Militærhistorie

In August 1964 Australia deployed six Caribou aircraft and 76 personnel to Vung Tau, South Vietnam, as the new unit, RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam (RTFV). In mid-1966 the unit was renamed No. 35 Squadron and remained in South Vietnam until February 1972. This small team of aircraft and support personnel marked the first deployment of an RAAF unit on operations since the Korean War and the first war in which Australians did not fight alongside British. With only six aircraft, Wallaby Airlines, as the unit's operation became known, notched up impressive statistics over its eight years of existence - 80,000 sorties flying 47,000 hours and carrying over 40 million kilograms of cargo. RTFV was led for the first nine months by Squadron Leader Chris Sugden, DFC and Bar, a veteran of both the Second World War and the Korean War. Suggy was a generation older than most of the members of his unit and so became a defacto father figure to most of them. There is also no doubt he was looked up to by all and that he enjoyed the highest respect of every member of his unit, aircrew ground crew and support personnel, as well as the many United States and South Vietnamese personnel who came into contact with him. This is the story, untold to date, of these first 76 members of RTFV, of Suggy and his men, how the unit came into being, and of the first nine months of its existence - a period of operations which in some ways was quite different to those of the remaining seven years the unit was deployed in South Vietnam.

This book serves as a critical resource for educators across various roles and contexts who are interested in Holocaust education that is both historically sound and practically relevant. As a collection, it pulls together a diverse group of scholars to share their research and experiences. The volume endeavors to address topics including the nature and purpose of Holocaust education, how our understanding of the Holocaust has changed, and resources we can use with learners. These themes are consistent across the chapters, making for a comprehensive exploration of learning through the Holocaust today and in the future.

From a diary written by a crew member and other eye-witness accounts, this is the tale of what it was like to participate in World War II as a crewmember of an LST.

Describing the campaign from D-Day onwards, this excellent contemporary battalion history is divided into two parts. The first contains an outline of the activities of the 2/24th during the campaign in Europe from D-Day to VE-Day, and the second is a detailed narrative of some of the more important actions in which the battalion fought. Complete with a list of awards. Originally printed in Hamburg in 1945.

An affectionate account of the British Army in Turkey during the crisis of 1922/1923, written by a peripatetic Englishman, Percival James Bothwell, branch secretary of the YMCA in Chanak.

"The untold story of four special operations officers who fought together behind enemy lines across multiple theaters of World War II, and then continued to serve, officially and unofficially, for decades after in the hottest parts of the Cold War"--

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.

The Iraq War has been the costliest U.S. conflict since the Vietnam War. To date, few official studies have been conducted to review what happened, why it happened, and what lessons should be drawn. The U.S. Army in the Iraq War is the Army's initial operational level analysis of this conflict, written in narrative format, with assessments and lessons embedded throughout the work. This study reviews the conflict from a Landpower perspective and includes the contributions of coalition allies, the U.S. Marine Corps, and special operations forces. Presented principally from the point of view of the commanders in Baghdad, the narrative examines the interaction of the operational and strategic levels, as well as the creation of theater level strategy and its implementation at the tactical level. Volume 1 begins in the truce tent at Safwan Airfield in southern Iraq at the end of Operation DESERT STORM and briefly examines actions by U.S. and Iraqi forces during the interwar years. The narrative continues by examining the road to war, the initially successful invasion, and the rise of Iraqi insurgent groups before exploring the country's slide toward civil war. This volume concludes with a review of the decision by the George W. Bush administration to "surge" additional forces to Iraq, placing the conduct of the "surge" and its aftermath in the second volume.This study was constructed over a span of 4 years and relied on nearly 30,000 pages of hand-picked declassified documents, hundreds of hours of original interviews, and thousands of hours of previously unavailable interviews. Original interviews conducted by the team included President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretaries of Defense Leon Panetta and Robert Gates, Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and every theater commander for the war, among many others. With its release, this publication, The U.S. Army in the Iraq War, represents the U.S. Government's longest and most detailed study of the Iraq conflict thus far.

