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Books > Social sciences > Warfare & defence
'The Art of War' is as relevant to today's warriors in business,
politics, and everyday life as it once was to the warlords of
ancient China. It is one of the most useful books ever written on
leading with wisdom, an essential tool for modern corporate
warriors battling to gain the advantage in the boardroom, and for
anyone struggling to gain the upper hand in confrontations and
competitions.
A classic of military thought that merits a place alongside the
works of Clausewitz and Sun Tzu, Battle Studies was first published
in Paris ten years after the death of its author, French army
officer Charles Ardant du Picq (1821–1870). Updated to provide a
more complete and accurate biographical and historical framework
for understanding its meaning and import, this edition—deftly
translated, introduced, and annotated by noted military historian
Roger Spiller—offers a new generation of readers the benefit of
Ardant du Picq’s unique insight into the nature of warfare.
Nothing, Ardant du Picq asserts, can be prescribed wisely in an
army “without an exact understanding of its ultimate instrument,
man, and his morale at the defining instant of combat.”
Accordingly, Battle Studies, the first systematic exploration of
human behavior in the extremities of combat, focuses squarely on
the tactical realm its author knew so well. Eschewing grand
military theories and strategies, Ardant du Picq draws on his
real-world experience, especially during the Crimean War and the
Siege of Sebastopol where he was captured, to examine what
motivates a soldier to fight, what creates cohesion or disorder,
what gives a commander tactical control, and what makes reason give
way to instinct: in short, “the essence of the science of
combat.”
The Uses of the Bible in Crusader Sources sets out to understand
the ideology and spirituality of crusading by exploring the
biblical imagery and exegetical interpretations which formed its
philosophical basis. Medieval authors frequently drew upon
scripture when seeking to justify, praise, or censure the deeds of
crusading warriors on many frontiers. After all, as the fundamental
written manifestation of God's will for mankind, the Bible was the
ultimate authority for contemporary writers when advancing their
ideas and framing their world view. This volume explores a broad
spectrum of biblically-derived themes surrounding crusading and, by
doing so, seeks to better comprehend a thought world in which
lethal violence could be deemed justifiable according to Christian
theology. Contributors are: Jessalynn Bird, Adam M. Bishop, John D.
Cotts, Sini Kangas, Thomas Lecaque, T. J. H. McCarthy, Nicholas
Morton, Torben Kjersgaard Nielsen, Luigi Russo, Uri Shachar, Iris
Shagrir, Kristin Skottki, Katherine Allen Smith, Thomas W. Smith,
Carol Sweetenham, Miriam Rita Tessera, Jan Vandeburie, Julian J. T.
Yolles, and Lydia Marie Walker.
Known as the "savior of the Union" during the Civil War, General
Grant went on to serve as the 18th president of the United States
from 1869-1877. This first volume of his memoirs was completed just
days prior to his death from throat cancer in 1885.
They called themselves Legionnaires of the Waffen SS, the new
European Army. They came from all nations of Europe, and they were
wearing the same uniform to fight for the same cause: fighting the
strong Russian Armed Forces. Almost one million of these young men
fought next to the Wehrmacht during WWII. It was during this era
that the ideal of a united Europe was born. There is no other
period in history that has been documented like the 6 years that
ranged from the invasion of Poland in 1939 to the capitulation in
Berlin in 1945. They left their homes, families, and friends with
their heart full of joy and pride. They had to endure extreme
weather from +40 to -50 while fighting on several fronts. They were
battle hardened because of this. They became good soldiers because
they knew how to survive in any situation. These young men were
prepared to give their lives for Germany and, in their eyes, for a
better Europe.
Autobiography of World War Two Luftwaffe pilot Hans Ulrich Rudel,
the most highly decorated German serviceman of WW2, and the only
one to be awarded the Third Reich's most prestigious medal which
was specially created for Rudel by Hitler himself, the Knight's
Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and
Diamonds. Shot down over 24 times, Hans Rudel is credited with
destroying over 500 tanks, 2,000 ground targets, the Russian
battleship Marat, two cruisers and a destroyer, and was so
successful against Russian forces that Joseph Stalin put up a
100,000 rouble ransom on his head. His flying record of over 2,500
combat missions remains unmatched by any pilot since. Until his
death in 1982 Hans Rudel remained a loyal supporter of Adolf
Hitler, and National Socialism. Hans Rudel remained a complex
character, but arguably one of WW2's most heroic figures. This is a
new edition of this classic war epic which includes new maps,
photographs, and footnotes, with an introduction by British air ace
Group Captain Douglas Bader.
In this revised edition of A Short History of the Spanish Civil
War, Julian Casanova tells the gripping story of the Spanish Civil
War. Written in elegant and accessible prose, the book charts the
most significant events and battles alongside the main players in
the tragedy. Casanova provides answers to some of the pressing
questions (such as the roots and extent of anticlerical violence)
that have been asked in the 70 years that have passed since the
painful defeat of the Second Republic. Now with a revised
introduction, Casanova offers an overview of recent
historiographical shifts; not least the wielding of the conflict to
political ends in certain strands of contemporary historiography
towards an alarming neo- Francoist revisionism. It is the ideal
introduction to the Spanish Civil War.
The first book about SEAL Team Six and Bin Laden America's most
secret Special Forces unit does not even have a name. Formed as the
'Intelligence Support Activity', it has had a succession of
innocuous titles to hide its ferocious purpose. It exists to
'undertake activities only when other intelligence or operational
support elements are unavailable or inappropriate'. Translated from
Pentagon-speak, this means operating undercover in the world's most
dangerous places, penetrating enemy organizations including Al
Qa'eda, Hamas and Islamic Jihad. 'The Activity' combines the spy
work of the CIA with the commando/SAS role of the Green Berets. It
not only provides the intelligence on the ground - it translates it
into 'direct action'. This is the unit that located Saddam Hussein,
and recently led the intelligence operation that found and killed
Osama Bin Laden. This is the untold story behind the world's most
secret Special Operations organisation.
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