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“During Desert Storm the Air Force and the Armor forces were the thunder but the 101st was the lightning.” General Norman Schwarzkopf, April, 1991. Camp Eagle II, Saudi ArabiaOperation Desert Storm chronicles perhaps the most incredible story of the Gulf War that has never been told. It describes two young soldiers from the intelligence section of 1-327 Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, Captain Jose Delgado and Sergeant Jesus Gonzalez, who unlocked an intelligence puzzle none of their higher headquarters recognized. This pivotal discovery occurred after the finalization of the 101st Airborne’s plans for attacking into Iraq and altered the direction of Desert Storm.1-327 Infantry was also the lead unit of what became the largest air assault (by helicopter) in US history. The 101st Airborne was a unique army division because of the 300+ helicopters in its arsenal. General Schwarzkopf''s "Hail Mary" plan, to use the 101st to air assault deep into Iraq and cut the Euphrates Valley, was the boldest operational maneuver for the US Military since the Inchon landing in Korea in 1950. Schwarzkopf''s plan stretched the division’s capabilities to their limits and demonstrated the 101st Airborne’s strengths and weaknesses. CPT Jose Delgado and SGT Jesus Gonzalez discovered the fatal intelligence flaw, an enemy battalion’s bunker-trench complex in 1-327 Infantry’s lead company''s landing zone. Their discovery, 48 hours before the air assault, caused the division''s plan to be altered, although it was a significant challenge to do so. Without their discovery, the attack was destined for disaster.In writing the book, Colonel Frank Hancock, Battalion Commander of 1-327 Infantry, asked soldiers from across the battalion to provide narratives and their recollections of what happened, thereby providing a full view of what occurred and why, from the perspective of soldiers ranging in rank from private to colonel. The book also details the process of how the US Army learned from its experiences in Vietnam, made changes, and became a different, structured, and more lethal army in the post-Vietnam era.

The author’s family boasts an extraordinary lineage of nine Royal Air Force pilots, spanning from the First World War to the present day. Beginning with the Royal Flying Corps, the family has produced high-ranking officers and notable figures in aviation history. The author''s great uncle, an Air Marshal, conceived the idea of sending the ''Little Ships'' to Dunkirk and later became Chief of the Air Staff of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. He also had an interest in the paranormal, inspiring the film The Night My Number Came Up.The author’s grandparents were both of flag rank: Air Commodore Ernest Howard-Williams briefly served as deputy to Fighter Command’s Hugh Dowding, while Air Vice-Marshal Frank Inglis, head of RAF intelligence, was instrumental in convincing President Roosevelt of the ‘Germany First’ policy.Other family members include a night fighter pilot during the Second World War, a Battle of Britain fighter pilot, and Group Captain Peter Helmore, a pathfinder with numerous operations. The author’s uncle, Air Commodore William Helmore, was an engineer who invented the Helmover Torpedo and broadcasted live from a Liberator over D-Day beaches. The family legacy continues with the author''s son, a Chinook helicopter captain in the modern RAF.

The Companion Guide to The Godfather Trilogy: Betrayal, Loyalty, and Family offers a fresh perspective, going beyond the surface to uncover the real-life context and historical inspirations behind the story. Scene by scene, it explores:* The authentic mafia history, individuals, and events that served as the foundation for Mario Puzo''s compelling narrative* Insights into the Italian-American experience and the American Dream portrayed in the films* The mafia''s influence on Hollywood, Cuba, and Las Vegas, and its connection to the storyline* A comparison between the novel, the cinematic adaptation and script drafts, highlighting differences and similarities* Michael Corleone''s journey in post-war Sicily and its ties to World War II and Mafia operations* Intriguing details about filming locations, including rare photos and behind-the-scenes anecdotes* Answers to common questions about the films, along with director''s notes and production drama* Frank Sinatra and other celebrity associations with the films* Untold stories and details not read elsewhereWell-researched and with detailed analysis, The Companion Guide to The Godfather Trilogy: Betrayal, Loyalty, and Family caters to fans seeking a deeper understanding of The Godfather universe, shedding light on untold stories and providing invaluable insights into the cinematic masterpiece.

