War and defence operations Books
Liverpool University Press Huguenot Soldiers of William of Orange and the
Book SynopsisThis book provides the first full-scale, scholarly analysis of the political, religious and social rationale which underlay Huguenot support for William of Orange in 1688. In the context of the Huguenot exodus from France and the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, the role of the Huguenot soldiers within an international Protestant political context is explained through the use of rich biographical and historical detail. Special attention is given to the role played by the most prominent Protestant soldiers of William's army, the Huguenot refugees and the British soldiers of the Anglo-Dutch Brigade. The importance of issues of loyalty and conscience amongst Europe's professional international officer corps is addressed, thereby placing the valuable service rendered to William III by his Huguenot soldiers in an international context encompassing political, religious and social aspects. This book will be a rich source of biographical information about hundreds of Huguenot soldiers in British, Dutch and Brandenburg service in the period 1670 to 1700.Trade Review"Glozier's study is most impressive in its reconstruction of the Huguenot community. His book has a prosopographical approach and contains a treasury of biographical information, based upon which the author analyzes the social and religious background of the soldiers... an important and innovative contribution to Dutch military historiography as well as Huguenot studies and may prove an important incentive to study this topic in more depth." -- H-Albion."This book's particular merit lies in its international scope and its focus on Huguenot officers serving William in the Netherlands and Ireland... Discusses a worthwhile and neglected subject." -- Albion.Table of ContentsContents: Introduction; The French Crown, the Huguenots and the Army before 1685; The Revocation of the Edict of Nantes; Huguenots in the Dutch Army, 1685--8; The Huguenots and the Anglo-Dutch Brigade; James II and the Huguenots; The Glorious Revolution' of 1688; Ireland; Epilogue; Index.
£27.95
Imprint Academic Morse Code Wrens of Station X: Bletchley's Outer
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.
£20.00
Naval & Military Press Ltd Narrative of the Field Operations Connected with the Zulu War of 1879
£18.00
Naval & Military Press Ltd France and Belgium 1917: v. 1: German Retreat
£35.00
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Mannerheim Line 192039
£13.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC World War II Battlefield Communications
Book SynopsisPerhaps the biggest difference in the fighting between the two World Wars lay in the invention of the man-portable radio that allowed for a greater degree of tactical coordination than ever before. Gordon L. Rottman provides an informative study of the use of small radios, field telephones, signal flares and ground-to-air signaling that revolutionized the battlefield.Table of ContentsThe state of the art in 1939 / The basic means: messengers, manpack radios, vehicle radios, field telephones, signal pistols and flares, colored smoke, air/ground signals / Capabilities and limitations / Basic procedures / Countermeasures: interception and jamming / National specifics of equipment and procedures: US, UK, Soviet, German, Japanese and wartime developments
£13.49
Countryside Books The Trench: Life and Death on the Western Front
Book SynopsisThe Trench - Life and Death on The Western Front - with a Foreword by Michael Morpugo.The horrors of the First World War scarred an entire generation at the beginning of the twentieth century. Now, one hundred years later, we are asked to reflect upon it and remember what a disastrous episode of history it was. During the next four years many thousands of people, especially the young in school parties, will visit the battle sites of the Western Front in France and Belgium,with their museums, memorials and trench reconstructions. These last were the setting for so much of the carnage. This book offers a brief, straightforward, illustrated history of the First World War in some 96 pages. In particular, it explains the trenches and what it was like to live and fight in them. Using his own diagrams, illustrations, and maps, author Trevor Yorke explains the architecture of them, with their command posts, sally points, tunnels, machine gun nests, duck boards, and sleeping billets. There are chapters to explain tactics, weaponry, and daily life. There are special features on the introduction of new weapons of war, such as tanks, early aeroplanes, and the first use of poison gas.The political events throughout the war are described in outline. There are summaries of the major battles and there is information about special places to visit in France and Belgium including key museums, battle sites and memorials.These can bring home to us a real understanding of the unique inhumanity of the war, and why the date 1914 - 1918 require all generations of today to remember and learn from them.As Michael Morpurgo says in his foreword:'As we begin to mark the centenary of the First World War, we should honour those who died, most certainly,and gratefully too, but we should never glorify. During these next four years of commemoration, we should read the poems, the stories, the history, the diaries, visit the cemeteries - German cemeteries as well as ours - they were all sons and brothers and lovers and husbands and fathers too.'
£8.99
Granta Books Swansong 1945: A Collective Diary from Hitler's
Book SynopsisSwansong 1945 chronicles four significant days in the last three weeks of WWII: 20 April, Hitler's last birthday; 25 April, when American and Soviet troops first met at the Elbe; 30 April, the day Hitler committed suicide; and 8 May, the day of the German surrender. Side by side in these pages, we encounter the voices of civilians fleeing on foot to the west, British and American POWs dreaming of home, concentration camp survivors, loyal soldiers from both sides of the conflict and national leaders including Churchill, Hitler and Mussolini. A monumental account of survival, suffering, hope and despair, Swansong 1945 brings vividly to life a conflict whose repercussions are felt today.
£11.69
Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd Explaining Civil War: A Rational Choice Approach
Book SynopsisUsing the rational choice approach, Syed Mansoob Murshed analyses the motivations behind civil war and identifies growth and institutional failure as catalysts of the greed and grievance that characterise the onset and persistence of civil war. This book explores the pre-conditions for conflict in terms of growth failure and critically appraises the greed and grievance theories common to conflict literature. It is argued that various institutional mechanisms of restraint that can be labeled the 'social contract' are crucial for violent conflict avoidance. The reasons underpinning the instability of treaties ending civil wars, post-conflict reconstruction issues, liberal peace theory, and how globalization and conflict relate are also examined. Explaining Civil War will be of interest to development economists and political scientists, as well as to students and researchers of political economy and conflict studies.Trade Review'Conflict is now identified as one of the most significant sources of development failure and thus of growing income divergence between nations. Dr. Murshed's book addresses the issues of weak institutions, conflict, and slow growth. It presents a synthesis of the existing theories, and provides many new insights. It will certainly be much consulted and read by academics, policy-makers and all those who are interested in the causes of conflict and post-conflict reconstruction.' -- Branko Milanovic, The World Bank'Masterfully integrating the logic of formal economic models, the insights of normative philosophy, and evidence from empirical analysis, Syed Mansoob Murshed explains civil wars. This is a brilliant, original work.' -- Scott Gates, PRIO and Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway'This masterly book succinctly surveys contemporary literature on the sources of conflict in developing countries as well as policies to secure a stable peace, including many insightful contributions by the author. The treatment of this important but controversial field is both informative and well balanced. It should be essential reading for all students and policy makers who believe that policy should be evidence-based.' -- Frances Stewart, University of Oxford, UKTable of ContentsContents: 1. Introduction 2. Growth and Conflict 3. Greed and Grievance 4. The Uneasy Commitment to Peace 5. The Social Contract and Lasting Peace 6. Post-War Economic Reconstruction 7. The Liberal Peace and Globalization 8. Conclusions References Index
£95.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Born of the Desert: With the SAS in North Africa
Book SynopsisBorn of the Desert is a classic account of the early years of the SAS. The Special Air Service was formed in 1941 and quickly earned a reputation for stealth, daring and audacity in the Western Desert Campaign. This elite force utilised the endless expanse of the desert to carry out surprise attacks and hit and run raids behind the Afrika Korps' lines, sowing confusion, fear and consternation. Malcolm James served as Medical Officer with the SAS throughout 1942 and 1943, and Born of the Desert is his atmospheric account of his life in the North African desert, the bitter fighting against Italian and German targets and the forging of a remarkable elite unit. James captures the excitement of this dramatic mode of warfare and brings to life the deadly beauty of the desert, the harsh environment and the strong bonds of comradeship and interdependence which resulted. Born of the Desert was written soon after the events depicted and has an immediacy which places it above other Second World War memoirs. The original text has now been augmented by supplementary notes by David List, and appendices on SAS casualties and awards by David Buxton.
