pictures.' Eastern Daily Press 'Carefully researched, well-written, this is an impeccable text with good wartime photos.' Aviation News 'Well written accounts of the trials of aircrew. You will enjoy this one.' Everyone's War 'Dramatically presented...the narrative flows without a pause. Of interest to the veteran and also the present-day reader who will find the tales at times incredible.' Intercom, Journal of Bomber Command Association"

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Book SynopsisChurchills Few will forever be remembered by history as men who thwarted the seemingly invincible German war machine, when all seemed lost. They countered the full force of the Luftwaffe in the daylight battles during the summer of 1940, and in the night skies of the winter and spring of 1940/41. They were at the time, and still are, perceived as knights of the air, as our heroes. Now, five distinguished RAF airmen, four pilots and one radar operator/navigator, who fought that air battle during the Battle of Britain and the Blitz, have recounted their experiences in detail to author Steve Darlow. Their stories have never before been published, and they talk engagingly of their service life, combats, losses, injuries, friendships and fears flying Spitfires, Hurricanes, Blenheims, Beaufighters and Havocs. One pilot tells of the time he fell victim to the enemy My Spitfire stopped being a flying machine, it became a lump of metal. I was going down with it and I couldnt get out. I broke the seat by standing on it. The pressure throwing me into the bottom was terrific A Beaufighter radar operator remembers being involved in shooting down a German aircraft He took a vertical dive, struck the ground and exploded with a shower of incendiaries. I felt like a child with a new toy. I had at last proved myself but for some reason I suddenly felt a little sad. But Five of the Few is not just about the experiences of these men during 1940/41. They would also distinguish themselves in subsequent air campaigns night defence of the UK, offensive operations over the continent and support to D-Day and beyond. In between the aerial combats and ground attack operations, promotions, decorations and command responsibilities would come their way. But not all would make it through safely to the end of the war. One would end up behind barbed wire. Collectively Five of the Few is a war story of youth maturing, through aspiration and idealism, courage and bravado, fear and heroism, memory and reflection. It is a reminder of why so much was owed, and still is, by so many to so few.Trade Review'This story of courage and bravado, fear and heroism reminds us why so much was owed, and still is, by so many to so few.' Best of British magazine 'Makes for gripping reading.' York Evening Press 'Inspirational stories in an age of exaggeration and inflated egos ... a valuable historical testimony.' Aviation News

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Book SynopsisMore than 2500 volunteers took the extraordinary decision to risk their lives in a foreign war, and more than 500 of them died. The book looks at their role in the key battles in Spain, including the heroic work of the medical volunteers. Drawing on contemporary photographs and images, Antifascistas documents the artistic and historical legacy of the International Brigades, and demonstrates the idealism, commitment and sacrifice of these exceptional men and women.

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Book SynopsisWalter Stephen provides an uninhibited look at the misery and toil of World War I through a collection of twelve diverse stories. Providing a Scottish perspective, he takes a look at tales from home and abroad with scepticism, delving deeper to unveil the unencumbered truth. Recalling Siegfried Sassoon’s words, Stephen reveals the failures of those in command as the Great War became known as A Dirty Swindle. The varied accounts chronicle the progress of troops from recruitment to training to the frontline, as well as enlightening historians to a side of Field Marshal Haig never seen before.Trade Review.Table of ContentsContents Acknowledgements 9 Introduction True Stories 11 Chapter 1 A Peace Warrior and His Family in the Great War 27 Chapter 2 Out of the Frying Pan 78 Chapter 3 Dark Lochnagar 85 Chapter 4 The First Hundred Thousand 90 Chapter 5 McCrae’s Battalion – Eponymous or Anonymous? 102 Chapter 6 The War Poets in the Eye of the Storm 125 Chapter 7 Memento Mori 144 Chapter 8 Their Name Liveth 154 Chapter 9 Observe the Sons of Ulster 160 Chapter 10 The Scottish National War Memorial 168 Chapter 11 ‘God bless the Kaiser!’ 174Chapter 12 Andra and the Field-Marshal 178 Bibliographical Note 187

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Book SynopsisAfter a long and difficult trek from the north, the Lü family is finally reunited in Kunming. Yet the war is not yet done with them, and in the furnace of a country driven to the edge, danger still prowls the very skies above them.Disoriented in unfamiliar surroundings, and abandoned by a crumbling state, they do their best to rebuild some semblance of a normal life amid the hardships of rural living and the constant Japanese bombing raids.And yet, despite the myriad challenges they face, the rugged beauty of Yunnan province's deep blue skies and the kaleidoscopic colours of the flowers blooming as far as the eye can see still make a deep impression on them that even the trials and tribulations of war cannot expunge.In the struggle to survive, the youngest of the Lü's, May and Kiddo, must take on burdens meant for someone much older, all the while trying to piece together a shattered childhood.Meanwhile, for those family members, friends and colleagues left behind in Beiping, life proves insufferable and, in some cases, fatal.