The book described the conflict, personal rivalry and contrast in personality, generalship and command, between the two iconic commanders in the Thirty Years War, King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden for the Protestant powers, and Albrecht von Wallenstein, Duke of Friedland. More than just commanders at the tactical level they were statesmen, military organisers and strategists on a continental scale. Both commanders represented the 17th-century ‘military revolution in action’. The writing is vivid, graphic and detailed, without overloading, and readers can feel ‘involved’ in the action, from strategic planning to battlefield tactics, and even the melee. Both generals are titanic figures, and their respective deaths - Gustavus heroically in battle and Wallenstein, murdered with the Emperor’s compliance – were dramatic highpoints in the long war. This is no hagiography, and the author analyses the contrasting reputations of two of the greatest military figures in modern history and analyses mistakes as well their triumphs. Both commanders’ understanding of the role of the modern state and finance as vital factors in the military revolution and modern warfare. A major contrast was Gustavus’s constant search for the tactical and strategic initiative compared to Wallenstein’s caution and patience and development of counter-punch defensive tactics. Exceptional for the period, a young warrior like an ‘Alexander’, Gustavus excelled in inspired battlefield leadership even at huge risk. Despite his death at Lutzen in 1632, he and his steadfast chancellor Oxenstierna, decisively defeated the Emperor’s attempt to subjugate the Empire and introduce the Catholic counter-reformation. Gustavus contributed hugely to the ending of Habsburg supremacy while advancing new concepts in modern war. His death ushered in his acolytes including generals Baner, Saxe-Weimar and Torstensson. Gustavus or Wallenstein, the greater of the two? The reader must judge but Napoleon included Gustavus in his list of ten greats with Julius Caesar, Hannibal Barca, and Alexander the Great.

Deep in the heart of North Yorkshire, at a place called Walkington Wold, there lies a rather unusual burial ground, an Anglo-Saxon execution cemetery. Twelve skeletons were unearthed by archaeologists, ten without skulls, later examination of the skeletons revealed that their owners were all subjected to judicial execution by decapitation, one of which required several blows.Similar fates have befallen other wretched souls, the undignified burial of suicides - in the Middle Ages, the most profound of sins - and the desecration of their bodies, go largely unrecorded. Whilst plague pits, vast cemeteries where victims of the Black Death were tossed into the ground, their bodies festering one on top of another, are only today betraying their secrets.Although unpalatable to some, these burial grounds are an important part of our social heritage. They have been fashioned as much by the people who founded and used them, as by the buildings, gravestones and other features which they contain. They are records of social change; the symbols engraved upon individual memorials convey a sense of inherent belief systems, as they were constructed, adapted or abandoned depending on people’s needs.Burying the Dead explores how these attitudes, practices and beliefs about death have undergone continual change. By studying the development of society’s funerary spaces, the author will reveal how we continue to reinforce our relationships with the dead, in a constant and on-going effort to maintain a bond with them.

In October 1835, Samuel Burrows was slowly dying. Suffering from liver disease, the 63-year-old knew he had little time left to confess his sins. The Reverend William Clarke offered Burrows some religious guidance so he could attempt to salvage Burrows’s soul before the eyes of God. He knew the struggle that fell before him; after all, it was not every day that Clarke had to provide religious comfort to a man who had sent around 53 individuals to meet their maker.Burrows felt little remorse for his actions. In his view, the law was the law and they deserved their final punishment, a punishment which also provided Burrows with some much-needed income. Clarke spent a week with Burrows as he died. He attempted to help Burrows examine his life and career as Chester’s Hangman. Did they all deserve it as Burrows stubbornly believe? his book takes a deeper look at Chester’s infamous hangman and those he condemned to death by delving into the crimes they had committed. The book also looks at the social, economic, and political changes that the country endured during his 26-year career. From his days as a butcher and beadle to gaining employment as the city’s executioner during the era of the “Bloody Code” to the act''s eventual repeal. The Noose of Samuel Burrows takes you on a journey through early 19th-century crime and punishment through the eyes of those who lived through it.

