Pen & Sword Books

The P51 Mustang, a single-engine warplane fighter, although a late arrival in the Second World War, proved vital in the crucial air-war conflict in Europe. It was first envisaged in a tactical role — a low to medium level reconnaissance fighter-bomber supporting army ground operations. It did well but was rejected by RAF Fighter Command as a high-level dogfighter as being out-performed above medium levels of altitude. RAF Bomber Command had abandoned day-time raiding over Germany because of the vulnerability of its bombers to fighter attack beyond the range of escort limit range of Fighter Command Spitfires. The waiting Me 10lis and FW 190s would pounce causing huge losses. Bomber Command then continued to take the fight to Germany under cover of darkness.The US Eighth Army Air Force renewed daylight bombing with tactics of attacking in large formations of Boeing B17 Flying Fortresses with heavy machine guns for defensive cover but against experienced Luftwaffe pilots losses again mounted to unsustainable levels. The author gives a stunning picture of air crew experience in which the reader can feel personally involved. Development of the P51 continued and this must be one of the success-stories of the air-war. Rolles-Royce approved the admirable air frame and substituted the RR Merlin engine for the inadequately supercharged Alison engine. Merlin engines had been fitted in the Hawker Hurricane, Supermarine Spitfires, de Havilland Mosquito and Avro Lancaster. The result was the Mustang as a virtually unbeatable high-altitude dogfighter with large fuel tanks giving a huge radius of action. So here was a world-class strategic fighter which could protect strategic bombers to the target and home again. The P51 Mustang was the single engine fighter with strategic capability that transformed strategic bombing as a war-winning campaign in Europe. Here is the essential difference between strategy and tactics and connection with concepts of 'offensive' and 'defensive' and the unique role of the P51.

Reveals how Frederick Winterbotham's covert Nazi connections provided early warnings Britain failed to heed.The Nazi Connection details Frederick William Winterbotham's work as Chief of the Air Intelligence Department in the British Secret Intelligence Service before World War II. Tasked with gathering intelligence on military aviation in potential adversary nations, Winterbotham focused on Germany, visiting the country multiple times as a civilian Air Ministry official. His apparent sympathy for Nazi ideology allowed him to gather vital information on Germany’s rearmament plans, while building relationships with high-ranking Nazis.Winterbotham was welcomed by top Nazi officials, including Alfred Rosenberg, and even met Hitler, Hess, and Göring. During his visits, Winterbotham learned about Hitler’s plans to invade the Soviet Union and gained insights into Germany's military preparations, including the emerging concept of blitzkrieg. Despite this critical intelligence, convincing British leaders to heed these warnings proved difficult. Winterbotham’s predictions were dismissed until Germany’s military aggression became undeniable.The Nazi Connection explores the complex web of espionage and deception surrounding Winterbotham’s mission. It questions how different the course of history might have been if Britain had acted on Winterbotham's intelligence about Nazi Germany’s intentions. This story of missed opportunities and high-stakes intelligence offers a fascinating look into the prelude to World War II.

An expert-led guide to early WWI battles around Verdun, combining rich narrative, battlefield tours, and detailed mapping.This is the eighth in Christina Holstein’s masterly series of Battleground books on the Verdun area during the Great War, following the usual method of narrative to set the scene accompanied by detailed tours. Christina brings to bear her outstanding knowledge of the ground and her deep understanding of the military issues that faced both sides, aided by her ability to read both French and German sources. The six tours, expanding and developing the narrative chapters, and taking up over 70 per cent of the book, are richly illustrated and the whole is notably well mappedThe book focuses on the little-known fighting in the Verdun area in the first weeks of the First World War and the German attempts to overcome that powerful, entrenched camp without a frontal attack. Beginning with the devastating Battle of the Frontiers on 22 August 1914, the author follows the French retreat to the Marne, where their desperate resistance in the Revigny Gap and at Vaux-Marie Farm prevented a breakthrough, whilst Fort Troyon’s refusal to surrender to punishing bombardment stopped a concurrent attack on the French rear. In a second attempt two weeks later, the Germans captured the important town of St Mihiel and established a bridgehead on the River Meuse but got no further; Verdun remained in French hands. Fighting stopped and there was little movement until the start of the Battle of Verdun. Launched on 21 February 1916 to bring the war to an end, it quickly bogged down and three hundred days later the French declared victory over the third and final German assault on Verdun.

