War and defence operations Books

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 SynopsisThe Algerian War lasted from 1954 to 1962. It brought down six French governments, led to the collapse of the Fourth Republic, returned de Gaulle to power, and came close to provoking a civil war on French soil. More than a million Muslim Algerians died in the conflict and as many European settlers were driven into exile. Above all, the war was marked by an unholy marriage of revolutionary terror and repressive torture.Nearly a half century has passed since this savagely fought war ended in Algeria’s independence, and yet—as Alistair Horne argues in his new preface to his now-classic work of history—its repercussions continue to be felt not only in Algeria and France, but throughout the world. Indeed from today’s vantage point the Algerian War looks like a full-dress rehearsal for the sort of amorphous struggle that convulsed the Balkans in the 1990s and that now ravages the Middle East, from Beirut to Baghdad—struggles in which questions of religion, nationalism, imperialism, and terrorism take on a new and increasingly lethal intensity.A Savage War of Peace is the definitive history of the Algerian War, a book that brings that terrible and complicated struggle to life with intelligence, assurance, and unflagging momentum. It is essential reading for our own violent times as well as a lasting monument to the historian’s art.

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Book Synopsis‘Quite simply the best short history of the war in print . . . Strachan has emerged as the master of us all who write of war in English’ Dennis Showalter A brilliant and penetrating new history of the First World War by one of the world's foremost experts on the conflict. With an introduction from the author. The popular view of the First World War is dominated by cliché: young British soldiers, many of them budding poets, led to early and ghastly deaths in muddy wastes by incompetent generals for reasons that were seemingly futile. As this magisterial new one volume history of the war illustrates, however, the cliché is only part of the truth. Hew Strachan argues that the war had become a ‘world war’ long before the involvement of the United States, and that for those liberal countries struggling to defend their freedoms, the war was far from futile. Accessible, compelling and utterly convinci

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Book SynopsisFought in the winter of 1944-1945, the coldest season in over 100 years, the Battle of the Bulge still ranks as the single largest battle ever fought by the United States Army. Thirty-one American divisions - fully one-third of the U.S. Army raised during World War II - saw action in this battle. This battle was truly a test: could this conscript army from a pacifistic democracy defeat the best remaining men and machines that Germany''s totalitarian government could produce? In Battle of the Bulge, author and artist Wayne Vansant brings readers into the frozen foxholes, haunting forests, and devastated villages of the Ardennes during that freezing cold winter. With meticulous historical accuracy and hand-drawn visuals that can tell a story in ways words alone cannot, Vansant recounts the Bulge with insightful detail, replaying the thrusts and volleys of both the combined Allied and German forces during the tumultuous battle. This is a story of panic, fear, and physical

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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 SynopsisAlready winning acclaim as one of the best accounts of combat ever written, Black Hawk Down is a minute-by-minute, heart-stopping account of the 1993 raid on Mogadishu, Somalia. Late in the afternoon of Sunday, October 3 1993, 140 elite US Soldiers abseiled from helicopters into a teeming market neighbourhood in the heart of the city. Their mission was to abduct two top lieutenants of a Somali warlord and return to base. It was supposed to take them about an hour.Instead, they were pinned down through a long and terrible night in a hostile city, fighting for their lives against thousands of heavily armed Somalis. Two of their high-tech helicopters were shot out of the sky. When the unit was rescued the following morning, eighteen American soldiers were dead and more than seventy badly injured. The Somali toll was far worse - more than five hundred killed and over a thousand injured.Authoritative, gripping, and insightful, Black Hawk Down is destined to become a classTrade Review'Rip-roaring stuff, with one of the most gruesome battlefield wound treatments ever committed to paper' * Maxim *A thrilling and visceral no-holds-barred classic of modern war'One of the most electrifying, immediate and detailed accounts of a single battle ever told...the whole 24-hour nightmare seems like it's happening to you' * Later *

