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Stalingrad Survivor
These startling memoirs offer a rare insight into the experiences of a prisoner of war within the brutal Russian camp system. The book begins with the capture of Austrian infantryman Wolfram ‘Wolfie’ Redler amid the chaos following the fall of Stalingrad. It recounts the forced march eastwards and his transportation to Siberia during the merciless Russian winter. Stricken with typhus, he somehow manages to survive this ‘death camp’. The story continues with his transfer to a labour camp, describing in harrowing detail the deprivations endured by Redler and his comrades. That he, or anyone, was able to survive is nothing short of a miracle. Brutality, starvation, disease, and hard labour took their toll on over ninety per cent of the troops who were captured in those first few months of 1943. Translated into English for the first time, this honest and unflinching account is a stark reminder of the cruelty of war. However, the great lesson of this book is not how we die, but how we live. Despite the suffering he witnessed and endured, ‘Wolfie’ remained a man who showed everyone around him what it truly means to live.
The Gloucestershire Regiment
The Gloucestershire Regiment is the most decorated in British Army history. During its 300-year history, the regiment bore more battle honours on its Colours than any other. From the deserts of North Africa to the jungles of Burma, this book will give an insight into each individual conflict, the people who fought them and the political context that made them happen. Exclusive access to 15,000 unique archival documents, including personal accounts, secret documents and private diaries gives this work an exclusivity that no other can match, providing readers with a deeper knowledge and understanding of the regiment’s history. Never heard before personal stories of exceptional bravery are uncovered, including Lieutenant Irrwin tearing down a 12ft high brick wall with his bare hands to attack the French at Toulouse, CSM Gallagher becoming a POW in both Nazi Germany and North Korea, and Captain Maunsell leading a team of sharpshooters in the Crimea. The book is written chronologically and is sectioned according to campaigns or relevant historical periods, and is a valuable reference for those wanting to learn about the history of the ‘Glorious Glosters’.
Sex and Sexuality in Ancient Greece
The debt of Ancient Greece to our own society has long been recognised. However, there is another side to the culture that bequeathed us such gifts as democracy, medicine, art and sports, one that does not glitter so much. Sex and Sexuality in Ancient Greece plunges headfirst into a society that holds very different values to our own, an alien world whose top God committed adultery whilst in the guise of a swan, where Spartan brides were dressed up as boys to consummate their marriage, doctors believed women were inside out men with wandering wombs that attacked their internal organs and Olympic athletes fought literally to the death for the chance to win a crown made of leaves. It’s time to ask the hard questions: were women really so devalued that they were locked up in their homes, was every man in ancient Athens homosexual and what’s with all the hardcore pornography on everyday crocker? ex and Sexuality in Ancient Greece seeks to answer these questions and many others, whilst trying not to flinch as it explores a topic that is both provoking and fascinating. You will never look at Ancient Greece in the same way again.
The Battle of Leuctra, 371 BC
After defeating a coalition of Athens, Thebes, Persia, and other Greek city-states at the end of the Corinthian War in 387 BC, Sparta tyrannized all of Greece with nearly unchecked power. But her empire had been hollowed by the cost of generations of war and a most unfavourable trend in demographics: a sharp decline in Spartan soldiers and citizens. With Sparta's infirmity came a desperately tighter grip on Greece. And Sparta’s renowned king, Agesilaus II, held a special hatred for Thebes. After conquering the city in 382 BC, Sparta dismantled Thebes and intended to permanently eliminate their Theban problem. Thebes, though, was stubbornly resilient in the face of Sparta’s cruelty and not only survived Spartan occupation, but soon overthrew Sparta and aimed to shatter her empire. Against the odds, Thebes succeeded. Her victory boiled down to the indomitable spirit of two men: the irreproachable general Epaminondas and the cunning statesman Pelopidas. The two formed a local resistance movement that first liberated their home from Spartan oppression in 378 and then challenged Sparta’s empire outright in the Theban-Spartan War. By 371 at the Battle of Leuctra, their vision of a free Thebes and broken Sparta was realized, and the infamous Spartan war machine was at long last defeated. For the first time since the age of mythology, Thebes reigned supreme over Greece. Leuctra was the lynchpin of the new Theban Hegemony, and began a new era of empire in Greece, and the first power in centuries that was not Athens or Sparta.
