A vivid first-person account based on a wartime diary and field-post letters to his parents
First publication of a rare, full colour edition
English translation of a classic text by a legendary fencing master. Essential reading for any historical swordfighter, martial arts student or military history student.
Masterfully charts the path of first commander Erwin Rommel and his Afrika Korps during the German army's North African Campaign in the 1940s.
This book is a methodical, unbiased compilation of primary sources and archival material. It details the sequence of events leading to the sinking of the Blücher, the flagship of the force that was to seize Oslo, from setting sail for Norway, to evading British submarines in the Skagerrak, and finally sinking to the bottom of the Drøbak Narrows after being struck by Oscarsborg fortress gunfire and torpedoes.
A comprehensive, detailed and unbiased history of Hermann Goring's panzer division.
A fascinating account of the little-known final battle of World War II in Europe. How Soviet Georgian soldiers wound up wearing German uniforms. The human tragedy of the battle, as Dutch civilians lost their homes and their lives.
An often untold story of German soldiers held in Soviet prison camps with a fascinating tale of a young Bavarian man who progressed through Nazi schemes and conscripted.
Prizes including the Andrei Sakharov Prize i?1/2For Writer's Civic Couragei?1/2 (1996, Russia), Gold medal of Russian Writers Union (1987) i?1/2Venetsi?1/2 (i?1/2The Crowni?1/2) prize of Moscow Union of Writer and two-time i?1/2Moscow Newsi?1/2 newspaper prize winner
Eastern Front Sniper is a long overdue and comprehensive biography of one of World War II’s most accomplished snipers.Mathäus Hetzenauer, the son of a Tyrolean peasant family, was born in December 1924\. He was drafted into the Mountain Reserve Battalian 140 at the age of 18 but discharged five month’s later.He received a new draft notice in January 1943 for a post in the Styrian Truppenübungsplatz Seetal Alps where he met some of the best German snipers and learned his art.Hetzenauer went on to fight in Romania, Eastern Hungary and in Slovakia. As recognition for his more than 300 confirmed kills he was awarded on the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on April 17, 1945.After nearly five years of Soviet captivity Mathäus Hetzenauer returned to Austria on January 10, 1950\. He lived in the Tyrol's Brixen Valley until his death on 3 October of 2004.
The longest continuous military campaign of World War II, the Battle of the Atlantic is widely considered one of the most complex naval battles in history. Between 1939 and 1945, German U-Boats and warships, together with the Luftwaffe, fought against the Royal Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy, the United States Navy and convoys of Allied merchant ships in a series of devastating battles. In Warfare Beneath The Waves, eminent naval historian Axel Niestlé focuses on three particular convoy battles that took place during this period: the German attacks on Allied Convoy SC 7 in October 1940, on Allied Convoy SC 118 in February 1943 and on Allied Convoys JW 66 and RA 66 in April and May 1945. Niestlé takes readers through these individual battles in incredible detail, with a host of photographs, maps and diagrams supporting his detailed explanation and examination of the history, tactics and key personages behind these campaigns. The end of secrecy embargoes and the increasing availability of online archives, together with Niestlé's unmatched expertise in this area of military history, have come together to make Warfare Beneath The Waves a meticulously researched and incredibly important piece of writing about the Battle of the Atlantic. This is a must-read not only for fans of naval history, but for all fans of military history in general.
"Got a question?" asks Mom.Definitely! I thought. "Who invented spoons?" I ask. "What kind of meal is a matzoh meal? Can spicy stuff make you breathe fire?"In their apartment, the ever-inquisitive Sami is watching his mother prepare pot roast for the Passover seder. Noticing that both ends of the roast have been cut off, Sami wants to know why, but his mother can't give him an answer - only that her mother always did it. Determined to get to the bottom of this, Sami runs upstairs to his Grandma Shirley's apartment to ask her - amongst other things - the same question. But Grandma Shirley can only give him the same answer as his mother: "Because that's how my mother always did it". Not giving up, Sami runs up one more flight of stairs to ask Great-Grandma Lee, who finally gives him an answer and encourages him to keep asking questions, no matter what.This beautifully illustrated, light-hearted story has family and Jewish traditions - in particular Passover and the Four Questions - at its core. It teaches young readers about the importance of being curious, asking questions and not giving up until you find an answer.
