Second World War Books
Amber Books Ltd American Tanks of World War II
Book SynopsisWith the United States producing almost 90,000 AFVs during World War II, American tanks made up the bulk of those deployed by the western Allies, and were even supplied through the lend-lease scheme to the Soviet army on the Eastern Front. American Tanks of World War II explores the tanks, self-propelled guns, halftracks and armoured cars deployed by American forces, from the Torch landings in Algeria to the hard fighting in Normandy and the bitter Ardennes offensive. Organised chronologically by type, the entries include the M3 Stuart, the first American-crewed tank to engage the enemy in tank combat in the war; the ubiquitous M4 Sherman, which proved cheap and reliable and was built in great numbers and in many variants; the M22 Locust light tank, designed to be air-dropped in support of airborne units; and the M26 Pershing, a heavy tank that arrived late in the war and was capable of beating the best tanks Germany had to offer. There are also chapters on the many motor gun carriages used by US forces, including the M8 HMC and T12 halftrack, both designed to provide close support for infantry. Illustrated with expert colour profile artworks for each entry and completed with technical specifications, American Tanks of World War II is a detailed reference guide for modellers and enthusiasts with an interest in World War II AFV technology.Table of ContentsContents includes: Introduction Light Tanks Marmon-Herrington CTLS-4TA T1 ‘Cunningham’ M2 Light Tank M3 Stuart Light Tank M3A1 Satan M5 Stuart M22 Locust M24 Chaffee Canal Defence Light (CDL) Medium Tanks M2 series M3 Lee-Grant M4 Sherman – M4, M4A1, M4A2, M4A3, M4A4, M4A5, and M4A6 Sherman Crocodile USMC Improvised M4A2 Flail Tank Assault Tank M4A3E2 Jumbo M7 (T7 Project) T23 Prototype Heavy Tanks M6 Heavy Tank Heavy Tank M6A2E1 T14 Heavy Tank M26 Pershing T26E4 ‘Super Pershing’ Tank Destroyers and Assault Guns M18 Hellcat M10 GMC Wolverine M36 GMC Jackson Howitzer Motor Carriage M7 Priest Howitzer Motor Carriage M8 Halftracks and Armoured Cars M2 Halftrack T28E1 AA variant M3 Halftrack T30 75mm (2.95in) HMC (Howitzer Motor Carriage) T12 75mm (2.95in) HMC (Howitzer Motor Carriage) M13 AA adaption M16 AA adaption M1 armoured car M8 Greyhound armoured car M3 Scout Car Amphibious Landing Vehicles LVT-1 Alligator LVT-2 Water Buffalo LVT-3 Bushmaster LVT-4 Water Buffalo LVT(A)-1 GMC DUKW Glossary and Abbreviations Index
£16.19
Amber Books Ltd Luftwaffe Squadrons 1939–45: Identification Guide
Book SynopsisIllustrated with detailed artworks of World War II-era German aircraft and their markings with exhaustive captions and specifications, Luftwaffe Squadrons 1939–45: Identification Guide is the definitive study of the equipment and organisation of the Luftwaffe’s combat units. Organised by theatre of operations and the many campaigns fought by the Luftwaffe, the book describes in depth the various units that were fighting on the front at key points in the war and describes the models of aircraft in service with each unit along with their individual and squadron markings. With information boxes accompanying the full-colour artworks, Luftwaffe Squadrons 1939–45 is an essential reference guide for modellers and any enthusiast with an interest in the aircraft of the German war machine.Table of ContentsThe Early Years: First Battles Mediterranean Theatre War on the Eastern Front Maritime Operations The Defence of the Reich The Final Months Glossary Index
£16.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Holland 1940
Book SynopsisThe history of how the Luftwaffe planned to knock out Holland in a surgical, lightning campaign, but instead suffered wounds against the outnumbered but effective Dutch that would come to haunt them in the Battle of Britain.From the perspective of the German High Command, its invasion of the Netherlands on May 10, 1940 was supposed to be a lightning fast surgical strike, aimed at shoring up the right flank of the Wehrmacht''s massive assault on France and Belgium. In a bold manoeuvre, the German Luftwaffe would launch what was at the time the largest airborne operation in history, calculating that surprise and speed would negate the need for a lengthy ground campaign or large numbers of ground troops, using paratroops and air-landing troops to capture key strategic point that would clear the path for the subsequent capitulation of main Dutch city and the government itself. The entire operation was expected to take only 24 hours. The actual campaign proved to be much lTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION The Dutch defences Fallschirmjäger and Luftlande troops ATTACKER’S CAPABILITIES Luftflotte 2 in the Holland operation Fighter cover for airborne operations Strike capabilities The transports ORDER OF BATTLE – 10 MAY 1940 DEFENDER’S CAPABILITIES The Dutch defences Dutch military aircraft in the 1930s War looms ORDER OF BATTLE – 10 MAY 1940 CAMPAIGN OBJECTIVES Unternehmen F THE CAMPAIGN Five costly days Operations on 10 May 1940 Operations from 11 to 14 May 1940 ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX
£13.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Siege of Budapest 194445
Book SynopsisA gripping and detailed study of the brutal urban battle for Budapest, which saw German and Hungarian troops struggling to halt the joint Soviet-Romanian offensive to take the key city on the Danube.The 52-day-long siege of Budapest witnessed some of the most destructive urban fighting of the war. The Transdanubia region was strategically vital to Nazi Germany for its raw materials and industry, and because of the bridgehead it allowed into Austria. As a result, Hitler declared Budapest a fortress city in early December 1944.The battle for the city pitted 90,000 German and Hungarian troops against 170,000 Soviet (2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts) and Romanian attackers. The operations to take the city ran across several phases, from the initial Soviet approach to Budapest commencing in late October 1944, through the encirclement of city first on the Pest side of the Danube, and then on the Buda bank, and on to the savage urban fighting that began in December 1944 Trade ReviewA fascinating addition to the Osprey Campaign series that meticulously details a little-known battle. * Classic Military Vehicle Magazine *Table of ContentsORIGINS OF THE CAMPAIGN CHRONOLOGY OPPOSING COMMANDERS Axis Soviet and Romanian OPPOSING FORCES Axis Soviet and Romanian Orders of battle OPPOSING PLANS Axis Soviet and Romanian THE SIEGE OF BUDAPEST The first Soviet attack: 29 October–6 November 1944 Budapest surrounded: 11 November–24 December 1944 Taking Pest: 24 December 1944–18 January 1945 German relief operations: Konrad I–III Buda: 19 January–10 February 1945 Breakout: 11–13 February 1945 AFTERMATH THE BATTLEFIELD TODAY BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX
£14.39
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC German Tanks in Normandy 1944
Book SynopsisA new study of the German Panzer forces that stood between the Allies'' D-Day beachhead and victory in World War II how they compared, how they were organized, and how they fought.The German tank forces in Normandy in JuneAugust 1944 had the advantage of fighting on the defensive side, as well as comprising of some of the most powerful and advanced tanks used by any side in the war. Yet success in tank warfare depends on many things beyond technological superiority. This book describes the types of tanks, tank destroyers and assault guns used by the Panzer units in Normandy, how they fought on the Normandy battlefield, and why they were overwhelmed by the advancing Allies. It discusses the organization and equipment of the units, providing thumbnail sketches of basic organization and doctrine as well as statistical data on the types and categories of AFVs in German service.Table of ContentsTHE TANKS, DOCTRINE, AND ORGANIZATION Organization Panzer operational doctrine Small-unit Panzer tactics TECHNICAL FACTORS THE CAMPAIGN BATTLE ANALYSIS FURTHER READING INDEX
£999.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Mers elKebir 1940