£20.97
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Fighting the Breakout
Book Synopsis'Fascinating and essential stuff.' Gary Sheffield in Military Illustrated This gripping volume charts the progress of the Allied breakout of Normandy through German eyes. Beginning with Operation COBRA and ending with the offensive which led to the liberation of Paris, this critical phase of the war in the west is examined and described by five senior German officers. From staff officers at OKW to divisional generals on the ground, these officers critique their performance, examine Allied superiority, and evaluate their own efforts to contain Allied forces in Normandy. They look at such key events as the counter-attack at Mortain, the American offensive, British and Canadian efforts and the sequence of events that led to the fighting around the Falaise gap. The officers originally submitted the reports presented here to Allied intelligence during post-war debriefing sessions. This volume brings together a selection of these reports to provide a broad overview of German hopes balanced with the realisation that they could not hope to contain the Allied efforts for long. With supplementary material by David C.Isby, this is a fascinating glimpse into how a defeated army sought hard to turn the tide of defeat.
£18.11
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Crecy War
Book SynopsisCrecy, the Black Prince's most famous victory, was the first of two major victories during the first part of the Hundred Years War. This was followed ten years later by his second great success at the Battle of Poitiers. The subsequent Treaty of Bretigny established the rights of the King of England to hold his domains in France without paying homage to the King of France. In this hugely-acclaimed military history Colonel Burne re-establishes the reputation of Edward III as a grand master of strategy, whose personal hand lay behind the success of Crecy. He convincingly demonstrates that much of the credit for Crecy and Poitiers should be given to Edward and less to his son, the Black Prince, than is traditionally the case. With his vigorous and exciting style, Colonel Burne has chronicled for the general reader as well as for the military enthusiast, one of the most exceptional wars in which England has ever been engaged. This book firmly restores the Crecy campaign to its rightful place near the pinnacle of British military history. 'A most important book - a work of original research, written by a master of his subject ...A model of how history should be written, packed with accurate information and common sense. ' Sir Arthur Bryant in The Sunday Times
£16.01
Quercus Publishing Great Military Disasters: From Bannockburn to
Book SynopsisGreat Military Disasters tells the dramatic stories behind the world's most calamitous conflicts. From the French army's failure to understand the impact of new technology at Crécy to Hitler's blatant overconfidence at Stalingrad, military historian Julian Spilsbury provides thrilling accounts of each disaster, covering exactly what went wrong, how and why. Of course, a disastrous outcome for one side meant victory for another, so as well as exploring the reasons the conflict ended in disaster, Great Military Disasters also reveals the key to victory. Eyewitness quotations add another dimension to this intriguing study of human incompetence of the gravest kind.
£12.34
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Through Hitler's Back Door
Book SynopsisRomania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia were all German allies in the Second World War, unlike the other countries of Europe which had either been forcibly occupied by the Nazis or remained neutral.SOE Missions mounted within their borders were thus doubly hazardous for they were conducted in enemy-populated territory, heavily policed by military forces and gendarmerie. Furthermore all these states had well developed and experienced security services, usually supplemented by Gestapo and Abwehr units.A further complication to the activities of SOE in these countries was that they had all been effectively conceded by Western Allies to Russia; not surprisingly therefore, operations in the Soviet 'sphere of influence' were to prove diabolically difficult.This is a story about the courage of individuals in the face of overwhelming odds. Hunger, ill-health, exhaustion, cold and treachery all combined to make life for those members of SOE who parachuted into these Fascist outposts of Fortress Europe as insufferable as it was dangerous.
