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A newly revised edition on the construction of one of the first standing armies in the 17th century.French Armies of the Thirty Years' War presents the development of the French Army, one of the first standing armies in Europe, from 1617 to 1648. It shows how Louis XIII and Richelieu exploited the complex legacy of the Wars of Religion to the benefit of both the Crown and the Country.The Three Musketeers, Cyrano de Bergerac, Louis XIII, Richelieu, Condé, Turenne, La Rochelle, Rocroi...these few words sum up the literary and historical representations most people will associate with the tumultuous events in France during the first half of the seventeenth century.French Armies of the Thirty Years' War begins in 1617, the year that Louis XIII really took power, by distancing the Queen Mother and ordering the assassination of Concini, and ends in 1648 - five years after the death of Louis XIII, and the year of the Peace Treaty of Westphalia. This period in France was almost completely dominated by the personality and activities of Richelieu, who entered the King's council in April 1624. He gave the King an ambition: 'to procure the ruin of the Huguenot party, humble the pride of the great, reduce all subjects to their duty, and elevate your majesty's name among foreign nations to its rightful reputation.' By Richelieu's death, on 4 December 1642, this program had been accomplished.The first military action of this period, in August 1620, known as the Drôlerie des Ponts de Cé, was an uprising of the nobility who supported the Queen Mother against the King. The rebels were roundly defeated by the King's armies, but very few units actually fought. In his memoirs, Richelieu, who was on the Queen's side at the time, gives a detailed analysis of this defeat. In particular, he drew from it the principles that he was to follow throughout his life, and he realized: 'that which is held only by a precarious authority does not last long; that those who fight against a legitimate power are already half-defeated by their own imagination.' These political beliefs gave Louis XIII and Richelieu a powerful instrument that was to emerge transformed from the Thirty Years' War.The Army that Marie de Medici left to Henri IV's heir was small and inexperienced, but the Wars of Religion at the beginning of Louis XIII's reign, combined with Richelieu's actions, gave the French Crown an increasingly efficient army. Commanded by great captains such as the Duc de Rohan, the Viscomte de Turenne and the Prince of Condé, the army was highly successful, as shown by the long list of French victories, from the Île de Ré (1626) to Lens (1648) amply demonstrate.

Explores the evolution of the German military system post-Peace of Westphalia, detailing its development, role in Europe, and the unique defensive political culture of the German states.After the Peace of Westphalia, several German states developed a disciplined 'Military' that produced outstanding armies. Germany supplied mercenary troops to major and minor powers in Europe, and the military state, usually exemplified by Prussia, became a crucial part of German history.However, Germany was apparently weak and internally divided into a multitude of states that constantly faced a hostile environment formed by belligerent great powers. Moreover, the German 'Military' was the resultant system of collective security, internal conflict and resolution that allowed a rich variety of political traditions to coexist relatively harmoniously. This system tried to preserve Germany against formidable attacks without making it a danger to the security of its neighbors. In contrast to the political culture of later German states, that of the 'Reich' was inherently defensive, preferring peace to war in both domestic politics and external relations. The book deals with the armies of the German Empire for the first time in a single book, with unpublished iconography and after extensive research in the German archives.Praise for previous volumes of Wars and Soldiers in the Early Reign of Louis XIV: 'This book is a must for anyone even partially interested in the Imperial army during the late seventeenth century. The level of detail must be highly commended, the author has gone to great lengths in researching this volume and it shows throughout the volume.' - Arquebusier'This book is extremely detailed, and highly useful for historians, the inquisitive, war gamers and figure modelers.' - IPMS/USA

Renatio et Gloriam is a set of tabletop miniatures rules that allow you to fight large-scale battles from the Renaissance and Early Modern period. Covering warfare from the late Fifteenth Century up to the end of the Great Northern War in 1721, these rules allow you to field the armies of Cordoba, Turenne, or Marlborough.This supplement to the Rules covers warfare during the Thirty Years' War and the British Civil Wars.The book contains 55 army lists and enables the gamer to create wargames armies for matched play and for competitions. Starting in 1618 with the Catholic League, the lists cover the armies of the Thirty Years to the end of the British Civil Wars in the early-1650s.

