Osprey Publications

Messines 1917 The zenith of siege warfare Campaign 225 At 0310 hours on 7 June 1917, the pre-dawn gloom on the Western Front was shattered by the 'pillars of fire' the rapid detonation of 19 huge mines, secreted in tunnels under the German lines and containing 450 tonnes of explosives. Admitted by the Germans to be a 'masterstroke', the devastating blasts caused 10,000 soldiers to later be posted simply as 'missing'. Launching a pre- planned attack into the carnage, supported by tanks and a devastating artillery barrage, the British took the strategic objective of Messines Ridge within hours. A rare example of innovation and success in the First World War, this book is a fresh and timely examination of a fascinating campaign.

Mons Graupius AD 83 Rome's battle at the edge of the world Campaign 224: In AD 77, Roman forces under Agricola marched into the northern reaches of Britain in an attempt to pacify the Caledonian tribesman. For seven years, the Romans marched and battled across what is now Scotland. Finally, in AD 83, they fought the final battle at Mons Graupius where 10,000 Caledonians were slaughtered from only 360 Roman dead. It proved the high-water mark of Roman power in Britain. Following unrest elsewhere in the empire, the north of Scotland was abandoned and Rome's forces began their long retreat. Never again would Roman arms stand on the edge of the known world.

Operation Crusader 1941 Rommel in Retreat Campaign 220: On 18 November 1941, the British launched Operation Crusader against the Axis positions in Africa. The plan was to bring the armour of the German Afrika Korps to battle and to beat it in open warfare with the now superior strength of Eighth Army, and to relieve the isolated British garrison at Tobruk. Initially meeting with disaster, the British redoubled their efforts, fought through to Tobruk, and pushed back Rommel's Afrika Korps. Written by popular Osprey author, Ken Ford, Operation Crusader tells the story of the British victory that demonstrated their ability to fight head-to-head against the Germans in Africa

Salamis 480 BC The naval campaign that saved Greece Campaign 222: In 480 BC, the Greek and Persian fleets met in a battle in the strait between Attica and the island of Salamis. Although outnumbered, the Greeks delivered a crushing victory that ended the Persian threat to Greece. This book draws on the findings of archaeological, technological and naval research, as well as on original historical sources to vividly recreate one of the most important naval campaigns in world history.

CAM221 First Battle of Marne 1914 The battle of the Marne was one of the decisive encounters of World War I, saving France from a catastrophic defeat that would almost certainly have knocked her out of the war. This title presents the origins of the campaign, followed by a brief chronology, before detailing the opposing commanders and armies.

Dunkirk 1940 Operation Dynamo Campaign 219: The evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) from Dunkirk is one of the most dramatic and famous episodes of the Second World War. Dunkirk 1940 assesses Operation Dynamo from start to finish, with reference to the plans, forces and operations involved. It is a unique and comprehensive compilation of all the facts with excellent illustrations, photographs and maps detailing every significant event in the Operation. For the first time in military literature this title discusses the theory that the results of Dynamo largely depended on the results of an 'asymmetric' battle.

The Mongol Invasions of Japan 1274 and 1281 Campaign 217: From his seat in Xanadu, the great Mongol Emperor of China, Kubla Khan, had long plotted an invasion of Japan. However, it was only with the acquisition of Korea, that the Khan gained the maritime resources necessary for such a major amphibious operation. Written by expert Stephen Turnbull, this book tells the story of the two Mongol invasions of Japan against the noble Samurai. Using detailed maps, illustrations, and newly commissioned artwork, Turnbull charts the history of these great campaigns, which included numerous bloody raids on the Japanese islands, and ended with the famous kami kaze, the divine wind, that destroyed the Mongol fleet and would live in the Japanese consciousness and shape their military thinking for centuries to come.

The Coral Sea 1942 The first carrier battle Campaign 214: The Battle of the Coral Sea is unique in the annals of naval history. It is the first battle in which enemy fleets never came within sight of one another. Instead, aircraft launched from carrier decks were sent out to attack the enemy with bombs and torpedoes. In May of 1942, the Japanese fleet moved on Port Moresby, the last Allied base between Australia and Japan. Forced to respond, the Americans sent two aircraft carriers to protect the base. In the ensuing battle, one American carrier was destroyed and the other severely damaged. However, the Japanese also lost a carrier and decided to withdraw. Although bloody, it proved to be an important strategic victory for the Allies as the Japanese were forced to attempt future attacks on Port Moresby over land. Using the latest research and numerous period photographs, retired USN Commander Mark O Stille tells the story of this important and unique battle in the Pacific War.

Leningrad 1941 44 The epic siege Campaign 215: Hitler's protracted siege of Leningrad resulted in one of the most brutal campaigns on the Eastern Front during World War II. The German Army Group North was able to isolate the city and its garrison for a period of 900 days, during which an estimated 1.5 million Soviets died from combat, disease and starvation. For over two years, German forces pounded the city with artillery and air assaults while the Soviets made repeated efforts on the frozen swamplands of the Volkhov Front to break through. Finally, in January 1944, the Soviets were able to break Army Group North's front and relieve Leningrad. While most histories of the siege of Leningrad focus on the plight of the starving civil population, this refreshing title instead examines the strength of the garrison's defenses which ultimately prevented the Germans from capturing the city and the growing sophistication of Soviet offensive tactics. Dr Forczyk also provides an assessment of how weather and terrain factors shaped the campaign in this superb addition to the history of the Eastern Front.

Ireland 1649 52 Cromwell's Protestant Crusade Campaign 213 Following the execution of King Charles I in January 1649, the English Parliament saw their opportunity to launch an assault on the Royalist enclave in Ireland. Oliver Cromwell was appointed as Deputy of Ireland to lead a campaign to restore direct control and quell the opposition. The first battle in Cromwell's bloody offensive was at Drogheda, where an assault on the city walls resulted in the slaughter of almost 4000 defenders and inhabitants. The Parliamentary troops then proceeded to Wexford where battle once again lead to a massacre. After Cromwell returned to England, his son-in-law, Henry Ireton, continued the operation which ended with the surrender of Galway in 1652 and led to the Act for the Settlement of Ireland, in which Irish Royalists and Confederates were evicted and their lands 'settled' by those who had advanced funds to Parliament

Spartacus and the Slave War 73 71 BC A gladiator rebels against Rome Campaign 206: In the year 73 BC, Spartacus broke out of a gladiatorial training school and formed an army of runaway slaves and people with little to lose. This army defeated two Roman armies and attacked several cities. Terrified lest the revolt spread, the government in Rome assigned Crassus and Pompey to crush to rebellion. They cornered Spartacus and brought him to battle near the source of the river Silarus. During the battle, Spartacus was killed and his army defeated. Crassus crucified 6,000 prisoners as an example to others who might think of revolt. Written by Nic Fields and illustrated by Steven Noon, this campaign title brings to life the story of Rome s most famous revolt and the ex- gladiator who led it.

Operation Dragoon 1944 France's other D-Day Campaign 210: Operation Dragoon, the Allied landings in southern France on August 15, 1944, was one of the most controversial operations of 1944, leading to a deep divide between United States and British planners. The US objective was to threaten the rear of the German armies occupying France by a landing on the eastern French coast and to push rapidly northward towards Lorraine to meet up with Allied forces bursting out of Normandy. Popular Osprey author Steve Zaloga tells the story of this ultimately successful operation, from the derisive debates between the Allied commanders to the men who hit the beaches and charged ashore to help liberate occupied France.

Actium 31 BC Downfall of Antony and Cleopatra Campaign 211: In 32 BC, the Roman Republic descended into civil war between the forces of the Octavian in the west and the famous lovers Cleopatra and Marc Antony in the East. Acting quickly, Octavian managed to trap his foes in the Gulf of Actium. In the ensuing battle, Anthony and Cleopatra manage to escape, but their military forces and their hopes for victory in the war were crushed. Soon afterward, the lovers committed suicide, and Octavian dissolved the republic and declared himself Emperor. Actium has remained one of the most famous battles of the ancient world thanks to Shakespeare and Hollywood. This new book tells the true story of the decisive and bloody battle that would once and for all seal the fate of the Roman Republic

Petersburg 1864 65 The longest siege Campaign 208: In 1864 General Ulysses S. Grant decided to strangle the life out of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia by surrounding the city of Petersburg and cutting off General Robert E. Lee's supply lines. The ensuing siege would carry on for nearly ten months, involve 160,000 soldiers, and see a number of pitched battles including the Battle of the Crater, Reams Station, Hatcher's Run, and White Oak Road. After nearly ten months, Grant launched an attack that sent the Confederate army scrambling back to Appomattox Court House where it would soon surrender. Written by an expert on the American Civil War, this book examines the last clash between the armies of U.S. Grant and Robert E. Lee.

