Special and elite forces Books
Casemate Publishers Ghost Patrol: A History of the Long Range Desert
Book SynopsisThe origins of most of the west’s Special Forces can be traced back to the Long Range Desert Group which operated across the limitless expanses of the Libyan Desert, an area the size of India, during the whole of the Desert War from 1940 – 1943. After the defeat of the Axis in North Africa they adapted to serve in the Mediterranean, the Greek islands, Albania, Yugoslavia and Greece. They became the stuff of legend. The brainchild of Ralph Bagnold, a pre-war desert explorer, featured, in fictional terms in The English Patient, who put all of his expertise into the creation of a new and, by the standards of the day, highly unorthodox unit. Conventional tactical thinking shunned the deep heart of the vast desert as it was thought to be a different planet, a harsh, inhospitable wilderness where British forces could not possibly survive even less operate effectively. Bagnold, Pat Clayton and Bill Kennedy Shaw created a whole new type of warfare.Using specially adapted vehicles and the techniques they’d learned in the‘30s, recruiting only men of the right temperament and high levels of fitness and endurance, the first patrols set out bristling with automatic weapons. The 30-cwt Chevy truck and the famous Jeep have become iconic, the LRDG, in a dark hour, was the force which took the fight to the enemy, roving over the deep desert – a small raider’s paradise, attacking enemy convoys and outposts, destroying aircraft and supplies, forcing the Axis to expend more and more resources protecting their vulnerable lines.Their work was often dangerous, always taxing, exhausting and uncomfortable. They were a new breed of soldier. The Axis never managed to equip any similar unit, they never escaped their fear of the scorching wilderness. Once the desert war was won they transferred their skills to the Mediterranean sector, re-training as mountain guerrillas, serving in the ill-fated Dodecanese campaign, then in strife torn Albania, Yugoslavia and Greece, fighting alongside the mercurial partisans at a time the Balkans were sliding towards communist domination or civil war.In addition LRDG worked alongside the fledgling SAS and they established, beyond all doubt, the value of highly trained Special Forces, a legacy which resonates today.Trade ReviewEnthralling’ is the word I am looking for. Highly recommended. * War History Online *Very absorbing book * Gun Mart *
£15.29
Casemate Publishers Special Forces Berlin: Clandestine Cold War
Book SynopsisIt is a little-known fact that during the Cold War, two U.S. Army Special Forces detachments were stationed far behind the Iron Curtain in West Berlin. The existence and missions of the two detachments were highly classified secrets.The massive armies of the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies posed a huge threat to the nations of Western Europe. US military planners decided they needed a plan to slow the juggernaut they expected when and if a war began. The plan was Special Forces Berlin. The first 40 men who came to Berlin in mid-1956 were soon reinforced by 60 more and these 100 soldiers (and their successors) would stand ready to go to war at only two hours’ notice, in a hostile area occupied by nearly one million Warsaw Pact forces, until 1990.Their mission should hostilities commence was to wreak havoc behind enemy lines, and buy time for vastly outnumbered NATO forces to conduct a breakout from the city. In reality it was an ambitious and extremely dangerous mission, even suicidal. Highly trained and fluent in German, each man was allocated a specific area. They were skilled in clandestine operations, sabotage, intelligence tradecraft and able to act if necessary as independent operators, blending into the local population and working unseen in a city awash with spies looking for information on their every move.Special Forces Berlin was a one of a kind unit that had no parallel. It left a legacy of a new type of soldier expert in unconventional warfare, one that was sought after for other deployments including the attempted rescue of American hostages from Tehran in 1979. With the U.S. government officially acknowledging their existence in 2014, their incredible story can now be told.Trade ReviewHis [Stejskal's] intimate knowledge of special operations in Berlin, personal experiences, and passion shine through in his writing, resulting in an enjoyable and engaging book that places readers in the visual environment he creates. * The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters *...a dramatically gripping account… * Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International *
£16.14
Casemate Publishers The White Sniper: Simo HäYhä
