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Miles Dempsey, Commander of the British Second Army in the invasion of Europe 1944-45, is almost unknown to the general…
public. Yet his part in Britains contribution to that campaign was second only to Montgomerys in importance. Dempsey survived two and a half years of bitter fighting as an infantry officer on the Western Front before accompanying his beloved Royal Berkshire Regiment in the little-known North West Persia campaign of 1920-21. In six years he rose from Major to command over half a million men in the largest combined operation in history, and led them to victory a year later.Based on sources which include some of Dempseys previously unpublished work and the views of those who knew him, the book traces his career as a soldier of rare distinction, a talented sportsman and a man of huge charm and shrewd intellect, dedicated to his beloved regiment and ever mindful of the lives of his soldiers. Peter Rostron examines his methods of command and his relationships with Montgomery, his Corps commanders, the Americans and the RAF. It highlights his crucial role in the Dunkirk evacuation, the training of the Canadian Army, and the invasion of Sicily, Italy, and North West Europe, and analyses why his army performed so brilliantly on D Day. Lasly, Rostron examines his contribution to the campaign in Europe, focussing on the controversial operations of EPSOM, GOODWOOD, Arnhem and the Rhine Crossing.Mortars in World War II
By John Norris. 2015
Mortars were used throughout the Second World War by all armies and in all theatres. Although a very simple weapon…
they could greatly enhance the firepower of infantry formations, giving them their own mobile artillery arm. They repeatedly proved their worth in both offensive and defensive situations, breaking up or supporting infantry attacks and laying smoke or illumination rounds. Despite their ubiquity and effectiveness, there have been relatively few works devoted to these important and versatile weapons. John Norris give a brief history of the origins of the weapon and its use in the Great War before moving on to look in detail at the many types developed and used in the Second World War. The design and development of various types and their various munitions (HE, smoke and illumination) are discussed, including those incorporated into fixed defensive systems such as the Atlantic Wall, specialist variants developed for airborne units and those mounted on vehicles to provide mobile fire support. The tactics developed for their use and the structure of the support companies formed to utilize them are also examined in detail. And of course their combat history in the many theatres is outlined, using examples drawing on first-hand accounts of those that used them. This book is sure to be of great value to enthusiasts who collect mortars and their ammunition, re-enactors, modellers and wargamers as well as those readers interested in the history of weapons generally or those of World War II in particular.Hitler: Memoirs of Hitler From Those Who Knew Him
By Heinz A. Heinz. 1919
Heinz A. Heinz was the only writer authorised by the Nazi Party to draw a biography of the Fhrer for…
publication in the English speaking world. The result was the 1938 authorised biography of Adolf Hitler entitled Germany's Hitler.The book was based on interviews supplied first hand by those friends, helpers and comrades who had believed in him from the beginning of his political career. Heinz A. Heinz was a professional journalist and author, he interviewed Hitler's old school friends, army colleagues, landlords, his jailer, and early party comrades including an invaluable interview with Anton Drexler to produce an unprecedented insight into Adolf Hitler as viewed by his acquaintances during the inter-war period.These remarkable interviews were given by those who had stood by him in his darkest days, and who lived to see one of the most astounding political achievements in history. Included are vivid and unique descriptions of Hitler at school, his First World War battlefield experiences, the early political struggles, the full story behind the 9th November Beer Hall Putsch, Hitler in prison, and the struggle to power from 1926 to 1933.Featuring a new introduction by Emmy Award winning writer and historian Bob Carruthers, this book is a vital primary source reference work for anyone interested in understanding how and why Hitler won the total adulation and support of such a large section of the German people.Operation Sealion: Hitler's Invasion Plan for Britain
By David Wragg. 2016
During the Summer of 1940, Hitlers Germany appeared unstoppable. The Nazis were masters of mainland Europe, in alliance with Stalins…
Russia and only the English Channel prevented an immediate invasion.Britain stood alone. The BEF had been routed but, due to the Dunkirk miracle, most of her manpower had returned albeit without their transport and heavy equipment and guns. There was no doubt that the Nazis planned to invade all intelligence pointed that way. In the event it never materialised, thanks to the outcome of the Battle of Britain and Hitlers decision to invade Russia.Operation SEALION examines just how realistic the German threat of invasion was. The author studies the plans, the available capability and resources, the Germans record in Norway and later Crete. The author weighs these against the state of Britains defences and the relative strengths of the land, air and particularly naval forces.The result is a fascinating study of what might or might not have been.'Strafer': The Life & Killing of Lt. Gen. W.E. Gott CB CBE DSO MC
