Special and elite forces Books

Book SynopsisOn 4 November 1979, “student” supporters of the Ayatollah seized the U.S. Embassy with over 60 hostages. Although the Cold War was in full swing, the Iran hostage crisis was a watershed for the United States. The counterterrorism learning curve, both political and military, would be steep and often deadly.Detachment A had been established in Berlin early in the Cold War to harass and delay any Soviet military advance west. This Special unit trained relentlessly for every aspect of unconventional warfare, and was later assigned a second mission of counterterrorism. Due to this mix of skills, Det A would be called upon to undertake additional missions, including providing protection to General Al Haig and General Frederick Kroesen following assassination attempts. When American planners were trying to work out how to rescue hostages being held at two sites in the middle of a hostile country, it became apparent that the unit—the only US military dual-capability unit—would be integral to the effort.The plan for Operation Eagle Claw, as it became known, was extremely complex. The first stage was intelligence gathering—no mean feat as most of the CIA’s capabilities in the country had been eliminated. With operatives trained in intelligence work, fluent in many languages and adept at blending in, Det A took on the advanced recon of the targets. Then, when Delta Force admitted that it could only manage the assault of the Embassy, Det A volunteered to rescue the three Americans at the Foreign Ministry. Meanwhile for security purposes, all existing training and exercise commitments in Berlin would continue with no Teams broken up. This caused some consternation as none of the men wanted to miss out on this mission reminiscent of Son Tay.Veteran and historian James Stejskal details Det A’s unique and integral role in Operation Eagle Claw, based upon firsthand accounts of the operatives involved.Table of ContentsIntroduction A Short History of Detachment “A” Berlin (39th SFD) Part I — Eagle Claw 1. Where it began: Tehran, November 4, 1979 2. Clem & Scotty 3. The Ground Force Prepares 4. The Second Insert 5. From Egypt to Masirah 6. Desert One to Abort 7. Desert Two & Escape 8. Home Again Part II — Storm Cloud 1. The New Plan 2. Berlin’s Plan (Revised) 3. FOG 4. Little Birds 5. Florida 6. It’s All Over but the Shouting Appendices Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisFrom Jimmy Blackmon, author of Pale Horse: Hunting Terrorists and Commanding Heroes with the 101st Airborne Division and Cowboys Over Iraq: Leadership from the Saddle, comes a blow by blow account of his journey through the most challenging leadership and small tactics course in the world—U.S. Army Ranger School.Through colorful dialogue and vivid storytelling for which Jimmy Blackmon has been praised, the reader will take a journey through Ranger School. From the nervous anticipation leading up to the course, to the extreme pain and suffering Ranger School demands, Jimmy shares the feelings and emotions that accompany extreme sleep and food deprivation. Furthermore, he shares what he learned about himself along the way. Before you can lead others, you must first learn to lead yourself. Ranger School is designed to replicate the extreme nature of combat in a multitude of environments. The attrition rate is over 50 percent. Every ranger student experiences a low moment where they want to quit and walk away. Jimmy openly shares how he dealt with extreme hunger, exhaustion, below freezing temperatures, and ultimately, a desire to quit and end the suffering. The reader will be fascinated, not only with what one must go through to attain the coveted Ranger tab, but at how ranger students deal with such harsh environments—many times in very humorous ways. Despite all the aforementioned challenges, Ranger students must lead one another on complex missions in harsh terrain in order to succeed. How to motivate, inspire, and lead in such an extreme environment is powerful and will appeal to leaders of all types and in all industries.Trade Review“Raw, funny, at times painfully descriptive, but always inspiring; Jimmy Blackmon's book Ranger School, will make every American proud of the warriors that wear the Ranger Tab.” -- Admiral William H. McRaven, Admiral, USN (Retired)“One of the identifying qualities of a good leader is the ability to lead a “felt” life. In his new book Ranger School, Jimmy Blackmon takes us inside the Army’s most arduous and difficult small unit tactics and leadership school, a course which only a few dare to attempt, and lets us feel it. A well-written story of overcoming adversity. Many life lessons in these pages.” -- Retired General Martin E. Dempsey, 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

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Book SynopsisThe Brereton report — the findings of a long-running inquiry into war crimes allegations involving members of the Australian Special Operations Task Group during their 2005–13 deployment to Afghanistan — was publicly released on 23 November 2020.Veiled Valour, from one of Australia's most respected military affairs analysts, explores the background to these allegations — the gradual demise of the Afghan state and society, the decision to deploy Special Forces personnel to Central Asia after 2001, the inquiries into apparent mistakes and alleged misconduct, and the shocking hearsay and rumours that led to a formal inquiry.Ending the day before the Brereton report's public release, Veiled Valour sheds light on why the inquiry was necessary, how its investigations were conducted, where the media influenced its direction and what the public expected to be told about its military elite.

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Book SynopsisNOW WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY W. STANLEY MOSS'S DAUGHTER GABRIELLA BULLOCK AND AN AFTERWORD BY PATRICK LEIGH FERMORIll Met By Moonlight is the true story of one of the most hazardous missions of the Second World War. W. Stanley Moss is a young British officer who, along with Major Patrick Leigh Fermor, sets out in Nazi-occupied Crete to kidnap General Kreipe, Commander of the Sevastopool Division, and narrowly escaping the German manhunt, bring him off the island - a vital prisoner for British intelligence.As an account of derring-do and wartime adventure, made into a classic film starring Dirk Bogarde, Ill Met By Moonlight is one of the most brilliantly written, exciting and compelling stories to come out of the Second World War.

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Book SynopsisMore than half a century after his death, Lt Col. Robert Blair Mayne is still regarded as one of the greatest soldiers in the history of military special operations. He was the most decorated British soldier of the Second World War, receiving four DSOs, the Croix de Guerre and the Légion d'honneur, and he pioneered tactics used today by the SAS and other special operations units worldwide. Rogue Warrior of the SAS tells the remarkable life story of 'Colonel Paddy', whose exceptional physical strength and uniquely swift reflexes made him a fearsome opponent. But his unorthodox rules of war and his resentment of authority would deny him the ultimate accolade of the Victoria Cross. Drawing on personal letters and family papers, declassified SAS files and records, together with the Official SAS Diary compiled in wartime and eyewitness accounts from many who served with him, the picture emerges of a soldier who, although a flawed hero, was unquestionably one of the most distinctive combatants of the campaigns in the Western Desert and Europe.

