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By mid-April 1945, Hitler's Third Reich was staring into the abyss. Despite fanatical resistance and close-quarter fighting, the Red Banner was raised over the Reichstag and Berlin; Hitler had committed suicide the same day. Berlin surrendered unconditionally and Germany surrendered to the Allies on 7 May - the war in Europe was at an end.

The allies landed at Salerno and Taranto in September 1943. They reached the main German fortified position - the Gustav line - in December. This work details how it took a massive offensive by 11 divisions to take Cassino in a brutal battle of attrition.

This work details the 24-day Saipan and 8-day Tinian operations, fom the difficulties the Marines faced establishing themselves ashore, through the largest tank battle in the Pacific, and the horrors of Japanese civilians committing suicide to avoid capture.

The battle around Falaise in Normandy during August 1944 saw the destruction of the German Seventh army. This book details the chain of events which led to the German retreat and the ensuing liberation of France during World War II (1939-1945). The British and American breakout battles had released motorised units to wage a more mobile war against the German static defensive tactics. At Falaise, the armoured units of US Third Army encircled the German Seventh Army, squeezed them into an ever-smaller cauldron of chaos and crushed them against the advancing British Second Army. The results were devastating: those troops able to escape the disaster fled, those who remained were killed or captured and vast quantities of armour and equipment were lost.

Osprey's study of Operation Mercury, the German airborne assault on the island of Crete in May 1941 during World War II (1939-1945), which was the first strategic use of airborne forces in history. The assault began on 20 May, with landings near the island's key airports, and reinforcements the next day allowed the German forces to capture one end of the runway at Maleme. By 24 May, the Germans were being reinforced by air on a huge scale and on 1 June Crete surrendered. This book describes how desperately close the battle had been and explains how German losses so shocked the Führer that he never again authorised a major airborne operation.

One of the key battles of the Hundred Years' War, the Battle of Poitiers had huge political consequences. Fought in the picturesque Loire Valley, it led to the capture of King John and a treaty that subsequently gave England half of France.

In 1701, the nations resisting Louis XIV's attempts to secure the throne of Spain had formed a grand Alliance. Yet by late 1703 the overall outlook was unfavourable. Marlborough and Eugene of Savoy developed a plan and succeeded to change this and knock Bavaria out of the war. This volume demonstrates how this success came about.

When Charles Stuart was crowned King of Scotland, Cromwell led the English army north to counter the threat he now posed. Their march on Edinburgh was opposed by Leslie's Scottish army who forced them back as far as Dunbar. Battle ensued, and the Scots fought with determination until Cromwell led his cavalry against their right wing.

The battle of El Alamein marked the turning point in Britain's fortunes in the Second World War. There were three separate battles between July and November 1942, all of which were fought to halt the advance of Rommel's army towards the Suez Canal. This final battle at El Alamein, fought in October and November, saw the continuous bombardment of the German line that Rommel was instructed to hold at all costs by Hitler himself. The Allies shattered the German defences, and Rommel led a westward retreat in order to salvage what was left of the Afrika Korps. This book provides an in-depth analysis of the battle that turned the tide in favour of the Allies in Africa.

This book examines the first military encounters of the Seven Years' War. When the French built forts along the Ohio River valley to support their claims to the area, a clash with the British became inevitable, and when in 1753 they refused to evacuate the region, British thoughts turned to eviction.

Khe Sanh was a small village in northwest South Vietnam that sat astride key North Vietnamese infiltration routes. In September 1966 of the Vietnam War (1955-1975), a Marine battalion deployed into the area. Action gradually increased as the NVA attempted to destroy Free World Forces bases, and the siege of Khe Sanh proper began in October 1967. The bitter fight lasted into July 1968 when, with the changing strategic and tactical situation, the base was finally closed. This book details the siege and explains how, although the NVA successfully overran a Special Forces camp nearby, it was unable to drive US forces from Khe Sanh.

In April 1291, a Mamluk army laid siege to Acre, the last great Crusader fortress in the Holy Land. For six weeks, the siege dragged on until the Mamluks took the outer wall, which had been breached in several places. The Military Orders drove back the Mamluks temporarily, but three days later the inner wall was breached. King Henry escaped, but the bulk of the defenders and most of the citizens perished in the fighting or were sold into slavery. The surviving knights fell back to their fortress, resisting for ten days, until the Mamluks broke through. This book depicts the dramatic collapse of this great fortress, whose demise marked the end of the Crusades in the Holy Land.

In August 1793 of the French Revolutionary Wars (1792-1802), Republican France teetered on the brink of collapse. On every front her enemies' armies swept forward across her borders - the very survival of the Revolution itself was at stake. In Toulon, the strategically vital home port of France's Mediterranean fleet, a coup had overthrown the Republican government and handed over the city to the blockading British navy. In this, perhaps her darkest hour, France's saviour was at hand in the shape of a Captain of Artillery whose name all Europe would soon know - Napoleon Bonaparte. This title describes the Republican victory at Toulon that not only saved the Revolution but also saw the young Napoleon Bonaparte begin his meteoric rise to power.

