Charles Messenger Books

A dramatic new illustrated account of the most destructive war the world has ever seen.

A study that chronicles the evolution of the invasion plan and culminates in a day-by-day account of the landings by sea and by air on the Normandy beaches, followed by the grim six-week struggle to break through the German defences. It features 71 maps in full colour, and many drawing in detail on those used by the Allies in 1944.

A charismatic yet notorious character, Sepp Dietrich the man is impossible to separate from Sepp Dietrich the General, who was awarded twenty-four different honors during his service to the Nazi party and was known for his devotion to his men as he led them through some of the fiercest fighting in the war. In this extensively researched book, historian Charles Messenger attempts to discover the truth about this sparsely documented man, painting a vivid picture of the aggressive war and politics under the Third Reich. From Dietrich’s humble upbringing and his eventual rise to General, to his dissatisfaction with Hitler’s leadership and the trials he faced after the war, Dietrich remains a mysterious figure in history.

Photographic history of the POW camp that inspired the film The Great Escape.

This is the ultimate single-volume reference on World War II. This large format book details all the battles and campaigns, from Germany's blitzkrieg of Poland in 1939 to the surrender of Japan after the world's first deployment of nuclear weapons. The authoritative text represents the latest research, and also included are numerous easy reference charts, graphs, tables, and maps. Packed with over 600 b/w and color photographs.

Brigadier General Frank Crozier (1879-1937) was a highly controversial figure in his day. As a young soldier he saw active service in the Boer War and West Africa before being forced to leave the Army because of financial irresponsibility. On the outbreak of war he became second-in-command of a battalion in 36th Ulster Division, becoming its commanding officer in autumn 1915 and leading it in action on 1 July 1916. He commanded a brigade with much success for the rest of the war. After the war he was moved around in the bureaucracy, but could never hold a position for long. After being made bankrupt for a second time, he was involved in the League of Nations Union and then turned to pacifism, becoming a founder member of the Peace Pledge Union. By now he had, through his writings, become a thorn in the side of the Establishment.

The definitive and thrilling history of those who wore the famous green beret. COMMANDO is the definitive history of the units raised to answer Winston Churchill’s call to ‘Enterprises much be prepared with specially trained troops of the hunter class, who can develop a reign of terror.’ These units and their courageous operations would take many forms, including the spectacular assaults of the Small Scale Raiding Force, No. 30 Commando’s shadowy intelligence-gathering, and the highly secret missions of ‘X’ Troop. Acclaimed military historian Charles Messenger follows these elite forces from the snowy wastes of Norway to the jungles of South-East Asia, from North Africa and Operation Torch to the Normandy beaches and Operation Overlord. The result, based on extensive research as well as interviews and correspondence with former Commandos, is the true and thrilling story of those who wore the famous green beret.

The definitive and thrilling history of those who wore the famous green beret.

Traces the life of the German general whose loyalty to Hitler prevented a break between the military and the Nazi leader