£26.20
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Suez: Britain's End of Empire in the Middle East
Book SynopsisThis title includes a new Foreword by WM. Roger Louis. On 26 July 1956, the British Empire received a blow from which it would never recover. On this day, Egypt's President Gamal Abdul Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal Company, one of the gems of Britain's imperial portfolio. It was to be a fateful day for Britain as a world power. Britain, France and Israel subsequently colluded in attacking Egypt, ostensibly - in the case of Britain and France - to protect the Suez Canal but in reality in an attempt to depose Nasser. The US opposition to this scheme forced an ignominious withdrawal, leaving Nasser triumphant and marking a decisive end to Britain's imperial era. In this, the seminal work on the Suez Crisis, Keith Kyle draws on a wealth of documentary evidence to tell this fascinating political, military and diplomatic story. Including new introductory material, this revised edition of a classic work will be essential reading for anyone interested in the history of the twentieth century, military history and the end of empire.Trade Review"'[Suez] has the quality of making everything that has come before... look like a pamphlet off the top of a partisan's head' - Roy Jenkins, Sunday Times"Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Swing-Door of the British Empire 2. A Jewish State 3. Eden and Nasser 4. Arms and the Dam 5. Turning Against Nasser 6. Code-Word 'De Lesseps' 7. Plotting Nasser’s Downfall 8. A Matter of Timetables 9. Musketeer 10. The First London Conference 11. Keightley in Command 12. The Birth of the SCUA 13. Musketeer Revise 14. The Israeli Factor 15. Taking it to the UN 16. Two Frenchmen at Chequers 17. Sèvres, Conference of Collusion 18. A Parachute Drop at the Mitla 19. Ultimatum 20. The Die is Cast 21. World Opinion Speaks 22. France’s War 23. Slow March to Suez 24. The Empire Strikes Back. Phase I: 5 November 1956 25. The Empire Strikes Back. Phase II: 6 November 1956 26. Picking up the Pieces 27. Forced to Quit 28. Last Stands and New Doctrines 29. The End of the Suez Conflict 30. Suez 1991-2001 31. Epilogue Appendices Notes Bibliography Index
£25.64
C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd From Above: War, Violence and Verticality
Book SynopsisThe arrival of the aerostatic balloon at the end of the nineteenth century ushered in a new perspective on the battlefield, taking over from the mount - the hill at the edge of the field of combat - and the fortified tower positioned within it. Since then there has been no perspective more culpable in war, violence and security than the aerial one. From Above explores the aerial view in new depth and clarity. It draws in vivid detail on studies of the aerial perspective today and on rich empirical investigations of the aerial view from the past. Chapters examine a range of case studies and examples, from Vietnam and the balloon prospect, camouflage, colonial policing, to today's drone wars. The contributors draw on perspectives from history, international relations, political geography and cultural studies in order to provide a truly interdisciplinary perspective on the view from above. They also consider the view from above in relation to its technologies, legalities, practices, doctrines, and visual culture. Among the contributors are renowned international experts such as Derek Gregory, Trevor Paglen, Caren Kaplan, Klaus Dodds and Priya Satia. The aerial view is a perspective that can no longer be ignored, one that is of growing significance for those interested in geopolitics, militarism and conflict.Trade Review'Being above - using aircraft to loiter within the atmosphere or on the edge of space - has long been recognised as a definitive means of gaining military and strategic advantage over those bound by the earth's surface. The last century has witnessed countless episodes of annihilation and killing by states and militaries from up in the sky. But how can we approach the deep connections between verticality, violence and war? From Above - a dazzling and definitive collection - provides the answers. Bringing together the very best thinkers from Geography, Cultural Studies, Art Theory and Political Science, the result is an extraordinary and searing book. Here, for the first time, is a volume which fully excavates how targeting and killing from above was invented, generalised and rendered completely normal in the past century and a half. A must-read for anyone concerned with the nature of contemporary political violence.' -- Stephen Graham, Professor of Cities and Society, School of Architecture, Planning and landscape, Newcastle University'Packed with historical knowledge and theoretical insights, this collection opens our eyes to the metaphors and technologies embedded in the most ordinary expressions such as above, below, depth, flight, earth, and sky. In chapter after chapter, the aerial view presents itself not only as a militaristic space and a geopolitical theatre but also - and above all - as a conceptual event in modernity.' -- Rey Chow, author of Entanglements, or Transmedial Thinking about Capture'From Above Is a remarkable collection of essays on an important and neglected topic. The chapters range across time and space, covering a great deal of terrain and building up a multi-layered account of empirical and historical detail. The collection as a whole develops a new theoretical vocabulary to thinking about the politics and geographies of the vertical.' -- Stuart Elden, Professor of Political Theory and Geography, University of Warwick'Bombings and assassinations meet with surveys and cartography in this collection of critically engaged essays on the combined force of aerial knowledge and aerial power. Offering a much-needed counter to the official line on air power, the volume spells out the extent to which reconnaissance and violence operate in tandem - from above.' -- Mark Neocleous, Professor of the Critique of Political Economy, Politics and History
£58.50
C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd From Above: War, Violence and Verticality
Book SynopsisThe arrival of the aerostatic balloon at the end of the nineteenth century ushered in a new perspective on the battlefield, taking over from the mount - the hill at the edge of the field of combat - and the fortified tower positioned within it. Since then there has been no perspective more culpable in war, violence and security than the aerial one. From Above explores the aerial view in new depth and clarity. It draws in vivid detail on studies of the aerial perspective today and on rich empirical investigations of the aerial view from the past. Chapters examine a range of case studies and examples, from Vietnam and the balloon prospect, camouflage, colonial policing, to today's drone wars. The contributors draw on perspectives from history, international relations, political geography and cultural studies in order to provide a truly interdisciplinary perspective on the view from above. They also consider the view from above in relation to its technologies, legalities, practices, doctrines, and visual culture. Among the contributors are renowned international experts such as Derek Gregory, Trevor Paglen, Caren Kaplan, Klaus Dodds and Priya Satia. The aerial view is a perspective that can no longer be ignored, one that is of growing significance for those interested in geopolitics, militarism and conflict.Trade Review'Being above - using aircraft to loiter within the atmosphere or on the edge of space - has long been recognised as a definitive means of gaining military and strategic advantage over those bound by the earth's surface. The last century has witnessed countless episodes of annihilation and killing by states and militaries from up in the sky. But how can we approach the deep connections between verticality, violence and war? From Above - a dazzling and definitive collection - provides the answers. Bringing together the very best thinkers from Geography, Cultural Studies, Art Theory and Political Science, the result is an extraordinary and searing book. Here, for the first time, is a volume which fully excavates how targeting and killing from above was invented, generalised and rendered completely normal in the past century and a half. A must-read for anyone concerned with the nature of contemporary political violence.' -- Stephen Graham, Professor of Cities and Society, School of Architecture, Planning and landscape, Newcastle University'Packed with historical knowledge and theoretical insights, this collection opens our eyes to the metaphors and technologies embedded in the most ordinary expressions such as above, below, depth, flight, earth, and sky. In chapter after chapter, the aerial view presents itself not only as a militaristic space and a geopolitical theatre but also - and above all - as a conceptual event in modernity.' -- Rey Chow, author of Entanglements, or Transmedial Thinking about Capture'From Above Is a remarkable collection of essays on an important and neglected topic. The chapters range across time and space, covering a great deal of terrain and building up a multi-layered account of empirical and historical detail. The collection as a whole develops a new theoretical vocabulary to thinking about the politics and geographies of the vertical.' -- Stuart Elden, Professor of Political Theory and Geography, University of Warwick'Bombings and assassinations meet with surveys and cartography in this collection of critically engaged essays on the combined force of aerial knowledge and aerial power. Offering a much-needed counter to the official line on air power, the volume spells out the extent to which reconnaissance and violence operate in tandem - from above.' -- Mark Neocleous, Professor of the Critique of Political Economy, Politics and History