Napoleon’s 1812 invasion of Russia marked a major turning point in his reign. His Grande Armée, consisting of over half a million men, was decimated within six months, leaving only about 10,000 survivors. The campaign cost over a million lives, including soldiers and civilians.Historian Paul Dawson examines the uniforms and equipment of the more than 120 regiments that participated in the invasion and later campaigns. His research, based on over 1,000 archive boxes from the Service Historique de l’Armée de Terre and the Archives Nationales, provides unprecedented detail about the army’s clothing and equipment. Dawson’s study reveals the adoption of the 1806 and Bardin regulations and their practical implementation.Each year, regiments were inspected, and soldiers were issued clothing and equipment, with repairs recorded. New recruits paid for their gear through deductions from their wages, and any damage due to misuse was charged to them. The army faced constant challenges in maintaining uniforms and supplies, from simple vests to more specialized items like epaulettes and tools for sapeurs.This groundbreaking book offers rare insights into the French line infantry’s attire, featuring period illustrations and photographs of existing uniforms, shedding light on what soldiers wore during Napoleon’s final campaigns.

RAF Transport Command''s 46 Group, formed in January 1944, played a pivotal role in the Allies'' victory during the final months of World War II. Operating from three airfields—RAF Broadwell, RAF Blakehill Farm, and RAF Down Ampney—its six squadrons flew the Douglas C-47 Dakotas, providing vital support to airborne forces, paratroopers, and gliders. They conducted air drops, resupplied front-line troops, and facilitated casualty evacuation.From D-Day on 6 June 1944, the Dakotas flew crucial missions over France, transporting goods and personnel while returning with wounded troops and captured enemy material. The ''Flying Nightingales'', WAAF nurses aboard these flights, administered first aid on their return journeys, though one nurse, LACW Margaret Campbell, was killed in a crash in October 1944.During Operation Market Garden in September 1944, Dakotas supported the airborne forces with daily resupply flights. Flight Lieutenant David Lord of 271 Squadron posthumously received the Victoria Cross for his bravery in delivering supplies under heavy flak.In March 1945, Dakotas played a key role in Operation Varsity, the final airborne assault of the war. This book examines the significant contribution of 46 Group’s Dakotas and crews, highlighting their crucial part in the defeat of Nazi Germany.

Bomber Command faced mounting challenges as poor bombing results and heavy losses strained aircrews to their limits. The formation of the Pathfinders Force marked a turning point, introducing improved methods for finding and marking targets. The Mosquito, adopted by the Pathfinders, played a critical role in this evolution.Steve Crump’s interest in 139 Squadron’s Mosquito DZ477 began in the 1990s when he discovered it had crashed near his home in Hereford during a 1944 training exercise. His investigation unearthed the aircraft’s remarkable history: over 60 operational missions, involvement in low-level target marking, and connections to 617 Squadron, the iconic "Dambusters."Drawing from local memories, official records, and firsthand accounts, Crump paints a vivid picture of the challenges faced by the men of 139 and later 627 Squadrons. These elite crews bore immense responsibility, leading missions over heavily defended skies to mark targets in Nazi territory. Their precision became even more critical during operations in France, where minimizing civilian casualties added complexity.DZ477’s story encapsulates the broader narrative of Bomber Command''s evolving strategies and the heroism of its crews. Crump’s account, enriched by unpublished photographs and combat records, honors the extraordinary efforts of those who flew and fought under extreme pressure to ensure mission success.