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Book SynopsisThe Financial Times Best books of 2022: Politics ''The prolific military chronicler and analyst Mark Galeotti has produced exactly the right book at the right time.'' The Times A new history of how Putin and his conflicts have inexorably reshaped Russia, including his devastating invasion of Ukraine. Written by one of the world's leading experts on modern Russia, Putin's Wars is a timely overview of the conflicts into which Russia has plunged since Vladimir Putin became prime minister and then president. From the First and Second Chechen Wars to the military incursion into Georgia, the annexation of Crimea, and the eventual full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Mark Galeotti has created a vivid insight into the inner workings of the Kremlin. Updated for this paperback edition to include both the aborted coup of June 2023 and a clear overview of how and why the Russian military has struggled in Ukraine, this is aTrade ReviewThe prolific military chronicler and analyst Mark Galeotti has produced exactly the right book at the right time. * The Times *Galeotti’s work is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand current events in Ukraine. -- Gillian Tett * The Financial Times *Putin’s Wars is essential reading for anyone with an interest in Russia’s military. * Literary Review *The definitive work on this subject to date. * History of War *Mark Galeotti is one of the most insightful and incisive analysts on Russia’s past, present, and future. Russia’s February 2022 expanded invasion of Ukraine tragically highlights the critical importance of understanding the connection between politics and war. Galeotti vividly shows how Russia has waged its wars... [and] how those wars shaped the country’s politics and, in turn, how politics shaped Moscow’s military campaigns. * Joshua C. Huminski, Director, Mike Rogers Center for Intelligence and Global Affairs, Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress *This is a vivid account of how Putin has used armed force during his time in power, culminating in the deadly war in Ukraine. * Sir Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies, King’s College London *An accessible, lucid and vivid comprehensive contemporary account of the inner workings, logic and rationales of the central military pillar of Putinism. I unreservedly recommend this gem. * Dr Graeme P. Herd, George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies *Putin’s Wars is Galeotti at his finest: writing that moves like a spy novel and enough information for the student or professional reader … An excellent and accessible contribution to the field for seasoned Russian observers and those interested in the larger sweep of how it all transpired. * Dr Yuval Weber, Bren Chair of Russian Military and Political Strategy at the Brute Krulak Center for Innovation and Creativity at the US Marine Corps University *Table of ContentsAuthor’s Note List of Illustrations List of Maps and Diagrams Abbreviations Cast of Characters Chronology 1. Introduction PART ONE: BEFORE PUTIN 2. Born in Chaos 3. A Military in Crisis 4. The First Chechen War 5. The Wars of Russian Assertion PART TWO: ENTER PUTIN 6. Putin’s Priorities 7. The Second Chechen War 8. Ivanov, the Initiator 9. Serdyukov, the Enforcer 10. Georgia, 2008 (1): Tbilisi’s Move … 11. Georgia, 2008 (2): … Moscow’s Counter 12. ‘New Look’ Army PART THREE: THE NEW COLD WAR 13. Shoigu, the Rebuilder 14. Crimea, 2014 15. Donbas, 2014– 16. Lessons of the Donbas War 17. Syria, 2015– (1): The Unexpected Intervention 18. Syria, 2015– (2): Lessons of the Syrian Campaign PART FOUR: REARMING RUSSIA 19. Rumble for Ruble 20. Armiya Rossii 21. The Sky is Russia’s! 22. Contesting the Sea 23. Power Projection: Blue and Black Berets 24. The Spetsnaz 25. The Nuclear Backstop PART FIVE: THE FUTURE 26. Political Warfare 27. New Generation Warfare 28. The Challenges of the Future 29. Ukraine 2022: Putin’s Last War? 30. Conclusions: The Eurasian Sparta? 31. Ukraine: A Dispatch on a War in Progress Notes Selected English-language Bibliography Index

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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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Book Synopsis'If there were a Nobel Prize in History, Colley would be my nominee' Jill Lepore, New Yorker 'One of the most exciting historians of her generation, but also one of the most interesting writers of non-fiction around' - William Dalrymple, Guardian 'Colley takes you on intellectual journeys you wouldn't think to take on your own, and when you arrive you wonder that you never did it before' - David Aaronovitch, the Times 'A global history of remarkable depth, imagination and insight' Tony Barber, Financial Times Summer Books Starting not with the United States, but with the Corsican constitution of 1755, The Gun, the Ship, and the Pen moves through every continent, disrupting accepted narratives. Both monarchs and radicals play a role, from Catherine the Great of Russia, with her remarkable Nakaz, to Sierra Leone's James Africanus Horton, to Tunisia's Khayr-al-Din, a creator of the first modern Islamic constitution. Throughout, Colley demonstrates how constitutions evolved in tandem with warfare, and how they have functioned to advance empire as well as promote nations, and worked to exclude as well as liberate. Whether reinterpreting Japan's momentous 1889 constitution, or exploring the significance of the first constitution to enfranchise all adult women on Pitcairn Island in the Pacific in 1838, this is one of the most original global histories in decades.Trade ReviewA virtuoso global study of how nations were formed and constitutions written upends the familiar narrative at every turn ... As with all great history books, the big picture is here, but so is the telling detail, the astute comparison, the arresting and memorable turn of phrase, the suggestive moral for our own times. ... A superb retelling of the past, The Gun, the Ship, and the Pen will surely make us rethink our present and future -- Miles Taylor * Guardian *Dazzling ... [The Gun, the Ship, and the Pen] abounds with subtle arguments grounded in expertly marshaled sources, generously acknowledged. But perhaps the book's most impressive aspect is its mobility ... The geographic sweep and legal complexities are daunting, but Colley makes them accessible by employing a human scale. [A] bold, packed account [and] a daring revisionist move. -- Jenny Uglow * New York Review of Books *Incandescent, paradigm-shifting ... Colley has upended much of what historians believe about the origins of written constitutions ... If there were a Nobel Prize in History, Colley would be my nominee -- Jill Lepore * New Yorker *A global history of remarkable depth, imagination and insight -- Tony Barber * FT Summer Books *A wide-ranging, beautifully written global history ... Colley's narrative is rich, and she emphasizes the colorful characters who have contributed to constitution-making projects around the world ... Fascinating -- Tom Ginsburg * Washington Post *Fascinating ... Most historians emphasise literacy and liberty, seeing constitutions as the product of high-minded, slightly bloodless political salons. Colley's approach is more imaginative [with] plenty of memorably colourful details ... A different, surprising twist on international history -- Dominic Sandbrook * Sunday Times *Rarely is a history so satisfyingly broad in outlook while avoiding abstraction and generalisation. It is rich, enjoyable, enlightening and imaginative. Colley takes you on intellectual journeys you wouldn't think to take on your own, and when you arrive you wonder that you never did it before -- David Aaronovitch * Times *Wildly ambitious, prodigiously researched ... The narrative ranges widely and fascinatingly across continents and prominent historical figures ... A sweeping, unique, truly world-spanning political and military history * Kirkus Reviews *A book of stupendous range and originality, The Gun, the Ship, and the Pen delivers an ambitious new account of the making of the modern world. Linda Colley has an unparalleled ability to bring together the histories of ideas, politics, and people, and to distill prodigious learning into a narrative that is at once incisively argued and an immense pleasure to read. Rippling with fresh interpretations, startling connections, and remarkable stories, this is a masterpiece of global history by one of the greatest historians working today -- Maya Jasanoff, Harvard UniversityThe purest crystallization of modern politics is the written constitution. Despite its lofty ideals, the document's many guises across the world repeatedly failed to meet their stated aspirations. Remarkable therefore are our centuries of persistent belief in constitutions. With her characteristic skill, erudition, and creativity, Linda Colley, one of our greatest historians, explains this seeming conundrum through a history of the durability of human hope, war, and political imagination. This is a monumentally important book -- Alan Mikhail, author of * God’s Shadow: Sultan Selim, His Ottoman Empire, and the Making of the Modern World *A remarkable feat of scholarship on an international scale ... Impressive -- Jonathan Sumption * Spectator *Linda Colley is a historian of her time; but she is also a completely original intelligence -- R. F. FosterIn this ambitious work, Linda Colley seeks to rethink the "long" nineteenth century through the prism of the many constitutions it produced. Written with characteristic vigor and clarity, her book shows the continued validity of "big picture" history in asking searching questions and providing unexpected answers -- Sanjay Subrahmanyam, author of * Europe’s India, Words, People, Empires, 1500–1800 *In this bold, lucid, and wide-ranging book, Linda Colley reveals the international dialogue that created our age of constitutions. She insightfully embeds the emergence of new modes of governance in the global interplay of mass literacy with mass warfare. Colley helps us understand the true origins and growing importance of constitutional government. -- Alan Taylor, author of * Thomas Jefferson's Education *A marvelous tour with a brilliant guide through world history in search of the early adopters of written constitutions --a thoroughly enjoyable read! -- Mary Bilder, author of * Madison’s Hand: Revising the Constitutional Convention *From the Mediterranean to Japan, a dazzling, beautifully-written and surprising tale to discover the deep connections between the transformations of modern warfare and the rise of constitutions across the globe. A must read. -- M’hamed Oualdi, Sciences Po, ParisOne of the most exciting historians of her generation, but also one of the most interesting writers of non-fiction around -- William Dalrymple * Guardian *Linda Colley, in her surprising and insightful new book, asks us to view the development of constitutionalism across the globe as part of an interlinked set of historical processes ... Examples scarcely give a full flavour of Colley's richly integrated history -- Colin Kidd * New Statesman *Reassesses the enduring connection between might and right in the creation of nations, citizens and constitutions -- Clare Mulley * Spectator Books of the Year *Written with Colley's usual erudition, insight and style ... transforms what sounds like the dry matter of paper documents into an enthralling account of how warfare, national identity and colonial exploitation follow each other in the emergence of constitutions across the world. A work of thrilling scholarship -- Joan Bakewell * New Statesman Books of the Year *