Explores the rise and struggle of the Independent State of Croatia during WWII’s brutal Balkans conflict.On 6 April 1941, Nazi Germany, along with Italy and Hungary, invaded Yugoslavia after the overthrow of the Yugoslav regent, Prince Paul. Hitler sought to secure the right flank for his upcoming invasion of the USSR and assist Mussolini, who had failed to conquer Greece. The German attack was swift, and by 17 April, Yugoslavia capitulated, leading to the creation of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH).Ante Pavelić, leader of the fascist Ustaše organization, was installed as the head of Croatia. His government immediately began a brutal campaign of repression against non-Croatians, especially Serbs. This sparked rebellions, with Serbian Chetnik bands and Croatian communists forming separate guerrilla movements. The Croatian state was soon overwhelmed by these insurgencies.Italy further complicated matters by creating occupation zones within Croatia, supporting Chetnik bands, and hampering Croatian military efforts. The Croatian Army, unable to fortify its territory due to Italian restrictions, was often attacked by Chetniks and forced to fight on two fronts.Despite these challenges, including inadequate armament and the constant interference of its allies, Croatia maintained a military force that continued to fight until the war’s bitter end.

An immersive account of 17th-century warfare during the Thirty Years War.A graphic study of military and military revolution in the pivotal 17th century in the context of the Thirty Years War, shown by dramatic battle scenes, personal, heroic and tragic for all levels of society, and all strikingly brought to life. The first 'world war' in Europe was a global conflict, showing that early modern war, despite the Enlightenment argument which contrasts medieval military brutality with modern mores, early modern warfare was full of horror and innocent suffering, reinforced modern weaponry and state support. With striking quotes from commanders to foot-soldiers, readers feel 'involved' and the story moves from battle-field tactics to strategy, Grand Strategy and international relations. Here is the modern military state at the heart of the 17th century military evolution and revolution leading to modern and contemporary international warfare.

Jim Selway’s memoir offers a vivid account of his experiences as a Royal Tank Regiment officer during the Korean War and Cold War.“This book tells of the awe in which the veterans of World War 2 were held by the post war generation, the close bonds of trust and loyalty within tank crews and the deep respect, often expressed through humour, between tanks and infantry. It also gives a human feel for the early Cold War conditions in the British Army of the Rhine.”**— Brigadier Gavin Thompson, Colonel Commandant, The Royal Tank Regiment**Jim (James) Selway, a subaltern with the Royal Tank Regiment in the Korean War — relates a young officer's experiences from 1949 until his retirement from the army in 1959, initially as a Tank Troop Commander and later as B Squadron's 'Battle Captain'. Jim's hard-earned experience of soldiering in combat and peacetime gives a rare and fascinating flavour into the life of an RTR officer.In Part One, Jim Selway writes about his initial service and training in the Post-war British army. He recalls the disappointment of Officer training which didn’t capitalise on real world lessons and the vastly more valuable training environment within the regiments. He talks about the experience of preparing for and travelling to a distant misunderstood war and his experiences on the ground as a troop commander in Korea, the last time British and United Nations forces held off an numerically overwhelming, politically indoctrinated but technically inferior force. The motto of the Royal Tank Regiment is ‘Fear Naught’ and Jim’s account will show how the Regiment lived up to it in the face of what Brigadier Brian Parritt vividly described as ‘Chinese Hordes and Human Waves’ in his book on the conflict.Following the unrestrained fighting in Korea, Part Two of his memoirs describes, through the lived experience of postings to Suez, Britain, Germany and Norway, how budgetary constraints and the challenges of the Cold War diluted the focus of the army from operational excellence with the requirement to maintain morale. Jim argues that the brass’s insistence on various values, particularly the retention of sporting traditions, helped overcome the disappointments and challenges of ‘budget’ soldiering in a peacetime army.Technology may have changed much since the 50s, but this deeply personal memoir provides insight into the leadership styles and challenges faced by a generation long exposed to war and remains relevant for soldiers today. We should neither forget nor underestimate the value of their experience and knowledge.

