Military History
-
The Korean War: A History: 33 (Modern Library Chronicles)
A BRACING ACCOUNT OF A WAR THAT IS EITHER MISUNDERSTOOD, FORGOTTEN, OR WILLFULLY IGNORED
For Americans, it was a discrete conflict lasting from 1950 to 1953. But for the Asian world the Korean War was a generations-long struggle that still haunts contemporary events. With access to new evidence and secret materials from both here and abroad, including an archive of captured North Korean documents, Bruce Cumings reveals the war as it was actually fought. He describes its origin as a civil war, preordained long before the first shots were fired in June 1950 by lingering fury over Japan’s occupation of Korea from 1910 to 1945. Cumings then shares the neglected history of America’s post-World War II occupation of Korea, reveals untold stories of bloody insurgencies and rebellions, and tells of the United States officially entering the action on the side of the South, exposing as never before the appalling massacres and atrocities committed on all sides.
Elegantly written and blisteringly honest, The Korean War is, like the war it illuminates, brief, devastating, and essential.
Read more
£11.60£12.10 -
The Korean War: An Epic Conflict 1950-1953
The Korean War is journalist and military historian Sir Max Hastings’ compelling account of the forgotten war.
‘The best narrative history of the Korean conflict’ – Guardian
On 25 June 1950 the invasion of South Korea by the Communist North launched one of the bloodiest conflicts of the last century. The seemingly limitless power of the Chinese-backed North was thrown against the ferocious firepower of the UN-backed South in a war that can be seen today as the stark prelude to Vietnam.
Max Hastings draws on first-hand accounts of those who fought on both sides to produce this vivid and incisive reassessment of the Korean War, bringing the military and human dimensions into sharp focus. Critically acclaimed on publication, republished with an introduction from the author, The Korean War remains the best narrative history of this conflict.
‘A brilliant tour-de-force’ – Times Literary Supplement
‘Excellent, readable history by a master of the genre’ – Daily Mail
‘This book establishes him as one of the leading British military historians.’ – New York Times
Read more
£12.30£16.10The Korean War: An Epic Conflict 1950-1953
£12.30£16.10 -
The World War 2 Trivia Book: Interesting Stories and Random Facts from the Second World War: Volume 1 (Trivia War Books)
When was the last time someone around you brought up World War Two?It’s a pretty popular war. Maybe you heard about it yesterday. Maybe last month. But it was probably recent. And when it came up, did you wish that you could be the one to casually drop a fact that would have everyone in the room going, “Wow, I never knew that!”
With this book, you can be that person.
You can read it in just a few minutes a day.
Chapters are bite-sized and easy to read, meant for normal people instead of war historians!
Each chapter ends with a bonus helping of trivia and some quick questions to test your knowledge.
You’ll zoom through this book and be hungry for more.
Get ready to impress your friends with your knowledge – not just of the main events of World War Two, but of all the gritty details and weird true facts. By the time you finish this book, you’ll have a fact for every occasion, from the first moment someone thought about having a second World War, to the most recent blockbuster movies about it.
So get ready to meet characters from Adolf Hitler, rejected art student, to Jack Churchill, the broadsword-swinging male model. Find out why World War Two started in the first place, and why it’s never a good idea to invade Russia in winter. Learn why the United States was going to stay out of the war, how Canadians stole airplanes for the British, and what an orange soft drink has to do with the Nazis.
Some of the things you’re going to learn are sad. Some are scary. Some are sexy. And some are downright strange! It’s everything your history teacher never got around to telling you.
Read more
£10.50£11.40 -
The Pussers Cook Book: Traditional Royal Navy recipes
This is the revised and updated edition of The Pussers Cook Book- recipes
- Dits
- tidbits
- facts
- memoriesThe Pussers Cook Book contains many of the most popular and loved traditional dishes served in the Royal Navy’s Galleys from the mid-1960s to the early 1980s.
Some of these dishes are being served on the ships and shore bases of today’s modern navy, although some have been slightly altered and others given, let’s say, more politically correct names.
Woven between the recipes in this book are true facts and tidbits about the food, the cooks and general life aboard ship.
Along with the recipes, this book aims to preserve a segment of British history, Royal Navy social history, which is fading all too quickly and would otherwise be lost in the grey sea-mists of oblivion.
Read more
£14.00 -
Modern Military Aircraft (Technical Guides)
Illustrated with detailed artworks of modern military aircraft and their markings with exhaustive captions and specifications, Technical Guide: Modern Military Aircraft is an extensively researched review of the military aircraft deployed by the world’s air forces in recent conflicts in the Balkans, the Caucasus, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and elsewhere. Organised alphabetically by manufacturer, this book includes every type of aircraft in use in the world today, from the F-22 Raptor through the Dassault Mirage 2000 to the MiG-29 and Su-57. The book includes multirole fighters, ground attack aircraft, high-level bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, carrier aircraft, and unmanned drones. The guide is illustrated with profile artworks, three-views, and special cutaway artworks of the more famous aircraft in service, such as the F-15E Strike Eagle, Sukhoi Su-27 and Eurofighter Typhoon. Illustrated with more than 110 artworks, Technical Guide: Modern Military Aircraft is an essential reference guide for modellers and enthusiasts with an interest in modern military aircraft.Read more
£13.20£17.10Modern Military Aircraft (Technical Guides)
£13.20£17.10 -
Frontline: A Soldier’s Story (War in Afghanistan)
Frontline, is the story of a single soldier out of the many thousands of soldiers fresh out of school or college who joined the British Army and found themselves within a few months of completing basic training. Being deployed to Afghanistan fighting for their lives. These modern-day heroes risked their lives on a daily basis to help bring peace to a troubled country.Imagine being 18 and sent to a foreign country with 40-degree heat, an environment that is dusty and areas that are quite inhospitable with a primeval beauty. Every step on a dusty track could be your last as your eyes strain to catch a glimpse of an IED before it is too late, just before the rounds start impacting in the dirt all around you.
