Böcker av Charles Whiting

The overlooked story of one of the last battles of the Second World War, which shaped the course of the Cold War. Perfect for readers of Max Hastings, James Holland and Stephen E. Ambrose. By the spring of 1945 the end of World War Two was in sight. Adolf Hitler committed suicide on 30th April leaving Admiral Dönitz in charge of what was left of the crumbling Nazi state while Allied troops were storming into Germany from East and West. Yet, Field-Marshal Montgomery and Winston Churchill knew that this was not the moment to take it easy and wait for the inevitable collapse of their enemy, instead they looked to the future and saw the growing threat of the increasingly powerful and aggressive USSR. In the last remaining days of conflict, Montgomery and the British Army fought their way towards the Baltic coast in order to halt the advancing Russians from moving westwards into North-West Europe. This campaign began brilliantly, but finally ended in failure. Why did Dwight D. Eisenhower, who had previously been such a firm friend of the British, give only limited support to Montgomery and Churchill's race to meet the Soviet advance? And how did this failure lay the groundworks for the Cold War that was to emerge in the aftermath of the Second World War? Charles Whiting's thoroughly researched Finale at Flensburg is an eye-opening account of the dying moments of World War Two. Through interviews with many of the prominent German, American and British actors, Whiting is able to reconstruct this oft-forgotten battle and its aftermath.

A fascinating account of the first German city ever besieged by the U.S. Army and the monumental battle that took place amongst its ruined walls. This book would be perfect for readers of George Feifer, Stephen E. Ambrose, and James Holland. Aachen saw some of the fiercest fighting of the Second World War. Through the determined defense of their city the citizens of Aachen held off the oncoming American forces for six weeks, giving the Nazis time to mobilize their troops for what would become the Battle of the Bulge. Had it not been for dogged resistance of these men and women the last great German offensive in the West might have never occurred, potentially ending the war in Europe could have ended six months and saving the lives of thousands. Yet, Charles Whiting's remarkable book, Bloody Aachen, is more than an account of a military operation. Through interviews with German and Dutch participants in the battle he builds an in-depth picture of who the defenders of the city were, informing us that many in this Catholic city were opposed to the Hitler regime and remained behind - against orders and against odds - determined to defend their homes, unwittingly aiding their Nazi enemies as they did so. 'Whiting writes clear, hard-driving prose' Kirkus Reviews This book should be essential reading for all interested in this monumental siege which truly encapsulates the complex motives of the men and women who fought through the course of the Second World War.

An enthralling exposé of the spies who moved in the darkened dangerous back alleys of World War Two. Perfect for readers who enjoy the books of Ian Fleming, Robert Ludlum and John le Carré but who want to learn more about what the real spies really did. While American, British, German and Russian soldiers clashed in the battlefields of the world, a small group of men and women moved in the shadows, deliberating over actions behind the scenes. Agents, double-agents and even triple-agents worked to gather intelligence and give their sides advantages during this monumental conflict. Yet, unlike the world of James Bond, there was no glamor to their actions. Through in-depth research Charles Whiting shines a light on the unvarnished world of espionage in World War Two and demonstrates how all the players of this game, whether French, British, American, Czech, German, Dutch or Russian, lost in this war in the shadows. This book should be essential reading for anyone interested in the overlooked truth of what it was like to be a spy in the Second World War.

The epic account of World War Two's most disastrous rescue mission. "An amazing episode of courage" The New York Times Perfect for fans of Hampton Sides' Ghost Soldiers and Ben MacIntyre's SAS: Rogue Heroes. Gen. George Patton was one of the great military leaders of the Second World War, but when war became personal, he made one of the worst mistakes of his entire career. In March 1945 Patton went against the advice of his top subordinates and created a secret task force under Captain Abraham Baum to drive through a gap in the Nazi defences. Their target was to rescue the prisoners-of-war held in camp Oflag XIII-B near Hammelburg. Of the three hundred men who were part of this task force only one knew the real reason that this mission was set up: to rescue Patton's son-in-law, Lieutenant-Colonel John K. Waters. Encountering heavy fire from the offset, the mission was an unmitigated catastrophe. Yet, it was not just enemy resistance which impeded the drive behind enemy lines, as the task force soon realised it was lacking maps and fuel. Of the men who set out, only thirty-five made it back to Allied lines. Gen. Omar Bradley dismissively later said the mission "began as a wild goose chase and ended in tragedy." Why had Patton authorized such a catastrophic mission? Was he blinded by his desire to save his son-in-law? And what caused the task force to fail so dramatically? Interviews with numerous combatants, from private to general, American and German, allows Charles Whiting to reveals the gripping, true and long-suppressed full story of what exactly happened in this dramatic rescue attempt.