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Book SynopsisThe end of the beginning… An epic conflictNorth Africa was a turning point for the British in the Second World War: a harsh landscape of sand and enemy tanks, but ultimately a place of victory, that Churchill famously called ‘the end of the beginning.’When General Montgomery became commander of the Allied Eighth Army in 1942, he found the troops dispirited after a series of defeats by his nemesis, General Rommel. However, under Monty’s inspired leadership the army turned their fortunes around, going on to win seven battles and driving the enemy out of North Africa.However, little credit has been attributed to the Eighth Army for its victories, and even the legendary Battle of El Alamein has been consistently underrated. This highly informed and gripping account brings to light how the troops, and their leaders, won these decisive battles, and helped to win the war.Lucid and accessible, this masterly account is vital reading for all enthusiasts of military history. Perfect for readers of Jonathan Dimbleby and Max Hastings.

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Book SynopsisAnne Glyn- Jones opens up the secret world of the interceptors of German Morse Code signals during World War II. Leaving her girls boarding school with romantic ideas about joining the navy as a Wren, Anne had no idea that she would be working for the mysterious ''Station X'', which we now know to be Bletchley Park. Round the clock shifts, bed bugs, rats and poor diet took its toll, as well as the ongoing lack of recognition from the Navy hierarchy. Morse Code Wrens of Station X is a very personal memoir of a young woman's experiences of war time service, as well as providing fascinating insights into the daily realities of the battle for military intelligence superiority.

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Book SynopsisThe Eastern Front of World War II was a nightmarish episode of human history, on a scale the like of which the world had never seen, and most likely never will see again. This expansive collection of maps offers a visual guide to the theater that decided the fate of the war, spanning the thousands of miles from Berlin to the outskirts of Moscow, Stalingrad, East Prussia and all the way back. The accuracy and detail of the military cartography found in this volume illuminates the enormity of the campaign, revealing the staggering dimensions of distance covered and human losses suffered by both sides.Table of ContentsForeword Introduction 1. Barbarossa 1941 2. Soviet counter-offensive 1941-42 3. Blau-Summer 1942 4. Soviet Stalingrad Offensive '1942-43 5. Summer 1943 6. Soviet offensives 1944 7. Central Europe/Germany 1945 Bibliography Appendices

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Book SynopsisThis timely analysis of security in Europe identifies the factors that enable and hinder the creation of networks of defence cooperation across the continent. Going beyond regional arrangements established by NATO and the European Union, this book considers the subregional level by focusing on bilateral and minilateral defence collaborations. It provides a new conceptual framework to assess the rationales, leadership and the complex dynamics within these alliances, and highlights how they shape and interact with NATO and EU initiatives.Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. Multinational Defence Cooperation in Europe 3. Conceptualizing Defence Cooperation 4. The European Security Community 5. Defence Budgets 6. Previous Defence Collaborations 7. Strong Leadership and Chemistry 8. Supportive Political Milieu 9. How to Achieve Defence Cooperation in Europe 10. Conclusion Bibliography