Read more
£5.20 -
Japan’s Gestapo: Murder, Mayhem and Torture in Wartime Asia
From the author of Children of the Camps, a look at the disturbing activities of the Kempeitai, Japan’s feared military and secret police.The book opens by explaining the origins, organization, and roles of the Kempeitai apparatus, which exercised virtually unlimited power throughout the Japanese Empire. Author Mark Felton reveals their criminal and collaborationist networks that extorted huge sums of money from hapless citizens and businesses. They ran the Allied POW gulag system that treated captives with merciless and murderous brutality. Other Kempeitai activities included biological and chemical experiments on live subjects, the Maruta vivisection campaign, and widespread slave labor, including “Comfort Women” drawn from all races. Their record of reprisals against military and civilians was unrelenting. For example, Colonel Doolittle’s raid on Tokyo in 1942 resulted in a campaign of revenge not just against captured airmen but thousands of Chinese civilians. Their actions amounted to genocide on a grand scale. Felton backs up his text with firsthand testimonies from survivors who suffered at the hands of this evil organization. He examines how the guilty were brought to justice and the resulting claims for compensation. As a result, Japan’s Gestapo provides comprehensive evidence of the ruthlessness of the Kempeitai against the white and Asian peoples under their control.
Read more
£0.90 -
Russia: Revolution and Civil War 1917-1921
‘A masterpiece of history’
DAILY TELEGRAPHBetween 1917 and 1921 a devastating struggle took place in Russia following the collapse of the Tsarist empire. Many regard this savage civil war as the most influential event of the modern era. An incompatible White alliance of moderate socialists and reactionary monarchists stood little chance against Trotsky’s Red Army and Lenin’s single-minded Communist dictatorship. Terror begat terror, which in turn led to even greater cruelty with man’s inhumanity to man, woman and child. The struggle became a world war by proxy as Churchill deployed weaponry and troops from the British empire, while armed forces from the United States, France, Italy, Japan, Poland and Czechoslovakia played rival parts.
Using the most up to date scholarship and archival research, Antony Beevor, author of the acclaimed international bestseller Stalingrad, assembles the complete picture in a gripping narrative that conveys the conflict through the eyes of everyone from the worker on the streets of Petrograd to the cavalry officer on the battlefield and the woman doctor in an improvised hospital.
Read more
£8.40£10.40Russia: Revolution and Civil War 1917-1921
£8.40£10.40 -
Early Ships and Seafaring: Water Transport Beyond Europe
In this volume Professor Sen McGrail introduces the reader to a relatively new branch of Archaeology the study of water transport how early rafts, boats and ships were built and used. Concepts, such as boatbuilding traditions, ship stability and navigation without instruments, are first described. Archaeological research is then discussed, including sea levels in earlier times, how to distinguish the vestigial remains of a cargo vessel from those of a fighting craft; and the difference between a boat and a ship.Chapters 2 and 3, the heart of the text, deal with the early water transport of the Mediterranean and Atlantic Europe, from the Stone Age to Medieval times. Each chapter includes a description of the region’s maritime geography and an exposition of its boat-building traditions. The third element is a discussion of the propulsion, the steering and the navigation of these early vessels.The sparse, often jumbled, remains of excavated vessels have to be interpreted, a process that is assisted by consideration of early descriptions and illustrations. Studies of the way traditional builders of wooden boats ply their trade today are also a great help. Experimental boat archaeology is still at an early stage but, when undertaken rigorously, it can reveal aspects of the vessel’s capabilities. Such information is used in this volume to further our understanding of data from boat and ship excavations, and to present as coherent, comprehensive and accurate a picture as is now possible, of early European boatbuilding and use.Read more
£4.70 -
The First World War: A New History
A brilliant and penetrating new history of the First World War by one of the world’s foremost experts on the conflict. Reissued with a new introduction from the author.Hew Strachan is one of the world’s foremost experts on the Great War of 1914-18. His on-going three-volume history of the conflict, the first of which was published in 2001, is likely to become the standard academic reference work: Max Hastings called it ‘one of the most impressive books of modern history in a generation’, while Richard Holmes hailed it as a ‘towering achievement’.
Now, Hew Strachan brings his immense knowledge to a one-volume work aimed squarely at the general reader. The inspiration behind the major Channel 4 series of the same name, to which Hew was chief consultant, THE FIRST WORLD WAR is a significant addition to the literature on this subject, taking as it does a uniquely global view of what is often misconceived as a prolonged skirmish on the Western Front. Exploring such theatres as the Balkans, Africa and the Ottoman Empire, Strachan assesses Britain’s participation in the light of what became a struggle for the defence of liberalism, and show how the war shaped the ‘short’ twentieth century that followed it.
Accessible, compelling and utterly convincing, this is modern history writing at its finest.
Read more
£7.30£10.40The First World War: A New History
£7.30£10.40 -
Born For War: One SAS Trooper’s Extraordinary Account of the Falklands
‘A no holdout account of the Falklands War from a man who was in the fight.’ Andy McNab
Tony Hoare always knew he wanted to be in the SAS and so, after working his way through the ranks, he passed arduous SAS selection in 1978.
