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Books > Humanities > History > History of specific subjects > Military history
For years, the history of the anti-Nazi resistance in Germany was
hidden and distorted by Cold War politics. Providing a much-needed
corrective, Red Orchestra presents the dramatic story of a circle
of German citizens who opposed Hitler from the start, choosing to
stay in Germany to resist Nazism and help its victims. The book
shines a light on this critical movement which was made up of
academics, theatre people, and factory workers; Protestants,
Catholics and Jews; around 150 Germans all told and from all walks
of life. Drawing on archives, memoirs, and interviews with
survivors, award-winning scholar and journalist Anne Nelson
presents a compelling portrait of the men and women involved, and
the terrifying day-to-day decisions in their lives, from the Nazi
takeover in 1933 to their Gestapo arrest in 1942. Nelson traces the
story of the Red Orchestra (Rote Kapelle) resistance movement
within the context of German history, showing the stages of the
Nazi movement and regime from the 1920s to the end of the Second
World War. She also constructs the narrative around the life of
Greta Kuckhoff and other female figures whose role in the anti-Nazi
resistance fight is too-often unrecognised or under appreciated.
This revised edition includes: * A new introduction which explores
elements of the Red Orchestra’s experience that resonate with our
times, including: the impact of new media technologies; the dangers
of political polarization; and the way the judiciary can be shaped
to further the ends of autocracy. The introduction will also
address the long-standing misconception that the German Resistance
only took action when it was clear that Germany was losing the war.
* Historiographic updates throughout the book which take account of
recent literature and additional archival sources
"I have decided to prepare for, and if necessary to carry out, an
invasion against England."--Adolph Hitler, July 16, 1940
Operation Sealion was the codename for the Nazi invasion of Britain
that Hitler ordered his generals to plan after France fell in June
1940. Although the plan ultimately never came to fruition, a few
sets of the Germans' detailed strategy documents are housed in the
rare book rooms of libraries across Europe. But now the Bodleian
Library has made documents from their set available for all to
peruse in this unprecedented collection of the invasion planning
materials.
The planned operation would have involved landing 160,000 German
soldiers along a forty-mile stretch of coast in southeast England.
Packets of reconnaissance materials were put together for the
invading forces, and the most intriguing parts are now reproduced
here. Each soldier was to be given maps and geographical
descriptions of the British Isles that broke down the country by
regions, aerial photographs pinpointing strategic targets, an
extensive listing of British roads and rivers, strategic plans for
launching attacks on each region, an English dictionary and phrase
book, and even a brief description of Britain's social composition.
Augmenting the fascinating documents is an informative introduction
that sets the materials in their historical and political context.
A must-have for every military history buff, "German Invasion Plans
for the British Isles, 1940" is a remarkable revelation of the
inner workings of Hitler's most famous unrealized military
campaign.
Back from 44 - The Sacrifice and Courage of a Few. Nick Bentas,
Staff Sergeant US Army Air Force, finds himself in a severely
crippled B-26 Marauder, trying to return to base, he remembers the
different times in his life that led him up to this point. From
enlistment to basic training to saying goodbye to his new wife, he
remembers his deadly missions around France, Germany and the wider
Mediterranean. Experience how it was first hand to encounter enemy
flak and fighter attacks, while dealing with the emotional impact
of losing close friends. Back From 44 is an in-depth look into the
bravery and sacrifice of ordinary men who did extraordinary things
during WWII.
Five daring escapes carried out by the famous fighting force during WWII.
From the infamous 1944 desert campaign to the unforgiving terrain of the Vosges Mountains; from a perilous escape across Europe aided by Resistance networks to three Captains fleeing an Italian Prisoner of War camp in 1943, and a death-defying return to Britain via boat, tunnel and train.
These inspirational true stories bring to life the do-or-die spirit of the SAS, as they faced an enemy hell-bent on wreaking vengeance.
Damien Lewis has worked closely with World War Two veterans and the families of those portrayed, accessing never-before-seen wartime diaries, letters, mission reports, interrogation transcripts and more, to reveal terrifying yet astounding feats of survival from the band of elite soldiers.
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