The first detailed English-language study of Ukrainian Cossacks' attire, equipment, and tactics from the late 16th to early 18th century.This is the first book about Ukrainian Cossacks for English-speaking readers. Based on historical sources, the book will relate and show in detail the appearance, clothing and equipment of the Ukrainian Cossacks and their methods of warfare.This book shows in detail the evolution of the Ukrainian Cossacks' appearance. The author reconstructs the clothing, equipment, and weaponry of Ukrainian Cossacks from the late 16th to the early 18th century. Numerous historical sources, references, documents, pictorial sources, and descriptions left by eyewitnesses have been consulted. Archaeological finds from battlefields related to the Ukrainian Cossacks were also examined. The author considers both the clothing and equipment of ordinary Cossacks and separately the clothing and military equipment of the officer corps - Cossack petty officers and hetmans. Special attention is paid to banners and various accouterments. The reader will learn about the variations between the Cossacks, the difference between the Registry and Sichev Cossacks, how they fought, and what tactics were used on the battlefield. Also considered are the separate formations of Ukrainian hetmans modeled on Western European armies and mercenary formations of the last quarter of the seventeenth to early eighteenth century - the Serdyuk and Kompanitsa. The book contains over 170 illustrations, iconographic sources, images of battles, archaeological artifacts and various types of clothing and equipment. There are also color plates of the author's reconstructions of banners, images of banners from the collection of the Swedish Army Museum, and 20 colored figures of Cossacks and representatives of Cossack elders in the author's style familiar to readers of the Helion series.

A comprehensive study examining soldiers' clothing during the Thirty Years War and British Civil Wars, challenging early seventeenth-century uniformity through detailed archival research and contemporary illustrations.Soldiers' Clothing of the Early 17th Century is a comprehensive study of the clothing worn by soldiers during the Thirty Years War and the British Civil Wars. The book delves into the changing fashion trends of soldiers' clothing during the early seventeenth century, with detailed chapters on various items of clothing, the contracts and supply system, and challenges the idea that there was no uniformity at the beginning of the century.There have been books written about military clothing during the early seventeenth century before, but never in this detail. This book is the result of over 30 years of research in the archives of record offices and libraries, recording minute details of clothing and coat colors. By examining thousands of archives and pamphlets, it challenges the idea that there was no uniformity within regiments or companies at the beginning of the century. Hundreds of contemporary illustrations, paintings and even surviving items of clothing were consulted to discover the soldiers' appearance.The first part of Soldiers' Clothing of the Early 17th Century looks at the individual items of clothing and how fashion changed over the years., as well as the contracts granted to merchants who supplied this clothing and the abuses that were made by some merchants and the corruption of the officers at the soldiers' expense. Some soldiers were so poor that they had to sell their clothing to survive. It was also part of the humiliation of a prisoner of war to be stripped of his clothing. It also investigates the supply system of these clothes, which could further lead to corruption, and how they were transported to the armies to be distributed to the armies.The second part looks at the clothing of the various Parliamentary and Royalist Armies, the army sent to Ireland during the 1640s, and the Scottish Armies during the Bishops' and Civil Wars. It also attempts to solve the often-asked question of whether the trained bands were issued with clothing.Finally, there is an examination of clothing issued to the armies of Denmark, the Dutch Republic, France, the Holy Roman Empire, Spain, and Sweden. Since soldiers' clothing did not begin at the start of the Thirty Years War, in these chapters, the author looks at the issue of clothing from the turn of the century, if not before.The book is essential for those interested in seventeenth-century military history, fashion, and re-enactors and wargamers of the period. Although the book does not include patterns and advice on how to make each item, it provides an in-depth and fascinating look at soldiers' clothing during the early seventeenth century.

Let the Men Cross tells the story of the battle that Wellington's biographer Elizabeth Longford called 'Wellington's greatest adventure'. Sir Arthur Wellesley, soon to be Lord Wellington, took a combined army to Portugal's second city, fighting an offensive battle on the slopes of Grijo before maneuvering into the great trading city of Porto. The city was then liberated in a daring amphibious crossing, in wine barges, right under the eyes of the French forces.In the Spring of 1809, the fate of Portugal, and therefore of the Peninsular War, hung in the balance. France occupied most of Portugal and Spain, with only a few areas holding out. Sir Arthur Wellesley returned to command the Anglo-Portuguese field army, with large forces arrayed against him. One such large corps was commanded by Maréchal Jean-de-Dieu Soult, who had captured Porto and was busy ransacking what had once flourished as one of Europe's greatest wine trading centers.Wellesley took the initiative, marching his army north towards Porto, encountering a French vanguard holding the heights of Grijo. In the reverse to his reputation of holding the high ground, his forces attacked up these slopes over a two-day combat. Grijo allowed Wellesley's troops to enter the southern parts of Porto, near the wine trading quaysides. Soult had ordered all boats to be destroyed to prevent any crossing and felt falsely confident on the north bank.Wellesley sent out an exploring officer, an early intelligence expert, who found a priest, a barber, and wine barges. Together, they piloted the vessels to Wellesley's position. The British troops nearest, led by the 3rd Regiment of Foot, 'The Buffs', climbed into the wine barges and crossed the mighty Douro River to liberate the city, where they faced multiple French counter-attacks.Porto was one of the most daring offensive actions the soon-to-be Lord Wellington undertook. This risk enabled the liberation of Porto for relatively light British casualties, but one that showed a daring operation, the likes of which are rarely seen in the Napoleonic era.

