Bøger om År 1940 til 1949

Operation KE explores the air combat that attended the Japanese evacuation of Guadalcanal in early 1943a topic which has hitherto received very little attention. Operation KE was successful largely because Japanese strategic planning and tactical execution was basically sound. The traditional view holds that the Japanese got away with the initiative largely because the Americans let them; the U.S. Pacific high command felt it was not worth the effort to try and stop them. The authors contend that this was not entirely the case. They argue that the Cactus Air Force and Guadalcanal-based naval units did their best to disrupt the evacuation, still believing that the Tokyo Express was bringing reinforcements and supplies to the 17th Army. Other US forces in the South Pacific did make a half-hearted and questionably-executed attempt to stop the Japanese, but were bluffed into adopting a "e;wait-and-see"e; posture.Operation KE focuses on the air war fought between the Cactus and US 13th Air Forces on the one hand and the Japanese Navy and Army Air Forces on the other, from mid-December, 1942 to mid-February, 1943. The book scrutinizes the US air strikes against the six KE-related Tokyo Express destroyer runs, plus related air strikes against the Japanese merchant marine, as well as air and naval base-suppression missions undertaken by both sides, to determine what actually happened in order to analyze why the Japanese evacuation succeeded and why Cactus failed to stop it. Background chapters attempt to assess the respective states of readiness of the Japanese and US air arms in the South Pacific to support on the one hand and counter on the other the execution of Operation KE.The central portion of the book narrates in some detail what actually occurred in the air and at sea -- including air strikes, fighter sweeps, base suppression missions, and naval sorties -- during the crucial prelude to and the actual playing out of the interrelated events that comprised the evacuation operation. Concluding chapters analyze, on both strategic and tactical levels, the Japanese planning and execution of Operation KE, and Cactus' initiatives to interdict KE's successful prosecution. The authors conclude that both the Japanese and the American states of readiness on the eve of Operation KE suffered in such matters as optimizing both resources and operating procedures, and combating a hostile environment. Consequently, both combatants were somewhat handicapped in their abilities respectively to carry out and contest Operation KE.The author contends that the Japanese developed a reasonably sound strategy that exploited those methods and tools of war then in use in the South Pacific; to achieve success, they maximized their own strengths while taking advantage of their adversary's limitations. Contrary to the traditional view, the authors are of the opinion that Japanese utilization of their newly-built airstrip at Munda in the Central Solomons played an important role in the success of Operation KE, which was in keeping with the long-range intention of developing Munda and Vila airstrips as major forward airbases to defend against any Allied push toward Rabaul through the Solomons.The U.S., on the other hand, by consistently misreading Japanese intent regarding Operation KE and pursuing a cautious offensive strategy, blunted the tactical impact of their initiatives to counter the evacuation. Several imprudent tactical decisions and a misallocation of resources further diluted the strength of US efforts.

Brian Bohun Barlow's story Only One Child enlightens us about the WWII British children evacuees and educates us about the chaotic condition of Britain during the war. More than that, it touches our hearts with the tale of the generosity of two women-one who takes in four children and the other who gives the keeping of four of her children to someone who will foster their futures in America. Barlow's meticulous attention to detail and careful rendition of time and place make this a wonderful read for history buffs.

A mother's love. A new love. As the Pacific War looms ever closer to Australia, will waiting and wondering break their hearts?September 1939. Sophie Parker nursed wounded soldiers in France during the Great War. She knows the physical and mental devastation war can wreak on hearts, minds, and bodies. When WWII breaks out, and Australia is called to join the effort, Sophie knows all too well what her sons will face when they enlist to fly and fight.Marianne Ryan grew up in a French town battered by the Germans during the Great War. But while she spends WWII in Sydney, far from her home and family in occupied France, the new love she never expected to find could break her heart beyond repair.With the war looming ever closer to Australia, Sophie and Marianne must watch and wait as the Japanese cut a swath through the Pacific. Can the two women be as courageous as the men they love?As they are in all wars, the women who wait at home must be the bravest soldiers.The Bravest Soldiers, A WWII Historical Novel of Romance, Love, and Longing (Book 2 in The Immense Sky Saga), is the next chapter in the Parker - Ryan family story begun in Dare Not Tell, but can be read as a standalone.

