A pulsating account of the young RAF and American fighter boys who flew Spitfires, Hurricanes, Thunderbolts and Mustangs during 1940-45. It is unique in that the story is told using first person accounts from RAF, German and American 'Eagles' who fought in the skies over England in the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940 and the great air offensives over occupied-Europe from 1942 onwards. The first five and a half chapters cover the Battle of Britain period when the RAF squadrons fought dog fights with the Luftwaffe and then fought them in gathering strength using the 'Big Wings to meet the bomber fleets attacking London. The second part of the book covers the Eagle squadron period, which was expanded with America's entry into the war. The action moves to the USAAF 'Big Wings' of Thunderbolts and Mustang fighters that flew escort missions and dueled with the Luftwaffe over the continent during the massive bomber raids on German targets in France, the Low Countries and the Reich itself. A whole host of incredible first hand accounts by British, Polish, Czech, German and American fighter pilots permeate the action and describe the aerial battles as only they can. This unique book also includes many accounts and photos that have not previously been seen before while the rich mix of combat accounts from all sides are brought together for the first time in one volume.

During the final battles on World War II's Western Front, the legendary German Tiger I heavy tank clashed with the brand-new M26 Pershing fielded by the United States. The Tiger I had earned a formidable reputation by the end of 1944, although its non-sloped armour and poor mobility meant it was being superseded by the Tiger II or 'King Tiger'. While the Tiger I had been in the front lines since 1942, the US Pershing first entered combat in late February 1945, and more than 20 Pershings would see action before war's end.
This book examines the dramatic Tiger/Pershing duel at Elsdorf in Germany, and also assesses the clashes between German armour and the sole 'Super Pershing' deployed to Europe. Featuring full-colour artwork, carefully chosen photographs and specially commissioned maps, this is the story of the first US heavy tanks in combat with the fearsome Tiger I during the last months of World War II in Europe.

By the fall of 1944 the Western Allies appeared to be having it all their own way. The summer's Normandy invasion had finally succeeded and the Germans had been driven out of northern France and most of the Low Countries. In September the invasion of France's southern coast had met less opposition and Allied divisions had begun lining up along the Rhine. But while the Americans were about to meet a nasty surprise in the Ardennes, the Germans never did let go of the province of Alsace, and in a hard pocket around the city of Colmar continued to resist. On New Year's Eve they launched a counteroffensive, Operation Northwind, that nearly put Allied forces back on their heels. While the Allies were eventually able to take care of their Ardennes problem the Colmar one still remained. On January 12, 1945, Eisenhower could only tell George Marshall, "It is a very bad thorn in our side today." This is the story of the Sixth Army Group (7th US & 1st French Armies) which fought on the southern flank of the SHAEF front. The French had multiple problems during this campaign so that increasing number of US divisions needed to take part. In the process the 3rd and 28th Infantry Divisions, and 10th and 14th Armored, among others were able to cover themselves with heroism, though hardly less than the threadbare German 19th Army, which bravely resisted against enormous odds until finally the west bank of the Rhine was cleared. Amidst a horrific winter and rough terrain, interspersed by demolished towns, both sides traded blows in a ferocious campaign often neglected in histories of the war. This book informs us fully of the tremendous and costly struggle waged on that often-neglected sector of the front.

In June 1940, the German Army had brought the rest of Europe to its knees. 'Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world will move forward into broad, sunlit uplands,' said Churchill. The future of Europe depended on Britain. A self-confident Herman Goring thought that it would be only a matter of weeks before his planes had forced Britain to surrender. The courage, resourcefulness and brilliant organisation of the RAF were to prove him wrong. By late September 1940, the RAF had proved invincible, thanks to the Vickers Supermarine Spitfire. It exceeded anything that any other air force possessed. RJ Mitchell, a shy and almost painfully modest engineer, was the genius behind the Spitfire. On the 5th March 1936, following its successful maiden flight, a legend was born. Prize-winning historian Leo McKinstry's vivid history of the Spitfire brings together a rich cast of characters and first hand testimonies. It is a tale full of drama and heroism, of glory and tragedy, with the main protagonist the remarkable plane that played a crucial role in saving Britain.

Captain Alan William Frank Sutton's enthralling biography starts when, as a young midshipman he was in command of a small rowing cutter returning a potentially mutinous crew to the battle-cruiser HMS Repulse in which he served. Amazingly it ends in the open cockpit of a Fairy Swordfish torpedo bomber during the legendry night attack which destroyed the Italian fleet at Taranto. This biography has been written with the full cooperation of Captain Sutton who has given the author every detail of his lengthy naval ship and airborne career during World War II.