Book SynopsisA fascinating analysis of the World War II battle between Great Britain and France to ensure French ships were kept out of German hands during World War II. Following France''s armistice with the Axis powers, Great Britain realized that if Germany or Italy insisted upon the transfer of battleships, cruisers, and destroyers from the French Navy to the control of their own navies, the balance in the Mediterranean would immediately swing in their favour. Churchill decided that the Marine Nationale''s most powerful vessels would need to be secured through diplomacy, coercion, or force. The French Navy commander-in-chief was equally eager to keep their ships out of Axis hands, but he also did not want the British to have them. These increasingly hostile circumstances led to Operation Catapult, which began on 3 July 1940, and saw the two nations battle for the ships. Expert naval historian Ryan Noppen analyses the Royal Navy Operation Catapult at Mers
£15.29
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC British Pacific Fleet 194445
Book SynopsisAn illustration-packed new account of the powerful Royal Navy fleet that fought alongside the US Navy throughout the last year of the Pacific War.The British Pacific Fleet was the Royal Navy''s primary contribution to the direct defeat of Japan in 1945, and is among the most powerful fleets Britain has ever sent into action. With naval supremacy in home waters achieved by 1944, many of the best and most modern ships in the Royal Navy could be sent to the Pacific, including battleships, submarines, light forces, replenishment groups, and shore establishment. However, the main striking force was the fast carrier force.Illustrated throughout with dramatic new artwork, 3D diagrams, maps and archive photos, this book explains how the Royal Navy joined the Pacific carrier war, and how the fleet adopted the US Navy''s ruthlessly effective fast carrier doctrine. With ships optimized for short-range operations in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, the BPF had to rapidly adapt to the long-raTable of Contents(Subject to Confirmation) THE FLEET'S PURPOSE FLEET FIGHTING POWER The Ships Technical Factors HOW THE FLEET OPERATED Doctrine, Command, and Communication Intelligence and Deception Logistics and Facilities COMBAT AND ANALYSIS The Fleet in Combat Analysis FURTHER READING
£14.39
Stackpole Books Ritchie Boy Secrets
Book SynopsisThis is a different kind of World War II story, the story of the 15,000 immigrants and refugees who used their native language skills and knowledge of their home countries to help America to victory in World War II. Beverley Driver Eddy tells their story thoroughly and colorfully, drawing heavily on interviews with surviving Ritchie Boys.
£22.50
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Me 262 Units in Combat
Book SynopsisAn illustrated account of the first jet-powered combat aircraft, the Messerschmitt Me 262, and its short but action-packed career during World War 2.Powered by the Jumo 004 jet engine, the Me 262 outclassed anything the Allies had in terms of speed and firepower, offering, as an interceptor, a formidable punch with four 30 mm MK 108 nose-mounted cannon. Such a blend of armament and speed allowed the Me 262A-1a not just to inflict carnage on the Allied heavy bomber formations, but also to evade their fighter escorts even the later marks of Spitfire and the formidable American P-51 Mustang.In this new study, Luftwaffe historian Robert Forsyth utilises first-hand accounts from Me 262 pilots to chronicle actions against Allied bombers and their escorts, as well as detailing hit-and-run bomber attacks on road junctions, Allied airfields, vehicle columns, troop assemblies and supply dumps. All of these aspects of the Me 262 are enhanced by vivid illustration
£15.29
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Japanese Conquest of Burma 1942
Book SynopsisThis book provides a fascinating exploration of the Japanese conquest of Burma, as the Allied forces were forced back in disarray to India and China.The Japanese invasion of Burma in January 1942 marked the beginning of the single longest campaign of World War II. In the Burmese jungles, the battle-hardened, highly trained and lightly equipped Imperial Japanese Army quickly proved itself a vastly superior fighting force in clashes against the British, Indian and Gurkha troops that formed Burma Army and Chinese nationalist forces deployed in eastern Burma. This superbly illustrated book narrates Burma Corps' epic fighting retreat northwards, carried out mostly in contact with the enemy and across hundreds of miles of highly malarial and extremely difficult terrain, to safety in India. Among the battles covered are the disaster at the Sittang Bridge on 22 February 1942 (where 17th Indian Division was all but destroyed), the fall of Rangoon in March 1942 and the clashes at YenangyaTrade Reviewan informative and engaging account of what came to be known as ‘The British Army’s longest retrea -- Chris Jarvis * Miniature Wargames *an informative and engaging account of what came to be known as ‘The British Army’s longest retreat’ -- Chris Jarvis * Miniature Wargames *As ever, there are plenty of archive photos throughout the book, along with good clear maps and a number of 3D Battlefield views that help explain the various actions detailed in the book. * Military Model Scene *Table of ContentsORIGINS OF THE CAMPAIGN CHRONOLOGY ALLIED COMMANDERS AND FORCES British, Indian and Burmese Chinese JAPANESE COMMANDERS AND FORCES Orders of Battle THE CAMPAIGN Opening rounds: from Kawkareik to the Bilin River The Battle of the Sittang Bridge The Fall of Rangoon and the Taukkyan roadblock The battle for central Buram: Prome, Toungoo and Yenangyaung The final Allied withdrawal from Burma ASSESSMENT THE BATTLEFIELD TODAY ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX
£14.39
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Arctic Convoys 1942
Book SynopsisA new history of the most crucial few months of the Arctic Convoys, when Germany''s air power forced the Allies to retreat to the cover of winter. Between spring and autumn 1942, Germany was winning the battle of the Arctic Convoys. Half of PQ-15 was sunk in May, PQ-17 was virtually obliterated in July, and in September 30 percent of PQ-18 was sunk. The Allies were forced to suspend the convoys until December, when the long Arctic nights would shield them.Mark Lardas argues that in 1942, it was Luftwaffe air power that made the difference. With convoys sailing in endless daylight, German strike aircraft now equipped and trained for torpedo attacks, and bases in northern Norway available, the Luftwaffe could wreak havoc. Three-quarters of the losses of PQ-18 were due to air attacks. But in November, the Luftwaffe was redeployed south to challenge the Allied landings in North Africa, and the advantage was lost. Despite that, the Allies never again sailed Trade ReviewHis analysis of the actions and the strategic background is both perceptive and persuasive, and his enthusiasm for the subject is apparent. * The Naval Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chronology Attacker's Capabilities Defender's Capabilities Campaign Objectives The Campaign Aftermath and Analysis Conclusion Bibliography Index
£13.49
Simon & Schuster Ltd Soldaten - On Fighting, Killing and Dying: The
Book SynopsisThe authors discovered 150,000 pages of transcriptions of secretly recorded conversations among German prisoners of war, of which approximately one third were made in P.O.W. camps in Britain, another cache was made by bugging prisoners in the Mediterranean theatre of the war (North Africa, Malta, Italy) and the remainder comes from the bugging of prisoners of war in the USA. These transcriptions are thus unmediated, uncensored, and unselfconsciously candid and that is what gives this book its historical significance and extraordinary impact. What emerges from these transcriptions and within these pages is a shocking and profoundly illuminating portrait of the typical German soldier of the time: their thoughts, their feelings and their ideologies. SOLDATEN is a book that explodes many of the myths that we hold on to about Germany and its people during the War.
