A comprehensive and detailed illustrated examination of the development and combat performance of US battle tanks from World War I to the end of World War II. In this, the first of two highly illustrated volumes examining the complete history of US Army and US Marine Corps battle tanks, Steven J. Zaloga focuses on the history of the tank in American service from the first experiments with armored vehicles in the early years of the 20th century through to the end of World War II. Expanding on material published in Osprey series including New Vanguard, Campaign, and Duel, US Battle Tanks 1917–1945 explores the concepts and practice of tank development from the Renault FT, through the M4 Sherman to the M26 Pershing. It describes the experiences of the crews who saw combat, the performance of each tank in battle, and how each American armored fighting vehicle compared with the enemy armor it faced, as well as the key lessons learned from combat that led to new concepts and technological breakthroughs.Published in association with the AUSA Book Program, offering quality books about US Army heritage, military theory and policy, and security in the modern world. Read more

The inside story of the most expensive and controversial military program in history, as told by those who lived it.The F-35 has changed allied combat warfare. But by the time it’s completed, it will cost more than the Manhattan Project and the B-2 Stealth Bomber. It has been subject to the most aggressive cyberattacks in history from China, Russia, North Korea, and others. Its stealth technology required nearly 9 million lines of code; NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover required 2.5 million. And it was this close to failure.F-35 is the only inside look at the most advanced aircraft in the world and the historic project that built it, as told by those who were intimately involved in its design, testing, and production. Based on the authors' personal experience and over 100+ interviews, F-35 pulls back the curtain on one of the most heavily criticized government programs in history from start to finish: the dramatic flights that won Lockheed Martin the contract over Boeing; the debates and decisions over capabilities; feats of software, hardware, and aeronautical engineering that made it possible; how the project survived the Nunn-McCurdy breach; the conflicts among all three branches of the U.S. military, between the eight other allied nation partners, and against spy elements from enemies.For fans of Skunk Works by Ben Rich and The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes, F-35 will pique the interest of airplane enthusiasts, defense industry insiders, military history aficionados, political junkies, and general nonfiction audiences. Read more

Brought to you by Penguin.The definitive account of the rise and fall of the world's fastest plane from British Airways' former Chief Concorde Pilot.October 24th, 2023 will mark 20 years since Concorde disappeared from our skies. Yet still Mike Bannister, the last Concorde Chief Pilot, faces the same questions:Why is she no longer flying?Where is her replacement?And what really happened on that tragic afternoon in July 2000, when the crash of Flight 4590 grounded the Concorde forever?Concorde is an enthralling personal account of what it takes to fly planes faster than the speed of sound, and of the events that lay behind 114 needless deaths—the 113 victims of the crash and, ultimately, Concorde herself.PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio. Read more

A pictorial history of this powerful piece of artillery, an icon of the Cold War era.   In 1949, the US Army wanted an artillery gun that could fire a nuclear warhead in the event that guided missiles and long-range bombers proved insufficient in delivering atomic weapons. The result was the M65 280mm Atomic Cannon. On May 25, 1953, at 0830 hours, an M65 of A Battery, 867th Field Artillery Battalion, let loose with the only nuclear round the type would ever fire.   Six battalions of the M65 would eventually be deployed, most in Europe with one battalion sent to the Korean Peninsula. Though never used in combat, they served as a significant tactical nuclear deterrent. Through historic photos, this volume traces the development, production and deployment of this iconic piece of military equipment from the drawing boards to the Cold War battlefields of Europe. Read more

Pivotal to modern warfare, tanks have dominated the battlefield for over a century. Get up close to more than 400 military colossuses with this definitive visual guide to armored vehicles.In 1916, the British built a vehicle that could pound the battlefield impervious to enemy fire, crushing obstacles and barbed wire in its path. The first tank, or "Mother" as it was known, had arrived. In Tank you can view it in detail, along with other iconic models including the German Panzer, the legendary Tiger, the Vickers Medium Mark II, the Centurion, and the Hellcat – the fastest armored fighting vehicle ever.This comprehensive volume takes you through the most exciting story in recent military history with the development of heavy artillery, anti-tank weaponry, and the men – such as Mikail Koshkin and Sir William Tritton – who designed these awe-inspiring beasts.Produced with The Tank Museum, Tank traces the tank’s development in response to two world wars, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War and many other conflicts. It shows each model in detail, highlighting details such as their performance, specification, armor, weaponry, and much more. If you are interested in modern warfare, Tank is truly unmissable reading. Read more