Colditz: The Escapes
For the first time, this book chronicles all the daring escapes from Oflag IV-C Colditz Castle. By late 1939, the German Blitzkrieg offensive had swept up a number of prisoners of war who were housed in forts and purpose-built camps. To the committed escape artist this was an initiation test, and many officers made light work of regaining their freedom, however finding passage to safety was difficult and recapture was often the outcome. Gradually Allied officers became such persistent planners of escape that the German High Command required an escape-proof prison, deep in Eastern Germany. Colditz Castle, with it’s rich history and imposing walls, provided such a place. The Polish were amongst the first prisoners to be incarcerated at Colditz. On 7 November 1940 the first British contingent arrived to join the men who were already stationed at the camp known as Oflag IV-C, including the Laufen Six with Major Pat Reid. Gradually more Allied officers arrived, including Belgians, French and Dutch, all of whom were all branded as ‘troublesome or persistent escape artists’. They made up a community of committed officers hell-bent on escape with a wide variety of skills to exchange and hone, and there was also an escape by the Indian national, Dr Biren Mazumdar. The inmates also included Prominente who were political prisoners such as Giles Romilly, the nephew of Winston Churchill. These men were amongst the bravest to serve in the Second World War and risked everything to ensure maximum disruption to the German war machine. Over the next four years there were 183 recorded escape attempts. The security officer at Colditz, Reinhold Eggers, established a museum in the Castle with exhibits, disguises and forged identity papers to educate his guards and prevent further escapes. Vital resources were diverted to guarding these men and the effort, time and money required to track down the men who escaped harmed the war effort of Nazi Germany.
The Forgotten Heroes of the British Suffrage Movement
The Forgotten Heroes of the British Suffrage Movement investigates the struggle for women’s right to vote through the eyes of some of the lesser-known activists. It delves into the themes, events and political issues that formed the bases of the movement and seeks to highlight the sacrifices made in the process of winning female enfranchisement. It begins with a look at the early campaigners and organizations that led the way at a time when the concept of women voting was seen as nothing more than a quaint idea. The book charts how for some, progress was deemed too slow which led to the introduction and gradual increase in militant tactics, culminating in arson attacks and a bombing campaign. Forgotten Heroes also takes a fascinating deep dive into the myriad of different identities that made up the women of the suffrage movement. They came from all walks of life, supported different political parties, had various sexual preferences and some even came from other races. Despite this diversity, in a period spanning a little under one hundred years, women banded together and fought a political war. They gave up their time, money, freedom, health and even their lives for an objective that today is taken for granted as a basic human right, the entitlement for women in the UK to vote on the same terms as men.
In Company with Tanks
As the Second World War loomed, the Territorial Army was doubled and 2nd Battalion, The London Rifle Brigade was formed. This title was short lived and 8th Rifle Brigade joined the newly raised 11th Armoured Division in the spring of 1941. Three years of training followed, with regular changes of tactics and developments in weapons and equipment. Some of these were still being implemented at the last moment before the invasion of North West Europe, including the issue of a mix of Lend Lease US halftracks. Deploying to Normandy, 8 RB’s companies were attached to their respective Sherman regiments of 29 Armoured Brigade and were well prepared for their part in Operation EPSOM. At the tip of the salient driven across the Odon, the Riflemen fought their first bloody action on Hill 112. Operation GOODWOOD followed in mid-July, with successful infantry assaults on villages before tank casualties and heavy rain brought a halt to the battle. At the end of the month, with the American breakout gaining momentum, the 11th Armoured Division was transferred west into the Bocage in Operation BLUECOAT. In very different terrain the Riflemen played a leading part in the advance south. Having reached Preseles, again at the tip of an advance, 8 RB fought a desperate defensive battle against an SS panzer division. But by now the Germans were becoming exhausted and over two weeks, the pattern was an advance 10 miles or so against delaying positions before facing a serious German position, usually based on an obstacle as dusk settled. Overnight the enemy withdrew again, and the process was repeated daily to Falaise and beyond. The distances covered in the pursuit to the Seine were greater but with the seizure of a crossing at Venon, the division was rushed forward and in a remarkable advance of many miles against disorganised German formations, the division took Amiens and secured bridges over the River Somme, forestalling enemy attempts to form a defensive line.