In the 19th Century there was a widespread feeling in seaside resorts with cliffs that visitor numbers would be increased if there was an easy way of reaching, and more importantly, returning from the beach, avoiding flights of stairs or long zig-zag paths. To address this issue, the first cliff railway was built at Scarborough in 1875. Since then, another twenty-nine, or thirty if the Leas lift at Folkestone, which was duplicated in 1890, is counted as two, have been built, including three at inland locations.Despite having the same function, all the cliff railways are different and have their own characteristics. Some of them still use water as a power source. The remainder use electric motors.In addition to telling the story of Britain’s cliff railways, author Peter Johnson tells the story of the authorised but unbuilt cliff railways, vertical lifts and electric stairways that serve or served the same function in a few places, and adds details of what might be called ‘cliff railway derivatives,’ steep-grade, rope-hauled, railways, airport automated people movers, and modern inclined lift installations that might have been built as cliff railways if they had been built a hundred years ago.To compile this new book, Peter Johnson, who has written books on Welsh and narrow gauge railways for Pen & Sword, has carried out extensive research in government files and old newspapers. Many of the illustrations have not been published previously and a few of them are very rare.

A seemingly endless parade of books, films and television shows have kept Marie Antoinette in the spotlight for over two centuries since her execution in October 1793. For many, she is the ignorant embodiment of foolish, careless, decadent excess, and a deserving example of the terrible fate that on occasion befalls members of the mega-wealthy ruling class who exploit and ignore the needs of those less fortunate than themselves. Meanwhile, for others, she is a source of endless fascination thanks to the flamboyant fashions of her era, the pastel-hued beauty of her surviving residences and, above all, the extraordinary drama of her almost unbelievable riches-to-rags life. She was a complex woman who lived in a remarkable time, and yet she was also a very simple one whose main desire in life was to love and be loved in return.This engaging and intimate biography of Marie Antoinette takes a fresh look at the story of this most fascinating and misunderstood of queens, exploring her personal tribulations such as her emotionally unfulfilling marriage, rocky friendships and the loss of her children, as well as the series of scandals, mistakes and disasters that took her from the gilded splendour of Versailles to the guillotine.

The technicians of the 9th Military Technical Research Institute, known as the Noborito Research Institute, toiled in the shadows of the Second World War to develop spy gear and special weapons for the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA). Their espionage devices, including secret inks, bugging devices, and miniature cameras, helped the Army’s dreaded Kempeitai and the shadowy Yama Agency counter foreign spies and track domestic dissent. Operatives of the IJA’s Nakano School for intelligence operatives and commandos took the equipment into the field with them. Noborito’s forgers reproduced Chinese currency in an operation to wreck China’s economy. Scientists and technicians tested biological weapons on Chinese prisoners as part of a top-secret project fielded by the IJA’s infamous Unit 731 and developed a virus into a weapon to strike at America’s cattle herds. Others developed bombing balloons to attack the American heartland, a target that lay far beyond Japan’s reach by conventional means. Stephen Mercado provides, in this first book in English on an intelligence organization little known outside Japan, an absorbing account of Noborito’s activities.The author further recounts how, in the shadows of Occupied Japan, Noborito veterans entered US military service in secret, then applied their skills to operations during the Korean War and for years afterwards in the Cold War. Other veterans applied their skills to rebuilding Japan and turning the vanquished empire into a postwar industrial power. This story is one of talented technicians who served their country in war and peace.

As the childless Elizabeth I lay on her deathbed, discussions over who would succeed her as ruler of England raged on amongst her advisors.The succession to Elizabeth’s throne was hotly debated throughout her reign (1558-1603) and despite having no direct heir, the queen refused to name her successor over safety concerns, being convinced a plot would be raised to oust her in favour of the heir.There were many contenders to the crown, but Elizabeth’s main rival was Mary, Queen of Scots but her Catholic faith and ill-advised marriage to fellow claimant Lord Darnley, against Elizabeth’s wishes, damaged her claim. Her claim was ended when the English queen had her Scottish counterpart executed in 1587.Other claims came from the Grey sisters Katherine and Mary, and later Margaret Clifford and Arbella Stuart. But the crown finally came to King James VI of Scotland, son of Mary and Darnley, in what was a smooth transition. His accession marked the end of the Tudor dynasty and the start of the Stuart era in England.