Book SynopsisSimo Häyhä (1905 – 2002) is the most famous sniper in the world. During the Winter War fought between Russia and Finland in 1939 – 1940 he had 542 confirmed kills with iron sights, a record that still stands today. He has been a role model for snipers all over the world and paved the way for them by demonstrating their significance on the battlefield.Simo Häyhä was a man of action who spoke very little, but he was hugely respected by his men and his superiors and given many difficult missions, including taking out specific targets. Able to move silently and swiftly through the landscape, melting into the snowbound surroundings in his white camouflage fatigues, his aim was deadly and his quarry rarely escaped. The Russians learned of his reputation as a marksman and tried several times to kill him by indirect fire. He was promoted from corporal to second lieutenant and he was awarded the Cross of Kollaa. For sniping Simo Häyhä only ever used his own m/28-30 rifle. Eventually his luck ran out and Simo received a serious head wound on March 6 1940, though he subsequently recovered.After the war Simo Häyhä lead a quiet, unassuming life in farming and forestry. His roots were deep in the Finnish soil and he loved life in rural Finland. A true patriot, he epitomized the traits of a professional soldier, performing his duty and setting an example of bravery that personified the Finnish spirit when confronted by the Russian onslaught.The White Sniper fully explores Simo Häyhä’s life, his exploits in the Winter War, the secrets behind his success including character and technique, and also includes a detailed look at his rifle itself. There are appendices on the basics of shooting, the impact of fire on the battlefield, battles on the Kollaa Front during the Winter War and a list of ranked snipers of the world.Table of ContentsForeword Part I Simo Häyhä’s Official Record Farmer, Hunter and Civil Guard Member The Magic Sniper of the Winter War Simo Gets Wounded Life after the Winter War Part II The Secrets of Simo Häyhä’s Success Simo Häyhä’s Rifle Using Simo Häyhä’s Experiences for the Finnish Army An Example for Future Generations Epilogue Appendix 1 The Basics of Shooting Appendix 2 The Impact of Fire on the Battlefield Appendix 3 The Battles on the Kollaa Front during the Winter War Appendix 4 Ranked Snipers of the World Acknowledgements Bibliography
£14.24
Casemate Publishers Phoenix Rising: From the Ashes of Desert One to
Book SynopsisPhoenix Rising recounts the paradoxical birth of SOF through the prism of Operation Eagle Claw, the failed attempt to rescue fifty-two Americans held hostage in the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. When terrorists captured the Embassy on November 4, 1979, the Joint Chiefs of Staff quickly realized that the United States lacked the military capability to launch a rescue. There was no precedent for the mission, a mission that came with extraordinary restrictions and required a unique force to take it on. With no existent command structure or budget, this force would have to be built from scratch in utmost secrecy, and draw on every branch of the U.S. military.Keith Nightingale, then a major, was Deputy Operations Officer and the junior member of Joint Task Force Eagle Claw, commanded by Major General James Vaught. Based on Nightingale’s detailed diary, Phoenix Rising vividly describes the personalities involved, the issues they faced, and the actions they took, from the conception of the operation to its hair-raising launch and execution. His historically significant post-analysis of Eagle Claw gives unparalleled insight into how a very dedicated group of people from the Chief of Staff of the Army to lower-ranking personnel subjugated personal ambition to grow the forces necessary to address the emerging terrorist threat - a threat which the majority of uniformed leadership and their political masters denied in 1979. The Special Operations capability of the United States today is the ultimate proof of their success.Trade Review...vividly describes the government and military officials and forces involved in the operation, including the reasons for its failure. * by Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International *I have read every book published on this operation to include the Holloway Commission Report and I can say without a doubt that if you have any interest in the Eagle Claw operation or US Special Operations than this is a must have book. * Aviation Enthusiast Book Club *Table of ContentsAuthor’s Note Prologue Part 1 – Creation of The Force and Development of a Rescue Plan Part 2 – Training and Adjusting Part 3 – Execution and Events Part 4 – Aftermath and The Path Forward Part 5 – Congress: 1 Beauracracy: 0 Epilogue Appendices
£24.75
Casemate Publishers Vagabonds: Tourists in the Heart of Darkness
Book Synopsis1978 – a chance meeting on a remote military airbase between two Green Berets involved in the same operation leads to a partnership that will last over forty years. Four years after that meeting, Nick Brokhausen and Jeff Miller leave the service withing a few weeks of each other and begin an odyssey that takes them to dozens of countries on five continents.Along with a small coterie of fellow former Special Operations and intelligence community veterans like Penguini, Max, Reek, The Spider Woman and a score of others – some heroes and some villains - they undertake a variety of missions for the government, other governments, large multi-national corporations mostly in the aerospace or resource development industries, and occasionally just for suffering individuals who cannot find help anywhere else. In the process they lay the groundwork for an entire new industry of private military contractors. Two men sadly just a bit ahead of their time.Every episode in this book actually happened. Not always precisely as described herein, but close. Changes have been made sometimes to make the narrative flow more smoothly, some to obfuscate events that might be flirting with classification issues… Names have been changed, not always to protect the innocent. But the underlying story is, for the most part, the reality as they lived it.