The German panzer armies that swept into the Soviet Union in 1941 were an undefeated force that had honed their skill in combined arms warfare to a fine edge. The Germans focused their panzers and tactical air support at points on the battlefield defined as Schwerpunkt—main effort—to smash through any defensive line and then advance to envelope their adversaries.Initially, these methods worked well in the early days of Operation Barbarossa and the tank forces of the Red Army suffered defeat after defeat. Although badly mauled in the opening battles, the Red Army's tank forces did not succumb to the German armored onslaught and German planning and logistical deficiencies led to over-extension and failure in 1941. In the second year of the invasion, the Germans directed their Schwerpunkt toward the Volga and the Caucasus and again achieved some degree of success, but the Red Army had grown much stronger and by November 1942, the Soviets were able to turn the tables at Stalingrad.Robert Forczyk's incisive study offers fresh insight into how the two most powerful mechanized armies of WWII developed their tactics and weaponry during the early years of the Russo-German War. He uses German, Russian, and English sources to provide the first comprehensive overview and analysis of armored warfare from the German and Soviet perspectives. Read more

An essential guide to the tanks that fought the greatest armored clashes of modern times, between Saddam Hussein's Soviet-supplied army and the advanced tanks fielded by the Coalition.The Gulf War of 1991 was the largest tank-vs-tank confrontation of the modern era, and the only large-scale tank combat ever to involve major NATO armies. With the Iraqi Army equipped primarily with modern Soviet- and Warsaw Pact-built tanks, it was also a rare example of how NATO tanks performed in combat against their Eastern Bloc rivals.In this book, world expert on tank technology Steven J. Zaloga examines the numerous tank types used in this conflict and how they compared, both in technology and battlefield performance. Besides covering the tanks of the United States, Britain, and France, it also examines those of other Allied forces including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. It not only covers Iraq's Soviet- and Warsaw Pact-built tanks, but also its vigorous indigenous military industry, which produced a number of notable innovations such as the “Enigma” tank with laminate armor. Unravelling the detail behind the greatest tank war of modern times, packed with data and illustrated with superb new artwork and numerous photos, including some never-before-published, and detailed descriptions of the little-known Iraqi armored division markings. Read more

Discover the amazing combat machines that have graced the skies, land, and sea of the world's most famous conflicts!History and development of dozens of legendary military vehicles from World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm, and moreThe best of the best, from the iconic Spitfires and Lancasters of WWII to today's stealth bombers and super-smart combat tanksDetailed articles written by leading historians, scholars, and other experts in military historyFull-color photos and drawings of combat machines for the land, sea, and air, including the 20 greatest machines of warA showcase of the world's most powerful military might, from the Churchill tank used in the Second World War to warships, Humvees, naval U-boat submarines, and moreWars have been waged for thousands of years. But with the advent of industry and technology, war machines have evolved into complex and intricate vessels.A fascinating account of the history and development of dozens of legendary military vehicles — from the German Tiger tanks of the Second World War and the nuclear-powered submarine to the high-tech fighter jets of today and the military technology of the future — A Visual History of World Military Machines details the facts and figures that you need to know to be a combat machine expert!Featuring complete breakdowns of the technology that makes these tanks, choppers, and battleships the best of the best, this guide spans the last 100 years of warfare and how it has evolved. Along with the type of power each machine contains and how it was used, you will learn which tank was capable of being air-dropped from a cargo plane, which warship is the last of its kind, what it takes to be a Top Gun pilot, and what the next generations of aircraft carriers will look like.Here are just a few of the machines featured inside:Land:Willys JeepSherman TankHumveesRolls-Royce Armored CarSU-76M Tank DestroyerSea:The K-43 (Project 670 Charlie Class)HMS BelfastHMS MedusaType VII U-BoatHMS AllianceAir:Messerschmitt Bf 109GC-130 HerculesA-10 Thunderbolt IIDassault Mirage 2000Mikoyan MIG-29Stealth BomberYou'll also find information on the AK-47 assault rifle, the Enigma machine, the M61 Vulcan, the Vickers MK1 machine gun, the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) aircraft carrier, and more, learn the anatomy of a Panzer II, an A7V tank, and a Tiger I, and see how the Soviet Navy's K-43 and the USS Casimir Pulaski would have measured up against each other had the Cold War heated up.Filled with informative and fascinating articles written by leading historians, scholars, and other military history experts, as well as high-quality photography and illustrations, this action-packed book is a must-have for any veteran, Retired Soldier, or history buff! Read more

