- Table View
- List View
Secret Letters from the Railway: The Remarkable Record of a Japanese POW
by Brian BondCharles Steel took part in two military disasters - the Fall of France and the Dunkirk evacuation, and the Fall of Singapore. Shortly before the latter, he married Louise. Within days of being captured by the Japanese, he began writing a weekly letter to his new bride as means of keeping in touch with her in his mind, for the Japanese forbade all writing of letters and diaries. By the time he was liberated 3 1/2 years later, he had written and hidden some 180 letters, to which were added a further 20 post-liberation letters. Part love-letter, part diary these unique letters intended for Louise's eyes only describe the horror of working as a slave on the Burma - Siam Railway and, in particular, the construction of the famous Bridge over the River Kwai. It is also an uplifting account of how man can rise above adversity and even secretly get back at his captors by means of 'creative accounting'!. Now, for the first time, we can share the appalling and inspiring experiences of this remarkable man.
Road to St. Julien: The Letters of a Stretcher-Bearer of the Great War
by John St. ClairWilliam St Clair is perhaps the only soldier to have left a continuous account of his experiences day by day from the moment of joining up in 1914, through the years of horror in the trenches, to the march into Germany in 1919 and the long aftermath of trying to make sense of what had happened. A private in the medical corps, St Clair wrote daily letters, sometimes more, to his future wife Jane. Often scribbled under fire, and sent in the green envelopes that were exempt from censorship, they tell of the famous battles of Loos, the Somme, and Passchendaele, as they happened, with excruciating vividness. They speak too of aspirations, of conversations, of literature, and of love.Published for the first time, these raw, truthful, and deeply moving. letters give us what we have not properly had before, the voice of an ordinary soldier who is also a wonderful writer. The book takes its title from the village of St Julien in Flanders, where, in a captured German pill box, the mind of young soldier was transformed, an event that he later turned into an award-winning play.
Red Star Under the Baltic: A First-Hand Account of Life on Board a Soviet Submarine in World War Two
by Viktor KorzhA rare memoir of underwater warfare in the treacherous Baltic. Red Star Under The Baltic is the gripping memoir of a Soviet submariner during his years at sea in the Baltic during the Second World War. Not only is this a superb record of the appalling conditions endured on these basic craft, but a very human account detailing the comradeship and tensions among the crew as they operated in the most life-threatening conditions. Viktor Korzh vividly describes the many actions that he and his comrades were involved in. Many of these were successful, and Korzh witnessed numerous engagements and sinkings of German shipping. However, it was by no means a one-sided contest, and there were some horrifyingly close calls. The comparatively shallow waters of the Baltic were less than ideal for submarine warfare. Perhaps the most dangerous and dramatic moment came when his submarine became entangled in netting. After frantic efforts, they just managed to extricate themselves before being depth-charged. Another constant threat was of mechanical malfunction. It is extremely rare to have a totally authentic Russian account like this one, which has been superbly translated into English. It is a thrilling memoir, filled with nonstop action and underwater danger. Previously published as Reserve of Strength
Operation Bluecoat: Breakout from Normandy (Over the Battlefield)
by Ian DaglishAfter seven weeks of bitter fighting there was a desperate need to break out of the Normandy bridgehead. In late July 1944 Lieutenant-General Sir Miles Dempseys Second Army moved two entire corps from the Caen sector to the relatively quiet countryside around Caumont. Here, the British XXX Corps prepared to give battle, with VII Corps advancing in support on the right flank between XXX Corps and the American first Army. The offensive did not go to plan. While the XXX Corps attack stalled, VIII Corps surged ahead. With the experienced 11th Armoured and 15th Scottish Divisions in the lead and Guards Armoured close behind, a deep penetration was made, threatening to take the pivotal city of Vire and unhinge General Haussers German Seventh Army.The main narrative of this book will span the initial break-in from Caumont on 30 July, through the armored battles of the following days, to the desperate German counter-attacks of 4 6 August, the no less desperate German defense of Estry up to the middle of the month, and the final withdrawal from Normandy. The book also examines Montys refusal to seize Vire, the disputed Anglo-American border and the Operations impact on the German Mortain offensive.