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Book SynopsisWhen war broke out in 1939, Hitler created `Strafbattalion’ (Penal Battalion) units to deal with incarcerated members of the Wehrmacht as well as `subversives’. His order stated that any first-time convicted soldier could return to his unit after he had served a portion of his sentence in `a special probation corps before the enemy’. Beginning in April 1941, convicted soldiers—even those sentenced to death—who had shown exceptional bravery or meritorious service were allowed to rejoin their original units. However those in probation units were expected to undertake dangerous operations at the front. Refusal entailed enforcement of the original sentence. The soldiers who `win back an honourable place in the national community’ had done everything that was asked of them: risky advance teams, spyware and shock troops, laying mines under enemy fire. This book examines the penal units, their combat history and order of battle.Table of ContentsPreface; Introduction; 1 The Nazi Penal System; 2 The Creation of Penal Units, The Parole Battalions-Special Penal Units-The Field Penal Camps-The Field Penal Battalions-Strafbatalions; 3 The Classification and Organization of Penal Units, Parole Units-Second Class Soldiers-Probation Units-Field Custody Detachments-Punishment Trains-Field Special Battalions-Field Police; 4 SS Parachute Battalions, 500th SS Parachute Battalion-600th SS Parachute Battalion; 5 36th Waffen SS Grenadier Division; 6 Storm and Infantry Units, 440th Sturm Division Rhodos-600th SS Parachute Battalion-502nd SS Light Infantry Battalion-SS Commando Group Centre-Infantry Units-999th Fortress Infantry Battalion; 7 999th Light Africa Division; 8 The German Replacement Army; 9 Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe Units , Kriegsmarine-Luftwaffe; 10 Guilt by Association; Epilogue; Endnotes; Appendix I Military Organizations of the Third Reich; Appendix II German Army Group North—As of 13 October 1944; Appendix III German Army Group Centre—As of 22 April 1942; Appendix IV German Army Group South—As of 26 December 1943; Appendix V German Army Group F (South-East)—As of 15 August 1944; Appendix VI German Army Group B—As of 16 September 1944; Appendix VII German Army Group G—As of 18 October 1944; Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisThis first-ever biography of of Lt. Cdr. Mike Cumberlege DSO & Bar, Greek Medal of Honour, murdered in Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp in Feb/March 1945, recalls a man who was `truly Elizabethan in character-a combination of gaiety and solidity and sensitiveness and poetry with daring and adventurousness-and great courage.' Cumberlege came from a maverick sea-going family. He was highly resourceful and lived by his wits, skippering ocean-going yachts for wealthy Americans before the war. In 1936 he married Nancy; their relationship was close and, with the sea, forms a thread in the book. From 1940 Cumberlege and served in undercover roles in the Royal Navy in Marseilles and Cape Verde and was on the staff of General de Gaulle in London. Posted to Egypt in 1941 in the SOE, he formed a para-naval force of fishing vessels, took part in fighting in Greece, attacked the Corinth Canal, escaped from Crete, was wounded and returned three times to Crete clandestinely. On a second operation to destroy the Corinth Canal in 1943 he was captured. Tortured in Mauthausen concentration camp, he was transferred to Sachsenhausen and spent 21 months in solitary confinement. The book contains unique material gathered from the family and from well-wishers in places as far apart as Ukraine, Australia and the USA.Table of ContentsIntroduction; 1 Christmas Day 1944; 2 Childhood, Boyhood and Youth; 3 Oh I Shall Buy a Sailboat; 4 The Good Ship Landfall; 5 Going to War; 6 Into Battle; 7 Hitting Back; 8 Operation Locksmith; 9 Points of No Return; 10 Living Not Long Enough: A Postscript; Appendix: Mike Cumberlege and his Poetry; Acknowledgements; Bibliography; Endnotes; Index.

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

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Book SynopsisWho’s going to guide you when your military boot camp class is over? What’s going to help you prepare for the next boot camp challenge? With the aid of superb line artworks, SAS and Elite Forces Guide: Extreme Fitness demonstrates to the reader how special forces soldiers are trained to reach and maintain peak physical fitness. The book explores the different training methods to build up physical strength, speed, agility and endurance, across running, swimming, weight training, circuit training and triathlon events. In addition, it addresses the importance of diet and nutrition, injuries and rest, and using mental fitness to help physical health. With more than 300 easy-to-follow artworks, training tips and workouts used by the U.S. Navy SEALs and British Royal Marines, Extreme Fitness is the definitive guide for the person who wants to be their best.Table of ContentsIntroduction1. Preparing the Body2. Military Workouts3. Extreme Running4. Extreme Water5. Extreme Resistance6. Mixing It Up7. Mental Preparation8. InjuriesGlossaryIndex

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Book SynopsisIn 1991, Coalition special forces were active deep inside Iraq, hunting down SCUD missile launchers before they could be fired. In 2011, US Navy SEALs were responsible for the assassination of the world’s most wanted terrorist, Osama bin Laden. In 2014, the US Delta Force captured Libyan terrorist Ahmed Abu Khattala, wanted for the attack on the US embassy in Benghazi in 2012. Over the last 25 years elite military formations have played an increasingly important role in the policing of the world’s trouble spots, including rescuing hostages in Afghanistan and fighting Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean. Special Forces in Action is a detailed account of the operations of the world’s special forces from 1991 to the present day. From the Gulf War to the invasion of Iraq, via the war in Afghanistan, the search for war criminals in the Balkans, drug gang hunting in South America, hostage rescues in Africa, and the counter-terrorist initiatives since 9/11, the book brings the reader full details of the often clandestine and varied roles of the world’s elite soldiers. Authoritatively written and illustrated with more than 180 photographs and artworks, Special Forces in Action is an expert account of how the world’s special forces have become a vital arm of the modern military machine. Trade ReviewWill suit fans of Andy McNab right down to the ground - the real story, featuring real people and real battles. Stirring and inspirational. * Books Monthly Online 03/08/2015 *Table of ContentsIntroduction 6 The First Gulf War 32 Somalia 54 The Balkans 76 Drug Hunting in South America 92 Sierra Leone 116 Afghanistan 134 Iraq 164 Counter-terrorism 192 Index 218 Picture credits 224