Boats and cutters covered in this book -Ocean going cutters 125 ft. Active class - 143 ft. Sotoyono class - 180 ft. Cactus class - 180 ft. Cactus class - 205 ft. Cherokee class - 210 ft. Reliance class -213 ft. Diver class -230 ft. Storis - 255 ft. Owasco class - 270 ft. Famous class - 282 ft. Edenton class - 311 ft. Casco class -327 ft. Treasury class -387 ft. Hamilton class - 360 ft. Heritage class - 418 ft. Legend classIcebreakers, polar, lake, harbor 65 ft. small harbor tug - 85 ft Yard tug - 110 ft. tug 140 ft. Bay class - 240 ft. Heavy icebreaker - 269 ft. Wind class - 290 ft Mackinaw - 309 ft. Glacier - 399 ft. Polar class - 418 ft. HealyPatrol boats 73 ft. Flagstaff - 82 ft. Point class ft. Point class squadron 146 - 87 ft. Protector class - 95 ft. Cape class - 110 ft. Island class - 110 ft. Seabird class - 123 ft. Island class - 154 ft. Sentinel class - 179 ft. Cyclone classTraining cutters 125 ft. Active class - 180 ft. Gentian - 295 ft. Eagle5 - 338 ft. CourierMotor Lifeboat, cutter boat, survey boat 25 ft. Motor surf boat - 30 ft. Surf rescue craft - 36 ft. Motor lifeboat - 42 ft. Nearshore lifeboat - 44 ft. Motor lifeboat - 47 ft. Motor lifeboat - 52 ft. Motor lifeboat - 18ft. Aides to navigation boat - 25 ft. Motor cargo boat - 26 ft. Over the horizon cutter boat - 26 ft. Over the horizon cutter boat - 26 ft. Motor surf boat - 35 ft. Long range interceptor - 38 ft. arctic survey boat - 39 ft. arctic survey boatPorts and waterways, utility, response, special purpose craft 25 ft. Security boat - 25 ft. Homeland security boat - 31 ft. Port security boat - 32 ft. Port security boat - 32 ft. port & waterways boat - 18ft. Ice rescue boat - 21ft. Ice rescue boat - 24 ft. shallow water patrol craft - 25 ft. Homeland security - 27 ft. Presidential security - 27 ft. Shallow Water craft - 29 ft. Response boat -30 ft. Utility boat medium - 30 ft. Nonstandard boat - 30 ft. Utility boat medium - 33 ft. Law Enforcement boat - 35 ft. Amphibious rescue craft - 38 ft. air cushion vehicle - 38 ft. Training boat - 40 ft. Utility boat medium - 40 ft. Utility boat medium - 41 ft. Utility boat large - 43 ft. Fast coastal interceptor - 45 ft. Response boat Medium - 64 ft. Special purpose craftAton boat, inland tender, coastal tender, seagoing tender, Construction tender21 ft. Aton boat - 26 ft. Aton boat - 45 ft. Buoy boat - 46 ft. Buoy boat - 49 ft. Buoy utility boat - 55 ft. Aton navigation boat 117LCM56 ft. cable laying landing craft 118WLR65 ft. construction tender - 65 ft. inland buoy tender - 128 ft. lightship - I75 ft. inland construction tender - 75 ft. river buoy tender - 100 ft. Cosmos class - 100 ft. class - 160 ft. Construction tender - 133 ft. White class - 157 ft. Red class - 175 ft. Hollyhock class - 175 ft. Keeper class - 180 ft. class A,B,C - 225 ft. Juniper classHelicopters HH 52Seaguard – H 3FPelican - H 60Jayhawk - MH 65Dolphin - MH 90Enforcer - MH 68AStingrayEnlisted, Warrant, officer ranks Insignias - Enlisted - Warrant officer - Commissioned officer Read more

As World War I ended, the victors were developing a powerful new generation of 'hyper-dreadnoughts' and battlecruisers. Fully illustrated, this studies the big-gun warships that never were.1918 was a moment of great naval change. Britain still had the largest fleet in the world, but its ships were ageing, and many of them were markedly inferior to the latest American and Japanese battleships. An arms race loomed between the war's victors. In this book naval expert Angus Konstam studies and compares the battleships being designed between 1918 and 1922, which drew on the lessons of World War I. Britain was designing four G3-class 15in-gun battlecruisers, plus four N3 'hyper-dreadnoughts' mounting colossal 18in guns. The US Navy was planning six new South Dakota battleships, carrying an incredible 12 16in guns, plus six Lexington-class battlecruisers. Japan was working on a similar project, and in 1920 the first of four Amagi-class battlecruisers were laid down.However, in 1922 this costly arms race was averted by the Washington Naval Treaty, which halted new battleship construction, and limited the major fleets. These battleships and battlecruisers were mostly cancelled and scrapped, with a few, such as Lexington and Akagi, converted into aircraft carriers. With new colour reconstructions of the G3, H3, South Dakota, Lexington and Amagi classes, this is the first book to study these never-built monster warships. Read more

