War and defence operations Books

Book SynopsisThe first volume of Steven Runciman''s classic, hugely influential trilogy on the history of the Crusades''On a February day in the year AD 638 the Caliph Omar entered Jerusalem, riding upon a white camel''An enthralling work of grand historical narrative, Steven Runciman''s A History of the Crusades overturned the traditional view of the Crusades as a romantic Christian adventure, and instead shifted the focus of the story to the East. With verve and drama, volume one of Runciman''s trilogy tells the story of the First Crusade - from its unlikely beginnings in pilgrimage to the horrors of the siege of Jerusalem and the carving out of new territory on the edge of the eastern Mediterranean.''Without question one of the major feats of contemporary historical writing'' The New York Times''The historian whose magisterial works transformed our understanding of Byzantium, the medieval church and the crusades'' Guardian

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Book SynopsisA detailed and insightful chronological study of the war, including the decisive encounters, profiles of important political and military figures, as well as the experiences of those who lived through it.

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Book SynopsisA fascinating and detailed chronological study of the war, including the decisive encounters, profiles of important political and military figures, as well as the experiences of those who lived through it.

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Book SynopsisExplains how the Channel Islands were demilitarised in 1940 to save them from destruction.

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Book SynopsisThe first of two ground-breaking, prize-winning volumes on the Waterloo campaign, this book is based upon a detailed analysis of sources old and new in four languages. It highlights the political stresses between the Allies and their resolution, examining the problems of feeding and paying for 250,000 Allied forces assembling in Belgium during the undeclared war', and how a strategy was thrashed out. Hussey investigates the neglected topic of how the slow and discordant Allies beyond the Rhine hampered the plans of Bl cher and Wellington, thus allowing Napoleon to snatch the initiative from them. Napoleon's operational plan is analysed (and Soult's mistakes in executing it) and accounts from both sides help provide a vivid impression of the fighting on the first day, 15 June. The volume ends with the joint battles of Ligny and Quatre Bras the next day.Trade Review"John Hussey's magnum opus on the Waterloo campaign is a magisterial work which is unlikely ever to be beaten for detail and objectivity. This book. which is only the first volume and takes us up to the eve of the battle. goes comprehensively and thoroughly into the minds of the commanders and staff through contemporary source documents. In this way readers are able to judge for themselves regarding many of the controversies. The book is beautifully written, well mapped, and it will be the authoritative book on Waterloo for all time."--Major-General Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter, KCVO, Chairman 'Waterloo 200' "beautifully written and exhaustively researched; John Hussey's book will hold the field for a very long time."--Professor Sir Hew Strachan "Volume I of Waterloo: The Campaign of 1815 is a brilliant tour de force, not least for its comprehensive coverage of matters that so many histories of warfare either ignore or skate over. Key facts, all of which impinge on command and control of an army or formation, need to be understood if one is really to comprehend what commanders had to cope with. I suspect they are simply not factored in by the vast majority of commentators and historians."--Major-General Julian Thompson, CB, OBE "This book is a gem. Every chapter is filled with new information I have not seen before. It is a must-read for hose who are interested in the tumultuous events of 1815."--Robert Burnham, editor-in-chief, The Napoleonic Series "It will be decades before this book is superseded as the Best account of those extraordinary events of 1815."--Professor Andrew Roberts, author of Napoleon the Great "The strategic and multinational focus of this first of two volumes on the Waterloo campaign makes it stand head and shoulders above the mass of books that only look at the battles; this will be one of the most important histories ever written in English on the events of 1815."--Dr. Gregory W. Pedlow, author of On Waterloo: Clausewitz, Wellington and the Campaign of 1815 "This new study of the 1815 campaign presents a fresh and meticulously researched account of one of the most climactic battles in history. Its breadth of scope is comprehensive, importantly including the political perspective and how it impacted upon the military operations. Its sources are exhaustive and the mastery of its analysis compelling. It forms an essential guide to all aspects of the final campaign of two of the nineteenth century's greatest commanders, Napoleon and Wellington."--Philip Haythornthwaite, author of Waterloo Armies and The Napoleonic Source Book "John Hussey's study of the Waterloo campaign with its multiple armies and multiple battles is monumental and magisterial. The final word on Waterloo will never be written but this work is a close run thing."--Dr. John Peaty, FRGS FRHistS "These two volumes represent a comprehensive study of the events of 1815 that surpasses all previous studies of the subject. Future historians will be hard pressed to improve upon such a work! ... Every stage of the story of 1815 is handled in great detail with the author having used many sources, and every chapter presents new information and tells the story of events in such a way that this work is a veritable encyclopaedia of the subject... If your family want to know what you want for Christmas, then make sure these two books are at the top of your wish list."--The Waterloo Journal "This volume has set the new gold standard against which to measure books about 'Waterloo'. I cannot recommend it too highly."--Clash of Steel "Hussey's first volume is without peer for its overall treatment of the Water-loo campaign. It is simply unfathom-able to imagine anyone holding them-selves out as a serious student of Na-poleonic history to pass this work by, for in terms of scope, readability and a simple-but-comprehensive account for many facets of the campaign, this book is without peer."--ARMOR "...it is pretty much a slam dunk... The author has used sources in four languages to tell this amazing story... If you are looking for a one volume history of Napoleon's escape from Elba to the twin battles of Quatre Bras and Ligny, this is it. I cannot wait for the release of Volume II, and the author's telling of the battles of Waterloo and Wavre."--A Wargamers Needful Things

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Book SynopsisFor the British Empire it was a military disaster, but for Imperial Japan the conquest of Malaya was one of the pivotal campaigns of World War II. Giving birth to the myth of the Imperial Japanese Army''s invincibility, the victory left both Burma and India open to invasion. Although heavily outnumbered, the Japanese Army fought fiercely to overcome the inept and shambolic defense offered by the British and Commonwealth forces.Detailed analysis of the conflict, combined with a heavy focus on the significance of the aerial campaign, help tell the fascinating story of the Japanese victory, from the initial landings in Thailand and Malaya, through to the destruction of the Royal Navy''s Force Z and the final fall of Singapore itself.Table of ContentsOrigins of the campaign /Chronology /Opposing commanders /Opposing armies /Orders of battle /Opposing plans /The operation /Aftermath /The battlefields today /Further reading /Index

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Book SynopsisThe Korean War is journalist and military historian Sir Max Hastings’ compelling account of the forgotten war.'The best narrative history of the Korean conflict' – GuardianOn 25 June 1950 the invasion of South Korea by the Communist North launched one of the bloodiest conflicts of the last century. The seemingly limitless power of the Chinese-backed North was thrown against the ferocious firepower of the UN-backed South in a war that can be seen today as the stark prelude to Vietnam.Max Hastings draws on first-hand accounts of those who fought on both sides to produce this vivid and incisive reassessment of the Korean War, bringing the military and human dimensions into sharp focus. Critically acclaimed on publication, republished with an introduction from the author, The Korean War remains the best narrative history of this conflict.'A brilliant tour-de-force' – Times Literary Supplement'Excellent, readable history by a master of the genre' – Daily Mail'This book establishes him as one of the leading British military historians.' – New York TimesTrade ReviewThe best narrative history of the Korean conflict * Guardian *Excellent, readable history by a master of the genre * Daily Mail *A brilliant tour-de-force * Times Literary Supplement *A brilliant and compelling book which must rank, even by the standards Max Hastings has set, as a masterpiece. -- Professor Michael Howard * London Review of Books *This book establishes him as one of the leading British military historians. * New York Times *A balanced, perceptive reckoning of what was won and lost in an important clash of arms that excited precious little interest or passion on home fronts. * Kirkus *