A lively and highly readable study of the often-overlooked Italian Campaign, from the invasion of Sicily to the march on Rome. An ideal book for fans of Jonathan Dimbleby, Max Hastings and Antony Beevor. While the Allied armies were beginning their invasion of the beaches of north-west Europe during D-Day, their fellow soldiers were also engaged in a gruelling campaign throughout the length of Italy. They had expected to carve through the 'soft underbelly of Europe', but what they found instead was a 'tough old gut' filled with battle-hardened troops. It was the costliest campaign on the Western front in terms of casualties suffered by infantry forces of both sides, with both the Allies and Germans losing over three hundred thousand men. Drawing on the recollections of British, American, Polish, French and German men and women who took part, as well as on the official histories, Charles Whiting paints a vivid picture of the liberation of Italy as seen through the eyes of the ordinary soldier. Whiting sheds light on some of the most ferocious fighting that took place during this conflict, including the bloody Battle of Anzio, where Allied troops attempted to outflank German forces but were held down by dogged fighting. The Long March on Rome should be essential reading for anyone wanting to learn more about this overlooked but hugely important front which after over a year of brutal conflict helped defeat the Axis.

The story of the most infamous massacre of American soldiers in World War Two. An ideal book for people interested in the works of Alex Kershaw, Ben Macintyre and Jonathan Freedland. 'Drive on recklessly, give no quarter and to take no prisoners', these are the words that SS-Obersturmbannführer Joachim Peiper gave to his men on the eve of this notorious event. In December 1944 the German counteroffensive in the Ardennes was in full swing, spearheaded by the armor of the Kampfgruppe Peiper. When they met a U.S. Army convoy of the 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion they swiftly surprised the Americans and immobilized the convoy. Realizing that they were out-numbered and out-gunned the soldiers of the 285th Field Artillery surrendered to the Waffen-SS, little did they know that they would be mown down by Nazi machine guns in cold blood shortly afterwards. Charles Whiting reconstructs Kamfgruppe Peiper's drive into the Ardennes during the Battle of Bulge and the subsequent slaughter of eight-four American soldiers in remarkable detail. Through in-depth research and interviews with many who were alive on this fateful day, including Jochen Peiper himself, Whiting uncovers the traumatic sequence of events and its aftermath. 'a good tactical study ... Various interesting personalities appear.' Military Affairs Massacre at Malmedy: The Story of Jochen Peiper's Battle Group Ardennes, December, 1944 should be essential reading for all who wish to learn more about one of the most heart-breaking events of the Second World War.

A blow-by-blow account of the epic Battle of Arnhem, the commanders who planned it and the units who paid for their mistakes. Perfect for James Holland, Anthony Beevor and Cornelius Ryan. 'An operation which will inspire our youth with the highest ideals of duty and of daring.' - Winston Churchill. 'The British First Airborne Division not only gave to all the Allied forces one of the most gallant examples of courage in all the war, but by drawing upon themselves the bulk of the German counter-attack, they enabled us to hold the important bridges.' - General Dwight D. Eisenhower. 'In years to come it will be a great thing for a man to be able to say: I fought at Arnhem.' - Field Marshal Montgomery. 'We have no regrets.' - General R. Urquhart, Commander First Airborne Division. Operation Market Garden was designed to open a corridor through Nazi-held Holland, bypass the Siegfried Line and crush the 1,000 Year Reich before Christmas. Yet, despite the courage of the elite First British Airborne Division, who were ordered to capture the key bridge across the Lower Rhine at Arnhem, the battle developed into an unmitigated disaster. Utilising a wide array of eyewitness accounts from both the Allied and Axis sides Charles Whiting uncovers the course of this battle from its planning stages through to its tragic denouement. A Bridge at Arnhem is the towering story of the greatest airborne operation in history, it should be essential reading for all interested in this fateful battle.