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Book SynopsisWith the aid of superb line artworks, Unarmed Combat demonstrates to the reader how special forces soldiers are taught to excel in hand-to-hand fighting: how they maximise bodyweight, and the use of various strikes, throws, locks and constrictions to defeat opponents. It explains how different martial arts have been combined by military units to create hand-to-hand combat systems for defence against multiple assailants, for fighting on the ground, for dealing with edged and impact weapons, what works against attackers with firearms and – more importantly – what doesn’t. With tips and techniques from unarmed combat experts, the book is divided into two main sections. The first covers the mental preparation needed to be ready to defend yourself. The second covers the physical techniques needed to defend yourself, and if necessary, strike back to temporarily incapacitate your attacker and escape. With more than 300 easy-to-follow artworks and handy pull-out lists of key information, Unarmed Combat is the definitive guide for anyone wanting to be ready for anything - it could save your life.Table of ContentsIntroduction PREPARATION 1. The Threat 2. Win Without Fighting 3. Training to Win TOOLS OF THE TRADE 4. The Basics 5. Unarmed Combat Training 6. Your Body’s Weapons 7. Striking and Grappling Methods 8. Locks, Controls and Chokes IN ACTION 9. Tactics 10. Defeating Unarmed Attacks 11. Defeating Hand-Held Weapon Attacks 12. Defeating Firearm Threats 13. Fighting on the Ground 14. Fighting Under Adverse Conditions Final Notes Index

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Book SynopsisAs an 18-year-old, John Urwin was posted to Cyprus, where he was recruited into a top-secret unit called the Sixteen, whose task was to assassinate key figures throughout the Middle East. Now he breaks his silence to tell their story. Their training was said to have surpassed that of the SAS in unarmed combat and weaponry. His description of their four key missions is explosive and a riveting account of the turbulent 1950s in the Middle East. The Cold War was approaching its height and when there was a mission to be undertaken that no government could be seen to endorse, the Sixteen would do the job. No previous depiction of a military group, in book or movie, has remotely compared to the secrecy, skills and sheer professionalism of the Sixteen.

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Book SynopsisThe Sniper Encyclopaedia is an indispensable alphabetical, topic-by-topic guide to a fascinating subject. It is intended as a companion volume to John Walter's Snipers at War (Greenhill Books, 2017) and is another addition to the Greenhill Sniper Library which includes a series of first-person memoirs. This is a comprehensive work that covers virtually any aspect sniping. The work contains personal details of hundreds of snipers, including not only the best-known-world-renowned gurus such as Vasiliy Zaytsev and Chris Kyle-but also many crack shots whom history generally overlooks. Among them are some of more than a thousand Red Army snipers, men and a surprising number of women, who amassed sufficient kills to be awarded the Medal for Courage and, later, the Order of Glory. Some of the best-known victims of snipers are identified, and the veracity of some of the most popular myths is explored. The book pays special attention to the history and development of the many specialist sniper rifles - some more successful than others - that have served the world's armies since the American Wars of the nineteenth century to today's technology-based conflicts. Attention, too, is paid to the progress made with ammunition-without which, of course, precision shooting would be impossible. The development of aids and accessories, from camouflage clothing to laser rangefinders, is also considered. Finally, the Sniper Encyclopaedia examines place and specific campaigns - the way marksman have influenced the course of the individual battles and locations which have played a crucial part in the history of sniping, from individual sites to sniper schools and training grounds. The book contains authors' biographies, a critical assessment of the many books and memoirs from the world of the sniper, and a guide to research techniques.Trade Review'A remarkable work of research and an endless treasure trove of information for anyone with an interest in the subject';-Martin Pegler, author of Out Of Nowhere: A History of the Military Sniper

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Book Synopsis_ The author is a sympathetic narrator and he has told his story with genuine verve and style [His] South Tyrolean origins, and his role in the Brandenburg Division make the book very distinctive._' Roger Moorhouse. The Brandenburgers were Hitler's Special Forces, a band of mainly foreign German nationals who used disguise and fluency in other languages to complete daring missions into enemy territory. Overshadowed by stories of their Allied equivalents, their history has largely been ignored, making this memoir all the more extraordinary. First published in German in 1984, de Giampietro's highly-personal and eloquent memoir is a vivid account of his experiences. In astonishing detail, he delves into the reality of life in the unit from everyday concerns and politics to training and involvement in Brandenburg missions. He details the often foolhardy missions undertaken under the command of Theodor von Hippel including the June 1941 seizure of the Duna bridges in Dunaburg and the attempted capture of the bridge at Bataisk where half of his unit were killed. Translated into English for the first time, this is a unique insight into a fascinating slice of German wartime history, both as an account of the Brandenburgers and within the very particular context of the author's South Tyrolean origins. Given the very perilous nature of their missions very few of these specially-trained soldiers survived the Second World War and much knowledge of the unit has been lost forever. Widely regarded as the predecessor of today's special forces units, this fascinating account brings to life the Brandenburger Division and its part in history in vivid and compelling detail.

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Book SynopsisWiped out three Nazis in a shallow trench. But only got out by a miracle. The Germans apparently guessed where my lair was and unleashed a hurricane of mortar fire the company had as good as buried me. Somebody saw a direct mortar hit on my lair.' - Fyodor Dyachenko The German snipers on the other side also engaged in stalking, especially stalking us women. They had no female snipers, just men' - Antonina Kotlyarova Dreadful death cries could be heard from the German trenches, where the enemy were bayonetting those of our wounded who had remained behind there' - Klavdia Kalugina Before firing I managed to get a good look at him through my sights. He was a young officer. He seemed to be looking straight at me and I shot him. But it was a human being! Then my feelings dulled and I went on killing the way we were supposed to' - Antonina Kotlyarova I lay down on the ground, pressed my cheek close to the stock, took aim at the target and remembered the lieutenant's words: Make sure your heart is behind every bullet Believe in your shot - Pyotr Belyakov When we learnt on May 9th that the war was over, our joy knew no bounds [...] I felt enormous relief when I heard the news of victory - now I wouldn't need to kill anymore' - Maria Bondarenko With a wealth of first-hand testimonies, collected by Artem Drabkin, this is a unique collection of eyewitness accounts from the Second World War. The reminiscences of the Red Army snipers reveal fascinating details of life in Russia before the war, as well as the surprising commonality of the privation and unforgiving experience of frontline combat and the day-to-day starkness of sharpshooting. The book includes testimony from celebrated snipers such as Fyodor Dyachenko, Alexander Romanyenko, Klavdia Kalugina, Antonina Kotlyarova and Maria Bondarenko.