Niagara 1814 The final invasion Campaign 209: The War of 1812 has the strange distinction of being largely forgotten by both of its main participants, and yet its outcome was critically important to the future of North America. In 1814, the Americans launched a last offensive in an attempt to seize Canada. This Niagara campaign saw a number of pitched battles including Chippawa, Lundy's Lane, and Cook's Mill, where the Americans, under competent leaders such as Winfield Scott, matched the British shot for shot. However, due to poor planning the campaign failed and Canada survived as an independent state. A critically-acclaimed researcher on the War of 1812, author John Latimer presents a new look at an oft forgotten yet crucially important campaign in the history of North America.

Solferino 1859 The battle that won Italy its independence Campaign 207: The battle of Solferino, fought during the Franco-Austrian War of 1859, was the largest European battle since Leipzig in 1813. In the presence of three crowned heads of state Napoleon III of France, Emperor Franz-Joseph of Austria and Victor Emmanuel II of Piedmont-Sardinia (later the King of all Italy) the armies clashed together in a bitterly fought contest that would leave more than 40,000 dead. As a crucial climax to the Second Italian War of Independence, this title covers the build-up to the battle, including actions at Montebello, Palestro and Magenta that led to the decisive moment of the campaign. Full-colour battle-scene artwork and detailed maps illustrate this comprehensive account of the commanders, armies, plans and aftermath of one of the bloodiest battles of the period

Warsaw 1944 Poland's bid for freedom Campaign 205: Defeated and occupied in 1939, Poland had suffered under the Nazi heel for nearly five years. Undaunted, however, the Poles formed an underground army, the Armia Krajowa (Home Army), and waited for a moment of German weakness. That moment seemed to have arrived in July 1944 as the Soviet armies began to advance into eastern Poland. The AK launched its revolt in Warsaw on 1 August 1944. Though its 5,000 fighters achieved some initial successes, the Germans were able to retain control over both the Vistula River bridges and the airbase, dooming the revolt to isolation and defeat. The SS was put in charge of suppressing the rebellion, beginning a wave of atrocities shocking even by Eastern Front standards.

The Second Crusade 1148 -Disaster outside Damascus: Campaign 204 Despite minor setbacks, Christian Europe had enjoyed success on previous Crusader campaigns. Pursuing an ambitious but politically flawed strategy against an Islamic state friendly to their Crusader neighbours, the knights of the Second Crusade suffered a crushing defeat at Damascus in 1148. This battle shook the Crusaders' belief in their military supremacy, and revived the Islamic states, marking a crucial turning point in the history of the Crusades.

Trenton and Princeton 1776 77: Washington crosses the Delaware: Campaign 203 Pursued by British forces, Washington and his remaining 5,000 men resolved on a risky strike against the British and Hessian positions across the Delaware River. Crossing the river, Washington took the Trenton garrison for the loss of only four men, before outflanking Cornwallis' 8,000-strong force and marching on Princeton. His military reputation established, Washington's victory restored American morale and turned the tide of the war.

The Arab Revolt 1916 18 Lawrence sets Arabia ablaze Campaign 202: The Arab Revolt of 1916 18 was one of the most dramatic events of World War I. It resulted in the birth of the modern Middle East and also created one of the most enduring myths of the war: the story of Lawrence of Arabia. This book examines the revolt, describing and analyzing the background and events of the uprising. Breaking the process into several broad phases, the author examines the initial capture of coastal towns like Jeddah, followed by the raids on the Hijaz Railway, the seizure of Aqaba and the northward push of the Arab Army at Gaza, Jerusalem, Megiddo and Damascas. Finally, this book describes how a local Arab rebellion grew to form a major part of Allied operations in the Middle East, as Arab tribesman who were merely troublesome raiders developed into a force which could oppose brigade-sized Turkish columns by 1918.

Brandy Station 1863; First step towards Gettysburg cam201: The road to Gettysburg began at Brandy Station on 9 June 1863. Early on that morning, General Pleasanton launched his men across the Rappahannock at Beverley's Ford to the north of Brandy Station and Kelly's Ford to the south. General JEB Stuart was caught unaware by these maneuvers and his lines and headquarters were nearly overrun until reinforcements helped to stabilize the situation. Following 12 hours of bitter fighting the Union forces withdrew back across the river in what was the largest and most hotly contested clash of sabres in the war. This book describes the battle with a step-by-step analysis, illustrated with detailed maps, birds-eye-views and full colour battlescene artwork.

Japan 1945 From Operation Downfall to Hiroshima and Nagasaki cam200: In this 200th Campaign series title Clayton Chun examines the final stages of World War II as the Allies debated how to bring about the surrender of Japan. He details Operation Downfall (the planned invasion of the Japanese home islands).Chun explains why these plans were never implemented, before examining the horrific alternative to military invasion - the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki with nuclear weapons. With a series of illustrations, including detailed diagrams of the atomic bombs, a depiction of the different stages of the explosions and maps of the original invasion plans, this book provides a unique perspective of a key event in world history.

Philippi 42 BC - The death of the Roman Republic Campaign 199: Immortalized by Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, the battle of Philippi was the final meeting between the forces of Mark Antony and Octavian against the armies of Caesar's assassins Brutus and Longinus. In this book Si Sheppard takes a detailed look at the campaign that was waged around the Macedonian city of Philippi. In the bloody and close combat, legionary fought legionary amid great slaughter, until Brutus' forces were defeated. Brutus fled and committed suicide the following day. The Republican cause crushed, Rome now rested in the hands of the Second Triumvirate. Packed with photographs, breathtaking battlescene artwork and detailed maps illustrating the course of the battles on land and on sea, this is the history of the campaign which sounded the final death knell for the Republican movement.

The Samurai Invasion of Korea 1592-98 - Campaign 198 : Stephen Turnbull, a renowned expert on the history of Japan, examines the samurai invasion of Korea, the first step in an ambitious Japanese plan to conquer China. Examining the various stages of the war, from the pitched battles of the early war years, to the great naval encounters, the dramatic sieges and the bitter trench warfare that characterized the end of the war, Turnbull provides a concise analysis of the conflict. Highly illustrated with contemporary photographs, full colour battlescene artwork, detailed maps and bird's-eye views, this is a concise history of a unique and exciting campaign, which not only involved huge numbers of men, differing terrain and tactics but was also the only time that the legendary samurai were pitched against a foreign nation.

Amiens 1918 The Black Day of the German Army (Campaign 197: The battle of Amiens was the turning point of World War I, confirming to all that the strategic initiative had decisively returned to the Allies. The battle heralded the arrival of new strategic, tactical and operational methods of attack for the Allies. Most importantly, by the time the battle ended on 11 August the desire of the German leadership to continue the war had been shattered. In this book Alistair McCluskey describes the course of the battle and the commanders involved. He details troop movements that illustrate the rapid advance of Allied forces, all of which are analysed using both traditional and bird's-eye-view maps. Released to coincide with the 90th anniversary of the battle, this book is illustrated with some amazingly poignant rare photographs and full-colour artwork, providing a detailed analysis of the battle that heralded the beginning of the end of World War I.

Gazala 1942 Rommel's greatest victory (Campaign 196): Following a lull in the desert war which saw the Germans and British reinforce their armies, Rommel suddenly attacked British fortifications with an assault on the northern sector of the British line near Gazala. Pinning down the British in the north and outflanking the 1st Free French Brigade, Rommel succeeded in encircling the main British positions, trapping them in what became known as 'The Cauldron'. With thousands of British soldiers killed or taken prisoner, this was a devastating defeat for the Allies. Accompanied by contemporary photographs and maps depicting the movement of both armies, Ken Ford provides a masterful study of Rommel, the 'Desert Fox', at the height of his powers as he swept the British army back to the site of their final stand at El Alamein.

London 1914-17 The Zeppelin Menace (Campaign 193): The first Zeppelin attack on London came in May 1915 - and with it came the birth of a new arena of warfare, the 'home front'. German airships attempted to raid London on 26 separate occasions between May 1915 and October 1917. This book tells the story of Germany's strategic Zeppelin offensive against Britain, and how it came to be neutralized.