From bestselling author Kirsty Manning comes a stunning novel based on a true story of clandestine courage in World War II as prisoners of war risk their lives to secure evidence of Nazi atrocities--and how one man concealed it for decades before passing it on to his family who struggle to understand their inherited legacy of trauma. Austria, 1940s: Yugoslavian Nico Antonov is just one of more than 200,000 people imprisoned in the Mauthausen concentration camp near the Danube River. Malnourished and forced into hard labor in a quarry, he still defies his captors any way he can. When fate brings him into contact with Lena Lang, a young woman living with her family in fear of their Nazi occupiers, he finds an ally.SS officers have charged Spanish POW and photographer Mateo Baca with recording the events and prisoners of Mauthausen and to make five copies of the collected photo book for the Third Reich's leaders. But Mateo also creates a sixth book to be smuggled out of the camp--where Nico entrusts Lena to hide it and protect their secret.Australia, 1980s to present day: When teenager Hannah Campbell discovers her grandfather Nico's mysterious photo album, filled with horrific visions of suffering and cruelty, the barbarities of World War II no longer feel like ancient history. Haunted by the images for years, as a university student and a married young mother, she pursues the truth behind her grandfather's incarceration. As Hannah experiences love and loss in her own life, she comes to understand how the photos not only capture history but reflect a shared humanity that must never be forgotten.

The Messerschmitt BF 109, also known as the ME 109, was perhaps the most famous fighter aircraft of the Luftwaffe. Developed during the first half of the 1930s by Wilhelm Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser. This fantastic fighter aircraft was characterised by its all-metal monocoque structure, an enclosed cabin, a fixed landing gear and a V-shaped aircraft engine with 12 inverted, water-cooled cylinders. The first examples of the Bf 109 appeared during the Spanish Civil War and remained in service until the end of the Second World War. During this period, the Bf 109 aircraft formed the main fighter force of the German Air Force. Towards the end of 1941, the Bf 109 was joined by the Focke-Wulf FW 190 aircraft. Together, they were a formidable pair of aircraft, a real nightmare for the Allies.

The Russian T-26 was a light tank, designed for infantry support, produced in the Soviet Union from 1931. It did not originate as an autonomous design, but was mainly derived from the British Vickers 6-ton or Vickers Type E vehicle. The T-26 tanks were armed with two parallel turrets in the centre of the hull, each equipped with a light machine gun. The next step was to install a 27-mm or 37-mm cannon on one turret. This was replaced by a 45 mm piece, and this increased the armour-piercing and explosive power. Known as the Mod. 1933, it was a great success and was produced, alone, in around 5,500 examples; an exceptional run for the time. Versions derived from the T-26 were: the OT-26 flamethrower with a flamethrower instead of a cannon, the OT-33 which had both, the ST-26 bridge-carrier to give tank divisions the necessary mobility against natural obstacles, the T-26 A-4 (U) railing radio command tank, and many others...

Il Messerschmitt BF 109, moto anche come ME 109, fu forse il più famoso aereo da caccia della Luftwaffe. Sviluppato durante la prima metà degli anni '30 da Wilhelm Messerschmitt e Robert Lusser. Questo fantastico aereo da caccia si caratterizzava per la sua struttura monoscocca completamente in metallo, una cabina chiusa, un carrello d'atterraggio fisso e un motore aeronautico a forma di V con 12 cilindri invertiti, raffreddati ad acqua. I primi esemplari del Bf 109 fecero la loro comparsa già durante la guerra civile spagnola e rimasero in servizio fino alla fine della seconda guerra mondiale. Durante questo periodo, gli aerei Bf 109 costituirono la principale forza dei caccia dell'aeronautica tedesca. Verso la fine del 1941, il Bf 109 fu affiancato dall'aereo Focke-Wulf FW 190. Insieme, furono una coppia di mezzi formidabile, vero incubo degli alleati.