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Book Synopsis A well-balanced and detailed look at the East German Ministry for State Security, the secret police force more commonly known as the Stasi. “This is an excellent book, full of careful, balanced judgements and a wealth of concisely-communicated knowledge. It is also well written. Indeed, it is the best book yet published on the MfS.”—German History The Stasi stood for Stalinist oppression and all-encompassing surveillance. The “shield and sword of the party,” it secured the rule of the Communist Party for more than forty years, and by the 1980s it had become the largest secret-police apparatus in the world, per capita. Jens Gieseke tells the story of the Stasi, a feared secret-police force and a highly professional intelligence service. He inquires into the mechanisms of dictatorship and the day-to-day effects of surveillance and suspicion. Masterful and thorough at once, he takes the reader through this dark chapter of German postwar history, supplying key information on perpetrators, informers, and victims. In an assessment of post-communist memory politics, he critically discusses the consequences of opening the files and the outcomes of the Stasi debate in reunified Germany. A major guide for research on communist secret-police forces, this book is considered the standard reference work on the Stasi.Trade Review “Gieseke treats… many issues with careful and lucid analysis, confining himself to the known facts. He rejects the hyperbolic in favor of more mundane explanations. The truth is bad enough… Essential.” • Choice “The book is an exceptional achievement in every respect: it offers a calm, detached, factual and well balanced socio-historical analysis of the MfS (Ministry for Security) that covers all aspects.” • Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung “[This book] provides an excellent introduction to the chronology, structure, and activities of the MfS.” • Kritika. Explorations in Russian and Eurasian History “This is an excellent book, full of careful, balanced judgements and a wealth of concisely-communicated knowledge. It is also well written. Indeed, it is the best book yet published on the MfS…More than any other written on the MfS, his is a work of real scholarship which attempts a comprehensive history of the Ministry and its operations and assesses their development and significance.” • German History “Gieseke’s opus magnum belongs to one of the greatest scholarly achievements [in this field].” • Militägeschichtliche Zeitschrift “Not only does Gieseke's book deserve the widest possible audience in Germany, but an English translation would fill a glaring need elsewhere in the world.” • H-German “Gieseke has with this book produced an outstanding study of the phenomenon of state security of the GDR with all its important aspects. It is highly recommended to specialists as well as a wider readership.” • H-Soz-u-KultTable of Contents Preface Preface to the 2011 edition Introduction: Ten Years and Ten Days Chapter 1. Antifascism – Stalinism – Cold Civil War: Origins and Influences, 1945 to 1956 Chapter 2. The Safest GDR in the World – The Driving Forces of Stasi Growth Chapter 3. The Unofficial Collaborator – A New Type of Informer Chapter 4. Blanket Surveillance? State Security in East German Society Chapter 5. Resistance – Opposition – Persecution Chapter 6. Wolf and Co. – MfS Operations Abroad Chapter 7. Final Crisis and Collapse, 1989-90 Chapter 8. Legacy – Aufarbeitung – Culture of Memory: The Second Life of the Stasi Notes Select Bibliography

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Book SynopsisFishers of Men is the true account of secret operations in Northern Ireland carried out by the British Army's most clandestine unit. It tells the unique story, through Rob Lewis's own extraordinary experiences, of an essential instrument in the fight against terrorism, that of covert intelligence gathering. The men and women who work in this field are a special breed who undertake hazardous risks with unflinching tenacity and professionalism - the price of negligence is high, and the need for secrecy must be preserved even at the expense of personal relationships. The sheer determination and single-mindedness required to achieve selection to this secret world is graphically described, as well as how, against seemingly impossible odds, the operators of the FRU managed to persuade terrorists and their close associates to turn informer. The methods the unit used to target, recruit and handle their contacts, how they protected their informants, and the terrifying life their agents led are all told by an agent handler, using many of his cases to illustrate the sharpness, intelligence (and sense of humour) essential to the job. Fishers of Men fills a gap in the available information about the secret war against terrorism in Northern Ireland. It is a gap that has so far remained largely unexplored - until Rob Lewis's informative and explosive book.

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Book Synopsis Meet the unit that posed as Nazi stormtroopers in the most daring mission ever undertaken SAS Ghost Patrol is the explosive true story of the day in 1942 when the SAS donned Nazi uniforms to perpetrate the most audacious and daring mission of the war. Beyond top secret, deniable in the extreme (and of course enjoying Churchill's enthusiastic blessing), this is one of the most remarkable stories of wartime lawlessness, eccentricity and raw courage in the face of impossible odds - a thoroughly British undertaking.What unfolded - the longest mission ever undertaken by Allied special forces - was an epic of daring, courage, tragedy and survival that remains unrivalled to this day, and which rightly became a foundation stone of Special Forces legend. It may read like the stuff of impossible myth or folklore, but every single word is true.PRAISE FOR SAS GHOST PATROL'Intensively researched and powerfully written. One of the great untold stories of WWII' Bear Grylls'Lewis has done a terrific job in resurrecting Heaven Platoon, portraying them as the brave, buccaneering heroes they undoubtedly were' Daily Mail'Another true tale of military derring-do from Lewis' Sunday Express'In SAS Ghost Patrol Lewis reveals a tale of suicidal bravery, untold daring and breath-taking deceit. Told with the panache and verve of a born storyteller, Lewis is in a class of his own' Saul David'Amazing tale of WWII great escaper's Nazi ruse . . . The extraordinary Second World War saga of the SIG and its legacy is revealed.' The Daily Mirror'British troops dressed in German uniforms and mounted a daredevil raid to take the Libyan port of Tobruk during the Second World War, reveals a fascinating new book' Daily Express'Lewis's account . . . reads like a Boy's Own adventure, except it isn't a work of fiction and the heroes don't come through unscathed. His storytelling enhances the bravery of the men and the danger of the missions without over-dramatising anything. There is no need to' Soldier Magazine'Reveals the true story of an ultra-secret fighting unit that posed as Nazi Storm Troopers to seize the German-held port city of Tobruk during the Second World War' Richard Hatch and Verity Geere, Forces Radio breakfast show

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Book SynopsisThis is the first book ever to present the authentic ninja techniques in a highly accessible, illustrated 'how to' format. The shadowy figure of the ninja – expert commando, secret agent, maverick who operates outside social norms – continues to exert fascination in the West, yet much of what is presented as ninja fact today is distorted or wrong. Drawing on the scrolls created by historical Japanese ninjas (or shinobi, as they were then known), this book offers the real ninja teachings in 150 easy-to-follow, illustrated lessons designed to draw contemporary students of ninja straight into the world of these skilled spy-commandos. The truth about the ninja is so much more complex and intriguing than the Hollywood clichés we know today. We may think, for example, of a ninja as being always garbed in black and fighting with 'throwing stars' but in fact, a ninja had clothes in different colours to serve as disguises for different times of day, and their arsenal of weaponry could include anything from poison, poison gas, pepper spray and fire-creating tools to swords, spears and knives (but no throwing stars). The 150 lessons in this book cover all the basics of ninja warcraft, including clever ideas for infiltrating an enemy compound (from wearing 'silent sandals' to faking passes and passwords), tactics for hiding and retreat (in the racoon dog retreat, a ninja will crouch low and halt, allowing the pursuer to collide with him at speed, whereupon the agent kills his enemy), and ways of crossing marshes and water (for example, with special shoes made of boards, or using a foldaway floating seat). The description is made all the more vivid by step-by-step photographs of the fighting techniques, diagrams outlining military tactics and beautiful samples of Japanese calligraphy.