Provides a clear, accessible introduction to using DNA testing in genealogy, with practical guidance and case studies.DNA research is one of the most important and rapidly advancing areas in modern science and the practical use of DNA testing in genealogy is one of its most exciting applications. This accessible, wide-ranging introduction, the first British publication in this field, has been revised in a completely new edition with new topics and illustrative case studies. It offers a clear and practical way into the subject, explaining the scientific discoveries and techniques and how it can be used by genealogists to gain an insight into their ancestry.The subject is complex and perhaps difficult for traditional genealogists to understand but, with the aid of this book, novices who are keen to take advantage of it will be able to interpret test results and use them to help answer genealogical questions which cannot be answered by documentary evidence alone. It will also appeal to those with some experience in the field because it places the practical application of genetic genealogy within a wider context, highlighting its role as a genealogical tool and suggesting how it can be made more effective.

Explores Britain’s fear of a German coastal invasion during World War I, examining raids, defense efforts, and the political and strategic fallout.By 1900, the British government and public had become gripped by a new and growing fear of invasion, not from traditional enemies such as France, but from Germany. Such terror was driven by lurid books and fanned by newspapers. These anxieties sparked off a fight between those who wanted a defence based on a larger standing army, with conscription to support it, and those who believed the Royal Navy was sufficient to defend the coast and deprecated the expense and role of a standing land force.With war declared in 1914, Britain’s coastline came under attack. Major German raids created terror, and the fear of invasion drove naval and military planning and dispositions to protect Britain’s littoral. Coastal towns such as Scarborough, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Southwold and even the Outer Hebrides came under attack and landings by German troops were feared daily. Running battles were fought with these attacking forces and both ships and lives ashore were lost. Spectre of Invasion examines all of the raids made and the success or failure of them, and relates these events from the point of view of naval and civilian participants. It tells the story of the Royal Navy and its role in the defence of the British coast in the First World War and examines the strategic and political developments resultant from invasion fears. And it considers how the plans laid for coastal defence fared under the test of conflict, laying bare what it was like to be part of the battles around the British coast, both as combatant and as citizen. Finally, it looks at Britain’s inability to co-ordinate naval and military effort throughout the War.This is a thought-provoking book which combines a fast-paced narrative with fascinating insights into Britain’s predicament in the years leading up to, and through, the First World War. It will appeal to anyone interested in this era of the country’s history and the fear on invasion that stalked the country in those years.

Explores the life of Henry VIII's sister, a princess, duchess, and queen who defied her brother.Mary Tudor, Henry VIII's sister, lived a remarkable life. A princess, duchess and queen, she was known as the English Rose for her beauty. Mary Tudor, Queen of France, aims to explore the life of one of the few who stood up to Henry VIII and lived to tell the tale.Henry VIII is well known, but his larger-than-life character often overshadows that of his sisters. Mary Tudor was born a princess, married a king and then a duke, and lived an extraordinary life. This book focuses on Mary’s life, her childhood, her relationship with Henry, her marriages and her relationship with her husbands.Mary grew up in close proximity to Henry, becoming his favourite sister, and later, after her marriage to the French king, she married his best friend, Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk. The events impacting the siblings will be reviewed to examine how they may have changed and shaped their relationship.

Explores the history of infantry from ancient conflict to modern warfare, examining its roles, development, and impact in both combat and political contexts.‘The infantryman always bears the brunt’ according to Field-Marshal Wavell in 1945. The ‘Poor Bloody Infantry,’ ‘The Grunts on the Ground,’ the infantry have often been seen as the humble, indeed shunned, relations of others, from cavalry to tanks. This book is their story, one from the dawn of human conflict to the present day, a study that looks round the world to consider fighting, weaponry, recruitment, contexts and impact. Infantry as the shock of assault as well as firepower, as the force in state-to-state conflict and in civil warfare, in symmetrical and asymmetrical warfare, are considered, as are the different accounts of development that are offered. Central to the military and to combat, infantry has also served many non-combat roles, notably as the arm of government. Indeed, infantry can be crucial to political history and nation-building, from coups to iconic battles