Airpower over the Rhine is a critical new perspective on the air battle between the French Air Force (FAF) and the Luftwaffe in the skies over France during May and June 1940. Why were the French overpowered in the air? What factors led to their defeat? Author James F. Slaughter III examines how each country’s leadership created the circumstances that enabled the Luftwaffe’s victory over the FAF and Germany’s ultimate defeat of France.   Conventional wisdom—especially in the English-speaking world—purports that the FAF was a nonentity whose loss was all but guaranteed. But the FAF did, in fact, show up to fight. With virtually every disadvantage and under impossible conditions, FAF pilots nevertheless managed to land significant blows against the Luftwaffe—far more than they are given credit for today. Slaughter traces this misconception to a largely collaborationist cover-up beginning with the Rion Trials in Vichy France that was then perpetuated by Cold War politics and popular mythology.   Rather than absence or incompetence, the FAF lost due to a series of complex internal conflicts within French leadership, both political and military, that set them up to fail. This work compares and examines six fundamental areas that affected the development of the FAF and the Luftwaffe: aircraft and equipment, the aircraft industries, intelligence, the experiences of the Spanish Civil War, doctrine and training, and politics and air power. It also offers new details about and insights into Pierre Cot, a controversial French politician largely unknown outside France. Airpower over the Rhine explains Cot’s internal and external impact on the development of the French Air Force and details what is known about his apparent efforts to spy for the Soviet Union. Thoroughly researched and compellingly written, this book will appeal to anyone with an interest in World War II.  Read more

A fascinating and detailed history of the pivotal campaigns that aimed to capture the most significant barrier of World War Two: the Rhine.Perfect for readers of John Toland, Alex Kershaw and Anthony Beevor.Few locations experienced as much conflict as this famous and important river, which bore witness to not one, but three intense battles throughout the course of World War Two.Eyewitness accounts from scores of participants on both sides enable Alexander McKee to create a vivid narrative of blitzkrieg attacks in 1940 that saw Germany’s lightning capture of the Arnhem, Nijmegen, and Maas-Waal crossings, the Arnhem disaster in 1944, and the final crossing of the Rhine by British, French, American, and Canadian forces during the war’s last year.The Race for the Rhine Bridges is a gripping account of valour, missed opportunities, military mistakes and remarkable heroism in the heat of battle. It provides an outstanding analysis of the Rhine combat zone and the three brutal campaigns that passed over it.‘Little-known and most interesting material … a fine account’ Evening Standard‘Carefully researched’ Manchester Evening News Read more

The ultimate modeler’s resource filled with the history, photographs and builds of this American military legend whose service stretches from the plains of Germany to the deserts of the Gulf.With its characteristic wide track, low silhouette and its distinctively deep exhaust note the Humvee sets itself apart from the range of light utility trucks it replaced. Fully air-portable, the Humvee features an aluminum body seated on a steel ladder chassis, powered by a 190hp V8 engine.Introduced into service in 1985, the Humvee remained pretty much unnoticed until its baptism of fire during the invasion of Panama in Operation Just Cause. It wasn’t until almost a year later, in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm that the Humvee really came into the public eye.As a result of its newly found fame its manufacturer, American Motors General, started to produce a civilized version for public consumption, with sales and profile boosted by Hollywood patronage. At the same time the Humvee continued to serve in some of the most dangerous US operations undertaken to date. From the streets of Mogadishu to the Balkans, the Humvee developed into a vehicle far removed from its original design intentions.With some 17 variants now in service, from the basic troop carrier to the awesome Avenger Anti-Aircraft system, this Humvee LandCraft title provides the modeler with a rich vein of inspirations and subject.This title looks at the process behind the design and development of the Humvee and how American Motors General were able to fulfill a complex design brief to deliver a single vehicle that was able to replace a host of in-service vehicles. This title will chart how the Humvee grew from a light utility truck into a versatile platform whose modesty hides its potential.With its specially designed track, impressive ground clearance, waterproofed electronics and ability to carry a one ton load, the first Humvees were light years ahead of the vehicles they replaced. With its unique suspension and transmission systems to its unique engine arrangement this 4x4 is capable of feats normally only afforded to tracked vehicles.With some 17 versions in US service the Humvee fulfills its traditional role as cargo and troop carrier as well as special-weapons platform, ambulances, Direct Air Support vehicles and communications shelter vehicles.After 35 years of service the Humvee has changed from soft skinned run-about to a lightly armored force protection asset. Fitted with a larger engine, interchangeable armor, specially designed escape windows and a unique blast chimney, the Humvee’s story is indeed proof that development of military vehicles never stops.For the modeler there is nothing more important than the little things and this image-rich section of LandCrafts’ Humvee title delivers the goods. Filled with crisp images that chart the Humvee’s development, combined with informative accompanying text, forms an enviable visual guide for the enthusiast and modeler alike. Read more