The Iraq War has been the costliest U.S. conflict since the Vietnam War. To date, few official studies have been conducted to review what happened, why it happened, and what lessons should be drawn. The U.S. Army in the Iraq War is the Army's initial operational level analysis of this conflict, written in narrative format, with assessments and lessons embedded throughout the work. This study reviews the conflict from a Landpower perspective and includes the contributions of coalition allies, the U.S. Marine Corps, and special operations forces. Presented principally from the point of view of the commanders in Baghdad, the narrative examines the interaction of the operational and strategic levels, as well as the creation of theater level strategy and its implementation at the tactical level. Volume 1 begins in the truce tent at Safwan Airfield in southern Iraq at the end of Operation DESERT STORM and briefly examines actions by U.S. and Iraqi forces during the interwar years. The narrative continues by examining the road to war, the initially successful invasion, and the rise of Iraqi insurgent groups before exploring the country's slide toward civil war. This volume concludes with a review of the decision by the George W. Bush administration to "surge" additional forces to Iraq, placing the conduct of the "surge" and its aftermath in the second volume.This study was constructed over a span of 4 years and relied on nearly 30,000 pages of hand-picked declassified documents, hundreds of hours of original interviews, and thousands of hours of previously unavailable interviews. Original interviews conducted by the team included President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretaries of Defense Leon Panetta and Robert Gates, Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and every theater commander for the war, among many others. With its release, this publication, The U.S. Army in the Iraq War, represents the U.S. Government's longest and most detailed study of the Iraq conflict thus far.

The famous impressions of the war written at and near the front. Here are all of Cobb's experiences and observations in the Great War, of which the whole country has been talking. "The paths of glory lead but to the grave," said the poet, and behind all these powerful, fascinating accounts of exactly what Cobb saw, with the eye of genius, is the greatest argument for peace! Here one sees the efficiency of the Germans, the march of a million men, the smoke from 42-centimeter guns, the tragedy of widowed Belgium -- And with it one sees the necessity of ending war. A book that will last. "The best book about the war." -San Francisco Chronicle "No more vivid transcription of the war has been put into print - indeed a few word pictures equal the wonderful kaleidoscopic survey of scenes and incidents in 'Paths of Glory.'" -Chicago Examiner "'Paths of Glory' is a human book. The man who wrote it is a big man, big in his ability to crystallize the swiftly moving scenes of a world-drama into eternal form. Cobb sees the high lights, but he also sees the bitter tears of a people who are bearing a burden that they never deserved. 'Paths of Glory' does not neglect to commend the Prussian military machine. But its appeal to us is in its American humanity." -Boston Post "Odd, perhaps, that one of America's funny men should write the best war correspondent's book, yet 'Paths of Glory' is unsurpassed, not alone because of its rich material, but especially because of its moving style. Cobb reached deep down into human nature. Not only has he given the color of the picture, the long marches, the firing-line, the hospital, and the off-duty periods, but he has done that far more difficult task of bringing out all that war means to the many kinds of men engaged in it. In his vastly varied experiences he is able, now by a deft touch of anecdote, now by a gentle flash of quaint humor, to show the psychological reaction on the professional fighting man, the unimaginative recruit, the stunned peasant, the wounded and the dying. It is far and away the book best suited to transplant us to the other side and give us the regular everyday feeling of the war." -The New Republic "Easily deserves first place among recent books about the war. Mr. Cobb has an unusual talent for description, and his pages disclose a character typically American. He saw the war largely through German eyes and under German auspices, and he retained throughout something closely approximating a judicial poise; certainly there is always the manifest intention to be just and an almost meticulous adherence to fact. Nevertheless, the very perfection of the machine, the subordination of the individual to the orders of an admitted superior, leave a sense of outraged Americanism behind...Above all, perhaps, is the sincere American attitude he preserves from cover to cover of his interesting volume." -The Dial

This book was inspired by a deep admiration for the maritime industry and its vital role in global history, commerce, and culture. It explores the complex aspects of the marine operations, combining its extensive historical background with the progressive developments that are influencing its path. This book examines the symbiotic relationship between traditional maritime traditions and the necessity for innovation within the ever-evolving oceanic business, spanning from the experiences of ancient seafarers to the advancements of modern vessels. The problems and opportunities within the maritime sector are reflective of the larger transformations occurring in the global landscape. The future of marine is significantly influenced by climate change, technology improvements, economic dynamics, and geopolitical tensions. With a recognition of the inherent interconnection, the primary objective of this book is to furnish a thorough comprehension, thereby bridging the divide between the marine industry and the broader global framework within which it functions. For individuals with extensive experience in the marine industry, this book serves as a contemplative piece, offering valuable perspectives and serving as a navigational aid for future endeavors. For individuals who are unfamiliar with this field, it provides an entry point to a realm that, despite frequently being disregarded, holds significant importance in the intricate fabric of our interconnected global society. This work is a tribute to the marine sector and the numerous individuals who navigate its journey. As you commence upon this literary expedition, it is our aspiration that you acquire not only knowledge but also a heightened viewpoint on an enterprise that consistently molds, and is molded by, our worldwide narrative. Respected regards

The maritime industry is on the brink of a profound transformation driven by technological innovation and automation. At the heart of this maritime revolution lies the advent of autonomous ships, a disruptive force poised to redefine how we navigate and manage vessels on the open seas. This chapter sets the stage for exploring this remarkable phenomenon, delving into the definitions, key players, and overarching trends underpinning the autonomous wave.

