Greenhill Books

During the 1920s, Germany defied the Treaty of Versailles by rebuilding its military and pioneering new forms of mechanised warfare. This detailed study traces the development of the German tank during this crucial time, from experimental prototypes to Adolf Hitler’s first mass-produced tank, the Panzer I – a tank that would help German forces train for and execute their Blitzkrieg operations. The performance of this small, lightly armed tank was limited, nevertheless it participated in the opening campaigns of the war, including the invasions of Poland, Denmark and Norway, the Low Countries, France and Russia. It provided a valuable training platform for Panzer crews and helped pave for the way for the subsequent heavier and more powerful German models. Covering the design innovations of the various models and variants, as well as their combat history and performance, this is a fascinating look at the Panzer I during pre-war training and later operational service. Part of the Images of War series, combining a treasure trove of rare and unpublished photographs with well-researched text, this is a valuable source for students of the war, modellers and anyone fascinated by military technology, armoured warfare and the evolution of the tank.

'A well-written and rewarding memoir that provides keen insight into the mindset of a patriotic young man willing to make sacrifices for his country.' — Robert ForczykIn this masterful two-volume account, Prussian solider and officer Karl Knoblauch draws on his wartime diaries to detail his fascinating military career during the Second World War. In this first volume, he recounts the years leading up to the outbreak of the war through to 1944. In 1938, just before the outbreak of war, a 17-year-old Karl Knoblauch volunteered for military service and began his career as an infantryman before joining the air force as aircrew. Later, Knoblauch was seriously wounded in a Russian fighter attack over Wjazma and had to leave his squadron. After recuperating, he returned to the frontline as an officer in the ‘Hermann Göring’ Division, where this first volume comes to a close. Knoblauch describes his experiences in sober and stark detail, creating a gripping and comprehensive first-hand account of his time fighting for the Wehrmacht. Supplemented by a number of photographs and appendices, this is a must-read for any military history enthusiast.

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.

**A vibrantly illustrated tale about perseverance, kindness and friendship ****by one of the most beloved Israeli children’s authors.**It’s playtime at Rainbow Kindergarten and Lily is trying to set a new record for standing on one leg – just like the graceful storks that visit the playground. But no matter how hard Lily tries she keeps toppling over. When her friend Hillel joins the game, the race is on to be the first to beat the record. Will Lily be prepared to do whatever it takes to claim victory?

**This is a story of environmental hope.****It is a story of resilience.****It is a story of… a frog.**In the 1950s, measures to control malaria led to the destruction of the Hula painted frog’s unique marshy habitat along the River Jordan in Israel. Decades passed, and after trying many times to find the frog, scientists declared the species extinct. But in 2011, the frog leaped into the scientific spotlight when it reemerged in the waters of a small nature preserve. Against all the odds, the species had managed to survive, hidden from humans for more than fifty years in the grass and mud. This delightful picture book tells the story of the frog’s miraculous return from the brink of extinction. Told from the perspective of one of the frogs, it is a heart-warming cautionary tale that will inspire children to care for and help protect the environment. Maya Gonen is an illustrator and graphic designer who prefers projects with social, environmental, or meaningful added value. She works with both traditional and digital techniques and is always happy to embark on new creative adventures. In 2024, a wordless picture book she illustrated was a finalist in the Silent Book Contest and exhibited at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Maya has a background in photography and co-founded an artist collective earlier in her career.

From 1965 to 1976, the Dhofar War was being fought in southern Oman - a conflict wherein the Omani government, led by Sultan Said bin Taimur, and later his son Sultan Qaboos, fought against the Dhofar Liberation Front (DLF), a Marxist insurgency group who wanted to overthrow the Sultan's rule and establish a communist government. The conflict escalated in the 1970s, with Sultan Qaboos receiving military support from Britain and Iran. By 1975, the government forces, with the help of British and Iranian troops, defeated the insurgents, securing the region and stabilizing Sultan Qaboos's rule. Major David Freeman was a one of those British troops - a British Infantry Officer who was seconded to the Sultan of Oman’s Forces in the 1970s. Major Freeman has recorded his experience of this conflict - the operations, the tactics, the successes and the struggles - in extraordinary detail, covering the last year of the war in 1975 and the first six months of 1976 in the still active eastern sector of Dhofar. Fighting the Sultan's War is an eye-opening first-hand account of one of the lesser-known ‘small wars’ of the Cold War era, and should not be missed by any military history enthusiast. David Freeman's memoir was transcribed by his son, Alex Freeman. Born in 1967 into a military family, Alex was educated in the West Country and commissioned into the British Army in 1986. He served as an infantry officer with the Queen’s Lancashire Regiment and The Royal Welch Fusiliers, seeing active service in Northern Ireland, Germany, the Middle East, Africa, and Bosnia. After two decades in uniform, he left the Army in 2006 to pursue an MBA and a career in business.