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Book SynopsisThis book is part of the unique Book of Samurai series that comprises the works of 17th-century samurai tactician Natori Sanjūrō Masazumi, retainer and advisor to the lords of Kishū domain. It offers an unparalleled insight into the weaponry and armour of the samurai era, as well as tactical advice for use on the battlefield and off – wisdom that can be applied to many scenarios today.Heieki Yōhō, the first scroll translated in this book, offers advice for every possible situation, from moving troops to besieging a castle to fighting on the open battlefield. From turning thieves or cowards to good service, to practising "external listening" in order to obtain information from as many sources as possible, to penetrating the deeper motives of those who slander (or praise) others, the advice here is thought provoking and paints a vivid picture of samurai Japan at war.Heigu Yōhō, the second scroll, gives us a rare and precious glimpse into samurai arms and armour, including their construction, status regulations and connected ceremonies, mythology and Buddhist doctrine: a helmet's ventilation hole, for example, allows access to the 98,000 gods of war. There is an accessible introduction and a glossary, as well as 130 line drawings that include illustrations of arms and armour, strategic diagrams and beautiful examples of Japanese calligraphy.

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Book SynopsisThe new SAS epic from bestselling military historian Damien LewisWe share the triumphs and tragedies of a group of elite soldier trailblazers as they commit daring raids behind enemy lines in 1944, manage an against the odds escape to victory, and then seek post-war retribution for the terrible murder of their captured comrades.SAS BAND OF BROTHERS is replete with action, peppered with great characters, and features two of the most daring escapes of WWII. It ends with the hunted becoming the hunters - a group of men intent on seeking out the Nazis responsible for their brethren's deaths, on an ultra-deniable SAS mission to avenge a war crime.This is the new bestseller from Damien Lewis. It bears all his hallmarks - an epic, page-turning special forces narrative based on hitherto unavailable personal testimony and private family archives.

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Book SynopsisTHE MODERN-DAY SURVIVAL BIBLE FROM EX-SPECIAL FORCES SOLDIER AND NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OLLIE OLLERTONDo you know how to thrive, not just survive?Can you build a fire? Administer critical first aid?Could you stay alive out in the wilderness? Fend off a wild animal?What about societal collapse, extreme weather or urban warfare?In How to Survive (Almost) Anything, former Special Forces soldier Ollie Ollerton passes on all the specialist skills, knowledge and mindset learnt over the course of a life that has experienced some of the world's toughest conditions and most hostile situations: whether that's fending off a wild animal at 10 years-old, serving in the elite Special Forces, or mountaineering in the ice-capped Himalayas.This essential guide meticulously teaches you how to prepare your instincts, ready your mentality and hone your survival skills so that you have the tools and know-how to survive whatever comes next.

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Book SynopsisThe Special Air Service – the SAS – are known to be the greatest elite fighting force in the world. This book focuses on the most famous operations undertaken by the SAS from its inception during the Second World War to the present day, describing in dramatic detail the unit’s most daring and memorable missions in trouble spots across the world. Revelatory and gripping, the author weaves together the extraordinary true stories of this brave fighting force, wherever they are in action. From missions on home shores to Iraq, Sierra Leone, the Falkland Islands, Europe, Libya, Malaya, Afghanistan and more, SAS Battle Ready brings together both the history of the unit and some of its most powerful moments.From hostage rescues to ambushes, from sabotage to jungle warfare and from pitched battles to reconnaissance, it hasn’t always gone according to plan but the courage and devotion to duty revealed within show just what it takes to be an SAS soldier.

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Book Synopsis25 Days to Aden is the story of how in a week in 2015 the Gulf States pulled together a ten-nation coalition and the biggest military operation they ever launched unilaterally. It is an amazing account of Arab militaries doing what America would not, preventing Iran from taking a foothold on the Arabian Peninsula. The risks for global security were huge: Iran already overshadowed one of the world's greatest maritime straits, at Hormuz, and now it sought to dominate the southern approaches to the Suez Canal as well. Aden had to hold out against the Houthis. The Gulf States were used to America stepping up at such moments, but the White House was partway through negotiating a nuclear deal with Iran. No help would come from Washington. Instead, for the first time, the Gulf States acted alone. Told by an expert communicator on the region, it is a unique story. If the US is truly a global empire in decline, then the story may hold important pointers for a future of warfare driven by emergent powers in the gap left by the withdrawal of American influence.Trade ReviewMichael Knights has written a fast-paced, thoroughly readable account of the opening days of the war in Yemen. This book has it all: the personalities, the maps, and extraordinary military detail and access. Read it and you'll know why the war has unfolded the way it has. -- Gregory D. Johnsen, author of The Last Refuge: Yemen, Al-Qaeda, and America’s War in Arabia25 Days to Aden is the gripping and insightful story of a little-known modern war of great significance. The United Arab Emirates waged a remarkably successful campaign in southern Yemen from 2015 to 2019, demonstrating what is possible for an Arab military that pulls out all of the stops to be the best. Michael Knights has done a terrific job telling that story and explaining how and why it happened. -- Kenneth M. Pollack, author of Armies of Sand: The Past, Present and Future of Arab Military Effectiveness25 Days to Aden offers an invaluable and gripping account of a woefully understudied war and provides a unique level of insight into the UAE's use of military power. -- Jack Watling, Senior Research Fellow, Land Warfare, Royal United Services InstituteA timely, detailed account of a battle that undoubtedly changed the course of history. A must-read for specialists in the military affairs of the region and those interested specifically in Yemen. -- Fernando Carvajal, armed groups and regional expert on the UN Security Council Panel of Experts of Yemen, 2017-2019A valuable addition to the literature around Yemen's history and the ongoing war by someone who fully understands the region, its people and politics. -- Sadiq Shaban * Gulf News *

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Book Synopsis“Who Dares Wins”. The world’s most legendary special forces unit - and a history of action you will barely believe.This is the extraordinary, secretive story of how the SAS evolved from an unconventional handful of soldiers, operating behind enemy lines in North Africa in 1941, into the world’s most disciplined and respected professionals, up to their daring and dangerous exploits in the Iranian Embassy siege and the Falkland Islands.We see them during the latter years of the Second World War, in the numerous post-war security campaigns in the Middle and Far East, and in the difficult circumstances of urban terrorism. Above all, we see how the regiment’s founder David Stirling’s emphasis on The Man has not changed at all.Here indeed are men who dare to excel - and in General Strawson they have a worthy chronicler of their remarkable activities both in wartime and in the “savage wars of peace”. In the first history of the SAS ever published, we see their unique courage on full display - a courage that changed the British Army, and the world.