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Book Synopsis'Excellent' Financial Times'Stirring, impressively detailed' Time magazineThe Battle for the Falklands is a thoughtful and informed analysis of an astonishing chapter in modern British history from journalist and military historian Sir Max Hastings and political editor Simon Jenkins.Ten weeks. 28,000 soldiers. 8,000 miles from home.The Falklands War in 1982 was one of the strangest in British history. At the time, many Britons saw it as a tragic absurdity - thousands of men sent overseas for a tiny relic of empire - but the British victory over the Argentinians not only confirmed the quality of British arms but also boosted the political fortunes of Thatcher's Conservative government. However, it left a chequered aftermath and was later overshadowed by the two Gulf wars.Max Hastings’ and Simon Jenkins’ account of the conflict is a modern classic of war reportage and the definitive book on the conflict.Trade ReviewSkilfully woven with Simon Jenkins' sharp political passages are Max Hastings' wonderful dispatches * Sunday Times *Excellent * Guardian *An excellent account of the war * Financial Times *Stirring, impressively detailed * Time Magazine *Authoritative and very readable * Newsweek *Will probably endure as the standard history of the campaign. * New York Times *Table of ContentsSection - i: List of Maps Introduction - ii: Introduction Section - iii: Foreward Chapter - 1: Forgotten Islands Chapter - 2: The Seventeen Years' War Chapter - 3: Galtieri's Gamble Chapter - 4: The Admiral's Hour Chapter - 5: Task Force Chapter - 6: Haig's Doves Chapter - 7: Ascension to South Georgia Chapter - 8: Failure of a Mission Chapter - 9: A War at Sea Chapter - 10: Clearing the Decks Chapter - 11: Operation Sutton Chapter - 12: San Carlos Chapter - 13: Goose Green Chapter - 14: The Politics of the Land War Chapter - 15: Triumph on Kent, Tragedy at Fitzroy Chapter - 16: The Battle for the Mountains Chapter - 17: Aftermath Section - iv: Appendix A: Chronology of Military and Political Events Section - v: Appendix B: The Falkland Islands Task Force Section - vi: The Falkland Honours List Section - vii: Appendix D: The Franks Report Section - viii: Glossary Index - ix: Index

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

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Book SynopsisThe World Crisis is considered by many to be Winston S. Churchill's literary masterpiece. Published across five volumes between 1923 and 1931, Churchill here tells the story of The Great War, from its origins to the long shadow it cast on the following decades. At once a history and a first-hand account of Churchill's own involvement in the war, The World Crisis remains a compelling account of the conflict and its importance. Volume I covers the origins and earliest days of the war from 1911-1914, as well as the longer history of the collapse of the Great Power system from the Franco Prussian war onwards. Churchill here explores the international tensions over the Balkan states that triggered the conflict as well as the arms race between the British and German navies.Table of ContentsForeword Preface 1. The Vials of Wrath 2. Milestone to Armageddon 3. The Crisis of Agadir 4. Admirals All 5. The German Navy Law 6. The Romance of Design 7. The North Sea Front 8. Ireland and the European Balance 9. The Crisis 10. The Mobilization of the Navy 11. War: The Passage of the Army 12. The Battle in France 13. On the Oceans 14. In the Narrow Seas 15. Antwerp 16. The Channel Ports 17. The Grand Fleet and the Submarine Alarm 18. Coronel and the Falklands 19. With Fisher at the Admiralty 20. The Bombardment of Scarborough and Hartlepool 21. Turkey and the Balkans Appendixes Appendix A: Naval Staff Training Appendix B: Tables of Fleet Strength Appendix C: Trade Protection Appendix D: Mining Appendix E: First Lord's Minutes

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Book SynopsisThe story of the French Resistance is central to French identity, but it is a story built on myths. Not simply an effort to free the country from German occupation, it was part of a Europe-wide anti-fascist struggle, which included Spanish republicans, Italian and German anti-Nazis, communists, Jewish resisters and Christian rescuers. Robert Gildea returns to the testimonies of those involved, asking who they were, and what compelled them to take the terrible risks they did, bringing to the fore stories of the women resisters, whom history has neglected. Fighters in the Shadows is a vivid, gripping and entirely new account of one of the most compelling narratives of the Second World War.

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Book SynopsisDid a German invasion or invasions take place along the shores of East Anglia in 1940? Though Operation 'Sealion', the intended invasion of southern England, never materialised, Hitler openly confided that 'even a small invasion might go a long way', and asked that his forces might mount one, two or even three 'small invasions' in 1940. So were the mass raids on London merely a diversion? Why have all the files on this most dramatic period in British history been placed under lock and key for the foreseeable future? Why have the instances involving setting fire to the sea and skirmishes around our coasts been covered up? Martin W. Bowman tells the full story of these remarkable events - both actual and 'factional' - involving British defenders in the Army, Home Guard and Auxiliary Units and the invading Fallschirmjager (German paratroopers) and Brandenburgers (Fifth Column troops, many in civilian or captured British uniforms); Luftwaffe Fieseler Storch aircraft and Junkers Ju 52s towing DFS 200 gliders and parachutists. This is a thrilling edge of your seat publication, drawing upon details of actual Allied and German airborne operations during the Second World War. It is complimented by an extensive Appendix section and scores of previously unpublished photos.

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Book SynopsisPraise for Sunday Times No.1 bestselling author Damien Lewis' SAS mission series:'One of the great untold stories of WWII' - Bear Grylls on SAS Ghost Patrol'The untold story' - Daily Mail on SAS Nazi Hunters'A tale of bravery against desperate odds' - Sunday Times on Churchill's Secret Warriors'True adventures laced with staggering bravery and sacrifice' - Sun on Hunting the Nazi BombAn impossible mission in wartime Italy: the next explosive bestseller from Damien Lewis.In the hard-fought winter of 1944 the Allies advanced northwards through Italy, but stalled on the fearsome mountainous defences of the Gothic Line. Two men were parachuted in, in an effort to break the deadlock. Their mission: to penetrate deep into enemy territory and lay waste to the Germans' impregnable headquarters.At the eleventh hour mission commanders radioed for David 'The Mad Piper' Kilpatrick to be flown in, resplendent in his tartan kilt. They wanted this fearless war hero to lead the assault, piping Highland Laddie as he went - so leaving an indelible British signature to deter Nazi reprisals.As the column of raiders formed up, there was shocking news. High command radioed through an order to stand down, having assessed the chances of success at little more than zero. But in defiance of orders, and come hell or high-water, they were going in.

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Book SynopsisThis eighth volume in the highly respected series covers the HCUs, Lancaster Finishing Schools, Flights, Ferry Training Units, Station Flights and other miscellaneous units, identifying units, aircraft, crews and the circumstances behind each loss, day-by-day.