The remarkable story of the Seychelles Affair began in 1978 when representatives of the exiled Seychelles president approached legendary mercenary commander Mike Hoare - who had successfully quelled the uprisings in the Congo in the early 1960s - to help overthrow the Marxist regime then in power. The coup was to take place in 1981, with Hoare's band of men disguised as a rugby club on board a flight to the Seychelles - AK-47s hidden in the bottom of their luggage. What happened when they arrived has gone down as one of the most astonishing events in the history of mercenary warfare. Hoare's eyewitness account of his escapades reads like a thriller, detailing the backroom scheming, the tense action at the airport on Mahé, the forced landing of the Air India Boeing and the subsequent escape of Hoare's band of mercenaries. The book also details their eventual capture and time spent in the South African prison, and their prosecution by those who had helped them prepare for the coup. This updated edition of this classic work is essential reading for anyone interested in mercenary warfare and military history.
The Eastern Front was where the war against Nazi Germany was lost and won. More people died there in the battles and destruction than all the other theatres put together. From the Arctic snows of Finland to the vast steppes of the Ukraine, the fighting took place in every sort of landscape and every weather condition: sub-zero temperatures that froze engines and weapons, mosquito-infested swamps, the raputitsa mud that brought mechanised armies to a halt, and the huge industrial cities that were fought over street by street and house by house. What was it like to fight there? Hitler's War of Extinction from the Eastern Fronttakes the reader into the thick of the battle lines in vivid colour. First-hand accounts from reports and diaries provide soldiers' insights to accompany the candid photos of life and death to provide an evocation of what it was like to fight for survival on the Eastern Front. Boasting more 250 original colour photographs, Hitler's War of Extinction: Rare German Colour Photographs shows the visceral nature of the battle between two intolerant ideologies that would leave upwards of 25 million servicemen and civilians dead.
A young scholar's World War I journey from eager enlistment to profound disillusionment, reflected in poignant war poetry before his tragic death.Born in September 1891, Arthur Graeme West was a quiet and self-effacing youth with a passion for literature, who went on to become a keen Oxford scholar. When war broke out in 1914, for some time it left him untouched. However, in January 1915, in a rush of enthusiasm, he enlisted as a private in the Public Schools Battalion. From that time, until his death in April 1917, his life was a succession of training in England and fighting in France, with short intervals of leave. West joined due to a feeling of duty and patriotism, but the war was to have a profound effect on him. He developed an intense abhorrence of army life and began to question the very core of his beliefs -- in religion, patriotism and the reason for war. This growing disillusionment found expression in two particularly powerful war poems, God! How I Hate You, You Young Cheerful Men and Night Patrol, which stand deservedly alongside those of Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen. In August 1916, he became a second lieutenant in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Shortly after, he wrote to his CO renouncing the war and any further part in it -- but he could not bring himself to post the letter. Less than a year later, on April 3rd, 1917, he was shot dead by a sniper's bullet near Bapaume.Written with complete frankness and sincerity, Diary of a Dead Officer gives voice to West's struggle to come to terms with the realities of war and is a poignant tribute to a lost generation of soldiers.
A richly illustrated exploration of Winston Churchill's life through 100 carefully chosen objects, offering a unique perspective on his personal and political journey.A book that brings Churchill's long life alive; connecting the reader to his many actions and interests through a carefully curated selection of objects.' -- Allen Packwood, Director of Churchill Archives CentreOne of the most recognisable public figures of the twentieth century, Sir Winston Churchill has been the subject of countless works of fiction and non-fiction alike. Winston Churchill in 100 Objects elevates this portrayal to another level entirely.The one hundred objects featured in this book chart the long and storied life of Winston Churchill, accompanied by fascinating descriptions and captivating photographs. Readers are taken back to Churchill's infancy (with his baby rattle and his christening robe); to his life as a young boy (with his tin soldiers and a school report); to his time as a young man in military service (with his 4th Hussars service uniform); right through to his many years in public office (with letters from kings, queens and presidents; his chair in the Churchill War Rooms cabinet room; and, of course, his iconic bowler hat).Compiled by experienced archivists and Churchill experts Phil Reed and Anthony Richards, this unique collection shows the personal and professional sides of Churchill in a new and fascinating light. It is a compelling, educational and revelatory book that is truly one-of-a-kind.