Understanding WW2
As oral history gains long-overdue recognition, its power to illuminate the past has never been more vital. From buried time capsules to the preserved voices, letters, diaries, photographs and films of those who lived through history’s most pivotal moments, this book explores how personal testimony shapes our understanding of truth. Split into six main chapters and focussing on the Second World War years, Andrew Sangster starts by analysing personal letters from key players on both sides – Himmler, Rommel and Patton – before exploring the diaries of Lord Alan Brooke, Goebbels and Galeazzo Ciano, to name but a few. The final chapters explore the significance of the recorded notes from the Nuremberg Trials, before explaining the merits of autobiographies written after the fact. With honesty and clarity, the author reveals the challenges historians face – how memories can shift, how documents can be altered and how autobiographies, even in their sincerity, must be handled with care. Still, within these fragile records lie invaluable insights: motives, emotions and the human reactions that traditional archives often overlook. Balanced and engaging, Understanding WW2 is an essential guide to the promise and pitfalls of oral history – and a compelling reminder that the voices of ordinary men and women are as crucial to our collective memory as those of the famous and powerful.
In the Service of the Sultan
While the Americans were fighting in Vietnam, a struggle of even greater strategic significance was taking place in the Middle East: the Sultanate of Oman guards the entrance to the Arabian Gulf, and thus controls the movement of oil from that region. In the 1960s and 70s, the Communists tried to seize this artery and, had they succeeded, the consequences for the West and for the Middle East would have been disastrous - and yet, few people have ever heard of this geo-political drama at the height of the Cold War. In the Service of the Sultan tells, first-hand, the largely unknown story of a small number of British officers who led Muslim soldiers in this hard-fought anti-insurgency war which has shaped today's Gulf. After outlining the historical, geographical and political background, the book describes military action in a stark and mountainous environment, including operations with irregular forces and the SAS as well as action in the air and at sea. The book gives a gripping, moving, funny account of all these and paints a powerful and illuminating picture of the realities of war. It will appeal to all who are interested in the Cold War and relationships between the Western and the Arab worlds. Politics, history, irregular warfare, religion, international affairs: all are ingredients in this absorbing, informative read. In the light of the current insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is also timely to be reminded how a rare victory was won over Communist guerrillas.
Tracing Your Ancestors Using Newspapers
Unlock the captivating stories hidden within the pages of historical newspapers and bring your ancestors back to life with Tracing Your Ancestors Using Newspapers. Newspapers have long been an invaluable, yet often underused, resource for genealogists. Thanks to ongoing digitisation, it is now easier than ever to search for ancestral articles from the comfort of your own home, but finding meaningful results isn’t always as simple as entering a name into a search box — and even when you do, how can you be sure the article is really about your ancesto? his book guides you through the process of uncovering, understanding, and interpreting newspaper articles that feature your ancestors. You'll explore the wide range of stories that can be found, from court proceedings and military exploits to lost pets, acts of bravery, letters to the editor, and unexpected community involvement. Along the way, you'll learn how to assess the reliability of articles, trace relatives across regions and continents, and make the most of ever-expanding online archives. As well as identifying specific mentions of your ancestors, newspapers offer unparalleled context. They can help you understand the world your relatives lived in — what news they read, what challenges they faced, and how their lives were shaped by the events of their time. From scandal and gossip to marriage announcements and heroic deeds, newspapers preserve the everyday voices of the past in vivid detail. Packed with expert advice, practical guidance, and inspiring real-life examples, Tracing Your Ancestors Using Newspapers will help you deepen your research, break down brick walls, and discover the people behind the names on your family tree.