Anti-Nazi German general von Senger und Etterlin led with honour, strategy, and compassion throughout WWII.In a world defined by the brutalities of war, one German general stands apart from the Hollywood stereotype. Before the storm of the Second World War, Fridolin von Senger und Etterlin was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, fluent in multiple languages, and a devoted Christian — a lifelong Benedictine Oblate. From the very outset he was anti-Nazi and, on many occasions, defied Hitler’s orders.His military skills were good; in France he beat Rommel to Cherbourg and on the Eastern Front he tried to relieve the German 6th Army in Stalingrad. It was in Italy where his reputation grew by safely evacuating German troops from Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica, a delicate matter because the Italians had changed sides. He defeated General Clark’s forces at the Rapido battle fiasco, and he caused Cassino to become a serious hold up for the Allied advance north. It was he who willingly signed the surrender documents in Italy on 4 May 1945.His Christian beliefs meant there were no barbarities within his command, and he made lifelong friends with some occupied residents, helping to save lives from the dreaded SS, and the Italian partisans never attacked him because he had helped the helpless. He was a brilliant tactician, always with his troops on the frontline, and his anti-Nazi views were not a post-war justification but were widely known during the war years by friend and foe.Von Senger was never even considered for war crimes, and was granted the rare privilege of being allowed to explore the English countryside from the Bridgend PoW camp. Discover the life of a general who fought not just for victory, but for honour, compassion, and morality under the brutal Nazi regime.

Reveals the untold story of the Curiohaus Trials in Hamburg, where hundreds of Nazi war criminals were prosecuted in the aftermath of WWII.Mention war crimes trials to almost anyone and they will respond with one word, ‘Nuremberg.’ Most think there was only one trial following the Second World War, the International Military Tribunal, but this trial indicted only 24 defendants. They represented the most senior Nazis accused of conspiracy, crimes against peace, war crimes and crimes against humanity. But few were involved directly in any of the millions of individual atrocities. The victorious allies, the Soviet Union, the USA, Britain and France, tried hundreds of other cases in many different cities. The British trials took place in several locations in Germany, but most war criminals in British custody faced prosecution in one city. The Curiohaus Trials immerses readers in the untold story of war crimes trials that took place in a miraculously intact concert hall in war-torn Hamburg. Using freshly examined archive material, cross-referenced sources and information from the scenes of the crimes, this gripping account unveils the complex legal proceedings in courtrooms where orchestras previously played. Step by step, readers become immersed in the gathering of evidence, moving testimony and the intricate pursuit of truth. Amidst the search for justice, however, moral and ethical dilemmas arose. The book explores the challenges faced by prosecutors, defence lawyers and judges who had to navigate the fine line between seeking retribution and ensuring a fair trial in a shattered post-war society. It reveals an almost exclusive reliance on eye-witness testimony (even when physical evidence was available), a shocking decline in appetite to try those responsible for grievous atrocities and an astonishing absence of justice at the end of the process. The Curiohaus Trials is an essential read for those interested in modern history, international law and the search for justice.

Discover the untold stories of Africa's warrior queens, rulers who defied empires, led armies, and shaped the course of history. In African Women of the Ancient World, journey through millennia to uncover the lives of powerful women like Queen Amanirenas, who challenged the might of Rome, Queen Nzinga Mbande, who fought against the Portuguese slave trade, and Dahia al-Kahina, who defended North Africa from Arab invasion.These extraordinary women, often overshadowed by their male counterparts, ruled with unparalleled strategy, pride, and ferocity, navigating their nations through intense battles and radical changes. From the great Pharaoh Hatshepsut of Egypt to Queen Makeda of Sheba, whose legacy is intertwined with the legends of King Solomon, these rulers are the unsung champions of ancient history.In this volume Clark brings these remarkable figures to life, drawing from excellent sources to illuminate their conquests and reigns. A treasure trove for scholars and history enthusiasts alike, this book offers a compelling exploration of the women who fiercely defended their lands and people, and whose stories are finally being told.