£31.50
C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd The Ottoman Culture of Defeat: The Balkan Wars
Book SynopsisWhen the first Balkan War broke out in October 1912, few Ottomans anticipated that it would prove to be a watershed moment for the Empire, ending in ignominy, national catastrophe, and the loss of its remaining provinces in the Balkans. Defeat at the hands of an alliance of Balkan powers comprising Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia and Montenegro set the stage for the Balkan Crisis of 1914 and would serve as a prelude to WWI. It was also a moment of deep national trauma and led to bitter soul-searching, giving rise to a so-called 'Culture of Defeat' in which condemnation and criticism flourished in a way seemingly at odds with the reformist debate which followed the Young Turk Revolution of 1908.Eyal Ginio's clear-eyed and rigorously researched book uncovers the different visual and written products of the defeat, published in Ottoman Turkish, Arabic and Ladino, with the aim of understanding the experience of defeat - how it was perceived, analysed and commemorated by different sectors in Ottoman society - to show that it is key to understanding the actions of the Ottoman political elite during the subsequent World War and the early decades of the Turkish Republic.Trade Review'A major achievement.''This is the best work I have seen on the Balkan Wars. Eyal Ginio's deep understanding of the causes and sociopolitical consequences of the conflicts make the reading this book an undiluted pleasure. The book is empirically well-crafted and theoretically-guided work of the highest level.' * M. Hakan Yavuz, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Utah *'Eyal Ginio has masterfully composed a social history of one multi-ethnic society s reactions to an empire s collapsing place in the world. His investigations into hitherto ignored Arabic, Ottoman and Ladino sources are especially insightful, promising to influence how future historians write about the Balkan Wars.' * Isa Blumi, Stockholm University, author of Reinstating the Balkans: Alternative Balkan Modernities, 1800-1912 *'Eyal Ginio deftly moves between sources penned in Ottoman Turkish, Arabic, Hebrew, Ladino, and French to expose the wide-ranging impact of the Balkan Wars on Ottoman society. Covering topics as diverse as military and philanthropic mobilisation, children s literature, war refugees, and attempts to shape a 'national economy', Ginio convincingly argues that the Balkan Wars represented the Ottomans first experience with 'total war.'' * Julia Phillips Cohen, author of Becoming Ottomans: Sephardi Jews and Imperial Citizenship in the Modern Era *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Ottoman Society, the Balkan Wars and the Defeat1. The Balkan Wars and Ottoman Societies: The Devastating Shift from Celebration to Defeat2. The Balkan Wars and the Shaping of the Ottoman Culture of Defeat3. Regeneration, Revenge and Regaining Honour4. Children in the Ottoman Literature of Defeat: From War's Victims to the Citizens-Soldiers of the Future5. The Project of National Economy: Excluding the Enemy "Within"6. Commemorating the Victorious Second Balkan War and the Reinstatement of Edirne - Celebrating the Rebirth of the Nation7. The Retracing of Communal Borders in Eastern Thrace: Cisr-i Mustafa Pasa and Dimetoka as Case-Studies8. Conclusion: The Defeat in the Balkan Wars and Its Legacy
£45.00
C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd High Command: British Military Leadership in the
Book Synopsis** Includes a New Postcript 'The Chilcot Report—Early Thoughts on Military Matters'** From 2001 Britain supported the United States in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. 'Victory' in such conflicts is always hard to gauge and domestic political backing for them was never robust. For this, the governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were held responsible, and paid the price, but the role played by the High Command in the Ministry of Defence also bears examination. Critics have noted that the armed services were riven by internal rivalry and their leadership was dysfunctional, but the truth is more complicated. In his book Elliott explores the circumstances that led to these wars and how the Ministry of Defence coped with the challenges presented. He reveals how the Service Chiefs were set at odds by the system, almost as rivals in the making, with responsibility diffuse and authority ambiguous. The MoD concentrated on making things work, rather than questioning whether what they were being asked to do was practicable.Trade ReviewLong overdue, 'High Command' is a study of what's wrong at the MoD, and an excellent primer for the Chilcot report. . . . Elliott sets out an agenda for reform as well as a narrative. He does so in terms that Evelyn Waugh could not have bettered. * The Spectator *Britain will lose more wars unless military chiefs stop agreeing to impossible missions after a decade of errors in Iraq and Afghanistan, a new book warns... High Command, based on interviews with many of those at the helm of the military and the Ministry of Defence from the turn of the century, also identifies fundamental flaws inside the ministry that set the conditions for failure... Offering a rare insight into the turmoil within the armed forces during one of the most critical decisions of the two wars -- the deployment of British forces to Helmand in 2006 when they were still fighting in southern Iraq. -- Deborah Haynes, Defence Editor, The TimesEnthralling, gripping and brutally honest . . . With a gentle, skilful hand Elliott guides the reader through the complex world of 'High Command' to explain why a valiant and well-trained military force was not afforded the proper conditions to succeed -- neither in resources nor in leadership at a political level. -- General Jack Keane, former Vice Chief of Staff, United States ArmyIt is the responsibility of the chiefs of staff to speak truth to power when Britain goes to war. However, until now they have been accorded little attention in the controversies generated by the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Christopher Elliott has put that right, combining an insider's perspective with shrewdness, wit and strategic insight. If we are to learn lessons from the last decade, this is where to begin. -- Sir Hew Strachan, Chichele Professor of the History of War, University of OxfordThis is a diplomatically couched bombshell of criticism of UK decision-making and the conduct of war. A must-read for any journalist and student of IR, strategy, decision-making processes, and organisational psychology, it should be on every reading list right up there with Graham Allison's Essence of Decision. The UK MoD, and Defence Ministries the world over, should reflect on General Elliott's trenchant analysis and wise advice, lest lives and treasure continue to be wasted in ineffective or even counter-productive campaigns. -- Professor Beatrice Heuser, University of Reading'High Command' is a clear and balanced account of the strategic direction - and lack of it - in British operations over the past fifteen years. Christopher Elliott brings depressing evidence of gross institutional failure and indicates what should be done to make 'the machinery of government at war' fit for purpose. A well written book and extremely relevant to our times as yet another generation is busy involving us once again in the Middle East. -- General Sir Rupert Smith KCB DSO OBE QGM former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander EuropeElliott has provided the ideal primer for the Chilcot report, whenever it arrives. One of his best suggestions is the need for better education for senior offices, to the level of their American peers, particularly in human and political geography. -- Robert Fox, The World TodayAn outstanding book on British military leadership in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. * Changing Character of War, Oxford University *Elliott is particularly well qualified to shine a light on the performance of the 'High Command' and does so with highly rigorous analysis, shrewd observations and perceptive insights. A compelling and disquieting account. -- Lieutenant General (retired) Sir John Kiszely KCB MC, former Director of the Defence Academy of the United KingdomAn impressively original work. Elliott authoritatively describes the blindness and blunders committed by Britain's politicians, civil servants and the military before and after the invasion of Iraq and exposes how the lessons of failure in Iraq were ignored during the venture into Helmand -- Tom Bower, writer and journalistA very welcome present this Christmas was a copy of Major General (Retd) Christopher Elliott's book, 'High Command', about British Military Leadership in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. . . . An extremely well written and thoughtful book it examines the causes of these wars and how the Ministry of Defence coped with the challenges that they presented. * Salisbury Journal *[Elliott] is meticulous in setting out . . . who was who in key military positions during this period, the structures within which they were working and, based on interviews, their opinions on how 'the system' worked . . . Also, commendably, he concludes with some practical suggestions as to how the system might be changed for the better. * Asian Affairs *