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Book SynopsisExamines the predecessors to the Wagner Group, its activities in a number of conflicts around the world, and its armed mutiny against the top leadership of the Russian Federation.In the early 2010s the Wagner Group, a notorious private military company under the control of Yevgeny Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin, began to emerge onto the world stage. This organisation first showed its hand in Crimea, eastern Ukraine and the civil war in Syria. It quickly became apparent that it had the blessing of the very highest levels of Putin?s government in Russia to act as an armed extension of the country?s foreign policy before a spectacular fall from grace following the mutiny in the summer of 2023.The role of mercenary is as old as recorded human history and stretches back to the earliest days of civilisation. For those states unable to afford a standing army the mercenary offered professional services and could be viewed as a profession of honour. When the mercenary fell into disrepute in the post-colonial world of revolutions, coups and counter-coups, it was essentially banned by the Geneva Protocols in the late twentieth century. The trade of mercenary did not go away however, and instead morphed into that of the ?private military company? or PMC, a still thriving global trade in a world of clandestine operations, that may or may not be government sanctioned, offering ?plausible deniability? in a casualty-averse age of hybrid warfare.Wagner Group - Private Military Company: Volume 1 - Establishment, Purpose, Profile and Historic Relevance 2013?2023 looks at the profession of arms as practiced by mercenaries throughout history and the emergence of the modern private military company in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, along with the failed Slavonic Corps and Moran Security Group, often mistaken for early incarnations of Wagner. This work examines the emergence of the Wagner Group, its connection to the Russian government, security and intelligence services, and its operations in Syria, Libya, Sub-Saharan Africa and Venezuela as an extension of Russian foreign policy, often displacing Western interests, and as a private organisation primarily concerned with securing access to the world?s oil and mineral resources for its owners and sponsors. Volume 2 will examine the group?s role in Russian operations inside Ukraine from 2014 onwards.This volume is illustrated with original colour photographs showing the Wagner group?s activities and its iconography, along with colour artworks highlighting the unusual equipment employed in many of the group?s activities.

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Book SynopsisExamines the predecessors to the Wagner Group, its activities in a number of conflicts around the world, and its armed mutiny against the top leadership of the Russian Federation.The Wagner Group is symbolic of Russia?s deployment of private military companies (PMCs) to exercise influence in Africa, the Middle East and Europe since the mid-2010s. Nominally an independent commercial enterprise, but actually operating on behalf of the Russian government, and in close cooperation with the Ministry of Defence and its Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), and the Federal Security Service (FSB), it has been deployed to perform a very wide range of military and paramilitary tasks, provide security, and collect intelligence. Through much of its existence, the activity of the Wagner Group appears to have been clandestine and poorly recorded. In practice, the operating principles of this PMC have been very similar to those of numerous similar enterprises from the West. Since its failed coup attempt in the summer of 2023, the fate of the Wagner Group appears to be sealed. Indeed, presently, it is highly unlikely that a Russian PMC might ever again have the same power and influence that Wagner once wielded. However, this does not mean that such all such enterprises have been completely disbanded: only that the Wagner Group has not (yet) been replaced by some other enterprise ? whether Russian or foreign. In fact, we are witnessing a recurrent trend that is likely to become even more characteristic for conflicts in the coming decades as almost everybody who can afford to pay for the services of a PMC is hiring them. Indeed, numerous governments in control of relatively weak or disloyal armed forces have concluded that the deployment of a PMC holds significant advantages. This two-part works examines the predecessors to the Wagner Group, and the establishment of the latter organisation by Yevgeny Prigozhin, its activities in a number of conflicts around the world, and its armed mutiny against the top leadership of the Russian Federation. It is thoroughly illustrated with authentic photographs and custom commissioned color illustrations and maps.

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Book SynopsisThe sequel to Michael Knights' successful 25 Days to Aden, The Race for Mukalla is the story of elite UAE forces taking the counter-terrorism fight to Al -Qaeda in the southern Yemen port of Mukalla. In many senses this was the UAE's most challenging moment. The first part of the book tells the story of the devastating missile strike at Safer, leading to the deaths of fifty Emiratis - a national tragedy for the Gulf nation. But the Emiratis are quick to regroup and their elite forces go on to save the key city of Marib city and liberate the iconic Zayed Dam. Both UAE forces and Al-Qaeda race to be the first to control the southern port of Mukalla. Initially Al-Qaeda take the port city, but by enlisting the help of local tribes - the Hadrami Elites - UAE forces fight their way in, running through precipitous mountain passes to the north and launching a naval blockade and amphibious assault to the south. Meticulously researched with those involved in the campaign and narrated at the sam

