Bøker av Charles Whiting

The overlooked story of one of the last battles of the Second World War, which shaped the course of the Cold War. Perfect for readers of Max Hastings, James Holland and Stephen E. Ambrose. By the spring of 1945 the end of World War Two was in sight. Adolf Hitler committed suicide on 30th April leaving Admiral Dönitz in charge of what was left of the crumbling Nazi state while Allied troops were storming into Germany from East and West. Yet, Field-Marshal Montgomery and Winston Churchill knew that this was not the moment to take it easy and wait for the inevitable collapse of their enemy, instead they looked to the future and saw the growing threat of the increasingly powerful and aggressive USSR. In the last remaining days of conflict, Montgomery and the British Army fought their way towards the Baltic coast in order to halt the advancing Russians from moving westwards into North-West Europe. This campaign began brilliantly, but finally ended in failure. Why did Dwight D. Eisenhower, who had previously been such a firm friend of the British, give only limited support to Montgomery and Churchill's race to meet the Soviet advance? And how did this failure lay the groundworks for the Cold War that was to emerge in the aftermath of the Second World War? Charles Whiting's thoroughly researched Finale at Flensburg is an eye-opening account of the dying moments of World War Two. Through interviews with many of the prominent German, American and British actors, Whiting is able to reconstruct this oft-forgotten battle and its aftermath.

A fascinating account of the first German city ever besieged by the U.S. Army and the monumental battle that took place amongst its ruined walls. This book would be perfect for readers of George Feifer, Stephen E. Ambrose, and James Holland. Aachen saw some of the fiercest fighting of the Second World War. Through the determined defense of their city the citizens of Aachen held off the oncoming American forces for six weeks, giving the Nazis time to mobilize their troops for what would become the Battle of the Bulge. Had it not been for dogged resistance of these men and women the last great German offensive in the West might have never occurred, potentially ending the war in Europe could have ended six months and saving the lives of thousands. Yet, Charles Whiting's remarkable book, Bloody Aachen, is more than an account of a military operation. Through interviews with German and Dutch participants in the battle he builds an in-depth picture of who the defenders of the city were, informing us that many in this Catholic city were opposed to the Hitler regime and remained behind - against orders and against odds - determined to defend their homes, unwittingly aiding their Nazi enemies as they did so. 'Whiting writes clear, hard-driving prose' Kirkus Reviews This book should be essential reading for all interested in this monumental siege which truly encapsulates the complex motives of the men and women who fought through the course of the Second World War.

An enthralling exposé of the spies who moved in the darkened dangerous back alleys of World War Two. Perfect for readers who enjoy the books of Ian Fleming, Robert Ludlum and John le Carré but who want to learn more about what the real spies really did. While American, British, German and Russian soldiers clashed in the battlefields of the world, a small group of men and women moved in the shadows, deliberating over actions behind the scenes. Agents, double-agents and even triple-agents worked to gather intelligence and give their sides advantages during this monumental conflict. Yet, unlike the world of James Bond, there was no glamor to their actions. Through in-depth research Charles Whiting shines a light on the unvarnished world of espionage in World War Two and demonstrates how all the players of this game, whether French, British, American, Czech, German, Dutch or Russian, lost in this war in the shadows. This book should be essential reading for anyone interested in the overlooked truth of what it was like to be a spy in the Second World War.

The epic account of World War Two's most disastrous rescue mission. "An amazing episode of courage" The New York Times Perfect for fans of Hampton Sides' Ghost Soldiers and Ben MacIntyre's SAS: Rogue Heroes. Gen. George Patton was one of the great military leaders of the Second World War, but when war became personal, he made one of the worst mistakes of his entire career. In March 1945 Patton went against the advice of his top subordinates and created a secret task force under Captain Abraham Baum to drive through a gap in the Nazi defences. Their target was to rescue the prisoners-of-war held in camp Oflag XIII-B near Hammelburg. Of the three hundred men who were part of this task force only one knew the real reason that this mission was set up: to rescue Patton's son-in-law, Lieutenant-Colonel John K. Waters. Encountering heavy fire from the offset, the mission was an unmitigated catastrophe. Yet, it was not just enemy resistance which impeded the drive behind enemy lines, as the task force soon realised it was lacking maps and fuel. Of the men who set out, only thirty-five made it back to Allied lines. Gen. Omar Bradley dismissively later said the mission "began as a wild goose chase and ended in tragedy." Why had Patton authorized such a catastrophic mission? Was he blinded by his desire to save his son-in-law? And what caused the task force to fail so dramatically? Interviews with numerous combatants, from private to general, American and German, allows Charles Whiting to reveals the gripping, true and long-suppressed full story of what exactly happened in this dramatic rescue attempt.