**A delightful rhyming tale about the sights, sounds, smells and customs of a traditional Passover Seder.**This engaging board book takes young readers on a journey through a typical Seder celebration, from the arrival of the first guests and the breaking of the matzah, through the sharing of the Exodus story and the Passover dinner, to the arrival of Elijah and the singing of final prayers.

In autumn 1943, the Dodecanese in the eastern Aegean was the setting for a series of German air-sea landings, something not normally associated with the Wehrmacht. Under heavy fire, landing craft ferried to shore German infantry and, more than two years after sustaining frightful losses in Crete, Fallschirmjäger were deployed in their intended role, parachuting on to the islands of Kos, Astipalaea and Leros. Both sides relied on aircraft and naval units, as well as conventional and unconventional ground forces. German paratroopers were drawn from the Luftwaffe and the special operations Division ‘Brandenburg’, which also fielded coastal raiders and assault troops. The Allies had on call 234 Infantry Brigade together with supporting units; a battalion of The Parachute Regiment, and Raiding Forces, which included the Long Range Desert Group, Special Boat Squadron, Commandos and Ieros Lohos (Greek Sacred Squadron). Two months of conflict would culminate in a five-day battle for possession of Leros, which ended with the surrender of the British-led garrison on 16 November 1943. The island of Samos was taken without a struggle a few days later. Unlike Operation Market Garden and the disaster of Arnhem one year later, the Aegean was first and foremost a British venture. As such, it may be considered the last irredeemable British defeat. For the Germans, the Aegean was a welcome reversal of recent setbacks and a final, but ultimately pointless, decisive victory: With the exception of Kastellorizo, key islands would remain under German occupation until May 1945.

‘A comprehensive overview of how the Luftwaffe’s air battle evolved from offensive to defensive and the lead-up to the bitter downfall.’  Richard OveryArnold Döring was just 23 years old when he flew his first mission against the Soviet Union on 21 June 1941. On that day he started writing his diary. His account not only describe the technical aspects and the difficulties posed by weather and terrain, but are also filled with suspense, with detailed descriptions of bombing raids and narrow escapes from enemy fighter planes. With detached professionalism, Döring offers us thrilling, action-packed snapshots of life as a Luftwaffe pilot.This volume of the diaries, translated into English for the first time, covers the period from August 1943 to May 1945, when the author was flying sorties as a nightfighter, including Operation Gisela, the largest and final operation of the Luftwaffe against the Allies. Despite experiencing crash-landings, near misses, terrifying night missions and precarious flights with too little fuel and under-trained crew, Döring survived through his skill and instincts, as well as a fair amount of luck.

‘A fitting tribute to Germany''s clandestine warriors, and a guarantee that their extraordinary efforts have not been relegated to comparative obscurity or entirely forgotten’ - David R Higgins.Hitler''s daring and pioneering Brandenburgers special forces served in every German theatre of action. This is the most comprehensive account of an unusual and profoundly successful band of men.Lawrence Paterson traces the origins of the small unit, before the outbreak of war in 1939, as the brainchild of Admiral Canaris and part of his Abwehr intelligence unit through through to its breaking up in 1944 when it was largely converted to a, conventional Panzergrenadier division. At that point, many Brandenburgers transferred to Otto Skorzeny’s SS Jägdverbände.It is well-known that German troops disguised themselves as Allied troops for the Battle of the Bulge - but less well known the Brandenburger operations used such disguises - more effectively -in in advance of the Blitzkrieg in 1939-41.Despite their profound success as commando raiding troops their history has been overshadowed by equivalent Allied units and largely ignored. However, within North Africa the Brandenburgers employed similar techniques to the SAS and LRDG, at first earning Erwin Rommel’s disapproval for their unorthodox methods until he began to feel the effect of similar Allied raids.Paterson details the roles of key individuals, such as Theodor von Hippel, along with forensic details of key operations. He explodes many of the myths about the unit and provides a clear and comprehensive history of this key part of the Wehrmacht.

In 1970, the SAS was called in to support the Sultan of Oman’s armed forces in their bitter struggle against a Communist-backed insurrection. This is the gripping story of the part played in the conflict by the men and squadrons of the 22nd Special Air Service Regiment, the first full SAS squadron in the region. Written by the man who commanded that unit and who successfully raised the first bands of Dhofari irregulars to fight for the Sultan, SAS: Secret War provides a unique and personal insight into what was to become one of the most successful counter-insurgency campaigns of the twentieth century.