Thobaben's memoir offers a personal and diverse perspective on WWII combat in the Pacific, blending personal experience and interviews with veterans.Anyone familiar with WWII studies in the Pacific will recognize the name Eugene B. Sledge. The author, who corresponded with Sledge 30 years ago, shared the experience of serving on Peleliu in the Palau Islands. Sledge was part of the 1st Marine Division, which led the assault. Within six weeks, the division was decimated, suffering 60% casualties. The 81st Infantry Division was then deployed to secure the island, followed by the 111st Infantry for cleanup operations. This memoir comes from a 111st Infantry member, drawing from the author's diary and letters home.Thobaben's narrative starts on November 8, 1943, as he embarked on a troop ship to Hawaii, joining the Central Pacific Campaigns in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands as part of the 3rd Battalion's medical headquarters team.In addition to recounting his own experiences, Thobaben has conducted interviews with servicemen and women from the Army, Navy, Marine, and Air Corps over the years. His work encompasses a diverse range of perspectives to provide a comprehensive view of combat life in the Pacific during WWII, some of which are featured in this unique account.

Border Battles describes the events which took place on the battlefields of the Anglo-Scottish Wars, 1018–1513. Author Chris Peers links these with a historical narrative of the campaigns, the political situation which gave rise to them and the geographical factors which shaped them. Included are the two dramatic battles at Alnwick in 1093 & 1174 which highlighted the superiority of Anglo-Norman cavalry, the little known battle of Carham, battles at Berwick on Tweed — the most fought over town in Britain — and Flodden, the largest and bloodiest battle ever fought in the region between the two warring kingdoms, among others.A chapter is also given to the castles built during this period to defend Northumberland against Scottish incursions, which remain important features in the landscape, discussing the general principles of medieval defensive structures as well as the specific strategic situation, especially at Bamborough, Warkworth, Alnwick and Chillingham castles.A complementary volume to The Highland Battles (2020) and Clan Battles (2023), each chapter concludes with a guide to visiting the sites, and the book will be illustrated with photographs of both the featured battlefields and other notable sites of interest.

Comic-operetta stage set, or ghost town haunted by the walking dead — Sigmaringen still fascinates long after its collapse at the end of the Second World War. This enclave of French Vichy officials and fascists on German soil — refugees and hostages maintained at the Nazis’ pleasure — played out the last residue of French collaborationism in the closing months of the war, presided over by the inert figurehead of Marshal Pétain, against the fairytale backdrop of Sigmaringen Castle. No single English-language history of the Sigmaringen enclave exists, yet it brought together some of the most colourful and controversial collaborationists, from the militant French SS officer Joseph Darnand to the delirious writer Louis-Ferdinand Céline, in a petri dish for the last samples of the collaborationism that had infected France and laid her low.Vichy’s Last Castle brings together contemporary documents, eye-witness reports, diplomatic communiques and protests, and personal chronicles, alongside post-war analyses, war crimes trials, apologetics and memoirs, to provide a complete picture of the Sigmaringen enclave, from daily life to political chicanery. From the vain, formal protests of Marshal Pétain to the hallucinatory stream-of-consciousness of Céline, the book draws on contemporary photographs as well as texts to encapsulate this bizarre milieu, where the rank-and-file starved and suffered, while the elite played and plotted their tragicomic endgame, in a sublimely appropriate Wagnerian setting.

The COSSAC planners in 1943 outlined a strategy to capture the city of Caen, some 10 miles in-land from the coastline with an airborne division. On assumption of command of 21st Army Group, General Montgomery up-scaled the invasion and inserting SWORD Beach, gave the task of capturing the city to the 3rd Division on D Day or shortly afterwards. The Germans, however, seeing the number of Allied divisions, many fictional, multiplying on their situation maps, believed that a secondary landing would be made in Normandy. In April 1944, they therefore made significant reinforcements including moving the 21st Panzer Division to the important transport node of Caen that, if held, barred the way onto the more open country south to Falaise.Though aware of the German reinforcement thanks to ULTRA, the Allied aspiration remained to capture Caen and fix the Germans against the British Second Army on the eastern flank of the lodgement. In doing so, it became obvious that the city would not be captured as quickly or cleanly as originally envisaged.On D Day, the 3rd Division faced not just the coastal crust of defences, but German formations deployed in depth, including the 21st Panzer Division barring the way to Caen. Beset with difficulties resulting from Eisenhower’s decision to ‘go’ in less-than-ideal conditions, the landing was slow and the division could not develop the necessary momentum to carry them to the city.