By N. S. Nash. 2013
Unexpectedly selected by Churchill to command 8th Army in 1942 in place of the sacked Auchinleck, 'Strafer' Gott was targeted…
by German intelligence as he flew to Cairo to take up his new post. Six ME109s intercepted his aircraft and, after shooting it down, deliberately machine-gunned the crash scene. Gott became the only Allied general to be successfully targeted by the Germans and, as a result, Montgomery was given command and the rest is history.But as this long overdue and well researched biography reveals, 'Strafer' deserves to be remembered for his exceptionaltalents, meteoric career and record of gallantry. As a young officer in The Great War he won the Military Cross (many thought a VC would have been more appropriate) and he repeatedly attempted to escape. In 1939 he was commanding his Battalion as a Lieutenant Colonel and two years later he became a Lieutenant General. He was recognised as a superb Desert General whose aggression, originality and leadership qualities were supported by charm, warmth and compassion.While it is fascinating, if unproductive, to surmise what would have happened had Gott and not Monty fought Rommel, it can be confidently said that relations with our allies would have benefitted.Drawing on primary source material, this first biography of an outstanding soldier and commander is not only a rewarding and revealing read but an important addition to the bibliography of the Second World War.As featured in the Dover Express, Ashford Herald and Folkestone Herald.Fips: Legendary U-Boat Commander, 1915–1918
By Geoffrey Brooks, Werner Fürbringer. 1999
Weuner Frbringer (Fips) became one of the most successful U-Boat commanders in WW1 through a blend of skill, daring and,…
by his own typically modest admission, sheer luck. This vivid memoir, never before published in English, makes compelling reading.This is an inspiring and chivalrous story; it is ironic then that, when finally sunk by the Royal Navy off the East Coast of England, Fips was machine-gunned in the water, contrary to repeated Government denials of such behaviour.Air War Over North Africa: USAAF Ascendant (Images of War)
By David Mitchelhill-Green. 2019
The decisive role of U.S. Army Air Forces in North Africa is vividly chronicled in this WWII pictorial history featuring…
rare wartime photographs. In 1942, General Erwin Rommel launched a surprise offensive in North Africa that brought a renewed threat to the Allied forces in the Middle East. United States Army Air Forces were quickly transferred to Egypt to assist the beleaguered British. Unaccustomed to the sprawling deserts of North Africa, the American airmen were confronted by sandstorms, flooding rains, extremes of temperature and primitive living conditions. Beyond these daunting conditions, they were pitted against an experienced and determined enemy. U.S. air power nevertheless played a decisive role in the Allied invasion of Northwest Africa and the subsequent surrender of Axis forces in Tunisia in May 1943. Later bombing missions flown from North Africa struck Axis targets across Europe and supported the Allied invasions of Sicily and mainland Italy. Featuring rare photograph from wartime archives, this volume in the Images of War series presents an illustrated account of U.S. fighter aircraft and bombers—including the iconic B-17 Flying Fortress, P-38 Lightning and B-24 Liberator—and the aircrews that fought to establish ascendancy over North African skies and beyond.Following on from Blitz on Kent, all aspects of life during the Second World War were experienced during in this…
embattled county. From the onset of the war Kent became a key part in the front line defence of Britain. Defences were built, and the Home Guard formed.With the threat of invasion receding, the county took part in the great offensive against Nazi Germany. Preparations and training took place that lead to the D-Day invasion in June 1944 and ultimate victory in 1945. This book will tell the story of the story of the County from the very beginning of the war to the end and afterwards, both from civil and military perspectives.Subjects covered are: Invasion defences, Home Guard, Dunkirk, life during wartime, D-Day, German Prisoners of War, the Americans in Kent, The Royal Navy, people and life during wartime, The RAF, soldiers in Kent regiments, training, individual studies, the military on the move: Bren Carriers, Churchill tanks, Covenanter tanks, artillery, Matilda tanks, Valentine tanks, motor bikes, lorries, lease-lend Vehicles, weapons, women in wartime Kent, VE Day and post-war Kent the legacy of the war.Battle of Manila: Nadir of Japanese Barbarism, 3 February–3 March 1945 (History of Terror)
By Miguel Miranda. 2019
This &“extensively researched and well-illustrated&” history recounts the bloody fight to liberate Manila from occupation during WWII (WWII History Magazine).…