This is the story of the Blue Baron, born Carlo Luigi Amedeo Winspeare Guicciardi and his active participation in the Second World War as a pilot officer in the Regia Aeronautica. But let us take two steps back. Carlo Winspeare, son of Edoardo and Clara Sarauw, was born on 13 March 1917 in Valletta (Malta) where his father, who had travelled the world in the retinue of Luigi Amedeo di Savoia, the adventurous Duke of the Abruzzi, was working as an attaché militaire, as an officer in the Regia Marina. Don't be fooled by the name that betrays English origins, the Blue Baron was a true Italian hero. With his military flights, he took part in numerous reconnaissance and reckless war missions, one of the best known of which was certainly the Battle of Mid-August on 12-13 August 1942, pompously commemorated by the regime as the 20th year of the fascist era. In this book, the author recounts all these adventures!

Il T-26 russo fu un carro armato leggero, pensato da supporto alla fanteria, prodotto in Unione Sovietica a partire dal 1931. Esso non nacque come un progetto autonomo, ma derivò principalmente dal mezzo britannico Vickers 6-ton o Vickers Type E. I carri armati T-26 erano armati di due torrette parallele al centro dello scafo, e dotate di una mitragliatrice leggera ciascuna. Il passo successivo fu quello di installare, su una torretta, un cannone da 27 mm o da 37 mm. Il pezzo venne sostituito da uno da 45 mm, e questo aumentò la potenza perforante ed esplosiva. Noto come Mod. 1933, ebbe un grande successo, e venne prodotto, da solo, in circa 5.500 esemplari; una tiratura eccezionale per l'epoca. Versioni derivate dal T-26 furono: il lanciafiamme OT-26 con lanciafiamme al posto del cannone, l'OT-33 che aveva sia uno che l'altro, il gettaponte ST-26 per conferire ai reparti carri l'indispensabile mobilità nei riguardi degli ostacoli naturali, il carro comando, munito di radio a ringhiera T-26 A-4 (U) e molti altri...

August 1949: Ein aus dem Saarland angereister privaterErmittler wird in Bielefeld ermordet. Er hatte den Auftrag, ein während der Zeit der deutschen Besatzung aus Paris geraubtes Gemälde von Jan Vermeer wiederzu-beschaffen.Kriminalkommissar Walter Helmke findet heraus, dass der Mord mit dem von NS-Reichsleiter Alfred Rosenbergwährend des Krieges angeordneten Raub von Kunst-gegenständen aus Frankreich, Belgien und den Nieder-landen zusammenhängt. Während Helmke nach dem Vermeer-Gemälde sucht, weil er glaubt, dadurch auch den Mörder fassen zu können, erfolgt ein zweiter Mord.Die aktuelle Diskussion um nationalsozialistischeRaubkunst erhält in dem gut recherchierten und spannenden Kriminalroman ihre historische Tiefenschärfe.

"Operation Overlord: The Spies Who Saved D-Day" is a gripping and meticulously researched account of the covert intelligence operations that played a crucial role in the success of the D-Day landings during World War II. This book delves into the shadowy world of espionage, revealing how Allied spies and intelligence agencies outwitted the Nazis and laid the groundwork for one of history's most significant military campaigns.The narrative begins by setting the stage for Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France, and the immense importance of intelligence in planning and executing this massive operation. The book explores the intricate web of deception, including the creation of fake armies, the broadcasting of misleading radio messages, and the dissemination of false information to conceal the true location and timing of the invasion.Each chapter uncovers the stories of individual spies and intelligence groups, from the famous double agents of the Double Cross System to the lesser-known but equally important resistance fighters in France. The author delves into their daring missions, the methods they used to gather and relay crucial information, and the personal risks they took to ensure the success of the invasion.A key focus of the book is the analysis of how this intelligence was used to mislead the German high command and reinforce the deception of Operation Fortitude, a key component of the Allies' strategic misdirection. The narrative also explores the technological advancements in espionage, including the use of code-breaking techniques and the Enigma machine."Operation Overlord: The Spies Who Saved D-Day" goes beyond the battlefield to showcase the critical role of intelligence in warfare. It offers a vivid and detailed account of the behind-the-scenes activities that were instrumental in the success of D-Day, highlighting the bravery, ingenuity, and resourcefulness of the Allied spies.This book is an essential read for anyone interested in World War II history, espionage, and military strategy, providing a unique perspective on one of the war's most pivotal moments. It is a testament to the fact that sometimes, wars are won not just by the soldiers on the battlefield but also by the unseen heroes operating in the shadows.