"a provocative and stimulating addition to the study of World War II." HistoryNet Perfect for readers of Max Hastings, James Holland and Stephen E. Ambrose. By September 1944 the Germany army in France had been decimated and survivors were streaming back to the Reich. The British SAS commanders were clearing the way for the American armies of George S. Patton, Alexander Patch and Courtney Hodges. By the afternoon of September 11, 1944, men of the U.S. 5th Armored Division penetrated the poorly defended Siegfried Line. Yet just when the Rhine was ripe for the taking General Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered all further advances to be halted. Could combination of American forces supported by the British SAS have crossed the Rhine and thrust into the heart of Germany in the autumn of 1944? Did Eisenhower's rigid adherence to his broad-front strategy delay the end of the war by several months and cause thousands of men to lose their lives in the bloody struggles in the Ardennes and the Hurtgen Forest during the Battle of the Bulge? Charles Whiting's brilliant book Death on a Distant Frontier is a hard-hitting reappraisal of Eisenhower's tactics. Through extensive research Whiting shines a light on the conflicts of personalities between the various generals and explores how Eisenhower conducted the war to ensure that his insiders reaped the glory of being the first American army to cross the Rhine. As a veteran of this campaign, Whiting was a witness to the turmoil that reigned during this fourth month period, yet through his fast-paced narrative and informed analysis he is able to provide vivid insight into this much-overlooked period of the Second World War when the Allies could have broken through into Nazi Germany.

The thrilling true story of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division's major operations during the European campaign of 1944/45. For readers of Max Hastings and James Holland, and fans of Steven Spielberg's award-winning miniseries Band of Brothers. Of the 6,600 paratroopers of the 101st 'Screaming Eagles' Airborne Division who parachuted into France in the early hours of 6 June 1944 - D-Day - some 3,500 were listed as missing by midnight that same night. Yet it was only the beginning of their 'rendezvous with destiny'. American Eagles is the remarkable true story of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division. From their rigorous training in 'Old Jolly' (England) to their first operational jump in Normandy, Charles Whiting tells the story of this 'Band of Brothers', who fought, suffered and died in the eleven-month campaign that followed. From Normandy and Holland through to the siege of Bastogne and their final triumphant capture of Hitler's Eagle's Nest in the Bavarian Alps, we gain a picture of a brave elite division which kept on getting the tough assignments. Drawing on eyewitness accounts, painstaking research, and his own youthful experiences when his regiment was under the command of 101st Airborne in Holland, Whiting delivers a powerful account of each of the 101st's major operations during the European campaign of 1944/45. He brings to life the full horrors of war while shining a spotlight on the courage and determination of the 'Screaming Eagles' and their role in the destruction of the Nazi regime in World War Two. "The 101st Airborne Division, which was activated on August 16, 1942, at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, has no history, but it has a rendezvous with destiny..." - Maj.-Gen. William Lee, commanding officer in 1942.

Obedience to the Fuhrer. Obedience to the death.Hitler's elite SS bodyguards prided themselves on doing whatever it took, even if death was the price. They called themselves the "old hares", and they left a trail of terror as they butchered their way across Europe. Of the 30,000 soldiers who signed up, only thirty would survive the war. Some perished in the abortive push on Normandy in 1944, directed by the Fuhrer. Others suffered gruesome deaths at the hands of the Russians. In a chilling day-by-day account of the final year of this crack squad, bestseller Charles Whiting chronicles their bloody demise, which culminated in humiliation at the Battle of the Bulge. This is a gripping brutal history, taking us deep into one of the most terrifying and cult-like units of the Second World War. It shows just how far the Nazi's were willing to go; and the great efforts needed to vanquish them.

Charles Whiting was a prolific British novelist and military historian. He wrote under his own name and a variety of pseudonyms including Duncan Harding, Leo Kessler and K.N. Kostov.

In the shadows was another war... An unputdownable account of the Nazi spy operation and how it ultimately failedDuring the Second World War there was, behind the scenes, a bitter conflict was stamped 'Top Secret'. It was a war of infiltration and misdirection, espionage and assassination. And the Nazis were determined not to let anyone best them. Revealing the full extent of Nazi's secret intelligence networks, bestselling author Charles Whiting takes the reader into organisations like the Abwehr, Germany's renowned military intelligence bureau, and features interviews with key figures like such key figures as Giskes, who fooled the Americans at the Battle of the Bulge, and Ritter, who stole the highly classified US Norden bombsights. There are accounts of hubris, heroism and cowardice; stunning triumphs and excruciating defeats, all out of the public eye and revealed only decades later. Over a period of thirty years, Whiting met and interviewed a huge number of Nazi and Allied survivors involved in what came to be known as 'The War in the Shadows'. The result is an extraordinary and gripping story combining great cunning with staggering incompetence. Perfect for readers of Ben Macintyre and Max Hastings, Hitler's Secret War outdoes the best spy novel and demonstrates yet again that fiction cannot rival history.