£23.75
Skyhorse Publishing The Complete SAS Survival Manual
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£14.20
Allworth Press,U.S. SAS: Britain's Elite Special Forces in Their Own
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£12.71
Skyhorse Publishing The U.S. Navy SEAL Survival Handbook: Learn the
Book SynopsisFrom New York Times bestselling author Don Mann and Ralph Pezzulo, Navy SEAL expert advice on surviving in the jungle, in the mountains, in the desert, or at sea. As the elite of the military elite, U.S. Navy SEALs know that they can be deployed anywhere in the world at a moment’s notice. Whether in a temperate, tropical, arctic, or subarctic region, they might find themselves alone in a remote area with little or no personal gear. In The U.S. Navy SEAL Survival Handbook, decorated Navy SEAL Team Six member and New York Times bestselling author Don Mann provides a definitive survival resource. From basic camp craft and navigation to fear management and strategies for coping with any type of disaster, it is an essential resource. It covers: Water Shelter and fire Food and hunting Weather Navigation Survival medicine Survival kits And much more Complete with 150 color photographs, this comprehensive guide includes life-saving information for SEALs, for other special operations forces, or for anyone who might fight themselves in a life-threatening situation.
£17.67
Skyhorse Publishing How to Become a Navy SEAL: Everything You Need to
Book SynopsisDo you want to be a member of one of the world’s most elite special operations forces? Not everyone has what it takes to become a Navy SEAL (Sea, Air, and Land). The training required—and the job itself—is exhausting and demanding, but also exhilarating and highly respected. If you or someone you know is up for the challenge, this book has everything you need to know, from schooling and training to pay range, placement, qualifications, and what you can expect after you become a SEAL. To become a SEAL in the Naval Special Warfare/Naval Special Operations (NSW/NSO) community, you must first go through what is often considered to be the most physically and mentally demanding military training in the world. With this book, you can prepare yourself by learning what to expect before taking on the ruthless and rewarding job of defending your country against foes around the world. This guide includes advice from current and former Navy SEALs on direct action warfare, special reconnaissance, counterterrorism, and foreign internal defense. When there’s nowhere else to turn, Navy SEALs are in their element. They achieve the impossible by way of conditioned response, sheer willpower, and absolute dedication to their training, their missions and their fellow special ops team members.
£10.99
Skyhorse Publishing Soldier of Fortune Magazine Guide to Super
Book SynopsisBecoming an elite sniper involves more than learning how to shoot. Snipers need to know how to judge terrain, wind, and sometimes even the curve of the Earth. They train their eyes to spot enemy movement in the distance and to never hesitate. A sniper is more that a finger behind a trigger; he is a scout, a scientist, a strategist, and the support group for a platoon. Soldier of Fortune Magazine Guide to Super Snipers brings you into the world of some of the most accomplished snipers. From Finland to Iraq, Korea to Somalia, Soldier of Fortune Magazine provides stories from the eyes of the snipers who made the kills. These trained marksmen describe their method of taking the perfect shot, all the way down to the type of chewing tobacco they prefer.Some of the super snipers in this collection include: Major Charles Greene Sergeant Dan Mills Gunnery Sergeant Jack Coughlin Chris Kyle Robert K. Brown And many more! Every sniper—just like every situation that calls for a sniper—is unique, and Soldier of Fortune Magazine Guide to Super Snipers will show you every step of the way, as you find the target, narrow the scope, and take the shot.
