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This work charts the seemingly spontaneous growth of the "Free Corps" movement from the ashes of the Imperial German Army following the 1918 Armistice. It features accounts of dramatic and little-known campaigns inside Germany and on the Baltic and Polish frontiers.

An illustrated guide to the uniforms and equipment of the men and women of the US Navy during its huge contribution to the war 1941-45 - in the Pacific, where USN operations were the essential foundation of the Allied war effort, and also in the Atlantic and NW Europe.

This work takes a look at the Royal Navy during World War II. It covers the organization of the fleet, the duties and conditions of shipboard life, and the uniforms and gear worn in all theatres of war. It also traces the development of the Royal Navy from 1939 to the end of the war.

The elite forces of the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies in the mid-1980s were undoubtedly the largest in the world, and among the least known. The Soviet elite formations alone had a total strength comparable to that of the entire British armed forces. Besides the conventional military elite formations such as airborne and marine forces, most Warsaw Pact armies also possessed special, ''political'' elite, which were used for internal security. Backed by numerous photographs and illustrations, this book uncovers the history, organization and equipment of both the conventional Soviet elite formations and the often ignored security units.

The Office of Strategic Services, the forerunner of the CIA, was founded in 1942 by William 'Wild Bill' Donovan under the direction of President Roosevelt. This book tells the story of the origins and development of the American espionage forces. It covers the different departments involved.

The breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s was the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War II, costing thousands of lives. Providing a detailed account of the struggle that focuses on the numerous combatant armies, this book, the first in a two-part series, is an illustrated guide to the militia forces of the campaigns in the former Yugoslavia.

Offers the history of the Mexican Revolution. Apart from the guerrilla operations, for which the Revolution is best-known, this book also covers several major battles that involved up to 20,000 men on each side, barbed wire, trenches and machine guns.

In the face of Soviet invasion in 1939-40, and once again in 1941-44, the armies raised by Finland - a tiny nation of only 4 million people - astonished the world by their effective resistance. At the end of both these campaigns - the Winter War, and the Continuation War - the fiercely patriotic defiance of vastly stronger Soviet forces by Marshal Mannerheim's soldiers won their country a unique prize: although forced to accept harsh terms, Finland was never occupied by the Red Army, and retained its independence. This book explains and illustrates, for the first time in English, the organization, uniforms, equipment and tactics of Finland's defenders.

The First Special Service Force unit was formed with three battalions in July 1942, for special operations in occupied Norway, from handpicked US and Canadian volunteers who were trained in parachute, amphibious, ski, mountain and demolition operations.

In 1861, Oklahoma was the home of the transported Five Civilized Tribes. When the Civil War broke out, both Union and Confederate state forces moved in and began fighting, both in the Indian Territory and across the borders of neighbouring states. This book examines the warring sides in this complex conflict.

The tens of thousands of Irish soldiers who fought in the British Army in World War I gained a fierce fighting reputation, distinguishing themselves at Ypres, Gallipoli, the Somme, and Palestine. Providing an illustrated history of the Irish Regiments in both World Wars, this book covers their uniforms and insignia, as well as battle histories.

Providing an analysis of tactical warfare, this book explains the early successes of the Japanese and highlights how the Allies overcame many physical and psychological impairments, to master the art of jungle warfare and finally conquer the strange and claustrophobic jungle environment.

With its first major use in battle during the Vietnam War, the helicopter ushered in a radically different way of fighting. This book presents the history of the first ever major use of helicopters in battle. It describes the development of the critical airmobile tactics that ultimately changed the way America fights its battles.

Little has been published on US armored infantry units and tactics over the years. However, their contribution to the war effort was hugely important. Using period training manuals and combat reports, this book provides a look at the unique tactics developed by US armored infantry units including movement formations and battle drills.

Presents an explanation of the armies of the Croatian War of Independence 1991-92 and the Bosnian Civil War 1992-95. This work includes the regular and militia forces which fought in these campaigns and which ultimately resulted in the UN/NATO policing of Croatia and Bosnia.

At the outbreak of war in 1939 Germany was committed to the concept of Blitzkrieg yet the reality became something very different as every corner of German society was impacted by the realities of war. This book details the critical civilian support that was necessary to maintain German control.