An influential yet controversial naval officer who played key roles in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars through unconventional methods and secretive operations.Quicksilver Captain is the story of Sir Home Popham (1762-1820), an extraordinary and under-appreciated personality of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Popham was a bundle of highly unusual contradictions. He achieved the rank of post-captain without a ship; he was more often employed by the War Department than by the Admiralty; and, as an expert in combined operations, he spent almost as much time serving on shore as at sea. In just over 25 years as a naval officer, Popham acted as an agent for transports, an unofficial diplomat, an intelligence officer, a Member of Parliament, an acclaimed hydrographer, a scientist and inventor, a publicist, and a government adviser, among many other roles.Popham's career was literally as well as figuratively amphibious. So was his personality. Popham's well-known past as an illicit private trader, as well as his notorious lack of scruples, marred his reputation. People meeting him for the first time did not know what to make of him: 'He seems a pleasant man, but a dasher.' He fully understood the importance of communication and is best known for inventing a signal code that the Royal Navy used for decades. When he died, he left reams of correspondence behind him. But he also understood that words could either obfuscate or illuminate the truth, and his genius for twisting the facts to suit his own purposes made him an unreliable narrator. Many contemporaries distrusted and loathed him; after his court martial in 1807 for attacking Buenos Aires without orders (he escaped with a reprimand), many of his naval peers refused outright to serve with him again. And yet, even his greatest critics could not deny his abilities. One of his fellow naval captains wrote what could have been his epitaph: 'He is an extraordinary man, and would have been a great man, had he been honest.'Quicksilver Captain paints a portrait of an ambitious man who built a career based on secrets and shadows. Popham's direct line to important patrons like William Pitt and Henry Dundas allowed him to play a role far beyond that of an ordinary post-captain. His ideas for using Britain's naval might for imperial defense and expanding British trade, as well as his knowledge of combined operations, made him the politicians' go-to expert. They wanted results, no matter what the cost, and Popham's willingness to play dirty - using bribery, threats, and experimental weaponry - appealed to them. In return, they protected him from his many foes, although in the end, they could not save him from his worst enemy - himself.

A detailed narrative of Wellington's first Peninsular campaign, using primary sources to cover battles, diplomacy, and the liberation of Portugal from French occupation.So Just and Glorious a Cause is a highly detailed narrative of Wellington's first campaign in the Peninsula. Using memoirs, letters, and previously unpublished primary sources, it covers events from Junot's invasion in late 1807 to the Portuguese revolts in the summer of 1808, and then the sailing of the British expedition and the battles of Roliça and Vimeiro, through to the controversial Convention of Cintra and the liberation of Portugal from the French.In 1807, with most of Europe under his control, Napoleon looked towards the Iberian Peninsula, hoping to complete his hegemony and extend his reach to South America. He sent one of his most loyal generals, Jean-Andoche Junot, with 25,000 men, to conquer Portugal. The Portuguese had long been caught in the middle between Britain and France. Faced with an invasion he had little hope of preventing, the Prince Regent fled to Brazil, assisted by a Royal Navy squadron, and let his country be occupied.In the summer of 1808, with the rebellion of the Spanish and Portuguese people spreading across the Peninsula, Britain sent an expedition to liberate Portugal under Sir Arthur Wellesley, the future Duke of Wellington. Still a relatively junior and unknown commander, Wellesley fought an aggressive and successful campaign. He defeated the French first at Roliça and then at Vimeiro but was prevented from sealing his victory by the arrival of more senior officers. The French negotiated generous terms in the Convention of Cintra and were evacuated back to France, ending their occupation of Portugal.So Just and Glorious a Cause makes extensive use of primary sources from all levels of the French, Portuguese and British forces involved, many of them previously unpublished. The terrible forced marches of the French troops as they crossed the border into Portugal, the frenzied diplomatic efforts in Lisbon, the subsequent brutal occupation, and the Royal Navy blockade are all examined, as well as Vice Admiral Cotton's efforts to fan the flames of revolt in Portugal and offer support for the uprisings. The French, Portuguese and British forces are analyzed in detail, as are the logistical challenges of Wellesley's campaign. The narratives of the first skirmish at Obidos and then the battles of Roliça and Vimeiro are constructed from first-hand accounts from both sides, and many misconceptions about each action are addressed. Finally, numerous myths surrounding the controversial Convention of Cintra are tackled, including Wellesley's part in the negotiations."One of the most eagerly awaited books on the Peninsular War for years." - Rory Muir, author of Wellington and Britain & the Defeat of Napoleon 1807-1815"Robert Griffith's book is a masterful blend of scholarly rigor and engaging narrative. It meticulously dissects the strategic, operational, and tactical dimensions of Arthur Wellesley, the future Duke of Wellington's, first campaign in the Peninsula. Drawing upon an impressive range of archival documents, letters, diaries, and memories, it presents a nuanced understanding of the challenges the British army faced as it embarked on what proved to be a crucial theater of the Napoleonic Wars. A must-read for anyone interested in the Napoleonic Wars!" - Alexander Mikaberidze, author of The Napoleonic Wars and Kutuzov