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Book SynopsisIn this widely acclaimed work, now revised and expanded, Edward N. Luttwak unveils the peculiar logic of strategy level by level, from grand strategy down to combat tactics. In the tradition of Carl von Clausewitz, Strategy goes beyond paradox to expose the dynamics of reversal at work in the crucible of conflict.Table of ContentsPreface Part I: The Logic of Strategy 1. The Conscious Use of Paradox in War 2. The Logic in Action 3. Efficiency and the Culminating Point of Success 4. The Coming Together of Opposites Part II: The Levels of Strategy 5. The Technical Level 6. The Tactical Level 7. The Operational Level 8. Theater Strategy I: Military Options and Political Choices 9. Theater Strategy II: Offense and Defense 10. Theater Stragegy III: Interdiction and the Surprise Attack 11. Nonstrategies: Naval, Air, Nuclear 12. The Renaissance of Strategic Air Power Part III: Outcomes: Grand Strategy 13. The Scope of Grand Strategy 14. Armed Suasion 15. Harmony and Disharmony in War 16. Can Strategy Be Useful? Appendix A: Definitions of Strategy Appendix B: The Gulf War Air Campaign Appendix C: Instant Thunder Notes Works Cited Index

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Book SynopsisPrimary source engravings, drawings and paintings with 100 images from the Great War period.

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Book SynopsisIn this unique, interactive story, you are the leader of a U.S. Army M1 Abrams tank platoon. Throughout the text, you will have an opportunity to make life-or-death decisions, and the events that unfold will be dictated by the choices you make. As you progress through the book, you will learn important tactical and operational lessons. Whether or not you are – or want to be – a tank platoon leader you will find this book highly entertaining and instructive.There are two operations to survive – an assault and a counter-reconnaissance mission. In each you must bring your knowledge and judgment to bear on the scenario in order to achieve the objective. If you choose wrong, defeat and even death may be your fate. If you succeed, you can savor the taste of victory and live to fight another day. The scenarios are highly realistic, and there are maps and appendices with detailed specifications of the hardware involved to help you make informed decisions.Written before Operation Desert Storm, and published in 1991, the military technology in Armor Attacks may be dated by today’s standards, but the need for human leadership and effective, rapid decision-making has not changed. Armor Attacks was recognised as an invaluable teaching tool by United States Military Academy, West Point and used to teach cadets the essential skills of leadership, decision-marking and tactics – a decade of USMA leaders trained with this book. To supplement the original text, this new edition includes the West Point instructor reference guide, which explains and amplifies the teaching points of each scenario encountered.Want to know more? Click here to hear John Antal discuss all things gaming - from tabletop war-gaming to WWII video games.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Forewrod by Gen. Richard E. Cavazos, USA (Ret) Preface Introduction Map Symbols Armor Attacks Appendix A: Weapons Data Appendix B: U.S. Unit Organizations Appendix C: Threat Unit Organizations Appendix D: Troop-Leading Procedures Appendix E: Tank Fighting Positions Appendix F: Order Formats Glossary Decision Charts

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Book SynopsisPerspectives on Strategy examines in depth five aspects of strategy. Strategic thought and behaviour are explored and explained from the perspectives of intellect, morality, culture, geography, and technology. Each perspective has attracted persisting controversy. Perspectives on Strategy is strongly complementary to the author''s previous book, The Strategy Bridge: Theory for Practice (OUP, 2010). This new work takes a notably holistic view of strategic phenomena, which serves as a master framework within which detailed examination of strategic history and issues can usefully be pursued in the light of particular perspectives. Foundational for the argument in Perspectives on Strategy is the proposition that distinctive aspects of strategy (e.g. ethics, culture, inter alia) can only be appreciated properly when they are regarded in context. The author shares this view with T. E. Lawrence (of Arabia), who wrote of the ''whole house of war''. Perspectives on Strategy gratefully adapts LaTrade ReviewOne of the most detailed and important investigations of the concept of strategy published in recent decades. * C.Dale Walton, Lindenwood University *Gray . . . is one of the most prolific authors on strategic thought, and one of the most respected . . . anyone interested in the edifice of strategic thought will find it [the book] a useful exercise. * D.McIntosh, Choice Magazine *Table of ContentsList of Figures List of Tables Introduction Master Narrative 1: Concepts: Mind and Muscle 2: Ethics: Strategy's Moral Maze 3: Culture: Beliefs, Customs, and Strategic Behaviour 4: Geography: Geopolitics and Deterrence 5: Technology: Magic Bullets? 6: Conclusion: The Whole House of Strategy, Perilous Dualism Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe Duke of Wellington''s victory over Napoleon in 1815 at Waterloo ensured British dominance for the rest of the nineteenth century. It took three days and two hours for word to travel from Belgium in a form that people could rely upon. This is a tragi-comic midsummer''s tale that begins amidst terrible carnage and weaves through a world of politics and military convention, enterprise and roguery, frustration, doubt and jealousy, to end spectacularly in the heart of Regency society at a grand soiree in St James''s Square after feverish journeys by coach and horseback, a Channel crossing delayed by falling tides and a flat calm, and a final dash by coach and four from Dover to London. At least five men were involved in bringing the news or parts of it to London, and their stories are fascinating. Brian Cathcart, a brilliant storyteller and historian, has visited the battlefield, travelled the messengers'' routes, and traced untapped British, French and