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Book SynopsisStephen Clarke lives in Paris, where he divides his time between writing and not writing.His Merde novels have been bestsellers all over the world, including France. His non-fiction books include Talk to the Snail, an insider's guide to understanding the French; How the French Won Waterloo (or Think They Did), an amused look at France's continuing obsession with Napoleon; Dirty Bertie: An English King Made in France, a biography of Edward VII; and 1000 Years of Annoying the French, which was a number one bestseller in Britain.Research for The French Revolution and What Went Wrong took him deep into French archives in search of the actual words, thoughts and deeds of the revolutionaries and royalists of 1789. He has now re-emerged to ask modern Parisians why they have forgotten some of the true democratic heroes of the period, and opted to idolize certain maniacs. Follow Stephen on @SClarkeWriter and www.stepTrade ReviewIndeed, as Stephen Clarke demonstrates in this cheeky book, they have spent two whole centuries 'indulging in outrageous denial' * Daily Mail *Clarke’s tone is larky, but his outrageously readable work is based on extensive research, with a wealth of enticing detail. * Daily Mail *This is Waterloo as stand-up, funny and caustic by turns * BBC History Magazine *

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Book SynopsisWar is too important to be left to the generals' snapped future French prime minister Georges Clemenceau on learning of yet another bloody and futile offensive on the Western Front. One of the great questions in the ongoing discussions and debate about the First World War is why did winning take so long and exact so appalling a human cost? After all this was a fight that, we were told, would be over by Christmas. Now, in his major new history, Allan Mallinson, former professional soldier and author of the acclaimed 1914: Fight the Good Fight, provides answers that are disturbing as well as controversial, and have a contemporary resonance. He disputes the growing consensus among historians that British generals were not to blame for the losses and setbacks in the war to end all wars' that, given the magnitude of their task, they did as well anyone could have. He takes issue with the popular view that the amateur' opinions on strategy of politicians such as LloyTrade ReviewAllan Mallinson puts his case compellingly in a stimulating overview of the war. He combines the authority of a soldier-turned-military historian with the imaginative touch of the historical novelist. -- Lawrence James * The Times *Allan Mallinson puts his case compellingly in a stimulating overview of the war. He combines the authority of a soldier-turned-military historian with the imaginative touch of the historical novelist. -- Lawrence James * The Times *Very readable . . . excellently researched . . .a must for anyone interested in military history and the interface of political and military power; the fact that, 100 years on, historians are still in such disagreement demonstrates just how important and absorbing the debate remains. * COUNTRY LIFE *Provocative . . . succinctly summarises the big battles of the conflict, before discussing the commanders' shortcomings, which is his theme.' -- Max Hastings * SUNDAY TIMES *Mallinson . . . argues persuasively that those charged with sending men into battle should have given a better account of themselves. As the nation commemorates one of the darkest chapters in British Army history, it is hard to disagree. * SOLDIER magazine *

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Book SynopsisThe Zulu War and Rorkes Drift in particular are a highly popular subject area. The Defence of Rorkes Drift is one of the most celebrated British feats of arms. Contains fascinating new research material. Written by published Zulu War expert.

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Book SynopsisBased on interviews and correspondence with those closely associated with, and actually involved in, the Dambusters Raid.

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Book SynopsisNamed one of Foreign Affairs'' Best Books of 2016In his magisterial 1,208 page narrative of the Pacific War, Francis Pike's Hirohito's War offers an original interpretation, balancing the existing Western-centric view with attention to the Japanese perspective on the conflict. As well as giving a blow-by-blow' account of campaigns and battles, Francis Pike offers many challenges to the standard interpretations with regards to the causes of the war; Emperor Hirohito's war guilt; the inevitability of US Victory; the abilities of General MacArthur and Admiral Yamamoto; the role of China, Great Britain and Australia; military and naval technology; and the need for the fire-bombing of Japan and the eventual use of the atom bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Hirohito's War is accompanied by additional online resources, including more details on logistics, economics, POWs, submarines and kamikaze, as well as a 1930-1945 timeline and over 200 maps.Trade ReviewMagnificent … Hirohito’s War by Francis Pike sets a new standard: oceanic in scope, comprehensive in detail, subtle in dissection, magisterial in organisation and consistently readable. * The Spectator *Francis Pike's monumental new book, a thoughtful and detailed synthesis of the English-language secondary scholarship on the war, is a welcome addition to the work on the period ... [A]n immensely valuable and thoughtful synthesis. * New Statesman *Pike’s book is an extraordinary achievement; it is as definitive as any single volume history of the Pacific War can be. As the title suggests, Pike does not let Japanese Emperor Hirohito off the hook for the battles fought in his name. Pike sets the fighting firmly in the context of the regional tensions that had been developing for some time before any combat took place, not least as a result of the Japanese invasion of China in 1937. The book covers all the major campaigns and battles of the war, from Pearl Harbor to Hiroshima, but also pays close attention to often overlooked topics, such as the Burma Campaign (which pitted the British and the Chinese against Indian, Japanese, and Thai forces) and the Chinese resistance to Japan. Pike’s analysis is careful but never dry, and he pens lively portraits of his main characters. * Foreign Affairs *Pike's study of the Pacific War is the most comprehensive and readable account of this epic conflict to date. Unlike most previous historical examinations, which concentrate on only one or two dimensions, Pike devotes equal time to the war in China and the Burma-India Theater as well as MacArthur's southwestern Pacific campaign and King/Nimitz island hopping in the central Pacific. Pike does not evade controversial topics and is highly judgmental of war leaders on all sides. He sees Douglas MacArthur as a prima donna more concerned with his own image than with winning the war. Even worse, according to Pike the narcissism of General Joseph Stilwell was largely responsible for the eventual triumph of communism in China…[T]his is an excellent overview of the Pacific War that should be in all public and university libraries … Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries. * CHOICE *Pike offers a spectrum of fresh perspectives on a war generally presented in Western terms that minimize Japan's agency. He addresses the Pacific conflicts in WWII in the context of a comprehensive century-long struggle for dominance over the Pacific. Within that framework, Pike establishes Hirohito's central position in 'the mythology of Japanese exceptionalism.' ... Pike's integrated analysis of Japan's simultaneous victories in Malaya, Burma, Philippines, and Dutch East Indies presents them as a virtuoso performance unsurpassed in modern warfare. Yet these victories resulted in a strategic overreach, due to Japan's belief that quick victories would be followed by rapid settlement ... Pike tells the epic story on a fitting scale. * Publishers Weekly *In Hirohito's War, Francis Pike surveys the secondary literature on the Pacific War ... offer[ing] a refreshingly non-US perspective ... [The book] contains important insights. * Times Literary Supplement *This momentous occurrence is covered in extraordinary detail in Francis Pike’s new book Hirohito's War: The Pacific War, 1941-1945. … This volume appears intended to be the definitive work on the Pacific war and succeeds in being just that. * WWII History Magazine *[Pike] has spared no effort in creating what is likely to stand as the definitive reference book for students of the Pacific War. The book contains a wealth of detail on subjects such as logistics, the economic situation of the chief belligerent powers, submarine warfare, and the dreaded kamikazes. * Military History Monthly *Drawing on the most up-to-date scholarship as well as a broad range of first person accounts, Francis Pike offers readers a comprehensive, vivid, and fast paced history of Hirohito’s War from the frontiers of India to the plains of Manchuria, and across the trackless stretches of the Pacific. Pike is equally at home in discussing high politics, strategy, and tactical maneuver. His attention to the logistical requirements of war fought on such a vast scale is especially welcome as is his unflinching discussion of the major historical and moral debates that emerged from the conflict. -- Marc Gallicchio, Professor of History, Villanova University, USAFrancis Pike, drawing on a wide array of English-language sources, has written an encyclopedic book about Japan’s World War II and its enemies’ response. He gives many pages to the most important battles of the war, and also describes some that have not been widely discussed before. I particularly recommend his sections on General Tomoyuki Yamashita’s campaign to seize Singapore in 1941-42, and on Field Marshal William Slim’s efforts to retake Burma in 1944-45. I also enjoyed his verbal snapshots of Japanese, Chinese, British, and American commanders in the war. He not only paints portraits of the most famous commanders such as Douglas MacArthur and William Halsey, but also of some of the lesser known ones such as William Slim and Raymond Spruance. This is not a book to take down in one gulp; the reader benefits by absorbing it bit by bit, a few hundred pages at a time. -- Richard Smethurst, University of Pittsburgh, USAIn Hirohito’s War, The Pacific War 1941 – 1945, Francis Pike has produced a detailed, meticulously researched, highly readable synthesis of the Second World War in East Asia and the Pacific. Always fully in command of his sources, Pike has skillfully woven a vast amount of information into a lucid, coherent narrative. The introductory chapters, which trace the long and short term causes of the war, provide a useful historical background to readers unfamiliar with East Asian history. In the remaining chapters, Pike naturally gives most space to the epic struggle between the United States and Japan, but he also devotes much attention to the Chinese contribution to the war effort, usually neglected or ignored completely in the standard accounts of the conflict. While providing a blow-by-blow account of military operations, Pike also analyzes the quality of military leadership in refreshingly iconoclastic fashion. Thus he lambastes the monumental incompetence of British generals in Malaya and Singapore, is harshly but justifiably critical of idols such as General MacArthur, Admiral Halsey and Admiral Yamamoto, but pays homage to the brilliance and daring of generals such as Yamashita Tomoyuki, the Tiger of Malaya and William Slim. Pike’s book can be read from cover to cover as narrative history but will also be valuable as a reference work. In either case, it will be indispensable for every serious student of military and East Asian history as well as the general reader. -- Christopher W. A. Szpilman, Professor of Modern Japanese History and International Relations, Kyushu Sangyo University, JapanFrancis Pike’s Hirohito’s War, The Pacific War, 1941-1945 is a major scholarly work and accomplishes a great many things to advance an understanding of the massive war between Japan and the United States. In fact, through the depth, breadth, and scope of research, factual conclusions, and stories, the work tries to be everything to everyone. The strengths of the work come screaming forward to a reader by effectively conveying an understanding of how and why Japanese leaders decided to go forward with a seemingly illogical decision to fight the industrial juggernaut of the United States. The portrayals of the tactical challenges faced by individual combatants on both sides are worthy of reading and filled with eye-opening capabilities that will satisfy the most demanding 'technocrat.' -- David C. Fuquea, U.S. Naval War College, USATable of ContentsMap, Diagram, Drawing and Chart List Notes and Additional Resources Acknowledgments Introduction and Background PART I: Meiji Restoration: 1868 PART II: Japan Versus America and the World: 1931 – 1941 PART III: Hirohito’s Whirlwind Conquests: December 1941 – June 1942 PART IV: ‘Victory Disease’: Japan’s Reversal of Fortune: June – Dec 1942 PART V: Toil and Sweat: the Pacific, India, Burma, & China: Jan 1943 – June 1944 PART VI: Japan’s Forces of Empire Annihilated: June 1944 – Feb 1945 PART VII: Destruction of Japan’s Homeland: February 1945 – Aug 1945 Index

