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earned a formidable reputation by the end of 1944, although its non-sloped armour and poor mobility meant it was being superseded by the Tiger II or 'King Tiger'.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.

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."

In the field of military history as in so many others, the Chinese have often been both admired and seen as something utterly mysterious and inscrutable. Chris Peers illuminates the evolution of the military art in China with reference to ten battles, spanning more than 2,000 years, from the Battle of Mu in 1027BC to the Fall of Chung Tu in 1215 AD. Selected both for their historical importance and for the light which they shed on weapons and tactics, the author uses these examples to discuss the many myths still current in the West about ancient Chinese warfare: for example that the Chinese were an unwarlike people, always preferring subterfuge over the use of force; or that they were essentially defensive minded, relying on works such as the Great Wall. On the other hand, a recent reaction to this dismissive attitude portrays China as technologically far in advance of the West. Battles of Ancient China shows that none of these stereotypes are accurate. Comparison with contemporary Western practice is a major theme of the book which adds a new perspective not developed in the author's previous works on the subject

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。

西班牙王位继承战争，是为决定由谁来继承西班牙王位而引发的，这场规模宏大的战争从1701年持续到1714年，战场从西欧蔓延到公海和美洲大陆。
在这部逻辑清晰、笔触犀利的著作中，作者描述和分析了战争期间各国复杂的政治策略和一系列军事行动，其中还包括奥斯曼土耳其人在东方、瑞典和俄罗斯在北方构成的威胁。战场并不局限于欧洲，还有美洲和公海。所有欧洲列强都卷入了这场战争，法国、西班牙、英国、荷兰、奥地利和葡萄牙是主要参战国，还有萨伏伊、普鲁士、汉诺威和丹麦也被拖进了战争漩涡。
这场战争以法国王子稳坐马德里王位而告终，古老的西班牙帝国遭到列强瓜分。更加值得注意的是，战前处于难以撼动的统治地位的法国在战后被压制了将近90年，欧洲从而形成了权力均势，直到军事天才拿破仑皇帝横空出世。

《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。

The unconventional nature of the war and the unforgiving environment of Southeast Asia inflicted special hardships on the Vietnam-era POWs, whether they spent captivity in the jungles of the South, or the jails of the North. This book describes their experiences—the similarities and the differences—and how the POWs coped with untreated wounds and other malaises, systematic torture, and boredom. The creative strategies they devised to stay fit, track time, resist the enemy, communicate with one another, and adher to a chain of command attest to the high standards of conduct in captivity that so distinguish the POWs of the Vietnam War.

This publication explores, in detail and with photographs and illustrations, the April 1975 withdrawal of the American Navy and Marine Corps from Cambodia and South Vietnam (with refugees), and the aftermath in Southeast Asia. This withdrawal showed the courage and skill of the American forces, who had to carry out large-scale and complicated evacuations despite criticism of the military by many Americans back home who had lost confidence in military and government during the protracted conflict. Yet the American forces proved in April 1975 that they were capable of completing complex missions with successful results, and this predicted the future of the military: with appropriate training and the dedication of competent servicemembers, the armed forces were brought back to a strong and healthy state of affairs by the 1980s.