Osprey's examination of the battle of the Willamite War in Ireland (1689-1691), which would decide the fate of the crown of England. In April 1685, James II ascended the English throne. An overt Catholic, James proved unpopular with his Protestant subjects, and a group of nobles invited the Dutch prince William of Orange to take the throne in the Glorious Revolution of 1688; James II fled to France. James returned in 1689, a French fleet landing him at Kinsale in Ireland. On 14 June 1690, William led an army to Ireland and came face-to-face with the Jacobites along the banks of the Boyne near Drogheda. This book describes the events that led to the momentous battle on July 1, 1690.

In January 1944, the Allies decided to land at Anzio in order to overcome the stalemate at Cassino.This amphibious landing has become one of the most controversial campaigns of World War II (1939-1945). Questionable decisions by the Allied leadership led to three months of World War I-style trench warfare, and the entire beachhead suffered from continuous German observation and bombardment.  Vividly describing each thrust and counter-thrust, this book takes us through the agonizing struggle as each side sought to retain or regain mastery.  It shows how Anzio proved to be a stepping stone not only to Rome but also to the liberation of Italy.

This work covers the longest and hardest-fought engagement of the entire War of Independence. His actions at Monmouth led to the dismissal and ultimate court martial of General Charles Lee, Washington's controversial and mercurial lieutenant.

In November 1943 US forces successfully seized Tarawa and Makin in the first major counteroffensive of the Central Pacific; however, US casualties were heavy. By the end of January 1944. Operation 'Flintlock' - the seizure of the Marshall Islands - was launched: the next stepping-stone towards Japan.

The largest city in Normandy, Caen's position gave it major strategic value for Allies and Germans alike. This title describes the battle for Caen, revealing how, as a result of the British failure to take the city early in the campaign, Caen and its population were immolated - a fate for which Montgomery has been held responsible.

Vimy Ridge was one of the most important geographic features on the entire Western Front in World War I (1914-1918). In early 1917 it was considered practically impregnable, but on 9 April the Canadian Army Corps, under the command of the British Lieutenant General Sir Julian Byng, assaulted it as part of the Arras offensive. In one of the most spectacular operational attacks of the war, they seized almost the entire ridge in a single day. This book describes how the innovative efforts that went into every aspect of the preparation for this attack ensured that the Canadian and British troops achieved unprecedented success.

The North African campaign of November 1942-May 1943 was a baptism of fire for the US Army. After relatively straightforward landings, the US II Corps advanced into Tunisia to support operations by the British 8th Army. Rommel, worried by the prospect of an attack, decided to exploit the inexperience of the US Army and strike a blow against their overextended positions around the Kasserine Pass. However, the Germans were unable to exploit their initial success, and later attacks were bloodily repulsed. The fighting in Tunisia taught the green US Army vital combat lessons, and brought to the fore senior commanders such as Eisenhower, Patton, and Bradley.

"The Fourth Crusade 1202-04: The Betrayal of Byzantium".

The events in Iraq in 1941 had crucial strategic consequences. The country's oil reserves were a highly coveted prize for the Axis powers. This book examines the strategy and tactics of the Iraq campaign, the role of the Indian Army and the Arab Legion, the nature of expeditionary warfare and the complementary roles of air and land power.

Wellington said that of all, the battle of Assaye from the Second Mahratta War (1803-05) in central India, was the bloodiest for the numbers that I ever saw. This book examines the bitter 3-hour battle, which was won by Wellesley's coolness and leadership.

In late September 1941, the war in the east was approaching a climax. After inflicting a defeat on the Soviet armies at Kiev in early September, Hitler re-directed the victorious Wehrmacht armies toward Moscow. This title details the battle that took place right up to the suburbs of Moscow itself.

Explores the myths of the infamous Somme battle and explains the underlying causes of the conflict. This book provides an overview of the events along the entire frontline, examining the actions of two British Corps, VIII at Serre and XIII at Montauban, to determine why the Somme epitomised the proverbial double-edged sword.

After Spain declared war on Britain on 21 June 1779, Gibraltar was besieged by land and sea for four years. The centrepiece of the siege was the dramatic assault by supposedly invincible battering ships and the author reveals how these floating phenomena were countered by British engineering ingenuity and sheer resolve. In this detailed account of the siege, Rene Chartrand examines the Franco-Spanish and British forces as well as the personalities and plans that would contribute to a vital British victory at a time when British fortunes elsewhere in the world were on the wane.

In 48 BC, the stage was set for the final clash of the two titans of the Roman world and the odds were heavily in Pompey's favour, with 45,000 men against Caesar's 22,000. This work charts the events surrounding the Pharsalus campaign, and the seismic implications of the decisive clash between the two greatest generals of their age.

Provides a historical account of the battle of Flodden 1513 between the Scottish and English armies. Recognized as the greatest Scottish defeat in history, it resulted in the death of Scotland's king. This book examines battle, the different tactics of the opposing armies and the personalities of the commanders.

In 1614, Osaka Castle was Japan's greatest fortification, belonging to Toyotomi Hideyori, however the ruling shogun of the age, Tokugawa Ieyasu, was determined to destroy this one last threat to his position as Japan's ultimate ruler. This book explores the background of this bitter struggle, and the battle experiences of the opposing forces.