In this fascinating consideration of the Allied war effort, historian Richard Overy answers one of the great questions of the 20th century. What led to the unmistakable Allied victory, when in the early stages of World War II, the balance of power so strongly favored the Axis? Searching for a compelling explanation, the author explores decisive military campaigns: struggles along the eastern front, the battles for the seas, the war in the air above,...

The Lightning Warfare that changed history forever. If Hitler had failed in his invasion of Western Europe in 1940, he could well have been assassinated by a group of his senior officers. But he decisively defeated the combined efforts of the British, French, Dutch and Belgian armies in a matter of days. The technique employed was known as Blitzkrieg or Lightning War. Nothing would be the same again. Although strands were clearly apparent by 1918,...

A Brief Guide to Maritime Strategy is a deliberately compact introductory work aimed at junior seafarers, those who make decisions affecting the sea services, and those who educate seafarers and decision-makers. It introduces readers to the main theoretical ideas that shape how statesmen and commanders make and execute maritime strategy in times of peace and war. Following in the spirit of Bernard Brodie's Layman's Guide to Naval Strategy, a World...

The first documented, systematic study of guerrilla warfare, Mao Tse-tung's 1937 text remains the definitive guide to orchestrating revolution in developing countries. Based on Mao's own experiences in fighting Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists and his interpretations of the classic strategies of Sun-tzu, On Guerrilla Warfare outlines the tactics that have proven effective around the world, from Vietnamese jungles to Middle Eastern deserts. Prescient...

The Craft of Wargaming is designed to support supervisors, planners, and analysts who use wargames to support their organizations' missions. The authors focus on providing analysts and planners with a clear methodology that allows them to initiate, design, develop, conduct, and analyze wargames. Built around the analytic wargaming construct, organizations or individuals can easily adapt this methodology to construct educational and experiential wargames. The...

Bombardeos, asesinatos, secuestros, grandes desembarcos, paracaidistas tras las líneas enemigas, la imaginación a la hora de decantar la guerra hacia un lado u otro no tuvo límites durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, y en la mayor parte de los casos el asunto se dilucidó entre las mentes más preclaras o simplemente por el curso de los acontecimientos. Algunas, como la Operación Amerika, se desestimaron por cuestiones tecnológicas, otras por...

The classic account of how British intelligence penetrated and practically operated Nazi Germany's spy network within the British Isles With great imagination, care, and precise coordination, the British were able to identify Nazi agents, induce many to defect, and supply completely false information to Germany about bombings, battles, and even the D-Day invasion. Told by the man who masterminded the entire, unbelievable four-and-a-half-year scheme,...

In this new edition, Bernard Cole revises his acclaimed study of China s navy, one that continues to grow while the U.S. Navy shrinks. According to the author, Beijing is now giving increased attention to guarding its vital sea lanes because of the nation s growing dependence on maritime trade, especially energy supplies. He provides a thorough description of China s naval establishment, including its personnel system, followed by a detailed view...

The king of Prussia from 1740 to 1786, Frederick the Great ranks among eighteenth-century Europe's most enlightened rulers. In addition to abolishing serfdom in his domains and promoting religious tolerance, he was an ardent patron of the arts and an accomplished musician. "Diplomacy without arms," he observed, "is like music without instruments." Frederick's expertise at military matters is reflected in his successful defense of his territory during...

“Insurgent, Raiders and Bandits” explores the history of irregular warfare over the past 250 years through the lives and campaigns of the greatest masters of this mode of conflict. The book not only tells their stories but shapes an alternate history of the world as seen through the eyes of those who made up for their small numbers with clever, unorthodox methods that often brought them victory. Their lesson for military affairs in our time must...