Explores the French Army's organization, reforms, and innovations during the Seven Years War, from uniforms and tactics to recruitment and structural changes.French Infantry in the Seven Years War Volume 1 is the first in a series devoted to the French army during the Seven Years War. It describes the organisation and evolution of infantry regiments during the conflict, the hierarchy of a regiment, the recruitment and training of soldiers, officers and their careers, marches, camps and barracks, plus a detailed review of uniforms, infantrymen's weapons and equipment, and the organisation and uniforms of provincial militias, Grenadiers de France and coastguard militias. The second volume will detail the distinctive uniforms and flags of all the regiments. The third volume will deal with the tactics adopted by the French infantry during the Seven Years War.​

A gripping memoir of a Swedish soldier's journey through the Napoleonic Wars, offering vivid tales of camaraderie, battles, and historic events.A Swedish Soldier in the Napoleonic Wars is an important and rare memoir by a low-ranking officer. It contains lively anecdotes and stories of soldiers, commanders, and life on campaign from 1808 to 1814 in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and North Germany. Available for the first time in English, it provides a new perspective of little-known actions, small by the standards of continental Europe, but vital to our understanding of Sweden's part in the war.In 1808, at the age of 18 and whilst a student at Linköping High School, Carl Magnus Hultin enlisted as a junior officer in the militia, answering the call-to-arms in the nation's efforts to stem the Russian tide before Finland was lost. He then transferred to the regular army as an ensign in the Jönköping Regiment. He took part in the ill-fated Västerbotten expedition against the Russians on Swedish soil in 1809 and witnessed the 1809 coup d'etat to remove the unpopular King Gustav IV Adolf. Following the 'phoney' war with Britain 1811-1812, he served in Mecklenberg, Holstein and Belgium against France and Denmark in the 1813-1814 campaign under Napoleon's former Maréchal Bernadotte, who had been elected as Sweden's Crown Prince. Finally, he participated in the 1814 Norwegian campaign that saw the Union of Norway and Sweden, which lasted until 1905. He remained in the army after the war, retiring as a captain in 1842.Very late in life, he was persuaded to set down his memoirs, which were published in 1872. Two separate editions of the book were reprinted in Sweden in 1954 and 1955 with minimal editing after the expiry of the copyright 70 years after the author's death. The editor's preface to the 1954 edition noted, 'The present volume is ... unique to the extent that it may constitute the only document of literary value from our history of war', whilst the 1955 editor noted 'the account ... was greatly acclaimed' and that Hultin's friends were 'much entertained by his lively, sometimes rather burlesque tales about military life both on and off campaign.'This translation, by a descendent of Captain Hultin, includes extensive explanatory notes together with maps and illustrations to support the narrative.