For nearly four years during the Second World War, Japanese occupation had devastated the Philippines. Then, in 1944, General MacArthur led a massive army of American and Filipino forces determined to take back the island nation. Essential to the Philippine Campaign was recapturing the country&’s once-glittering capital city, Manila. In late January of 1945, the Allied forces embarked on the necessary and urgent mission. Trapped within the old University of Santo Tomas were thousands of ailing prisoners at risk of torture and death by their captors. As the desperate Japanese navy fought to keep the advancing Americans at bay, Japanese troops began killing civilians caught in the crossfire—or using them as human shields. Thousands of Filipinos were trapped in what became the most bitter combat seen in the Pacific Theater.A historical tour of London landmarks for anyone fascinated by intrigue and espionage . . . Includes maps and photos. James Bond…
may be fictional—but London is indeed the espionage capital of the world. This book takes us through the city&’s espionage history, with evocative photos and compelling stories and observations about 136 landmarks, conveniently organized into manageable walking tours for those living in or visiting the city. Go behind the façades of ordinary buildings to learn more about clandestine operations: from the modest hotel suite where an eager Red Army colonel poured out his secrets to a team of British and American intelligence officers, to the royal residence where one of the most slippery Soviet moles was at home for years, and the London home where an MP plotting to appease Hitler was arrested on his front steps in 1940.Posted in Wartime: Letters Home From Abroad
By Richard Knott. 2017
The Second World War saw many people consigned to long periods of exile, far from home. How did the exiled…
keep in touch with home? Why were some exiles silent when others wrote frequently and at length? Posted in Wartime explores the nature of such exile and considers what could be written in diaries and letters, given that letters were censored and diaries were, at best, frowned upon. At the books heart are the stories of three very different exiles: a Liberty Ship captain; a doctor in the Royal Army Medical Corps; and an airman in Iraq and Palestine. Set alongside those are the experiences of a number of celebrated wartime exiles whose diaries and letters are both extensive and detailed, and whose stories loosely connect with the journeys of the three main protagonists; they include the travel writer Freya Stark, the photographer Cecil Beaton, and the playwright Nol Coward.* Exhibition of Cecil Beaton photography (of the Duchess of Devonshire and her set) at Chatsworth, March 2016 to January 2017.* The reopening of the British Postal Museum & Archive as The Postal Museum in London in 2017* 100th anniversary of the Imperial War Museum, London, 2017*75 years since the release of Noel Cowards film about the Navy at war, In Which We Serve (1942)* 75 years (on 15 April) since the authors father sailed to the Middle East in Winston Special convoy WS18* 100 years (in November 2017) since the Balfour Declaration (Middle East)* 70 years since Indian independence.Black Flag: The Surrender of Germany's U-Boat Forces on Land and at Sea
By Lawrence Paterson. 2009
On the eve of Germany's surrender in May 1945, Grossadmiral Karl Dnitz commanded thousands of loyal and active men of…
the U-boat service. Still fully armed and unbroken in morale, enclaves of these men occupied bases stretching from Norway to France, where cadres of U-boat men fought on in ports that defied besieging Allied troops to the last. At sea U-boats still operated on a war footing around Britain, the coasts of the United States and as far as Malaya. Following the agreement to surrender, these large formations needed to be disarmed—often by markedly inferior forces—and the boats at sea located and escorted into the harbours of their erstwhile enemies. Neither side knew entirely what to expect, and many of the encounters were tense; in some cases there were unsavoury incidents, and stories of worse. For many Allied personnel it was their first glimpse of the dreaded U-boat menace and both sides were forced to exercise considerable restraint to avoid compromising the terms of Germany's surrender. One of the last but most dramatic acts of the naval war, the story of how the surrender was handled has never been treated at length before. This book uncovers much new material about the process itself and the ruthless aftermath for both the crews and their boats.A highly decorated Royal Navy officer recounts his experiences at the command of a motor torpedo boat in the North…
Sea during WWII. In 1942-43, Captain Peter Dickens commanded the 21st MTB Flotilla, mainly in the North Sea and the English Channel. In Night Action, he vividly recounts his experiences performing daring missions amid storms of gunfire, usually under the cover of darkness. Dickens and his crew managed to closely engage enemy convoys and escorts in high-speed attacks and wreak havoc among the German supply lines. Like the sailors who fought Nazi U-boats in the battle of the Atlantic, Dickens and his comrades were experiencing a new kind of warfare and had to develop techniques and tactics as they went along; their kind of action called for great courage, spilt-second timing and complete understanding between captain and crew. For his bravery and heroism, Dickens was awarded The Distinguished Service Order, a Distinguished Service Cross, and The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. In Night Action, he offers a frank depiction of live aboard the 21st MTB Flotilla, combining comradery and humor with the true horror of warReady for Anything: The Royal Fleet Auxiliary, 1905–1950