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Book SynopsisAn unseen selection of rare photographs and primary sources from the campaign. This is the essential travelling companion to walking the Gallipoli battlefields.

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Book SynopsisFirst detailed account in English of this vital period of the Battle of Verdun.

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Book SynopsisRe-issue of an esteemed piece of work, initially published in 1988 by Patrick Stephens Limited.

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Book SynopsisMany books have been written about the Jacobite rebellions - the armed attempts made by the Stuarts to regain the British throne between 1689 and 1746 - and in particular about the risings of 1689, 1715, 1719 and 1745. The key battles have been described in graphic detail. Yet no previous book has given a comprehensive military account of the campaigns in their entirety - and that is the purpose of Jonathan Oates's new history. For over fifty years the Jacobites posed a serious threat to the governments of William and Mary, Queen Anne and George I and II. But they were unable to follow up their victories at Killiecrankie, Prestonpans and Falkirk, and the overwhelming defeat suffered by Bonnie Prince Charlie's army when it confronted the Duke of Cumberland's forces at Culloden in 1746 was decisive. The author uses vivid eyewitness testimony and contemporary sources, as well as the latest archaeological evidence, to trace the course of the conflict, and offers an absorbing insight into the makeup of the opposing sides, their leadership, their troops and the strategy and tactics they employed. His distinctive approach gives the reader a long perspective on a conflict which is often viewed more narrowly in terms of famous episodes and the careers of the leading men.

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Book SynopsisDid Japan surrender in 1945 because of the death and devastation caused by the atomic bombs dropped by the Americans on Hiroshima and Nagasaki or because of the crushing defeat inflicted on their armies by the Soviet Union in Manchukuo, the puppet state they set up in north-east China? Indeed, the Red Army's rapid and total victory in Manchukuo has been relatively neglected by historians. Charles Stephenson, in this scholarly and highly readable new study, describes the political, diplomatic and military build-up to the Soviet offensive and its decisive outcome. He also considers to what extent Japan's capitulation is attributable to the atomic bomb or the stunningly successful entry of the Soviet Union into the conflict. The military side of the story is explored in fascinating detail - the invasion of Manchukuo itself where the Soviet 'Deep Battle' concept was employed with shattering results, and secondary actions in Korea, Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. But equally absorbing is the account of the decision-making that gave rise to the offensive and the political and diplomatic background to it, and in particular the Yalta conference. There, Stalin allowed the Americans to persuade him to join the war in the east; a conflict he was determined on entering anyway. Charles Stephenson's engrossing narrative throws new light on the last act of the Second World War.

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Book SynopsisAmerica has been at war for most of the 20th and 21st centuries and during that time has progressively moved towards a vicarious form of warfare, where key tasks are delegated to proxies, the military’s exposure to danger is limited, and special forces and covert instruments are on the increase. Important strategic decisions are taken with minimal scrutiny or public engagement. This compelling account charts the historical emergence of this distinctive tradition of war and explains the factors driving its contemporary prominence. It contrasts the tactical advantages of vicarious warfare with its hidden costs and potential to cause significant strategic harm.Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Alchemy of War; PART I: Historical Background; 1. A Vicarious Instinct; 2. Perversions of Power; PART II: American Experiences; 3. Ambivalent Beginnings; 4. Cold Warfare; PART III: Contemporary Dynamics; 5. Drivers; 6. Emergence; 7. Consequences; Conclusions.