A detailed, illustrated study of Germany's Panzer forces that invaded the Soviet Union, explaining how and why they performed as they did.Operation Barbarossa, Nazi Germany's huge and fateful invasion of the Soviet Union, was the culmination of nearly two years of European conquests. By the time of Barbarossa, Germany's Panzer forces had honed their Blitzkrieg methods of fast-moving warfare, but fighting across the wide expanses of eastern Europe would present them with their greatest challenge yet. While the Germans overran the Red Army at the start of the campaign, Barbarossa would end in failure.Written by one of the world's experts on armoured warfare, and presenting newly uncovered data on the forces involved, this book explains the doctrine, organization, and technical capabilities of the Panzer forces, with a short overview on the armour of other Axis forces including Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Finland, and Italy. The speed and shock value of the Panzer divisions was essential for the Wehrmacht to prevail over the Red Army in a brief campaign of annihilation. Packed with archive photos and superb original tank illustrations, this book explains how problems with the Panzers were a significant reason for the eventual failure of Barbarossa. Read more

From an internationally acclaimed expert in the field comes a detailed, analytical, and comprehensive account of the worldwide evolution of tanks, from their inception a century ago to the present day. With new ideas stemming from the latest academic research, this study presents a reappraisal of the development of tanks and their evolution during World War I and how the surge in technological development during World War II and the subsequent Cold War drove tank developments in Europe and America, transforming tanks into fast, resilient, and powerful fighting machines. From the primitive, bizarre-looking Mark V to the Matilda and from the menacing King Tiger to the superlative M1 Abrams, Professor Ogorkiewicz shows how tanks gradually acquired the enhanced capabilities that enabled them to become what they are today--the core of combined-arms, mechanized warfare. Read more

A comprehensive, illustrated account of the new generation of advanced tanks to emerge during the last 15 years of the Cold War, showcasing major improvements in armor protection, gunsights, and fire-control systems.Focusing on the technology of the period, author Steven J. Zaloga explains how the demands of a potential Cold War battlefield spurred the development of the 20th century's most advanced tanks. He considers the final versions of the Soviet T-72, T-64, and T-80 and assesses their strengths and weaknesses. He also explores how the failure of the US-German MBT-70 project led to America's development of the M1 Abrams tank, and to Germany's all-new Leopard II. The British development of the Challenger tank is also considered, as is the lesser-known Leclerc tank developed by France, the smallest and lightest of any of the western designs.Featuring superbly detailed new illustrations and many photos, this volume pinpoints the key technology of the era, including turbine engines, APFSDS ammunition, advanced armor and high-tech fire-control systems, and describes how the rival tanks compared in the final stretch of the Cold War arms race. Read more

Developed to provide the US military with a fast-moving reconnaissance vehicle sufficiently armed to knock out WWII-era armored vehicles. The M8 Armored Car and its sibling, the M20 Armored Utility Vehicles, were the most widely used armored vehicles built by Ford. These vehicles saw use with the US Army as well as Allied nations during WWII and well into the 1960s. This book chronicles the development and use of the vehicle from concept to combat. Through dozens of archival photos, many never before published, as well as detailed photographs of some of the finest existent examples of these vehicles, this iconic tank is explored, and its history is explained. Read more