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Book SynopsisOver the last 30 years, Special Forces have become a key component of the world’s armed forces, often employing unconventional tactics as part of airborne operations, counterinsurgency, counterterrorism, hostage rescue, covert ops and intelligence gathering. To carry out their role effectively, specific vehicles have been developed for these elite units. Organized by type, the book explores a wide range of vehicles, from the light utility vehicles through mine-resistant protected vehicles (MRAP) to mini bikes and quad bikes. Discover the Pinzgauer High-Mobility All-Terrain Vehicle, a high clearance, all-wheel drive transporter used by Delta Force and the New Zealand SAS; the fast, light Arquus Scarab, a protected vehicle that can turn both the front and rear wheels simultaneously, allowing it to move sideways like a crab; the MRZR, used by the U.S. Marines for fast forward deployment and off-road reconnaissance; the Toyota Hilux pick-up, which due to its simplicity and rugged durability, has proved its worth in conflicts from South America to Central Asia; and the Christini AWD motorcycle, used by U.S. Navy SEALs in Afghanistan. Illustrated with more than 100 photographs and artworks, Special Forces Land Vehicles provides a detailed guide to the specialist vehicles used by elite soldiers in the modern era.Trade Review"With very little prior literature covering the topic, Alexander Stilwell has filled this gap with* Special Forces Land Vehicles* … A useful reference source for Special Forces vehicles deployed worldwide." * Classic Military Vehicles *Table of ContentsContents includes: 1. Legacy Light Utility Vehicles Land Rover 110 ‘Pinkie’ Desert Patrol Vehicles Snatch/Vixen Land Rover Land Rover Weapons Mount Installation Kit (WMIK) Land Rover Perentie Long Range Patrol Vehicle (LRPV) Ground Mobility Vehicle (GMV) Ranger Special Operations Vehicle (RSOV) Pinzgauer High-Mobility All-Terrain Vehicle Interim Fast Attack Vehicle (IFAV) Peugeot P4 2. Protected Vehicles Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicle (IMV)/Protected Mobility Vehicle (PMV) HMT 400 or Jackal Supacat Extenda RG-33 Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle (M-ATV) Ocelot/Foxhound Light Protected Patrol Vehicle (LPPV) Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) Arquus SABRE Arquus Scarab MOWAG Eagle V (4x4) 3. Light All-Terrain Vehicles S-ATV Special Purpose All-Terrain Vehicle Desert Patrol Vehicle (DPV) M1161 Growler Polaris MRZR Polaris MRZR Alpha LTATV Polaris Dagor A1 Boeing Phantom Badger Supacat Light Reconnaissance Vehicle (LRV 400) P6 All-Terrain Assault Vehicle (ATAV) Jankel Fox RRV-x KMW Special Operations Vehicle Integrated Convoy Protection (ICP) REVA FAV NIMR Automotive Rapid Intervention Vehicle (RIV) Zetor Engineering Fox Rapid Deployment Vehicle (RDV) Spider Light Strike Vehicle II Koluman Otomotiv Industri LSA4 4. Support Vehicles Arquus VLRA-2 Light Medium Tactical Vehicle (LMTV) ‘War Pig’ HMT 600 (Coyote) 6x6 Jankel Light Tactical Transport Vehicle (LTTV) Supacat Light Reconnaissance Vehicle (LRV) 600 Dutch Military Vehicles Anaconda 5. Non-Standard Tactical Vehicles Purpose-Built Non-Standard Commercial Vehicle (PB-NSCV) Toyota Hilux Toyota Land Cruiser Ford Ranger Nissan Navara Navistar Defense Special Operations Tactical Vehicle (SOTV) 6. Motorcycles

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Book SynopsisWho’s going to guide you when your military boot camp class is over? What’s going to help you prepare for the next boot camp challenge? With the aid of superb line artworks, SAS and Elite Forces Guide: Extreme Fitness demonstrates to the reader how special forces soldiers are trained to reach and maintain peak physical fitness. The book explores the different training methods to build up physical strength, speed, agility and endurance, across running, swimming, weight training, circuit training and triathlon events. In addition, it addresses the importance of diet and nutrition, injuries and rest, and using mental fitness to help physical health. With more than 300 easy-to-follow artworks, training tips and workouts used by the U.S. Navy SEALs and British Royal Marines, Extreme Fitness is the definitive guide for the person who wants to be their best.Table of ContentsIntroduction1. Preparing the Body2. Military Workouts3. Extreme Running4. Extreme Water5. Extreme Resistance6. Mixing It Up7. Mental Preparation8. InjuriesGlossaryIndex

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Book SynopsisSpecial Forces are a key component of every modern army, capable of carrying out clandestine operations, reconnaissance, and incisive attacks behind enemy lines. Units such as the British SAS, US Navy SEALs, the US Army’s Delta Force, Polish GROM and the France’s National Gendarmerie Intervention Group are famous for their bravery and formidable record. Aircraft are a key element of their functionality, without which Special Forces would not be able to move quickly to the combat zone. Arranged into chapters divided by transports, gunships, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles, the book includes the AC-130H gunship, which can be armed with weapons such as the M61 Vulcan rotary cannon and can destroy ground targets from a range of 2,000 metres; the CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, which can land large numbers of men and material in tight spaces because of its STOL capabilities; the Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin II, used by the British Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing (JSFAW) for the insertion of small units behind enemy lines; and the Mil Mi- 171Sh Storm rotorcraft, used by the Russian Spetsnaz commandos for operations in difficult terrain. Illustrated with 140 photographs and artworks, Aircraft of the Special Forces is a dynamic guide to the specialist aircraft and UAVs deployed by Special Forces throughout the world today.Table of ContentsContents to include: Aircraft & Gunships: CV-22 Osprey AC-130H/U Gunship MC-130E/H Combat Talon I/II MC-130P Combat Shadow MC-130J Commando II AC-130J Ghostrider MC-130W Combat Spear MC-130W Dragon Spear EC-130J Commando Solo U-28A MC-12W Liberty C-146A Wolfhound Boeing C-32B Helicopters: Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin II AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat Eurocopter EC725 Caracal NHIndustries NH90 NHIndustries MRH-90 Taipan Airbus H145M MH-53J/M Pavelow MH-60 Black Hawk MH-60L DAP Gunships AH-6 / MH-6 Little Bird MH-47 Chinook HH-60H Rescue Hawk Kamov Ka-27 Kamov Ka-29 Kamov Ka-31 Kamov Ka-226 Kazan Ansat Mil Mi-8 Mil Mi-14 Mi-171Sh Mil Mi-26 Mil Mi-38 Attack helicopters: Eurocopter Tiger Mil Mi-24 and Mi-35 family Mil Mi-28 Kamov Ka-52 Bell AH-1 Cobra Agusta A129 Mangusta AH-64 Apache Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: MQ-1C Gray Eagle RQ-4 Global Hawk MQ-4C Triton RQ-7 Shadow MQ-8B Fire Scout/MQ-8C Fire Scout MQ-9 Reaper CQ-10 Snowgoose RQ-11 Raven RQ-12 Wasp MQ-19 Aerosonde RQ-20 Puma RQ-21 Blackjack RQ-170 Sentinel RQ-180 Black Hornet Nano Coyote Snipe NAV Switchblade Maveric Stalker ScanEagle Northrop Grumman Bat