Originally published anonymously in 1941, this was the first and finest story of a fighter pilot in World War Two. Based on the author's personal journal, it is the classic account of the part played by RAF No.1 Squadron in the air battles that preceded the fall of France in 1940. Beginning on the day the squadron arrived in France, the book recounts the unnerving lull of the 'Sitzkrieg' and the sudden crescendo of violence and crushing fatigue of almost non-stop combats during the 'Blitzkrieg'. Imbued with the Great War traditions of chivalry, Richey and his comrades accorded the enemy fighter squadron mercy and respect, until the disillusion of witnessing the Luftwaffe's callous attacks on helpless refugees changed all that. It was then that the skills and elan of the RAF's premier fighter squadron were turned to even greater account, and the result was a remarkable combat record. By the time they withdrew from France on 18 June 1940, No.1 Squadron had destroyed a total of 155 enemy aircraft, 114 of them in only ten days - for the loss of three pilots killed, two wounded, and one prisoner of war. As Paul Richey wrote: "It seems - and I believed it was - a miracle."

The Bismarck is perhaps the most famous - and notorious - warship ever built. Completed in 1941, the 45,000-ton German battleship sank HMS Hood, the pride of the British Navy, during one of the most sensational encounters in naval history. Following the sinking, Bismarck was chased around the North Atlantic by many units of the Royal Navy. She was finally dispatched with gunfire and torpedoes on 27 May, less than five months after her completion. Her wreck still lies where she sank, 4,800m down and 960km off the west coast of France.
Drawing on new research and technology, this edition is the most comprehensive examination of Bismarck ever published. It includes a complete set of detailed line drawings with fully descriptive keys and full-colour 3D artwork, supported by technical details, photographs and text on the building of the ship and a record of the ship's service history.

1944年12月，就在二战行将结束之际，希特勒又一次令世界震惊：德军从比利时和卢森堡东部林木茂盛的阿登山区发起了一次强有力的反击，并在盟军战线上形成了50英里的突出部，这是盟军在大战中第二*遭到奇袭。规模庞大的德军装甲纵队似乎不可阻挡，如波涛般向西涌去。这次攻势集中了德国的前沿军事科技：“虎王”巨型坦克、革命性的新式突击步枪、飞弹、现代化喷气机。德军甚至派出小型电动潜艇支援攻势！为打败德军，一场为期6周的史诗般的冬季反击战打响，这是美军历史上格外血腥的一场战争。
《阿登战役1944—1945：希特勒的冬季攻势》通过浏览档案、采访老兵、考察战区，从军事的角度对阿登战役进行了详细的全景展示。本书不仅跟踪记录了德国及同盟国军队的整个行动过程，还分析了军事战术、部署方式、人事任免、征兵制度、士兵素质、后勤保障等作战中的人为因素，并对作战双方的武器，甚至参战部队历史、部队领导、作战能力等细节进行了介绍。

1944年夏天，欧洲的战争已经到达了一个临界点。西方盟国和苏联都拥有主动权和力量，能够对德国发动战略进攻。军事分析家C.J.迪克撰写了两卷关于西线与东线作战的研究报告，他对两条战线上的指挥官的优缺点，特别是*级指挥官的判断、选择和妥协，进行了罕见的深刻洞察。同时，他也厘清了军事教条的缺陷、后勤物流，尤其是联合战争的性质，对领导层和行动施加的限制。
《从胜利到僵局》聚焦于西线，特别是美国、英国和加拿大军队在法国和低地国家的行动。迪克的整个视角在于战役法，它将个人的战术战斗与更广泛的战略目标联系起来。他*关心的是盟军指挥官对军、集团军和战区进攻行动的控制。
迪克的分析表明，盟军司令部的思想受到了限制，这种思想根植于小规模战争和*一次世界大战的经验。而由此产生的缓慢进攻，因盟军思想和利益的分歧，变得更加复杂。结果，盟军的进攻势头减弱，成为消耗战，错失了本可能大大提前的胜利，与苏联在东线的努力形成鲜明对比。

威廉•丹尼尔•莱希，美国海军五星上将。美国参加二战后，担任新设置的总统参谋长职务并主持美军参谋长联席会议，是事实上的第一任参谋长联席会议主席，参与了二战时期盟军的一系列重大军事决策。1944年成为美国历史上首位获五星上将军衔的军官。
《身历其境》是莱希将军的回忆录，根据其日记整理撰写而成，是研究美国在二战期间战略规划和决策过程的一部权威著作。书中极为详尽地记录了莱希主持美军参谋长联席会议、英美联合参谋长会议和参加盟国最高级政治会议的情况，极具史料价值。