Written by two leading experts on the Crusades in an enjoyable and compelling style, this is an accessible narrative of a complex political and military history.The history of the Teutonic Knights is one of crusading in an era of wars, intrigues, assassinations and betrayals. Originally established as a hospital order during the Third Crusade in the Holy Land in the late 12th century, the order evolved into a formidable military force dedicated to defending and expanding Christianity in the Baltic region.This book explores the crusade aimed at Lithuanian pagans in the Middle Ages, when crusaders from the Holy Roman Empire, France, England and Scotland came to Prussia to fight alongside the Teutonic Knights. What ensued was a long-drawn out, many-sided struggle, with Lithuania and Poland first becoming powerful states, then expanding into Belarus and Ukraine, where the Mongols and Tatars had long held sway. The book culminates with Lithuania converting to the Roman Catholic Church and the dramatic sieges of Vilnius.Written by two leading experts on the Crusades in an enjoyable and compelling style, this is an accessible narrative of a complex political and military history.
To carry out one clandestine mission required courage, but to do it four times required courage on a quite extraordinary scale. Yet, that is exactly what Peter Churchill did. Peter Morland Churchill was born in Amsterdam in 1909 to British diplomat William Churchill and his wife Violet. A particularly gifted linguist, upon graduating from university, Churchill followed in his fatherâEUR(TM)s footsteps and entered into the British diplomatic service before eventually joining the Home Office Advisory Committee. Following the outbreak of the Second World War, ChurchillâEUR(TM)s professional exploits and linguistic prowess led him to the Special Operations Executive (SOE) âEUR" a secret British organisation formed in 1940 to carry out subversive warfare against the enemy in Nazi-occupied Europe. Churchill was among the early volunteers for the SOE, and joined as an Intelligence Officer in the French Section in 1941\. Throughout his time in the organisation, Churchill made it into France on four separate missions. Each of these assignments were hazardous, requiring courage, resourcefulness and tireless hard work. Churchill was successful in his first three missions, but these hazards caught up with him and he was captured at the beginning of his fourth deployment to France. He endured torture, solitary confinement and the everyday horrors of the concentration camps as a result. He eventually made it back home at the end of the war and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his outstanding courage. The story of Peter Churchill and his time in the SOE is an incredible one. This remarkable history truly does justice to these experiences and will captivate any reader interested in the SOE or in the Second World War in general.
This fascinating collection of personal narratives challenges the view that all Germans knew of the crimes perpetrated by the Third Reich and were complicit. The five accounts recall the lives of individuals born in the 1920s who resisted joining the SS, were horrified by atrocities, or otherwise remained true to their principals. Spanning their early life during the rise of the Nazi Party, through their adolescence in the war, to the early post-war years, they offer a compelling perspective on the diverse experiences and beliefs of Germans of the wartime generation. From Wehrmacht infantrymen to a Luftwaffe officer and a young woman on the home front, the accounts range from the relative comfort of German-occupied territories to the harrowing front lines against the Soviets. Standout stories include Heinz Polke's haunting description of the Warsaw Ghetto Rising, and three accounts of the often-overlooked aspect of being a prisoner of war in the USSR, providing valuable insights into the post-war German experience. Skilfully complied by journalist Klaus Förg and with additional commentary by historian Roger Moorhouse, this is a powerful and worthy addition to World War II literature.
"There is something you should know," Natan's father said. "Comrade Stalin was not a great leader. He killed many innocent people, and he has been telling everyone to hate the Jews. We're better off with him dead." "But," he added, "don't tell anyone what we really think. You must act the same as everyone else."_Standing Together_ tells the remarkable, true story of Natan Sharansky, the famous Jewish Soviet dissident and Refusenik who spent nine years in Soviet prison. The book spans most of Natan's life, from his earliest memories in kindergarten, when he learned of the death of Stalin, through his discovery of his Jewish identity, to his rebellion against the repressive Soviet society in which he lived, his involvement with the Refusenik and human rights movements that led to his imprisonment, and everything that came after. This is not only a biography of Natan, however, but of his wife Avital, who spent the nine years that Natan was in prison working tirelessly to raise global awareness of these repressive Soviet societies and to free her husband. Alongside Avital's tale, readers also learn about the Jewish communities across the globe that came together in this remarkable time of unity and dedication to help bring about the release of millions of Soviet Jews - like Natan - from prison. Educational, moving and interspersed with moments of humour and light, _Standing Together_ is essential historical reading for children aged 8 to 12 that will teach them about the importance of family and community, of being true to yourself and of not giving up hope even when things get tough.