£9.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Warships of the Soviet Fleets 19391945
Book SynopsisThe most comprehensive listing of Soviet warships of this era in English.
£36.00
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC German Army Uniforms of World War II
Book SynopsisA detailed illustrated history of the uniforms of the German army from the period leading up to World War II until 1945.In the years after World War I, the defeated and much-reduced German Army developed new clothing and personal equipment that drew upon the lessons learned in the trenches. In place of the wide variety of uniforms and insignia that had been worn by the Imperial German Army, a standardized approach was followed, culminating in the uniform items introduced in the 1930s as the Nazi Party came to shape every aspect of German national life. The outbreak of war in 1939 prompted further adaptations and simplifications of uniforms and insignia, while the increasing use of camouflaged items and the accelerated pace of weapons development led to the appearance of new clothing and personal equipment. Medals and awards increased in number as the war went on, with grades being added for existing awards and new decorations introduced to reflect battlefield featTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1: UNIFORM – Dienstrock, Feldbluse and Waffenrock; Officers’ Dress; Markings and Orders of Dress; Quality and Change; The 1944 Uniform; Other Issue Clothing CHAPTER 2: HEADGEAR – Peaked and Field Caps; Tropical Headgear; The Steel Helmet; Parade Helmets and the Panzer Beret CHAPTER 3: PERSONAL EQUIPMENT – Rucksacks; Digging in and the Tent; Anti-gas Equipment; Food, Drink and Brotbeutel; Personal and Pocket Items CHAPTER 4: SMALL ARMS – Rifles; Pistols; Submachine Guns; Automatic and Semi-automatic Rifles; Grenades; Edged Weapons CHAPTER 5: SUPPORT AND SPECIAL WEAPONS – Machine Guns; Mortars; Anti-tank Weapons CHAPTER 6: SPECIAL CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT – Tanks and Motorized Uniforms; Tropical Uniform; Gebirgsjäger Uniform; Winter Clothing; Other Camouflage Clothing; Women’s Uniforms CHAPTER 7: HEER MEDALS AND AWARDS – Awards Sanctioned in 1939; Campaign Awards; Combat Badges; Senior Grades of the Ritterkreuz and the Deutsches Kreuz; Manufacture, Certification and Pricing SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX
£33.25
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Warships in the Komandorski Islands 1943
Book SynopsisWith ship profiles and original artwork, this study explores the warships that fought World War II''s last pure surface battle, the battle itself, and why the outnumbered US Navy prevailed.The Battle of the Komandorski Islands was unique among World War II naval battles. It was the last daytime naval surface battle of World War II where aircraft played no role, and saw a squadron of US Navy cruisers and destroyers engage their Japanese counterparts over a convoy to reinforce Attu and Kiska.Exploring the warships, the battle, and why it was won, naval expert Mark Lardas explains that due to an intelligence failure, the Japanese escort was twice the size expected, with the US outnumbered 2:1 in heavy and light cruisers. Although both sides had the same number of destroyers (four each) the Japanese destroyers were newer and more powerful than their US counterparts. A 12-hour brawl of a surface action took place. Despite being badly outnumbered and badly o
£11.69
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Aces at Kursk
Book SynopsisThe full story of the aerial fighting surrounding the Battle of Kursk, the largest tank battle in history.
£24.00
John Murray Press In My Fathers House The Years before The Hiding
Book SynopsisConcentrating upon her family and their life in Holland before the war, this inspiring and revealing book describes in moving detail living above the family watch shop in Harlem and her memories of the family together before their lives changed for ever with the advent of war and persecution.Corrie believed that this life helped prepare them for carrying out God''s work later and gave her the strength to survive the war, brutal hardship and persecution and begin her worldwide ministry.This much loved book is being re-issued in B format with a contemporary cover.
£9.99
Yale University Press Auschwitz and After
Book SynopsisWritten by a mamber of the French resistance who became an important literary figure in postwar France, this memoir of life and death in Auschwitz and the post-war experiences of women survivors has become a key text for Holocaust studies classes.Trade Review"I find Rosette C. Lamont’s remarkable translation of Charlotte Delbo’s work perceptive, delicate, and poignant—in short: exceptional."—Elie Wiesel"For 75 years, Nazism’s victims have told their affliction. This will carry on. Meanwhile, no other “Auschwitz” writer than Charlotte Delbo has so clearly shown human detail and human depth."—John Felstiner, author of Can Poetry Save the Earth?: A Field Guide to Nature Poems"Delbo's exquisite and unflinching account of life and death under Nazi atrocity grows fiercer and richer with time. The superb new introduction by Lawrence L. Langer illuminates the subtlety and complexity of Delbo's meditation on memory, time, culpability, and survival, in the context of what Langer calls the 'afterdeath' of the Holocaust. Delbo's powerful trilogy belongs on every bookshelf."—Sara R. Horowitz, York University
£999.99
The Crowood Press Ltd The World War II Tommy: British Army Uniforms
Book SynopsisA paperback edition of this classic work, which describes and illustrates the uniforms and equipment of the WWII British soldier using original items worn by live models in authentic settings.
