Tag: War

Free Download Richard Hook, "Irish-American Units in the Civil War"
English | 2008 | pages: 52 | ISBN: 1846033268 | PDF | 15,1 mb
Some 150,000 Irish-American immigrants served in the Union Army during the Civil War (1861-1865), most of them from Boston, New York and Chicago, and about 40,000 fought in the Confederate Army. The best known unit was the Irish Brigade of the Union Army of the Potomac, which distinguished itself at Antietam and, particularly, at Fredericksburg, where its sacrificial bravery astonished friend and foe alike. Famous regiments were New York’s ‘Fighting 69th’, the 9th Massachusetts, 116th Pennsylvania, 23rd Illinois and 35th Indiana. Two Louisiana Confederate brigages from New Orleans were almost entirely Irish and several other Irish companies made a name for themselves at Shiloh, Chickamauga and other key battles. This book will give a brief overview of the history of the units on each side of the conflict and will be illustrated with uniform details, flags and archival photographs.

Free Download Robert Marston, "Harrier Boys: Volume 1 – Cold War through the Falklands, 1969-1990"
English | 2015 | pages: 192 | ISBN: 1911621890 | EPUB | 5,4 mb
In Harrier Boys Volume One: Cold War Through the Falklands, 1969-1990, Bob Marston, who flew Harriers for many years, draws together accounts from others who worked with this unique jet through its history. The excitement, camaraderie and pride of Harrier operators shine through in the personal stories of those whose lives were changed by their experience of this iconic aircraft, both on land and at sea. In this first volume, events of the Cold War years are brought to life by contributors including Graham Williams, who flew the Transatlantic Air Race, Peter Dodworth, a member of the original Harrier Conversion Team, Peter Harris, a participant in the early defense of Belize, Sir Peter Squire, OC 1 (F) Squadron during the Falklands conflict, and Australian Dave Baddams, who commanded the Royal Navy Sea Harriers of 800 Squadron.

Free Download Adam Hook, "Germany’s East Wall in World War II"
English | 2015 | pages: 65 | ISBN: 1472805860 | PDF | 10,0 mb
The East Wall was where the final battles for the stricken Third Reich were fought, amid scenes of utter carnage. Beginning life at the end of World War I, the wall became a pet project of Adolf Hitler’s, whose ascent to power saw building work accelerated, with plans for a grand, ‘Maginot-style’ defence put in place. But with a characteristically erratic change of heart, Hitler began to systematically strip the wall of its best defensive assets to bolster the Atlantic Wall, never dreaming that he would face an attack on two fronts. Despite belated and somewhat bungled reinforcements later in the War, the Eastern Wall would face a monstrous challenge as it became the Reich’s last redoubt in the face of the mighty Soviet war machine.

Free Download Philip Jowett, Brent Snodgrass, Raffaele Ruggeri, "Finland at War 1939-45"
English | 2006 | pages: 66 | ISBN: 184176969X | PDF | 3,6 mb
Osprey’s examination of Finland’s involvement in World War II (1939-1945). Finland’s fight to defend her independence earned this tiny nation of just 3 million people a distinct place in history. Invaded by Stalin before World War II, Finland held out for months and inflicted huge losses on the invaders, but she was eventually crushed by the weight of Soviet numbers. When Germany invaded the USSR in 1941 the Finns fought alongside the Wehrmacht on the northern Russian Front, with great skill and courage in an attempt to regain their lost territories. When the German armies were forced to retreat in 1944, Finland managed to conclude a separate peace with the USSR – uniquely, without being forced to accept renewed Russian occupation. This book details the organisation, uniforms and equipment of this remarkable force.