Less than four years later, Tony and his team were sent to the Falklands, just off the coast of Argentina, where tensions were rising and war was on the horizon. Nothing could have prepared him for what happened over the course of the next 12 weeks, as the Falkland Islands became a battleground between the British and Argentinians. As helicopters crashed and ships sank, Tony battled across treacherous terrain to help reclaim the islands from a fearsome enemy.
This is a thrilling account of the Falklands from a trooper who saw it all.
Read more
£8.70£9.50 -
World War II from Above: A History in Maps and Satellite Photographs
World War II from Above offers a never-before-seen combination of annotated satellite images and expertly drawn battle maps. It aims to satisfy both the military history buff and those seeking a visually stunning history gift book, bringing the war vividly and dramatically to life by showing the actual landscapes where battles took place along with specially commissioned annotations depicting remarkable events, troop movements, heroic last stands, or even where individual soldiers stood or fell.
Each of the 25 chapters features an enhanced Google Earth image, along with specially commissioned battle maps showing every facet of the conflict in exceptional detail.
Here you will find all the key milestones of World War II: the invasion of France, Germany’s first blitzkrieg offensives, the Battle of Alamein, Monte Cassino, Arnhem, the invasion of Sicily, the Battle of the Bulge, Iwo Jima, D-Day and the final push to Berlin, along with a host of other strategic and battle maps from every geographical location.
Written by a highly decorated soldier and leading military history expert, this is an innovative, richly detailed and visually stunning overview of history’s most destructive conflict.
Read more
£16.50£19.00 -
Voices of The Battle of Britain 80th Anniversary 1940 – 2020
It was a crucial moment of WW2. 1940. The Royal Air Force, virtually alone, defended the skies of Britain against massed formations of German bombers. They put up such a ferocious defence that Hitler gave up ideas of invading Britain and turned his attention to an assault on the Soviet Union. Of those pilots who courageously flew their Spitfires and Hurricanes against the Luftwaffe barely a handful remain. However the authors have interviewed no less than eighteen survivors and it is their memories and anecdotes that make this book unique. Highly illustrated throughout with rarely seen images, Voices of The Battle of Britain is packed with great stories of aerial combat and being shot down, of the classic fighters that they flew and fought in and against, of making and losing friends and colleagues; of a strained social life in the midst of battle; and, most of all, of standing steadfast in the face of overwhelming odds. It is coupled with an authoritative and lively narrative.Read more
£8.80£19.00 -
Allied Fighter Aircraft 1939–45: American, British, French, Soviet, Dutch, Polish (Identification Guide)
Allied Fighters 1939–45 offers an highly-illustrated guide to Allied fighter aircraft that fought in Europe during World War II. Featuring all the main models flown by the Allied air forces from 1939 to 1945, the book offers a wealth of detail, including unit markings, organization, numbers of aircraft flown by campaign and exhaustive specifications for each model. The book is arranged first by country and then chronologically by campaign so that every aspect of the air war in Europe is covered. The guide features fighters from throughout World War II, including early models, such as the Morane Saulnier MS.406C.1, Hawker Hurricane Mk I and Fokker D XXI, and the most advanced fighters of the period, such as the Lavochkin La-7, P-51K Mustang and Gloster Meteor Mk I.The book also covers aircraft that were used for air-to-air combat (Supermarine Spitfire), ground attack (P-47 Thunderbolt), bomber escort (P-51B Mustang), night defence (Bristol Beaufighter) and photographic reconnaissance (P-38 Lightning). Packed with more than 200 profiles and dozens of archive photographs of every major Allied fighter aircraft, Allied Fighters 1939–45 is a core reference volume for modellers and World War II aviation enthusiasts.Read more
£15.60£19.00 -
Short History of War
A wonderfully engaging, accessible introduction to war, from ancient times to the present and into the futureThroughout history, warfare has transformed social, political, cultural, and religious aspects of our lives. We tell tales of wars—past, present, and future—to create and reinforce a common purpose.
In this engaging overview, Jeremy Black examines war as a global phenomenon, looking at the First and Second World Wars as well as those ranging from Han China and Assyria, Imperial Rome, and Napoleonic France to Vietnam and Afghanistan. Black explores too the significance of warfare more broadly and the ways in which cultural understandings of conflict have lasting consequences in societies across the world. Weaponry, Black argues, has had a fundamental impact on modes of war: it created war in the air and transformed it at sea. Today, as twentieth-century weapons are challenged by drones and robotics, Black examines what the future of warfare looks like.Read more
£7.60£14.20Short History of War
£7.60£14.20 -
Battleships of World War I & World War II: 1914-45 (Technical Guides)
For centuries, battleships provided overwhelming firepower at sea. They were not only a major instrument of warfare, but a visible emblem of a nation’s power, wealth and pride. The rise of the aircraft carrier following the Japanese aerial strike on Pearl Harbor in 1941 highlighted the vulnerabilities of the battleship, bringing about its demise as a dominant class of warship.
This book offers a detailed guide to the major types of battleships to fight in the two World Wars. Explore HMS Dreadnought, the first of a class of fast, big-gun battleships to be developed at the beginning of the 20th century; see the great capital ships that exchanged salvos at the battle of Jutland, including the German battlecruiser Derfflinger, which sank the British battleship Queen Mary; find out about the destruction of HMS Hood, which exploded after exchanging fire with the Bismarck, which itself was sunk after a trans-Atlantic chase by a combination of battery fire and aircraft-launched torpedoes; and be amazed at the ‘super-battleship’ Yamato, which despite its size and firepower, made minimal contribution to Japan’s war effort and was sunk by air attack during the defence of Okinawa.