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Book SynopsisThis book charts the seemingly spontaneous growth of the 'Free Corps' movement from the ashes of the Imperial German Army following the 1918 Armistice. Large numbers of former officers and soldiers - often from elite units - assembled in 'private armies' and helped themselves to weapons and equipment Led by highly motivated and often highly decorated combat leaders, these 'Freikorps' fought off both Communists at home and Polish troops in the borderlands with considerable success, founding a nationalist legend. Many went on to serve in the new Reichswehr, and later in the SA and SS.Table of ContentsThe German Army in November 1918; the communist threat; the threat to the borders - Poland; the Baltic; the birth of the Freikorps; the major FKs, and their enemies in the campaigns of Berlin, December 1918-January 1919 (FK Marker, von Roeder, etc versus the Spartakists), Munich 1919 (FK Werdenfelds, von Epp, Bayreuth etc), the Ruhr 1920 (FK Rossbach, Jager Btln 37, FK Hacketau, versus Red Army, the Kapp Putsch, Berlin 1920 (Ehrhard, Marine Bde Wilhelmshaven, FW Bde von Hulsen, the Baltic Coast (Baltische Landwehr, Eiserne Division, Selbsschutz Obershcliessen), the Reichswehr, 1923.

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Book SynopsisPaul Bruce was a tough, idealistic young trooper in the SAS when he was dispatched to Northern Ireland at the height of the troubles. His top secret mission was to execute IRA suspects in cold blood. Bruce and his SAS comrades shot down one terrified victim after another, leaving their bodies to be buried in deep, unmarked woodland graves. In this historic book, the author reveals where his victims lie secretly buried as well as chronicling the mental breakdown of crack SAS troops ordered to carry out the dirtiest job in a secret war.

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Book SynopsisThe true story of a legendary SAS soldier who participated in the battle of Mirbat and assaulted the Iranian Embassy to free the hostages held within. No publicity, no media. We move in silently, do our job, and melt away into the background. If you have the stamina, the willpower and the guts, we'll welcome you with open arms and make you one of us. And if you haven't, then it's been very nice knowing you. Eighteen years in the SAS saw Pete Winner, codenamed Soldier 'I', survive the savage battle of Mirbat, parachute into the icy depths of the South Atlantic at the height of the Falklands War, and storm the Iranian Embassy during the most famous hostage crisis in the modern world. For the first time Pete also details his close-protection work around the world, from the lawless streets of Moscow to escorting aid convoys into war-torn Bosnia. He also unveils the problems of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder faced by many Special Forces veterans, and how he battled his own demons to continue his roller-coaster career. This is his story, written with a breathtaking take-no-prisoners attitude that brings each death-defying episode vividly to life.Table of ContentsForeword /Initiation /Sickener 1 /Sickener 2 /From Hereford to Jebel Massif /Isolation /Operation Jaguar /Transfer /The Battle of Mirbat /Belfast /Hong Kong /A visit from the Colonel /Embassy Siege /The Falklands /Fallen Comrades /Frustration /The Final RV /When the Camp Gates Close /On the Circuit /Champagne and Diamonds /The Sultan’s Palace /Aid Convoy /Port and Stilton /My Kingdom for a Stinger /Banned and Blackballed /A Living Hell /On the Ragged Edge /The Bodyguard /Mafia in Moscow /Revenge is Sweet /Postscript /Glossary

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Book SynopsisAmerica deployed a diverse group of special operations forces (SOF) throughout World War II and in Korea. These elite units quickly earned a redoubtable reputation and proved themselves adept at hit-and-run raids, gathering intelligence in long-range patrols, rescuing PoWs and living and fighting in hostile environments. This valuable, fully illustrated guide includes more than 100 rare and unusual photographs of the men, uniforms, special equipment and insignia of these elite troops. Units covered include the Marine Raider regiments and Paramarines; Ranger battalions; 'Merill's Marauders'; the Special Service Force, OSS teams; Naval CDUs; and ski and mountain troops.

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Book SynopsisThe covert, clandestine operations of the Special Air Service (SAS) regiment, from the jungles of Malaya, Borneo and Brunei to the deserts and mountains of the Middle East and Afghanistan have always been the focus of intense fascination, stoked by the regiment's 'closed' organization and secretive activities. However, no period of activity has remained more secret than the vital years in the immediate aftermath of World War II when the regiment seemingly expired, only to rise miraculously from the dead to fight communism in the Malaya Emergency. Tim Jones' fascinating history pieces together the evidence to show that while the Malaya Emergency re-established the SAS as a unique source of counter-guerilla expertise, the regiment was not disbanded in 1945 and was, in fact, covertly involved in the Greek Civil War of 1945-49, a war unmatched in savagery until the Bosnian conflict in the 1990s. Revealing important operational secrets and shedding new light on post-war history, this book will be essential reading for enthusiasts of military history, and those interested in the world of intelligence.Trade Review'Reveals a new insight into the undiscovered years in the history of the SAS - a must for those interested in the SAS.' - Bulletin of the Military Historical SocietyTable of ContentsIntroduction: Dare All to Win All 1. Towards a New Beginning 2. A life-line: Greece 3. Fighting for Survival on Two Fronts 4. Fighting Insurgency on Two Fronts 5. The International Squadron: Bending the Rules in Greece 6. 'Too Funny to be True!': The Middle East Rangers (SAS) 7. Fighting for Corps Status 8. Korea: The War That Never Was? 9. Malaya: Hearts, Minds and Winged Dagger 10. The SAS Family Appendix - Deception in Malaya

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Book Synopsis1941. Almost all of Europe is under the Nazi heel. Great Britain still holds out, but the situation worsens with every passing day. And in North Africa, gateway to the Middle East and its immense oil reserves, Rommel now threatens Egypt, keystone of British defences. In those desperate times, three unconventional officers, David Stirling, Blair Mayne and Jock Lewes, band together to create a small, elite unit that will become a military legend: the SAS.

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Book SynopsisFrance had a population of between 22 and 25 million at this time, and maintained the largest standing army in Europe. In peacetime it might have amounted to about 200,000 men; in times of war, it could be anything up to half a million. A substantial part of Louis XV's army consisted of numerous regiments of guard cavalry, heavy cavalry and dragoon regiments, which were considered the best and noblest part. These many units form the subject matter in this first of five fascinating volumes [Men-at-Arms 296, 302, 304, 308 & 313] by René Chartrand covering the army of Louis XV's.Table of ContentsIntroduction · The Royal Guard Cavalry · Heavy Cavalry · Dragoons · Standards and Guidons · The Plates

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Book Synopsis

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