A young singer's 'joie de vivre' is disrupted by the outbreak of World War 1.

If you want to immerse yourself in the history of the battle that was pivotal to the reelection of Abraham Lincoln in 1864, then keep reading...Atlanta was the linchpin of the South's hopes and the North's determination, and the city became the epicenter of a battle that would change the course of history forever.The Union Army moved in to capture the city, but the Confederates defended it. Each army employed cunning strategies in their relentless pursuit of victory.But in the summer of 1864, the struggle reached its peak. It was also the time when the nation's destiny hung in the balance. Every decision made by the generals affected the future of the United States, and the Battle of Atlanta became the center stage of the war.Let's experience this battle through the eyes of soldiers who faced unimaginable odds, civilians who watched their world crumble, and commanders who grappled with the weight of their decisions.In this book, you will do the following:Journey through time. Walk through the fields and forests of Atlanta where the battle happened. Travel back to 1864-a tumultuous era where the future of a divided nation teetered on the edge of uncertainty.Sit through heart-pounding drama. Feel the pulse-pounding drama of a city under siege where every moment counted, and every decision had life-altering consequences.Experience the battle firsthand. Delve into the sheer intensity of warfare, experiencing the triumphs and tragedies of each army.Discover unseen heroes.Meet unsung heroes who stood tall in the face of adversity. Some were soldiers on the front lines; others were civilians caught in the crossfire.Uncover captivating strategies. Unearth the brilliant strategies that shaped the battle, turning the tide in the most unexpected ways. Discover the untold stories, harrowing sacrifices, and pivotal moments.Find the turning point. Explore how the Battle of Atlanta set the stage for the nation's transformation and how it became the turning point of the Civil War.

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...

Stefan R. Rasser was born in March 1945 near Chemnitz (Saxony) and grew up in Hannover - at that time part of the British Zone of post-war Germany. After successful completion of his commercial education he decided to gain international experience in direct sales and relocated to Great Britain and later on to Switzerland. From 1972 on he worked for a reputable subsidiary of Tyco Corporation close to Munich. In 2010 he retired and moved with his wife to her hometown Biberach/Riss - unsuspectingly how far he would be drawn into the history of this small Swabian town. Fascinated by the audacious escape of British officers from a local POW camp in September 1941 through a self-dug tunnel, in 2011 Stefan R. Rasser began researching the circumstances of this stunning endeavour focusing on the participating officers' lives during World War 2. After years of meticulous investigation, he discovered parts of the tunnel, including its exit. The exciting story of this discovery, intertwined with some biographies of the protagonists, was published in German in 2020 with the title "Wir sind durch!".

It's the year 2000 and two suicide pilots in a bomb-laden boat just attacked the guided-missile destroyer USS Cole in the port of Yemen, killing 17 U.S. sailors and injuring 39 others. Gowan's fictional account based on real events picks up right after the Al Qaeda bombing.The U.S. Navy scrambles to protect its warships in the port of Jebel Ali in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Navy Reservists from a little-known community called the Naval Coastal Warfare and Coast Guard Reservists get the urgent call to serve in Dubai, the biggest and busiest port in the Middle East and only 1,500 miles away from the USS Cole attack."My goal is to humanize the enlisted Sailors and Coast Guardsmen who mobilized and deployed for a singular-focused mission with huge consequences," said Gowan, who served on active duty in the U.S. Navy for 6 years with three deployments to the Middle East and later joined the Naval Reserves. "They fought and won the battle against an evil, ever-present but invisible enemy planning to attack U.S. shipping with the big prize being an aircraft carrier. This is their story.""MC's story perfectly captures the steely resolve of these brave Reservists to defend the sailors and ships in their battlespace during the turbulent days after the USS Cole attack," said Chris Schafer, CEO at Tactical 16 Publishing. "This book is a must read to understand how terrorism started and the evil forces that continue to wreak havoc worldwide."

Origins of the Nevada Test Site was written in conjunction with the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Nevada Test Site. The history was released at the official celebration held in Las Vegas, Nevada, on December 18, 2000, fifty years after President Harry S. Truman formally designated the site as the location for conducting nuclear weapons tests within the continental United States.

"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.