£18.04
Strategic Book Publishing The Crimson Beret: Who Else but Us? Revelations
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£15.29
Arcade Publishing Donovan's Devils: OSS Commandos Behind Enemy
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£18.04
Arcade Publishing Night Fighter: An Insider's Story of Special Ops
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£18.04
Arcade Publishing Donovans Devils
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£12.34
Diversion Books Leave No Man Behind: The Untold Story of the
Book SynopsisA story of courage, perseverance, and patriotism behind the 75th Ranger Regiment's rescue mission following one of the deadliest Special Ops incidents in Afghanistan—a grueling search for twelve Navy SEAL casualties and eight downed Night Stalkers . . . but just one lone survivor On June 28th, 2005, a four-man Navy SEAL reconnaissance team under Operation Red Wings was ambushed in northeastern Afghanistan—as depicted in the book and film Lone Survivor. A quick reaction force was dispatched. Turbine 33, carrying eight Navy SEALs and eight members of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, was struck by a rocket propelled grenade—careening the dual rotor Chinook toward the rugged peak of Sawtalo Sar. The result was the single deadliest incident in Special Operations history at the time. Commanders called on the largest element of US Special Forces, the 75th Ranger Regiment. The rescue mission: Operation Red Wings II. Author Tony Brooks gives a first-hand account of the daring recovery of Turbine 33 and the subsequent search for the remaining compromised Navy SEAL recon team—one of whom was Marcus Luttrell, the lone survivor. The Rangers were up against lack of intel, treacherous terrain, violent weather, and an enemy that was raised to fight. Tony Brooks lived—and many of his fellow Rangers died—by the axiom, “Leave No Man Behind.” He is the first to tell the story other books and films have omitted, one of overcoming overwhelming odds to accomplish a mission: to bring every American soldier home.Trade Review“A vivid, fast-paced, first-person account of the actions by US Army Rangers on the ground in one of the episodes in Afghanistan that best illustrated the commitment in the Ranger creed: ‘I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy.’ An extraordinary—and truly inspirational—story of sheer determination, physical toughness, and mental fortitude, as well as a fierce desire to never let one’s comrades down on the battlefield.” —General David Petraeus, US Army (Ret.), former Commander of the Surge in Iraq, US Central Command, US and International Forces in Afghanistan, and former Director of the CIA “You need to read this book! Dr. Tony Brooks gives a first-hand account of the extraordinary lengths America will go to rescue one Lone Survivor. The sacrifices that Tony and his buddies made to rescue Marcus Luttrell and recover his fallen comrades will inspire anyone who reads Leave No Man Behind.” —Jeff Struecker, best-selling author, pastor, and decorated US Army Ranger veteran of “Black Hawk Down” during the Battle of Mogadishu “A heart-wrenching story of one of the most important military missions of our generation. In his compelling story, Leave No Man Behind, Tony Brooks shows us that war stripped to its core is a human endeavor where young men and women are willing to fight and die for each other under a solemn code of cohesion and brotherhood that binds them.” —John Spencer, Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute, United States Military Academy, author of Connected Brothers “A gritty narrative that combines a new perspective on one of the most disastrous special ops missions of recent years with a first-hand account of life in America’s most elite light infantry unit.” —Sean Naylor, author of Relentless Strike: The Secret History of Joint Special Operations Command and Not a Good Day to Die: The Untold Story of Operation Anaconda “Leave No Man Behind is an exceptional read that combines thrilling, you-are-there narrative with the introspection of a modern warfighter during one of recent military history’s most renowned moments. It is an excellent and very important addition to the genre.” —Ed Darack, author of Victory Point: Operation Red Wings and Whalers—The Marine Corps’ Battle for Freedom in Afghanistan “An engagingly honest view of a young, middle-class American’s journey from the golf course to the mountains of Afghanistan—and the realities of combat. As instructive as it is entertaining, Tony Brooks has captured both the pain and camaraderie of combat in an unforgettable way.” —General Stanley McChrystal, US Army (Ret.), former Commander of US and Coalition Forces in Afghanistan “Leave No Man Behind is a crossover war story that will resonate across a broad spectrum of readers, from the combat hardened vet to the suburban soccer mom. Tony Brooks is the personification of the citizen soldier, your next-door neighbor who served his country with honor as an elite U.S. Army Airborne Ranger in the 75th Ranger Regiment. In his first combat operation, a search and rescue mission in the mountains of Afghanistan, Brooks and his fellow Rangers were thrust into a whirlwind of menace