Provides an analysis of the preparation of the French troops from manual regulations to the training ground, as well as a study of the changing quality of command and control within the army. This book explores the role of the French infantry at the apex of their powers and their role in these key battles.

Australian divisions made a large and distinctive contribution to victory both in the deserts of the Middle East and the jungles of the South-West Pacific. This book recounts the organization and deployment of one of the most important fighting armies of World War II.

Just about every war movie - famously, Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers - includes dramatic scenes of soldiers trying to attack an enemy pillbox or trench. Gordon L Rottman (who became expert in these tactics whilst serving in the Vietnam War) explains and illustrates the kit and techniques used in assaulting fortifications. He covers the differences in British, American, German, Soviet and Japanese approaches and experiences, concentrating on small units of foot soldiers with hand-carried equipment. Their tactical deployment is analysed and explained in detail, with the support of colour artwork, maps, diagrams and photographs.

Osprey's examination of the situation on the United States home front during World War II (1939-1945). The outbreak of World War II in Europe in 1939 led to cautious attempts to raise volunteer organizations among American men and women, to back the armed forces in the event of the USA becoming directly involved in the conflict. The attack on Pearl Harbor caused a huge surge of patriotic response, and voluntary enlistment in a wide range of auxiliary and civilian support services, as well as the armed forces, swelled vastly. Looking first at the background and general character of wartime life in the States, Alejandro de Quesada covers the main services, providing an interesting comparison with the conditions on the British Home Front and the experiences of other countries caught up in the war, examining organizations from the Red Cross to the Coast Guard. Full-color artwork reconstructions of the uniforms of over a dozen services are a unique feature of this book.

Tells the history of the Royal Navy's air arm during World War II, from their Arctic convoys, to the battle of Malta, and the last raids on Japan.

From 1940 to 1943 North Africa saw the first major desert campaign by modern mechanised armies. The British, Italians, German Afrika Korps and US Army all addressed and learned from the special problems human, logistical, mechanical and tactical of the desert environment, most significantly fighting in a terrain empty of resources and offering little chance of concealment. Paddy Griffith traces the fast-learned development in armour, artillery and infantry tactics in this exceptional arena and illustrates them with references to the major engagements in the North African theatre, which involved some of the greatest tacticians of World War II in one of the pivotal theatres.

With extensive first-hand accounts providing an eyewitness perspective of the fighting on the ground and including information on the British SAS, the US Delta Force, Australian and Canadian special forces as well as MI6 and CIA operational units, this book provides a study of their skills and successes amidst the Afghan mountains.

Offers an analysis to the Special Operations Forces (SOF) of the US and Coalition allies serving in Iraq since 2003. This book offers a look at the largest mobilisation of Special Forces in history. It examines the US Delta Force, the British SAS, Australian and Canadian Special Forces as well as CIA and MI6 operational units.

ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN E-BOOK.? In this book, expert author and tactician Gordon L Rottman provides the first English-language study of Japanese Army and Navy tank units, their tactics and how they were deployed in action. The Japanese army made extensive use of its tanks in the campaigns in China in the 1930s, and it was in these early successes that the Japanese began to develop their own unique style of tank tactics. From the steam-rolling success of the Japanese as they invaded Manchuria until the eventual Japanese defeat, Rottman provides a battle history of the Japanese tank units as they faced the Chinese, the Russians, the British and the Americans.

Details the armies of what is known as 'the Rough Wooing'. This work covers a transition period, from medieval to Renaissance armies, the spread of firearms, the involvement of foreign mercenaries, and revolutionary tactics that included early instances of the classic Highland Clan charge.

By 390 BC, the Roman army was in need of change, as Greek-style tactics of fighting with a heavy infantry phalanx were proving increasingly outdated. Yet by the end of the 3rd century BC, Rome's prestige was shattered by the genius of Hannibal of Carthage. This book reveals these two defining moments in Roman military history.

A study of the troops that made up Germany's elite special forces of World War II. It also includes details of lesser-known units such as the Brandenburgers, who operated behind enemy lines in captured uniforms, and the Kleinkampfverbande who were the forerunners of modern-day naval combat troops like the US Navy SEALs.