Second World War Books

Book SynopsisDark haired, slight, with deep-set haunted eyes, Herschel Grynszpan is an undocumented Jewish alien living in Paris. He receives a postcard from his parents – recently bundled from their Hanover flat, put on a train and dumped, with 12,000 others on the Polish border. Enraged, Herschel buys a gun and kills a minor German official in the German Embassy. The repercussions trigger Kristalnacht, the nationwide pogrom against the Jews in Germany and Austria, a calamity which some have called the opening act of the Holocaust. Intertwined is the parallel life of the German boxer, Max Schmeling, who as a result of his victory over the then ‘invincible’ Joe Louis in 1936 became the poster boy of the Nazis. He and his movie-star wife, Anny Ondra, were feted by the regime – tea with Hitler, a passage on the airship Hindenburg – until his brutal two-minute beating in the rematch with Louis less than two years later. His story reaches a climax during Kristalnacht, where the champion performs an act of quiet heroism.

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Book SynopsisPeople are disappearing. I spoke to my neighbour yesterday, we laughed at some nonsense, and today he is gone. We only discovered he was missing because the dog wouldn't stop howling and we all knew he would never leave his beloved pet. So I am careful, extremely careful.Two families divided by war. An entire city on the edge of disaster. 'I was blown away not just by the gripping story, which had my heart thumping at times, but the sheer eloquence of writing.  It is a story of the strength of the human spirit, and of love which will not be defeated. I know I will be recommending it to everyone' LESLEY PEARSE1948, Berlin. World War II has ended and there is supposed to be peace; but Russian troops have closed all access to the city. Roads, railway lines and waterways are blocked and two million people are trapped, relying on airlifts of food, water and medicine to survive. The sharp eyes of the Trade ReviewI was blown away not just by the gripping story, which had my heart thumping at times, but the sheer eloquence of writing. It is a story of the strength of the human spirit, and of love which will not be defeated. I know I will be recommending it to everyone * LESLEY PEARSE *An impressively researched, powerfully emotional tale of two women surviving post-war Berlin . . . Child of the Ruins will have you gripped in suspense from the first line to the last * LOUISE CANDLISH *In Kate's inimitable style we are immediately drawn into this impeccably researched and terrifying period of history. Stunning from the very first line, this is a masterclass in historical fiction writing. An absolute triumph! * DINAH JEFFERIES *An absolutely stunning book from the Queen of Historical Fiction. Emotional, powerful, meticulously researched, sharp writing, just wonderful * LOUISE SWANSON *There is only one word to describe Child of the Ruins and that is awesome. It is compelling and evocative, thrilling and yet hugely touching. Kate Furnivall has really steeped herself in the period and faced the horrors of those times. I congratulate her * DILLY COURT *An extraordinarily tense and gripping story set in a city brought to its knees in the aftermath of war, where life is cheap and crusts of bread are currency. The plotting is ingenious and the writing beautifully atmospheric * GILL PAUL *Unforgettable characters negotiate desperate times in this vivid, brave and suspenseful novel set in the chaos of war torn Berlin. The final twist made me gasp! * RACHEL HORE *Gripping from the very first page, Child of the Ruins is a powerful and emotionally intense reminder that heartache and hardship linger long after a war ends. Highly recommend! * TERESA DRISCOLL *I have just finished reading Child of the Ruins and now I am bereft. Such an emotionally powerful and compelling story, told with skill and impeccable research. I was immersed from beginning to end * ROSANNA LEY *Each page and each word made me feel as though I was in Berlin at the end of the Second World War, alongside a mother searching for her son. Kate Furnivall has a gift for description, heartbreak and joy. I defy anyone not to read beyond the first killer sentence' * JANE CORRY *Atmospheric and compelling * CAROL McGRATH *A harrowing and compelling portrait of Berlin in the aftermath of World War Two, told through the interconnecting stories of two courageous women struggling to survive in the rubble of their war-torn city * FIONA VALPY *A beautifully written and atmospheric portrayal of life in Berlin in the aftermath of WW2, with exquisitely-drawn characters and a storyline that is both powerful and heart-breaking. Kate has become one of my favourite writers and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next * B.A. PARIS *Brilliantly written and incredibly moving. I was gripped from the first page * MILLY JOHNSON *

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Book SynopsisThe astonishing true story of Heinrich Himmler's personal physical therapist who used his influence over the S.S. commander to save the lives of thousands. Felix Kersten, an exceptional masseur, was the only person able to relieve Himmler's crippling and chronic abdominal pain. Although he was resolutely anti-Nazi, he continued to work for Himmler throughout the war, trading his services for that of prisoners' lives.François Kersaudy's meticulously researched Kersten's Lists, explores how by the end of the war, Felix Kersten had helped to obtain the liberation of some 100,000 people, including 60,000 Jews. It is a vital and too little known chapter of the Second World War and one worthy of greater recognition.Trade ReviewKersaudy shows the hidden Himmler, temperamental but inflexible, obstinate yet influenced by astrology, rational and irrational: a living contradiction. And Kersten used all his skills ... for good and for humanity * Le Point *

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Book SynopsisOrganised chronologically by type, Russian Tanks of World War II offers a highly-illustrated guide to the main armoured fighting vehicles used by the Red Army during World War II. The book offers a comprehensive survey of Soviet AFVs, from the pre-war T-18 light tank and BT fast tank series to the heavy Joseph Stalin tanks and self- propelled guns of the final months of the war. All the major and many minor tanks are featured, including every significant variation of the T-26 light tank, KV series and T-34 to see action on the Eastern Front. There are also chapters on the many types of self-propelled guns developed by Soviet industry, as well as Allied Lend-Lease AFVs, such as the British Churchill and Valentine tanks and American Sherman and Stuart tanks. Each featured profile includes authentic markings and colour schemes, while every separate model is accompanied by exhaustive specifications. Packed with 120 newly-commissioned, full-colour artworks with exhaustive specifications, Russian Tanks of World War II is a key reference guide for military modellers and World War II enthusiasts.Table of Contents1. Light Tanks Light tanks of the 1920s and 1930s, including the T-18, T-26, T-40, T-50 and T-60. 2. Medium and Fast Tanks Tanks such as the T-24, T-28 and BT fast tank series. 3. The T-34 The classic Soviet tank: includes the A-20 prototype, Model 1940, Model 1941, Model 1942 and Model 1943, plus the T-34/85 and the limited production T-44. 4. Heavy Tanks Including the T-35, KV-I and KV-II, IS-1, IS-2 and IS-3 tanks. 5. Self-Propelled Guns Includes the SU-76, SU-85, SU-100, SU-122, SU-152, ISU-122 and ISU-152. 6. Lend-Lease Tanks Allied tanks like the M3, Sherman, Churchill, Matilda that were supplied to Russia by her allies and used on the Eastern Front. Appendices Tanks compared, production numbers, losses Index