By Geoff Puddefoot. 2010
Set up in August 1905, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary unofficial motto: Ready for Anything was originally a logistic support organisation,…
Admiralty-owned but run on civilian lines, comprising a miscellaneous and very unglamorous collection of colliers, store ships and harbour craft. This book charts its rise in fleet strength, capability and importance, through two world wars and a technical revolution, until the time when naval operations became simply impossible without it. Its earliest tasks were mainly freighting supplying the Royal Navys worldwide network of bases but in wartime fleets were required to spend much longer at sea and the RFA had to develop techniques of underway replenishment. This did not come to full fruition until the British Pacific Fleet operated alongside the Americans in 1944-45, but by then the RFA had already pioneered many of the procedures involved.This book combines a history of the service, including many little-known wartime operations, with data on the ships, and a portrait of life in the service gleaned from personal accounts and recollections. Half way between a civilian and a military service, the RFA has never received the attention it deserves, but this book throws a long-overdue spotlight on its achievements.German Pocket Battleships (ShipCraft #Vol. 1)
By Roger Chesneau. 2004
Everything the ship modeller needs to know about building a famous warship Numerous detailed plans and colour illustrations Focuses on…
very popular modelling subjects which are represented by a wide selection of kits The 'ShipCraft' series provides in-depth information about building and modifying model kits of famous warship types. Lavishly illustrated, each book takes the modeller through a brief history of the subject class, using scale plans to highlight differences between sisterships and changes in their appearance over their careers, then moves to an extensive photographic survey of either a high-quality model or a surviving example of the ship. Hints on building the model, and on modifying and improving the basic kit, are followed by a section on paint schemes and camouflage, featuring numerous colour profiles and highly-detailed line drawings. The strengths and weaknesses of available kits of the ships are reviewed, and the book concludes with a section on research references—books, monographs, large-scale plans and relevant websites. For the first volume in this series, the author has chosen the German 'pocket battleships' of WW2, the best-known of which was the Graf Spee of Battle of the River Plate fame. This innovative and infamous class of surface raiders has long been a popular subject for ship modellers, many manufacturers producing kits of the Graf Spee and the rather different Admiral Scheer and Ltzow. This book will show ship modellers how to turn their kits into something really special, but its unparalleled level of visual information will also appeal to the more general warship enthusiast. Roger Chesneau is a lifelong ship modeller and author of numerous naval books, including Ship Models in Plastic.Artillery of Words: The Writings of Sir Winston Churchill
By Frederick Woods. 1992
An analysis of the writings of the iconic twentieth-century statesman from the author of Young Winston&’s Wars. Only a…
part-time author, Sir Winston Churchill wrote fifty books and over eight hundred feature articles. He even received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953. Now, Frederick Woods, an internationally acknowledged expert in the field of Churchillian writings, presents a full-length appraisal of Churchill&’s literary output, while putting the writings in the context of Churchill's public life. Churchill&’s words were weapons, argues Mr. Woods, written deliberately to win a battle, whether that battle was over the future of India, the fate of the freedom-loving world, the rehabilitation of renowned ancestors, or his own fluctuating reputation. In every case Churchill strove mightily to win, and often presented his case with less objectivity than that expected of one popularly considered to be a major historian. Artillery of Words is not only an illuminating and often witty analysis of Churchill&’s writings; it is also an important and revealing contribution to Churchillian studies in general. Praise for Frederick Woods&’s A Bibliography of the Works of Sir Winston Churchill &“[Reveals] a mastery of both research and presentation.&” —Martin Gilbert, bestselling author of Churchill: A LifeNeville Chamberlain's Legacy: Hitler, Munich and the Path to War
By Nicholas Milton. 2019
A biography reassessing the man whose name became a synonym for appeasement: &“An important read for anyone with an interest…