£17.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Soviet Cruisers 191745
Book SynopsisA history of the Soviet Navy''s cruisers, from the opening shots of the October Revolution through to the combat they saw during World War II.The Soviet Navy of World War II boasted a cruiser fleet that was among the most eclectic to see service. In this book, noted military historian and Soviet specialist Alexander Hill explains the role of cruisers in the Soviet Navy from the dramatic days of the October Revolution of 1917 through to the struggle they fought with Nazi Germany during World War II.Illustrated throughout with rare photos and original artwork, including a cutaway of Aurora, famous for its role in the Bolshevik October Revolution, and with profiles of the key classes, this book outlines the Soviets'' development of a cruiser force. Having inherited a number of cruisers from the Imperial Russian Navy, the new Soviet Navy went on to complete two unfinished Tsarist light cruisers during the 1920s. In the late 1930s, the Soviets built their f
£12.34
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Otto Skorzeny
Book SynopsisSS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Skorzeny became a legend in his own time. Hitler''s favorite commando acquired a reputation as a man of daring, renowned for his audacious 1943 mission to extricate Mussolini from a mountain-top prison. Skorzeny''s influence on special operations doctrine was far-reaching and long-lasting--in 2011, when US Navy SEALs infiltrated Pakistan to eliminate Osama Bin Laden, the operational planning was influenced by Skorzeny''s legacy. Yet he was also an egoist who stole other men''s credit (including for the seminal rescue of Mussolini), brave and resourceful but also an unrepentant Nazi, and a self-aggrandizing hogger of the limelight. Stuart Smith draws on years of in-depth research to uncover the truth about Skorzeny''s career and complex personality. From his background as a student radical in Vienna, to his bloody service with the Waffen-SS on the Eastern Front, his surprise rebirth as a commando, and his intriguing post-war career and mysterious Table of ContentsPrologue /Acknowledgements /Maps /1. The Knowledge of Pain /2. Accidental Soldier /3. Thugs in Field Grey /4. The Liberator of Mussolini /5. Special Ops and High-Value Targets /6. Miracle Weapons /7. The Stauffenberg Plot – July 1944 /8. The Scherhorn Affair /9. The SS Changes Tack /10. Operation Panzerfaust /11. Everything on One Card /12. Operation Greif /13. Implosion /14. Skorzeny’s Last Stand /15. Trial and Errors /16. Escape from Darmstadt /17. Apocalypse Soon /18. Neo-Nazis and Colonel Nasser /19. The Years of Plenty /20. Ghosts of the Past /Epilogue /Glossary /Note on the Waffen-SS /Bibliography /Notes /Index
£21.25
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Commando Pocket Manual
Book SynopsisA fascinating insight into the training of the special service volunteer soldiers who formed the Commandos.The Commandos were created by Winston Churchill in 1940 as a ''butcher and bolt'' raiding unit to destroy vital targets in German occupied Europe. Recruits for this ''special service'' were all volunteers, drawn from the British Army, and later from the Royal Marines and other Allied armies. Commando training was extremely demanding men had to be physically fit and show initiative, mental toughness and adaptability.The training courses were designed to cultivate these qualities and to simulate real battle experiences, which included the use of live ammunition. Commandos learned a diverse range of skills at dedicated training centres in the remote Scottish Highlands. This pocket-book draws on authentic training manuals, lecture notes, course literature and other material from the commando schools to give a real insight into this highly specialised
£9.49
Elliott & Thompson Limited The Man with Miraculous Hands: The Incredible
Book SynopsisThe incredible story of Heinrich Himmler’s physician who saved thousands of lives. With a new introduction by bestselling author Norman Ohler, which addresses Kersten’s flawed legacy. In 1938, before the outbreak of the Second World War, Dr Felix Kersten an avuncular Finnish physician was introduced to Heinrich Himmler, the chief architect of the Holocaust. Seemingly the only person who could cure Himmler of his crippling stomach cramps, Kersten worked on Himmler’s vanity and gratitude Kersten to save the lives of thousands of people, and was celebrated across Europe, culminating in Joseph Kessel’s 1961 bestseller, The Man with Miraculous Hands. And yet, Kersten’s historical legacy is not flawless, and a new introduction by bestselling author Norman Ohler, deals with the historical legacy of Kersten’s more exaggerated claims, and asks directly why a man who had done so much good would risk damaging that reputation. Soon to be a major motion picture starring Woody Harrelson, The Man with Miraculous Hands is an extraordinarily revealing portrayal of the deranged atmosphere in Himmler’s court where paranoia and vicious rivalries reigned. Shedding a new light on the darkest days of the twentieth century, the story of Kersten’s life gives us a new way of viewing the history of the Second World War, one that goes beyond the simple idea of heroes and villains.Trade Review‘For one man to have stemmed that appalling tide to any degree was no mean achievement. His story makes for an engrossing read. And, like all such accounts it forces the reader to ask themselves an uncomfortable question: Perhaps he could have done more – but how much would you have done?’ iNews ‘Jospeh Kessel...published this account of Kersten’s life after he had become Himmler’s medical adviser and confidant. He based it entirely on Kersten’s own account, and the result is as racy as any spy novel. Whatever the historical exactitude of the book, it is a wonderful read, and the portrait of Himmler has the ring of ghastly truth.’ The Oldie ‘At no small risk to his personal safety, Kersten throughout the war years had dominated Himmler to the extent of saving hundreds of thousands of human lives.’ History of War ‘A fantastic book … This edition of the book is a particularly important read, to provide some sense of incredulity to a captivating story.’ Get History
£17.00
Michael O'Mara Books Ltd Hurricane
Book SynopsisBritain’s first-ever wartime fighter plane, the Hawker Hurricane, shot down more enemy planes than any other fighter. It was the true aviation hero of the Battle of Britain.Often eclipsed by the legend and aerial heroics of the Spitfire, the Hurricane was the authentic warhorse of aviation history. Stable, rugged, less expensive to build - and far more easily repaired and maintained than the Spitfire - the ‘Hurri’ as it was affectionately known, proved to be the most fearsome fighter plane in aerial combat - at a time when Britain’s survival was at stake like never before.In 1940 the Hurricane made its mark: more than half of the 1,200 German aircraft that were shot down in the war were taken down by Hurricanes. At the time, the RAF could call on 32 squadrons of Hurricanes and 19 Spitfires: the Hurricane was, in fact, the dominant British fighter plane, developing a reputation as a plane that could take more than a
£10.44
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Battle of SaintVith and the Potteau Ambush