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Book SynopsisThe US Navy's 1944 Philippines raids were the first time naval aircraft had challenged and beaten a land-based air force. With artwork and rare photos, this is the first book to study them. During September 1944, the US Navy's Task Force 38 launched a series of huge airstrikes against Japanese forces in the Philippines. Seventeen carriers, wielding over 1,000 combat aircraft, made up the most powerful naval fleet assembled to date. It was the first time aircraft carriers had dared to confront a major land-based air force. Over a period of two weeks, TF 38 demonstrated the power and mobility of the Fast Carrier Task Force. The strike forces claimed 368 Japanese aircraft shot down and 446 destroyed on the ground, with over a hundred ships destroyed and significant damage to ground installations.This book is the first to focus on the campaign, and is illustrated with archive photos, original artwork, maps and 3D diagrams. Renowned Pacific War historian Edward M.

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Book SynopsisOperation Nordwind was the last major German offensive of World War II on the Western Front. It began on 31 December 1944 in Rhineland-Palatinate, Alsace and Lorraine in southwestern Germany and northeastern France, and ended on 25 January 1945. Normally overshadowed by the Battle of the Bulge, Nordwind battles were just as intense and the troops involved faced the same bitter weather conditions and battle conditions their fellow units did to the north. The goal of the offensive was to break through the lines of the U.S. Seventh Army and French 1st Army in the Upper Vosges mountains and the Alsatian Plain, and destroy them, as well as the seizure of Strasbourg, which Himmler, who had been placed in charge, had promised would be captured by 30 January. The campaign also showcased the difficulties of inter-Allied cooperation between the Americans and the French. The U.S. VI Corps which bore the brunt of the German attacks was fighting on three sides by 15 January. By 15 January at least 17 German divisions (including units in the Colmar Pocket) from Army Group G and Army Group Oberrhein, including the 6th SS Mountain, 17th SS Panzergrenadier, 21st Panzer, and 25th Panzergrenadier Divisions were engaged in the fighting. Another smaller attack was made against the French positions south of Strasbourg, but it was finally stopped. Vicious battles at Hatten and Rittershoffen, Gambsheim and Herrlisheim took place and while the Germans could not employ near the same amount as armor as they did in the Ardennes, the armor engagements were nonetheless ruthless. The American 12th Armored Division lost almost an entire tank battalion in the battles in and around Herrlisheim. Action would engulf the entire front and areas like Strasbourg, Wingen, the Colmar Pocket and Haguenau would be engrained in the minds of the troops that fought in these battles.

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Book SynopsisUntil 1945, Indonesia was a Dutch colony known as the Netherlands East Indies. In 1930, the area had over 60 million inhabitants and was a major exporter of oil, rubber, tin and quinine. It was a particularly strong trading partner for Japan, providing some 13 percent of Japan''s oil needs--second only after the United States. Following Germany''s occupation of the Netherlands in May 1940, Japan decided to expand its influence in the Netherlands East Indies via diplomatic negotiations to acquire the necessary strategic goods of oil, rubber and tin. However, the negotiations did not provide Japan with the access it had hoped to gain.Up until the mid-1930s the colonial authorities considered the probability of military conflict between the major powers in Asia to be very low and that any military presence in the colony was primarily aimed at enforcing Dutch rule. This task was mainly the responsibility of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL). This force, designed primTable of ContentsIntroduction Geopolitical developments Defence of the Netherlands East Indies: principles Command and control Organisation Infantry Tanks Artillery Air defence artillery Cavalry Engineers Signals Motor transport Medical Service Supplies Aviation Indigenous auxiliary corps Army formation Weapons Combat history Uniforms and insignia Bibliography Glossary

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Book SynopsisFully illustrated, this book assesses the US Marines and Japanese troops fighting in three bloody battles of World War II in the Pacific. In June 1944, the United States military launched an offensive against the Japanese forces holding the Mariana Islands and Palau. The US Marine Corps played a vital role in this campaign alongside Army and Navy forces, while their Japanese opponents mounted a desperate defense of their conquests amid the harsh island terrain. This book assesses both sides' doctrine, tactics, weapons, and battlefield effectiveness in three battles of this stage of the Pacific War. Landing on Saipan on June 15, the Marines established a beachhead as the Japanese defenders strove to fight to the last man. On July 21, US Marine Corps and Army forces landed on Guam. Only on August 10 was Guam declared secure by the Americans, and even then resistance continued. US forces landed on Tinian on July 24 and wrested the island from its conquerors. Alon

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Book SynopsisThe Long Range Desert Group has a strong claim to the first Special Forces unit in the British Army. This superb illustrated history follows the LRDG from its July 1940 formation as the Long Range Patrol in North Africa, tasked with intelligence gathering, mapping and reconnaissance deep behind enemy lines. Manned initially by New Zealanders, in 1940 the unit became the LRDG with members drawn from British Guards and Yeomanry regiments and Rhodesians. So successful were the LRDG patrols, that when the Special Air Service were formed, they often relied on their navigational and tactical skills to achieve their missions. After victory in North Africa the LRDG re-located to Lebanon before being sent on the ill-fated mission to the Dodecanese Islands in the Aegean. Serving independently, when the Germans overwhelmed and captured the British garrisons, many LRDG personnel escaped using their well-honed skills. Many images in this, the first pictorial history of the LRDG, were taken unofficially by serving members. The result is a superb record of the LRDG's achievements, the personalities, their weapons and vehicles which will delight laymen and specialists alike.