in the prelude to World War II.&” —The NYMAS Review Neville Chamberlain has gone down in history as the architect of appeasement, the prime minister who by sacrificing Czechoslovakia at Munich in September 1938 put Britain on an inevitable path to war. In this radical new appraisal of one of the most vilified politicians of the twentieth century, historian Nicholas Milton claims that by placating Hitler, Chamberlain not only reflected public opinion but also embraced the zeitgeist of the time. Chamberlain also bought Britain vital time to rearm when Hitler&’s military machine was at its zenith. It is with the hindsight of history that we understand Chamberlain&’s failure to ultimately prevent a war from happening. Yet by placing him within the context of his time, this fascinating new history provides a unique perspective into the lives and mindset of the people of Britain during the lead up to the Second World War. Never before have Chamberlain&’s letters been accessed to tell the story of his life and work. They shed new light on his complex character and enable us to consider Chamberlain the man, not just the statesman. His role as a pioneer of conservation is revealed, alongside his work in improving midwifery and championing the introduction of widows&’ pensions. Neville Chamberlain&’s Legacy is a reminder that there is often more to political figures than many a quick judgment allows.They Flew Hurricanes
By Adrian Stewart. 2006
A celebration of the renowned WWII aircraft and the aviators who flew them—includes rare photographs. The Hawker Hurricane, together…
with the Spitfire, is the most famous aircraft of the Second World War. Many pilots, including Douglas Bader, thought it was superior to the Spit—but together they saved Britain from Nazi invasion and possible defeat. Adrian Stewart has produced a gloriously atmospheric and nostalgic book capturing the spirit of these great aircraft and the pilots who flew them. It tracks the aircraft as it was developed and improved, and follows it to the many theaters of the war where it saw service. Among the lesser-known are Burma and hazardous convoy protection in the Arctic and Mediterranean, flying from makeshift carriers. This book will fascinate specialist aviation historians and those who enjoy a rattling good war story, and includes a superb selection of rare photographs.Anti-Submarine Warfare: An Illustrated History
By David Owen. 2007
A deep dive into the tactics and technology used to defend against submarines—from the opening of the First World War…
through World War II and beyond. The submarine was undoubtedly the most potent purely naval weapon of the twentieth century. In two world wars, enemy underwater campaigns were very nearly successful in thwarting Allied hopes of victory—indeed, annihilation of Japanese shipping by US Navy submarines is an indicator of what might have been. That the submarine was usually defeated is a hugely important story in naval history, yet this is the first book to treat the subject as a whole in a readable and accessible manner. It concerns individual heroism and devotion to duty, but also ingenuity, technical advances and originality of tactical thought. What developed was an endless battle between forces above and below the surface, where a successful innovation by one side eventually produces a countermeasure by the other in a lethal struggle for supremacy. Development was not a straight line: wrong ideas and assumptions led to defeat and disaster. &“Iconography (with dozens of photographs and often large-format diagrams), a vast bibliography and a complete and documented general approach make this volume a work of great quality and of great interest for all enthusiasts and scholars of this very interesting subject.&”—Storia Militare &“The modeller will not only find the text engaging but there is a superb collection of photographs and illustrations which of course include submarines, corvettes and destroyers. Subjects which the modeller increasingly appreciates. Highly recommended.&”—Model BoatsSchnellboote: A Complete Operational History
By Lawrence Paterson. 2015
&“A detailed account of the fast patrol boats built and used by the Kriegsmarine during WWII . . . a…
book for every naval history enthusiast.&”—Firetrench The Kriegsmarine&’s Schnellboote—fast attack boats or S-boats to the Allies—were the primary German naval attack units in coastal waters throughout the Second World War. Operating close to their various bases they became a devastatingly effective weapon in nearly all the Kriegsmarine&’s theatres of war, from the Baltic to the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. It was in the English Channel, however, that they scored their most notable successes, destroying some forty warships and more than one hundred merchant ships. In addition to interception and attack, they were also used for minelaying, landing sabotage troops and general escort duties. There has been, to date, no comprehensive operational history of the S-boat in all the theatres in which it saw service, but due to the relatively small number of units it is possible to recount the duties and fates of each individual craft, and in this new book the author examines the career of each in detail. In addition, operations alongside the commando units of the Kleinkampfverbande are covered, and the smaller S-boats, designed primarily for their use, are described. As the War progressed, S-boats suffered from the increased Allied mastery of the seas and skies but they were a formidable foe right to the end; this new book is the first to do full justice to their record of success. &“An important addition to the body of coastal forces literature, and should be essential reading for anyone interested in the wars of the &‘Narrow Seas.&’&”—Battlefleet