George Forty Libros

"German Infantryman at War 1939-1945 tells this story using many unpublished photographs taken by Gerhard Sandmann, a typical infantryman. Born at Vlotho on the River Weser on 25 June, 1918, he joined the German Army at Northeim in September 1939 and served as an infantry soldier until he was captured in 1944. The major difference between him and so many thousands of his compatriots was that he survived and so did his photographic record of the places he went." "Backing up the photographs are reminiscences and battle accounts from individual soldiers and official wartime reports. These examine every aspect of the daily life of a soldier - the bad times and the more fleeting good ones - the moments of sheer terror and those of comradeship. This book is not a tribute to war, but an honest attempt to explain what it was like to be a German infantry soldier during World War II."--BOOK JACKET.

The narrative delves into the harsh realities of tank warfare during World War II, offering a raw and unfiltered account of the brutal combat experiences faced by soldiers. Through vivid descriptions and personal anecdotes, it captures the intensity of battle, the psychological toll on those involved, and the stark conditions of war. This true-life story emphasizes the courage and resilience of individuals amidst the chaos of conflict, providing a compelling glimpse into a pivotal moment in history.

During World War II, although the German plans for a full-scale invasion of Great Britain—Operation 'Sealion'—failed, the Channel Islands were occupied for five years starting in July 1940. Despite numerous books on this period, much remains to be explored, particularly from the perspective of the German Occupation Forces. Questions abound, such as why bombing raids were conducted against defenseless civilians before the largely bloodless invasion, and who the troops were that formed the initial garrisons—were they truly 'hand-picked' as often claimed? While much has been written from a civilian viewpoint, little has emerged from the perspective of the German servicemen who garrisoned the islands, experiencing isolation, boredom, and starvation during the 'Hunger Winter' of 1944-45, despite being shielded from the Eastern Front's horrors. This work draws on first-hand accounts and a rich collection of historic photographs from various sources, including private collections. It chronicles the wartime years and provides a concise overview of the surviving relics of the Nazi occupation that can still be seen today.

The Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) played a major role in World War II. The artillery found it necessary to mechanise some of its field pieces. Armoured cars were called upon to carry out tasks in addition to reonnaissance. Tank destroyers were designed to seek, and destroy enemy armour. Add to this fascinating array such oddities as spedy oversnow Aerosans (armoured, fast sledges) deployed by the Red Army, to enormous siege guns weighing over 100 tons, to small remotely controlled and tracked demolition vehicles, only six feet in length, to the massive and powerfully equipped armoured trains deployed by the Soviet Union and Germany.

To encapsulate the British Army in one book is no easy task, but here, George Forty presents it as it was during the Second World War. When war was declared in 1939, the British Army was very much the 'Cinderella' of the three armed services, with a total strength of around 865,000 men. However, just four years later when the Allies invaded north-west Europe, the British Army had grown into a powerful, well-organised and well-equipped fighting force of 3 million men and women. George Forty presents a comprehensive overview of the British Army during this important time. He includes full details of mobilisation and training, higher organisation and arms of the service; divisional organisations and non-divisional units; HQs and Staff; the combat arms and the services; the individual soldier, his weapons and equipment; tactics; vehicle markings and camouflage; the Auxiliary Territorial Service and other Women's Corps. Fully illustrated with an unusual collection of photographs and line illustrations, this is an indispensable reference guide for anyone interested in this fascinating period of British history.

A breathtaking look at the once-enormous effort that Nazi Germany, with all its industrial power, made to protect its newfound Atlantic coastline, with many of its wartime installations still there to be seen . . .

The only part of the British Isles that can answer the question 'What was it like to be invaded and occupied in World War 2?’ are the holiday islands of Jersey, Alderney, Guernsey and Sark. Left undefended in 1940, they fell like ripe plums into German hands.Thereafter they were turned into the most heavily defended parts of the Nazi Atlantic Wall, with massive fortifications, gun emplacements and underground storage tunnels. An army of foreign 'slave workers' was brought in as well as the 27,000 German troops (known as the 'Canada Division' as it was widely assumed that they would eventually become POWs!)Amid the routine of occupation came periods of danger and action from raiding parties. After D-Day the German garrison was cut off and 'the Hunger winter' resulted. In May 1945 the Germans surrendered amid much rejoicing.

Erwin Rommel, the Desert Fox, employed German blitzkrieg techniques to great effect during the rush through the Low Countries and France, then excelled himself in the Desert Campaign until being swamped by Allied numbers, and returned to France to work with forces attempting to prevent an Allied invasion. This text shows the forces, machinery, armament and strategies available to Rommel and how he deployed them in the 1939-1945 conflict.

The last major German offensive of World War II, commonly known as The Battle of the Bulge.

The Dorsetshire Regiment's battle honours include the Indian North West Frontier, the Boer War, Gallipoli, the Western Front, the Normandy Landings, Arnhem, Kohima, Kosovo, Iraq - and as part of the Rifles - Afghanistan. Full accounts of the Dorset Rifle Volunteers, Dorset Yeomanry, Barracks, Forts & Gunsites, the arrival of the tank and build up to D-Day.