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times bestsellerOne of the most dramatic forgotten chapters of the war, as told in a new book by the incomparable Max Hastings' DAILY MAILIn August 1942, beleaguered Malta was within weeks of surrender to the Axis, because its 300,000 people could no longer be fed. Churchill made a personal decision that at all costs, the island fortress' must be saved. This was not merely a matter of strategy, but of national prestige, when Britain's fortunes and morale had fallen to their lowest ebb.The largest fleet the Royal Navy committed to any operation of the western war was assembled to escort fourteen fast merchantmen across a thousand of miles of sea defended by six hundred German and Italian aircraft, together with packs of U-boats and torpedo craft. The Mediterranean battles that ensued between 11 and 15 August were the most brutal of Britain's war at sea, embracing four aircraft-carriers, two battleships, seven cruisers, scores of destroyers and smaller craft. The losses were aTrade Review The #1 Times bestseller and #3 Sunday Times bestseller (May 2021) ‘Over this past year of pandemic, we’ve lost so much. People have died, great institutions have gone under, life itself seems permanently altered. Yet one certainty remains: Max Hastings still churns out military histories, and they continue to be outstanding. This book like all the others … is a cracker. With his usual combination of sensitivity to human suffering and superb dramatic instinct, Hastings has given us a gripping tale …The immediacy of this book obliterates the cold detachment that time’s passage usually allows … We feel in our bones torpedoes hitting home … the four-day ordeal British sailors endured … is a drama superbly told …The delight lies in the detail, the percussive power of tiny facts …is what makes Hastings such a superb storyteller’The Times ‘Superb … as ever Hastings gives excellent pen portraits of the personalities involved … Hastings has written many wonderful books … but few combine so well his unique gifts as a historian: an understanding of human nature, a nose for a telling quotation, and the ability to write gripping prose’Sunday Telegraph ‘The white-knuckle ride of Hastings’s gripping narrative … is a high-octane adventure served up with torpedoes, Stuka dive bombers and catastrophic U-boat attacks … heart-stirring …memorable … and highly readable’Sunday Times ‘One of the most dramatic forgotten chapters of the war, as told in a new book by the incomparable Max Hastings’Daily Mail ‘Veteran military historian Hastings’ first full-length narrative of war at sea measures up to his usual high standards … Vividly chronicling the sinking of the aircraft carrier Eagle, Hastings initiates 250 pages of gripping fireworks and insights … Another enthralling Hastings must-read’Kirkus, starred review