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Book SynopsisAn exploration of the age-old complicity between sky watchers and war fighters, from the best-selling author of Astrophysics for People in a Hurry.Trade Review"Accessory to War is thought-provoking and reflective…" -- Nature"... wide-ranging and very readable history of the overlap between science and the military, penned with editor Avis Lang... The book is a fascinating exploration of humanity' s capacity to combine discovery with destruction…" -- BBC Sky at Night"In Accessory to War, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Avis Lang give a sweeping panoramic overview of the enduring alliance between astrophysics and the military—from the Greeks to Galileo to GPS. The book's key contribution is in documenting the various ways science has aided military endeavors over the millennia and making the sometimes-arcane source material accessible." -- Science"Throughout history, wars tend to be won by nations that are at the forefront of science. Thus astronomers and physicists have, since ancient times, benefited from an uneasy alliance with the military. This enlightening book explores the history and current implications of this partnership between space science and national security." -- Walter Isaacson

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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 SynopsisFrom the Somme to Gallipoli to the home front, First World War For Dummies provides an authoritative, accessible, and engaging introduction to the War to End All Wars.Trade Review"...this beautifully constructed and richly detailed book goes into the complicated reasons behind the start of the war and tracks its progress in an easy-to-follow manner" (On: Yorkshire Magazine, June 2014) "This book is brilliant. Well-researched and full of anything you would want to know about World War 1" (Frost Magazine, June 2014) "The author succeeds in communicating the complexities of the whole issue in a straightforward, impartial and easy-to-read style... helping the reader to understand the Great War and all its many facets" (Leopard Magazine, July 2014)Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part I: Origins of War 7 Chapter 1: The First World War: An Overview 9 Chapter 2: The World in 1900 29 Chapter 3: Crisis Mismanagement: Unpicking the Causes of the First World War 55 Part II: Europe at War, 1914–1916 75 Chapter 4: 1914: The First World War Starts Here 77 Chapter 5: 1915: Cunning Plans to Win the War 101 Chapter 6: 1916: The Big Battles 117 Part III: A World at War 137 Chapter 7: Welcome to the World of the Trenches 139 Chapter 8: War at Sea, War in the Air 155 Chapter 9: Turkish Delights 175 Chapter 10: The Imperial War 195 Chapter 11: America Goes to War 213 Part IV: Home Fronts 229 Chapter 12: The Civilian War 231 Chapter 13: Women at War 249 Chapter 14: Struggles for Power 265 Part V: Armistice and Aftermath, 1917–1918 and Beyond 281 Chapter 15: 1917: The Year of Big Changes 283 Chapter 16: 1918: Victory and Defeat 303 Chapter 17: Aftermath: The World After the War 323 Chapter 18: Remembering the War 343 Part VI: The Part of Tens 359 Chapter 19: Ten Key Generals of the First World War 361 Chapter 20: Ten Great First World War Films 367 Chapter 21: Ten Famous Wartime Writers and Poets 371 Chapter 22: Ten Enlightening Places to Visit 377 Index 381

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Book SynopsisWorld War Two was the most devastating conflict in recorded human history. It was both global in extent and total in character. It has understandably left a long and dark shadow across the decades. Yet it is three generations since hostilities formally ended in 1945 and the conflict is now a lived memory for only a few. And this growing distance in time has allowed historians to think differently about how to describe it, how to explain its course, and what subjects to focus on when considering the wartime experience. For instance, as World War Two recedes ever further into the past, even a question as apparently basic as when it began and ended becomes less certain. Was it 1939, when the war in Europe began? Or the summer of 1941, with the beginning of Hitler''s war against the Soviet Union? Or did it become truly global only when the Japanese brought the USA into the war at the end of 1941? And what of the long conflict in East Asia, beginning with the Japanese aggression in China in the early 1930s and only ending with the triumph of the Chinese Communists in 1949? In The Oxford Illustrated History of World War Two a team of leading historians re-assesses the conflict for a new generation, exploring the course of the war not just in terms of the Allied response but also from the viewpoint of the Axis aggressor states. Under Richard Overy''s expert editorial guidance, the contributions take us from the genesis of war, through the action in the major theatres of conflict by land, sea, and air, to assessments of fighting power and military and technical innovation, the economics of total war, the culture and propaganda of war, and the experience of war (and genocide) for both combatants and civilians, concluding with an account of the transition from World War to Cold War in the late 1940s. Together, they provide a stimulating and thought-provoking new interpretation of one of the most terrible and fascinating episodes in world history.Trade Review... The Oxford Illustrated History of World War Two is a thoughtful and thought-provoking volume, which succeeds very well in bringing at least a taste of the wealth of current Second World War scholarship to a wider audience. There is much here to admire; not least the erudition of the contributors and the eclectic and original selection of photographs ... an excellent, concise and enlightening volume. As such, it is a worth addition to the library of every student and every scholar of the conflict. * Roger Moorhouse, History Today *A stimulating and thought-provoking new interpretation of one of the most terrible episodes in world history. * Military History *The Oxford Illustrated History of World War II is an exemplary book that not only provides an insightful and in-depth analysis of the war from both sides, but does so while providing an astounding array of photographs, some in vivid colour, of the real and devastating effects of war experienced by both civilians and combatants. * Ireland's Eye *Compelling in its narrative, fascinating in its detail, magisterial in its analysis, global in its breadth, Richard Overy, one of our outstanding scholars of mid-20th Century history, here delivers a military, political and economic history of WW2, aided by a galaxy of distinguished scholars, that is essential, accessible reading for general readers as well as students. * Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of Stalin: the Court of the Red Tsar *Incisive essays by leading scholars, richly illustrated with unfamiliar pictures, make this an ideal introduction to the defining conflict of the twentieth century - from which our contemporary world still struggles to recover. * David Reynolds, University of Cambridge, and author of In Command of History: Churchill Fighting and Writing the Second World War *A welcome and most useful addition to the historical literature ... the photographs, many of them new to me, were a real delight. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the war. * Paul Kennedy, Yale University, and author of Engineers of Victory and The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers *combines a breadth and depth not seen in much military history writing. The skillful analysis of each chapter does not sacrifice narrative ability to address topics ranging from the German, Italian, and Japanese conduct of the land, sea, and air wars to the political intricacies of the Grand Alliance, scientific innovation, and the cultural history of the war ... Did this reviewer mention the illustrations? Astounding. * M. A. Mengerink, CHOICE *Table of ContentsPreface ; Acknowledgements ; Editor's Introduction ; 1. The Genesis of World War ; 2. Japan's War in Asia ; 3. The Italian Wars ; 4. The German Wars ; 5. The West and the War at Sea ; 6. The Allies from Defeat to Victory ; 7. Fighting Power: World War and Military Innovation ; 8. Economies in Total War ; 9. Front Line I: Armed Forces at War ; 10. Front Line II: Civilians at War ; 11. Unnatural Deaths ; 12. War, Invention, and Experts ; 13. The Culture of War: Propaganda, Arts and Ideas ; 14. From World War to Cold War ; Epilogue ; Further Reading ; Index