Mosquitopanik! (Battlefield Britain Ser.)
by Martin W. BowmanOf all the planes that flew in WW2, the 'Wooden Wonder' the two-engined Mosquito, or Mossie as it was affectionately called, was truly the most versatile and feared by the Germans. Fast and manoeuvrable, the Mossie was just as at home in the pathfinder role as she was as a fighter interceptor, particularly of V1s, as a night-fighter, low level bomber.Mosquitopanik tells of the hugely successful war career of this much loved aeroplane that caught the public's and its pilots' imagination. Here we have gripping tales of action in the air thanks to the most meticulous research by a true enthusiast.
Malta: The Last Great Siege 1940 - 1943
by David WraggThe strategic importance of Malta sitting astride both the Axis and Allied supply routes in the Mediterranean was obvious to both sides during WW2. As a result the Island became the focal point in a prolonged and dreadful struggle that cost the lives of thousands of servicemen and civilians. After setting the scene for the action, this book tells the story of the Island's stand against the might of the Axis powers that led to the unprecedented award of the George Cross to the whole island by King George VI. It not only covers the struggle by the British and Maltese forces on the ground but the vicious fighting in the skies above. This was indeed a siege involving every man and woman on the Island.David Wragg tells the story using many first -hand accounts and yet skillfully explains the strategic situation. The result is an inspiring book worthy of the courage shown by the Islanders and their defenders.
Magnificent but Not War: The Second Battle of Ypres, 1915
by John DixonThe book is a detailed account of the fighting around Ypres during April and May 1915. It is essentially a day-by-day record of the Second Battle of Ypres which draws heavily upon personal accounts, regimental histories and war diaries to present a comprehensive study of the battle in which Germany became the first nation to use poisonous gas as a weapon. Each phrase of the battle (the Battle of Gravenstafel; the Battle of St. Julien; the Battle of Frezenberg Ridge and the Battle of Bellewarde Ridge) is discussed in detail with maps and photographs where appropriate. the main text is accompanied by a number of appendices including officer casualties; Victoria Cross winners and the British Order of Battle for Hill 60 and the Second Battle of Ypres.
Luck on My Side: The Diaries and Reflections of a Young Wartime Sailor 1939–1945
by John PalmerSir John Palmer was at sea for virtually the entire war serving in three ships. During this time he kept a secret diary of events and his reactions and emotions which we are now proud to publish. This book vividly describes the author's many wartime exploits. For the worst period of the Battle of the Atlantic, he was on convoy protection duty in the Corvette HMS Clematis and recalls the famous Christmas Day action against the mighty German battle cruiser Hipper.Sadly Sir John died very recently, after a most distinguished life.
Jane: A Pin-Up at War
by Andy SaundersJane was a wartime phenomenon. A sensation. She was also an important feature in the morale of Britain's fighting forces around the world and to those left behind on the "Home Front". So important, in fact, that her fame extended to the House of Commons where one wartime MP referred to our troops as "Jane's fighting men!" Until now there has been no published study of Jane or the woman who inspired her. This book fills the gap with a publication which will have a wide appeal. In a production combining words, photographs and selective cartoons, an in-depth look is taken at the Jane story and, in particular, the beautiful real life model behind that story, Christabel Leighton-Porter. A wealth of pictorial and photographic material exists to illustrate this highly visual story. Much of it has never before seen the light of day. All of it is of high quality and a considerable quantity falls into the 'glamor' category which will appeal to both male and female readers in what is an interesting study of wartime Britain and of Jane's historical and sociological importance of those times.