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Book SynopsisWorld War II was the greatest conflict in the history of mankind. It penetrated into every corner of the globe, from the Arctic to the Pacific Oceans. Immense armed forces engaged one another in battle in every type of environment, from the desert sands of North Africa to the jungles of Burma and New Guinea. The Allied and Axis forces met in brutal encounters ranging from small commando raids to gigantic armoured battles. World War II Illustrated Atlas is a comprehensive visual guide to this complex conflict. It plots the exact course of the land, sea and air campaigns in fine detail, enabling the reader to trace the ebb and flow of the fortunes of both sides. With the aid of over 160 full-colour maps, every theatre of war is covered. Contents include the land campaigns in North-west Europe, Italy, North Africa, Russia, South-East Asia and the Pacific; the naval war in the Atlantic and Mediterranean; the great carrier battles of the Pacific war; and the strategic bombing campaigns of Europe and the Pacific, culminating in the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This new edition provides another 25 maps showing the key raids and battles of the war, ranging from the St Nazaire raid in 1942 to the battle for Corregidor in February 1945. The isometric map views give a new perspective on the war, and are accompanied by detailed descriptions of the battles and raids along with photographs from the event. This complete atlas provides an invaluable work of reference for both the general reader and the serious student of World War II.Table of ContentsIntroduction The Build Up To War 1. Europe 1914–18 2. Europe after the Peace Treaties 1920-21 3. The Depression in Europe 4. Fascist States in Europe 5. European Political Agreements 1934–35 I 6. European Political Agreements 1936–37 II 7. European Political Agreements 1938–39 III 8. Revolution and Invasion in China to 1912-35 9. Expansion of Japan 1920–41 10. Hitler’s Annexations 1936–39 September 1939: The Blitzkrieg 11. Invasion of Poland 1-28 September 1939 12. The Winter War November 1939-March 1940 The Phoney War: German and Allied Plans - September 1939 to April 1940 13. Battle of Suomussalmi - 11 December 1939 to 8 January 1940 14. Denmark and Norway - April to June 1940 15. Invasion of the West – May to June 1940 16. Panzer strike through the Ardennes – 12 to 14 May 1940 17. Dunkirk Operation ‘Dynamo’ – 27 May to 4 June 1940 18. Fall of France and Vichy – June 1940 19. The Battle of Britain – July to September 1940 20. The Blitz – September 1940 to May 1941 The Air War 21. The Bombing of Europe 1939–41 22. The Thousand Bomber Raid 30/31 May 1943 23. Strategic Bombing 1943 24. Dambusters Raid 16/17 May 1943 25. Schweinfurt Bombing Results The Sea War 26. Battle of the Atlantic I – September 1939 to May 1940 27. Battle of the Atlantic II – June 1940 to March 1941 28. Battle of the Atlantic III – April to December 1941 29. Battle of the Atlantic IV – January 1942 to February 1943 30. Battle of the Atlantic V – May to September 1943 North Africa and Italy 31. Campaign in East Africa - June 1940 to November 1941 32. Iraq, Syria and Persia – April to September 1941 33. North Africa: Operation Compass – 9 December 1940 to February 1941 34. North Africa: Operation Sonnenblume – April 1941 35. North Africa: Operation Crusader – November to December 1941 36. Operation Crusader: Battle of Sidi Rezegh - 18 November to 7 December 1941 37. Rommel Returns 38. Gazala and the Fall of Tobruk – May to June 1942 39. The Eve of Battle (El Alamein) – 23 October 1942 40. El Alamein Operation Lightfoot – 24 to 29 October 1942 41. El Alamein, Operation Supercharge – 2 to 4 November 1942 42. The Mediterranean Naval Operations – Late 1942 43. Battle of Matapan – 28 to 29 March 1941 44. Taranto Attack – 11 November 1940 45. Operation Pedestal – 11 to 13 August 1942 46. Operation Torch – 8 November 1942 47. British Advance to Tunisia – November 1942 to February 1943 48. Kasserine Pass – 14 to 22 February 1943 49. Axis Defeat in Tunisia – 20 to 29 March 1943 50. Capture of Tunis – April to May 1943 51. Invasion of Sicily - 10 July to 17 August 1943 52. Southern Italy – 3 September to 15 December 1943 53. Landings at Salerno – 9 to 16 September 1943 54. Southern Italy Operational Plans – 1942 to 43 55. Monte Cassino 56. Landings at Anzio – 17 January to 26 May 1944 The Liberation of Rome and Advance North – June to December 1944 57. The End in Italy – April to May 1945 The Eastern Front 58. The Balkan Campaign – 6 to 20 April 1941 59. The Conquest of Greece and Crete – 6 to 28 April 1941 60. Operation Barbarossa I – 22 June to early October 1941 61. Operation Typhoon – September to December 1941 62. Battle for Moscow – January to June 1942 63. The Caucasus – June to November 1942 64. The Siege of Sevastopol 65. The Siege of Leningrad – September 1941 to January 1944 66. Dispersion of Soviet Industry 67. The Battle for Stalingrad – September 1942 to February 1943 68. Battle of Kharkov - 29 January to 20 February 1943 69. Eastern Front - March 1943 70. Battle of Kharkov – 2 to 23 March 1943 71. Eastern Front – July 1943 72. Kursk ‘Operation Zitadelle’ – 5 to 13 July 1943 73. Battle of Prokhovovka – 12 July 1943 74. Soviet Advance to Dnieper – 5 July to 1 December 1943 75. Liberating the Ukraine and the Crimea – January to May 1944 76. Leningrad and the Kerelian Front – January to October 1944 77. Karelian Front – September to October 1944 78. Yugoslavia – 1941 and 1942 79. Yugoslavia 1943 80. Operation Bagration – June to July 1944 81. The Warsaw Rising – 1 August to 2 October 1944 82. Soviet Advance into Poland – July 1944 83. Soviet Advance into Romania and Hungary – 8 August to 15 December 1944 84. The Balkans – November to December 1944 85. The Liberation of Greece – October to November 1944 86. The Advance to Koenigsberg – October 1944 to April 1945 87. Battle for Koenigsberg 88. Battle of Budapest and Vienna – December 1944 to May 1945 89. The Advance to the Oder – January to February 1945 90. The Battle for Berlin – 15 April to 6 May 1945 91. The Battle for Berlin - 26 April to 2 May 1945 The Western Front 92. Global Strategy – 1941 to 1945 93. COSSAC Plan – August 1943 94. Allied D-Day Landing Plan and Objectives – 6 June 1944 95. Breakout Plan – 22 July to 6 August 96. Falaise Pocket – 6 to 19 August 1944 97. The Liberation of Paris – 14 to 25 August 1944 98. Invasion of Southern France – August 1944 99. Allied Advance to September 1944 100. The Air Lift – 17 September 1944 101. Airborne Drop Zones – September 1944 102. First Airborne Division landing zones – September 1944 103. Battle of the Bulge – 16 to 24 December 1944 104. Battle of the Bulge counterattack – 26 December 1944 to 7 February 1945 105. Advance to the Rhine – 8 February to 21 March 1945 106. Crossing the Rhine – March 1945 The War in the Pacific 107. Hawaii Operation, track of Japanese attack force - 26 November to 7 December 108. Pearl Harbor: The Japanese Attack - 7 December 1941 109. Japanese Expansion - December 1941 to July 1942 110. Invasion of Malaya - 8 December1941 to 31 January 1942 111. Capture of Singapore – 8 to 15 February 1942 112. Indian Ocean March – March to April 1942 113. Japanese Invasion of Burma – January to May 1942 114. Japanese Invasion of Philippines – 8 December 1941 to June 1942 115. Bataan and Corregidor 116. Manila and Bataan 117. Japanese Invasion of the Dutch East Indies – January to March 1942 118. Battle of Midway – 4 to 5 June 1942 119. Admiral Yamamoto’s plans to seize Midway – May to June 1942 120. Battle of the Coral Sea – 28 April to 11 May 1942 121. Battle of Midway I – 4 June 1942 04:00 to 10:30 122. Battle of Midway II – 4 June 1942 10:30 to 6 June 00:00 123. US Landings and the Battle of Savo Island – August 1942 124. US Landings 125. Guadalcanal 126. The Solomon Islands – 12 to 13 November 1942 127. Guadalcanal – 13 November 1942 128. Guadalcanal – 14 to 15 November 1942 129. Operation Cartwheel – March 1942 to November 1943 130. New Guinea – August to September 1943 131. The Aleutians – June 1942 to May 1943 132. Chindits in Burma – February to March 1943 133. Pacific situation to October 1944 134. Carrier Raids in the Central Pacific to October 1944 135. Tarawa Atoll – 20 to 23 November 1943 136. Makin Atoll – 20 to 23 November 1943 137. Japanese merchant shipping routes - 1941 to 1945 138. Japanese merchant shipping losses – 7 Dec 1941 to 31 Dec 1942 139. Japanese merchant shipping losses 1943 140. Japanese merchant shipping losses 1944 141. Japanese merchant shipping losses 1945 142. Battle of the Philippine Sea I – 19 June 1944 143. Battle of the Philippine Sea II – 20 to 21 June 1944 144. War in China – July 1937 to December 1944 145. Second Arakan Campaign – December 1943 to April 1944 146. Japanese Invasion of India – March to June 1944 147. Allied Recapture of Burma – December 1944 to February 1945 148. The Saipan Landings – 15 June to 9 July 1944 149. Guam – 21 July to 10 August 1944 150. Tinian – 24 July to 1 August 1944 151. Pacific situation up to August 1945 152. The Battle of the Philippines – 20 to 27 October 1944 153. Liberation of the Philippines – January to August 1945 154. Allied Recapture of Burma – December 1944 to 5 May 1945 155. Landings on Iwo Jima – 19 February to 26 March 1945 156. The Fall of Okinawa – 1 April to 21 June 1945 157. The Japanese Empire – August 1945 158. Bombing of Japan – June 1944 to August 1945 159. Soviet Invasion of Manchuria – September 1945 160. Operations Against Japan – February to August 1945 161. Allied Invasion Plan – August 1945 version 162. Nagasaki – 9 August 1945 The Aftermath 163. Mobilization for War – 1939 to 1945 164. Original Members of the United Nations 1945 165. The Casualties of War – 1939 to 1945

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Book SynopsisAn international bestseller, this is the extraordinary memoir of a German-Nigerian woman who learns that her grandfather was the brutal Nazi commandant depicted in Schindler's List.Trade ReviewA stunning memoir of cultural trauma and personal identity. * Booklist *Fascinating reading...a thought-provoking book. * The Quarterly Review *A powerful account of Teege's struggle for resolution and redemption. * Independent *Jennifer Teege's new memoir traces the pain of discovering her grandfather was the real-life 'Nazi butcher' from Schindler's List. * People magazine *Unforgettable. . . . Teege's quest to discover her personal history is empowering. * Publisher's Weekly *Refreshing...Teege's heartfelt commentary and Sellmair's objective narrative produce a layer of balanced interpretation and insight. * New York Journal of Books *Courageous. . . . The memoir invites rereading to fully absorb Teege's painful search for answers, for a sense of identity and belonging and for inner peace. * The Seattle Times *Jennifer Teege's haunting and unflinching memoir shatters the kind of silence that has plagued some German families for three generations and offers a healing alternative. * Washington Post *