New York 1776 The Continentals' first battle (Campaign 192): General Sir William Howe's New York campaign gave the British their best chance of destroying the Continental Army and George Washington's resistance to colonial power. Howe succeeded in dividing the Continentals, defeated them on Long Island and forced Washington to retreat to Brooklyn Heights. Under siege there, Washington successfully crossed the East River to Manhattan but soon had to fall back on Harlem Heights. After a few weeks Howe forced the Continentals north to White Plains and defeated them again. However, he allowed Washington to withdraw and preserve his army when a more aggressive pursuit could have ended the war. Instead, with the British army rapidly weakening and facing huge manpower shortages, Washington emerged from a succession of defeats to produce what was ultimately a war-winning strategy. The author provides fascinating insights into a unique campaign in which a string of British victories ultimately led to failure and defeat.

Poitiers AD 732 Charles Martel turns the Islamic tide (Campaign 190): In the early decades of the 8th century AD, Islamic forces were flooding into Europe through the Iberian peninsula, threatening Frankish and Burgundian territory and raiding it with ever-increasing ferocity. At the battle of Poitiers, also known as Tours, Christian forces under the Frankish leader Charles Martel 'The Hammer' (grandfather of Charlemagne) confronted a massive invading Islamic army. The Franks were victorious, effectively halting the northward advance of Islam and preserving Christianity as the dominant faith in Europe. Expert medievalist David Nicolle draws on contemporary sources to reconstruct this turning-point battle, placing it in its historical context and reviewing its background and the subsequent historical consequences.

Vienna 1683 Christian Europe repels the Ottomans(Campaign 191) : The capture of the Hapsburg city of Vienna was a major strategic aspiration for the Islamic Ottoman Empire, desperate for the control that the city exercized over the Danube and the overland trade routes between southern and northern Europe. In July 1683 Sultan Mehmet IV proclaimed a jihad and the Turkish grand vizier, Kara Mustafa Pasha, laid siege to the city with an army of 150,000 men. In September a relieving force arrived under Polish command and joined up with the defenders to drive the Turks away. The main focus of this book is the final 15-hour battle for Vienna, which peaked with a massive charge by three divisions of Polish winged hussars. This hard-won victory marked the beginning of the decline of the Islamic Ottoman Empire, which was never to threaten central Europe again.

Sevastopol 1942: Von Manstein's Triumph. Campaign 189; Forczyk. Beginning in late July 1941, Germany's Army Group South launched attacks to seize the Crimea. After weeks of heavy fighting, the Germans breached the Soviet defenses and overran most of the region. By November the only remaining Soviet foothold was the heavily fortified naval base at Sevastopol. Operation Sturgeon Haul, the final assault on Sevastopol, was one of the very few joint service German operations of WWII, with 2 German corps and a Romanian corps supported by a huge artillery siege train, the Luftwaffe's crack VIII Flieger Korps and a flotilla of Kriegsmarine S-Boats. Examines the impact of logistics, weather and joint operational planning upon the last major German victory of the war; 96 pages.

Thermopylae 480 BC Last stand of the 300 (Campaign 188): An authoritative re-telling of one of the greatest tales of heroism of all time and a decisive moment for the history of the world, Leonidas and the 300 Spartans' fight to the death against overwhelming Persian forces preserved the future of Greece and the golden age of classical civilization. Nic Fields vividly describes the battle for the pass of Thermopylae as the combined Greek forces held off the army of Xerxes, buying time for a retreat which would save Greece. Lavishly illustrated and with full-colour artwork, detailed maps and dramatic battle scenes, this is an in-depth analysis of one of the most famous acts of resolute defence in the face of overwhelming odds.

Cambrai 1917 The birth of armoured warfare (Campaign 187): This crucial new study on one of the seminal events in military history dispells many of the myths surrounding Cambrai 1917. Common perception classifies it as the 'world's first tank battle' but Alexander Turner shows us that the true importance of Cambrai was that it saw the first use of armour as an operational shock tactic. With this, the conduct of war was irrevocably changed. The battle also heralded the combined use of aircraft, armour and artillery, marking the birth of modern combined-arms techniques. Written by a military historian and serving soldier, this is a fascinating analysis of a battle which ended a stalemate, yet spawned a host of war-winning tactics.

The Yom Kippur War The Arab-Israeli War of 1973 (General Military): On 6 October 1973, simultaneous attacks on two fronts caught Israel by surprise. Both attacks aimed to take back the territory occupied by Israel following the Six Day War of 1967. On the holiest day of the Jewish year Israeli forces were caught largely unprepared and consequently the Egyptian crossing of the Suez Canal, and the Syrian attack on the Golan Heights were both initially successful. By the afternoon of the following day, a Syrian brigade was less than 10km from the Sea of Galilee. The following month saw desperate bitter fighting as the Israeli forces slowly drove the invading armies. Simon Dunstan offers a balanced analysis of the fierce Yom Kippur War, describes the key battle and the forces involved and examines that outcome of the war - how at national and international level the Yom Kippur War was a disaster from which Israel has not yet recovered, her image of invincibility and the concept of a national superpower erased when the nation was forced into dependence on the USA for military, diplomatic and economic support. Illustrated with full colour artwork, contemporary photographs and detailed maps, this book provides an insight into the hostilities that enveloped the Middle East, the after-effects of which are still seen today.

Philadelphia 1777 Taking the capital (Campaign 176): The turning point in the War of Independence, the campaign for Philadelphia set in motion a series of events leading to the defeat of the British and eventual independence for the emerging American nation. From the landing of General William Howe's army at the head of the Elk River, to his eventual capture of Philadelphia, the campaign included some fascinating battles. The initial engagement at Brandywine, the Paoli Massacre and the missed opportunity at Germantown are all examined in detail by Justin Clement, with supporting maps, original artwork and photographs. Recently discovered information about the battle of Brandywine and analysis of the major personalities involved completes this comprehensive account

Operation Barbarossa 1941 (3) Army Group Center (Campaign 186): The final volume in the Barbarossa trilogy, this title complete the account of the strategic intricacies of the German campaign against Russia. Robert Kirchubel examines the causes behind the German failure, including the inability to resupply troops or provide reserves, as well as the lack of decent German winter uniforms and transport with dramatic contemporary photographs detailing the unforgiving battlefield conditions. Full-colour artwork, maps and bird's-eye-views illustrate the campaign in detail, revealing how, despite lapses and flaws in Soviet defences, the Red Army was able to capitalize on every German weakness.

Granicus 334 BC Alexander's First Persian Victory (Campaign 182): Granicus River was Alexander's first great victory over the Persians, where he demonstrated the heroic style of active and decisive leadership that was the hallmark of his career. In the initial engagement, Alexander's 5,000 cavalry, supported by archers and javelin men, routed a force of 20,000 Persian cavalry This convincing victory was the springboard for the subjugation of the coastal cities, the neutralisation of the Persian navy and ultimately the conquest of the Persian Empire. Exploring the courageous leadership of one of the world's most inspirational yet ruthless leaders, this book provides a detailed analysis of the battle, strategy and tactics of the forces engaged.

Naseby 1645 The triumph of the New Model Army (Campaign 185): On the pivotal day of 14 June 1645 Charles I's Royalist Army and Parliament's New Model Army made battle at Naseby. Using first-hand accounts, Martin Marix Evans introduces the origins of the campaign, explores the strengths and weaknesses of the opposing armies, and vividly describes the engagement. The traditional condemnation of Prince Rupert's military strategy is undermined, and the significance of Okey's Dragoons in precipitating the action explained. He imparts his intimate knowledge of the terrain so crucial to the New Model Army's frontage, and uses archaeological and documentary evidence to piece together a remarkable blow-by-blow account of this devastating battle.