Book SynopsisThe first days of the Battle of the Bulge saw tactical defeats for several formations of the US army. The Saint-Vith sector was particularly hard hit by the surprise attack that prevailed on the morning of 16 December 1944. Two American units, the 106th Infantry Division and the 14th Cavalry Group, were crushed in front of this small town, which was of vital importance to the German offensive in the Ardennes. To the north-west of Saint-Vith is a small hamlet consisting of a few houses: Poteau. The area is well known to military history enthusiasts thanks to a series of photographs taken by a German Propaganda Kompagnie, which were later captured by the US Army and have since become famous the world over. Although this series of photographs was a staging point for a propaganda battle, their frequent appearance in history books on the Ardennes offensive prompted the author to investigate what really happened in this small village on the border between the Ardennes and the German-spea
£21.25
Canelo Escape or Die: True stories of heroic escape in
Book SynopsisExtraordinary times. Extraordinary courage.Here, from the bestselling author of The Great Escape, are eight true and startling escape stories from the Second World War.The heroism of the servicemen who dared to defy their captors in this volume is matched only by that of the underground movements and ordinary civilians who helped the escapees in these stories of daring, invention and doggedness against the odds.From the account of the Spitfire pilot left for dead by an execution squad in Sicily to the story of the air gunner forced to blag his way across the Baltic, every one is an unputdownable classic.‘As long as there are prisons men will try to escape from them; and as long as there is an RAF it will bring to the problems of escape the qualities of high resource, pure cussedness and that indefinable, damnably annoying refusal to lie down when dead, of which all the stories in this book are such excellent - and, I think, such exciting - examples.’ H.E. Bates
£9.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC On a Knifes Edge
Book SynopsisFrom critically acclaimed Eastern Front expert Prit Buttar, this is the engrossing story of the German resurgence after the battle of Stalingrad. Containing haunting first-hand accounts of the horrors of life on the front line, this gripping narrative reveals in startling detail the story of a bitter struggle for survival against terrible odds.The battle of Stalingrad was the turning point of World War II. The German capture of the city, their encirclement by Soviet forces shortly afterwards, and the hard-fought but futile attempts to relieve them, saw bitter attritional fighting and extremes of human misery inflicted on both sides. The surrender of General Friedrich von Paulus'' army left Germany''s eastern armies severely weakened, but the Red Army had suffered enormous losses as it overreached itself in trying to exploit its great victory. The war was not over. Germany would continue the fight, and the battles that took place in the winter of 1942/43 would Trade ReviewAlthough it's only part of the story, it's a richly detailed history worth reading for any student of the Eastern Front. * The Armourer, January 2019 *This is another impressive work from Buttar, who is one of my favourite authors currently writing on the Eastern Front of both World Wars. -- Dr John Rickard * historyofwar.org *
£15.29
Little, Brown Book Group Make It Count
Book Synopsis100-year-old Benjamin Ferencz is the last surviving prosecutor of the Nuremberg Trials, where he prosecuted 22 leading Nazis. MAKE IT COUNT follows the story of Ben's life, and each chapter includes his learnings on how we can all make the most of ours - from the subjects of ambition and determination, to happiness and love.
£9.25
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Dark Waters Starry Skies
Book SynopsisA fast-paced and absorbing read of the final months of the vital Guadalcanal-Solomons Campaign during the Pacific War.Thousands of miles from friendly ports, the US Navy fought to turn the tide of World War II. Jeffrey Cox turns his razor-sharp focus to these final months of the Guadalcanal-Solomons Campaign. This is the central plotline running through this page-turning history beginning with the Japanese Operation I and the American ambush of Admiral Yamamoto; continuing with the Allied invasions of New Georgia, Bougainville, and the central and upper Solomons; and ending with the isolation of the Japanese base at Rabaul.While the ambush of Yamamoto has received considerable attention in the intervening years, the remainder of this campaign, surprisingly, has not. Using first-hand accounts from both sides, this book vividly recreates all the terror and drama of these nighttime naval battles fought to secure the Allied landings. The reader can easily imagine
£15.29
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Hero City
Book SynopsisOne of the greatest ever sieges is masterfully brought to life by a leading expert on the Eastern Front. At the height of World War II the people of Leningrad endured a bitter 900-day siege, struggling against bombing, shelling, and starvation. Prit Buttar tells the story of how the siege was finally broken. The Red Army had suffered multiple setbacks in the preceding two years but achieved a partial success by breaking the blockage in early 1943. However, this was followed by further failed attempts to lift the siege completely. But by simply enduring the siege in the face of impossible odds, Russian soldiers and civilians beat the Germans. By the end of 1943 the German forces, themselves broken by deprivations and extreme weather, began to pull back. Here was the opportunity the Soviet forces had been waiting for. The Red Army launched a decisive attack that broke through and ended the siege. Their determination to hold out has become a hugely significant pa
£25.50
The History Press Ltd An Illustrated History of the Avro Lancaster
Book SynopsisA photo-history of this pivotal and iconic World War Two bomber
£16.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Blitz 194041
Book SynopsisAn illustrated history of how the Luftwaffe intended ''the Blitz'' to knock Britain out of the war, emphasising the German point of view and detailing how Britain''s defences and civilians responded.The Blitz - the German ''blitzkrieg'' of Britain''s industrial and port cities - was one of the most intensive bombing campaigns of World War II. Cities from London to Glasgow, Belfast to Hull, and Liverpool to Cardiff were targeted in an attempt to destroy Britain''s military-industrial facilities and force it out of the war.Most histories of the Blitz concentrate on the civilian experience of ''life under the bombs'' or the fighter pilots of the RAF but, in military terms, the Blitz was also the Luftwaffe''s biggest and most ambitious strategic bombing campaign. Focusing on both sides, this book places particular emphasis on the hitherto under-represented Luftwaffe view of the campaign and looks at the new technology and Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION CHRONOLOGY ATTACKER'S CAPABILITIES Luftwaffe order of battle, 7 September, 1941 Doctrine The aircraft Equipment and tactics DEFENDER'S CAPABILITIES RAF order of battle, 7 September, 1941 Civil defence The aircraft Commanders CAMPAIGN OBJECTIVES THE CAMPAIGN The Blitz begins, 7 September-13 October The night assault The conflict over future strategy The London Blitz renewed Fighter defence The campaign on the Midlands and Southern ports Regenschirm: The Birmingham Blitz 'Crucible': Sheffield The Manchester Blitz The Southampton Blitz London campaign renewed The Anti-Aircraft Contribution Bromide, Domino and Starfish The Battle of the ports The Swansea and Cardiff Blitzes The Clydebank Blitz- Problems over Bristol Hull, Plymouth-Devonport London The Anti-shipping campaign AFTERMATH AND ANALYSIS BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX
£15.29
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC World War II Battle by Battle
Book SynopsisA highly illustrated introduction to some of World War II''s most famous and important battles, featuring colourful artwork throughout.World War II was the single greatest conflict the world has ever known, fought in theatres all around the globe, and many of its battles Stalingrad, Monte Cassino, the Battle of Britain are household names. While the Western Front in Europe is often what first comes to mind, bitter and bloody battles were also fought in Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, on land, at sea, and in the air, and their many stories help illuminate both the scale and the varying character of the conflict.This compact gift book takes thirty of World War II''s most significant clashes, both the famous and the lesser known, and presents their stories in a concise, easy to digest format, accompanied by beautiful Osprey artwork plates in full colour that illuminate a key moment in each battle.Trade ReviewA concise overview of the major battles of the Second World War * Battlefield Magazine *Table of ContentsChronology /The Invasion of Poland /The Battle of Belgium /The Battle of Britain /The Sinking of the Bismarck /Operation Barbarossa /The Siege of Leningrad /The Battle of Moscow /The Siege of Sevastopol /The Attack on Pearl Harbor /The Malayan Campaign /The Second Battle of Kharkov /The Battle of Gazala /The Battle of Midway /The Battle of Guadalcanal /The Battle of Stalingrad /The El Alamein Battles /The Battle for Tunisia /The Battle of Kursk /The Battle of Monte Cassino /The Battle of Imphal /The Normandy Landings /The Battle of Saipan /The Battle of the Philippine Sea /The Warsaw Uprising /Operation Market-Garden /The Battle of Hürtgen Forest /The Battle of the Bulge /The Battle of Iwo Jima /The Battle of Okinawa /The Battle of Berlin /Index
£7.59
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Hitler's Wolfsschanze: The Wolf's Lair
Book SynopsisSet deep in the heart of the Masurian woods of northern Poland, in what was formally East Prussia, lies a vast complex of ruined bunkers and shelters that once constituted Hitler's headquarters - the Wolfsschanze or Wolf's Lair - for Germany's attack upon the Soviet Union in 1941. Built in conditions of the utmost secrecy, the Wolfsschanze was surrounded by fences and guard posts, its paths and tracks were hidden, and buildings were camouflaged and concealed with artificial grass and trees planted on their flat roofs. As the war in Eastern Europe continued, so the Wolf's Lair grew in scale and sophistication, until it's 2.5 square miles incorporated more than eighty buildings including massive reinforced bunkers. It was also at the Wolfsschanze that Colonel von Stauffenberg almost killed Hitler in the summer of 1944\. That building is still there, its roof sitting on its collapsed walls. With the aid of a unique collection of colour photographs, the reader is guided around the Wolfsschanze as it appears today, with each building and its purpose identified. Laced with numerous personal accounts of the installation and of Hitler's routines, supplemented with contemporary images, the Wolfsschanze is brought to life once more. The Wolfsschanze, however, was not the only military complex in this small part of the Eastern Front. Once Hitler has established his command centre at the Wolfsschanze, in effect the home of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (or military high command), the other branches of the German armed forces and civil authorities quickly followed suit. Just a few miles away, for example, the German Army built its own operational headquarters at Mauerwald - a complex which amounted to an even greater concentration of buildings, many of which remain intact and open to the public. Goering duly ordered that the Luftwaffe's headquarters, codenamed _Robinson_, be built further out near the current Russian border, whilst Himmler's SS headquarters at Hochwald and that for Hans Lammers' Reich Chancellery were situated back nearer the Wolfsschanze. For the first time, these astonishing sites, five complexes from which the war on the Eastern Front was directed, are shown and described in one book, providing a comprehensive survey of the installations whose gigantic scale still evinces awe and wonder.
£21.25
HarperCollins Publishers The Holocaust
Book SynopsisThis is a very thorough account of the experience of the Jews of Europe during World War II. It is virtually a day-by-day account, in men and women's own words, of the horrifying events of the Holocaust - the Nazi attempt to exterminate the Jewish race.
£17.99
Pan Macmillan Stalin
Book SynopsisRobert Service is the author of Lenin: A Biography, and Russia: Experiment with a People and is the author of numerous other books on Russian history, including his History of Twentieth Century Russia
£16.14
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Japanese Combined Fleet 194243
Book SynopsisA superbly illustrated account of the Japanese Navy during the fierce battles of Guadalcanal and the Solomons, explaining how and why it fought as it did.Contrary to myth, the Imperial Japanese Navy was not a shattered force after its defeat at Midway. In this book, Pacific War expert Mark Stille examines the IJN's Combined Fleet during the Guadalcanal and Solomons campaigns, when it was reorganized and was forced to fight a grinding battle of attrition against the US Navy.The early surface battles in the Guadalcanal campaign played into the strength of the Combined Fleet, which had long trained for night combat. The IJN's rebuilt carrier force also performed well and managed to score its most clearcut victory against the USN's carriers of the entire war, at the battle of Santa Cruz, but the overall Guadalcanal campaign ended in disaster. The result was that the IJN was unwilling to engage in a major struggle for the Central and Northern Solomons, instead usin
£14.39
WW Norton & Co Impounded
Book Synopsis"Unflinchingly illustrates the reality of life during this extraordinary moment in American history."—Dinitia Smith, The New York TimesTrade Review"In these days of fear of the terrorist 'other', reading this measured, intelligent introduction to a time that is all-too possible to imagine recurring, and looking at Lange's photos... may be one of the most useful things one can do this Christmas." "[The] images show Americans of Japanese extraction being relocated to 'assembly centers', labeled and processed like cattle and closeted away in dismal shacks for the duration of the war... No wonder her pictures were never used and disappeared for half a century." "Through her discerning and sensitive eye, Lange's observations of the situation were too real and too critical for the government, and were consequently confiscated." "[T]he bulk of the book is given over to Lange's photographs. Several of these are as powerful as her most stirring work, and the final image-of a grandfather in the desolate Manzanar Center looking down in anguish at the grandson between his knees-is worth the price of the book alone."