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Book SynopsisIn 1944 the British War Office distributed a handbook to British soldiers informing them what to expect and how to behave in a newly-liberated France. Containing candid descriptions of this war-ravaged society (widespread malnourishment, rampant tuberculosis) as well as useful phrases and a pronunciation guide (Bonjewer, commont-allay-voo), it was an indispensable guide to everyday life. This small, unassuming publication had a deeper purpose: to bring together two allies who did not enjoy ideal relations in 1944. The book attempts to reconcile differences by stressing a shared history and the common aim — defeating Hitler. It also tried to dispel misapprehensions: ‘There is a fairly widespread belief among people in Britain that the French are a particularly gay, frivolous people with no morals and few convictions.’ Often unintentionally hilarious in its expression of these false impressions, the book is also a guide for avoiding social embarrassment: ‘If you should happen to imagine that the first pretty French girl who smiles at you intends to dance the can-can or take you to bed, you will risk stirring up a lot of trouble for yourself – and for our relations with the French.’ Many of its observations still ring true today. For example, ‘The French are more polite than most of us. Remember to call them “Monsieur, Madame, Mademoiselle,” not just “Oy!”’ Others remind us of how we recently we have adopted French customs: ‘Don’t drink yourself silly. If you get the chance to drink wine, learn to “‘take it”.’ Anyone with an interest in Britain, France or World War II will find this an irresistible insight into British attitudes towards the French and an interesting, timeless commentary on Anglo-French relations.Trade Review'set to become one of the most unlikely bestsellers of the year' - Chris Hastings, Sunday Telegraph

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Hermione, Countess of Ranfurly, kept a diary all her life. To War with Whitaker is an account of the most adventurous, most defiant and most valiant of those years. Hermione and Dan Ranfurly married only months before the Second World War erupted. So when Dan was posted to the Middle East, taking their faithful butler Whitaker with him, Hermione resolved to join them there. This memoir offers astounding displays of commitment and independence. After vowing not to go home without her husband, Hermione travelled alone from Cape Town to Cairo, and remained in the Middle East and North Africa for the two and a half years he was imprisoned by the Germans – meeting many notable characters along the way.With wit and exuberance, Hermione’s diary entries take us To War with Whitaker and back again, providing sharp insight into the strong and outspoken woman she was. This Pan Heritage Classics edition features the original black and white plate sections.

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Book SynopsisBy 1944, the evolution of armored doctrine had produced very different outcomes in Britain and Germany. Offering a good balance of speed, protection, and firepower, the British Cromwell tank was much faster than its German opponent. However, the Jagdpanzer IV tank destroyer had a high-velocity main gun and a lower profile that made it formidable on the defensive, especially in ambush situations. The two types would fight in a series of bloody encounters, from the initial days of the struggle for Normandy through its climax as the Allies sought to trap their opponents in the Falaise Pocket. Using archive photographs, specially commissioned artwork, and battle reports, this fascinating study expertly assesses the realities of tactical armored combat during the desperate battles after D-Day.Table of ContentsIntroduction / Chronology / Design and Development / The Strategic Situation / Technical Specifications / The Combatants / Combat / Statistics and Analysis / Conclusion / Further Reading / Index

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Book SynopsisPart of the bestselling hardback pocket-book series, The Lancaster Bomber Pocket Manual collates authentic period sources, including pilot''s notes and other Air Ministry publications, to provide a unique guide to this awe-inspiring aircraft.The Avro Lancaster was the RAF''s most famous and successful heavy bomber of the Second World War. Used predominantly at night, ''Lancs'' dropped 608,612 tons of bombs in 156,000 sorties in the period 1942-1945. Some of these missions were incredibly daring notably the ''dambusters'' raid of 617 squadron on the Ruhr valley dams in May 1943.The success of such operations was testament both to the rugged, reliable qualities of this amazing aircraft and the bravery and skill of the pilots, navigators, bombardiers, flight engineers and gunners that crewed it. They relied on their training and experience, supplemented by various pamphlets and manuals that were produced throughout the war.Supplemented with illustTrade Review...provides a fascinating insight… * Britain at War Magazine *

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Book SynopsisThe incredible story of the radar wars - Britain's most secret battleIn the winter of 1941 an alien-seeming object was captured in a death-defying dash by an RAF reconnaissance pilot flying a lone unarmed Spitfire across the French coast. Balanced upon the cliffs near Le Havre was what appeared to be a giant convex dish, directed across the Channel at the war-torn British coastline.With Britain's cities being pounded by fearsome bombing raids, teams of experts studied the photograph worriedly. Might the dish constitute a highly-secret form of radar - one that had the capacity to tip the balance of the war decisively in the enemy's favour? If so, Nazi Germany would have leapfrogged British technology many-fold.A top-secret mission was devised to steal what had become known as the 'Wurzburg Dish,' after Enigma intercepts of coded German messages. Appropriately christened Operation Biting, this was to be the first-ever Allied raid using airborne forces. Commanded by legendary Major John 'Johnny' Frost, he demanded blind loyalty from his band of piratical raiders. 'A wild crew ... they looked horrible,' he admitted. Each and every rehearsal had proved disastrous; it was a suicide mission in all but name.On the French coast agents of the Special Operations Executive - Churchill's shadowy ministry for ungentlemanly warfare - risked all to map the target's defences. At the eleventh hour, two unwelcome additions joined Frosts's crew. One, was a shadowy German cloaked in mystery; the other a British radar specialist who could not be allowed to fall into enemy hands. Relying on files declassified for the purposes of writing this book, eyewitness testimony,and working with the families of key figures involved, Lewis reveals an untold epic of daring, ruthless rule-breaking and ferocity, coupled with bravery and ingenuity beyond measure. The results of Operation Biting would resonate throughout the war and beyond,changing the course of twentieth-century history.