In the corner of Efrat’s bedroom, there is an old cardboard box filled with twigs and leaves. A baby sparrow has lost his nest in a storm, and Efrat has been caring for him ever since. She calls him Teensy Weensy, and feeds him nuts and seeds, gives him water and plans to keep him warm and safe until he grows big and strong.Efrat’s friends and family are not so sure about her new pet. The children in the park laugh at her, her grandparents try to convince her to get another animal instead, and her dad worries what will happen if Teensy Weensy doesn’t survive. Efrat’s confidence wavers, but she doesn’t give up. She continues to care for Teensy Weensy until, one day, she knows that he has grown up and the time has come to set him free.Teensy Weensy is a sweet, endearing tale about the importance of following chesed and having the courage to care for our fellow creatures, no matter the difficulty or the obstacles that we may face. This story will delight all young readers, particularly animal lovers.

Speedy is the fastest animal in the forest, and always loves a challenge and a chance to show off his skills. But one day, while getting ready for an archery contest, Speedy finds himself facing his biggest challenge yet - to run faster than the words that came out of his mouth.Frustrated and letting his temper get the better of him, Speedy says something unkind about his best friend Ellie the Elephant that he immediately regrets. Will he make it across the forest and catch up with his words before they reach Ellie’s ears and hurt her feeling? ased on the Jewish idea of lashon hara, this thought-provoking tale shows the harm that unkind words can do and offers lessons on the importance of honesty, forgiveness and friendship. Menahem Halberstadt’s charming illustrations bring this story to life on the page, making for an engaging, educational tale that young readers will both thoroughly enjoy and learn a lot from.

'A full and wholly fair representation of the most adventurous life in the history of British politics..there is not a word I would have changed in the text of this excellent graphical account' - Andrew Roberts ‘A wholly original and fresh approach to historical biography. Churchill would have been delighted to be a comic book hero!’ - Phil Reed, Emeritus Director, Churchill War Rooms 'A novel and riveting re-telling of the Churchill legend’ - Professor Gary Sheffield ‘A highly original approach, using the comic strip style to tell his story. With magnificent artwork and a lively text, and a foreword by the historian and biography Andrew Roberts, it captures all the drama and excitement of his long life up to the victory over Nazi Germany’ - Leo McKinstry, author of Attlee and Churchill 'This biography presents Churchill’s part in this conflict in a detailed yet inventive manner, making this accessible for people of all ages and knowledge'- Comic-Watch.com This innovative graphic biography of Churchill tells his extraordinary story, from his upbringing, through his military exploits and experience of the First World War, to his pivotal role in the Second World War. It explores the details of Churchill’s life within its historical and political context and brings the story to vivid life with precision, clarity and stunning visuals. With a foreword by leading Andrew Roberts, the biography is followed by a series of background information. Beautifully drawn, bursting with facts and highly accessible, this graphic biography will introduce a whole new generation of readers to Churchill’s incredible career and important legacy.

Traditional accounts of the campaigns of 1813 concentrate on the major powers: Napoleon’s France versus Russia, joined successively by Prussia, Sweden and Austria, and how, as in the French catastrophe of 1812, early successes were transformed into ruinous defeat. However, the smaller German states in Napoleon’s alliance system, the Confederation of the Rhine, or Rheinbund, also played an important part.Despite its significance, there are few books, especially in English, that explore the Rheinbund’s creation, evolution and demise. This groundbreaking new work seeks to redress this. Based on years of research in archives across Germany and France, as well as battlefield visits, this unprecedented study provides the first comprehensive analysis of the confederation’s military campaigns of 1813 – culminating in Napoleon’s defeat and the collapse of his German alliance.Presented in two parts, the first volume opens with an overview and brief history of the Rheinbund and an examination of the campaigns, battles and sieges of 1813. This second volume continues with an analysis of the forces of Württemberg, Baden and Hesse-Darmstadt, Westphalia and the multitude of smaller states that comprised the Rheinbund. Supplemented by more than 100 maps, charts and orders of battle, this is an essential reference work for any Napoleonic scholar and all those with an interest in the historical development of Germany.

"A charming, witty story based on her [the author''s] memories of her own son and his reluctance to try new food." – Angela Kiverstein, The Jewish Chronicle**Some people called Eddie a fussy eater, but when it came to food, he would simply rather be safe than sorry.**During festivals and Shabbat Eddie’s mum and dad loved to cook special meals, but Eddie would rather stick with what he knew: eggs! During Rosh Hashana, Eddie would rather have an egg than the salmon his Dad cooked up. During Succot, Mum’s barley soup was no match for Eddie’s egg. On Chanukah, the stir-fry that Dad served up was refused by Eddie in favour of an egg, while on Shavuot, Mum’s spinach and mushroom lasagne simply couldn’t compete with Eddie''s egg. It is only thanks to a misunderstanding that, one Shabbat dinner, Eddie manages to enjoy something that isn’t an egg. Working through various Jewish festivals of the year, this is a sweet story about the anxieties surrounding – and the importance of – trying new things.