Frederick the Great: A Military History (Modern Wars In Perspective Ser.)
by Dennis ShowalterA biography of the Prussian king and military legend from &“America&’s leading historian&” (Jeremy Black, author of Imperial Legacies). Famed for his military successes and domestic reforms, Frederick the Great was a remarkable leader whose campaigns were a watershed in the history of Europe, securing Prussia&’s place as a continental power and inaugurating a new pattern of total war that was to endure until 1916. However, much myth surrounds this enigmatic man, his personality, and his role as politician, warrior, and king. From a renowned military historian and winner of a Pritzker Literature Award, this book provides a refreshing, multidimensional depiction of Frederick the Great and an objective, detailed reappraisal of his military, political, and social achievements. Early chapters set the scene with an excellent summary of eighteenth-century Europe and the Age of Reason; an analysis of the character, composition, and operating procedures of the Prussian army; and an exploration of Frederick&’s personality as a young man. Later chapters examine his stunning victories at Rossbach and Leuthen; his defeats at Prague and Kolín; and Prussia&’s emergence as a key European power. Written with style and verve, this book offers brilliant insights into the political and military history of the eighteenth century—and one of history&’s most famous rulers.
From Fury to Phantom: An RAF Pilot's Story, 1936–1970
by Richard Haine"Richard 'Dickie' Haine first went solo in a de Havilland Gipsy Moth during August 1935, after only one week of tuition. He joined the RAF shortly afterwards as a Direct Entry Sergeant Pilot and left the service in 1970 as a Group Captain, OBE, DFC. During his long career he flew an extraordinary variety of aircraft types, starting with small biplanes that were designed upon the philosophy gained during World War I and finishing with Britain's V Bomber force and American-designed fighters at the very edge of space.His first posting was with No 25 Squadron flying Hawker Demons and Gloster Gladiators during 1936 until the unit was re-equipped with Bristol Blenheims and undertook a night-fighter role. These were difficult days during which the primitive radar system made it all but impossible to locate incoming enemy aircraft, but the squadron were also sent on several offensive missions over the recently invaded European countries. Haine was lucky to escape when his aircraft was brought down and crash-landed on a small Dutch island after an abortive raid on German occupied Walhaven airfield. After a hazardous journey on foot through the increasingly threatened lowlands he escaped on a RN Frigate. During the Battle of Britain he continued in the night-fighting role flying from Manston in Kent.Now a Commissioned officer, he was given command of No 96 Squadron, flying Boulton Paul Defiants in the night defense of the industrial heartland of England. The, after a spell as a Staff Officer at Bentley Priory, he took command of No 448 (New Zealand Squadron) who were equipped with the superlative de Havilland Mosquito. During this period the squadron had an enviable score sheet in downing enemy aircraft during many night operations. In 1945 the author was dispatched by ship to take charge of a newly formed wing to aid those forces still at war with Japan. However, whilst still at sea, the war ended and Haine found himself in Hong Kong with the task of getting Kai Tak airport operational immediately after its liberation.His post-war flying was heavily involved in the development of jet-powered fighters and sophisticated new weaponry. He spent a long period as Wing Commander in Habbinya and Akrotiri and ended his career training the navigators of the V-Bomber nuclear Force."
The Germans at Beaumont Hamel (Battleground Somme)
by Jack SheldonBeaumont Hamel is a name which conjures up appalling visions of the catastrophic reverse suffered by men of VIII Corps, British Fourth Army on 1st July 1916, when thousands of men were killed and wounded for no gains whatsoever. Ninety years on, the events of that day still exert a powerful fascination for those interested in the great trench battles. This book, which covers the Old Front Line from Redan Ridge to the Ancre, describes how the defense of the area became so strong, the reasons for German early success during the battle and explains how the British defeat of July was transformed into victory, when the fall of Beaumont Hamel marked the final flicker of success, before the battle was mired to a standstill in the mud.
Operation Goodwood: Operation Goodwood (Over the Battlefield)
by Ian DaglishThis ground-level WWII history describes the British armored offensive into occupied France with rare wartime photos. Military historian Ian Daglish presents an authoritatively detailed chronicle of the greatest armored battle undertaken by the British during the Second World War. After the Normandy Landings, Operation Goodwood sent British tanks south out of the Orne bridgehead. Though the operation failed to break through German defenses, it exposed critical vulnerabilities that would ultimately assist the Allies in the liberation of France. Along with the engaging and informative text, this volume includes newly discovered aerial photos taken during the fighting by the RAF. This amazing imagery makes it possible to trace the course of the battle and to track the movement of the armored regiments and troops of both sides.