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Book SynopsisAn engrossing history of the desperate battles for the Rzhev Salient, a forgotten story brought to life by the harrowing memoirs of German and Russian soldiers. The fighting between the German and Russian armies in the Rzhev Salient during World War II was so grisly, so murderous, and saw such vast losses that the troops called the campaign ''The Meat Grinder''. Though millions of men would fight and die there, the Rzhev Salient does not have the name recognition of Leningrad or Moscow. It has been largely ignored by Western historians until now. In this book, Prit Buttar, a leading expert on the Eastern Front, reveals the depth and depravity of the bitter fighting. He details how the region held the promise of a renewed drive on Moscow for the German Army a chance to turn the tide of war. Using German and Russian first-hand accounts, Buttar examines the major offensives launched by the Red Army against the salient, all of which were defeated with losses exc

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Book SynopsisDelve into the grisly history of WW2 soldiers in this hilarious look inside the life of tank crew!You're a member of a tank crew in the Second World War! You'll learn about the challenges and dangers of serving in a tank regiment and witness many of the defining tank battles of the war, from El Alamein to D-Day. Written in consultation with The Tank Museum in Bovington, England, this title tracks the early development of the tank, from Leonardo Da Vinci's initial designs through the First World War prototypes, as well as the future of tank technology.The ever-popular You Wouldn't Want to Be series transports readers to the grisliest times and places in history, perfect for reluctant readers. The first-person narrative approach puts children in the shoes of some of the most unfortunate people ever to have lived.s.

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Book SynopsisThe wartime career of this cruel and capable man is captured brilliantly with contemporary fully captioned images in this Images of War series work.

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Book Synopsis'Riveting' - The New York TimesTHE LITTLE-KNOWN STORY OF THE ALLIES' FIGHT IN WWII'S CHAOTIC AND LETHAL CHINA BURMA-INDIA THEATER. In April 1942, the Imperial Japanese Army captured Burma, closing the only ground route from India to China.

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Book SynopsisA completely original history of one of the most extraordinary movements in the world the Girl Guides and how they helped win the war.Mention Girl Guides to any woman and the reaction will be strong. They either loved them or hated them; they were either proud to wear their uniform or refused to join. Whatever their feelings, most former Guides retain strong memories of their experiences.All too often regarded merely in terms of biscuit sales and sing-songs, hardly anybody is aware of the massive impact that the Guides had on gender equality and, more fundamentally, the outcome of the Second World War. In this eye-opening history, Janie Hampton explores how the Guides'' work was crucial to Britain''s victory. When the Blitz broke out, the Guides knew what to do. They kept up morale in bomb shelters, demonstrating ''blitz cooking'' with emergency ovens made from the bricks of bombed houses at the request of the Ministry of Food. They grew food on their company allotments and knitted fTrade Review‘An enjoyably inspiring account of what was to be – for so many thousands of girls – an exciting and fulfilling time.’ Scotsman ‘A stirring, surprising story’ Saga ‘[Hampton] has caught the authentic tone of unwavering, not to say relentless, optimism characteristic of the Guiding movement.’ Evening Standard ‘Absorbing and unexpected … a sobering and inspirational book.’ Mail on Sunday

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Book SynopsisPeter Caddick-Adams is a writer and broadcaster who specialises in military history, defence and security issues. He previously lectured in Military and Security Studies at the UK Defence Academy for twenty years, and in Air Power for the Royal Air Force. A Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Royal Geographical Society, he also spent thirty-five years as an officer in the UK Regular and Reserve Forces, and has extensive experience of various war zones, including the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan. He was educated at Shrewsbury School, Sandhurst and Wolverhampton University, where he gained first class honours in War Studies; he received his PhD from Cranfield University. His previous works include Monty and Rommel: Parallel Lives (2011), Monte Cassino: Ten Armies in Hell (2012), and Snow and Steel: Battle of the Bulge 194445 (2014).

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Book SynopsisWinston S. Churchill (1874-1965) was prime minister of Great Britain from 1940 to 1945 and from 1951 to 1955. A prolific writer, whose works include The Second World War and A History of the English-Speaking Peoples, Churchill was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953.

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Book SynopsisA Telegraph, Evening Standard and Daily Mail Book of the YearFrom the acclaimed writer and critic Geoff Dyer, an extremely funny scene-by-scene analysis of Where Eagles Dare - published as the film reaches its 50th anniversaryA thrilling Alpine adventure starring a magnificent, bleary-eyed Richard Burton and a coolly anachronistic Clint Eastwood, Where Eagles Dare is the apex of 1960s war movies, by turns enjoyable and preposterous. ''Broadsword Calling Danny Boy'' is Geoff Dyer''s tribute to the film he has loved since childhood: an analysis taking us from its snowy, Teutonic opening credits to its vertigo-inducing climax. For those who have not even seen Where Eagles Dare, this book is a comic tour-de-force of criticism. But for the film''s legions of fans, whose hearts will always belong to Ron Goodwin''s theme tune, it will be the fulfilment of a dream.''Geoff Dyer''s funniest book yet. Who else would work in Martha Gellhorn on the first page of a book on the film Where Eagles Dare?'' Michael Ondaatje''One of our greatest living critics, not of the arts but of life itself, and one of our most original writers'' Kathryn Schulz, New York MagazineTrade ReviewBroadsword Calling Danny Boy is a hilariously funny, freewheeling rule-breaking wholly original scene-by-scene sprint through the crazy action from Where Eagles Dare. I defy anyone not to laugh at Dyer's description of Clint Eastwood's talent for squinting or when face-to-face with armed Nazis, 'not just swinging but squinting in German'. -- Craig Brown * Daily Mail, Books of the Year *Blissfully funny * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisFROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE NAZI MIND AND PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY''S MOST-READ BOOK, HITLER AND STALIN''By far the clearest book ever written about the Holocaust, and also the best at explaining its origins and grotesque mentality, as well as its chaotic development'' Antony Beevor''Groundbreaking. You might have thought that we know everything there is to know about the Holocaust but this book proves there is much more'' Andrew Roberts, Mail on SundayTwo fundamental questions about the Holocaust must be asked:How did it happen? And why?More completely than any other single work of history yet published, Laurence Rees''s Holocaust definitively answers them.''Rees provides an exemplary account of how the greatest crime in modern history came about'' The Times''Rees has distilled 25 years of research into this compelling study, the finest single-volume account of the Holocaust . . . demands to be read'' Saul David, Telegraph''Anyone wanting a compelling, highly readable explanation of how and why the Holocaust happened, drawing on recent scholarship and impressively incorporating moving and harrowing interviews need look no further than Laurence Rees''s brilliant book'' Professor Ian Kershaw, bestselling author of HitlerTrade ReviewAnyone wanting a compelling, highly readable explanation of how and why the Holocaust happened, drawing on recent scholarship and impressively incorporating moving and harrowing interviews need look no further than Laurence Rees's brilliant book -- Professor Ian KershawYou might have thought that we know everything there is to know about the Holocaust but this book proves there is much more... * Daily Mail *Absorbing, heart-breaking...he has drawn skilfully on speeches, documents and diaries of the Third Reich, and on the vast library of secondary literature, to weave together a powerful, inevitably harrowing revelation of the 20th century's greatest crime * Sunday Times *This is by far the clearest book ever written about the Holocaust, but also the best in explaining both its origins and grotesque mentality, as well as its chaotic developmentA fine book. Rees is a gifted educator, who can tell a complex story with compassion and clarity, without sacrificing all nuances...it comes alive through the voices of victims, killers and bystanders. * Guardian *The interview material is largely compelling, always illuminating and on occasion, very moving . . . Like all of Rees's work, it is accurate and carefully researched * New Statesman *Rees has distilled 25 years of research into this compelling study, the finest single-volume account of the Holocaust. It is not a book for the faint-hearted. Some of the first-hand testimony is both shocking and heart-rending. Yet it has important things to say about human nature - what our species is capable of doing if not prevented by civilized laws - and demands to be read * Telegraph *A masterpiece. Laurence Rees's best book yet . . . In compelling prose, Rees tells the full story of the most shameful period in the story of MankindWith The Holocaust he has set himself the task of writing an accessible chronological account of the murder of six million Jews in conditions of scarcely imaginable horror. He's done it excellently. There is no shortage of books on the Holocaust but Rees's stands out as a readable and authoritative exposition of how and why it happened, and the barbarous methods by which it was pursued. The amount of ground it covers in 500 pages is remarkable - from the anti-Semitism of popular German literature of the 19th century to Hitler's suicide and the surrender of his regime. It's excellently written and skilfully interweaves narrative history, sound interpretation and the recollections (through interviews, listed in the notes as "previously unpublished testimony") of survivors. Rees provides an exemplary account of how the greatest crime in modern history came about. * The Times *