"Operation Mincemeat: The Ingenious Deception that Changed History" is a captivating account of one of World War II's most remarkable and successful espionage operations. This book delves deep into the intricacies of the British intelligence plan that significantly influenced the war's outcome, particularly in the Mediterranean theater.The narrative unfolds how British intelligence officers conceived and executed a plan of deception so audacious it could have come from the pages of a spy novel. The operation involved planting false documents on a corpse dressed as a British officer, which was then left to wash ashore in Spain, intending to mislead the Axis powers about the Allies' upcoming plans in Southern Europe.The book meticulously details the planning and execution of this operation, from selecting the right corpse, and creating a believable identity for the fictional officer to drafting the misleading documents and ensuring they fell into the hands of German intelligence. The author takes the reader through every strategic decision and the ingenious creativity in crafting the operation.A key focus of the book is the analysis of the operation's impact on the war. It explores how the false information led to a significant diversion of Axis forces, contributing to the success of the Allied invasion of Sicily and the eventual fall of Mussolini's regime in Italy."Operation Mincemeat" not only recounts this fascinating story but also provides a broader perspective on the role of espionage, intelligence, and psychological warfare in World War II. It examines how the operation fit into the larger context of the war and the other deception tactics employed by the Allies.This book is enthralling for anyone interested in military history, espionage, and World War II. It offers a unique glimpse into the shadowy world of wartime intelligence and the extraordinary lengths the Allies went to ensure the success of their military campaigns. "Operation Mincemeat" is a testament to the power of ingenuity and strategic deception in shaping the course of history.

The Assault on Peleliu, first published in 1950, is a detailed recounting of the U.S. Marines' fierce battle for the Peleliu, part of the Palau Islands in the south Pacific. Facing approx. 11,00 hardened, entrenched Japanese troops, the 1st Marine Division began landing operations on September 15, 1944. What followed were more than two months of bloody fighting resulting in heavy casualties before the island was declared secure in late November. Included are more than 90 photographs and maps.

This text consists of identifying literary elements with historical guidelines in eleven stories selected from three texts entitled Historia Secreta de Chile (Secret History of Chile) written by the Chilean Jorge Baradit. These narratives are framed in historical events that occurred in Chile between the seventeenth and twentieth centuries. Such stories, with historical glimpses, make up the analysis, the purpose of which is to elucidate the author's narrative style and identify elements typical of literature. Consequently, the study is preceded by a review of the cultural-literary framework in which literary and artistic terms such as postmodernism, contemporary literature and historical fiction are examined in depth, considering theorists from the 20th century onwards. In addition, an approach has been made to the artistic and literary movement known as Freak Power, to which the author Jorge Baradit belongs. Finally, four axes of analysis have been determined: discursive reconstruction between person-fact-character, symbolism of fire, dehumanisation of the self and recusation of the dictator. These themes are transversal in the stories chosen for this analysis.