Self-propelled anti-tank and anti-aircraft vehicles were a key element of the Nazi Army during the Second World War. Anti-tank weapons assumed great importance from the outbreak of war as combatants developed ever more effective armoured vehicles and tactics. Some were little more than stopgap solutions, such as mounting the weapons on a tracked vehicle to give enhanced mobility, while others were more sophisticated designs. Examples of the development of tank destroyer technology throughout the war are the Marders, Jagdpanzer 38, and Nashorn. In order to provide much needed fire power, vehicles like the 5-ton Sd.Kfz.6 halftrack mounted Soviet 76.2mm field guns. The Marder series played a key role supporting armoured operations with their anti-tank guns.Anti-aircraft firepower was vital to give protection to troops from increasingly potent Allied ground-attack. The Germans also mounted anti-aircraft guns onboard halftracks such as the Sd.Kfz.10/5 and 10/4 armed with 2cm Flak guns, the medium Sd.Kfz.7/1 halftrack mounting 2cm flak guns, including quadruple flak guns on certain modified vehicles. Later in the war there was the Flakpanzer 38 (t) with a 2cm flak gun, an Sd.Kfz.6/2 Flak halftrack, and the Flakpanzer IV `Wirbelwind` with a rotating flak gun turret armed with quadruple 2cm flak guns.In true Images of War style the authoritative text is superbly supported by well captioned contemporary images.

Millions of visitors to Rome’s Capitoline Museums admire the great bronze equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (121–180 CE), practising Stoic and the last ‘Good Emperor’ before Rome commenced its prolonged decline. One ancient historian compared the succession from Marcus to his son Commodus as a descent from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust. The statue’s fortuitous survival occurred only because of a longstanding belief that it represented Constantine, the first Christian Emperor — an instance of the mysterious ways in which Marcus’s complex legacies would endure. The recent revival of interest in Stoicism has seen renewed focus on Marcus Aurelius. While new editions of Marcus’s work Meditations, and fresh biographical treatments, have appeared, there remain lesser-known sources which shed light on how Marcus was remembered, from intriguing medieval legends, right through to the twenty-first century. Each generation has interpreted Marcus Aurelius, his writings, his deeds, and his personality anew, as he remains a role-model and the closest actual instance, in Western history, of an ideal ruler. This book collects and interprets, for the first time, a range of cultural receptions, enriching our understanding of this perennially compelling figure.

This is a story of 'ordinary' people — ordinary people who were caught up in the cataclysm of events in Europe during the 1930s and 1940s. A discovery of letters that had been carefully kept for decades since that time led to the uncovering of a family story that took the author on a journey in the footsteps of her husband's grandparents through Germany, Belgium, and France.Hermann Hartog (1887–1942) was a Jewish teacher in the north-west of Germany at a time of increasing anti-Semitism. He and his wife, Henny (1897–1942) recognised that Germany was becoming an unsafe place for Jews and sent their daughters to England for safety. As a leader of his community, Hermann stayed for as long as he could.After 'Kristallnacht' in November 1938, Hermann was arrested with other Jewish men and sent to the concentration camp at Sachsenhausen. He was later released on condition that he would leave the country. Hermann and Henny fled Germany for Brussels, but when Belgium was invaded in 1940 they were sent to Paris, and then found refuge in a village in the south-west of France. Here, 'ordinary' people gave them shelter, work and friendship — and shared their lives during the dark days of 1941 and 1942.When French police — acting on the orders of the Vichy government and the Nazi occupiers of France — arrested Hermann and Henny, it was part of a round-up of Jews to deport them for extermination. After a long journey, they were murdered in Auschwitz in September 1942.An active memory of the Hartog family lives on. In France and Germany, 'ordinary' people remember their names, commemorate their legacy, and work to build communities where tolerance, acceptance, and friendship can thrive.