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Book SynopsisDuring the Second World War, a secret department was formed at Britain's Air Ministry to co-ordinate a strategy to defeat German bombing by means of deception. This is a study of Britain's bombing decoys, both at war, through their design, locations and operations, and at peace, through their fragmentary survival.

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Book SynopsisIn his most powerful and important book, renowned psychiatrist Robert Jay Lifton presents a brilliant analysis of the crucial role that German doctors played in the Nazi genocide. Now updated with a new preface, The Nazi Doctors remains the definitive work on the Nazi medical atrocities, a chilling exposé of the banality of evil at its epitome, and a sobering reminder of the darkest side of human nature.

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Book SynopsisThe biography of Franz Stangl, commandant of the Treblinka extermination camp - a classic and utterly compelling study of evilOnly four men commanded Nazi extermination (as opposed to concentration) camps. Franz Stangl was one of the. Gitta Sereny''s investigation of this man''s mind, and of the influences which shaped him, has become a classic. Stangl commanded Treblinka and was found guilty of co-responsibility for the slaughter there of at least 900, 000 people. Sereny, after weeks of talk with him and months of further research, shows us this man as he saw himself, and ''as he was seen by many others, including his wife. To horrify is not Sereny''s aim, though horror is inevitable. She is seeking an answer to the question which beggars reason: How were human beings turned into instruments of such overwhelming evil?Gitta Sereny is of Hungarian-Austrian extraction and is trilingual in English, French and German. During the Second WTrade ReviewAn epic examination of a Nazi war criminal * Guardian *The most gripping and illuminating account of Nazi genocide that I have read, shedding light, as she intended, on "a whole dimension of reactions and behaviour we have never yet understood" -- Stephen Vizinczey * Sunday Telegraph *She takes us sharply and deeply into the hierarchy of the death camps; the methods used; the experiences of the very few survivors, both inmates and guards -- Philip Toynbee * Observer *It is no exaggeration to call it a masterpiece -- Michael Hilton * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisThis is a unique, eye-witness account of everyday life right at the heart of the Nazi extermination machine. Slomo Venezia was born into a poor Jewish-Italian community living in Thessaloniki, Greece. At first, the occupying Italians protected his family; but when the Germans invaded, the Venezias were deported to Auschwitz.Trade Review"'A unique participant's account of everyday death and life,' the jacket says. That sense of existential inversion is what comes across most strongly in this book, more strongly than even Levi's greatest work can convey." The Australian "Venezia reports soberly and seemingly without emotion - and yet the book becomes breathtaking in its forcefulness."Holocaust and Genocide Studies "Venezia's experiences during the war is at once both fascinating and disturbing. His description of prewar Salonika and his complicated ethnic/national background certainly help illuminate our picture of the multicultural societies of Europe that the Second World War nearly completely eliminated. He also captures the violence and brutality of Auschwitz in a very readable fashion. His descriptions of the inhumanity of the camp will remain with me for quite some time."H-Net: Humanities and Social Science Reviews Online "A deeply sincere, unadorned description of Venezia's journey through hell ... There are few, if any, better descriptions of the impact of massive psychic trauma on the human soul." Jewish Book World "Venezia comes across as a very reliable witness. His language is clear, and he certainly does not idealize the members of the 'Sonderkommando' or his own role in the extermination process. It is a detailed and heartbreaking story, told in very restrained language."Journal of Contemporary History "A harrowingly matter-of-fact account."Boston Globe"Most Sonderkommando members were systematically killed by the SS. But fate allowed Shlomo Venezia to survive, and the horrific privilege to bear witness."History Wire "Shlomo Venezia's unnervingly dispassionate personal record demands to be heard. Interviewer Beatrice Prasquier's brusque questions, answered with painful truthfulness, bring home the lifelong scars this Greek Italian Jew must carry from the ever-present memories of the numberless innocents he helped lead to their grotesque slaughter." Morning Star "What is remarkable is on the one hand the lack of anger, the simple language dealing with events that are unforgettable and beyond reality, and on the other hand the fact of Venezia's daily life ever since ... He has never, in his mind, lived outside the camp." Atsmi Uvsari "I read many accounts of former deportees, and each time they take me back to life in the camp. But the story told by Shlomo Venezia is especially overwhelming because it is the only complete eye-witness account that we have from a survivor of the Sonderkommandos." Simone Veil "This holocaust survivor's testimony, like all others, will be read with fear and trembling." Elie Wiesel, Nobel LaureateTable of ContentsPreface (Simone Veil). Note (Béatrice Prasquier). Acknowledgments. I. Life in Greece before the Deportation. II. The First Month in Auschwitz-Birkenau. III. Sonderkommando: Initiation. IV. Sonderkommando: The Work Continues. V. The Revolt of the Sonderkommando and the Dismantling of the Crematoria. VI. Mauthausen, Melk, and Ebensee. Historical Notes. The Shoah, Auschwitz and the Sonderkommando (Marcello Pezzetti). Italy in Greece: A Short History of a Major Failure (Umberto Gentiloni). About David Olère. Selected Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisThe Battle of Britain