英国陆军少将奥德•温盖特是第二次世界大战中既神秘、反传统，又具争议的军事将领。他作为英军情报官敢于违背官方政策，公开支持犹太复国主义运动，成为巴勒斯坦犹太人最忠实的“朋友”；出于同样的原因，他追随埃塞俄比亚流亡皇家海尔•塞拉西，率领“基甸军”以少胜多击败意大利侵略者，并 不惜以死抗争反对兼并埃塞俄比亚的“阴谋”；他在英军全面溃败之时来到缅甸，随后率部发起了英勇卓绝的第一次“钦迪特”远征，取得了英军在远东战场上的第一个胜利。他真诚地将自己视为命运的工具，相信自己是某种不可知力量的化身，正是这种信念奠定了他的成就，而没有伟大的人格力量不可能取得那样的成功。他对那些命运不济的人和饱受压迫的民族抱有深切的同情，他虔诚的宗教信仰带有强烈的追求正义的色彩。然而，就在第二次“钦迪特”远征刚刚拉开帷幕之际，温盖特将军因飞机失事罹难，在人生巅峰上像流星一样突然陨落。
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编辑推荐
1. 温盖特因非凡的军事才能和过人的胆识成为丘吉尔的爱将，丘吉尔在著名的颂词中说：“有这样一位天才人物，他本来也会成为主宰世界命运的人。他走了，但他的精神永远活在远程突击作战群中。”
2. 第一部翻译成中文的温盖特传记，温盖特作为二战最神秘、最反传统和最具争议的军事将领之一，一直被中文世界忽略，传记记述不亚于“阿拉伯的劳伦斯”的传奇人生。
3. 温盖特是二战中的传奇将领，被认为是特种作战的先驱，非正规战大师，被丘吉尔、斯利姆、蒙巴顿等一致认可的战争天才。
4. 唯一一部官方授权传记，使用家庭信件等珍贵一手资料，传记作者辗转印度、以色列、埃塞尔比亚、缅甸等地，耗时三年半调查完成。
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名人推荐
天才不是一个可以随便使用的词，但我可以毫不犹豫地说，温盖特身上闪耀着天才的火花……我们的民族在这场战争中真正不可替代的人物屈指可数，而温盖特是其中之一。
——威廉·斯利姆（William Slim，英国陆军元帅、帝国总参谋长）
他的教养，他的无限虔诚，他那谜一样难以捉摸的性格，以及他对待各族人民的方式……都非常像他的同胞和先辈圣徒大卫·利文斯敦和戈登将军……他作为领导人的伟大之处并不限于理智地把握战争，或者随时准备赴汤蹈火的勇气，而在于一种刻骨铭心、令人折服的信念。
——利奥波德·埃默里（Leopold Amery，英国印度事务大臣）
他（温盖特）的主要贡献——也是最伟大之处——就是教会我们战争既是一门科学，也是一门艺术。他是军人的楷模，堪称科学家和艺术家的完美结合。
——摩西·达扬（Moshe Dayan，以色列国防部长）
温盖特有着复杂的个性，但有两件事是肯定的。第一，毫无疑问，他是个百年难遇的军事天才；第二，我从没见过有人像他那样想问题，那样制定计划，那样训练、激励和领导部下。也许有人在谋划上很出色，有人更擅长训练或者领导，但这个人在这三个方面都非常优秀。
——伯纳德·弗格森（Bernard Fergusson，英军陆军准将）
我知道他（温盖特）的死对英军来说是多么大的损失，我为这位堪称棋逢对手的人的灵魂祈祷。
——牟田口廉也（日军驻缅甸第15军司令官）
认识奥德以后，其他男人都显得那样无趣。
——伊妮德·杰利（Enid Jelley，温盖特的前女友）