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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 SynopsisIn almost every military intervention in its history, the US has made cultural mistakes that hindered attainment of its policy goals. From the counterproductive strategic bombing of Vietnam to the misguided accidental burning of the Koran in Afghanistan, the US has blundered around with little consideration of local cultural beliefs and almost no concern for the long-term effects on the host nation's society. Cultural anthropology--the so-called 'handmaiden of colonialism'--has historically served as an intellectual bridge between sovereign Western powers and local nationals. What light can it shed on the difficult intersection of the US military and foreign societies today? Each chapter in this book tells the story of an anthropologist who worked directly for the military, such as Ursula Graham Bower, the only woman to hold a British combat command during WWII. Each faced challenges including the negative outcomes of exporting Western political models to societies where they don't fit, and errors of perception that prevent understanding of indigenous societies. Ranging from the British colonial era in Africa to the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Military Anthropology illustrates the conceptual, cultural and practical barriers encountered by military organisations.Trade Review‘A fascinating and pioneering study.' -- Asian Affairs‘Never before has cultural awareness mattered so much to military operations. By exploring the extraordinary lives and experiences of a remarkable bunch of characters, Montgomery McFate demonstrates the importance of military anthropology to the study and conduct of war. This is a most enlightening volume.’ -- Theo Farrell, Dean of Arts and Social Sciences, City, University of London, author of 'Unwinnable: Britain’s War in Afghanistan'‘Montgomery McFate has written a dense but fascinating book that examines the role of anthropologists in warfare, focusing on the importance of understanding culture to achieve success in counterinsurgency, unconventional warfare, and information operations. Invaluable to strategic practitioners in a world that promises continuing American engagement in small wars.’ -- John Nagl, US Army Lieutenant Colonel (Retired), Headmaster of The Haverford School, and author of 'Knife Fights: A Memoir of Modern War''A long overdue study of a critical yet often overlooked dimension of strategy and war. McFate puts her finger on why the military and academia find it so difficult to trust each other, and why both must find a way to do so.' -- Antulio J. Echevarria II, Editor, Parameters, US Army War College

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Book SynopsisA bestselling military historian provides a comprehensive account of how World War II was fought, showing how disparate conflicts waged across the globe in the air, on land, and at sea coalesced into a single war-and how the Allied powers won it