_âThe planned landing operation in France of the Allies was on so large a scale â¿ and of such decisive importance â¿ that the preparations for it could certainly not be kept secretâ¿Everyone realized that, sooner or later, the invasion would have to become a reality.â?_ â¿ Generalmajor Rudolf, Freiherr von Gersdorff. In June 1944, Allied troops were massing along the shores of southern England in readiness for the invasion of Hitler's Fortress Europe. Facing them, from the Pas de Calais to Brittany, were German troops, dug in, waiting and preparing for the inevitable confrontation. This compilation of in-depth accounts by German commanders presents D-Day, and the events leading up to it, from the point of view of the officers entrusted with preventing the Allied landings. The accounts selected, all written soon after the war's close for American military intelligence, cover preparations for the invasion and chart the development of German strategy as invasion looms. They then turn to the ordeal of D-Day itself including reactions to the first reports of troop landings and a blow-by-blow account of the fighting. Together, they present a superb picture of D-Day from the German perspective, bringing home the entire experience from the initial waiting to the bitter fighting on the beaches and running battles in Norman villages.
Every Friday, the children of Rainbow Kindergarten go to the playground on the corner of the street, where they play in the fields of grass filled with beautiful flowers. Of all the flowers, their favourite are the bright yellow dandelions. They put them in their hair and gently blow the seed heads, sending them fluttering in the fields like dandelion snow. Wherever the seeds fall, new flowers will grow, their teacher tells them. But one day, they discover that the playground has been closed so new homes can be built in its place. The fields have turned grey, and the flowers have all gone. Will they find a new way to spread the dandelion snow and bring life and colour back to their neighbourhood?
_'Suddenly, flash bombs to my right, I instantly dive low to avoid being a direct target. We stay down, close above ground â¿ before too long life returns in the area and we spot men milling around; Richard and Pitt let them have it, but good. Weâ¿re down to our last bit of ammunition. Some Russians have frozen in fear, others lift their arm, others still lie flat on the ground. Not a single one remembers to get up and fire.'_On 21 June 1941, assigned to Luftwaffe bomber wing Kampfgeschwader 53, the 23-year-old Arnold Döring took off to fly his first mission against the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front. From that day, he kept a diary describing his operations in vivid detail. These diaries, here translated into English for the first time, give a unique perspective on the action on the Eastern Front, from the point of view of a bomber pilot. Döringâ¿s accounts not only give technical aspects but are also filled with suspense and excitement with their close descriptions of bombing raids and narrow escapes from enemy fighter planes. This unembellished account gives an honest and meticulous record that moves rapidly from one area to another, from one operation to the next. With a detached professionalism, Döring offers us thrilling, action-packed snapshots of life as a Luftwaffe nightfighter. Döring flew a total of 392 aerial attacks and was awarded the Knightâ¿s Cross in April 1945. **Thomas Baumert** is Professor of Economics at the Complutense University of Madrid. Besides multiple research articles and academic books and monographies in the field of Economics and History, he has also published several biographical studies. His interest in the history of the Luftwaffe was spurred in his early youth by his neighbour, a former Luftwaffe member who had been shot down in in the Battle of Britain. He subsequently got to know several Luftwaffe veterans who shared their war and peacetime experiences with him. In 2016 he edited the Spanish translation of Peter Spodenâ¿s nightfighter memories _Enemy in the __Dark_. **James Holland** is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning historian, writer and broadcaster, specialising in the Second World War. The author of a number of best-selling histories, including, most recently, _The War in the West_, he has also presented â¿ and written â¿ a large number of television programmes and series.
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