Details Russia's 1812 defense against Napoleon, covering key figures, battles, and operational details, enhanced with maps and critiques.The Russian Patriotic War of 1812 is the only publicly available translation into English of Bogdanovich's official history of the Russian forces' involvement in the fight against Napoleon and his allies in Russia in 1812. This translation also includes extracts from Ivan Liprandi's critique of Bogdanovich's work.Volume 2 of The Russian Patriotic War of 1812 covers Kutuzov's appointment as Field Marshal, details of the opolchenie (militia) and donations made in 1812, the meeting in Abo between Tsar Alexander I and the Crown Prince of Sweden (Jean- Baptiste Jules Bernadotte), and the situation in enemy occupied territory. Highly detailed descriptions of operations are included, from before the Battle of Borodino to the camp at Tarutino, as well as operations on the flanks by Wittgenstein and Admiral Chichagov. Outstanding feats were performed not only by prominent personalities but also by others who participated in this war. The composition of the forces are shown as clearly as possible, as are force numbers, casualties on each side, and so on. The maps attached to this work were drafted in such a way that they might serve to explain entire phases of the war. The battle plans show the locations of dominant terrain according to detailed state surveys, while villages, forests and roads have been copied from previously published plans.

The evolution of Western counterinsurgency doctrine from the 17th century to today, using historical case studies.The Shape of War stems from the need to bring together in one volume the diverse experiences of modern Western counterinsurgency thinking, which later developed into the more articulate counterinsurgency doctrine, also known as COIN. Although warfare generally does not admit pre-established patterns, since everything in it is subject to sudden change, it is possible within this jagged subject matter to identify specific lessons related to armed rebellion. Historical analysis is a tool for understanding insurgencies' continuity and very nature, depending on where and when they occurred.The theme of The Shape of War concerns the Western doctrine of counterinsurgency and its development over the centuries, from the late 17th century to the present. Case studies support each historical period covered.The Shape of War was born out of the need to collect all the essential testimonies in one book to make it easier to consult the reading materials and, above all, to understand such a complex topic. Failure to appreciate some basic principles of irregular warfare has produced the poor results in geopolitics that are there for all to see. Afghanistan is only the most emblematic example of a myriad of failures attributable to superficial interpretations of the insurgency phenomenon.The value of The Shape of War lies precisely in its originality, in that never before has anyone treated the subject so comprehensively, using a comparative methodology that will help the reader so much as they move through the centuries and different chessboards.

Publishing for the first time in English, this volume includes details of actions and exploits by Russian soldiers almost unknown outside of Russia.The Russian Patriotic War of 1812 is the only publicly available translation into English of Bogdanovich's official history of the Russian forces' involvement in the fight against Napoleon and his allies in Russia in 1812. This translation also includes extracts from Ivan Liprandi's critique of Bogdanovich's work.Volume 1 of The Russian Patriotic War of 1812 includes the causes of the war and an account of the operational planning by Russian forces for their retreat from the borders into the Empire, dispelling the myth of the non-existence of any premeditated plan. The logistics of the forces on both sides are examined, along with highly detailed descriptions of the operations from Russia's western borders to beyond Smolensk and operations on the northern and southern flanks. Outstanding feats were performed not only by prominent personalities but also by others who participated in this war. The composition of the forces are shown as clearly as possible, as are force numbers, casualties on each side, and so on. The maps attached to this work were drafted in such a way that they might serve to explain entire phases of the war. The battle plans show the locations of dominant terrain according to detailed state surveys, while villages, forests and roads have been copied from previously published plans.

The Battles for the Wastelands is an operational account and analysis of the offensive Northern Devastated Zone, March 1917-September 1918 and defensive actions fought by British and German forces from spring of 1917 to late summer of 1918 in the areas between the eastern-most boundaries of the Somme campaign and the Hindenburg Line.The important offensive and defensive encounters by which the British and Dominion corps captured, lost, and recaptured villages such as Achiet-le-Petit, Gomiécourt, Ervillers, Mory, Croisilles, Frémicourt, Ytres, Lebucquière, Beaumetz, and Hermies are described and explained within the context of the BEF's learning process. Although generally not large-scale, set-piece battles, these engagements were heavily contested and incurred substantial casualties. In addition to lesser known actions, this volume also examines the British Third Army Army's epic fighting withdrawal in the face of Operation Michael.The area is one of undulating open fields, country roads, scattered copses, small villages and the Canal du Nord. There are few physical remains of fortifications but there are dozens of CWGC cemeteries, many of which appear to receive no visitors for months at a time. The land is ideal for exploring either by car, bike, or on foot, and is within very easy and short traveling distance from the towns where most British visitors to the Somme and Arras stay.The Battle for the Wastelands offers both a practical touring guide as well as a reference volume for these under-appreciated but important battles and actions. It will inform those visitors who drive through these areas as they pass to and from the coast of their importance and significance to the eventual Allied victory on the Western Front.