Free Download Philip Katcher, Richard Hook, "Elite 94: American Civil War Commanders (4) Confederate Leaders in the West"
English | 2003 | pages: 67 | ISBN: 1841763195 | PDF | 11,0 mb
Osprey’s study of the commanders of the American Civil War (1861-1865). In the Western theater of war the Confederacy had the misfortune to face, with inferior resources, some of the outstanding Union leaders early in their careers. The Southern commanders who faced Grant, Sherman and Sheridan in these campaigns were of varied backgrounds and talents: some had been sent West in disfavour, others were foolishly quarrelsome, and after A.S.Johnston’s death at Shiloh there was no single figure with the authority to dominate them. Some were nevertheless of the highest class: men like Joseph E.Johnston, the cavalry leader Nathan Bedford Forrest, and the little known Patrick Cleburne and Alexander Stewart earned ungrudging respect. This book details the careers, personalities and appearance of 24 generals of the Army of Tennessee and the other Confederate commands in the West.

Free Download Henk Van Willigenburg, "Dutch Warships of World War II"
English | 2010 | pages: 148 | ASIN: B004DLZR78 | PDF | 83,7 mb

Free Download Harry Dempsey, "Dolphin and Snipe Aces of World War 1"
English | 2002 | pages: 97 | ISBN: 1841763179 | PDF | 4,8 mb
This book focuses on the combat careers of the last of the famous Sopwith fighters to enter service during World War 1, the Dolphin and the Snipe, both of which were built on the strong scouting heritage of the Pup and Camel. The Dolphin featured the unique negative-staggered biplane wing arrangement, which provided the pilot with the best possible tactical view forward for seeking out his enemy. Used extensively on the Western Front, the Dolphin proved very effective in combat, with a substantial number of British aces scoring kills with the fighter. The Snipe was built as the successor of the highly successful Camel, and entered service with the fledgling Royal Air Force in the summer of 1918. Although seeing just a few months of action before the Armistice, the Snipe nevertheless proved its superiority over virtually all other fighters.

Free Download Dominic Phelan, "Cold War Space Sleuths: The Untold Secrets of the Soviet Space Program"
English | 2012 | pages: 315 | ISBN: 1461430518 | PDF | 340,7 mb
"Space Sleuths of the Cold War" relates for the first time the inside story of the amateur spies who monitored the Soviet space program during the Cold War. It is written by many of those "space sleuths" themselves and chronicles the key moments in their discovery of hidden history. This book shows that dedicated observers were often better than professionals at interpreting that information coming out of the USSR during the dark days of the Cold War. This book takes a unique approach to the history of Soviet spaceflight – looking at the personal stories of some of the researchers as well as the space secrets the Soviets tried to keep hidden. The fascinating account often reads like a Cold War espionage novel.

Free Download Stanley G. Payne, "Civil War in Europe, 1905-1949"
English | 2011 | pages: 256 | ISBN: 1107648157, 110701090X | EPUB | 0,8 mb
This is the first account in any language of the civil wars in Europe during the era of the world wars, from 1905 to 1949. It treats the initial confrontations in the decade before World War I, the confusing concept of "European civil war," the impact of the world wars, the relation between revolution and civil war, and all the individual cases of civil war, with special attention to Russia and Spain. The civil wars of this era are compared and contrasted with earlier internal conflicts, with particular attention to the factors that made this era a time of unusually violent domestic contests, as well as those that brought it to an end. The major political, ideological, and social influences are all treated, with a special focus on violence against civilians.

Free Download René Chartrand, Ronald Volstad, "Canadian Forces in World War II"
English | 2001 | pages: 51 | ISBN: 1841763020 | PDF | 16,1 mb
Canada was the first Commonwealth country to send troops to Britain in 1939. During 1939-45 hundreds of thousands of Canadians – more than 40 per cent of the male population between the ages of 18 and 45, and virtually all of them volunteers – enlisted. Canadians fought with tragic courage at Hong Kong and Dieppe; with growing strength and confidence in Sicily, Italy and Normandy; and finally provided an entire Army for the liberation of NW Europe. This concise account of an extraordinary national effort in the cause of freedom is supported by data tables, photos, and eight colour plates by Canada’s most knowledgeable military illustrator.