Illustrated with more than 120 vivid artworks and photographs, Technical Guide: Battleships of World War I and World War II is an essential reference guide for modellers and naval warfare enthusiasts.Read more
£13.70£17.10 -
Royal Naval Submarines 1901 to 2008
This is a must-buy for the Royal Navy and Submarine enthusiast, being a complete directory of RN submarines from the outset to the present day. There is a wealth of detail on each class. Every entry contains the specification, launch dates of individual boats, details of evolving construction and armament and other salient information in a compact form. The high quality of the drawings of the majority of classes adds to the value of this work which includes the very latest Astute submarines currently coming into service. This book is a complete directory of submarines and will be widely welcomed by all with an interest, professional or lay, in the subject.Read more
£11.60£14.20Royal Naval Submarines 1901 to 2008
£11.60£14.20 -
A History of War Surgery
Since antiquity, war surgery has been a profession demanding a special kind of human: one able to face seemingly insurmountable problems; one able to keep a lucid mind and steady hands in extraordinary circumstances; one able to shoulder tremendous burdens; and one able to harden himself or herself, time and again, to failure and self-doubt. It is, and always has been, a harrowing business, and only for the brave. Dr John Wright charts the evolution of war surgery from ancient times to the present day, investigating its breakthroughs, its pitfalls, and the people and conflicts that have shaped it. But above all, this is a personal history, calling on the first-hand accounts of the surgeons, soldiers, medics, nurses, stretcher-bearers, and many others who have served in battle and come face-to-face with its most appalling horrors. This is not a book for the faint-hearted. It is one that searches for and delivers the truth about those who, with unerring skill, courage and determination, endeavour to undo the terrible damage we habitually inflict upon ourselves.Read more
£7.30A History of War Surgery
£7.30 -
The Elite Few: A History of the UK Royal Marines
“The Elite Few: A History of the UK Royal Marines” is a book that traces the history of the Royal Marines from their origins in the 17th century to the present day. Written by Marc Ferrari, the book covers the Royal Marines’ role in major conflicts, such as the Battle of Trafalgar, the Falklands War, and the Gulf War, as well as their involvement in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions around the world.
The book also explores the Royal Marines’ unique training and selection process, including the grueling Commando Course and the Special Boat Service selection. It delves into the various roles and units within the Royal Marines, from the Commandos to the Band Service, and examines their traditions, mottos, and insignia.
“The Elite Few” provides a fascinating insight into one of the world’s most elite military forces. It highlights the courage, determination, and unselfishness that are the core values of the Royal Marines, and how they have earned their reputation as one of the toughest fighting forces in the world.
Read more
£4.80 -
American Civil War For Dummies, 2nd Edition
Take a walk through history with this guide for lifelong learnersThe American Civil War is one of the most fascinating and impactful periods in American history. Besides bringing about the end of slavery, the war had many important economic and social effects that continue to shape the history and present-day realities of the American people.
In American Civil War For Dummies, you’ll get an accessible, bird’s-eye view of one of history’s greatest conflicts. All the must-know details of the war are covered here, from the Battle of Gettysburg to the Emancipation Proclamation. You’ll also find:
- Descriptions of the experiences of Black Americans, in both the North and the South, during the war
- Explorations of how slavery and civil rights fit into the social, political, and economic context of the time
- Profiles of some of the most famous generals in the war, including Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant
Take a moment to get a hands-on education in this critical point in American history. Get American Civil War For Dummies now!
Read more
£13.70£17.10American Civil War For Dummies, 2nd Edition
£13.70£17.10 -
The Horrors Of The Vietnam War: Discover the Hidden Faces of Conflict and the Indelible Scars of War
The horrors of the Vietnam War: an unprecedented journey to the heart of a devastating conflictAre you passionate about history, eager to understand the events that shaped the world and their consequences? Then you’ve come to the right place! Discover “The Horrors of the Vietnam War”, a deep and shocking dive into one of the most controversial and deadly conflicts of the twentieth century. By reading this book, you will not only grasp the geopolitical stakes, but also understand the unimaginable suffering of the people, the atrocities committed and the lessons to be learned for the future.
A. Historical and geopolitical context: the origins of a multi-faceted conflict
From the very first pages, you will be immersed in the historical context of the Vietnam War. You will discover how French colonisation, the Indochina War and the Geneva Conference contributed to the emergence of this bloody conflict. In addition, you will explore the crucial role of the Cold War, the doctrine of containment and nationalist motivations in escalating tensions.B. The players in the conflict: the forces involved and their motivations
Who were the belligerents in this devastating war? You will learn all about the North Vietnamese and Vietcong forces, the South Vietnamese government, the United States and its allies, as well as the USSR and China. By understanding their motivations and objectives, you’ll be able to better grasp the reasons behind the horrors committed on the battlefield.C. Chronology of events: a war with many turning points
By following the chronology of major events step by step, you will experience the key moments of the Vietnam War, from the first American interventions to the fall of Saigon and the reunification of the country. You will witness the massive bombings, the use of chemical weapons and the atrocities committed against the civilian population.D. The human and environmental consequences: a nameless horror
The loss of human life, the destruction of property and the suffering of the people are at the heart of this book. You will discover the health and environmental after-effects of this war, in particular the impact of Agent Orange, deforestation and the loss of biodiversity. The poignant testimonies of survivors and refugees will touch your soul.E. The role of the media and public opinion: unprecedented awareness
How was the Vietnam War perceived by the whole world? You will explore the impact of the media and media coverage of the conflict, as well as the rise of opposition to the war, particularly through emblematic reports and photographs. You will understand how this awareness influenced public opinion and international demonstrations against the war.F. The lessons and legacy of the Vietnam War: a future not to be repeated
Finally, you will discover the strategic, tactical and political mistakes made during the war, as well as the political and diplomatic consequences. This book invites you to reflect on the lessons to be learned from these horrors to prevent future conflicts and the reconciliation and reconstruction efforts that followed the end of the war.Don’t miss this unique opportunity to discover “The horrors of the Vietnam War”!