Stalingrad 1942 (Campaign 184: One of the most monumental and widely discussed battles in the history of World War II, Stalingrad was Hitler's first major defeat on the Eastern Front, and acted as a catalyst for his eventual downfall. Providing a detailed breakdown of the armies on both sides and discussing the merits of the commanders and the ways in which these influenced the battle, Peter Antill questions why the Germans allowed themselves to be diverted from their main objective and concentrate such large resources on a secondary target. The bird's-eye view illustrations and maps that feature in this book help to unravel the detail of unit directions, priorities and deployments, and the tactical failures that led to the day-by-day war of attrition that lasted for nearly five months

Denmark and Norway 1940 Hitler's boldest operation (Campaign 183): On 9 April 1940, German forces invaded Denmark, and then Norway, in an attempt to guarantee security of Scandinavia's vital mineral resources for their war industry. This assault, Operation Weserübung, represented the first joint air-land-and-sea campaign in the history of warfare, and was the only such campaign planned by the Wehrmacht high command, including all three services of the Wehrmacht. This book describes the events of this tumultuous campaign that not only led to Winston Churchill's appointment as British Prime Minister, but also saw the crippling of the German Kriegsmarine as a fighting force.

Easter Rising 1916 Birth of the Irish Republic (Campaign 180): When the outbreak of World War I delayed home rule for Ireland, a faction of Irish nationalists decided to take direct action. On Easter Monday 1916, a rebellion was launched from the steps of the Dublin General Post Office and the existence of an Irish Republic proclaimed. The British response was a military one and they drove the rebels back in violent street fighting until they surrendered on 29 April. The leaders of the rising were tried by court martial: 15 of them were summarily executed and a further 3,500 'sympathizers' imprisoned. This book covers this important milestone in Anglo-Irish history in detail, thoroughly examining the politics behind the Easter Rising and the tactics employed to counter it.

Siegfried Line 1944-45 Battles on the German frontier (Campaign 181): The campaign on the German frontier in late 1944 was one of the most frustrating and costly efforts by the US Army in the ETO. The Allies first encountered the Siegfried Line (Westwall) fortifications in September 1944, having pursued the retreating Wehrmacht through Belgium and the Netherlands. The border area around Aachen had been fortified with a double line of bunkers, and both the terrain and the weather made things difficult for the Allies. This book focuses on the involvement of the US First and Ninth armies in the six-month fighting, including the hellish fighting for the Hürtgen forest.

Château Thierry & Belleau Wood 1918
America's baptism of fire on the Marne (Campaign 177) In May and June 1918 the newly arrived American Expeditionary Force fought two actions that helped defeat the last German offensive of World War I. At Château Thierry a combined French and American force stopped the Germans from crossing the Marne River. Building on this success the US 2nd Division stopped the German advance on Paris and were given the task of recapturing Belleau Wood. First-hand accounts, photographs, and detailed maps dramatically bring to life these key battles, America's baptism of fire in World War I.

Remagen 1945 Endgame against the Third Reich (Campaign 175): In the aftermath of the Battle of the Bulge in February 1945, the Allies embarked upon the final assault of Germany. The long-delayed US thrust over the Roer River eventually took place in February, leaving the Rhine as the last major geographical barrier to the Allied advance into Germany. This book describes how the US Army, in the face of furious last-ditch German resistance, captured the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen - securing the last surviving major crossing over the Rhine and setting the stage for the defeat of the German Army in the West.

Pharsalus 48 BC: Caesar and Pompey - Clash of the Titans (Campaign 174) In 48 BC, the stage was set for the final clash of the two titans of the Roman world and the odds were heavily in Pompey's favour, with 45,000 men against Caesar's 22,000. Having the dice loaded against him, however, seems to have stimulated Caesar's genius for battle. In a brilliant display of generalship he routed his rival's larger army. Pompey's army retreated, with Caesar's army in parallel pursuit, until, their general having escaped, Pompey's men finally surrendered. Simon Sheppard expertly charts the events surrounding the Pharsalus campaign, and the seismic implications of the decisive clash between the two greatest generals of their age.

Gibraltar 1779-1783
The Great Siege
(Campaign 172)
After Spain declared war on Britain on 21 June 1779, Gibraltar was besieged by land and sea for four years. The centrepiece of the siege was the dramatic assault by supposedly invincible battering ships and the author reveals how these floating phenomena were countered by British engineering ingenuity and sheer resolve. In this detailed account of the siege, Rene Chartrand examines the Franco-Spanish and British forces as well as the personalities and plans that would contribute to a vital British victory at a time when British fortunes elsewhere in the world were on the wane.

Osaka 1615 The last battle of the samurai (Campaign 170): In 1614-15 Osaka Castle was Japan's greatest fortification, measuring approximately 2 miles in length with walls 100 feet high. It was guarded by 100,000 samurai, determined to defend the last of the once-powerful Toyotomi clan. The castle was seemingly impenetrable; however, Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the ruling dynasty, was determined to destroy this remaining threat to the Tokuwaga ruling dynasty. This book explores the bitter struggle of the Summer and Winter campaigns, which eventually saw the last great clash of the samurai and defined the balance of power in Japan for years to come.

Assaye 1803
Wellington's first and 'bloodiest' victory
(Campaign 166)
Wellington said that of all his battles Assaye, fought during the Second Maratha War (1803-05) in central India, was 'the bloodiest for the numbers that I ever saw'. A small British force, under Major-General the Honourable Arthur Wellesley (as Wellington was then known), crossed into Maratha territory in March 1803 to restore the Peshwa to his throne. On September 23, Wellesley encountered what turned out to be the entire Maratha army in a strong position on the banks of the Kailna River. The battle witnessed costly infantry and cavalry assaults, but was won by the steadiness of Wellesley's troops and his inspiring leadership.

Flodden 1513
Scotland's greatest defeat
(Campaign 168)
On 9 September 1513 Flodden field was the site for one of Scotland's most famous battles, often termed their "greatest defeat". The Scottish Army led by their courageous king, James IV, was strong in artillery and trained in new tactics from the Swiss doctrine, whereas the English Army they faced still favoured traditional tactics. Despite the strength of the Scots the English men-at-arms fought ferociously and by nightfall the field was strewn with the bodies of the Scottish nobility, and the tragic figure of the dead James IV. This book examines the strategies of the opposing armies and the significant effect of the weapons, including longbow and artillery, which they deployed.

Somme 1 July 1916
Tragedy and triumph
(Campaign 169)
The first day of the battle of the Somme has always been perceived as a day of tragedy for the British Army, with the slaughter of 60,000 men on the battlefield. What seemed to be poor planning on the part of the British command meant that soldiers were sent into no man's land to face the horrors of uncut barbed wire and waves of German machine gun fire. However, there were triumphs amongst the tragedy. This book discusses the successes and failures of the British and the German forces along the frontline. It also offers a detailed account of the battle itself, following the actions of individual units throughout the day.

Moscow 194: Hitler's First Defeat: Suffering a staggering loss of over 2 million troops by September 1941, Soviet forces were faced with the prospect of Hitler victoriously re-directing his powerful German armies toward the heart of Soviet Russia - Moscow. However, the season was late and the Germans found themselves in a race to launch a final decisive attack before the arrival of the dreaded Russian winter. Stalin desperately sought to play for time by mustering all available military resources to save his capital. This book is the story of Operation Typhoon, the largest German operational attack of the war and Hitler's desperate attempt to seize Moscow. With expert knowledge of the subject, author Robert A. Forczyk successfully manages to bring to life the battle which saw the most horrific losses for the Soviet defending forces and marked the first defeat of the Wehrmacht.

Khe Sanh 1967-68: Khe Sanh was a small village in northwest South Vietnam that sat astride key North Vietnamese infiltration routes. In September 1966 a Marine battalion deployed into the area. Action gradually increased as the NVA attempted to destroy Free World Forces bases, and the siege of Khe Sanh proper began in October 1967. The bitter fight lasted into July 1968 when, with the changing strategic and tactical situation, the base was finally closed. This book details the siege and explains how, although the NVA successfully overran a Special Forces camp nearby, it was unable to drive US forces from Khe Sanh.

Falaise 1944:Death of an army - The battle around Falaise in Normandy during August 1944 saw the destruction of the German Seventh army. This book details the chain of events which led to the German retreat and the ensuing liberation of France. The British and American breakout battles had released motorised units to wage a more mobile war against the German static defensive tactics. At Falaise, the armoured units of US Third Army encircled the German Seventh Army, squeezed them into an ever-smaller cauldron of chaos and crushed them against the advancing British Second Army. The results were devastating: those troops able to escape the disaster fled, those who remained were killed or captured and vast quantities of armour and equipment were lost.