£15.19
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Forts of Colonial North America: British, Dutch and Swedish colonies
Book SynopsisThis book takes a detailed look at the fortifications of various types that were built from the times of the earliest British settlements in North America in the late 16th century until the end of the Seven Years' War, when France ceded New France to Britain. It begins with a study of the forts built by colonists on Roanoke Island between 1585 and 1590, and the famous settlements in Jamestown (Virginia) from 1607. It moves on to cover the British settlements that followed in New England, Nova Scotia and other points on the North American coast, as well as the Dutch fortified settlements in what are now the states of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, and the Swedish forts in Delaware between 1638 and 1655.Trade ReviewThis fascinating volume traces the development of fortifications in North America from the 1520s to the 1760s, region by region. It is crammed with illustrations of everything from 'strong houses' and stockades to the later Vauban-like fortifications -- Miniature Wargames This volume offers a valuable guide to much of the colonial forts of North America, and is highly recommended -- Casemate: The Journal of the Fortress Study Group
£13.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Fourth Crusade 1202–04: The betrayal of Byzantium
Book SynopsisThe Fourth Crusade was the first, and most famous of the 'diverted' Crusades, which saw the Crusade diverted from its original target, Ayyubi Egypt, to attack the Christian city of Zadar in modern Croatia instead, an attack that was little more than a mercenary action to repay the Venetians for their provision of a fleet to the Crusaders. This book examines the combined action and sacking of the city of Zara, which saw the Crusaders temporarily excommunicated by the Pope. It goes on to evaluate how the influence of the Venetians prompted an attack on Constantinople, analyses the siege that followed and describes the naval assault and sacking of the city which saw the Crusaders place Count Baldwin of Flanders on the Byzantine throne.Table of ContentsIntroduction /Chronology /Opposing commanders /Opposing forces /Opposing plans /The campaign /Aftermath /The battlefields today /Further reading /Index
£15.29
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Defense of the Rhine 1944–45
Book SynopsisThe Rhine River represented the last natural defensive barrier for the Third Reich in the autumn of 1944. Although Hitler had been reluctant to allow the construction of tactical defence lines in France, the final defense of the Reich was another matter. As a result, construction of a Rhine defence line began in September 1944. Steven J. Zaloga examines the multiple phases of construction undertaken to strengthen the Westwall (Siegfried Line), to fortify many of the border villages, and finally to prepare for the demolition of the Rhine bridges. Using detailed maps, colour artwork, and expert analysis, this book takes a detailed look at Germany's last line of defence.Trade ReviewThis is an excellent book by one of Osprey's best authors, and it is recommended to those with any interest in World War II in the ETO, or in land defences in general -- Casemate: The Journal of the Fortress Study Group
£13.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Armies of the Balkan Wars 1912–13: The priming
Book SynopsisIn 1912, the Balkan states formed an alliance in an effort to break free from the crumbling Ottoman Empire. Forming an army of some 645,000 troops from Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia and Montenego, they took on a force of 400,000 Turkish soldiers. Both sides were equipped with the latest weapons technology. This book looks at the diverse and sometimes colourful uniforms worn by both sides, paying special attention to insignia, weapons and equipment. It also gives an overview of the campaigns that became a 'priming pan' of World War I.Trade ReviewVery highly recommended -- Military Modelcraft InternationalTable of ContentsHistorical Introduction /Chronology /Armies of the Balkan League: Greece, Bulgaria, Montenegro /Armies of the Ottoman Army /Romanian Army /Irregulars and Volunteers: Albanians, Macedonians, Turkish, Italians /Weaponry /Aerial Warfare: balloons and the first combat use of aircraft
£11.69
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC No Greater Ally: The Untold Story of Poland’s
Book SynopsisThere is a chapter of World War II history that remains largely untold; the monumental struggles of an entire nation have been forgotten, and even intentionally obscured. Giving a full overview of Poland's participation in World War II. Following their valiant but doomed defence of Poland in 1939, members of the Polish armed forces fought with the Allies wherever and however they could. Full of previously unpublished accounts, and rare photographs, this title provides a detailed analysis of the devastation the war brought to Poland, and the final betrayal when, having fought for freedom for six long years, Poland was handed to the Soviet Union.Table of ContentsIntroduction /1: Dawn of Darkness (the pre-war situation and the invasion of Poland in 1939) /2: French Misfortunes (The aftermath of the invasion, and the difficulties of the Polish forces trying to re-form in France, the fall of France, and the Polish evacuation to England) /3: Everything was in Secret (The story of the largest, most complex and most active resistance movement of the war) /4: On Wings of Eagles (Air War over Poland in 1939, over France in 1940, and then in England until the end of the war) /5: Warriors from a Wasteland (the fate of the hundreds of thousands of Polish PoWs and civilians deported to Soviet camps, and then the 100,000 survivors allowed to re-form a Polish army following Germany's declaration of war on the Soviet Union. /6: A Bloody Job Well Done (1st armored division, their formation, and their role in the Normandy breakout, and on into Germany) /7: A Bridge Not Far Enough (the 1st Polish Independant Parachute brigade, their formation, and their role in Operation Market Garden) /8: Poles Under Soviet Command (The actions of those Poles unable to leave Russia who fought as part of the 2nd Polish Corps, fighting under Soviet command from Stalingrad to Berlin) /9: Glory and Heartbreak (The Warsaw Uprising) /10: For Your Freedom (The devastation wrought on Poland by the war, the post-war settlements and the fate of the hundreds of thousands of displaced Polish troops and civilians) /Notes /Further Reading /Index
£13.96
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Armies of the Irish Rebellion 1798
Book SynopsisIn 1798, the Irish rose up against the corrupt English government run out of Dublin. Joined by both Protestants and Catholics, the rebellion quickly spread across the country. Although the Irish peasantry were armed mostly with pikes, they were able to overwhelm a number of small, isolated British outposts. However, even with the half-hearted assistance of the French, the Irish could not compete with the organized ranks of the British Army when under competent leadership. In a brutal turning of the tide, the Redcoats plowed through the rebels. In just three months, between 15,000 and 30,000 people died, most of them Irish. This book tells the story of this harsh, but fascinating, period of Irish history and covers the organization and uniforms of the forces involved.Table of ContentsIntroduction – Ireland in 1798 /The United Irishmen /Chronology of the Rebellion /British regular units /Irish Militia and Volunteer Yeomanry units /English and Welsh Fencible units /Highland Fencible units /Insurgent Forces /French regular units /The Légion Irlandaise
£11.69
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Forts of the War of 1812
Book SynopsisWhen war broke out between the United States and Great Britain in 1812, neither side was prepared for the conflict, as evidenced by their respective fortifications. The most sophisticated and modern fortifications were those built by the US Corps of Engineers to protect some of the main port cities. These included Fort Mifflin in Philadelphia, Fort McHenry in Baltimore and Castle William in New York. The British also heavily fortified their main harbor at Halifax and their main center of power at Quebec. However, elsewhere, especially in the interior, fortifications were old, neglected or only hastily erected. The forts at Detroit and Mackinac were much as the British had left them in 1796. This book covers all of the main fortifications of the conflict, those that faced the crashing of guns and those whose intimidation played a part in the grand strategy of the war.