Haig's Generals
by Steven J. CorviAn in-depth study of Douglas Haig's army commanders on the Western Front during the First World War. Assesses their careers and characters, looks critically at their performance in command and examines their relationship with their subordinates and with Haig himself. Chapters are devoted to Allenby, Byng, Birdwood, Gough, Horne, Monro, Plumer, Rawlinson and Smith-Dorrien. Offers a fascinating insight into the mentality of these men and into their methods as they sought a solution to the problem of war on the Western Front. A fascinating and original contribution to the history of the war in the trenches.Contributors include: John Bourne, Matthew Hughes, John Lee, William Philpott, Simon Robbins, Gary Sheffield, Peter Simkins, Ian F. W. Beckett, Steven J. Corvi.
Heroes and Landmarks of British Aviation: From Airships to the Jet Age
by Richard Edwards Peter J. EdwardsHeroes and Landmarks of British Aviation tells the dramatic story of a world leading aviation industry, from the sweat and grease of the workshop, to the board rooms and government nationalisations that ultimately fashioned its destiny.The heroes are Britains most innovative aviation pioneers and their aircraft, the men and women who persevered to be the first into the air, to fly the fastest, the highest and the furthest. This broad and highly accessible books ranges from the first man to fly across the English Channel from England to France to the development of the Spitfire and from the disastrous R101 airship to the development of the jet engine and ultimately the worlds first supersonic airliner.Each chapter looks at a different aviation pioneer and the flying machines that they designed, their engineering landmarks, their triumphs in the air and on occasion their disasters too. The book explores the great air races that were won and lost, the government contracts and political short-sightedness that cut short the development of leading aircraft designs and many of the dramatic air raids and sea battles from the First World War to the Falklands and the Middle East.Many of the industrys most prominent names are profiled, including Ernest Willows, the Short brothers, Geoffrey de Havilland, Vincent Richmond, George White, Thomas Sopwith, Harry Hawker, RJ Mitchell, Herbert Smith, Charles Rolls, Henry Royce, Reginald Pierson, Alliott Verdon-Roe, Frederick Handley Page, Robert Watson-Watt, Robert Blackburn and Frank Whittle.Behind the personal stories are the histories of the aircraft companies that these pioneers created, from those that went bankrupt to those that lasted the test of time and have become indivisible from British aviation folklore, such names as Sopwith, Handley Page, Avro, Supermarine, Blackburn, Bristol, Fairey and Rolls-Royce. The book covers the mergers and acquisitions that led to the creation of two major aircraft manufacturers, Hawker Siddeley Group and the British Aircraft Corporation, and how barely two decades later, before the century was out, they were nationalised to form British Aerospace.
Himmler's Nazi Concentration Camp Guards: Rare Photographs from Wartime Archives (Images of War)
by Ian Baxter&“A chilling study of the . . . recruitment, indoctrination and performance of those responsible for the guarding of concentration camp inmates.&”—Inscale.org The conversion of human beings into murderers and individuals routinely carrying out appalling acts of cruelty are bound to be shocking. But it happened under the Third Reich on a massive scale. This book follows the development of concentration camps from the early beginnings in the 1930s (Buchenwald, Sachsenhausen etc.), through their establishment in the conquered territories of Poland and Czechoslovakia to the extermination camps (Dachau, Auschwitz). In parallel, it describes, using original source material, the behavior of the guards who became in numerous cases immune to the horrors around them. This is well borne out by the conduct of the guards during the Liberation process, which is also movingly described using numerous personal accounts of shocked Allied personnel. Of the 55,000 Nazi concentration camp guards, some 3,700 were women. The book studies their behavior with examples along with that of their male counterparts. &“These are everyday pictures of sadistic murderers. Ian Baxter should be commended on this book. The concentration camps of the Second World War should never be pushed to the back of our minds. It happened and we should remember it so that it can never be allowed to happen again.&”—WW2 Connection
Hitler's Alpine Retreat
by James WilsonA collection of Nazi propaganda shots, including &“rare images of Adolf Hitler socializing with children and supporters at his notorious Alpine hideaway&” (Daily Mail). Adolf Hitler became &“completely captivated&” by Berchtesgaden and the Obersalzberg when he first visited the area in 1923. In time, he bought Haus Wachenfeld and made the area his second seat of government. This meant major construction of the Berghof barracks, administrative buildings, airstrips and the famous &“Eagle&’s Nest.&” During the war massive tunnels were dug. Most were destroyed by allied bombing in April 1945. This original book tells the story of the area, and—in contemporary postcards and photographs—how it was transformed by Hitler and his henchmen (Goering, Goebbels and Borman).