Operation Barbarossa 1941 (2):Army Group North: Of the German Army Groups that attacked Soviet Russia, Von Leeb's Army Group North, tasked with seizing the Baltic States and Leningrad, was the smallest and weakest. General Kuznetzov's Northwestern Front, however, was in an even weaker state. Despite brave counterattacks and defense by the Soviet forces, the Germans smashed through the Dvina Line, then the Stalin Line, flooded into Latvia and pressed on to encircle Leningrad. This book examines the German offensive and also the courageous Soviet attempts to halt the German spearhead, defending every possible line against overwhelming odds.

The Battle of the Bulge Vol. II: The Ardennes offensive in December 1944, known to history as the "Battle of the Bulge", was the decisive campaign of the war in North-West Europe. When the attack in the north by 6th Panzer Army failed, Hitler switched the focus of the offensive to General Manteuffel's 5th Panzer Army farther south. Overwhelming the green US 106th Division, German Panzers flooded towards the River Meuse. Barring their way was the crossroads town of Bastogne, reinforced at the last minute by the paratroopers of the 101st Airborne, the 'Screaming Eagles". The stage was set for one of the epic struggles of the war - the battle for Bastogne.

Monongahela 1754-55: On 9 July 1755 amid the wilderness of North America, Britain suffered one of the most humiliating defeats in her history. General Braddock's army, a mixture of British regulars and American militia, was shattered, losing over 900 men from a force of 1,300. Braddock was killed and the remnants of his army rescued by his aide, Colonel George Washington. The origins of this defeat can be traced back to the death of a junior French officer little more than a year before in a relatively minor skirmish with a party of Virginian militia commanded by the same George Washington. Ren Chartrand examines the subsequent chain of events that ultimately sparked a world war.

One of the key objectives of British forces on D-Day was the capture of the strategically vital city of Caen. General Montgomery saw Caen as the key to Normandy and the springboard for the Allied breakout, but so did the Germans and the city did not fall. It took three major offensives and more than 30 bloody days of struggle to finally take Caen. In the process the city was controversially devastated and its civilian population decimated. The Allies paid a high price for Caen but the horrific German casualties bled their forces in Normandy white and helped open the way for the American breakout in Operation Cobra.

SEVEN DAYS BATTLES: When General Robert E. Lee took command of the Army of Northern Virginia, the Confederacy was in crisis. Lee changed all that in a brilliant week-long campaign. This book traces the course of this short yet crucial campaign.

Quebec 1775: Before the war of independence properly began, the American Continental Congress invited the Canadians to join their struggle against the British but the Canadians showed little enthusiasm. This book details the battle between Montgomery and Arnold's untried troops and Carleton's awaiting British forces in Quebec.

Tewkesbury 1471: Following their victory of Towton in 1461, The House of York continued to triumph. By 1470, however, relations between Edward and his lieutenant, Earl of Warwick, had broken down and Warwick had joined the Lancastrian cause. This title examines how, after Tewkesbury, the Lancastrian cause had been virtually wiped out.

Kawanakajima 1552-64: The Kawanakajima Campaign is unique in Japanese History perhaps even in world history, in that five battles were fought over the same battlefield with the same protagonist within the space of 12 years. The combatants were two of the greatest daimyo (Samurai Warlords) Takeda Shingen and Usgaei Kenshin

OPERATION BARBAROSSA 1941 (1): Germany's surprise assault on the Soviet Union in 1941, Operation Barbarossa, aimed at nothing less than complete destruction. Hitler saw this as the answer to establishing "Lebensraum" for the German people in the East.

The First Crusade 1096-99: In addition to its historical significance, this book explores how the First Crusade saw several armies march across Europe at a time when such a thing was virtually unheard of.

YOM KIPPUR WAR 1973 (1): The October War, or 'Yom Kippur War of 1973, was precipitated by the Arab states of the Middle East, primarily Egypt and Syria, in an attempt to force Israel to the negotiating table. In the first of a two volume analysis of the Yom Kippur war, Simon Dunstan details the Syrian assault on 'the strategically vital Golan Heights.

DIEPPE 1942: There is no doubt that the raid on Dieppe in August 1942 was one of the most controversial episodes of the Second World War. Some see the raid as a rehearsal for D-Day, and lessons learned from the debacle regarding combined operations have contributed to a justification for the great loss of life.

ZORNDORF1758: In January 1758, despite his victory over the Austrians, Frederick the Great found himself threatened once again. Despite their impressive stand at GrossJSgersdorf in July 1757, Frederick did not take the Russian threat seriously, and marched north towards Oder, placing his army across Fermor's line of communication and supply. At Zorndorf, the Russian infantry turned to meet this threat, and though Frederick had managed to temporarily stave off the Russian threat, his illusions about Russian competence were shattered.

AULDEARN 1645: In August 1644, at the height of the First English Civil War, John Graham, the Marquis of Montrose, raised the standard of Royalist rebellion in Scotland. His victory at Auldearn, the centrepiece of his campaign, was won only after a daylong struggle and heavy casualties on both sides. Stuart Reid details the remarkable sequence of victories at Tippermuir, Aberdeen, Inverlochy, Auldearn and Kilsyth that left Montrose briefly in the ascendant in Scotland.

QUEBEC 1759: When Major-General James Wolfe's army scaled the cliffs above St. Lawrence to stand with the French Canadian capital before them, they tumbled the Marquis de Montcalm's French army into bloody ruin. Sir John Fortescue famously described it as the "most perfect volley ever fired on a battlefield," and this book explores how in just a few hectic minutes, one of the British Army's most consummate professionals decided the fate of a continent.

MARSTON MOOR 1644: The entry of the Scots into the English Civil War on January 19, 1644, on the side of Parliament radically changed the balance of power in the North of England. The Royalists in the North were forced onto the defensive and besieged in York. In a bold march Prince Rupert outmaneuvered his enemies and relieved York without a shot being fired. However, when Rupert met the allied army in battle on Marston Moor on July 2 his cavalry was defeated by Cromwell's Ironsides who then turned on the Royalist infantry. The result was a hardfought but catastrophic defeat; the Ro alist army was crushed and their forces driven from the north of England.

ST. VITH AND NORTHERN SHOULDER 1944: The Battle of the Bulge was the largest and most costly battle fought by the US Army in World War II. In the first of two volumes on the Ardennes campaign Steven Zaloga details the fighting around St. Keith and the Elsenborn Ridge during the first two weeks of the battle.

Lepanto 1571: For much of the 16th century the Mediterranean was a battleground between Christians and Muslims. In August 1571, an Ottoman fleet of some 235 galleys encountered the slightly smaller Christian fleet of the Holy League. In a five hour melee the Christians inflicted a decisive defeat on the Turks. Lepanto was the last great galley fight of all time and one of the most decisive naval battles in history.

D-DAY 1944 (2) UTAH & US AIRBORNE LANDINGS: The D-Day landings of June 6, 1944 were the largest amphibious military operation ever mounted. The greatest armada the world had ever seen had been assembled to transport US 1 at Army and British 2nd Army across the narrow strip of the Channel and open the long-awaited second front against Hitler's Third Reich. This book reveals the events of this single day on Utah beach, one of the two US landings. Scheduled to ship in January,

Rossbach and Leuthen 1757 Prussia's eagle resurgent: By the autumn of 1757, Frederick the Great was beset by enemies on all sides. The French had invaded the territory of his Anglo-Hanoverian allies, a Franco Imperial army was threatening Saxony, an Austrian army 110,000-strong had marched into Silesia, and even the ponderous Russians had moved against him. Then, at Rossbach on 5 November he smashed the Franco-Imperial army in barely 11 /2 hours. Force marching to Silesia he won perhaps his greatest victory exactly a month later, crushing the Austrian Army at Leuthen.

D-Day 1944 (4)GOLD AND JUNO: Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy, was the greatest sea-borne military operation in history. At the heart of the invasion and key to its success were the landings of British 501th Division on Gold and Canadian 3rd Division on Juno Beach. In the fourth D-Day volume, Ken Ford details the assault that began the liberation of Nazi-occupied Europe.

Marathon 490 BC: This book follows the campaign of Marathon, one of the epic stories of the ancient world. When the Ionian Revolt broke out in 499BC, Athens angered the Persians by sending assistance to the Greeks of Asia. Having crashed the revolt, the Persian King, Darius, decided to punish Athens and landed his forces at Marathon some 26 miles from the city. Darius reputedly lost 6,400 men to the Greeks 192 in a conclusive Greek victory, and a Greek runner was dispatched to Athens with news of the victory in what became the first Marathon run.