and dread that few warriors ever experience. Leave No Man Behind is a firsthand accounting of the untold story of the Rangers’ search for survivors from a U.S. Navy SEAL reconnaissance operation that went tragically wrong on the treacherous slopes of Afghanistan’s Sawtalo Sar. In the spirit of Stephen E. Ambrose’s Band of Brothers, Tony Brooks writes with a humble, authentic voice that speaks to all Americans.” —Jeffrey Layton, author of the The Vigilant Spy, The Faithful Spy, The Forever Spy, and The Good Spy "Leave No Man Behind is not your normal chest-pounding war story. This is an expertly depicted account of normal human beings thrust into one of the most horrific recovery missions of the Afghan War. The authors' descriptions had me feeling like I was on the mountain side with his platoon. The raw emotion and physical exertion detailed will give any reader not only an idea on how far the human body will go after all senses say quit, but the fighting American spirit and the ethos we soldiers live by, 'No Man Gets Left Behind.'" —Ryan Hendrickson, Bestselling Author of Tip of the Spear "Brooks offers a fascinating, nuanced, and deeply personal window into Operation Red Wings, one of the most tragic—and misunderstood—missions in America's war in Afghanistan." —R. M. Schneiderman, former deputy editor of Newsweek
£15.29
Casemate Publishers Recce: Small Team Missions Behind Enemy Lines
Book SynopsisSouth African Special Forces, known as the 'Recces', are an elite group of soldiers that few can aspire to join. Shrouded in secrecy due to the covert nature of their work, the legendary Recces have long fascinated, but little is known about how they operate. Now one of this select band has written a tell-all book about the extraordinary missions he embarked on and the nail-biting action he experienced in the Border War.Shortly after passing the infamously gruelling Special Forces selection course in the early 1980s, Koos Stadler joined the so-called Small Teams group at 5 Reconnaissance Regiment. This sub-unit was made up of two-man teams and was responsible for numerous secret and highly dangerous missions deep behind enemy lines.With only one other team member, Stadler was sent to blow up railway lines and enemy fighter jets in the south of Angola. As he crawled in and out of enemy-infested territory, he stared death in the face many times.A gripping, first-hand account that reveals the near superhuman physical and psychological powers these Special Forces operators have to display.
£17.09
Casemate Publishers Rangers, Scouts, and Raiders: Origin,
Book SynopsisThroughout history there has always been a need, in military forces, for special units. In the past, these units have usually been ad hoc formations that were disbanded after their mission was complete. It has only been since the early 1950s that such units have remained active, but even in recent times special purpose, special mission units have been organised and used for a period of time or for a specific mission and then either deactivated or replaced by other units.This unique approach to the history of American special forces examines their development through a number of operations, ranging from the French and Indian War in the 18th century through to the Vietnam War. From the Son Tay raid to the Force at la Difensa and Rogers’ Rangers, the operations are diverse in both organisation and purpose, but all contributed to the overall mission of their theater or larger organisation, thus proving the continuing need for special units throughout history and even today.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Foreword by Daniel J. Cragg, Sergeant Major, U.S. Army (Ret) Introduction Chapter 1. The Return of Rogers’ Rangers Chapter 2. The Andrews Raid Chapter 3. American Airborne Units in World War II Chapter 4. The Force at la Difensa Chapter 5. Sabotaging Hitler’s Heavy Water Chapter 6. The Alamo Scouts—LRRPs of World War II Chapter 7. Special Allied Airborne Reconnaissance Force Chapter 8. Gypsy Task Force at Aparri Chapter 9. Recondo Training – Its Origins and Aftermath Chapter 10. The Son Tay Raid Appendices A – J: Origins, Organizations Bibliography of Sources Consulted Index
£25.46
Casemate Publishers Mission Iran: Special Forces Berlin & Operation
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
£19.12
Permuted Press Terror in Frankfurt: The Untold Story about One
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£21.00
Simon & Schuster Operation Pineapple Express: The Incredible Story
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£15.99
Naval Institute Press At the Dragon's Gate: With the OSS in the Far
Book SynopsisIn the early days of World War II, a young Marine named Charles Fenn was recruited by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) for undercover operations in the China-Burma-India theatre. Fenn knew exactly what it took to get the job done. His wartime exploits are the stuff of legend, but not even his OSS compatriots knew the full extent of his espionage activities. Fenn's skill as a spy is matched by his talent as a storyteller, and this witty, elegantly written account of his OSS days not only adds to the historical record, it makes for a compelling read.