Hitler's Fortune
by Cris WhettonThe true story of how Adolf Hitler amassed billions of dollars in wealth, where that money went—and who may be trying to find it for themselves. In 1918 Adolf Hitler was penniless. But within twenty-five years he was probably the richest man in Europe. In this fascinating book, Cris Whetton reveals not only the extent of Hitler&’s fortune but how it was amassed and those who helped him. As Whetton demonstrates, the royalties from his book, Mein Kampf, were only a small fraction of the total fortune Hitler possessed before World War II began. Whetton delves into the finances of Hitler&’s publishing company Eher Verlag, and his fund Adolf Hitler Spende, to which many people &‘voluntarily&’ contributed, as well as newly uncovered evidence of two of Hitler&’s personal bank accounts. Also explored is how Hitler&’s personal force, magnetism, and attraction to the opposite sex also proved hugely lucrative. Hitler&’s Fortune also follows what happened to the property, the funds, the art collection, and other items after the Fuhrer&’s suicide in 1945, and reveals who is—and who is trying to—profit in modern times from the evil legacy of Adolf Hitler.
HMS Rodney: The Famous Ships of the Royal Navy Series
by Iain BallantyneThe Second World War battleship HMS Rodney achieved lasting fame for her role in destroying the pride of Hitlers navy, the mighty Bismarck, in a thrilling duel. This splendid book traces not only this mighty battleships career in detail but describes the careers of all the ships carrying the name.
Major & Mrs Holt's Battlefield Guide to the Somme (Holt's Battlefield Guidebooks Ser.)
by Tonie Holt Valmai HoltMajor and Mrs. Holt's Battlefield Guide to the Somme is, without doubt, one of the best-selling guide books to the battlefields of the Somme. This latest updated edition, includes four recommended, timed itineraries representing one day's traveling. Every stop on route has an accompanying description and often a tale of heroic or tragic action.Memorials, private and official, sites of memorable conflict, the resting places of personalities of note are all drawn together with sympathetic and understanding commentary that gives the reader a sensitivity towards the events of 1916.
Hurricane over the Jungle: 120 Days Fighting the Japanese Onslaught in 1942
by Terence KellyThe author and WWII fighter pilot offers a firsthand look at an RAF squadron&’s harrowing fate in this candid combat memoir. Before he became a prolific author of history and fiction, Terence Kelly served in the Royal Air Force during World War II, flying Hawker Hurricanes in combat against the Japanese. Hurricanes Over the Jungle is Kelly&’s personal account of what happened to the twenty-two pilots of No. 258 Squadron, RAF, after leaving Scotland in late October 1941. One hundred and twenty days later, all those who had not been killed became prisoners of the Japanese. This heartbreaking story takes readers to the final defense of Singapore and then on to Sumatra and Java. In his vivid narrative, Kelly recaptures the atmosphere of squadron life, the bitter aerial engagements with the Japanese enemy, and the hostile jungle terrain over which they fought. For its honest depiction of front line combat, and its criticism of British and Allied failures that resulted in lost lives, Hurricane Over the Jungle offers an important perspective on the Pacific Theater of World War II.