By reading this book, you will be transported to the heart of one of the most significant wars in modern history, and you will come away transformed. Don’t miss this chance to immerse yourself in a captivating story, rich in detail and moving testimony. Buy “The Horrors of the Vietnam War” now and enjoy an unforgettable literary experience!Read more
£14.20 -
Japan at War in the Pacific: The Rise and Fall of the Japanese Empire in Asia: 1868-1945
“By the time of Japan’s surrender in 1945, an entire generation had grown up knowing nothing but conflict; but the transformation of Japan into a militarist power began decades earlier, with the toppling of the old samurai regime, and the rush of the formerly isolated nation onto the world stage.”Japan at War in the Pacific recounts the dramatic story of Japan’s transformation from a Samurai-led feudal society to a modern military-industrial empire in the space of a few decades―and the many wars it fought along the way. These culminated in an attempt by Japan’s military leaders to create an Asia-Pacific empire which at its greatest extent rivaled the British Empire in scope and power.
The battle for supremacy in the Pacific brought the Japanese to great heights but led ultimately to the nation’s utter devastation at the end of World War II, culminating with the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki―the only time such weapons have been used in warfare.
In this book, author Jonathan Clements offers fascinating insights into:
- The wars that Japan fought during its rise to supremacy in the western Pacific, including the Russo-Japanese War, the seizure of Manchuria and war in China, and the Pacific theater of World War II.
- The many military actions undertaken by Imperial Japanese forces including the horrific “Rape of Nanjing,” the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the decisive defeat at the Battle of Midway, the savage Battles of Okinawa and Iwo Jima, and many more.
- The motivations and beliefs of Japan’s leaders, as well as the policy decisions of a government dedicated to expansion which ultimately led to a complete dismantling of the nation’s political and social order during the Allied Occupation.
- With over 75 photographs and maps, this book vividly recounts the amazing story of Japan’s military conquests. Clements charts the evolution of the Japanese empire in the Pacific and the influence of a ruthless military-led government on everything from culture and food to fashion and education―including the anthems and rallying calls of a martial nation which were silenced long ago but continue to echo in Asian politics.
Read more
£13.70£17.10 -
World War Two: 500 Interesting Facts About Major Events, Battles, and People (Curious Histories Collection)
Uncover the fascinating history of World War Two with 500 interesting facts!From the invasion of Poland to V-J Day, this book is your definitive guide to understanding this historical event. Gain insight into pivotal battles, such as Pearl Harbor, Midway, and Stalingrad. Learn about the weapons and technologies used in the battles and discover how women played a significant role during wartime. Unearth meaningful resistance movements and explore the legacies of WWII.
You are in for an exciting ride, so buckle in!
Delve deep into history with chapters including:
- The outbreak of WWII
- Battle of Britain
- Attack on Pearl Harbor
- Battle of Stalingrad
- Japanese American Internment
- And so much more!
This book is a must-have for anyone looking to gain an in-depth understanding of one of history’s most defining moments. Get your copy today, and explore 500 interesting facts about World War Two!
Read more
£8.90 -
The Oxford History of the First World War
bHistories you can trust./bThe First World War, now a century ago, still shapes the world in which we live, and its legacy lives on, in poetry, in prose, in collective memory and political culture. By the time the war ended in 1918, millions lay dead. Three major empires lay shattered by defeat, those of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottomans. A fourth, Russia, was in the throes of a revolution that helped define the rest of the twentieth century.
The Oxford History of the First World War brings together in one volume many of the most distinguished historians of the conflict, in an account that matches the scale of the events. From its causes to its consequences, from the Western Front to the Eastern, from the strategy of the politicians to the tactics of the generals, they chart the course of the war and assess its profound political and human consequences. Chapters on economic mobilization, the impact on women, the role of propaganda, and the rise of socialism establish the wider context of the fighting at sea and in the air, and which ranged on land from the trenches of Flanders to the mountains of the Balkans and the deserts of the Middle East.