"From the New York Times bestselling author of Woman on Fire, the harrowing and ultimately triumphant tale of a Jewish WWII assassin turned Hollywood star. In 2005, Siena Hayes is Hollywood's latest It Girl, but she has her sights set higher than the screen, she wants to be behind the camera. So when Siena meets Lena Browning, the enormously mysterious and famous actor from decades past, Siena sees her big break. Siena wants to direct Lena's biopic-but Lena's past may turn out to be more than Siena bargained for. Before she was a "Living Legend," Lena Browning was Bina Blonski, a member of Warsaw's Jewish elite whose life and family were destroyed by the Nazis. In 1943, in the ghettos of Warsaw, Bina lives with her husband, Jakub. Determined to fight back against Nazi rule, beautiful, blonde Bina acts as a spy on the Aryan side fearlessly protecting the remaining Warsaw Jews, gaining intel, and stealing weapons. Along the way, her feelings grow more complicated as she falls in love with Aleksander, an ally to her in resistance . . . and Jakub's brother. But the cause prevails-and Lena accomplishes amazing feats of bravery, though she can't help but sacrifice so much in the process . . . Over a decade after escaping the ghetto, Bina, who now goes by Lena, has risen to fame in Hollywood. She sees her old life at every turn and hungers for revenge against the Nazis who are still everywhere around her. This is Lena's chance to right the past's wrongs and perhaps even find the happy ending she never had"--

"From the New York Times bestselling author of Woman on Fire, the harrowing and ultimately triumphant tale of a Jewish WWII assassin turned Hollywood star. In 2005, Siena Hayes is Hollywood's latest It Girl, but she has her sights set higher than the screen, she wants to be behind the camera. So when Siena meets Lena Browning, the enormously mysterious and famous actor from decades past, Siena sees her big break. Siena wants to direct Lena's biopic-but Lena's past may turn out to be more than Siena bargained for. Before she was a "Living Legend," Lena Browning was Bina Blonski, a member of Warsaw's Jewish elite whose life and family were destroyed by the Nazis. In 1943, in the ghettos of Warsaw, Bina lives with her husband, Jakub. Determined to fight back against Nazi rule, beautiful, blonde Bina acts as a spy on the Aryan side fearlessly protecting the remaining Warsaw Jews, gaining intel, and stealing weapons. Along the way, her feelings grow more complicated as she falls in love with Aleksander, an ally to her in resistance . . . and Jakub's brother. But the cause prevails-and Lena accomplishes amazing feats of bravery, though she can't help but sacrifice so much in the process . . . Over a decade after escaping the ghetto, Bina, who now goes by Lena, has risen to fame in Hollywood. She sees her old life at every turn and hungers for revenge against the Nazis who are still everywhere around her. This is Lena's chance to right the past's wrongs and perhaps even find the happy ending she never had"--

"From the New York Times bestselling author of Woman on Fire, the harrowing and ultimately triumphant tale of a Jewish WWII assassin turned Hollywood star. In 2005, Siena Hayes is Hollywood's latest It Girl, but she has her sights set higher than the screen, she wants to be behind the camera. So when Siena meets Lena Browning, the enormously mysterious and famous actor from decades past, Siena sees her big break. Siena wants to direct Lena's biopic-but Lena's past may turn out to be more than Siena bargained for. Before she was a "Living Legend," Lena Browning was Bina Blonski, a member of Warsaw's Jewish elite whose life and family were destroyed by the Nazis. In 1943, in the ghettos of Warsaw, Bina lives with her husband, Jakub. Determined to fight back against Nazi rule, beautiful, blonde Bina acts as a spy on the Aryan side fearlessly protecting the remaining Warsaw Jews, gaining intel, and stealing weapons. Along the way, her feelings grow more complicated as she falls in love with Aleksander, an ally to her in resistance . . . and Jakub's brother. But the cause prevails-and Lena accomplishes amazing feats of bravery, though she can't help but sacrifice so much in the process . . . Over a decade after escaping the ghetto, Bina, who now goes by Lena, has risen to fame in Hollywood. She sees her old life at every turn and hungers for revenge against the Nazis who are still everywhere around her. This is Lena's chance to right the past's wrongs and perhaps even find the happy ending she never had"--