£15.19
HarperCollins Publishers Knights Cross
Book SynopsisErwin Rommel was the outstanding Axis field commander of the Second World War, respected, even admired, by his opponents. Here it seemed to the Allies, was a supremely professional soldier: chivalrous, decent, largely untainted by the crimes of the Nazi regime, carrying out his duty with often dazzling success.David Fraser's definitive study brings to Rommel's career not only the insights of an acclaimed biographer, but also those of a distinguished soldier. He shows how inspiringly spontaneous and superficially haphazard Rommel's style of leadership could be; how his hallmarks of boldness of manoeuvre, ferocity in attack and tenacity in pursuit, which characterised his great campaign in North Africa, were evident from his earliest battles in the First World War. Knight's Cross is first and foremost hte biography of a soldier, but Rommel reached a position in which he almost inevitably became embroiled in politics, including his alleged involvement in the plot to kill Hitler, which conTrade Review‘Many books have been written about Rommel. None has been more thoroughly researched or examines his personality and character in more detail than this one… Fraser gets under the skin of this man as well as any biographer ever can.’The Economist
£15.29
Monsoon Books The Defence and Fall of Singapore
Book Synopsis
£999.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Bolt Action Campaign Sea Lion
Book SynopsisThe year is 1940, and the German invasion of Britain has begun. With this new campaign book for Bolt Action, players can fight the battles of World War II''s greatest ''what if'' scenario. Defend the cliffs of Dover and the beaches of Kent from wave after wave of German landing craft. Parachute into the Home Counties in a surgical strike to capture Winston Churchill. Rally the Home Guard in a last, desperate attempt to keep England free of the Nazi invaders! Containing new rules, scenarios, and unit types covering all of the unique features of this alternate history campaign, it offers a chance for all Bolt Action players to truly rewrite the history of World War II.
£21.25
Yale University Press We Wept Without Tears Testimonies of the Jewish
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Gideon Greif’s documentation and analysis of the inner world of the Jews who were forced to be part of the Grief in Auschwitz is a haunting reading experience. It is with rare sensitivity and empathy that Greif approached the last survivors of this unit, who were at the heart of the inferno. They poured their hearts out to him after long decades of silence. The reader is thus acquainted with the detGrief’sails of the death industry, and they accompany and disturb him for a long while."—Dina Porat, Head of the Rosenberg School of Jewish Studies, Tel Aviv University"This is a book that must be read by all who dare draw close to the killing, those who dare to come close—as close as non-survivors can come—to the inferno."—Michael Berenbaum
£23.75
Vintage Publishing Six Minutes in May: How Churchill Unexpectedly
Book SynopsisA fascinating and dramatic investigation into the events that led to Winston Churchill becoming Prime Minister against the odds.‘A gripping story of Churchill’s unlikely rise to power’ Observer London, May 1940. Britain is under threat of invasion and Neville Chamberlain’s government is about to fall. It is hard for us to imagine the Second World War without Winston Churchill taking the helm, but in Six Minutes in May Nicholas Shakespeare shows how easily events could have gone in a different direction. It took just six minutes for MPs to cast the votes that brought down Chamberlain. Shakespeare moves from Britain’s disastrous battle in Norway, for which many blamed Churchill, on to the dramatic developments in Westminster that led to Churchill becoming Prime Minister. Uncovering fascinating new research and delving into the key players’ backgrounds, Shakespeare gives us a new perspective on this critical moment in our history.‘Totally captivating. It will stand as the best account of those extraordinary few days for very many years’ Andrew Roberts ‘Superbly written… Shakespeare has a novelist’s flair for depicting the characters and motives of men’ The Times ‘Utterly wonderful… It reads like a thriller’ Peter Frankopan SHORTLISTED FOR THE HWA NON-FICTION CROWN 2018*** Selected as a 2017 Book of the Year in the Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Observer and The Economist ***Trade ReviewHistory books should give us insight and information, surprise and entertainment, and allow us to see the world, an incident or a character differently. Nicholas Shakespeare’s Six Minutes in May delivers in abundance. -- Anthony Sattin * Observer, Best Books of 2017 *Unputdownable… Us[es] new evidence with a novelist’s feeling for personality and atmosphere -- John Gray * Guardian, Best Books of 2017 *Of the abundant new books on the Second World War, Nicholas Shakespeare’s Six Minutes in May…takes the prize. The familiar story of how Churchill unexpectedly became prime minister in 1940 has never been told so amusingly, nor in such detail -- Simon Heffer * Daily Telegraph, Best History Books of 2017 *Nicholas Shakespeare’s Six Minutes in May: How Churchill Unexpectedly Became Prime Minister…is as gripping as a novel. Apart from being meticulously researched, thoroughly original and beautifully written, the book is an important reminder of the fact that the direction of history can change in a heartbeat -- Peter Frankopan * History Today, Best History Books of 2017 *An eloquent study in how quickly the political landscape can change -- and history with it * The Economist, Books of the Year 2017 *
£12.34
Headline Publishing Group Monte Cassino
Book Synopsis80th anniversary of the Battle of Monte CassinoThe six-month battle for Monte Cassino was Britain''s bitterest and bloodiest encounter with the German army on any front in World War Two.At the beginning of 1944 Italy was the western Allies'' only active front against Nazi-controlled Europe, and their only route to the capital was through the Liri valley. Towering over the entrance to the valley was the medieval monastery of Monte Cassino, a seemingly impenetrable fortress high up in the ''bleak and sinister'' mountains. This was where the German commander, Kesselring, made his stand.MONTE CASSINO tells the extraordinary story of ordinary soldiers tested to the limits under conditions reminiscent of the bloodbaths of World War One. In a battle that became increasingly political, symbolic and personal as it progressed, more and more men were asked to throw themselves at the virtually impregnable German defences. It is a story of incompetence, hubris
£10.44
Amazon Publishing The Last Rose of Shanghai: A Novel