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Book SynopsisHow did the conflict between Vietnamese nationalists and French colonial rulers erupt into a major Cold War struggle between communism and Western liberalism? In this work, leading scholars examine various dimensions of the struggle between France and Vietnamese revolutionaries that began in 1945 and reached its climax at Dien Bien Phu.Trade ReviewOffers a well-written, important step toward a refocus on the international context of an important Cold War conflict. -- Douglas Porch * Journal of Military History *Few Americans realize that the U.S. war in Vietnam was preceded by an equally destructive war waged by French troops attempting to reestablish French colonial domination over the country after Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnamese independence in Hanoi in 1945. Even fewer Americans are aware of the extent of U.S. involvement in the French war, and are equally ignorant of the astonishing extent to which Americans began their war in Vietnam from the same mistaken assumptions as the French, repeating many of the same errors of judgment as the French. This new collection will do much to dispel that ignorance. -- C. L. Yates * Choice *A fresh collection of stimulating and impressive essays on the First Vietnam War. Lawrence and Logevall have brought together the leading scholars of the period in what will be essential reading for anyone interested in colonialism and the early Cold War. -- Robert K. Brigham, Vassar CollegeThe most important contribution in decades to the international history of the First Vietnam War. These essays by leading specialists show how the Indochina War connected key participants and historical forces in the making of the post-1945 international system. This book belongs in the library of anyone interested in the Cold War, decolonization, Asian history, Vietnamese studies, and international history. -- Christopher Goscha, Université du Québec à MontréalA splendid collection of essays based on sources from across the world and covering a wide range of topics. An indispensable addition to the literature on the First Vietnam War. -- George C. Herring, University of KentuckyThe First Vietnam War beautifully illustrates the complex interplay between the emerging Cold War, the disintegrating colonial order, and the vibrant social, political, and cultural forces inside Indochina. The volume confirms the promise of the new international history—multi-archival, multi-national, and multi-causal. -- Melvyn P. Leffler, University of VirginiaIn this important book an impressive international group of historians sheds fresh light on the First Indochina War. The years 1945 to 1954 are not just a crucial, formative period for the Vietnamese–American relationship, but also a significant chapter in the international history of the twentieth century. This work will prove most welcome to scholars and general readers alike. -- Robert J. McMahon, The Ohio State UniversityTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Abbreviations 1. Introduction Mark Atwood Lawrence and Fredrik Logevall Part I. The First Vietnam War in History 2. Making Sense of the French War: The Postcolonial Moment and the First Vietnam War, 1945-1954 Mark Philip Bradley 3. Vietnamese Historians and the First Indochina War Lien-Hang T. Nguyen Part II. From One War to Another 4. Franklin Roosevelt, Trusteeship, and Indochina: A Reassessment Stein Tonnesson 5. Creating Defense Capacity in Vietnam, 1945-1947 David G. Marr 6. Forging the "Great Combination": Britain and the Indochina Problem, 1945-1950 Mark Atwood Lawrence 7. French Imperial Reconstruction and the Development of the Indochina War, 1945-1950 Martin Thomas Part III. Colonialism and Cold War 8. Ho Chi Minh and the Strategy of People's War William J. Duiker 9. The Declining Value of Indochina: France and the Economics of Empire, 1950-1955 Laurent Cesari 10. France, the United States, and Indochina Marilyn B. Young Part IV. The End of the French War and the Coming of the Americans 11. Assessing Dien Bien Phu John Prados 12. China and the Indochina Settlement at the Geneva Conference of 1954 Chen Jian 13. After Geneva: The French Presence in Vietnam, 1954-1963 Kathryn C. Statler 14. Chronicle of a War Foretold: The United States and Vietnam, 1945-1954 Andrew J. Rotter Notes Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisIn May 1965, the entire 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment--lock, stock, and barrel--embarked for Vietnam. Captain Alex Lee was there. . . .Now combat-veteran Marine captain Alex Lee brings to gritty life the full tour of 2/7. From the search-and-destroy missions to the sudden violent ambushes in the hills and valleys west of Qui Nhon, Lee describes how Marines battled monsoons, malaria, and the enemy as they crept through terrain infested with Viet Cong caves and hideouts.After paving the way in Qui Nhon for the arrival of more American military, 2/7 was assigned to Chu Lai, where the battalion fought its most bitter, deadly battles. With the scalding ring of truth, Lee captures the conditions of the bone-weary 2/7 Marines as they slogged through jungles and spent night after night in dreary, rain-filled foxholes.Although they faced a life of constant danger and occasional mindless confusion, in their seemingly endless marathon of effort, agony, and sacrifi

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Book SynopsisIn November 1942, as the Battle of Stalingrad continued to rage, the Red Army launched a devastating counter-attack from outside the city. The Soviet forces smashed the German siege and encircled Stalingrad, trapping some 290,000 soldiers of the German 6th Army inside. For almost three months, during the harshest period of the Russian winter, the besieged German troops endured atrocious conditions. Freezing cold and reliant on dwindling food supplies from Luftwaffe air drops, thousands died from starvation, frostbite or infection, if not from the fighting itself. This important work reconstructs the grim fate of the 6th Army in full by, for the first time, examining the little-known story of the field hospitals and central dressing stations. The author has trawled through hundreds of previously unpublished reports, interviews, diaries and newspaper accounts to reveal the experiences of soldiers of all ranks, from simple soldiers to generals. The book includes first-hand accounts of soldiers who were wounded or fell ill and were flown out of the encirclement; as well as those who fought to the bitter end and were taken prisoner by the Soviets. They reflect on the severity of the fighting, and reveal the slowly ebbing hopes for survival. Together they provide an illuminating and tragic portrait of the climactic events at Stalingrad.Trade Review"This is a book that sheds light upon the best and worst of the human condition. It stands as testament to the baseness of mankind as well as the astonishing levels to which it may rise; both its greatest strength and its limitation. Busch's book is disturbing and thought provoking and is a memorial to those who sacrificed for their country and their comrades."--Chris Buckham

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Book SynopsisThe death of George Armstrong Custer, and over half of his 7th Cavalry Regiment in the valley of the Little Big Horn on 25 June 1876, has become the most celebrated battle of the Indian wars. It was the greatest, and the last, victory of the Native Americans over the United States military. Disobeying orders, Custer followed a trail to a large encampment of Indians and, without determining the numbers he faced split his command into three groups and attacked. In the resulting chaos Custer and more than half the troops under his command were killed.Table of ContentsThe Warpath to 1876/Plans and Preparations/The Opposing Leaders/The Opposing Armies/Terry and Gibbon/Terry's Plan/The Battle of the Little Big Horn/Custer's Last Stand/The Aftermath/The Battlefield Today/Chronology/Guide to Further Reading/Wargaming the Little Big Horn

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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 SynopsisMany chaplains were not permitted to go near the Front in the First World War - others insisted on doing so, like Kenneth Best in the Gallipoli Campaign. Best had no military training before the war but he felt that he could only fulfil his pastoral role by getting close to the front line and working with the troops under fire. Best was attached to the 42nd East Lancastrians - the first Territorial Army Division to serve overseas in the conflict, so arguably the least experienced in the ways of war. In his diary we follow his progress through his initial training in Egypt and on to his arrival in Gallipoli in May 1915. Gallipoli has become notorious, even by the standards of the First World War. After a naval campaign to open up a supply route to Russia through Turkey failed, some 480,000 Allied troops were drawn into a land invasion in which hundreds of thousands were injured or killed. In his diary, Best records his efforts to encourage frightened men before they go over the top, to comfort the wounded and, when the fighting stops, to bury the dead. His empathy for the troops is matched by a forthright disgust for their leaders, few of whom share his insight into the horrific realities of trench warfare.