A lively and highly readable study of the often-overlooked Italian Campaign, from the invasion of Sicily to the march on Rome. An ideal book for fans of Jonathan Dimbleby, Max Hastings and Antony Beevor. While the Allied armies were beginning their invasion of the beaches of north-west Europe during D-Day, their fellow soldiers were also engaged in a gruelling campaign throughout the length of Italy. They had expected to carve through the 'soft underbelly of Europe', but what they found instead was a 'tough old gut' filled with battle-hardened troops. It was the costliest campaign on the Western front in terms of casualties suffered by infantry forces of both sides, with both the Allies and Germans losing over three hundred thousand men. Drawing on the recollections of British, American, Polish, French and German men and women who took part, as well as on the official histories, Charles Whiting paints a vivid picture of the liberation of Italy as seen through the eyes of the ordinary soldier. Whiting sheds light on some of the most ferocious fighting that took place during this conflict, including the bloody Battle of Anzio, where Allied troops attempted to outflank German forces but were held down by dogged fighting. The Long March on Rome should be essential reading for anyone wanting to learn more about this overlooked but hugely important front which after over a year of brutal conflict helped defeat the Axis.

The story of the most infamous massacre of American soldiers in World War Two. An ideal book for people interested in the works of Alex Kershaw, Ben Macintyre and Jonathan Freedland. 'Drive on recklessly, give no quarter and to take no prisoners', these are the words that SS-Obersturmbannführer Joachim Peiper gave to his men on the eve of this notorious event. In December 1944 the German counteroffensive in the Ardennes was in full swing, spearheaded by the armor of the Kampfgruppe Peiper. When they met a U.S. Army convoy of the 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion they swiftly surprised the Americans and immobilized the convoy. Realizing that they were out-numbered and out-gunned the soldiers of the 285th Field Artillery surrendered to the Waffen-SS, little did they know that they would be mown down by Nazi machine guns in cold blood shortly afterwards. Charles Whiting reconstructs Kamfgruppe Peiper's drive into the Ardennes during the Battle of Bulge and the subsequent slaughter of eight-four American soldiers in remarkable detail. Through in-depth research and interviews with many who were alive on this fateful day, including Jochen Peiper himself, Whiting uncovers the traumatic sequence of events and its aftermath. 'a good tactical study ... Various interesting personalities appear.' Military Affairs Massacre at Malmedy: The Story of Jochen Peiper's Battle Group Ardennes, December, 1944 should be essential reading for all who wish to learn more about one of the most heart-breaking events of the Second World War.

A blow-by-blow account of the epic Battle of Arnhem, the commanders who planned it and the units who paid for their mistakes. Perfect for James Holland, Anthony Beevor and Cornelius Ryan. 'An operation which will inspire our youth with the highest ideals of duty and of daring.' - Winston Churchill. 'The British First Airborne Division not only gave to all the Allied forces one of the most gallant examples of courage in all the war, but by drawing upon themselves the bulk of the German counter-attack, they enabled us to hold the important bridges.' - General Dwight D. Eisenhower. 'In years to come it will be a great thing for a man to be able to say: I fought at Arnhem.' - Field Marshal Montgomery. 'We have no regrets.' - General R. Urquhart, Commander First Airborne Division. Operation Market Garden was designed to open a corridor through Nazi-held Holland, bypass the Siegfried Line and crush the 1,000 Year Reich before Christmas. Yet, despite the courage of the elite First British Airborne Division, who were ordered to capture the key bridge across the Lower Rhine at Arnhem, the battle developed into an unmitigated disaster. Utilising a wide array of eyewitness accounts from both the Allied and Axis sides Charles Whiting uncovers the course of this battle from its planning stages through to its tragic denouement. A Bridge at Arnhem is the towering story of the greatest airborne operation in history, it should be essential reading for all interested in this fateful battle.

"a provocative and stimulating addition to the study of World War II." HistoryNet Perfect for readers of Max Hastings, James Holland and Stephen E. Ambrose. By September 1944 the Germany army in France had been decimated and survivors were streaming back to the Reich. The British SAS commanders were clearing the way for the American armies of George S. Patton, Alexander Patch and Courtney Hodges. By the afternoon of September 11, 1944, men of the U.S. 5th Armored Division penetrated the poorly defended Siegfried Line. Yet just when the Rhine was ripe for the taking General Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered all further advances to be halted. Could combination of American forces supported by the British SAS have crossed the Rhine and thrust into the heart of Germany in the autumn of 1944? Did Eisenhower's rigid adherence to his broad-front strategy delay the end of the war by several months and cause thousands of men to lose their lives in the bloody struggles in the Ardennes and the Hurtgen Forest during the Battle of the Bulge? Charles Whiting's brilliant book Death on a Distant Frontier is a hard-hitting reappraisal of Eisenhower's tactics. Through extensive research Whiting shines a light on the conflicts of personalities between the various generals and explores how Eisenhower conducted the war to ensure that his insiders reaped the glory of being the first American army to cross the Rhine. As a veteran of this campaign, Whiting was a witness to the turmoil that reigned during this fourth month period, yet through his fast-paced narrative and informed analysis he is able to provide vivid insight into this much-overlooked period of the Second World War when the Allies could have broken through into Nazi Germany.