Book SynopsisIn Japanese-occupied Shanghai, two people from different cultures are drawn together by fate and the freedom of music… 1940. Aiyi Shao is a young heiress and the owner of a formerly popular and glamorous Shanghai nightclub. Ernest Reismann is a penniless Jewish refugee driven out of Germany, an outsider searching for shelter in a city wary of strangers. He loses nearly all hope until he crosses paths with Aiyi. When she hires Ernest to play piano at her club, her defiance of custom causes a sensation. His instant fame makes Aiyi’s club once again the hottest spot in Shanghai. Soon they realize they share more than a passion for jazz—but their differences seem insurmountable, and Aiyi is engaged to another man. As the war escalates, Aiyi and Ernest find themselves torn apart, and their choices between love and survival grow more desperate. In the face of overwhelming odds, a chain of events is set in motion that will change both their lives forever. From the electrifying jazz clubs to the impoverished streets of a city under siege, The Last Rose of Shanghai is a timeless, sweeping story of love and redemption.Trade ReviewPraise for The Last Rose of Shanghai “Fans of sweeping, dramatic WWII epics that are rich in historical detail, such as Lisa See’s Shanghai Girls or Paullina Simons’s The Bronze Horseman will be enthralled.” —Booklist “Weina Dai Randel’s novel deserves a place of distinction among WWII fiction.” —Historical Novel Society “The Last Rose of Shanghai is a powerful story of the relationship between a Shanghai heiress and a Jewish refugee, set against the backdrop of a nightclub in China on the eve of the Second World War. Weina Dai Randel skillfully shines a light on a little-known moment in history through the lens of two vividly drawn characters whose unique and unexpected relationship is one readers will never forget.” —Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Woman with the Blue Star “Set in Japanese-occupied Shanghai, this is an unforgettable, page-turning tale of an impossible affair between lovers from two cultures. Randel casts an unflinching eye at the horrors of wartime Shanghai, where refugees starve while the wealthy and privileged continue to drink and dance, and where daily threats of danger and death only serve to fan forbidden passions to a blazing climax.” —Janie Chang, bestselling author of Dragon Springs Road and The Library of Legends “The Last Rose of Shanghai vividly depicts the clash of East and West as Jewish refugees flee Hitler’s Berlin for faraway Shanghai, where they struggle to survive amid the uneasy coexistence of Chinese magnates and Japanese invaders. Sophisticated heiress Aiyi knows she is taking a risk when she hires Jewish pianist Ernest to play jazz in her nightclub, but she has no idea she will be risking her heart, her family, and everything she holds dear as forbidden love blossoms and Japan’s hold on her beloved home city tightens. Weina Dai Randel’s poignant, sweeping love story paints a vibrant portrait of a little-known slice of World War II history. Not to be missed!” —Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Rose Code and The Huntress “A sweeping novel that transports readers to 1940s Shanghai, The Last Rose of Shanghai is a must-read for historical fiction lovers. Filled with page-turning suspense and a poignant and unforgettable love story, Weina Dai Randel wholly immerses the reader in this richly detailed and powerfully drawn story.” —Chanel Cleeton, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author “Set against a panorama so vivid you can almost hear the jazz in Aiyi Shao’s nightclub, Weina Dai Randel brings to life fascinating WWII history new to me and, I imagine, countless other readers. The story of a well-born entrepreneur and the German-Jewish refugee she loves will stay with you long after The Last Rose of Shanghai ends.” —Sally Koslow, author of Another Side of Paradise “In a novel that spans time, space, and culture, The Last Rose of Shanghai is a riveting story of love, heartbreak, and redemption. The smoky night clubs, jazz bars, luxury hotels, family compounds, and refugee settlements of Japanese-occupied Shanghai provide a fascinating background to the lives of those caught in the crossfires of war. Weina Dai Randel is a skilled artist, giving the reader well drawn characters of great depth, complexity, and heart. In the WWII genre, within the genre of historical fiction, The Last Rose of Shanghai stands out for its boldness and originality.” —Erika Robuck, bestselling author of The Invisible Woman Praise for The Moon in the Palace “A must for historical fiction fans, especially those fascinated by China’s glorious past.” —Library Journal (starred review) “A very successful and transporting novel that beautifully captures the sounds, smells, and social mores of seventh-century China.” —Historical Novels Review (Editors’ Choice) “The Moon in the Palace depicts Empress Wu’s sharp, persistent spirit but does not neglect to make her believably naive and vulnerable, an untried girl among ruthless women. The intrigue and machinations of the imperial court come to life under her hand, a vast and dangerous engine with each piece moving for its own reasons.” —Shelf Awareness (starred review) “A full-immersion, compulsively readable tale that rivals both Anchee Min’s Empress Orchid (2004), about the dowager empress Cixi, and the multilayered biographical novel Empress (2006) by Shan Sa, which also features Empress Wu.” —Booklist (starred review)
£8.54
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Warsaw Uprisings, 1943-1944: Rare Photographs
Book SynopsisBy 1942 the Nazi leadership had decided that the Jewish ghettos across occupied Poland should be liquidated, with Warsaw's being the largest , processed in phases. In response the left-wing Jewish Combat Organisation (ZOB) and right-wing Jewish Military Union (ZZW) formed and began training, preparing defences and smuggling in arms and explosives. The first Warsaw Ghetto Uprising began in April 1943\. Although this was quelled at devastating cost to the Jewish community, resistance continued until the summer of 1944\. By this time the Red Army was closing on the city and with liberation apparently imminent the 40,000 resistance fighters of the Polish Home Army launched a second uprising. For sixty-three days the insurgents battled their oppressors on the streets, in ruined buildings and cellars. Rather than come to their aid the Russians waited and watched the inevitable slaughter. This gallant but tragic struggle is brought to life in this book by the superb collection of photographs drawn from the album compiled for none other than Heinrich Himmler entitled Warschauer Aufstand 1944.
£13.49
Permuted Press The Auschwitz Protocols: Ceslav Mordowicz and the
Book SynopsisAs Adolf Eichmann sent hundreds of thousands of Hungarian Jews to Auschwitz gas chambers, the Jews of Budapest needed the eyewitness testimony of Auschwitz escapees Ceslav Mordowicz and Arnost Rosinto save them.The clock was ticking on the Nazi plan to annihilate the last group of the Hungarian Jewry. But after nearly suffocating in an underground bunker, Auschwitz prisoners Ceslav Mordowicz and Arnost Rosin escaped and told Jewish leaders what they had seen. Their testimony in early June, 1944, corroborated earlier hard-to-believe reports of mass killing in Auschwitz by lethal gas and provided eyewitness accounts of record daily arrivals of Hungarian Jews meeting the same fate. It was the spark needed to stir a call for action to pressure Hungary’s premier to defy Hitler—just hours before more than 200,000 Budapest Jews were to be deported.
£17.00
CONNELL PUBLISHING LTD World War II: A graphic account of the greatest
Book SynopsisWithin Western culture, World War Two continues to exercise an extraordinary fascination for generations unborn when it took place. The obvious explanation is that it was the greatest and most terrible event in human history. Within the vast compass of the struggle, some individuals scaled summits of courage and nobility, while others plumbed depths of evil, in a fashion that compels the awe of posterity. Among citizens of modern democracies to whom serious hardship and collective peril are unknown, the tribulations which hundreds of millions endured between 1939 and 1945 are almost beyond comprehension. Hastings tells the story of the war in a clear and compelling narrative, ranging across a vast canvas from the agony of Poland in 1939 and the horrors of the Soviet front to the dropping of the atom bombs on Japan in August 1945. This is a book which shows vividly what war meant for individuals from allied soldiers, sailors and airmen, to SS killers, to civilians caught up in the war like British housewives who endured the Blitz and the citizens of Leningrad who suffered through a siege of almost unimaginable horror.
£9.49