The American West evokes powerful imagery—warriors on horseback, cowboys in saloons, and pioneers in wagons heading westward. It symbolizes freedom, reinvention, and the American Dream. However, this idealized image obscures the complex, often violent history of the West, which is as unjust as it is inspiring.Historians debate the boundaries of the American West, but it''s clear that it’s a dynamic concept—both a place and an idea, evolving over time. For three centuries, the frontier and western history overlapped until the frontier disappeared in 1890. Early narratives celebrated explorers, settlers, and entrepreneurs who developed the West, portraying them as heroic figures.However, modern historians criticize this "triumphant" view, highlighting the exploitation, racism, and ecological damage caused by Western expansion. They focus on marginalized groups—racial minorities, women, and workers—while critiquing the often-overlooked injustices faced by Indigenous peoples and others. This revisionist perspective emphasizes the darker aspects of Western history, challenging previous glorifications of development and heroism.The Epic History of the American West bridges traditional and revisionist views, exploring the region’s complex legacy, from violent struggles to ongoing cultural and ideological conflicts. It reflects the West’s enduring significance, blending history and mythology to reveal its multifaceted nature.

Joseph Stalin and the Art of Tyranny examines authoritarian rule, revealing how tyrants sustain power through a mix of comfort, terror, love, and fear, often convincing their subjects of their divine purpose. Such leaders build systems of loyalists and subservient institutions, enabling unchecked authority.Joseph Stalin exemplifies this tyranny. As Soviet leader from 1929 to 1953, he implemented totalitarian policies, nationalizing industry and agriculture, controlling economic production through five-year plans, and eliminating dissent through imprisonment, forced labour, or execution. His brutal regime caused an estimated 20 million deaths.Despite this grim legacy, Stalin’s reputation remains divisive. In Western democracies, he is remembered as a genocidal dictator, but in Russia he often ranks among the most admired historical figures, illustrating the paradox of his influence.Stalinism served as a model for Communist regimes in China, Vietnam, and Cuba, shaping their governance. While many of these nations transitioned toward democracy, countries like Russia, China, and North Korea continue to echo Stalinist practices. Modern leaders such as Saddam Hussein, Vladimir Putin, and Xi Jinping have adopted similar strategies of control.Joseph Stalin and the Art of Tyranny offers crucial insights into authoritarianism, revealing the enduring appeal and devastating impact of totalitarian rule.

On 15 July 1974, Archbishop Makarios III, the democratically elected president of Cyprus, narrowly escaped death when the Cyprus National Guard shelled the presidential palace in Nicosia. Makarios and his bodyguards fled just as the assault was delayed by a broken tank. The coup was backed by the Greek military dictatorship, or Junta, which had taken power in 1967 and saw Makarios as a communist sympathizer. The Junta’s leader, Dimitrios Ioannidis, assumed that the CIA and the West would support the archbishop''s removal, a major miscalculation.The coup''s aftermath led to the installation of Nicos Sampson as president, sparking fears in Turkey of Cyprus uniting with Greece (Enosis), which threatened Turkey’s security. In response, Turkey invaded Cyprus, sparking conflict with Greek and Cypriot National Guard forces. The crisis nearly led to war between Greece and Turkey.Efforts by Henry Kissinger and British Foreign Secretary James Callaghan to prevent further escalation were complicated by the political turmoil in the U.S. and Britain’s vulnerability due to its military presence on the island. By August, the conflict resulted in 3,000 deaths and 200,000 displaced people. Cyprus remains divided today. In Cyprus 1974, Andrew Southam explores the perspectives of all parties involved, debunking conspiracy theories and highlighting key mistakes.