A unique look at the calm before the storm--how the Germans were able to take the Americans by surprise at the Battle of the Bulge

Andra världskriget befinner sig vid sitt slutskede. Den amerikanska tredje armén har nått fram till Nazitysklands gränser. Allt som skiljer dem från en seger i kriget är historiens kanske starkaste försvarslinje – Siegfrid-linjen. En hårt kontrollerad gräns som tyskarna sätter in allt för att hålla fast vid...Det som väntar är ett av världshistoriens blodigaste slag, ett slag som kommer att skörda fler liv än vad som är nödvändigt. Men amerikanerna sitter på ett ess i rockärmen: T-styrkan, en liten grupp med specialsoldater som är tränade att operera bakom fiendens linjer. Det går snabbt att infiltrera fiendernas linjer, men det visar sig snart att situationen är betydligt mer ödesdiger än vad någon tidigare kunnat tänka sig. Och det T-styrkan ställs inför är mer än bara krigstaktiska beslut. Även deras personliga etik ställs på sin spets, när de soldater de möter är något helt annat än vad de tidigare stött på under kriget ... Charles Henry Whiting (1926-2007) var en brittisk författare och militärhistoriker som skrev cirka 350 böcker, både skön- och facklitteratur. Han författade både under eget namn och under pseudonymerna Duncan Harding, Ian Harding, John Kerrigan, Leo Kessler, Klaus Konrad, K.N. Kostov och Duncan Stirling.

Oktober 1944. Tyskarna håller den franska staden Metz i ett järngrepp och hindrar de allierades framfart mot Tyskland. T-styrkans order är att försöka tränga genom fiendens linjer och slå ut det tyska försvaret. För att sedan återvända med eller utan överlevande …Charles Henry Whiting (1926-2007) var en brittisk författare och militärhistoriker som skrev cirka 350 böcker, både skönlitteratur och fackböcker. Han skrev både under eget namn och under pseudonymerna Duncan Harding, Ian Harding, John Kerrigan, Leo Kessler, Klaus Konrad, K.N. Kostov och Duncan Stirling.

En bro blir avgörande för Europas framtid.De allierade ska ta kontroll över bron vid Arnhem för att hålla axelmakterna på säkert avstånd. För att nå dit landstiger britterna en bit bort, men tyskarna ligger i bakhåll. Britterna blir slaktade som boskap. Efter ett kraftigt manfall väcks tvivel på om de allierade verkligen kommer klara av att hålla bron ... Men det måste de. Europas framtid ligger i deras händer.Charles Henry Whiting (1926-2007) var en brittisk författare och militärhistoriker som skrev cirka 350 böcker, både skönlitteratur och fackböcker. Han skrev både under eget namn och under pseudonymerna Duncan Harding, Ian Harding, John Kerrigan, Leo Kessler, Klaus Konrad, K.N. Kostov och Duncan Stirling.

Axelmakterna står på knäna. Deras nästa drag är så häpnadsväckande att de allierade inte tror sina ögon ...Det är 1945 och andra världskriget börjar närma sig sitt slut. Hitler gömmer sig i bunkern. De allierade, med Mallorys Jägare i fronten, gör framsteg. Snart så är maktordningen i Europa återställd och Hitlers skräckvälde över ... Eller?Mallorys grabbar tror inte sina ögon. De har övervunnit de värsta nazisterna under krigets många prövningar, men nu är inte motståndet längre mänskligt. Axelmakterna har släppt lös sin mest oväntade styrka ... Följer militärförbandet Mallorys Jägare under de mest intensiva perioderna av andra världskriget.Charles Henry Whiting (1926-2007) var en brittisk författare och militärhistoriker som skrev cirka 350 böcker, både skönlitteratur och fackböcker. Han skrev både under eget namn och under pseudonymerna Duncan Harding, Ian Harding, John Kerrigan, Leo Kessler, Klaus Konrad, K.N. Kostov och Duncan Stirling.