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Book SynopsisThe invasion has begun. In this gripping book, Jonathan Mayo gives a blow by blow account of the events of D-Day, revealing what happened to the people swept up in this crucial moment in history. From soldiers, French villagers and journalists, to schoolchildren and nurses, thousands were placed in extraordinary situations when the Allies landed in Normandy. This is their story.Trade ReviewStudded with extraordinary detail, this is the most joltingly vivid account ever written of the day the Allies gambled everything. * Daily Mail *The chaos, the horror and the bravery of the battlefield are all here… * Daily Express *An engrossing work... An accessible history that conveys the havoc and vast international spread of D-Day. * Kirkus Reviews US *Awesome... a completely comprehensive examination, an incredible amount of detail, a pleasure to read and learn from. * The Avid Reader *This is an outstanding book and should be required reading in High School history classes. * Battles and Book Reviews *This book creates a remarkably vivid picture of one of the most important days in modern history. * The Good Book Guide *

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Book SynopsisIt is the night of 28 March 1942. Royal Navy and British commandos are poised to assault the German-held port of Saint-Nazaire in what will be one of the most audacious and daring raids of the Second World War. The plan is simple: to drive an old destroyer, packed with three tons of explosive, at full speed into the outer gate of the Normandie dock. The aim is to destroy the base from which the formidable battleship Tirpitz would be able to devastate the convoys supplying Britain from the United States. 'Operation Chariot' was to be dramatically successful, but at a great cost. Fewer than half the men who went on the mission returned. In recognition of their valour, eighty-nine decorations were awarded, including five Victoria Crosses. Into the Jaws of Death is the true story of how the decisive courage of a small group of men changed the course of the war.Table of ContentsPreface. Dramatis Personae. Author's Note. Britain, early 1942. Enter the Commandos. Training for War. The First Raids. Raids in 1941. Tirpitz. Saint-Nazaire. Resistance. The Decision Made. Planning. Falmouth. Ryder and Willetts's Plans. Newman's Orders. Final Preparations. The Bay of Biscay. Into the Loire. The Run-In. Ordeal in the River. The Demolitions. Dash for Freedom. Escaping from the Loire. Aftermath. Epilogue. Glossary. Map 1 The Journey to and from Saint-Nazaire. Map 2 Targets for the Commando Groups. Map 3 Vessel movements during the raid. Map 4 Entrance into the Loire Estuary. Appendix 1 Combined Operations Raids, 1940-2. Appendix 2 Flotilla Cruising Order for Entry into the Loire. Appendix 3 Victoria Cross Citations. Sources. Select Bibliography. Acknowledgements. Index.

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Book SynopsisThis book chronicles the story of the single most daring Special Forces operation since World War Two - Operation Barras; the attempted rescue by the SAS of the British Forces who were being held captive by guerrilla gang the West Side Boys in the Sierra Leone jungle. The West Side Boys were a strange-looking bunch, wearing pink shades, shower caps, fluorescent wigs and voodoo charms they believed made them invulnerable to bullets - an impression re-enforced by ganja, heroine, crack cocaine and gallons of sweet palm wine. In 1999 a twelve man patrol of Royal Irish Rangers, who were training government troops in Sierra Leone, were captured and held hostage by the West Side Boys. They were held prisoner in a fortified jungle hideaway, with severed heads decorating the palisades, defended by some 400 heavily armed soldiers. Operation Barras, the rescue mission, was a combined force of 100 Paras, twelve members of the Special Boat Squadron, helicopters from the Navy and RAF and, spearheading the operation, 40-strong D squadron of the SAS. Against amazing odds the hostages were rescued - over 150 of the enemy were killed. Operation Certain Death is a thrilling true story of all out war. No hostages taken. Blood-letting on a vast scale inflicted on a very blood-thirsty enemy. A gripping piece of true military history, perfect for fans of action adventure stories and anyone interested in the top secret division of the British Army.Trade ReviewWhat a story! As good as any thriller I have ever read. This is the lowdown. * Frederick Forsyth *Grotesque, glorious and utterly gripping * Bolton Evening News *A powerful docu-novel, which conveys the danger of the operation and the courage of those who went in to successfully rescue their colleagues. * Sunderland Echo *As a purely military operation it knocks into a cocked hat the lifting of the Iranian embassy siege -- Brigadier Andrew Stewart

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Book SynopsisThe German Navy – known as the Kriegsmarine – played a crucial role during World War II in disrupting Allied shipping, especially in the early years, when Britain stood alone against Nazi aggression following the fall of France. Broken down by campaign and key encounters within each theatre of war, German Kriegsmarine in World War II illustrates the strengths and organizational structures of the Third Reich’s naval forces, building into a detailed compendium of information. Full-colour order of battle tree diagrams at fleet and flotilla level help the reader quickly understand how and where the ships and U-boats of the German Navy were employed at any given time between 1939 and 1945. Reference tables provide fleet strengths while organizational diagrams show the types and numbers of ships involved in specific operations, such as the U-Boat wolfpacks that hunted Allied merchant shipping in the North Atlantic and the invasion fleet used for the assault on Crete. With extensive organizational diagrams and full-colour operations maps, German Kriegsmarine in World War II is an easy-to-use guide to German naval forces. The book is an essential reference for anyone with a serious interest in the naval warfare of World War II.Table of ContentsThe Pre-War Kriegsmarine Early Operations: 1939–40 Surface War in the West: 1941–43 The U-Boat War: 1939–41 The U-Boat War: 1942–45 The Mediterranean: 1941–45 Defeat in the North: 1942–45 Appendices Glossary of Key Abbreviations Acknowledgements Index

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Book Synopsis'This is a book everyone should read. It is the autobiography of an ace, and no common ace either. The boy had all the noble tastes and qualities, love of beauty, soaring imagination, a brilliant endowment of good looks ...this prince of pilots ...had a charmed life in every sense of the word' - George Bernard ShawSent to France with the Royal Flying Corps at just seventeen, and later a member of the famous 56 Squadron, Cecil Lewis was an illustrious and passionate fighter pilot of the First World War, described by Bernard Shaw in 1935 as 'a thinker, a master of words, and a bit of a poet'. In this vivid and spirited account the author evocatively sets his love of the skies and flying against his bitter experience of the horrors of war, as we follow his progress from France and the battlefields of the Somme, to his pioneering defence of London against deadly night time raids.