A significant new contribution to the underrepresented historiography of the British campaign in Italy during 1917-1918.A Brilliant Little Victory is a history of the 48th (South Midland) during the First World War, including its successful defense of a critical position on the Asiago Plateau in June 1918. It charts the history of the division from establishment in 1908 to its initial deployment on the Western Front in March 1915. What followed was an introduction to the trenches at Ploegsteert Wood; participation in the Battle of the Somme where it assisted with the capture of Pozières in July-August 1916 and the pursuit of the German army to the Hindenburg Line the following spring. The role of the South Midland Division during the Third Ypres offensive in late summer and autumn of 1917 is also chronicled. Following this, the division entrained for Italy where it was part of the Franco-British force dispatched to reinforce the Italian Army following the Caporetto disaster.It was 48th Division's successful defense of the tactically important Asiago Plateau high above the Lombardy Plain on 15 June 1918 that contributed to the defeat of Austro-Hungarian attackers attempting to break into the rear of the main Italian position on the Piave with potentially disastrous results. Despite fighting an effective defensive action, subsequently described by one officer as 'a brilliant little victory', the Divisional Commander, Major General Sir Robert Fanshawe, was sacked and sent home much to the dismay of officers and men. In seeking to understand what lay behind the shocking removal of an apparently successful commander, A Brilliant Little Victory provides a detailed analysis of the battle and factors that may have contributed to this sacking before offering a conclusion about whether or not it was, given the standards of the era, justified.

An examination of if British Army Brigadiers' survival and advancement post-1940 defeats were influenced by their pre-war backgrounds.Point of Failure is an innovative study that examines whether or how a select group of British Army officers - Brigadiers - survived two immediate strategic defeats due to their pre-war social, professional and military backgrounds and continued to serve and advance - or not - thereafter.By the early summer of 1940, the British Army had suffered two simultaneous operational failures in Europe, in France & Belgium from May to June and in Norway from April to May. Point of Failure considers a specific set of British Army officers, Brigadiers, who served there. In 1940, while the rank of Brigadier existed, it was more a holding rank for an officer occupying a post temporarily to fulfill a role, after which he would either revert to Colonel or be advanced to Major General. Therefore, Brigadiers were, in a sense, the Army's 'middle management' - heading for the top or making no further progress.Point of Failure aims to examine this set of officers and to see whether their professional survival and/or advancement after 1940 was influenced by factors prevailing before it.This is neither a study of combat effectiveness nor a campaign narrative. This would be a repetition of histories well known elsewhere. However, certain Brigadiers' performances in France brought them to the attention of senior officers. Issues such as the award of decorations and whether higher, successful commanders 'carried' their subordinate Brigadiers with them as they themselves were promoted are considered.Factors which may have contributed to the advancement of officers, be they professional, social or operational before 1940, are addressed. Also considered are those presumed to do so, but which this book shows were either ineffectual or less influential than prior presumptions arising from the literature on the British Army in the Second World War, such as the influence of patronage by senior officers, most notably Bernard Montgomery and Alan Brooke.By its nature, Point of Failure draws considerably on secondary sources, such as campaign narratives, biographies and biographical sources. Primary sources, such as war diaries, personal papers, and autobiographies, are used but are subject to limitations, which are discussed later. The main primary source, which would be profoundly informative on a personal level, namely officers' annual confidential reports throughout their careers, remain closed and inaccessible to researchers.To examine whether the factors discussed in this book prevailed or altered as a result of over three years of fighting, a later chapter compares those officers serving in fighting commands on D-Day and the initial stages of the Battle of Normandy in 1944 with their 1940 counterparts.Point of Failure does not seek to offer a general paradigm for the mechanics of advancement among all, particularly senior officers across the British Army in the Second World War. This would require a much broader work encompassing other theaters of operations and a much larger, even unwieldy, sample of officers. However, the method used does lend itself to broader application across such groups and lends itself to later works.