£26.21
Naval Institute Press Black Ops Vietnam: The Operational History of MACVSOG
Book SynopsisDuring the Vietnam War, the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Studies and Observations Group (MACVSOG) was a highly-classified, U.S. joint-service organization that consisted of personnel from Army Special Forces, the Air Force, Navy SEALs, Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance units, and the CIA. This secret organization was committed to action in Southeast Asia even before the major build-up of U.S. forces in 1965 and also fielded a division-sized element of South Vietnamese military personnel, indigenous Montagnards, ethnic Chinese Nungs, and Taiwanese pilots in its varied reconnaissance, naval, air, and agent operations. MACVSOG was without doubt the most unique U.S. unit to participate in the Vietnam War, since its operational mandate authorized its missions to take place "over the fence" in North Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, where most other American units were forbidden to go. During its nine-year existence it managed to participate in most of the significant operations and incidents of the conflict. MACVSOG was there during the Gulf of Tonkin incidents, during air operations over North Vietnam, the Tet Offensive, the secret bombing of and ground incursion into Cambodia, Operation Lam Son 719, the Green Beret murder case, the Easter Invasion, the Phoenix Program, and the Son Tay POW Raid. The story of this extraordinary unit has never before been told in full and comes as a timely blueprint for combined-arms, multi-national unconventional warfare in the post-9/11 age.Unlike previous works on the subject, Black Ops, Vietnam is a complete chronological history of the unit drawn from declassified documents, memoirs, and previous works on the subject, which tended to focus only on particular aspects of the unit's operations.Trade Review“…Well-researched, well-written history…It is highly recommended for military professionals and enthusiasts, as well as anyone studying the conflict, SOF, or counter-insurgency operations.” — Canadian Military Journals
£26.21
Permuted Press Ranger School: Discipline, Direction,
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
£20.25
NewSouth Publishing Veiled Valour: Australian Special Forces in
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.
£24.76
Allen & Unwin Stone Cold: The Extraordinary Story of Len Opie,
Book Synopsis'If I'd have been a Vietcong you'd be dead.' Len OpieThrough three wars across thirty years, Len Opie carved a reputation as one of Australia's greatest infantrymen. A cold-eyed killer who drank nothing stronger than weak tea, he fought with his bare hands, a sharpened shovel and piano wire. He was a larrikin who went by the book, unless the book was wrong. He set his own bar high and expected others to do the same.Stone Cold takes us into the jungles of New Guinea and Borneo. It goes to the cold heart of Korea, where Len emerged from the ranks to excel in the epic Battle of Kapyong and play a key role at the Battle of Maryang San. And it drops us into the centre of the American counter-insurgency war in Vietnam with Len's involvement in the CIA's shadowy black ops program, Phoenix.Action-packed and surprising, Stone Cold gives rich life to a warrior soldier and one of Australia's greatest diggers.Trade ReviewLen was a soldier above soldiers. -- Keith Payne VC on Len OpieTable of ContentsList of mapsList of abbreviationsIntroduction1 A warrior in training2 Up the Ramu3 Balikpapan4 Korea5 The Third World War has started!6 Hills are for heroes7 Kapyong8 Kill or be killed9 Maryang San10 Private, temporary corporal, temporary warrant officer, class two11 Eyes like a cat and no nerves at all12 Belles and bullies13 Vietnam14 On the trail15 'Sneaky work': the Phoenix program16 Kashmir interlude17 Return to Vietnam18 Man of SpartaLen Opie's medalsAcknowledgementsNotesBibliographyIndex
£19.68
Orion Publishing Co Ill Met By Moonlight
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.
£8.99
Books Express Publishing Small-Unit Leaders' Guide to Counterinsurgency: The Official U.S. Marine Corps Manual
£11.95
Transworld Publishers Ltd Rogue Warrior of the SAS: The Blair Mayne Legend
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.
£10.44
Fonthill Media Ltd Strafbattalion: Hitler’s Penal Battalions
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.
£23.75
Fonthill Media Ltd The Extraordinary Life of Mike Cumberlege SOE
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.
£21.25
Fonthill Media Ltd Bersaglieri: The Devil's Griffins-A Visual
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."