617 Dambuster Squadron At War: Images Of War
by Chris WardNo. 617 Squadron RAF Bomber Command is world-famous for its daring raids on the Mohne, Eder and Sorpe Dams, the Dortmund-Ems Canal and the attacks on the German ship Tirpitz. This book contains rarely seen photographs of the squadrons aircraft, crews and other behind-the-scenes operations. Each image is accompanied by a lengthy caption that convey the location and history surrounding the subject in question.
Dambusters: 617 Squadron in World War II
by Chris Ward Andy Lee Andreas Wachtel617 Squadron of 5 Group RAF Bomber Command was without doubt the most famous RAF Squadron in World War II. It was formed to carry out the precision low-level attack on the Mohne, Eder and Sorpe Dams, using Barnes Wallaces newly developed rotating mine, now commonly referred to as The Bouncing Bomb. The raid was a tremendous success, although at great cost to the squadron, and proved to be a great moral booster for the war-weary British public. Guy Gibson VC was tasked with organizing the formation and training of the new squadron and the Dambusters have been national heroes ever since. Although several books have previously been written on this epic adventure, this is a new look at their first raid and then the long and envious history of 617 until the end of the war. This new version of the Dams raid within the book, pays particular attention to timings, as it is easy to overlook the fact, that this was a complex three-phase operation, spanning 8 hours and 47 minutes, with action occurring simultaneously at widely dispersed locations. It also attempts to settle finally the circumstances of the losses, by examining the testimony of eyewitnesses on both sides, and presenting arguments to help readers decide for themselves what actually happened where previous accounts are contradictory or at variance. In the later war years 617 suffered greatly during an attack on the Dortmund-Ems Canal but recovered and their list of priority special targets then included the German missile research plant at Peenemunde, Hamburg, the U boat pens at La Pallice and the sinking of the battleship Tirpitz. The legendary Leonard Cheshire VC led the Squadron for much of that period. This newly researched account of 617s wartime record contains many first-hand accounts from squadron members and also German and Dutch witnesses who were present at some of the most spectacular raids and have explained many of the mysterious losses of the Squadrons aircraft.Lengthy appendices contain a Roll of Honour, Commanders, Airfields and aircraft, Operational statistics and Aircraft Histories.
Dambuster Crash Sites: 617 Dambuster Squadron Crash Sites in Holland & Germany (Images Of War Bks.)
by Chris Ward Andreas WachtelMany of the 617 Squadron crews who took part in the famous attacks on the Mohne, Eder and Sorpe Dams and also the raids on the Dortmund-Ems Canal did not return. This book takes the reader to many of the crash sites that resulted. They include the coast off Texel, Rees, Marbeck, Emmerich, Hamm, Ostonnen, just north of the Mohne Dam, the former airfield at Gilze-Rijen in Holland and Castricum-aan-Zee, also Holland. The Dortmund-Ems Canal sites are Noordhorn, Recke, Bergeshovede, Ladbergen and Den Ham in Holland. All these sites can be visited within a weeks tour by car or public transport. The book is illustrated with then-and-now photographs of the sites, the personnel involved and the aircraft originally flown. Local places of interest are listed to allow those aficionados of this famous squadron to broaden their knowledge and also enjoy a continental break.
4 Group Bomber Command: An Operational Record
by Chris WardDuring the immediate period before World War Two, the RAF modified its command structure to rationalize for rapid expansion. Bomber Command was divided into six operational groups, each flying the same type of aircraft, including Wellingtons, Sterlings, and Lancasters. Chris Ward presents us here with the history of 4 Group Bomber Command, having previously acquainted us with the histories of 3, 5, and 6 Group Bomber Commands in three highly acclaimed volumes, published by Pen and Sword. He continues with characteristic ease, quality of research, and narrative pace, to present us with an operational record of the groups activities during a particularly dramatic period of aviation history.The book contains individual squadron statistics, their commanding officers, stations and aircraft losses. It provides a detailed reference for one of the RAFs most important operational groups.