£14.24
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Fall of English France 1449–53
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
£16.14
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC A World Aflame: Interwar Wargame Rules 1918–39
Book SynopsisOften called the ”Pulp Era”, the years between the two World Wars have seen a tremendous surge in interest among wargamers. A World Aflame captures the adventurous nature of the time period to present a fun, fast-paced set of tabletop miniatures rules that can handle the many diverse conflicts of the period, from the Chinese Civil Wars and the “Great Game” in Central Asia, to the Irish War of Independence and the bitter ideological warfare of the Russian and Spanish Civil Wars. The rules also contain options for the “Very British Civil War”. This gaming trend has sprung up in recent years, following a “what-if” scenario that has Edward VIII refusing to abdicate the throne, thrusting the country into civil war in 1938. It is a quirky, fun setting, and one that is surprisingly popular. Written by a life-long wargamer, A World Aflame focuses on the daring and heroism of battles fought in the last great era of adventure.Table of ContentsIntroduction/ Getting Started/ Core Rules/ Conflict-specific Rules/ Scenarios
£11.69
Whittles Publishing Tales from the Forgotten Front: British West
Book SynopsisIn November 1943, four years into World War II, Corporal Sid Wade, a conscripted and reluctant soldier in the British Army, was uprooted from a cold English winter and transported to the tropical coast of West Africa. Sid Wade was the author's father and, nearly 70 years after his two-year stint in Sierra Leone, he discovered the scrapbooks and diaries he had compiled during his time there. These were filled and overflowing with letters to and from home, his army paybook, post cards, snapshots, drawings, paintings, newspaper clippings, maps, government pamphlets, amateur dramatics and music concert programmes, poetry written by army buddies and newsletters written by the soldiers. These scrapbooks and diaries told more than his father had ever spoken about - they told a story that had little to do with the big picture of the war, but rather the smaller picture of day-to-day life for young soldiers suddenly transplanted into an alien and often frightening environment. Battling a harsh climate and tropical diseases as they trained members of the Royal West African Frontier Force, the soldiers found time to write and produce newsletters, paint and draw pictures, write poetry, put on music concerts and even organise amateur dramatics productions, all in a region that was something of a forgotten front, and known to all as 'The White Man's Grave'. Thanks to these scrapbooks and the associated ephemera, plus the author's own research, at least some part of Corporal Wade's African experiences, and that of his fellow soldiers, has been uncovered, shedding light on a less well-known aspect of WWII.Trade Review`…pieces together a picture of an unexpectedly romantic, poetic, side of his father from his personal archive. The result is a wonderfully warm, rich and informative read, packed with details and pictures about a serviceman’s life in this lesser-known theatre of war.’ Family TreeTable of ContentsThis engaging and revealing book presents an unusual perspective on British soldiers' lives in West Africa and will be of especial interest to anyone interested in recent military history, particularly WWII, and the African people's culture and lives at the time.
£16.14
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC How to Survive Under Siege
Book SynopsisAineias Tacticus (mid-fourth century BC) is not only the earliest but also one of the most historically interesting of ancient military writers. Important, too, as a social commentator, he sheds valuable light on the nature of life and the psychological and strategic preoccupations of a typical Greek city-state (polis) at a time dominated by two extraordinarily atypical ones, Athens and Sparta. In Aineias' work we see what conditions were like in a polis obliged to play a minor and much more passive role in the history of its age - not laying siege like the big players but suffering it. His practical recommendations derive clearly from accumulated personal experience in the first place; but at the same time he also draws copious illustrative material from both Herodotus and Thucydides. This edition has the Greekless reader firmly in mind, providing a fresh modern translation of "How to Survive Under Siege", a comprehensive introduction to Aineias and his work, and a full historical commentary.
£24.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC South-East Asian Special Forces
Book SynopsisElite units have long been prominent in the armies of South-East Asia and, given the turmoil in the region since the 1960s, these forces have had ample opportunity to be tested in combat. Acknowledged expert on South-East Asia Ken Conboy outlines the history, organization and insignia of Vietnamese, Cambodian, Indonesian, Malaysian and various other South-East Asian special forces from their origins up until the late 80s, covering such groups as the Vietnamese Luc Luong Dac Biet ('Special Forces') and Lien Doi Ngoui Nhia underwater demolition team and the Cambodian Airborne Brigade Group.Table of ContentsRepublic of Vietnam: Special Forces · Vietnamese Naval Special Forces · Cambodia: Army Airborne · Khmer Special Forces · Laos · Indonesi: Marine Special Forces · Air Force Special Forces · Army Special Forces · Army Airborne Infantry · Malaysia: Army Special Forces · The Philippines: Scout Rangers · Army Special Forces · Singapore · Thailand: Police Special Forces · Army Special Forces · Socialist Republic of Vietnam · Burma · The Plates
£13.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Gallipoli 1915: Frontal Assault on Turkey
Book SynopsisThe Gallipoli expedition of 1915, the brainchild of Winston Churchill, was designed to knock the Turkish Empire out of the First World War and open a supply route to Russia. The campaign is characterised by the military incompetence of the higher commands, particularly the Allies. However, in spite of this, Gallipoli deserves to be, and is, also remembered for the heroism and resourcefulness of both the British army and the men of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. This book details the battles, hardships and eventual evacuation that these men had to go through, in this comprehensive guide to the Gallipoli landings.Table of ContentsOrigins of the Campaign/The Commanders/The Opposing Armies/The Naval Attack/The Landings v The Battles of Krithia/Stalemate/Sari Bair/Suvla/Evacuation/The Battlefield Today/Chronology/A Guide to Further Reading/Wargaming Gallipoli
£15.29
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC French Army 1870–71 Franco-Prussian War (1):