Read more
£11.20£12.30The Oxford History of the First World War
£11.20£12.30 -
The Military History of World War II
Traces the origins and course of World War II across the globe, from the invasion of Poland to the destruction of Hiroshima. The book includes numerous contemporary photographs, as well as features and maps on particular aspects of the conflict and the military hardware used by both sides.Read more
£0.40 -
Forgotten War: The British Empire and Commonwealth’s Epic Struggle Against Imperial Japan, 1941–1945
The monumental struggle fought against Imperial Japan in the Asia/Pacific theater during World War II is primarily viewed as an American affair. While the United States did play a dominant role, the British and Commonwealth forces also made major contributions – on land, at sea and in the air – eventually involving over a million men and vast armadas of ships and aircraft. It was a difficult and often desperate conflict fought against a skilled and ruthless enemy that initially saw the British suffer the worst series of defeats ever to befall their armed forces. Still, the British persevered and slowly turned the tables on their Japanese antagonists. Fighting over an immense area that stretched from India in the west to the Solomon Islands in the east and Australia in the south to the waters off Japan in the north, British and Commonwealth forces eventually scored a string of stirring victories that avenged their earlier defeats and helped facilitate the demise of the Japanese Empire.Often overlooked by history, this substantial war effort is fully explored in Forgotten War. Meticulously researched, the book provides a complete, balanced and detailed account of the role that British and Commonwealth forces played on land, sea and in the air during this crucial struggle. It also provides unique analysis regarding the effectiveness and relevance of this collective effort and the contributions it made to the overall Allied victory.
Read more
£20.10£23.80 -
The Armchair General World War One: Can You Win The Great War? (The Armchair General, 2)
‘The Armchair General team has done it again. An absorbing read for Christmas.’
Peter Caddick-Adams‘Brilliant and immersive.’
Harry SidebottomThe second book in the Armchair General series, where YOU choose the fate of the First World War
________________________________
HISTORY IS WRITTEN BY THE VICTORS. WILL IT BE YOU?
TAKE THE HOTSEAT
Assume the role of real historic decision-makers: general, leaders, soldiers and intelligence officers of the Allied Forces during World War I.EXAMINE THE INTELLIGENCE
Explore eight key moments from the First World War, using real contemporaneous intelligence: including the July Crisis, the Battle of the Somme, and the Russian Revolution.CONSIDER THE SCENARIO & MAKE YOUR DECISION
From battlefields to the Royal Courts, each tactical and strategic decision you make leads to a different outcome.Will you follow the path of the past – or shape a new history…?
________________________________PRAISE FOR THE ARMCHAIR GENERAL SERIES
‘An original and exciting approach…The Armchair General adds enormously to our understanding of the conflicts’ JAMES HOLLAND
‘A reminder that history is a never ending now, a relentless and endless present that comes without the luxury of hindsight’ AL MURRAY
‘Wonderfully original…putting readers at the heart of the decision-making process and allowing them, literally, to change the course of history. This is counterfactual history at its very best’ SAUL DAVID
Read more
£9.50£18.00 -
The Royal Navy and Fishery Protection: From the Fourteenth Century to the Present
From the first recorded mention of British ships protecting of fishing vessels in the late fourteenth century through to recent controversies over the change in emphasis to border patrols and overseas deployments, the story of the Royal Navy’s ‘Cinderella Fleet’ involves many dramatic incidents; until now, however, there has never been a book dedicated to the subject. Naval historian Jon Wise’s new work will rectify this omission. Historically there have been two main reasons why protecting fishing vessels was so important: first, fish have always constituted an essential part of the nation’s diet while, secondly, fishermen have been an important source of skilled personnel for the Royal Navy itself. It is claimed that the Fishery Protection Squadron (FPS) is the oldest in the fleet, pre-dating the formal creation of the Navy itself in the early part of the sixteenth century, yet it still remains comparatively little-known. The Squadron’s most famous operations were the ‘Cod Wars’ of 1958–76, but for six centuries it has been engaged in the many important tasks of protection and policing of fishing fleets, though more recently it has turned its attention to patrolling oil and gas fields, overseeing quotas and sustainability, and policing the ongoing disagreements over who can fish where and when. The author covers subjects as diverse as the battles with the Dutch for dominance in the North Sea, the protection of fishing on the eastern seaboard of America, and the role of the Squadron in the two World Wars. Containing many first-hand accounts, this thought-provoking narrative will be of particular interest to all those RN personnel who have served in the Squadron, and is set to become the definitive account of this vital but often unsung component of Britain’s naval forces, and its impact on national life.Read more
£20.00£23.80 -
Royal Marine 6×9 High Quality Notebook Gift Commando Matte 100 Page Lined Terram
High Quality Royal Marine Notebook, 100 pages of lined white paper each bearing the RM logo.Perfect gift for any serving or ex marine. Ideal gift for him, her or them.
Read more
£6.20 -
Arctic Convoys: Bletchley Park and the War for the Seas
An incisive account of the Arctic convoys, and the essential role Bletchley Park and Special Intelligence played in Allied success
Between 1941 and 1945, more than eight hundred shiploads of supplies were delivered to the Soviet Union protected by allied naval forces. Each journey was a battle against the elements, with turbulent seas, extreme cold, and the constant dread of torpedoes. These Arctic convoys have been mythologized as defenseless vessels at the mercy of deadly U-boats―but was this really the case?
David Kenyon explores the story of the war in the Arctic, revealing that the contest was more evenly balanced that previously thought. Battles included major ship engagements, aircraft carriers, and combat between surface ships. Amid this wide range of forces, Bletchley Park’s Naval Section played a decisive role in Arctic operations, with both sides relying heavily on Signals Intelligence to intercept and break each other’s codes. Kenyon presents a vivid picture of the Arctic theater of war, unearthing the full-scale campaign for naval supremacy in northern waters.Read more
£15.70£19.00 -
German High Seas Fleet 1914–18: The Kaiser’s challenge to the Royal Navy: 2
A superbly illustrated new account of how Germany’s High Seas Fleet was built, operated and fought, as it challenged the world’s most powerful navy in World War I.Seven years before the outbreak of World War I, the Imperial German Navy rebranded its ‘Home Fleet’ as the Hochseeflotte (‘High Seas Fleet’). This reflected a more aggressive role for it, and one that would inevitably lead to it challenging the Royal Navy. Although never large enough to match its British rival, by 1914 the High Seas Fleet was sufficiently powerful to threaten Britain’s control of the North Sea. For the next four years these waters would become their battleground, as the fleets vied for naval supremacy.
