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The battle of Zama, fought across North Africa around 202 BC, was
the final large-scale clash of arms between the world's two
greatest western powers of the time - Carthage and Rome. The
engagement ended the Second Punic War, waged from 218 until 201 BC.
The armies were led by two of the most famous commanders of all
time - the legendary Carthaginian general Hannibal, renowned for
crossing the Alps with his army into Italy, and the Roman general
Publius Cornelius Scipio, who along with his father was among the
defeated at the battle of Cannae in 216 BC. Drawing upon years of
research, author Mir Bahmanyar gives a detailed account of this
closing battle, analysing the tactics employed by each general and
the forces they had at their disposal. Stunning, specially
commissioned artwork brings to life the epic clash that saw
Hannibal defeated and Rome claim its spot as the principal
Mediterranean power.
The outlook for a victory of the Allied Powers was dim in the
spring of 1942. Britain was being unmercifully bombed and
threatened with invasion. Rommel's forces were rampaging across
North Africa toward Alexandria. Only two American divisions had
arrived in the European theatre. Stationed in Ireland, they were
green, untested troops, their combat deployment a matter of
speculation even to the high command. It was then that General
Lucien K. Truscott conceived the plan of organizing an American
commando unit to be known as the ""Rangers,"" a name made famous in
American history. ""On every frontier the name has been one of hope
for those who required protection; of fear, for those who have
lived outside the law."" Major William O. Darby was placed in
command of the first Ranger Battalion. Darby proved himself an
officer of such extraordinary powers of leadership that his unit
was forever after known as ""Darby's Rangers."" This was the
organization destined to be the first American ground forces to
battle the Germans in Africa and Europe in World War II. The
Spearheaders is an account from an enlisted man's point of view of
the intensely dramatic career of the Rangers from their beginnings
as soldiers in Ireland, through their grueling training in
Scotland, to their role in the bloody fighting in North Africa,
Sicily and Italy. This is a story of war as intimate and individual
as the diaries, letters and memories on which it is based. Here are
the courage, determination, hope and occasional moments of weakness
of gallant American boys from the ""next doors"" of Maine and
California, Oregon and Florida. Here, too, are unforgettable
pictures of the grandeur and misery of war, bawdiness and
bloodshed, its triumphs ultimate futilities. Dominating the
aggregation of his startlingly individualized subordinates is the
commanding figure of Major Darby himself. Like Caesar he could call
each of his men by name, congratulate them: ""A helluva shoot . . .
every company came through ... a beautiful job... now we got to get
our tails out of here""; inspire them: ""The outfit that can slip
up the enemy and stun him with shock and surprise - that is the
outfit that will win battles, and that is the outfit I want"";
console them: ""I'm sorry . . . damned sorry . . . I knew you would
put on a good show."" The Spearheaders is no ordinary war history.
In line with present Army doctrine, it demonstrates the value of
tough, resourceful, hard-trained troops, capable of swift dispersal
and penetration instead of massed movement susceptible to atomic
blasts. Its vivid writing, its empathy with those who served, its
appreciation of the Ranger spirit more than the Ranger
achievements, make it rekindle in the hearts and minds of all
Americans the great heritage, proud history and high ideals of
their nation.
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