Examines the development of Soviet legacy MBTs by Ukraine in the post-Soviet era into models including the Bulat and Oplot, and the refurbishment and modernization of T-64, T-72 and T-80 models.The two largest heirs to the massive Soviet tank force that faced NATO during the Cold War - Russia and Ukraine - have been fighting one another since 2014 in what has now become the largest war in Europe since 1945.Volume 5 of the War in Ukraine series examines the development of Soviet legacy MBTs by Ukraine in the post- Soviet era into models including the Bulat and Oplot, and the refurbishment and modernization of T-64, T-72 and T-80 models to meet the need to respond to the war ongoing since 2014. Furthermore, this volume examines the organization and training of the opposed Russian and Ukrainian MBT forces and presents a number of case studies of their employment since 2014. The volume is completed with appendices on Explosive Reactive Armor as used in its various forms in this conflict, and the various types of 125mm gun ammunition and gun-launched anti-tank guided missiles used by both sides.This volume, extensively illustrated with full color images, is essential reading for the reader interested in post-Soviet Ukrainian MBT design, and the forces employed by both sides in the current war in Ukraine. The full history of the Russo-Ukrainian War remains to be written, but this book aims to at least give a background and a glimpse into one particular aspect of the war, as well as the role the MBT has played in the largest war of the twenty-first century so far.

How a reluctant soldier and ranger, excelling in reconnaissance, intelligence, and covert operations, details his journey post-Cold War training to the War on Terror.I am a soldier and a ranger - a specialist in reconnaissance, intelligence, and covert operations. I never wanted to be a soldier, but I found that I excelled at it. I have fired my weapons in anger, infiltrated terrorist groups, and made and burnt sources. Number 788 is my story.Being good at doing bad things is not always a blessing. You can't be the judge, only the executioner. The concept of 'for the greater good' always has a flip side. You are moving and living in the shadows. The ones in control grant you the ultimate power of life, but a life lived in the shadows is never your own.My development was slow and meticulous; it was improvised and innovative. Now, I write about what it was like to be pushed past the brink of what I thought was humanly possible. I aim to share my flawed path, lessons learned, relationships forged, revelations of self and the workings of others, with the very small hope of inspiring a few new generation warriors.I was trained at a unique time, as I joined the forces after the Cold War but just before the attacks of 9-11. During my formation, the lack of controls and regulation came with tremendous risks but also significant opportunities - I seized them. I am the product of brave officers who took action with great personal risk to save a regiment without permission and by asking for forgiveness later. Officers who believed in the saying, 'Who Dares Wins'. I share my small place as a silent mediator between the light and shadows in the long and flawed history of Western and Nordic fighters.The end of the Cold War and subsequent peacekeeping missions caught the Swedish military flatfooted when the War on Terror came around. The need for special operations forces was in high demand, but for the most part, Sweden lacked this niche capability. While still in its conceptual form, the International Ranger Platoon, an elite force that became a Special Purpose Unit within the Ranger Battalion, was used to fill the gap. Newly recruited, I was drawn to the challenge and adventure of it all; I took on the tough selection course - the reward was to be part of something new - the Special Purpose Units.

Solid As a Rock is a detailed account of little-known actions fought by the German Fallschirmjäger Regiment 1 on the Eastern Front in 1942 and 1943.The 1st Parachute Regiment of the Luftwaffe is well known for its actions during the German Blitzkrieg in Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands and Crete, but little has been published about its infantry operations on the Eastern Front. Solid As a Rock covers the regiment's actions as part of the 7th Flieger Division north of Smolensk in November 1942-January 1943 and the fierce fighting to save the southern flank of the German 2nd Panzer Army around Orel in February-March 1943. Supported by rare personal recollections of the participants and detailed maps and sketches drawn from seldom consulted primary sources, this book offers an intimate insight into the fighting through the eyes of the soldiers of a neglected campaign on the Eastern Front.

There can be few military stories which have been written about in such great detail. The story of Dunkirk has found its way into the British consciousness, to such a degree it has come to epitomize the very essence of Britishness at times of national hardship.The phrase 'Dunkirk Spirit' has been used to define the British character. Cartoons of the day re-defined the abbreviation of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) to mean Bravery, Endurance, and Fortitude! This has been the prevailing national narrative of May 1940. A story of small boats that came to the rescue of a stranded Army on the beaches of Dunkirk: brave soldiers who would have died, or been captured had it not been for the flotilla that came to their rescue. This is supported by strong images of stoic British soldiers waiting patiently on the beaches for deliverance.Historians have subsequently identified other factors which contributed to the success of Operation DYNAMO. These include the mild weather and calm sea, as well as the use of the East Mole for the large ships. The smoke which hung in the air as a result of the German shelling and bombardments helped mask the BEF's activities, and Hitler's earlier somewhat unexpected Halt Befehl gave the BEF time to consolidate its bridgehead at Dunkirk. However, if Gort's statement as quoted by Shand is true, that 'without the Twelfth Lancers only a small part of the Army would have reached Dunkirk, ' then it would appear there is another element of the story which is still to be told. It was to account for the five Battle Honors the Regiment would win in just 21 days.