Peleliu 1944 The Forgotten Corner of Hell: Equaling Tarawa, Iwo Jima and Okinawa in scale and ferocity, the battle for Peleliu has long been regarded as the Pacific war's 'forgotten battle'. Originally planned to secure General MacArthur's eastern flank during his invasion of the Philippine Islands, the assault became superfluous after a massive carrier based attack on the Palau islands some weeks earlier destroyed all aircraft and shipping in the area, virtually isolating the Japanese garrison, forcing them info a baffle of attrition from carefully prepared positions in the Umurbrogol Hills.

ISANDLWANA 1879: The battle of Isandlwana fought on January 22, 1879, was the greatest defeat suffered by the British Army during the Victorian era. A Zulu army of 24,000 warriors descended upon the British encampment of 1,000 defenders in the shadow of Isandlwana Mountain. Ian Knight employs new archaeological and historical research to provide a completely new interpretation of the course of the battle.

Culloden Moor 1746: The final demise of Jacobitism amid the slaughter of the Highland clans on a cold and damp Culloden Moor in April 1746 is undoubtedly one of the most famous battles in British military history. This book combines a thorough understanding of 18th century tactics, an intimate knowledge of the battlefield itself, and a scandalously underused archive of contemporary material from both sides to provide a detailed, accurate and dramatic account of this controversial battle.

Poland 1939: The German invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939 began World War II in Europe, pitting the newly modernized army of Europe's great industrial power against the much smaller Polish army and introducing the world to a new style of warfare Blitzkrieg. This book demonstrates how the Polish army was not as backward as it is often portrayed and fielded a tank Force larger than that of the contemporary US Army.

D-Day 1944 (3) Sword Beach: In the third of the D-Day volumes Ken Ford details the assault by British 6th Airborne Division and the British landings on Sword Beach that secured the vital left flank of the invasion.

Guilford Courthouse 1781: By the Spring of 1781, the American Revolutionary War had dragged on for almost six years and the outcome still hung in the balance. The British commander Lord Cornwallis launched his invasion of North Carolina at Guilford Courthouse on 15 March 1781. In a desperately hard-fought battle the small but professional British army succeeded in fighting its way through the lines of American troops but at a dreadful cost!

Hampton Roads 1862 -Clash of the Ironclads: During the winter of 1861-62, Confederate engineers transformed an old wooden steam frigate, the USS Merrimac, into a steam-powered ironclad warship, the CSS Virginia. While similar developments were taking place in Europe, it was in Hampton Roads, Virginia that the first clash between two ironclads would take place. This book details why the battle of Hampton Roads has been seen as one of the most important naval bales in history, ushering in a new age of naval warfare and warship design.

Okinawa 1943: By the spring of 1945 the Allies reclaimed many of the islands and territories seized by the Imperial Japanese forces in the early months of the Pacific War. With victory now assured, the question remained where the last battle would be fought. That place was the island of Okinawa. This book details the struggle For the island as US Marines and Army unite battle determined Japanese defenders in the last battle of World War II.

Bannockburn 1314: This book tells the story of the battle that represented the climax of the career of King Robert the Bruce, and has since remained the most famous battle in Scottish history - the baffle of Bannockburn.

 Austerlitz 1805: This book relives the events of 2 December 1805, a cold, crisp winters day when the Emperors of Russia, Austria and France all witnessed one of the greatest baffles of the Napoleon Era. This new edition draws on previously unused Austrian sources to tell the full story.

 D-Day 1944 (1): The western flank of the D-Day beachhead was to be secured by the combined methods of a landing on Omaha and the seizure of key locations by air assault. In the confusion of the air assault many of the paratroopers overshot their landing zones or were simply dropped in the wrong place. Gradually small groups of men assembled and made for their objectives. At 6:30 am, men of the 4th US Infantry division waded ashore at Omaha Beach. This book tells the story of the terrible baptism of Fire that those US troops would endure.

Fuentes de Onoro 1811: In 1811, the French again took the offensive in the peninsula. Soult moved to Badajoz and Massena advanced ro relieve Almeida which Wellingron had besieged. At Fuentes de Onoro, Massena and Wellingron's armies clashed, and the attacks of the French cavalry were thwarted by the stalwart resistance of the British infantry in square. This title describes this hard fought encounter and its aftermath.

Second Manassas 1862: The Second Manassas campaign was a military masterpiece in which Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia came as close as they ever would to exterminating their Federal opponents and ending the war. In so doing Lee confirmed himself as the South's pre-eminent military leader and helped forge his Army into the formidable Force it would remain for the rest of the war

Kalka River: The consequences for the history of Europe were incalculable. The decisive Mongol victory over a combined Russian and Kipchaq army at the battle of the Kalka River opened up vast regions of Russia and Christian Eastern Europe to Mongol conquest. This book tells the fascinating story of the battle of the Kalka River, the culmination of Ghengis Khan's reconnaissance expedition into Russia of 1221.

Orleans 1459: By 1429, with French Fortunes in the Hundred Years War at their lowest ebb, an English vicrory seemed inevitable. Northern France including Paris was firmly under English control and the ciy of Orleans was besieged by an English Army. At the darkest hour, a deeply religious peasant girl from Champagne came ro the Dauphin, convinced that she had a divine mission to help him defeat the English. Her name was Joan of Arc. In less than 4 months Joan's inspired leadership helped ro break the siege of Orleans. This book tells the true story of a legendary episode in France's history.

Bussaco 1810: By 1810 Viscount Wellington had been forced onto the defensive. Napoleon was not about to give up and ordered a third massive invasion of Portugal. Wellington was now faced by 80,000 men of the Army of Portugal under Marshal Massena. At Bussaco on 27 September the British/Portuguese force offered battle. Rene Chartrand shows how Buswco was both a stinging defeat For the French army, and a demonstration of the courage and quality of the newly reorganized Portuguese army.

Kolin 1757: In May of 1757 Frederick the Great invaded Bohemia, smashed an Austrian army outside Prague and bottled it up inside the besieged city. The Empress Maria Theresa could not sit by and allow the second city of the Empire to be captured and Marshal Daun was dispatched with 60,000 fresh troops to its relief. This book details the actions that ensued when, characteristically aggressive, Frederick gathered all available men and marched to meet Daun whose infantry alone almost outnumbered Frederick.

St Nazaire 1942: The raid on the port of St. Nazaire in March 1942 by a sea-borne task force from British Combined Operations remains one of the most impressive actions of the Second World War. This book tells the full story of the raid on St Nazaire, a raid that would deny the use of the dock to the Tirpitz, and which constituted a vital step in the Battle of the Atlantic.

Pearl Harbor 1941 - 60^th Anniversary Edition: This specially revised 60^th anniversary edition is packaged with a Free CD featuring extracts from the Osprey web event essentialperalharbor.com. Combining the expertise of Carl Smith and David Aiken, a student of Pearl Harbor with over 30 years experience, Pearl Harbor 1941 examines the events of December 7 1941, uncovering what really happened and why the Japanese were so successful.

Vimeiro 1808: In August 1808, a 14,000-man British army landed at Figura de Fozin Portugal under the future Wellington, Sir Arthur Wellesley. A 6,000-strong French force under General de Laborde was sent against the British. Wellesley out maneuvered his opponent and, at Rolica on 7 August, defeated the French. The surprised French mustered a further 13,000 men and hoped to defeat the British quickly as more troops were arriving from England. General Andoche Junot met Wellesley at Vimeiro on 21 August.

Operation Cobra 1944: Following the D-Day landings in Normandy on 6 June, 194, the Allied forces found themselves facing determined German resistance. On 25 July, Bradley launched his attack to break the stalemate. While Patton's Third Army poured into Britany and south to the Loire, the British in the north and the Americans from the southwest were closing the pincers on the German forces in Normandy. This book tells the full story of one of the most important breakthroughs of World War II.

Verdun 1916: Until Stalingrad, Verdun was a byword in Germany for senseless slaughter; It could fairly be said to have equivalent emotional resonance as the Somme has for the British. French attitudes are becoming similar, but Verdun was and still is symbolic of France's resistance. Some 300,000 Frenchman died at Verdun, but they stopped the German invasion.