£28.50
Amber Books Ltd Extreme Fitness: Military Workouts and Fitness
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
£13.49
Amber Books Ltd Special Forces in Action: Iraq * Syria *
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
£16.99
Amber Books Ltd Unarmed Combat: Hand-to-Hand Fighting Skills from
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
£13.49
Amber Books Ltd SAS Rescue Missions
Book Synopsis
£18.99
Amber Books Ltd SAS Undercover Operations
Book Synopsis
£18.99
John Blake Publishing Ltd The Sixteen: The Sensational Story of Britain's Top-Secret Military Assassination Squad
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.
£15.00
Greenhill Books Eastern Front Sniper
Book SynopsisEastern Front Sniper is a long overdue and comprehensive biography of one of World War II s most accomplished snipers. Math us Hetzenauer, the son of a Tyrolean peasant family, was born in December 1924\. He was drafted into the Mountain Reserve Battalian 140 at the age of 18 but discharged five month s later. He received a new draft notice in January 1943 for a post in the Styrian Truppen bungsplatz Seetal Alps where he met some of the best German snipers and learned his art. Hetzenauer went on to fight in Romania, Eastern Hungary and in Slovakia. As recognition for his more than 300 confirmed kills he was awarded on the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on April 17, 1945. After nearly five years of Soviet captivity Math us Hetzenauer returned to Austria on January 10, 1950\. He lived in the Tyrol's Brixen Valley until his death on 3 October of 2004.
£17.99
Greenhill Books The Sniper Encyclopaedia: An A-Z Guide to World
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
£21.25
Greenhill Books Lady Death: The Memoirs of Stalin's Sniper
Book SynopsisThe wartime memoir of Lyudmila Pavlichenko is a remarkable document: the publication of an English language edition is a significant coup. Pavlichenko was World War II's best-scoring sniper and had a varied wartime career that included trips to England and America. In June 1941, when Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa, she left her university studies, ignored the offer of a position as a nurse, to become one of Soviet Russia's 2000 female snipers. Less than a year later she had 309 recorded kills, including 29 enemy sniper kills. She was withdrawn from active duty after being injured: she was also regarded as a key heroic figure for the war effort. She spoke at rallies in Canada and the US and the folk singer Woody Guthrie wrote a song, 'Killed By A Gun' about her exploits. Her US trip included a tour of the White House with FDR. In November 1942 she visited Coventry and accepted donations of 4,516 from Coventry workers to pay for three X-ray units for the Red Army. She also visited a Birmingham factory as part of her fundraising tour. She never returned to combat but trained other snipers. After the war, she finished her education at Kiev University and began a career as a historian. She died on October 10, 1974 at age 58, and was buried in Moscow's Novodevichye Cemetery.
£17.99
Greenhill Books Blood and Soil: The Memoir of A Third Reich
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.
£21.25
Greenhill Books Voices of Russian Snipers: Eyewitness Red Army
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.
£21.25
Berghahn Books The History of the Stasi: East Germany's Secret
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
£22.75
Biteback Publishing We Were Blackwater: Life, death and madness in
Book SynopsisThe aftermath of the 2003 Iraq invasion is a story that has yet to be told by those who fought their own war against a brutal insurgency: the private security contractors. Risking life and limb, often side by side with the US military but far more exposed, they were never to receive a hero's homecoming. They remained in the shadows, often with good cause, but that would change for ever on 31 March 2004, when a security convoy was ambushed in Fallujah and the charred bodies of two American operators were strung from a road bridge. Those events would ensure notoriety for the company involved: Blackwater. This is the untold story of the security industry and its private war, recounted by a man who witnessed it first hand: SAS veteran and New Zealand national Barrie Rice. His visceral, no-holds-barred account of his time with Blackwater is brought to life in scenes that lead to a reckoning with both the war and himself. This gripping account delivers a compelling slice of reality - the inside story of the private contractor's war.
£18.00
John Blake Publishing Ltd Fishers of Men
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.
£9.49
Quercus Publishing SAS Ghost Patrol: The Ultra-Secret Unit That
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
£10.44
Watkins Media Limited Ninja Skills: The Authentic Ninja Training Manual
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.
£15.29
Watkins Media Limited Samurai Arms, Armour & the Tactics of Warfare
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.
£28.50
