Flying alongside the Royal Air Force, with stoical determination, and far from home, Polish pilots put their lives on the line in defence of Britain during the Second World War. The legendary Polish 303 Squadron made a tremendous impact in the Battle of Britain by becoming the best scoring Squadron. Whereas members of 307 Squadron were responsible for defending major cities against incoming German night raiders during the Blitz; and later defended historic cities during the Baedeker raids. Others were given the task of protecting coastal areas or, as special operations units, gathering intelligence and assisting underground resistance forces. As the war progressed, Polish airmen were assigned to offensive raids, infiltrating enemy territory and destroying Germany’s industrial and rocket bases. They also made a vital contribution to D-Day and the subsequent liberation of Europe. This book tells the compelling and dramatic story of the Polish Air Force in Britain through detailed combat reports, logistics of battle strategies, oral history testimonies, operational records and a wide variety of previously unpublished written and visual material. Firmly set within the context of each phase of aerial combat, the book documents the heroic contribution made by the Polish Air Force, not only to one of the most famous battles in history but also to the ultimate success of long-term Allied objectives.

Revised and vastly improved edition of a book first published in 1991. Indeed this is virtually a new book compared to the original. It remains the most authoritative work on Darwin’s air war, and has been compiled from a wide range of sources worldwide, including Japan. This edition contains many new photos, most of them from private collections. The entire scope of Darwin’s air war is covered, beginning with the pre-war defence build-up. After the Pacific War began, Darwin was a key staging post in attempts to reinforce and defend Java, but this ended with the massive raid on 19th February 1942. This was the first of many raids, and the table at the end of the book has been updated to include not only raids but reconnaissances, some of which were previously unrecorded (Japanese records have added much to this volume). Soon greatly aided by radar, Darwin was defended first by USAAF P-40s of the 49th Fighter Group and later by RAAF and RAF Spitfires of No.1 Fighter Wing. As Allied strength steadily grew, offensive strikes were flown against the Japanese in Timor and surrounding islands by an assortment of types including Hudsons, Beaufighters and B-25s (including by No. 18 Dutch Squadron). Eventually USAAF and RAAF Liberators ranged deep into enemy territory. All in all this is a fascinating account of war in a theatre often overlooked. The book also includes a series of profiles which describe the experiences of pilots of several different nationalities. It is well foot-noted throughout and contains a lengthy list of sources.

Une vision inédite de l'une des plus importantes batailles de juin 1940. La chronique du périple de la compagnie de canons d'infanterie hippomobile du célèbre Régiment «List», qui s'illustra en 1914 et fut aussi le régiment d'un certain Adolf Hitler. Jour après jour, nous suivons cette unité de la Rhénanie à la Normandie, en passant par Saint-Quentin, Amiens, Le Havre, Rouen et Giberville, à côté de Caen. Jour après jour, nous partageons le quotidien de ces fantassins, les conditions difficiles de ce voyage qui les mène jusqu'au coeur de la bataille d'Abbeville, au cours de laquelle la 57e division d'infanterie bavaroise se confronte à la 4e DCR du colonel de Gaulle... Face à des centaines de blindés, la 13e compagnie résista pendant de longues journées jusqu'au succès final. Jour après jour, dans un carnet, le caporal O. Bär consigne ses mots : descriptions sensibles et attentives ; réflexions intimes et réalistes ; étonnements humanistes sur les situations de combat, sur la traversée de territoires «désertés» et fantomatiques. Tel un reporter de guerre, ce jeune caporal allemand témoigne, et son style certain donne à ce témoignage l'épaisseur d'un récit. Publié en août 40, ce carnet, fait de textes et de photos originales et inédites d'O. Bär, est un document rare et exceptionnel.

It was around the 1930s that many of the products, devices and concepts as we know them today have been discovered: antibiotics, radars, turbojets, plastics from rubbers and synthetic fuels, Radio..

In early 1942, the Japanese Army and Navy were advancing on all fronts, humiliating their US, British and Dutch foes throughout the Asia Pacific. In a matter of just months, the soldiers and sailors of the Rising Sun conquered an area even bigger than Hitler’s empire at its largest extent. They seemed invincible. Hawaiians and Australians were fearing a future under Hirohito. For half of mankind, fate was hanging in the balance. Fast forward to the end of 1943, and the tables had been turned entirely. A reinvigorated American-led military machine had kicked into gear, and the Japanese were fighting a defensive battle along a frontline that crossed thousands of miles of land and ocean. Japan Runs Wild, 1942–1943 by acclaimed author Peter Harmsen details the astonishing transformation that took place in that period, setting the Allies on a path to final victory against Japan. This second installment in the trilogy, War in the Far East, picks up the story where first volume Storm Clouds over the Pacific, 1931–1941 left off. The trilogy will give a comprehensive view of World War II in the Asia Pacific, with due emphasis on the central Japanese–American struggle, but also examining the role of the other nations engulfed in the vast showdown: British, Australians, Soviets, Filipinos, Indians and Koreans. Above all, the central importance of China is highlighted in a way that no previous general history of the war against Japan has achieved.