Italien 1943. Den avsatte italienske diktatorn Mussolini sitter fången i bergsfästningen Monte Corno och väntar på sin dom. Den allierade gruppen Mallorys jägare har fått i uppdrag att ta sig dit för att plantera konstruerade bevis för att nazi-amiralen Canaris är en förrädare. Detta kommer att slutgiltigt skaka omkull nazi-maskinens inre, förstöra viktiga strukturer inom den fascistiska militärmakten. Men uppdraget är givetvis livsfarligt, och det blir inte mindre farligt när den ökände SS-kaptenen Skorzeny dyker upp. Han är något på spåren och snart uppdagas det att det kanske befinner sig en förrädare i insatsstyrkans hemliga led. Det blir tydligt att man inte kan lita på någon och att något som betraktas som bevis i själva verket kan vara något planterat, falskt ... Charles Henry Whiting (1926-2007) var en brittisk författare och militärhistoriker som skrev cirka 350 böcker, både skön- och facklitteratur. Han författade både under eget namn och under pseudonymerna Duncan Harding, Ian Harding, John Kerrigan, Leo Kessler, Klaus Konrad, K.N. Kostov och Duncan Stirling.

Under en hel månad har General Patton och hans män befunnit sig på Normandie alltmedan de andra generalernas arméer tagit åt sig äran för utdrivandet av nazisterna ur Frankrike. Men nu har General Patton fått nog.T-styrkan kallas in. Deras uppdrag är att överta Pontaubault-bron för att Pattons Tredje Armén ska kunna inta Avranches, platsen vars geografiska läge kommer säkra Tredje Arméns övertag och öppna dörren till övriga Frankrike. För att offensiven ska lyckas måste General Patton gå emot sina allierade, och misslyckas uppdraget är T-styrkan utan skydd. Bakom fiendens linjer är den första delen i serien om T-styrkan, en grupp elitsoldater specialiserade på att operera bakom fiendens linjer. Serien om specialgruppen T-styrkan utspelar sig under Andra världskriget och följer den hemliga gruppen när de tar sig an livsfarliga uppdrag. Charles Henry Whiting (1926-2007) var en brittisk författare och militärhistoriker som skrev cirka 350 böcker, både skönlitteratur och fackböcker. Han skrev både under eget namn och under pseudonymerna Duncan Harding, Ian Harding, John Kerrigan, Leo Kessler, Klaus Konrad, K.N. Kostov och Duncan Stirling.

Det är 1944. Julen står runt hörnet, men högtider har inget värde under ett brinnande krig. I stället planerar en SS-sergeant ett våldsamt stunt. Han har samlat ihop ett gäng tyska soldater, som pratar prickfri engelska och som ska gå inkognito. Klädda i de allierades uniformer ska de ge sig på en av de tyngsta pjäserna bland fienderna. Nämligen självaste general Patton! De ger sig av i en Sherman-pansarvagn med fradga i mungiporna ... Patton behöver minst sagt vara på sin vakt.Charles Henry Whiting (1926-2007) var en brittisk författare och militärhistoriker som skrev cirka 350 böcker, både skönlitteratur och fackböcker. Han skrev både under eget namn och under pseudonymerna Duncan Harding, Ian Harding, John Kerrigan, Leo Kessler, Klaus Konrad, K.N. Kostov och Duncan Stirling.

Andra världskriget led mot sitt slut. De på pappret allierade amerikanerna och ryssarna insåg att de var tänkbara fiender i ett framtida kallt krig. Nu gällde det att roffa åt sig så mycket det bara gick av Europa innan Tysklands kapitulation. Den ryske generalen Ulanovs armé var större än den amerikanska kollegan Pattons. Men Patton hade ett ess i rockärmen …Charles Henry Whiting (1926-2007) var en brittisk författare och militärhistoriker som skrev cirka 350 böcker, både skönlitteratur och fackböcker. Han skrev både under eget namn och under pseudonymerna Duncan Harding, Ian Harding, John Kerrigan, Leo Kessler, Klaus Konrad, K.N. Kostov och Duncan Stirling.

Fältmarskalk von Schwartau kallades "Räven från Kaukasus" av sina soldater. Namnet hade han fått utanför Moskvas portar 1941 … Nu var han på väg söderut mot de ryska oljefälten tillsammans med sina bataljoner, en framryckning som i värsta fall kunde vända krigslyckan för tyskarna. Det brittiska specialförbandet "Mallorys jägare", lika hårda och kalla som den ryska vintern, skickades ut för att stoppa honom.Charles Henry Whiting (1926-2007) var en brittisk författare och militärhistoriker som skrev cirka 350 böcker, både skönlitteratur och fackböcker. Han skrev både under eget namn och under pseudonymerna Duncan Harding, Ian Harding, John Kerrigan, Leo Kessler, Klaus Konrad, K.N. Kostov och Duncan Stirling.

A story of the attempt on Eisenhower's life

Patton's last battle