★普利策奖得主、知名二战历史学者、《希特勒传》作者约翰·托兰封笔之作。
★亲历20世纪影响世界格局的重大事件。
★还原希特勒、墨索里尼、东条英机、罗斯福、麦克阿瑟等人独家秘闻。
★五十年创作心血，近百年史事，上千名历史人物速写。
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【内容简介】
约翰·托兰最大的创作特色，就是从始至终不带任何偏见地记录了以二战历史为主的近代史。他可以为了一本书采访上百个人，做长达数年的调研，目的就是为了尽所有的可能还原历史的本来面貌。这本书与其说是一本个人传记，不如说约翰·托兰忠实地记录了他亲身参与的20世纪的重要史事，更偏向于社科历史类著作。
【编辑推荐】
您可能不知道约翰·托兰是谁，但假如您对历史感兴趣，能从历史中获得乐趣和体悟，请您务必要读一读此书。
【外媒推荐】
托兰的这本书，表述清晰，文字平易，实事求是。……他坚韧不拔的个性帮助他克服了重重阻碍，使他得以发掘到许多埋藏在历史长河深处的真相。——《纽约时报书评》
作为一名讲述历史的作家，托兰先生的叙述建立在对成百上千名历史事件当事人的采访之上。他力求以尽可能多的角度揭示这些历史事件的全貌，并诠释这些历史事件对知名人物和普通人所施加的影响。——《华盛顿邮报》
在这部自传里，普利策奖得主、历史学家约翰·托兰记录了他个人的回忆，以及他为自己不同作品所做的大量采访调研工作期间的一些趣闻逸事。……他的引人入胜的、极具可读性的自传十分卓越地向读者展现了20世纪的历史。——《图书馆杂志》

内容介绍：
盟军豪赌北非 攻占突尼斯
摧毁轴心国大军的战略主动权
本书以险象环生的“火炬行动”为切入点，详细梳理了1942～1943 年盟军两栖登陆北非，攻占突尼斯、歼灭轴心国非洲军团的惨烈战事。
从侥幸登陆摩洛哥、阿尔及尔时的意气风发，到挺进突尼斯与凶狠老辣的德军恶战时的惊恐万状，盟军发现自己根本没做好战斗准备：后勤混乱、军事误判、争夺指挥权、英美军队各自为战……北非沦为试验场，突袭朱代伊德、凯塞林山口战役、突尼斯决战，一场接一场的血腥搏杀，将盟军，尤其是初出茅庐的美军，淬炼为一支虎狼之师！
书中浓墨重彩地描写了战场上涌现的众多主角：艾森豪威尔、巴顿、布拉德利、蒙哥马利、隆美尔、凯塞林……无论是驰骋疆场杀伐决断的将军，还是为活命而冷酷杀戮的士兵，抑或战火中犹如蝼蚁的百姓，阿特金森笔下的战争显得尤为真实、可怖！当隆美尔兵败之际，北非战役终于为登陆西西里、诺曼底，解放欧洲大陆淬炼出无数精兵悍将，以及宝贵的作战经验！

《野战团》将二战美军步兵的作战过程栩栩如生而又扣人心弦地记录下来。该书记录了1943年7月10日盟军在西西里岛登陆到1945年4月29日达豪集中营解放期间，美国最精锐的步兵第45师第157团的真实战史。从西西里岛的海滩登陆到山岭险峻的意大利和法国解放，从德国纽伦堡的冬季血战到达豪集中营解放。由斯帕克斯中校带领的野战团不畏牺牲、奋勇杀敌，依靠他们的顽强意志获得了最终胜利。
《野战团》共分7大部分，第1部分，黑色风暴；第2部分，意大利；第3部分，安齐奥；第4部分，法兰西；第5部分，德国；第6部分，黑暗之心；第7部分，最后的战役。

《二战巅峰对决：猎杀“提尔皮茨”号战列舰》从攻击者的实力、防御者的实力、作战目标和作战过程等维度，全景剖析了英国皇家空军轰炸机部队和皇家海军航空兵针对德国海军“提尔皮茨”号战列舰开展的一系列空袭行动。     本书由英国战史专家安格斯·科斯塔姆撰写，作者立足保存至今的战时资料，力求以严谨、专业、客观的视角，还原空袭“提尔皮茨”号战列舰系列行动的真实情况。此外，作者还精选了近百幅珍贵历史照片以及多幅彩绘场景图和示意图，极具观赏和收藏价值。     本书是广大军事爱好者、历史爱好者和模型爱好者不可错过的经典军事科普读物。

《二战巅峰对决：德国步兵VS美国步兵》选取了1944年6—12月间，发生在欧洲战场上的三场小规模战役，对参加战斗的美国陆军部队和德国陆军部队分别进行了深入剖析。本书首先介绍了战役背景及参战部队的组建和编制情况，然后简要解读了美德两国陆军步兵的作战定位、征兵与训练体系、战斗意志培养与后勤供应体系、领导和通信体系，以及武器装备和战术指挥体系，接着聚焦于发生在蒙特布尔、沙恩霍斯特防线和克林凯尔特森林的战斗，详尽叙述了战事进程和双方步兵的对战情况，*后对战役结果和双方步兵的战斗力对比情况进行了深入剖析。
本书凭借客观的史料、缜密犀利的评论以及精美绝伦的原创彩绘插画，展现出可读性、观赏性和资料性，是广大军事爱好者不可错过的经典军事科普读物。