Book SynopsisAt the time of the Second Empire, under Napoleon III, the French army, elevated from tactful obscurity, was re-modelled on Napoleonic lines. This army first fought in the Crimea, and then against Austria. Later, In Mexico, they had a disastrous adventure while in Europe Prussia was fast emerging as a challenge to France's military pre-eminence. Together with Austria, Bismarck first crushed Denmark before turning on Austria herself. The victory at Sadowa in 1866 stunned Europe, and in Paris Napoleon and his advisers set to thinking of a way to counter this new threat. In this first of two volumes looking at the French Army of the Franco-Prussian War, Stephen Shann and Louis Delperier examine the history, organisation and weapons of the French Imperial troops.Table of ContentsIntroduction · Chronology · The Imperial Guard · L'Armee D'Afrique · Troops of the Line · Artillery · Command, Staff and Logistics · Weapons · Orders of Battle · The Plates
£11.69
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC First Bull Run 1861: The South's first victory
Book SynopsisAt Bull Run, two inexperienced, ill-trained and poorly led armies clashed in the opening engagement of the American Civil War. Culminating in a stalwart defensive fight by Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson's Virginia Brigade, this is the story of the Confederacy's first victory. The author investigates the personalities of the principal commanders and examines the opposing armies, showing how the widely varying uniforms of different units caused mistakes of identity which affected the battle at crucial points. Weapons, intelligence and the almost universal inexperience of troops on both sides are all discussed, helping to explain the events of the battle itself.Table of ContentsIntroduction/The Way to Civil War/The Opposing Leaders/The Opposing Armies/The Road to Bull Run/The Affair at Blackburn's Ford/The Battle Plans/The Battle Begins/The Fight for Henry Hill/Retreat and Rout/The 'Might-Have-Beens'/The Battlefield Today/A Guide to Further Reading/Wargaming First Bull Run
£15.29
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Kaiserschlacht 1918: The Final German Offensive
Book SynopsisThe entry of the USA into World War I spelt disaster for Imperial Germany. The massive superiority in men and materials which the Americans could provide meant that if Germany had any chance of winning the war she must do so quickly. Randal Gray describes how, using special 'Stormtrooper' units and high-mobility tactics, the Germans came within a hair's breadth of winning the war, providing a blow by blow account of the daily events of the battle. Although at first glance the Kaiserschlacht was Germany's greatest success of the First World War, in fact its ultimate failure consigned Germany to inevitable defeat.Table of ContentsThe Origins of the Battle/The Opposing Commanders/The Opposing Armies/Kaiserschlacht 1918: The Battle/Balance Sheet and Aftermath/The Battlefield Today/Chronology/A Guide to Further Reading/Wargaming Kaiserschlacht
£15.29
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The NVA and Viet Cong
Book SynopsisIn 1940 Japan placed Vietnam under military occupation, restricting the local French administration to a figurehead authority. Seizing the opportunity, the Communists organised a Vietnamese independence league, the Viet Minh, whose armed forces became known as the PAVN (more commonly known to the West as the Vietcong, or NVA) and prepared to launch an uprising against the French at the war's end. This text details the history, organisation and uniforms of the People's Army of Vietnam from its origins in the fight against colonialism, through two separate wars against the US and Khmer Rouge, to its role in the modern era.Table of ContentsThe First Indochina War · Between the Wars · The Second Indochina War · The Ho Chi Minh Campaign · The Third Indochina War · The Combodian Occupation · PAVN Today · PAVN Organization · Uniforms · The Plates
£13.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Zulu War 1879: Twilight of a warrior nation
Book SynopsisIn the late 1870s the British Imperial administration in the Cape colony in southern Africa began to view the Zulu kingdom as a challenge to its authority.To contain this perceived threat, the British engineered a war. The early campaigns went terribly wrong, with the decisive Zulu victory at Isandlwana. Ultimately however, the British won the war. The Zulus, primarily reliant on their skill with the stabbing spear, had no real defence or retaliation against the massed firepower of professional British soldiers. Ian Castle examines the British-Zulu war and its two key battles, Isandlwana and Khambula, with excellent black and white photographs accompanying the clear and detailed text.Table of ContentsOrigins of the War/Opposing Strategies/The Commanders/The Armies: Isandlwana Campaign/The First Phase of the War/The Aftermath of Isandlwana/The Second Phase of the War/Aftermath/The Battlefields Today/Chronology/A Guide to Further Reading/ Wargaming the Zulu War
£15.29
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Waterloo 1815: The Birth of Modern Europe
Book SynopsisFought on 18th June 1815, Waterloo is one of the best known of all battles in history ending 25 years of Napoleonic Wars. Waterloo pitted two of the greatest commanders of the period against each other. Napoleon, who had marched in triumph into every major European capital except London, and Wellington, the victor of the Peninsula who had beaten many of Napoleon's best marshals but who had never faced the master himself. Finally there was Blucher, who had an implacable hatred of Napoleon and was a tenacious and determined enemy.Table of ContentsThe Road to 1815/The Opposing Commanders/Opposing Armies/The Campaign Opens/18-19 June: The Battle of Wavre/18 June: The Battle of Waterloo/Finale/Chronology/A Guide to Further Reading/Index
£15.29
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Kursk 1943: The tide turns in the East
Book SynopsisIn the largest tank battle of World War II, the Soviet army successfully resisted the German Panzer offensive in the Kursk Salient on the Eastern Front, and in the counter-offensive that followed, began an advance that finally ended in Berlin. This history of the battle covers the many famous German units engaged in battle as well as the defensive tactics planned and executed by the Red Army.Table of ContentsThe Origins of the Battle/The Opposing Commanders/The Opposing Armies/Opposing Plans and Preparations/The Battle of Kursk/The Aftermath/The Chronology/A Guide to Further Reading/Wargaming Kursk
£15.29
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Boston 1775: The shot heard around the world
Book SynopsisThe British assault on Breed's Hill and the burning of Charlestown were the first major battles of the American Revolution; after the events at Boston there was no turning back. This detailed text by Brendan Morrissey explores the opposing commanders and forces involved, whilst describing how the sparks at Lexington and Concord ignited the smouldering resentment of the Colonists into the flame of a rebellion. Colonist militia were pitted against British Redcoats in a series of struggles which led the British to evacuate Boston and to George Washington taking command of the fledgling American army.Table of ContentsThe Road to War/The Seat of War/The Opposing Commanders/Lexington and Concord, 19 April 1775/Breed's Hill, 17 June 1775/The Siege/Aftermath/The Battlefields Today/Chronology/A Guide to Further Reading/Wargaming the Boston Campaign
£16.14
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Aspern & Wagram 1809: Mighty clash of Empires
