Robert Kershaw Book order

From the critically acclaimed author of Dünkirchen 1940, this is a groundbreaking history of the epic three-day battle for Hill 107 that changed the course of the war in the Mediterranean. In this remarkable history, we discover each of the individuals whose actions determined the outcome of the battle for Hill 107, the key event that decided the campaign to capture the vitally strategic island of Crete in May 1941. All the events are narrated through the filter of these eyewitnesses. The Allied perspective is from the summit of Hill 107. We experience the fear and the adrenalin of a lowly platoon commander, Lieutenant Ed McAra, perilously positioned at the top of the hill, alongside the combat stress and command fatigue of the battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Andew. In contrast, the German view is looking up from below as they cling to the slopes while simultaneous dazzled by the morning glare and decimated by defensive fire. We join the regimental doctor, Dr Heinrich Neumann, as he assumes command of one battalion and leads a daring nighttime charge towards the summit. The Hill details what was felt, heard or seen throughout the battle for both attacker and defender. Drawing upon original combat reports, diary entries, letters and interviews, the battle is brought vividly to life. The narrative reads like a Shakespearean tragedy, the soldiers revealing their stories in and around the shadows of Hill 107.

Using revelatory new material on an event which changed the tide of World War II, Robert Kershaw’s ground-breaking history explores the Battle of Dunkirk from the German perspective.

The gripping account of two momentous battles fought in the same location - 129 years apart

The transformation of Normandy's Plage d'Or coast into a fortified stronghold during World War II is a gripping tale of military strategy and historical significance. Initially known for its peaceful villages, the area became the site of intense preparation for the D-Day invasion, as German forces fortified Omaha Beach with bunkers, barbed wire, and mines, dubbing it "the Devil's Garden." This dramatic shift highlights the stark contrast between its serene past and the deadly battleground it became.

In the spring of 1941, having abandoned his plans to invade Great Britain, Hitler turned the might of his military forces on to Stalin's Soviet Russia. The German army quickly advanced far into Russian territory as the Soviet forces suffered defeat after defeat. With brutality and savagery displayed on both sides, the Eastern front was a campaign in which no quarter was given. Although Hitler's decision to launch 'Barbarossa' was one of the crucial turning points of the war, at first the early successes of the German army pointed to the continuing triumph of the Nazi state. As time wore on, however, the Eastern front became a byword for death for the Germans. In War without Garlands, Robert Kershaw examines the campaign largely through the eyes of the German forces who were sent to fight and die for Hitler's grandiose plans. He draws on German war diaries, post-combat reports and secret SS files. This original material, much of which has never before been published in English, sheds new light on operation 'Barbarossa', including the extent to which the German soldiers were genuinely surprised at the decision to attack Russia, given the well-publicised non-aggression pact. 'Barbarossa' was a brutal, ideologically driven campaign which decided the outcome of World War II. This seminal account will be required reading for all historians of World War II and all those interested in the course of the war.

An exhilarating hour-by-hour portrayal of an iconic battle, drawing on the eye witness accounts of those who fought it

New B-format paperback edition. A unique description of what the D-Day landings were like, combining the detail of Antony Beevor with the human insights of Stephen Ambrose, including the experiences of French and Germans in the fighting.

A definitive account of the iconic battle, uniquely structured over 24 hours of a single shocking day - a day that changed history

The book delves into the intense preparations and strategic maneuvers leading up to one of history's bloodiest battles during World War II. It highlights the contrasting positions of Allied forces amassing in southern England and the entrenched German troops fortified along the French coast. The narrative captures the tension and anticipation of the impending confrontation, providing a vivid portrayal of the military strategies and the stakes involved in the invasion of Hitler's Fortress Europe.

The first day of the Somme has had more of a widespread emotional impact on the psyche of the British public than any other battle in history. Now, 100 years later, Robert Kershaw attempts to understand the carnage, using the voices of the British and German soldiers who lived through that awful day.