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Book SynopsisThe definitive history of warfare told by Britain's foremost military historian.John Keegan’s masterpiece is a work of breath-taking scope that not only chronicles the history of warfare, but unearths lessons on the nature of humanity. Stretching across centuries and continents, from the Empire of Babylon to the Somme, A History of Warfare studies civilisations, psychology, archaeology, genetics, history and strategy with an expert’s eye. John Keegan’s unmissable and epic journey through military history has been widely acclaimed and remains vital reading today.Trade ReviewJohn Keegan is at once the most readable and the most original of military historians... His book is a work of massive sweep...the most remarkable study of warfare that has yet been written. -- Michael Howard * New York Times Review of Books *Masterpiece...one of those rare books which could still be required reading in its field a hundred years from now. * The New Yorker *Our finest military historian has produced a book of breathtaking scope...A tour de force. -- Niall Ferguson * Daily Mail *The best book I read in 1993 was A History of Warfare...a dazzling display of historical pyrotechnics. -- Paul Johnson * Sunday Times, Books of the Year *Magnificent * Sunday Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE 2016 PEN HESSELL-TILTMAN PRIZE The Second World War was a German war like no other. The Nazi regime, having started the conflict, turned it into the most horrific war in European history, resorting to genocidal methods well before building the first gas chambers. Over its course, the Third Reich expended and exhausted all its moral and physical reserves, leading to total defeat in 1945. Yet 70 years on despite whole libraries of books about the war's origins, course and atrocities we still do not know what Germans thought they were fighting for and how they experienced and sustained the war until the bitter end.When war broke out in September 1939, it was deeply unpopular in Germany. Yet without the active participation and commitment of the German people, it could not have continued for almost six years. What, then, was the war Germans thought they were fighting? How did the changing course of the conflict the victories of the BlitzkriegTrade ReviewA terrific book. Nicholas Stargardt brilliantly explores diaries, letters and other previously untapped sources to provide more vivid and nuanced insight than ever before achieved into the motivation of ordinary Germans fighting the most horrific war of all time -- Ian KershawA gripping new book…To write like this requires a rare sensitivity and psychological sophistication coupled with a degree of fearlessness…Stargardt impresses not only as a cultural historian. He also has an impressively strong grasp on the military narrative of the war. And this is indispensable…Stargardt has given us a truly profound piece of history * New York Times Book Review *Beautifully written and convincingly argued, this book is a must -- Saul Friedlander, author of Nazi Germany and the JewsA considerable success -- Simon Heffer * Literary Review *Sympathetic and nuanced portraits of German men and women… Intimate account of individual Germans’ experiences of war, Stargardt explores private emotions… Beautifully written… He writes with the correct tone and sensitivity. -- Wendy Lower * Times Literary Supplement *Superbly researched and clearly written, The German War is an important and significant book -- Dominic Green * Spectator *For the first time, the wartime chronology of German sentiment, of popular hopes and fears, realism and fantasy, becomes truly visible. A powerful and compelling account -- Mark Roseman, Professor of History, Indiana UniversityInsightful, illuminating, complex, and convincing... Seven decades and a mountain of monographs later, I wouldn’t have thought there’d be much more to say about WWII. Stargardt has proven me wrong -- Robert Moeller, Professor of History, University of California, IrvineThe German War is an outstanding book by a master historian... a masterpiece of historical writing, blending seamlessly a ‘bird’s eye’ view with intimate micro-history of this calamitous period in twentieth century Europe -- Jan Gross, author of Neighbors: The Destruction of the Jewish Community in Jedwabne, PolandStargardt negotiates the considerable risks of writing from inside German experiences of this brutally destructive war with subtlety, humanity, and wisdom. This is a rich and deeply impressive lesson -- Jane Caplan, Emeritus Fellow, St Antony’s College, Oxford

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Book SynopsisThe second edition of this well received handbook provides a comprehensive overview and annotated commentary of those areas of international law most relevant to the planning and conduct of military operations. It covers a wide scope of military operations, ranging from operations conducted under UN Security Council mandate to (collective) self-defence and consensual and humanitarian operations and identifies the relevant legal bases and applicable legal regimes governing the application of force and treatment of persons during such operations. It also devotes attention to the law governing the status of forces, military use of the sea and airspace and questions of international (criminal) responsibility for breaches of international law. New developments such as cyber warfare and controversial aspects of law in relation to contemporary operations, such as targeted killing of specific individuals are discussed and analysed, alongside recent developments in more traditional types of operations, such as peacekeeping and naval operations. The book is aimed at policy officials, commanders and their (military) legal advisors who are involved with the planning and conduct of any type of military operation and is intended to complement national and international policy and legal guidelines and assist in identifying and applying the law to ensure legitimacy and contribute to mission accomplishment. It likewise fulfils a need in pertinent international organizations, such as the UN, NATO, Regional Organizations, and NGOs. It also serves as a comprehensive work of reference to academics and is suitable for courses at military staff colleges, academies and universities, which devote attention to one or more aspects of international law treated in the book. This mix of intended users is reflected in the contributors who include senior (former) policy officials and (military) legal advisors, alongside academics engaged in teaching and research in these areas of international law.Trade ReviewCertainly, the breadth and depth of the perspectives the book provides on the military and the law will be a revelation to many of those conducting research - and forming opinions - on this and related topics. International lawyers, academics, policy makers and general readers as well, will find this book of immense value. * Phillip Taylor MBE, Richmond Green Chambers *Table of ContentsPart I: General Issues 1: Terry D. Gill and Dieter Fleck: Concept and Sources of the International Law of Military Operations 2: William K. Lietzau and Joseph A. Rutigliano Jr: History and Development of the International Law of Military Operations 3: Jann K. Kleffner: Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law: General Issues 4: Nils Melzer and Gloria Gaggioli Gasteyger: Conceptual Distinction and Overlaps Between Law Enforcement and the Conduct of Hostilities Part II: Military Operations within the Context of the UN Collective Security System 5: Enforcement and Peace Enforcement Operations 5.1: Terry D. Gill: Legal Characterization and Basis for Enforcement Operations and Peace Enforcement Operations under the Charter 5.2: Dieter Fleck: Status of Forces in Enforcement and Peace Enforcement Operations 5.3: Terry D. Gill: Legal Parameters for the Use of Force in the Context of the UN Collective Security System 5.4: Blaise Cathcart: Force Application in Enforcement and Peace Enforcement Operations 5.5: Charles H.B. Garraway and Jann K. Kleffner: Applicability and Application of International Humanitarian Law to Enforcement, Peace Enforcement, and Peace Operations 6: Peace Operations 6.1: Terry D. Gill: Characterization and Legal Basis for Peace Operations 6.2: Dieter Fleck: Status of Forces in Peace Operations 6.3: Terry D. Gill: Legal Parameters for the Use of Force within the Context of Peace Operations 6.4: Patrick C. Cammaert and Ben F. Klappe: Application of Force and Rules of Engagement in Peace Operations 6.5: Patrick C. Cammaert and Ben F. Klappe: Authority, Command, and Control in United Nations-led Peace Operations 7: Eric P.J. Myjer and Nigel D. White: Peace Operations Conducted by Regional Organizations and Arrangements Part III: Military Operations within the Context of the Right of Self-Defence and Other Possible Legal Bases for the Use of Force 8: Terry D. Gill: Legal Basis of the Right of Self-Defence Under the UN Charter and Under Customary International Law 9: Dieter Fleck: Status of Forces in Self-Defence Operations 10: Blaise Cathcart: Application of Force and Rules of Engagement in Self-Defence Operations 11: Charles H.B. Garraway and Jann K. Kleffner: International Humanitarian Law in Self-Defence Operations 12: Terry D. Gill and Paul A. L. Ducheine: Rescue of Nationals 13: Terry D. Gill: Humanitarian Intervention 14: Terry D. Gill: Military Intervention with the Consent or at the Invitation of a Government Part IV: Capita Selecta of International Military Operational Law 15: Blaise Cathcart: Command and Control in Military Operations 16: Michael N. Schmitt: Targeting in Operational Law 17: Nils Melzer: Targeted Killings in Operational Law Perspective 18: William H. Boothby: Weapons and Operational Law 19: Michael N. Schmitt: Air Law and Military Operations 20: Wolff Heintschel Von Heinegg: The Law of Military Operations at Sea 21: Wolff Heintschel Von Heinegg and Martin D. Fink: Maritime Interception/Interdiction Operations 22: Blaise Cathcart: Legal Dimensions of Special Operations and Information Operations 23: Paul Ducheine: Military Cyber Operations 24: Hans F.R. Boddens Hosang: Force Protection, Unit Self-Defence and Personal Self-Defence: Their Relationship to Rules of Engagement 25: Timothy McCormack and Bruce M. Oswald: The Maintenance of Law and Order in Military Operations 26: Jann K. Kleffner: Operational Detention and the Treatment of Detainees 27: Ben F. Klappe: Civil-Military Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance 28: Terry D. Gill and Dieter Fleck: Private Contractors and Security Companies 29: William J. Fenrick: The Prosecution of International Crimes in Relation to the Conduct of Military Operations 30: Boris Kondoch and Marten Zwanenburg: International Responsibility and Military Operations Part V: Synthesis and Conclusion 31: A.P.V. Rogers and Darren Stewart: The Role of the Military Legal Advisor 32: Dieter Fleck and Terry D. Gill: International Law for Military Operations: Conclusions and Persectives The Manual on International Law of Military Operations Glossary of Terms