The Medium Tank, M4, better known to the British as the Sherman, was the most widely used medium tank by the United States and western Allies in World War II. Reliable, relatively cheap to produce, and easy to maintain, thousands were distributed to the British Commonwealth and the Soviet Union by the Lend-Lease program. It first saw combat in North Africa, where it outclassed lighter German and Italian tanks. By 1944 the M4 was outgunned by the German heavy tanks, but it still contributed to the fight when deployed in numbers and supported by artillery and fighter-bombers.A detailed insight into the development and deployment of the M4, this book covers the design and construction of the chassis, turret, engine, armaments and munitions and differences between the variants of the M4. It covers the difficulties facing the crews who fought in this legendary tank, exploring the training they received and the different combat methods perfected by the Allies, including landing from an landing craft, maneuvering in the bocage of Normandy, and fighting in the snow.Fully illustrated with hundreds of contemporary and modern photographs and detailed diagrams, this complete account provides all the technical details of the construction of the M4, its maintenance and repair, and the logistics required to support it in combat.Whether you are a collector, modeler or simply passionate about military history, this book will provide you with an unparalleled insight into the M4.

The 3rd SS Panzer Regiment was part of the Totenkopf Division—one of the 38 Waffen-SS divisions active during World War II. Notorious for its brutality, most notably a mass execution of British prisoners in the battle of France, “Totenkopf” had a fearsome reputation. The 3rd SS Panzer Regiment was formed in France in late 1942, and transferred to the Eastern Front in early 1943 where it fought for the rest of the war. The regiment participated in a number of battles, and would be reduced and rebuilt a number of times. The panzers of 3rd SS Panzer Regiment fought at Kharkov, took part in Operation Citadel, fought in the battle of Krivoi Rog, and the relief of the Korsun Pocket. The regiment then retreated over the Dniester. They fought in Poland against the Russian advance, before being moved to Hungary where they participated in the attempt to relieve Budapest. They eventually surrendered in Czechoslovakia to the 11th US Armored Division. This Casemate Illustrated tells the story of the 3rd SS Panzer Regiment through the words of the veterans themselves, illustrated with a wealth of contemporary photographs, original documents and artifacts. Among the veterans whose accounts are included are Walter Weber, a member of a tank crew in 5. Kompanie who recounts their optimism and high spirits at the start of Operation Citadel as the Germans made initial advances, followed by retreat as winter set in and the Russians began to push them back. Unterscharführer Stettner recalls the fierce tank battles and the difficulties advancing across minefields and evading an often well-concealed foe. Corporal Fritz Edelmann records the attempts to relieve Budapest in 1945 that Totenkopf took part in, which ended in encirclement, defeat and surrender to the Americans on May 9, 1945.

Of all the armies involved in World War II, the U.S. Army developed the most sophisticated system for the transport and treatment of injured and sick soldiers, pushing the boundaries of available technology to give their men the best chance of not only survival but a full recovery. Each infantry regiment had a medical detachment that was tasked with conserving the strength of the regiment by not only providing medical and dental treatment but also undertaking all possible measures to keep the regiment healthy. In combat they would provide emergency medical treatment on the battlefield, then move casualties to aid stations they had established. At aid stations casualties would be triaged, stabilized and treated before being moved on for further treatment. Vehicles formed a crucial part of the Medical Detachment’s equipment. This fully illustrated, comprehensive books covers all types of medical vehicles used both in-theater and in the United States, including ambulances and technical support vehicles. It details vehicle markings and the equipment modified for use in the evacuation of troops from the battlefield; and the other uses these vehicles were adapted for during the war including their use as “Clubmobiles” and “Chuck Wagons” by the American Red Cross.

The Last Witnesses is an educational project that has become a story meetings. These meetings marked the students and we wish to share them and make them known outside the classrooms. These life stories, relayed by young people aged 15 to 18, present 17 views on the war, on the Occupation, on the Liberation. And on his consequences. Soldiers, children, civilians caught in the war, and engaged, generously share their memories with us, share their daily lives, sometimes also their emotions. Witnessing is a commitment for them, a mission even for some. Sometimes a first. Only three of these stories had already been published.