Alamo 1836: Focusing on one of the most fascinating episodes in military history, this book tells the story of the 1836 campaign in Texas, including the epic siege of the Alamo and the battle of San Jacinto. The Alamo was defended by a legendary collection of volunteers under Colonel William Travis and the famous adventurer Jim Bowie (he of the knife), and included David Crockett.

Peking 1900: In the 19^th century, China was gradually becoming another colony of the European powers which recognised her many riches that were ripe for the picking. From 1860 when Britain went to war with her, until the end of the century, China was constantly at odds with the world powers and her neighbors. By 1897, the Chinese were desperate to remove all foreigners from their land and used the Boxers as a tool for this purpose. Numerous atrocities were committed against foreigners, particularly missionaries, and in the middle of 1900 they turned their attention on the diplomatic mission in Peking.

Lutzen & Bauten 1813: Following the disaster in Russia in 1812, Napoleon faced a new coalition of his old enemies. With incredible speed he raised an army of 200,000 men and marched into Germany. However his enemies had learned from past defeats and his veterans lay dead in Russia. At Lutzen on 2 May, Ney was surprised as a result of faulty reconnaissance by raw cavalry. With his old brilliance Napoleon turned defeat into victory. Bringing the allies to battle again at Bautzen, Ney's hesitancy allowed them to slip away. As Austria stirred, the tide began to run against the French. This book explains the events of the spring of 1813 - Napoleon's last chance to regain his Empire.

Iwo Jima 1945: One of the decisive battles of the Second World War in the Pacific. Iwo Jima was described by Lt. General Holand Smith, the overall Marine Commander, as the toughtest fight in the 169 years of our Corps. A titanic struggle of savagery that eclipsed all that had gone before. The island was of major strategic importance to th US Air Force, but also to the Japanese, 20,000 of whom were deeply entrenched in the island, and to whom surrender was not an option. The loss of Iwo Jima was proof to the Japanese that the Americans could seize one of the world's most heavily defended islands. A Campaign Series book

Adrianople 378: Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus recorded the battle of Adrianople, which spelled the beginning of the end of the Roman Empire. Such a crushing Roman defeat by Gothic cavalry proved to the Empire, as well as to the Goths themselves, that the migratory barbarians were a force to be reckoned with. Simon Macdowall tells the story of the misguided Roman plans and the surprise attack of Gothic cavalry, and puts forward the most recent theories as to the true location of the battlefield. A Campaign Series book

The Armada Campaign 1588: Ever a popular subject, the thwarted invasion of England by the Spanish Armada is studied here in detail. How Philip II's fleet was, in a few short days, stopped from invading England and forced into full retreat is looked at in a new and fascinating way. With the help of battle plans and bird's eye views of the action Angus Konstam, a leading historian in the field, considers many of the intriguing questions surrounding the campaign. A Campaign Series Book

Edgehill 1642: The battle of Edgehill was the first major clash of the English Civil Wars. In 1642 both Royalists and Parliamentarians expected that one great contest of arms would see the crushing of their enemies. When their field armies blundered into contact on the evening of 22 October 1642, Prince Rupert urged King Charles to array his army on the great ridge of Edgehill and give battle. The next day, amidst abject cowardice and absolute courage, the tide of battle swept Ruperts cavalry to triumph, but saw victory snatched away as the Royalist infantry was hurled back by the defiant Parliamentarians. The chance for decisive victory was lost and the bloody civil war raged on.

Corunna 1809: The retreat to Corunna is one of the epic campaigns of the Napoleonic Wars. Late in 1808 Sir John Moore found himself virtually alone with his small British army deep inside Spain. The armies of his Spanish allies had been overwhelmed and he face a victorious French force under the Emperor Napoleon. He had little option but to order a retreat to the port of Corunna. This became the most arduous of trials with armies traversing mountainous terrain over appalling roads in the depths of winter. Somehow Moore held his outnumbered, exhausted men together as they struggled to reach safety. Finally at Corunna, Moore's army turned to face its tormentors.

Ticonderoga 1758: Montreal born Rene Chartrand, senior curator with Canada's National Historic Sites for nearly three decades, recounts the course of the ill-fated British attempt to capture Fort Ticonderoga in 1758. Fortified by a French force of only 4,000 pitted against General Abercromby's army of 16,000 men, Marquis de Montcalm steadfastly defended Fort Ticonderoga. The most famous of these hopeless assaults was that of the Black Watch, culminating in General Abercromby's retreat to the foot of Lake George, saving Canada from British tyranny.

Rhineland 1945: This volume details the battle to clear the Rhineland of German forces in February and March 1945 by the 1^st Canadian Army, 2^nd British Army, and 9^th US Army, the last great "stand-up fight" of the Second World War.

Constantinople 1453: This title details the epic 4-month siege of the city of Contantinople, last vestige of the once mighty Roman and Byzantine Empires. A gallant defense of 10,000 men under the leadership of Emperor Constantine XI held off the massive Turkish assault of Mehemht The Conqueror's army of 80,000 for several hours. Refusing appeals to flee, Constantine returned to the breaches and fought on until overwhelmed and killed. Thus died the last Emperor of the Byzantines, and with him his once glorious empire.

Louisbourg 1758: Louisbourg represented a major threat to Anglo American plans to invade Canada. Bypassing it would leave an immensely powerful enemy base astride the Anglo American lines of communication - Louisbourg had to be taken. The siege itself was a tremendous pounding match. Faced with strong beach defenses and rough weather, it took six days to land the troops and was achieved by a stroke of daring on the part of a young brigadier by the name of James Wolfe, who managed to turn the French beach position. The story is based mostly on first hand accounts from the journals of several participants including General Amherst and the French Governor Drucour, whose excellent account has never been published

Tobruk 1941: In March 1941, with "Wavell's British troops having routed the Italians from Cyrenaica, General Erwin Rommel arrived in Tripoli to command the Deutsches Afrikakorps. In his first offensive, Rommel swept across the desert, driving the British back to the Egyptian frontier and capturing much of the 2^nd Armored Division in the process. One thorn remained in his side - the vital port of Tobruk continued to resist. If it could hold out Rommel's offensive might be halted. Wavell instructed General Morshead and his garrison of 30,000 determined Australians to hold at all cost. The scene was set for one of the epic struggles of the desert war. A Campaign Series book.

Lutzen 1632: The Thirty Year War raged across Europe between 1618 and 1648, devastating huge areas of Germany in particular. The war started as a religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants in Germany, and by 1632 the Protestant powers were in desperate straits, until King Gustavus Adolphus II of Sweden, "the Lion of the North", came to their rescue. In a nightmare battle fought in the thick of fog, Swedish troops defeated the Imperial army at Lutzen near Leipzig, but Gustavus paid the ultimate price, dying at the head of his cavalry.

Panzer Divisions 1944 45 Battle Orders 38: This volume provides a detailed examination on the late-war changes to the German Army Panzer forces and the formation of new units, from the collapse on the Eastern Front, through operations on the Western Front in Normandy and the Ardennes, to the final battle for Berlin in 1945. The major organizational changes that took place in this intensive period are examined, together with the adaptation of German armoured doctrine, tactics, and the command. Details of unit histories and operations, illustrated in colour maps, are also provided in this packed treatment.

The Roman Army of the Principate 27 BC AD 117 Battle Orders 37: The Imperial Army established by Augustus drew heavily on the nomenclature and traditions of the late Roman Republic, but was revolutionary in its design. He decided to meet all the military needs of the Empire from a standing, professional army. Military service became a career: enlistment was for 25 years (16 in the Praetorian Guard), and men were sometimes retained even longer. The loyalty of the new army was to the emperor and not to either the Senate or the People of Rome. Imperial legions became permanent units with their own numbers and titles and many were to remain in existence for centuries to come.

The Roman Army: the Civil Wars 88-31 BC bo34: The Roman Legions were the most highly organized troops of the ancient world, but the process of turning the Legions into the professional force that built an empire, was no small feat. Focusing on the organisational changes in the Roman Army during the Civil Wars, Nic Fields examines the role played by Caius Marius and his far-reaching reforms. With the nuts and bolts detail that readers demand from the Battle Orders series, this is an intriguing description of how the Roman army grew, modernised, rebelled and finally helped build an empire, complete with full organisational charts, photographs and detailed maps.