Drawing on extensive research, this book offers the reader a concise, fully illustrated account of how the entire High Seas Fleet was designed and built, how it operated, and how it fought. The fleet was a modern, balanced force of dreadnought battleships, battlecruisers, cruisers and torpedo boats, using Zeppelins and U-boats for reconnaissance. The ultimate test between them came in May 1916, when they clashed at Jutland.
Packed with spectacular original artwork, maps, 3D diagrams and archive photos, it looks not just at the ships, crews and armament, but also explores the command and doctrine of the Kaiser’s new naval weapon, and show how the fleet was forged into a force capable of taking on the most powerful fleet in the world. It also examines how the High Seas Fleet performed in action, and how the Germans battled to keep it in fighting trim until the very end of the war, when the fleet sailed to captivity and self-destruction at Scapa Flow.
Read more
£11.00£15.20 -
Aircraft and Aviation Stamps: A Collector’s Guide (Transport Philately Series)
The author has combined his two greatest interests: Transport and Stamp Collecting and brought them together in this series of books looking at the way postage stamps have led him to increase his knowledge of our world via his interest in all forms of transport world-wide. Philately (the collecting of stamps) itself is a fascinating hobby looking at the development of postal services in all its forms, designs of stamps that have evolved the Victorian Penny-Black to today’s creations, often artistic but dependant more and more on photography with greater or lesser degrees of digital manipulation. In his quest he has covered many unusual places that have only become more accessible with the advent of cheap air travel but has still found it necessary to use his own contacts, library of related books and more recently the internet to research his subject. Like all books in this series, they been laid out as global tour starting naturally in the UK and then travelling in an easterly direction through every continent – without, it should be added, crossing the International Date Line! Readers will not find every country included but a differing selection in each volume.Read more
£6.10£16.10 -
P-38 Lightning Illustrated
The more than 10,000 Lockheed P-38 Lightnings produced during World War II do not even place it in the top 15 combat aircraft produced during that conflict. And yet, the Lightning is one of the most dynamic and successful fighters of that era. The P-38 was the first Lockheed-designed military airplane to be mass produced, and the first twin-engine interceptor flown by the U.S. Army Air Forces. Up until its introduction, most fighters were powered by air-cooled radial engines. The Lightning was powered by a pair of liquid-cooled Allison V-1710 in-line engines. Likewise, fighters….in fact, most….military aircraft were “tail draggers”, but the Lightning was the first modern fighter with tricycle landing gear. The design of the P-38 was radical…..the twin-boom layout….the bubble canopy, and the flush-riveted skins which lowered drag to a point that the Lightning was the first fighter capable of speeds over 400mph made it unique. That radical design also made growth versions possible, and it was the only U.S. fighter whose production spanned the entire war years. When it went into action, it was the first American fighter to shoot down a German airplane and the first fighter capable of escorting bombers all the way to Berlin. It was the mount of the two highest-scoring American aces of the war. P-38s accounted for more Japanese aircraft destroyed than any other single fighter. The speed and high-altitude performance of the Lightning made it the preeminent photo reconnaissance platform of the war. The versatility of the design included ground attack and night fighter missions. The P-38 Lightning was, indeed, one of the most effective and celebrated aircraft of WWII. This pictorial record of the P-38 includes dozens of color photos as well as drawings and period advertisements featuring the iconic P-38 Lightning.
Read more
£15.10P-38 Lightning Illustrated
£15.10 -
British Transport Aircraft of the 1970s and ’80s (Historic Military Aircraft)
Following on in the series of British aircraft in the 1970s and ’80s, this book explores the transport aircraft that served during this time period, including the Argosy, Belfast, Hastings and more.Read more
£16.10 -
Small Unit Tactics and Raids: Two Illustrated Manuals (Small Unit Soldiers)
Small Unit Soldiers use complex tactics and maneuvers to successfully ambush and raid the enemy. Each stage of a successful mission, from infiltration to attacking, requires professional skills and knowledge to flawlessly execute.
Special Operations Veterans teach these skills from experience using real-life examples in this combined printing of the two manuals, Small Unit Tactics and Small Unit Raids. The topics include: Transportation to the Objective, React to Enemy Contact, Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT), Close Quarters Battle (CQB), Exfiltration, and more.
This book has over 500 full color images. Diagrams and photographs are critical to learning physical movements and coordinated maneuvers. These images are perfect for visual learners who are tired of mind-numbing walls of text.