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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 SynopsisThis book examines the American Air Force aircrews who flew tactical reconnaissance combat missions from World War I to the Gulf War. The book employs primary-source interviews, unit histories, mission documents, declassified operational studies, and photos to tell their stories. In the first half of the 20th century, they flew armed and defended themselves against enemy aircraft. In the latter half of the 20th century, they flew unarmed and unafraid against MiG fighters and some of the most intense antiaircraft defenses in history. Many returned with photographs that helped pave the way for bombing assessments and army ground operations. Others never returned, and some have never been found. The author personally interviewed reconnaissance pilots who flew in WWII, Korea, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and Vietnam in order to place the reader into the cockpit. Aviation buffs and general readers alike will find this a riveting story of grit and courage.

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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 SynopsisCombining military and deception histories - so often viewed in isolation - this book provides context for deceptions and adds a layer of knowledge regarding the planning of military operations. The result is a more complete and nuanced view of Allied operations than is to be found in most histories of World War II.

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Book SynopsisThe story of Culloden, one of the most important battles in Scottish history - how it was fought, how it has been remembered, and what it has come to mean.Trade ReviewUnlike too much writing on places of memory, this is fresh, concise, free from jargon and well informed about realities. * Jeremy Black, Books of the Year 2016, History Today *deep and thoughtful study * Michael Russell, MSP, Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe, Books of the Year 2016, Herald *an admirably balanced volume on Culloden which should be required reading for non-Scottish MPs * Keith Simpson, Iain Dale's blog *a fascinating read * Battlefield Trust *Table of Contents1: Introduction 2: Conflicts and Armies: The Rising of 1745 3: Culloden Moor 4: Aftermath and Occupation 5: The Battle that Made Britain ? Historiography and Evidence in the case of Culloden 6: Culloden in British Memory: Objects, Artifacts and Representations of the Conflict

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

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Book Synopsis"A riveting tale told through personal accounts and sketches along the way - ultimately, a story of success against great odds. I enjoyed it enormously." - Tom Brokaw The Ghost Army of World War II is the first book to tell the full story of how a traveling road show of artists wielding imagination, paint, and bravado saved thousands of American lives - now updated with new material. In the summer of 1944, a handpicked group of young GIs - including such future luminaries such as Bill Blass, Ellsworth Kelly, Arthur Singer, Victor Dowd, Art Kane, and Jack Masey - landed in France to conduct a secret mission. From Normandy to the Rhine, the 1,100 men of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, known as the Ghost Army, conjured up phony convoys, phantom divisions, and make-believe headquarters to fool the enemy about the strength and location of American units. Every move they made was top secret and their story was hushed up for decades after the war's end. Hundreds of color and black-and-white photographs illuminate how their creations supported the war tactics that helped open the way for the final drive to Germany. The stunning art created between missions offers a glimpse of life behind the lines during World War II. Collectors of World War II books will find The Ghost Army of World War II an essential addition to their library.

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Book SynopsisA compelling visual guide to the history of the military!Travel through time and explore 5000 years of weaponry in stunning detail with this riveting military book - from the spears and swords of ancient times to the guns and grenades of modern warfare.This beautifully illustrated definitive military guide charts the evolution of battlefield technology. Here''s what you''ll find inside:- It includes objects taken from collections that are not available to the public or have never been photographed before- Features comprehensive catalogues of the key weapons, armour, equipment, and military technologies of each period, along with full specification details and information about special features- Includes stunning close-up virtual tours on subjects as diverse as a Roman fort, a medieval castle, a WWI trench system, a WWII tank, and a modern aircraft carrier, to name a few- Narrative spreads and timelines provide historical context for

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Trade Review‘More gripping than fiction; take the graphic account of an SAS corporal’s harrowing 200-mile escape through western Iraq, for instance - a tale almost too incredible for a thriller… An important and enjoyable book.’Christopher Bellamy, Independent ‘Fascinating… Deserves a place even in the glorious annals of British soldiering.’James Buchan, Spectator ‘This excellent and moving book builds up to a most exciting climax.’Sunday Times ‘A commander who made men do almost impossible things by doing them himself first… A soldier who from the most undisciplined and unpromising beginnings achieved complete mastery of himself and hte men who fought under him.’Daily Telegraph

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Book SynopsisHarry Drinkwater (Author) Harold Victor Drinkwater was born on 19 February 1889 in Stratford-upon-Avon. He attended King Edward VI Grammar School, where Shakespeare was educated. A month after war was declared in 1914, Harry volunteered, but failed his medical for being half an inch' too short. He tried again and successfully joined a Pals battalion in Birmingham. Harry fought on both the Western and Italian Fronts , receiving the Military Cross in 1917. Harry stayed in the army for two more years after Armistice was declared. He died in 1978.Trade ReviewA lost diary of the Great War so brutally vivid you'll feel you are there in the trenches * Daily Mail *One of the best diaries of the First World War -- Rodderick Suddaby, former keeper of the Department of Documents at the Imperial War MuseumUnique ... an unvarnished view of the war’s horrors – and its occasional joys * Telegraph *A remarkable insight into the mind of a man who went through WW1 as an infantryman in the trenches, private and officer ... No-one who wants to understand the truth about the trenches can ignore this book -- Colonel John Hughes-WilsonUnique ... an unvarnished view of the war’s horrors – and its occasional joys * Telegraph *

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

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Book 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 SynopsisThe 53rd edition of the SIPRI Yearbook analyses developments in 2021 in security and conflicts; military spending and armaments; non-proliferation; arms control; and disarmament.

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