Operation Spider’s Web
It was a lazy Sunday morning in Russia on 1 June 2025. The war with Ukraine had been going for over three years. That morning 117 Ukrainian drones rose up from the back of four trucks deep inside Russia itself and started flying towards their targets – a number of Russian airbases. They were Ukrainian made Osa (‘Wasp’) quadcopters. They were packed in crates of around twenty-seven drones each and driven across the country in the back of cargo trucks. The unsuspecting Russian truck drivers thought they were delivering materials for pre-fabricated houses. Instead, several of the drivers were asked to pull over at a local gas station or parking lot, and then suddenly the cover of the cargo container came off and more than two dozen drones took off towards a nearby air base. The Russian drivers were taken completely by surprise. The drones then attacked the Russian bombers at four air bases across the vast expanse of Russia, from a base above the arctic circle near Murmansk, to the heart of European Russia, out to the middle of Siberia, near Lake Baikal. Large old Russian strategic bombers, like Tu-95s and Tu-22s came under attack, along with Russia’s valuable Airborne Early Warning and Control Beriat A-50s. Maybe two dozen planes were attacked by the drones on three of the airfields, and it appears that over a dozen were destroyed. This attack stunned Russia, as this was their strategic bomber force. Not only was it being used to regularly strike at Ukrainian infrastructure and cities, but these were the nuclear-capable strategic bombers that were an important part of their Strategic Deterrent Forces. Some Russians, in shock, equated it to a Russian Pearl Harbor. This book explores the full story of a covert attack that has changed the rules of military warfare forever.
When In Rome
Since the time of ancient Rome, science has explained many phenomena, including the rotation of the Earth around the Sun. But the Romans, who built the first roads, aqueducts, baths, and security walls, didn’t have the comfort of an earth sciences textbook. They needed the powerful beings of religious imagination to explain why the world doesn’t end when winter comes and the food sources die. The story of Pluto and Proserpina explains why the world is warm one moment and freezing six months later. Pluto, the god of the underworld, falls madly in love with Proserpina, daughter of the harvest goddess Ceres. Ceres, whose good will powers agriculture, goes on a climate-ravaging rampage, flooding and scorching the earth’s food crops. In her grief, she brings humanity to the edge of starvation. But the gods need humanity. So Pluto brokers a deal with Ceres to share Proserpina. When she is with her mother, the world is spring and summer. When she is with Pluto, Ceres moderates her grief into a survivable winter. When in Rome is a new look at Roman gods, such as Pluto, Ceres, Jupiter, Mars, and Venus, as well as heroes like Hercules, Perseus, Jason, and Medea. Author Lynn Hamilton mines original Roman sources — Ovid, Apuleius, Virgil, and Hyginus — to uncover what is most enduring in this canon of ancient stories.
Tanks and Armour in the Battle for Moscow
From the moment Germany launched its invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, code-named Operation Barbarossa, Hitler was fixated on the capture of Moscow. Yet his fear of exposing the flanks of the German Central Front led to costly diversions north and south at Leningrad and Kiev, delaying the assault on the Russian capital. When the Battle of Moscow – Operation Typhoon – finally began on 30 September, the Panzerwaffe was already weakened while Soviet forces had fortified their defences and reinforced their lines. Spanning a 370-mile front, 3rd and 4th Panzer Armies in the north and 2nd Panzer Army in the south surged towards Moscow in a vast pincer movement with hundreds of tanks and assault guns in tow, relying on the familiar tactics of Blitzkrieg. But what followed was no lightning war. Instead, German tanks and infantry were dragged into a gruelling battle of attrition during the coldest recorded winter of the twentieth century. Snowbound and under-supplied, with entire units freezing to death, the offensive ground to a halt before the gates of the capital. Tanks and Armour in the Battle for Moscow offers a compelling visual account of the Panzerwaffe’s doomed advance on Moscow, drawing on over 130 rare and unpublished wartime photographs. Through detailed captions and expert narrative, it follows the campaign from its faltering restart in the spring of 1942 to the bloody Rzhev-Sychyovka offensive and beyond, charting how the Germans lost the initiative on the Eastern Front. By early 1943, any hope of capturing Moscow had vanished, and a protracted retreat westward had begun – one that would not end until the Reich itself lay in ruins.