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Book SynopsisDuring the Second World War women proved themselves indispensable to the war effort serving in both military uniformed units abroad and in home front organisations through the darkest hours of the Blitz. This book tells the stories of these women in their own words.Table of ContentsIntroduction: the Home Front /War Workers /On the Land /In Uniform /Demob and Legacies /Further Reading /Places to Visit /Index

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Book SynopsisThis book shows us how one man's pioneering commitment to aviation archaeology ultimately serves as a unique tribute to thousands of young souls both lost and found of the Battle of Britain and the Blitz.

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Book SynopsisComprehensive account of the political and convoy operations to Northern Russia during WW2.

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Book SynopsisIn Russia''s Last Gasp, now in paperback, Prit Buttar looks at one of the bloodiest campaigns launched in the history of warfare--the Brusilov Offensive, sometimes known as the June Advance. With British, French and German forces locked in a stalemate in the trenches of the Western Front, an attack was launched by the massed Russian armies to the east. The assault was intended to knock Austria-Hungary out of the war and divert German troops from the Western Front, easing the pressure on Russia''s allies. Russia''s dismal military performance in the preceding years was forgotten, as the Brusilov Offensive was quickly characterized by innovative tactics. Most impressive of all was the Russian use of shock troops, a strategy that German armies would later use to great effect in the final years of the war.Drawing on first-hand accounts and detailed archival research Buttar gives a dramatic retelling of final years of the war on the Eastern Front, with the Russian Army claTable of ContentsList of Illustrations /List of Maps /Author's Note /Dramatis Personae /Introduction /1. The Fruits of War /2. The Winter Battles /3. Lake Naroch /4. The Quiet Front /5. Brusilov's Offensive Begins /6. The Growing Crisis /7. Dealing with Success and Failure /8. Now or Never /9. Kovel and Stanislau /10. The Advent of Romania /11. The New Front: Romania's Gamble /12. Autumn /13. Budapest and Beyond /14. The Cracks in the Edifice /Notes /Bibliography /Index

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON MEDAL FOR MILITARY HISTORY 2021, THE BRITISH ARMY BOOK OF THE YEAR 2021, AS A FINALIST FOR THE 2020 ARMY HISTORICAL FOUNDATION DISTINGUISHED WRITING AWARDS. FIRST RUNNER UP IN THE TEMPLER MEDAL BOOK PRIZE 2021. ''With a soldier's eye for telling operational details, Ben Barry offers an authoritative, compelling and inevitably bleak account of the American and British campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.'' Sir Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies, King's College LondonNewly revised and updated with in-depth analysis of the current situation in Afghanistan after American withdrawal, Blood, Metal and Dust is an authoritative account of how the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were played out, explaining their underlying politics and telling the story of what happened on the ground.From the high-ranking officer who wrote the still-classified British military Trade ReviewAt one level Blood, Metal and Dust is a clear, dispassionate and succinct military history of the post-9/11 wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But it is much more important than that. As the US and UK turn their backs too quickly on both wars, they are in danger of disregarding the lessons and so failing to profit from their experiences. This book puts that right. Ben Barry is forthright in his criticisms and depressingly correct in his conclusions. Blood, Metal and Dust is essential reading. * Sir Hew Strachan FBA FRSE, Professor of International Relations at the University of St Andrews and former Chichele Professor of the History of War at All Souls College, Oxford. *With a soldier’s eye for telling operational details, Ben Barry offers an authoritative, compelling and inevitably bleak account of the American and British campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. * Sir Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies, King’s College London *Blood, Metal and Dust is a seminal work that exploits newly available archival material to produce a riveting account of the allies’ wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Armed with a keen scholarly eye and long military experience, Ben Barry dissects key decision points and pitched battles ranging from Tora Bora, Operation Medusa and Wanat in Afghanistan to the US Marines’ Anbar campaign, Operation Viking Hammer in Kurdistan, and the Sadr City battle of 2008. His unsparing judgments should inform future war planning, making this book required reading for the policymaker and the practitioner alike. * Linda Robinson, Senior International/Defense Researcher, RAND Corporation and author of 'Tell Me How This Ends' *The telling of this particular audit of war is accomplished with precision and with dispassionate honesty. This book is required reading. -- Mark Barnes * War History Online *This is without doubt the best military history of the campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan I have read to date. * Wavell Room *Blood, Metal and Dust is an essential, landmark work. -- Mungo Melvin * The RUSI Journal *Blood, Metal and Dust is the essential account of the 21st-century wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. -- Martin Purbrick * Asian Affairs *This is a must-read. * This England *Lucid, wide-ranging and thorough, for students of the West’s recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan it will remain an indispensable resource for years to come. * International Journal of Military History and Historiography *Blood, Metal and Dust makes an excellent contribution to the understanding on the War on Terror. * Air and Space Power Review *Table of ContentsList of Maps List of Illustrations Preface to First Edition Preface to Second Edition Acknowledgements 1 Before the Fall: The military experience of the US and its allies before 9/11 2 Strategic Shock and Response: Afghanistan from 9/11 to Operation Anaconda 3 Economy of Force: Stabilizing Afghanistan 2002–05 4 Operation Cobra II: The invasion of Iraq 5 Descent into Chaos: Iraq 2003–04 6 ‘As the Iraqis stand up we will stand down’: The Transition Strategy 2004–06 7 The Iraq Surge: Regaining the initiative 8 Learning under Fire: The struggle to adapt to the unexpected character of the conflicts 9 The Battles for Basra: Britain’ s near-defeat in southern Iraq 10 Endgame in Iraq: Success turns to failure 11 The Enemy Gets a Vote: Afghanistan 2006–09 12 The Afghan Surge: 2009–12 13 The Failure of the Transition to Afghan Security Leadership 14 Bloody Lessons Glossary Recommended Reading Endnotes Index

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Book SynopsisSource material giving detailed insight into issues and problems faced on the 'Home Front'.

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Book SynopsisAfter the Normandy break-out, the Allies' headlong dash east came to a halt in the autumn with the ill-fated MARKET GARDEN operation and over-extended supply lines short of the Rhineland. After repulsing the Nazis' daring Ardennes offensive, Montgomery's and Bradley's Army Groups cleared the Reichwald and Rhineland and closed on the Rhine. With both sides aware of the strategic significance of this physical barrier the stakes could not have been higher. Eisenhower's plan involved a vast airborne assault by General Ridgway's XV11 Airborne Corps (codename VARSITY) and the simultaneously coordinated river crossing by Monty's 21 Army Group codename PLUNDER with Dempsey's British Second Army and General William H. Simpson's US Ninth Army. This superbly illustrated and researched book describes the March 1945 assault crossing involving naval amphibious craft, the air and artillery bombardment and diversionary attack by the British 1st Commando brigade at Wesel. In concert with VARSITY and PLUNDER, Patton's US Third Army Group crossed further south. As a result of this triumph of strategic planning and tactical execution, the fate of Hitler's Thousand Year Reich' was finally sealed.