"Monza, Italy, 1936. Thirteen-year-old Francesca lies on the banks of the Lambro River under the weight of a dead man who was trying to rape her, when he suddenly died. Her friend, Maddalena, crawls out of the water and helps her get out from under the dead body, which they then hide in some bushes. Their friendship began a year earlier, and is one marked by rebellion and the search for freedom beyond the rigid social hierarchy of the town. Maddalena, who comes from humble beginnings, is called "La malnacida/Born Evil" because of her supposed dark powers. Francesca joins her group of friends against her family's will, and discovers a new way of living beyond social conventions. Their bond will overcome the town gossip, which blames Maddalena for several deaths. It will be tested by war and fascism, and the two friends will have to decide whether to join together against social oppression or let the course of history separate them forever."--Provided by publisher.

From the critically acclaimed author of Universe of Two and The Baker's Secret, a novel of hope, healing, and the redemptive power of art, set against the turmoil of post-World War II France and inspired by the life of Marc Chagall. One month after the end of World War II, amid the jubilation in the streets of France, there are throngs of people stunned by the recovery work ahead. Every bridge, road, and rail line, every church and school and hospital, has been destroyed. Disparate factions?from Communists, to Resistance fighters, to federalists, to those who supported appeasement of the Nazis?must somehow unite and rebuild their devastated country.Asher lost his family during the war, and in revenge served as an assassin in the Resistance. Burdened by grief and guilt, he wanders through the blasted countryside, stunned by what has become of his life. When he arrives at le Chateau Guerin, all he seeks is a decent meal. Instead he finds a sanctuary, an oasis despite being filled with people every bit as damaged as him. But they are calming themselves, and recovering inch by inch, by turning sand into glass, and glass into windows for the bombed cathedrals of France.It's a volatile place, and these former warriors manage their trauma in different ways. But they are helped by women of courage and affection. Asher turns out to have a gift for making windows, and decides to hide the fact that he is Jewish so the devout Catholics who own the chateau will not expel him. As the secrets of the chateau's residents become known one by one, they experience more heated conflict and greater challenges. And as Asher kindles his talents for glasswork, his recovery will lead the way for them all.

"There are few more skilled practitioners of the craft of summer fiction than Beatriz Williams." ? The New York Times Book ReviewA ravishing summer read from New York Times bestseller Beatriz Williams, sweeping readers back to a mid-century New England rich with secrets and Cold War intrigue.June 1946. As the residents of Winthrop Island prepare for the first summer season after the sacrifice of war, a glamorous new figure moves into the guest cottage at Summerly, the idyllic seaside estate of the wealthy Peabody family. To Emilia Winthrop, daughter of Summerly's year-round caretaker and a descendant of the island's settlers, Olive Rainsford opens a window into a world of shining possibility. While Emilia spent the war years caring for her incapacitated mother, Olive traveled the world, married fascinating men, and involved herself in political causes. She's also the beloved aunt of the two surviving Peabody sons, Amory and Shep, with whom Emilia has a tangled romantic history.As the summer wears on, Emilia develops a deep rapport with Olive, who urges her to leave the island for a life of adventure, while romance blossoms with the sturdy and honorable Shep. But the heady promise of Peabody patronage is blown apart by the arrival of Sumner Fox, an FBI agent who demands Emilia's help to capture a Soviet agent who's transmitting vital intelligence on the West's atomic weapon program from somewhere inside the Summerly estate.April 1954. Eight years later, Summerly is boarded up and Emilia has rebuilt her shattered life as a professor at Wellesley College, when shocking news arrives from Washington?the traitor she helped convict is about to be swapped for an American spy imprisoned in the Soviet Union, but with a mysterious condition only Emilia can fulfill. A reluctant Emilia is summoned to CIA headquarters, where she's forced to confront the harrowing consequences of her actions that fateful summer, and a choice that could destroy the Peabody family?and Emilia's chance for redemption?all over again."Grand and gripping...shot through with suspense, romance, and glorious, beach-laden locales. I could not put it down."--Marie Benedict, New York Times bestselling author of The Mitford Affair