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Book SynopsisThe worldwide bestselling, Booker-shortlisted modern classicNow a BBC radio play starring Anne-Marie Duff and Bill Paterson, dramatised by Dennis Potter.''Spine-tingling... heart-stunning'' New York Times''A novel of blazing imaginative and intellectual force'' Salman Rushdie''This novel is a reminder that fiction can amaze'' Time''Precise, troubling, brilliant'' ObserverShortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, The White Hotel is a modern classic of searing eroticism and sensuality set against the broad sweep of twentieth-century history.It is a dream of electrifying eroticism and inexplicable violence, recounted by a young woman to her analyst, Sigmund Freud. It is a horrifying yet restrained narrative of the Holocaust. It is a searing vision of the wounds of our century and an attempt to heal them. Interweaving poetry and case history, fantasy and historical truth-teTrade ReviewA novel of blazing imaginative and intellectual force -- Salman RushdieTo describe this novel as spine-tingling in its indescribable poetic effect would be to trivialize its profoundly tragic theme. Say then that it is heart-stunning * The New York Times *Astonishing ... A forthright sensuality mixed with a fine historical feeling for the nightmare moments in modern history, a dreamlike fluidity and quickness -- John UpdikeA dazzler that lingers in the mind * People *A remarkable and original novel ... there is no novel to my knowledge which resembles this in technique or ideas. It stands alone -- Graham GreeneThis novel is a reminder that fiction can amaze * Time *Precise, troubling, brilliant * Observer *

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Book SynopsisHaving fought their way up fifty miles of Hell's Highway and through Nijmegen, XXX Corps was just ten miles from Arnhem and 1st British Airborne Division. The Island is flat land between the Waal at Nijmegen and the Rhine at Arnhem. The situation was increasingly bad with the remainder of II SS Panzer Corps in the area and German counter attacks on Hell's Highway preventing the Allies applying their material superiority. The Guards Armoured and then 43rd Wessex Infantry Division took turns to lead before reaching the Rhine opposite the paratroopers in the Oosterbeek Perimeter.Attempts to cross the Rhine by the Polish Paras and the Dorset Regiment had little success but, meanwhile, the guns of XXX Corps ensured the survival of the Perimeter. After some desperate fighting on the island, 43 Wessex Division evacuated just two thousand members of the elite Airborne Division who had landed eight days earlier.

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Book SynopsisOn 6 April 1941, Nazi Germany, along with Italy and Hungary, invaded Yugoslavia after the overthrow of the Yugoslav regent, Prince Paul. Hitler sought to secure the right flank for his upcoming invasion of the USSR and assist Mussolini, who had failed to conquer Greece. The German attack was swift, and by 17 April, Yugoslavia capitulated, leading to the creation of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH). Ante Pavelic, leader of the fascist Ustaše organization, was installed as the head of Croatia. His government immediately began a brutal campaign of repression against non-Croatians, especially Serbs. This sparked rebellions, with Serbian Chetnik bands and Croatian communists forming separate guerrilla movements. The Croatian state was soon overwhelmed by these insurgencies. Italy further complicated matters by creating occupation zones within Croatia, supporting Chetnik bands, and hampering Croatian military efforts. The Croatian Army, unable to fortify its territory due to Italian restrictions, was often attacked by Chetniks and forced to fight on two fronts. Despite these challenges, including inadequate armament and the constant interference of its allies, Croatia maintained a military force that continued to fight until the war's bitter end.

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

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Book SynopsisNew B-format paperback - First ever narrative history of the famous aero engine that powered the Spitfire, Hurricane, Lancaster, Mosquito and Mustang, the aircraft that made the difference between victory and defeat at critical moments in the Second World War - the Battle of Britain and the allied aerial offensive against Germany.

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Book SynopsisThe brutal history of the forgotten division, manned by volunteers who were not volunteers, on the Eastern Front.

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Book SynopsisNew paperback edition - Finally the full-length memoir of Battle of Britain and Siege of Malta hero Tom Neil, one of the last fighter pilots alive today, who shot down fourteen enemy aircraft.

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Book SynopsisOften it is assumed that Hitler's panzers stormed into action perfectly formed, driving through the armies of the Poles in 1939 and the French in 1940 and defeating them. The dramatic blitzkrieg victories won by the Wehrmacht early in the Second World War in which the panzers played a leading role tend to confirm this impression. But, as Anthony Tucker-Jones demonstrates in this illustrated, comprehensive and revealing history of the panzers, this is far from the truth.As armoured fighting vehicles the early panzers were no better than sometimes inferior to those of their opponents, but their tactics rather than their technology gave them an advantage. Later on German tank designers developed technically superior tanks but these could not be built fast enough or in sufficient numbers. For all their excellence, they were overwhelmed by the American Shermans and Soviet T-34s that were produced in their tens of thousands.This is the story Anthony Tucker-Jones relates as he traces the evolution of the panzers from the modest beginnings in the 1930s to the Panzer IVs, Panthers and Tigers which were the most formidable German tanks of the war. Not only does he cover their design and production history, he also assesses their combat performance and gives a fascinating insight into the decision-making at the highest level which directed German tank design.

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Book SynopsisBy 1943, confronted by heavier enemy tanks in increasing numbers, German field commanders were asking for a more potent tank destroyer, building on the success of the Sturmgeschütz programme. Coincidentally, at this time the Tiger II was well into the development stage and experiments were being undertaking with the huge 12.8cm L/55 gun, originally designed as an anti-aircraft weapon, and the two were eventually combined as the Panzerjäger Tiger ausf B, better known as the Jagdtiger. Going into combat for the first time in January 1945 these massive vehicles were almost impervious to any anti-tank gun in service at the time and the 12.8cm weapon could penetrate the thickest armour. It was the largest armoured fighting vehicle to see action during the Second World War and Hitler was so impressed with these gigantic tank killers that he was briefed on the progress of individual vehicles on a daily basis. Drawing on official documentation and unit histories Dennis Oliver investigates the

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