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Book SynopsisDuring the Cold War, the Central Intelligence Agency's biggest and longest paramilitary operation was in the tiny kingdom of Laos. Hundreds of advisors and support personnel trained and led guerrilla formations across the mountainous Laotian countryside, as well as running smaller road-watch and agent teams that stretched from the Ho Chi Minh Trail to the Chinese frontier. Added to this number were hundreds of contract personnel providing covert aviation services.It was dangerous work. On the Memorial Wall at the CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, nine stars are dedicated to officers who perished in Laos. On top of this are more than one hundred from propriety airlines killed in aviation mishaps between 1961 and 1973. Combined, this grim casualty figure is orders of magnitude larger than any other CIA paramilitary operation.But for the Foreign Intelligence officers at Langley, Laos was more than a paramilitary battleground. Because of its geographic location as a buffer state, as well as its trifurcated political structure, Laos was a unique Cold War melting pot. All three of the Lao political factions, including the communist Pathet Lao, had representation in Vientiane. The Soviet Union had an extremely active embassy in the capital, while the People's Republic of China - though in the throes of the Cultural Revolution - had multiple diplomatic outposts across the kingdom. So, too, did both North and South Vietnam. All of this made Laos fertile ground for clandestine operations. This book comprehensively details the cloak-and-dagger side of the war in Laos for the first time, from agent recruitments to servicing dead-drops in Vientiane.Trade Review...offers a good spy tale and is a well-researched and credible history. It is a valuable addition to the intelligence literature. * International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence 26/10/2022 *...sheds light brighter than any spy fiction on an important aspect of the Indochina experience. * John Prados, author of Vietnam: The History of an Unwinnable War, 1945-1975 25/06/2021 *People in the book—friends and foes—come through clearly in Conboy’s thoughtful vignettes about them. He presents backgrounds of many men and a few women in a manner that personalizes each—for good or for bad. Some of them practically walk off the page and greet the reader. * The VVA Veteran *...a masterful book on the secret exploits of the Central Intelligence Agency […] This is is a “must read” for anyone interested in the Indochina Wars and some operations that have never been recorded before. * Barry Broman, author of Risk Taker, Spy Maker 25/06/2021 *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Chapter One Growing Pains Chapter Two The Young Turks Chapter Three Hell is a City Chapter Four Apéritif Chapter Five The Teams Chapter Six The Flying Squad Chapter Seven The Holy Grail Chapter Eight Hard Target Chapter Nine Rock and a Hard Place Chapter Ten The Art of Seduction Chapter Eleven Suspicious Minds Chapter Twelve Writing on the Wall Chapter Thirteen Eye of the Hurricane Chapter Fourteen Surreptitious Entries Chapter Fifteen Dénouement Chapter Sixteen Cloak and Keris

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Book SynopsisWhen the Soviet Union invaded Finland in late 1939, what transpired was a true “David and Goliath” conflict. When Finland refused a number of Soviet demands, including the ceding of substantial border territories ostensibly to enable the Soviets to protect Leningrad, the Soviets responded by launching an invasion. The invasion involved a large Soviet army, with several thousand tanks, and a large air force.But to the world's surprise the Finnish Army - many of them reservists without proper uniforms and limited ammunition - and Air Force battled overwhelming odds, and managed to resist Russian attacks for over two months, inflicting serious losses. Geography played its part as much of the Finnish-Soviet border was impassable, meaning that Soviet numerical superiority was of less import. Operating in the winter, with temperatures ranging as low as -43F, the Finns’ determined resistance won them international reputation. Although hostilities finally ended in a peace treaty that saw Finland cede 9% of its territory, Soviet losses had been heavy, and Finland retained its sovereignty.This fully illustrated text will cover the forces involved and all stages of the Winter War.Table of ContentsIntroduction Timeline of Events Finland Under Soviet Threat, 1939 The Soviet Invasion, November 1939 Advance to the Mannerheim Line, December 1939 The Air War 1939–1940 Finnish Guerrilla Warfare, December 1939–March 1940 Battles Along the Mannerheim Line, December 1939 Battles in Lagoda, Kainuu and Lapland, December 1939 Finland’s Defeat, February–March 1940 Afterword Index

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Book SynopsisThe battle of Rorke's Drift is established in history as one of Britain's most incredible actions where approximately 155 defenders held off a Zulu force of over 4,000 warriors, in a savage, bloody conflict with no quarter given by either side. The battle led to a display of incredible fortitude, courage and tenacity resulting in mutual respect between British red coat and Zulu warrior. Using a vast array of primary accounts, including lesser known, and previously unpublished examples, the author describes the battle in vivid detail. The actions of each of the 11 Victoria Cross recipients are looked at in detail, together with those men who were awarded the DCM. Illustrated with previously unpublished artwork, 'Rorke's Drift-A New Perspective' is a gripping account, which questions what is commonly believed to be the true interpretation of the hospital fighting. A truly compelling read, packed with numerous footnotes and sources, appealing to both the casual reader and the serious historian.

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Book SynopsisThe Battle of the Somme has become a byword for sacrifice and senseless slaughter. It had a searing impact on the British mindset that still resonates over a century after it occurred. This largely stems from the events of 1 July 1916, the first day of the battle which cost the British Army over 19,000 dead and nearly another 40,000 wounded, captured and missing, the bloodiest day in the Army''s history.Yet the battle continued for four and a half months and a century of research suggests a far more nuanced picture. Britain was not fighting alone and the French contribution, often overlooked, was clearly very significant. The Somme also saw the very first use of tanks in battle, at Flers-Courcelette on 15 September 1916, an event that changed the course of warfare forever.Moreover, there are now commentators who believe the Somme was a victory, albeit an expensive one. The Somme also had an immense social historical significance, due to both the way it impacted virtually every community in Britain and to the films which held audiences spellbound all over Europe.While a great deal has been written about the Somme, this book is much more than just a history of the battle. It focuses on the equipment and tactics used by both sides and the strategic objectives the battle was designed to achieve. Uniforms, logistics, weapons, all the components of the battleplan are discussed and described in detail in a creative and innovative manner. This new approach to one of the most significant battles in British military history will attract a great degree of interest from a wide range of readers.

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Book SynopsisDespite the great English victories at Crécy, Poitiers and Agincourt, the French eventually triumphed in the Hundred Years War. This book examines the last campaign of the war, covering the great battles at Formigny in 1450 and Castillon in 1453, both of which hold an interesting place in military history. The battle of Fornigny saw French cavalry defeat English archers in a reverse of those earlier English victories, while Castillon became the first great success for gunpowder artillery in fixed positions. Finally, the book explains how the seemingly unmartial King Charles VII of France all but drove the English into the sea, succeeding where so many of his predecessors had failed.Table of ContentsOrigins of the campaign /Chronology /Opposing commanders /Opposing armies /Orders of battle /Opposing plans /The campaign /Aftermath /The battlefield today /Further reading /Index

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Book Synopsis

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