The Japanese ruled parts of China prior to World War II by means of Chinese "puppet" governments who ruled their own population on behalf of the Japanese. This first of two volumes tells the story of the Chinese who fought for the Japanese over a 14 year period, specifically in China and Manchukuo.

In the 17th century, Italy was the third-largest country by population in Europe, after France and Germany, passing into second position for a century after 1650. Northern as well as southern Italy constituted a key place in the strategic duel between Spain and France, and the Peninsula lied on the front line in the struggle against the Ottoman Empire. Moreover, Italian states constituted good examples of fairly efficient governance machines, which developed many matters, included the 'Military'. Some of these states experienced long periods of wars, to the point that the claim regarding social elites progressively demilitarized to an unequaled extent anywhere else in Europe should be considered no longer valid.This second volume looks at the armies of the lesser Italian States. The armies of Genoa, the Papal States, Tuscany, Parma, Modena, Mantua, Lucca, and many others are all examined in detail never before seen in the English language. This volume also covers the nature and execution of military affairs and war in Italy. The book is lavishly illustrated and comes with 16 especially commissioned color plates drawn by the author himself.

'Undaunted' is the second volume of the 'British Commonwealth's War in the Air 1939-45'. It combines detailed studies into the tactics, techniques and technology that made British air power so effective, together with the personal accounts of the aircrew themselves 'Undaunted' includes chapters on air intelligence, photographic-reconnaissance and

Through Adversity is probably the most comprehensive account of Britain and the Commonwealth's war in the air during the Second World War. It combines detailed studies into the tactics, techniques and technology that made British air power so effective, together with the personal accounts of the aircrew themselves as they executed some of the most

In contrast to the existing biographies which treat Kitchener as British, the author of Kitchener: The Man, considers him an outsider within the British establishment. Of his 64 years, a mere 11, and those not consecutive, were spent in England. He learned from those around him, ways that were not always understood and appreciated by those educated

An account of the Red Army's advance along the southwest strategic direction during the offensive that followed the Battle of Kursk in July-August 1943.

Covers in great details the activity of the Hungarian air force, the river flotilla, as well as the combat operations of the Honvédsé.The Hungarian armed forces (known as the Honvédség) were built up from the 1920s, their expansion gaining momentum once Hungary became free of the strict post-First World War Trianon treaty limitations in August 1938. Politically, Hungary was looking for a strong ally, who would help it to recover at least some of the territories containing sizeable Magyar ethnic populations that had been lost after the First World War. Initially, in the mid-1930s, Italy gave political assistance and supplied military materiel; then - on the eve of the Second World War - Germany also lent some support. In November 1938, Hungary managed to peacefully recover a chunk of its former territory from Czechoslovakia, followed by the Sub-Carpathian area during a brief border war in March 1939, and then the northern part of Transylvania from Rumania in August 1940. Later, in April 1941, the Bachka region and parts of Baranya were also taken back from the dismembered Yugoslavia, in a swift military action. The rub is that Hungary was sucked into the cauldron of the Eastern Front, and soon the Honvéds (Hungarian soldiers) found themselves deep in Soviet territory, outgunned and outnumbered by the Red Army. Later on, from August 1944, the beleaguered Honvédség had to fight in defense of its own territory. Alongside tiny Croatia, Hungary remained the last German ally up to the bitter end, and paid the price accordingly. This comprehensive reference, to be published in three volumes - the fruit of over twenty years of meticulous research - strives to provide a complete picture of the Hungarian armed forces between the years 1919 and 1945. Volume 1 (published in 2015) presents a brief history of the Magyars up until the end of the Second World War, as well as the building of the armed forces, and details the armored formations and their equipment. Volume 2 covers in great details the activity of the air force (Chapter 4), the river flotilla (Chapter 5), as well as the combat operations of the Honvédség (Chapter 6). The final volume will contain type sheets of every weapon and vehicle used by the Army, as well as all aircraft types in service with the Air Force. The discussed topics are described in great details, and illustrated with over 500 photographs, several maps and many tables.

Volume 3 carries the story of the XIV Reserve Corps through the momentous Battle of the Somme and into 1917 - a period of transition for the German Army. The old tactics and strategy of trench warfare would undergo great changes, as the German Army was transformed from a military force rooted in the 19th century into a modern 20th century fighting