Read more
£66.50 -
Aircraft, Tanks and Artillery of the Ukraine War (Technical Guides)
Illustrated with accurate artworks of aircraft, armoured fighting vehicles, artillery and missiles, Aircraft, Tanks & Artillery of the Ukraine War is a detailed guide to all the weaponry currently being deployed in the War in Ukraine. The War in Ukraine is being fought using tanks, aircraft and artillery dating from the Cold War deployed alongside state-of-the-art weapons systems supplied by Western powers. Arranged chronologically by type, Aircraft, Tanks & Artillery of the Ukraine War offers a complete survey of the weapons deployed, from the venerable Ilyushin Il-76 strategic airlifter and T-64 medium tank to the latest American-made M142 HIMARS rocket artillery and the Bayraktar TB2 combat drone. The guide is illustrated with accurate profile artworks of fighter aircraft, bombers, attack helicopters, tanks, APCs, artillery systems, missile launchers and unmanned aerial vehicles from Russian, NATO, Turkish and other sources. Illustrated with more than 100 detailed artworks, Aircraft, Tanks & Artillery of the Ukraine War is an essential reference guide for those who want to understand the war being fought in Europe today.
Read more
£17.10 -
American Fighter Aircraft of World War II: 1941-45 (Technical Guides)
The United States Army Air Force (USAAF) came into its own during World War II, building some of the premier fighters of the era. American Fighter Aircraft of World War II is a detailed guide to all the fighter aircraft types deployed by the USAAF and US Navy from 1941 to 1945.
Organised chronologically, this book includes all-time greats, such as the highly- adaptable P-51 Mustang bomber escort, the carrier-based F6F Hellcat – which outperformed the legendary Japanese A6M Zero fighter – and the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, with its distinctive twin-boom design; as well as lesser-known types, such as the Boeing P-26 Peashooter, the high-altitude Republic P-43 Lancer, and the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star, the USAAF’s only operational jet fighter during the war. The entries are accompanied by exhaustive captions and specifications.
The guide is illustrated with profile artworks and three-views, as well as two-page dynamic artworks of some of the more famous aircraft in service, such as the P-40 Warhawk ground-attack variant, the twin-engined P-61 Black Widow night-fighter, and the robust P-47 Thunderbolt fighter-bomber.
Illustrated with more than 100 authentic artworks with accurate markings and camouflage, American Fighter Aircraft of World War II is an essential reference guide for modellers and military aviation enthusiasts.Read more
£13.70£17.10 -
Small Unit Raids: An Illustrated Manual (Small Unit Soldiers)
Small Unit Raiders utilize advanced tactics known as Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) and Close Quarters Battle (CQB). These tactics prioritize swiftly moving into and out of enemy terrain to destroy, seize, and conduct information warfare.
Special Operations Veterans have written from their own experience with real-life examples, the step-by-step tactics that Soldiers must master. This manual explains in detail how to conduct a successful mission, from infiltration to raiding the enemy.
To completely explain every idea, this manual has over 320 full color images. Diagrams and photographs are critical to learning physical movements and coordinated maneuvers. These images are perfect for visual learners who are tired of mind-numbing walls of text.
Read more
£27.50 -
Spitfire (Technical Guides)
If asked to name a British aircraft of World War II, many people would pick the Spitfire. In production and frontline service throughout the war, this Supermarine design matured to become one of the greatest fighter aircraft of all time. By combining superb aerodynamics with one of the best aero-engines ever produced, R. J. Mitchell and his Supermarine team created a pure thoroughbred fighter which became a legend, especially during the Battle of Britain, the type’s baptism of fire. Much loved by its pilots, the Spitfire served as an interceptor, photo-reconnaissance, fighter-bomber and trainer, and it continued to serve in these roles until the 1950s. In total, there were 24 marks of Spitfire and many sub-variants.
Spitfire offers a compact illustrated guide to this most iconic of aircraft, with chapters divided by type and time period. Find out about the Mk VB, the most numerous and hardy model that served in every theatre of war, including flying with the Soviet Air Force on the Eastern Front; marvel at EN409, a Mk XI that achieved a speed record of 975km/h (606mph) in high-speed diving trials; learn about the Spitfire’s role in the Dieppe Raid in 1942, where the Mk Vs and Mk IXs flew over 2000 sorties in support of the landing; and discover well-known Spitfire pilots, included ‘Johnnie’ Johnson, who shot down 34 enemy aircraft and who flew the Spitfire right through his operational career from late 1940 to 1945.
Packed with 100 vivid artworks and photographs, Spitfire is a compact reference guide for lovers of classic aircraft and World War II aviation enthusiasts.Read more
£13.00£17.10Spitfire (Technical Guides)
£13.00£17.10 -
American Bomber Aircraft of World War II: 1941-45 (Technical Guides)
The United States built the best strategic bombers of World War II, and by the end of the conflict America’s bombers dominated the skies in both Europe and the Pacific. American Bomber Aircraft of World War II is a detailed guide to all the bombers deployed by the USAAF and US Navy from 1941 to 1945.
Organised chronologically, this book includes all the great types of the era, such as the B-17 Flying Fortress, which led the daylight bombing campaign against German industrial targets; the B-24 Liberator, which carried out the famous raid on the Ploesti oil refinery in Romania in 1943; the rugged Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber, flown by US Navy pilots at the Battle Midway in that key turning point in the Pacific War; and the B-29 Superfortress, the aircraft most responsible for degrading Japan’s ability to wage war with their constant aerial attacks throughout 1944 and 1945.
The guide is illustrated with profile artworks and three-views, as well as two-page dynamic artworks of some of the more famous aircraft in service, such as the highly- adaptable B-25 Mitchell, which served in every theatre in a variety of roles, the Douglas Dauntless SBD naval scout plane, and the Martin B-26 Marauder, one of the fastest medium bombers of its era.
Illustrated with more than 100 authentic artworks with accurate markings and camouflage, American Bomber Aircraft of World War II is an essential reference guide for modellers and military aviation enthusiasts.Read more
£13.70£17.10