Panzer Divisions: The Eastern Front 1941-43 bto35: On 22 June 1941 Germany attacked the Soviet Union and her Panzer divisions were to play a major role in this titanic struggle. Although overwhelmed by Soviet numbers, the superior skill and capability of the German Panzer divisions meant that in three months the Germans had advanced deep into Soviet territory. However, after these initial successes the German offensive began to falter, culminating in the disastrous defeat at Kursk. This book describes the organisational history of the Panzer divisions, from the early successes of 1941 through to the introduction of revised Blitzkrieg tactics as the war progressed.

Panzer Divisions: The Blitzkrieg Years 1939-40 (Battle Orders 32): At the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, Germany's armored forces - the Panzerwaffe - were still in their infancy. The restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles meant that German tank production lagged behind its enemies. Initial armor campaigns in Poland were not overly successful and changes were needed before the invasion of France. This book examines the organizational changes, developments in doctrine and tactics and improved command and control that provided the basis for the spectacular success of the Panzer divisions in 1940. Achieving tactical and operational surprise, the Panzer divisions broke through enemy defenses, enveloping a large number of hostile forces at Dunkirk. The legend of the Blitzkrieg was born.

Mobile Strike Forces in Vietnam 1966-70 (Battle Orders 30): US Special Forces in Vietnam created the Civilian Irregular Defence Group (CIDG), a large paramilitary organization designed to protect the local population from Viet Cong incursions, whilst conducting border surveillance, raids and combat patrols in the local area. Their camps were often overrun and having no spare manpower the US Special Forces created dedicated reaction units which could act in a responsive and flexible manner - Mobile Strike (MIKE) Forces. This book examines the MIKE Force units, which were formed from the CIDG, the parachute and airmobile training they were given, and the operations that they undertook, from relieving friendly camps to independent offensive operations, providing the first organizational history of the MIKE forces in combat

The British Army on the Western Front 1916 (Battle Orders 29): Bruce Gudmundsson guides us expertly through the history of the British Expeditionary Force in 1916 as it struggled to become a modern army and turn the tide of the First World War. Examining the tactical innovatio0ns that accompanied this change and the conflicting strategies and tactics that it was expected to pursue, Gudmundsson explores the difficulties facing the British Army, including the bewildering number of new technologies in use, from novelties such as combat aircraft, tanks and armoured cars to trench mortars and more than a thousand pieces of siege artillery.

Desert Raiders: Axis and Allied Special Forces 1940-43 (Battle Orders 23: Although harsh and inhospitable, the North African theatre of World War II proved to be a perfect environment for irregular warfare and the deployment of Special Forces. Following Italy's entry into the war in June 1940, the Western Desert became the background for a long conflict dominated by motorized units. The major combatants - Great Britain, Free France, Italy and Germany - all developed irregular units to exploit the unique conditions of the region with varying degrees of success. This book details the genesis, organization and tactics of these forces, including such famous units as the Long Range Desert Group and the Special Air Service.

Desert Rats British 8th Army in North Africa 1941-43 (Battle Orders 28): Formed in September 1941 from the Western Desert Force, British 8th Army (comprising British, Commonwealth, Free French and Polish troops) went on to wage a lengthy, hard-fought campaign against Axis forces across the deserts of North Africa. The Desert War was unlike any other fought by the British Army, involving highly mobile operations covering vast distances. The hot, unforgiving climate in which the troops lived and fought was almost as troublesome as the enemy. During its two-year period of service in North Africa, 8th Army underwent major changes in organization, equipment and training to accustom it to desert warfare.

The Roman Army of the Punic Wars 264-146 BC(Battle Orders 27): As Rome's power and influence extended across the Mediterranean, she was destined for a collision with the Carthaginian Empire, a clash ultimately resulting in the decisive Second Punic War. At first the Roman Army was no match for the superior tactics and leadership of Hannibal and his troops. However, talented generals like Scipio Africanus transformed the legions into a formidable fighting force. Covering Rome's catastrophic defeats at Lake Trasimene and Cannae to her final victory at Zama, this book examines the development of Roman tactics and organization through Rome's transition from a city-based state to a Mediterranean powerhouse.

US Airborne Units in the Pacific Theater 1942-45 (Battle Orders 26): This book examines the wide variety of airborne units that served in the Pacific Theater. Among the units covered are the 12,000-strong 11th Airborne Division; the elite 1st Special Service Force; the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment (Separate); and the 1st Marine Parachute Regiment. The nature of the enemy and the terrain in the PTO, and long distances that had to be covered, provided significant and diverse challenges to both Army and Marine Corps parachute units. Internal organization, weapons and equipment, command and control, training, combat missions, and combat operations including the 11th Division's fighting in the Philippines, and the 503rd PIR's legendary jump onto Corregidor and recapture of the island are all covered.

US Airborne Divisions in the ETO 1944-45 (Battle Orders 25): The delivery of entire divisions to battlefields behind enemy lines by parachute and glider was a unique feature of World War II, and by the end of the war the US Army deployed the largest airborne force in the world, created in only three years, and boasting such impressive units as the 82nd "All American" and 101st "Screaming Eagles." This book details the organization and operation history of these units throughout the war in Northwest Europe from 1944 to 1945, covering the desperate night drops over Normandy in support of the D-Day invasions, through the capture of Nijmegen during Operation Market-Garden to Operation Varsity, the last great airborne operation of the war to secure the crossing of the Rhine.

Rommel's Afrika Korps Tobruk to El Alamein (Battle Orders 20): In 1940 a British offensive in the Western Desert provoked a major Italian military disaster. By early February 1941 the whole of Cyrenaica had been lost, and German help became necessary to avoid the loss of all of Libya. On 14 February 1941 the first echelons of German troops hurriedly arrived at the port of Tripoli, starting the 27-month German engagement in Northern Africa. This book covers the complex and oft-changing organisation and structure of German forces in North Africa from their first deployment through to the conclusion of the battle of El Alamein, an engagement that irrevocably changed the strategic situation in the Western Desert.

US Airborne Units in the Mediterranean Theater 1942-44 (Battle Orders 22): This book is the first of three to examine the genesis, organization and operational deployment of the US airborne divisions in World War II. It discusses early airborne units, detailing how and why they were formed. Task organization for combat, details of attached units, tactics, and weapons and equipment are examined, together with command relationships. The units discussed in this book include the 82d Airborne Division, 1st Special Service Force, 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team and 1st Airborne Task Force, and the operations in North Africa, Sicily, the Italian mainland, and in southern France are covered.

The US Marine Corps in the Vietnam War: III Marine Amphibious Force 1965-75(Battle Orders 19): III Marine Amphibious Force was conceived as a division command for a small Marine Corps commitment to Vietnam. Within four years it had grown to a reinforced corps of two divisions, an air wing, and the division-sized Force Logistics Command. This organization was unique in Marine Corps history in that it merged combat and major logistical functions under a single field command. This book examines the origins and constantly changing organizational structure of III MAF, and demonstrates how it conducted its savage struggle against Viet Cong guerrillas and North Vietnamese Army regular forces in the northern provinces of Vietnam.

The American Expeditionary Forces in World War I: Upon the entry of the United States into World War I, the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) were created by the War Department on short notice from existing units, filled up with men from the training camps and deployed with only their personal weapons and equipment. The US Army was not prepared for combat in France, and the remarkable achievement of the AEF's commanding officer, John J Pershing, was the creation of an American field army, built and nurtured from the bottom up. This book details the organizational structure, training and doctrine of the AEF and illustrates how it came to make a significant contribution to Allied victory in World War I.

US ARMORED DIVISIONS 1944-45: The armored divisions were the shock force of the US Army's combat formations during the fighting in northwest Europe in the final year of the war. This book examines the combat mission of the armored division in US Army wartime doctrine.

US Marine Corps Pacific Theater of Operations 1943-44

By January 1944 the US Marine Corps had grown to a total of 405,169 personnel, comprising 28,193 officers, 10,723 officer candidates, and 366,353 enlisted men. The Fleet Marine Force now had two amphibious corps, four divisions, a separate infantry regiment, 19 defense battalions, and numerous support and service units. Following on from Battle Orders 1: USMC in the Pacific Theater of Operations 1941-43, this book examines the continuing development of the Corps's organization, its training, tactics, weaponry, and command structure, as well as the battles fought in the Southwest Pacific on New Britain, and in the Central Pacific on Tarawa, Roi-Namur, Eniwetok, Saipan, and Tinian. The organization of the 4th Marine Division (MarDiv) and III and V Amphibious Corps (IIIAC, VAC) is also discussed along with smaller, new units.