"...provides the reader with a sense of involvement in the experiences of Vietnam. In addition to the engaging prose, the vast array of visual information, with photos, sketches, and maps on nearly every page, draws the reader into the experience." – Army History MagazineWhen the U.S. Army went to war in South Vietnam in 1965, the general consensus was that counterinsurgency was an infantryman’s war; if there were any role at all for armored forces, it would be strictly to support the infantry. However, from the time the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment arrived in country in September 1966, troopers of the Blackhorse Regiment demonstrated the fallacy of this assumption. By the time of Tet '68, the Army’s leadership began to understand that the Regiment’s mobility, firepower, flexibility, and leadership made a difference on the battlefield well beyond its numbers.Over the course of the 11th Cavalry’s five-and-a-half years in combat in South Vietnam and Cambodia, over 25,000 young men served in the Regiment. Their stories—and those of their families—represent the Vietnam generation in graphic, sometimes humorous, often heart-wrenching detail. Collected by the author through hundreds of in-person, telephone, and electronic interviews over a period of 25-plus years, these “war stories” provide context for the companion volume, The Blackhorse in Vietnam.Amongst the stories of the Blackhorse troopers and their families are the tales of the wide variety of animals they encountered during their time in combat, as well as the variable landscape, from jungle to rice paddies, and weather. Blackhorse Tales concludes with a look at how the troopers dealt with their combat experiences since returning from Vietnam. Between the chapters are combat narratives, one from each year of the Regiment’s five-and-a-half years in Southeast Asia. These combat vignettes begin on 2 December 1966, when a small column of 1st Squadron vehicles and troopers was ambushed on Highway 1 and emerged victorious despite being outnumbered. They go on to describe the one-of-a-kind crossing of the Dong Nai River on 25 April 1968, as the Blackhorse Regiment rode to the rescue during Mini-Tet 1968, and the 2nd Squadron's fight to clear the Boi Loi Woods in late April 1971.Table of ContentsIntroductionChapter 1: The TroopersCombat: 2 December 1966Chapter 2: The FamiliesCombat: 19 June 1967Chapter 3: The CiviliansCombat: 25 April 1968Chapter 4: The AnimalsCombat: 13–14 April 1969Chapter 5: The LandCombat: 27 March–1 April 1970Chapter 6: The WeatherCombat: 29 April 1971Chapter 7: Life After Vietnam Read more

An illustrated account of the major colonial conflict of the 1920s, in which the occupying Spanish and French faced an armed uprising from the Berber tribes of northern Morocco.In June 1921, Abd el Krim, a Berber leader in the Rif highlands of Morocco, marshalled a pan-tribal uprising that killed some 13,000 Spanish troops, forcing occupying Spain to withdraw from the country's north coast and garnering worldwide attention through el Krim's deft diplomacy. Despite this, leadership of the French-held central and southern regions remained aloof until the spring of 1925 when Rifian forces attacked key outposts and strategic cities, instigating a series of clashes that culminated in May 1926 with a Franco-Spanish offensive and el Krim's eventual surrender. Co-authored by two leading authorities on the forces involved, this fascinating new study takes a close look at the most deadly colonial conflict of the interwar period. Rare photographs and newly commissioned artwork plates complement detailed examinations of the weapons, equipment and uniforms of all sides, enhancing the story of the challenge posed to two European armies by a tribal leader who would inspire North African nationalists for years to come. Read more

The epic story of the engineers and rail workers who ensured Allied victory in World War Two, published to coincide with the eightieth anniversary of D-Day, by an award-winning expert on trains and transportation    They certainly were not soldiers, yet they suddenly found themselves in uniform, in a foreign land. But, as locomotive drivers, track-workers, conductors, porters, signalmen, and engine cleaners, they knew how to run trains. And their job was to bring them back to life.     The Liberation Line tells the thrilling story of the British and American railway engineers who, in the months after D-Day, worked around the clock and in great danger to rebuild the ravaged railways of Europe and keep the Allied forces fueled as they pushed on into Germany.  As territory was taken, these soldier-railroaders were close behind, rebuilding the lines, putting up telegraph wires, replacing bridges and laying track, all the while dodging bullets, shells, and booby traps.     Tales of extraordinary feats and heroism abound, including how 10,000 men rebuilt a 135-mile-long railway in just three days; the reconstruction of the bridge over the Seine in two weeks while under bombardment; and the use of cigarette lighters as improvised signaling systems.      Despite being critical to Allied victory, the role of the railway men has been largely forgotten or ignored. In a vivid and gripping narrative, Christian Wolmar brings to life this colorful cast of generals and engineers, without whose extraordinary bravery the liberation of France and invasion of Germany might well have foundered—and the course of history changed.  Read more