Saving African Nature
During the colonization of Africa, European colonists set about creating game reserves in Africa, convinced that they would find in Africa a nature that no longer existed in Europe. After independence, and with the help of UNESCO and the WWF, African leaders continued to 'protect' the same nature, a nature that the whole world wanted to be pristine, wild and without humans – a timeless Garden of Eden. The consequences of this story are well known: millions of Africans were expelled from the land on which they had lived for generations. But how did this happen? Who organized this continuity between the colonial era and the era of independence? Guillaume Blanc answers these questions by immersing himself at the heart of a strange global ecological mission, launched in 1961: the 'African Special Project'. He tells the story of this project by bringing to life four worlds: the world of gentleman experts who saw Africa as the world's last natural refuge; the world of East African colonists who were retraining as international experts; the world of African leaders who sought to control their peoples while satisfying the demands of their Western partners; and finally, the world of local farmers and their families living on the land who were forced to adapt or abandon their homes. These men do not speak of the same nature, but step by step, their worlds draw closer together until they meet – and this is where violence erupts. This impressive book lays bare the violence inherent in the creation of African game reserves and national parks and documents a hidden dimension of colonialism and its legacies.
Churchill and the Crown
The story of Winston Churchill's long relationship with the Crown—from radical liberal under Edward VII to his last premiership as an old man under the young Queen Elizabeth II. Winston Churchill was born in a palace and was given a funeral worthy of a king. His family had enjoyed an intimate association with the British monarchy stretching back centuries. As King Edward VIII said of him, 'I have never met anyone of royal blood who exemplified in such high degree the ideal of the 'good king.' Churchill and the Crown tells the story of Churchill's relationship with the various kings and queens he served during his long political career, from young journalist under Edward VII, through his dramatic fall from grace in the First World War under George V, the frustrations of appeasement during the interwar period and his relationship with Edward VIII during the abdication crisis of 1936, culminating in his Finest Hour in the Second World War under George VI and the coda of Churchill's public service to his final monarch: Queen Elizabeth II. Ted Powell analyses Churchill's writings on monarchy and his role in preserving and establishing monarchies outside Britain. At the core of the book is a series of studies of Churchill's relationships with the monarchs he served. These studies offer a two-way perspective, examining both Churchill's view of individual monarchs and their attitudes towards him. They shed light not only on Churchill's career but also on the changing role of the monarchy in 20th century Britain.
The Sanctuaries and Cults of Demeter in Asia Minor and the Islands off Its Western Coast
At least twenty-two sanctuaries of Demeter and Kore in Asia Minor and the islands off the western coast are attested by archaeological evidence. More than 272 epigraphic sources, nearly all of which are translated and discussed in this study, further document the cults of both goddesses in these regions. This monograph is the first study to draw on such a substantial body of material in order to demonstrate the cultic connections between cities in the Greek East and other parts of the Greek world. The archaeological and written sources provide insight into both regional and Pan-Hellenic features of the sanctuaries of Demeter and Kore, including their architectural layouts, the iconography of votive offerings, festivals, rituals, and the development of these practices over time. In assessing these regional and Pan-Hellenic characteristics, the analysis draws on the full range of archaeological and written evidence from across the Greek world. The available evidence indicates that the cults and sanctuaries of Demeter and Kore in the Greek East largely retained Greek characteristics; however, in certain regions, such as Caria, their cults were partially shaped by indigenous religious traditions. Despite Greek and later Roman hegemony, the cult of Demeter in other parts of Asia Minor, beyond western Asia Minor, was unable to supplant the cult of Cybele and other local chthonic fertility deities.