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Book SynopsisEugene Downing (1913–2003) was not your usual Irish brigader: a communist from his teenage years, an urbanised skilled worker, and an Irish language enthusiast. Downing had no immediate Republican record, joining the communist Workers Groups in Dublin just out of his apprenticeship as an electrician. Despite this backdrop, Downing spent nine months in the International Brigades Spain before being invalided home (amputated lower left leg) in December 1938. His memoirs are presented here in English for the first time. One Foot in a Spanish Grave: Eugene Downing’s Memoir of the International Brigades in Spain – published in the Irish language as La Nina Bonita agus An Róisín Dubh: Cuimhní Cinn ar Chogadh Cathartha na Spáinne – has been long worthy of a translation into English. The structure of the original Irish text has been altered slightly, with some appendices omitted. Translated by Micheál Ó hAodha, edited and introduced by Barry McLoughlin, One Foot in a Spanish Grave begins with Brendan Byrne, Eugene’s nephew, sharing his memories of a highly non-conformist uncle. Downing’s portrayal of life in the International Brigades is often humourous, greatly generous when judging others, but ultimately critical of political zealotry. He proves himself to be a wry observer of his fellow volunteers and of his own youthful militancy in the virulently anti-communist Dublin of the 1930s. This text is a translation of Eoghan Ó Duinnín’s (Eugene Downing’s) book La Nina Bonita agus An Róisín Dubh: Cuimhní Cinn ar Chogadh Cathartha na Spáinne (An Clóchomhar, Baile Átha Cliath, 1986). The Irish-language rights for this book lie with Cló Iar-Chonnacht, Indreabhán, Co. na Gaillimhe.

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Book SynopsisDuring the Second World War, Flt Lt Richard Stevens led an extraordinary campaign as an RAF nightfighter. Known to contemporaries as Cats Eyes and by the height of his success in July 1941 as the Lone Wolf, Flt Lt Stevens was the RAFs highest scoring nightfighter pilot with fourteen victories. What makes his story unique is that all this was achieved without the aid of radar or another crew member. Instead Flt Lt Stevens used extraordinary skill, instinct and innate marksmanship. Tragically his success was cut short by his untimely death on the night of 15/16 December 1941 three days after his DSO was gazetted. The tributes paid to him after his death demonstrate the impact he had upon night fighting. Described as one of the greatest nightfighter pilots who ever fought in Fighter Command by Sir Archibald Sinclair, Secretary of State for Air and with Air Vice-Marshal B. E. Embry also crediting his high standard of courage and skill as a nightfighter pilot as a contribution to the final defeat of the enemy at night it is not hard to see why Stevens was greatly admired by his peers. Thanks to over twenty years of painstaking research by Terry Thompson and a rich resource of documentation and photography, Andy Saunders is now able to tell the exceptional story of one of Britains finest night-flying pilots of the Second World War. This extraordinary biography will be eagerly devoured by military aviation enthusiasts and students of air warfare and Second World War alike.

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Book SynopsisThis book examines the landscape archaeology of the Second World War on the section of the east coast of England known as the Suffolk Sandlings (the coastal strip from Lowestoft to Felixstowe), an area unusually rich in military archaeology. It was in the front line of Britain's defences against invasion throughout the war and as a training ground it was the setting for nationally important exercises in the lead-up to the D-Day landings. In 1944 it also played a major role in Operation 'Diver', the defence against the flying bomb. The Sandlings is therefore an ideal testbed for much wider questions about the militarisation of the landscape during the Second World War. This important new study considers how this area was transformed in the course of the conflict by synthesising an extensive range of sources, including the physical remains of defences and training, aerial photographs, the war diaries of military units on the coast, oral history and artistic representations. What emerges is the most detailed account to date of a coastal landscape during the Second World War. A highly innovative interdisciplinary study, this holistic approach reveals in astonishing detail the struggle to build defences in 1940, the dramatic reorganisation of those defences in 1941? 2 and the slow transformation of the military landscape from one of defence to one where troops prepared for the offensive. The reader is shown not just a new view of the wartime landscape, but a new methodology for the study of conflict landscapes more broadly; in this the book makes a major contribution to scholarship. Richly illustrated with plans, maps and wartime photographs - many published for the first time - the book presents a vivid picture of a landscape in a crucial period in its history and will be of great interest to military historians, landscape archaeologists and all those with an interest in the area.Table of Contents1 A regional landscape 2 Crisis on the coastline, 1939-40 3 Consolidation and reorganisation, 1941-42 4 The landscape of air defence, 1939-1945 5 Training and defence works, 1940-43 6 Preparing for Overlord, 1943-44 7 The face of battle 8 The civilian landscape 9 From eyesore to archaeology

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Book SynopsisSouth Africa's armed forces invaded Angola in 1975, setting off a war that had consequences for the whole region that are still felt today. A far-away war contributes to a wider understanding of this war in Angola and Namibia. The book does not only look at the war from an "old" South African (Defence Force) perspective, but also gives a voice to participants "on the other side" - emphasising the role of the Cubans and Russians. This focus is supplemented by the inclusion of many never-before-published photographs from Cuban and Russian archives, and a comprehensive bibliography.

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Book SynopsisA Marine officer's innter struggle with turht after coming home from Iraq.

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