Étalée sur trois années, de 1943 à 1946, l'épuration dite sauvage a fait une petite centaine de victimes en Normandie. Cette petite centaine est à confronter avec l'épuration légale réalisée entre 1944 et 1947 : 39 sont fusillés après avoir été condamnés à mort par une cour de justice. Dès 1943 certains résistants ne pouvaient attendre la restauration de la République et commençaient à éliminer des collaborateurs qu'ils jugeaient dangereux pour la Résistance. Décidée hors de tout cadre légal ou parfois après un simulacre de jugement, l'épuration extra-judiciaire s'exerçait rapidement et avec violence, prenant un aspect exutoire à l'exemple de la tonte des femmes. En Normandie, l'épuration dite sauvage fut relativement modérée, le souhait des nouveaux gouvernants français étant d'éviter à tout prix une guerre civile entre les Français.

This new photo album is number 17 in the MMPBooks/Stratus "Camera On" series and is the second volume on the Sd.Kfz. 7. The book contains 140+ photographs of the Sd. Kfz 7 and its various sub-types, the photos mostly unpublished before now and are all from German sources, with the majority being private photos taken by ordinary German soldiers, not professional propagandists. In this volume we endeavor to show the vehicle in even more depth and cover the sub-types in more detail than only one volume allowed, however still show the vehicle as the soldier viewed it as his work place and often also his home, not the highly posed and polished views of the official photographers.Book includes special versions like:Selbstfahrlafette (Sd.

For four centuries the British realm depended upon sea power to defend its interest and independence against a myriad of threats both military and economic. During this time the Royal Navy established itself as the sovereign of the Seas, helping transform England, and later Great Britain, from an unassuming island nation perched on the edge of the European continent to the centre of a global empire. Yet the advent of World War II presented Britain’s maritime services with their greatest challenge to date. At stake was the survival of the nation. The Longest Campaign tells the story of this epic struggle and the indispensable role that British sea power played in bringing about the victory that shaped the world we live in today. The Longest Campaign is a complete, balanced and detailed account of the activities, results and relevance of Britain's maritime effort in the Atlantic and off northwest Europe throughout World War II. It looks at the entire breadth of the maritime conflict, exploring the contributions of all participants including the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and British merchant marine and their Commonwealth equivalents. It puts the maritime conflict in the context of the overall war effort and shows how the various operations and campaigns were intertwined. Finally it provides unique analysis of the effectiveness of the British maritime effort and role it played in bringing about the final Allied victory.

Between 1940 and 1945, large numbers of trucks of all categories were delivered to the U.S. Army by the Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors. Over 160,000 of these trucks were the G-506 light four-wheel drive trucks - which became the standard 1 1/2-ton, 4x4 truck for both the U.

The Pacific Profiles series presents the most accurate WWII aircraft profiles to date of Japanese aircraft in the “South Seas” theatre. Volume One illustrates, by unit, Japanese Army Air Force fighter aircraft operating in New Guinea and the Solomons from December 1942 to April 1944. In this theatre numerous different aircraft types and their variants were assigned to eleven fighter regiments which formed the 4th Air Army. Unit insignia, camouflage and command markings varied from unit to unit, giving a wide variety of colour and markings. The profiles, based on photos, Japanese documents, Allied intelligence reports and post-war wreck investigations, are accompanied by brief histories of the relevant units and explanations of their role in the theatre. The author, Michael Claringbould, is world-renown for his expertise in respect to wartime Japanese aviation. These profiles accurately portray Japanese Army Air Force fighters during this fascinating and esoteric component of the Pacific air war.

Dwight David Eisenhower is one of those men who marked their imprint on the history of the 20th century as Commander of the Allied forces in the Mediterranean and Europe during the World War II, but it is often forgotten that he held the Oval Office of the White House for eight years. The one who was affectionately nicknamed Ike since his childhood in Abilene was always a reasoned and reasonable man.

This Volume Two of Pacific Adversaries conveys detailed stories of aerial warfare in the South Pacific, chosen because both Japanese and Allied records can be matched for an accurate accounting. Often the actual outcomes are very different to the exaggerated claims made by both sides upon which many traditional histories have relied to date. Further, for each of the chosen stories photographic or other evidence enables an accurate depiction of the aircraft involved. Through these chosen snapshots, Pacific Adversaries will portray the South Pacific conflict as accurately as possible. This second volume focuses exclusively on confrontations with the Japanese Navy Air Force (JNAF) in New Guinea and the Solomons, known to the Japanese as the “South Seas”. The JNAF first appeared in the South Pacific in December 1941 and was at the vanguard of offensive efforts during the course of 1942. Following the bloody Guadalcanal campaign, the JNAF fought a largely defensive war in New Guinea and the Solomons against increasingly powerful Allied forces. Perhaps surprisingly, right through to the end of 1943 the JNAF offered significant resistance to the Allies and never ceded air superiority in the vicinity of its key base of Rabaul. Only in 1944, when units were withdrawn to the Central Pacific and the Philippines, was the JNAF presence in the South Pacific finally wound down to just a token force. Never before have detailed accounts matched up adversaries so closely and in doing so shine light on key events in Pacific skies so many years ago.