The Price of Victory
The final instalment of N.A.M. Rodger's definitive, authoritative trilogy on Britain's naval historyAt the end of the French and Napoleonic wars, British sea-power was at its apogee. But by 1840, as one contemporary commentator put it, the Admiralty was full of ‘intellects becalmed in the smoke of Trafalgar’. How the Royal Navy reformed and reinvigorated itself in the course of the nineteenth century is just one thread in this magnificent book, which refuses to accept standard assumptions and analyses. All the great actions are here, from Navarino in 1827 (won by a daringly disobedient Admiral Codrington) to Jutland, D-Day, the Battle of the Atlantic and the battles in the Pacific in 1944/45 in concert with the US Navy. The development and strategic significance of submarine and navy air forces is superbly described, as are the rapid evolution of ships (from classic Nelsonic type, to hybrid steam/sail ships, then armour-clad and the fully armoured Dreadnoughts and beyond) and weapons. The social history of officers and men – and sometimes women – always a key part of the author’s work, is not neglected. Rodger sets all this in the essential context of politics and geo-strategy. The character and importance of leading admirals – Beatty, Fisher, Cunningham – is assessed, together with the roles of other less famous but no less consequential figures. Based on a lifetime’s learning, it is the culmination of one of the most significant British historical works in recent decades. Naval specialists will find much that is new here, and will be invigorated by the originality of Rodger’s judgements; but everyone who is interested in the one of the central threads in British history will find it rewarding.
SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History's Greatest Screwups
From actor, comedian, writer, and host of the hit history podcast SNAFU, Ed Helms brings you an absurdly entertaining look at history's greatest screwups, complete with lively illustrations. History contains a plethora of insane screwups-otherwise known as SNAFUs. Coined during World War I, SNAFU is an acronym that stands for Situation Normal: All F*cked Up. In other words, "things are pretty screwed up, but aren't they always?"Spanning from the 1950's to the 2000's, Ed Helms steps in as unofficial history teacher for a deep dive into each decade's craziest SNAFUs. From planting nukes on the moon to training felines as CIA spies to weaponizing the weather, this book will unpack the incredibly ironic decision-making and hilariously terrifying aftermath of America's biggest mishaps. Filled with sharp humor and lively illustrations, SNAFU is a wild ride through time that not only entertains but offers fresh insights that just might prevent history from repeating itself again and again.
When She Remembered
When She Remembered showcases an intertwined group of seven influential women, from well-known figures such as Simone Veil to memory activist Sabine Zlatin, who shaped the production of Holocaust memory in France from 1945 to the present. Most of these women began their memory work immediately after the war by testifying at perpetrator trials and when monuments were commissioned. In the subsequent decades, their work transformed from personal memory projects to large-scale, politically driven initiatives. Through decades of engagement with Holocaust memory, these seven individuals ensured the stories of Jewish women were featured in the greater wartime narrative. In doing so, they deliberately shifted the French discourse on the Holocaust away from a focus on victimization and resistance to female agency during the fight for survival under Nazi occupation. Alongside other activists, these women became political actors by pushing the state to reckon with the legacy of French complicity in the deportation of Jews. Pulling from diverse archival sources as well as material culture and oral histories, When She Remembered convincingly reveals why the themes of gender, resistance, and memory continue to resonate widely in French history.
V kategórii populárno - náučné encyklopédie nájdete široký výber kníh, ktoré vám poskytnú poznatky z rôznych oblastí zaujímavým a zrozumiteľným spôsobom. Encyklopédie vám pomôžu získať komplexný prehľad o rôznych témach, ako ľudské telo a človek, príroda, vesmír, veda a technika a história.
Naša ponuka encyklopédií populárno-náučného charakteru vám umožní objaviť fascinujúci svet poznania a rozšíriť svoje vedomosti o rôznych témach.