The thrilling true story of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division's major operations during the European campaign of 1944/45. For readers of Max Hastings and James Holland, and fans of Steven Spielberg's award-winning miniseries Band of Brothers. Of the 6,600 paratroopers of the 101st 'Screaming Eagles' Airborne Division who parachuted into France in the early hours of 6 June 1944 - D-Day - some 3,500 were listed as missing by midnight that same night. Yet it was only the beginning of their 'rendezvous with destiny'. American Eagles is the remarkable true story of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division. From their rigorous training in 'Old Jolly' (England) to their first operational jump in Normandy, Charles Whiting tells the story of this 'Band of Brothers', who fought, suffered and died in the eleven-month campaign that followed. From Normandy and Holland through to the siege of Bastogne and their final triumphant capture of Hitler's Eagle's Nest in the Bavarian Alps, we gain a picture of a brave elite division which kept on getting the tough assignments. Drawing on eyewitness accounts, painstaking research, and his own youthful experiences when his regiment was under the command of 101st Airborne in Holland, Whiting delivers a powerful account of each of the 101st's major operations during the European campaign of 1944/45. He brings to life the full horrors of war while shining a spotlight on the courage and determination of the 'Screaming Eagles' and their role in the destruction of the Nazi regime in World War Two. "The 101st Airborne Division, which was activated on August 16, 1942, at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, has no history, but it has a rendezvous with destiny..." - Maj.-Gen. William Lee, commanding officer in 1942.

Obedience to the Fuhrer. Obedience to the death.Hitler's elite SS bodyguards prided themselves on doing whatever it took, even if death was the price. They called themselves the "old hares", and they left a trail of terror as they butchered their way across Europe. Of the 30,000 soldiers who signed up, only thirty would survive the war. Some perished in the abortive push on Normandy in 1944, directed by the Fuhrer. Others suffered gruesome deaths at the hands of the Russians. In a chilling day-by-day account of the final year of this crack squad, bestseller Charles Whiting chronicles their bloody demise, which culminated in humiliation at the Battle of the Bulge. This is a gripping brutal history, taking us deep into one of the most terrifying and cult-like units of the Second World War. It shows just how far the Nazi's were willing to go; and the great efforts needed to vanquish them.

Charles Whiting was a prolific British novelist and military historian. He wrote under his own name and a variety of pseudonyms including Duncan Harding, Leo Kessler and K.N. Kostov.

In the shadows was another war... An unputdownable account of the Nazi spy operation and how it ultimately failedDuring the Second World War there was, behind the scenes, a bitter conflict was stamped 'Top Secret'. It was a war of infiltration and misdirection, espionage and assassination. And the Nazis were determined not to let anyone best them. Revealing the full extent of Nazi's secret intelligence networks, bestselling author Charles Whiting takes the reader into organisations like the Abwehr, Germany's renowned military intelligence bureau, and features interviews with key figures like such key figures as Giskes, who fooled the Americans at the Battle of the Bulge, and Ritter, who stole the highly classified US Norden bombsights. There are accounts of hubris, heroism and cowardice; stunning triumphs and excruciating defeats, all out of the public eye and revealed only decades later. Over a period of thirty years, Whiting met and interviewed a huge number of Nazi and Allied survivors involved in what came to be known as 'The War in the Shadows'. The result is an extraordinary and gripping story combining great cunning with staggering incompetence. Perfect for readers of Ben Macintyre and Max Hastings, Hitler's Secret War outdoes the best spy novel and demonstrates yet again that fiction cannot rival history.

A unique look at the calm before the storm--how the Germans were able to take the Americans by surprise at the Battle of the Bulge

A story of the attempt on Eisenhower's life

Patton's last battle

On the night of 14 July, 1976 - Bastille Day - an elderly German was brutally murdered in a little French village where he had taken refuge from the evil shadow which had dogged him for the past thirty-two years. His killers were never brought to justice; indeed, no real attempt was ever made to track them down, the affair being politically embarrassing to both the French and the German governments. The murdered man was Jochen Peiper, once the dashing leader of one of the most renowned units in the German Army. The shadow which hung over him was his alleged complicity in the murder of over seventy unarmed American soldiers during the Ardennes offensive in the winter of 1944/45. It is certain that Peiper was not at the fateful crossroads near Malmedy at the time the men died, but that is not to say that they were not killed on his orders. Guilty or not, Peiper was tried and imprisoned after the war and on his release might have been said to have paid his debt for his supposed part in what had become known as the Malmedy Massacre. But there were those who thought otherwise.After exhaustive research, this classic work sees Charles Whiting tell the story of this enigmatic man, regarded by some as a brilliant and dashing leader of men, by others as a Nazi war criminal, with the vividness and punch which characterized Peiper's military career. All the facts may never be uncovered but all that are known are recorded here. What is certain is that Jochen Peiper remains one of the most controversial miltary figures to emerge from the maelstrom of the Second World War.

The U.S. Army regards the Hurtgen Forest as one of the most desperate battles it has ever fought. Flanking the key German city of Aachen, the forest was one of the formidable natural barriers interspersed with German fortifications in the West Wall in September 1944.