Book SynopsisThe 1809 campaign on the Danube was to break the spell of Napoleon's invincibility. Indeed Wagram – the largest battle in history at the time – was Napoleon's revenge for his first personal defeat on the battlefield – at Aspern – Essling. In gaining this revenge the French commander was not wholly successful. Although the French won the battle as the Austrians eventually quit the field, the victory was an extremely hollow one. Both these epic battles are expertly described by Ian Castle, chronicling the many changes of fortune as each side captured, lost, then recaptured key positions.Table of ContentsThe Road to War, 1809/Opposing Commanders/Opposing Armies/Opposing Plans/Opening Moves/The Battle of Aspern-Essling/The Battle of Wagram/Aftermath/The Battlefields Today/Chronology/A Guide to Further Reading/Wargaming the 1809 Campaign
£16.14
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Omdurman 1898: Kitchener's victory in the Sudan
Book SynopsisThis volume tells the story of the conquest of the Dervish Empire, culminating at Omdurman: one of the great desert battles in the imperial drama of the Victorian era. This dramatic conflict witnessed hordes of native warriors set against British discipline and firepower, gunboats on the Nile, a dramatic cavalry charge and Kitchener, the Sirdar, as conqueror. This books explores the events, weaponry and leaders of both sides, and accompanying illustrations and colourful graphics bring the whole campaign vividly to life.Table of ContentsThe Sudan after the fall of Khartoum/The Opposing Armies/The Anglo-Egyptian Army/The Ansar/The Mahdist Army/The Dongola-Berber Campaign/The Atbara Campaign/The Advance to Omdurman/The Battle of Omdurman/Gordon Avenged/The Battlefield Today/Chronology/A Guide to Further Reading/Wargaming the Campaigns of 1896-8 in the Sudan
£15.29
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Malta 1565: Last Battle of the Crusades
Book SynopsisThe epic siege of the island fortress of the Knights Hospitaller by the huge Turkish Army of the Emperor Suliman is one of the most compelling stories in the history of the western world. The Turks amassed an army of 30,000 men, which doubled as the siege dragged on. The knights facing them totalled 500, along with 4,000 Maltese levies and 4,500 other troops. Tim Pickles describes how despite constant pounding by the massive Turkish guns and heavy casualties, the Knights managed to hold out.Table of ContentsOrigins of the Campaign/Plans and Preparations/Opposing Commanders/Opposing Armies/The Crescent on the Horizon/The Attack on St. Elmo/Fort St. Michel/Crisis and Reprieve/Turkish Troubles/Mdina/Relief at Last/Aftermath/Malta and the Order Today/Wargaming the Siege of Malta
£15.29
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Salamanca 1812: Wellington Crushes Marmont
Book SynopsisSalamanca was the most decisive battle of the entire Peninsular War. Wellington smashed Marmont's French Army and his pursuit of its shattered remnants led to the famous cavalry charge of the King's German Legion at Garcia Hernandez. There would be two more years of sieges and hard fighting before the Iron Duke crossed the Pyrenees into France but from Salamanca the British and their Portuguese and Spanish allies always had the upper hand. Ian Fletcher examines this important battle in detail and also discusses the campaign which led up to it.Table of ContentsIntroduction/Opposing Plans/The Campaign/The Opposing Commanders/The Battle/Garcia Hernandez/Aftermath/The Battlefield Today/Chronology/Order of Battle/Further Reading/Wargaming Salamanca
£15.29
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Nagashino 1575: Slaughter at the barricades
Book SynopsisWhen Portuguese traders took advantage of the constant violence in Japan to sell the Japanese their first firearms, one of the quickest to take advantage of this new technology was the powerful daimyo Oda Nobunaga. In 1575 the impetuous Takeda Katsuyori laid siege to Nagashino castle, a possession of Nobunaga's ally, Tokugawa Ieyasu. An army was despatched to relieve the siege, and the two sides faced each other across the Shidarahara. The Takeda samurai were brave, loyal and renowned for their cavalry charges, but Nobunaga, counting on Katsuyori's impetuosity, had 3,000 musketeers waiting behind prepared defences for their assault. The outcome of this clash of tactics and technologies was to change the face of Japanese warfare forever.Table of ContentsNagashino and the age of war; the Takeda clan; opposing commanders; opposing armies; opposing plans; the siege of Nagashino Castle; the Battle of Nagashino; aftermath; military lessons of nagashino;; select bibliography; the battlefield today; wargaming Nagashino.
£15.29
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The German Army 1939–45 (1): Blitzkrieg
Book SynopsisThe first of a series of five books on the German army of World War II. This volume focuses on their achievements from 1935 to 1940, and how the military traditions of Germany were used by Hitler to dominate Europe. Nigel Thomas examines the ways in which this army was trained and organized to allow them to dominate large areas of Europe so successfully. He looks at the campaigns and uniforms during the Polish, Danish, Norwegian, Belgian, Dutch and French campaigns between September 1939 and June 1940, and also considers the pre-war campaigns in Rhineland, Spain, Austria and Czechoslovakia from between 1936 and 1939.Table of ContentsThe Record of the Wehrmacht · The High Command of the Army and the Wehrmacht · The Strategy · The Uniform of the German Army · Ranks and Responsibilities · Medals · The Plates
£11.69
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Spartan Army
Book SynopsisSparta was a city in the ancient Greek state of Lakedaimon, the only state in Greece to have a full-time army. The institutions of the state and the system of education were organised with a view to creating superbly trained soldiers. Isocrates compared the Lakedaimonian political community to a military camp and Aristotyle criticised the Lakedaimonian constitution because it was organised entirely to promote military virtue. Nick Sekunda examines this ancient military machine, describing the organisational system of the Spartan army, the battles they fought and the society that produced them.Table of ContentsIntroduction · Organisation · Dress · Hoplite Weaponry · Other Arms · Conclusion · The Plates
£13.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Yorktown 1781: The World Turned Upside Down
Book SynopsisThis account of the Yorktown campaign of the American Revolution presents six full-colour battle scenes detailing the critical points in the battle. By 1781 Britain's struggle to contain rebels in her American colonies had reached an inglorious stalemate. Her strategy had been to isolate General Washington's army in the middle states between Canada and the South, which she hoped to secure with aid of the Royal Navy. However, after defeat at Saratoga and with the northern army holed up in New York, King George's forces now saw this plan backfire. Yorktown would be a model example to the British Crown of the impossible odds she now faced in holding onto her colonies.Table of ContentsThe Road to Yorktown/The Seat of War/The Opposing Commanders/The Opposing Armies/The Campaign in Virginia 1781/Naval Operations March-October 1781/The Siege of Yorktown/Aftermath/The Battlefields Today/Chronology/A Guide to Further Reading/Wargaming the Yorktown Campaign
£14.39
