Major General Orde Wingate (1903–1944) was the most controversial British military commander of the Second World War, and perhaps of the last hundred years. Anglim's biography fills a significant void in the literature, making extensive use of Wingate's papers to place him firmly in the context of the British army of the time.

In 1940 a group of artists, sculptors, film makers, theatre designers and set painters came together to form the Camouflage Unit. They were so successful that in August 1942 Montgomery ordered them to to hide the preparations for the Battle of Alamein. In six weeks two entire divisions were conjured from the sand, while real units, stores and men vanished into thin air. Then, right in front of the German's eyes they made 600 tanks disappear and reappear fifty miles away disguised as lorries. Rommel had been bamboozled by an army made of nothing but string and straw and bits of wood.

Four months after Orde Wingate (1903-1944) died in a plane crash in Burma, Churchill told the House of Commons that he was “a man of genius who might well have become also a man of destiny.” An unconventional soldier — as a junior officer, he complained directly to the Chief of the Imperial General Staff during an exercise about being refused entry to the Staff College —, Wingate first showed his military genius in Palestine (1936-39), where as an ardent supporter of the Jews and of Zionism, he organized the Special Night Squads, armed groups of British and Haganah volunteers, at Ein Harod in the Galilee to fight Arab attacks. In Ethiopia, where he commanded the troops supporting Haile Selassie, his brilliant campaign played a key part in the Italian defeat and the restoration of the Emperor to his throne. Wingate is mainly remembered as the leader of the Chindits guerilla brigade in Burma where, in February 1943, as Britain’s fortunes in Burma were at their lowest ebb, he led his brigade far behind the Japanese lines, harassing communications and gaining the jungle experience which would prove a vital factor in the second and larger operation and in eventual victory. “This is an excellent and well-balanced study of the brilliant if eccentric British officer and his activities in Palestine, Ethiopia and Burma.” — Henry L. Roberts, Foreign Affairs “An absorbingly interesting portrait of a military genius who at times seems slightly mad, and almost never wholly normal. Rebellious against authority, though he came from a line of army people, mysterious in his ruthlessness, his fanaticism, his unwillingness to explain his motives, Wingate... made more enemies than friends... Surely, he makes a fascinating subject for a biography.” — Kirkus “This is a fine biography of an extraordinary man... a skillful combination of bright narrative and clear analysis... an excellent portrait of the man... Based upon a large storehouse of documents, interrogations, secondary works, and trips to the scenes of Wingate’s major campaigns, this volume is by far the best study to date on this forceful and erratic figure. No doubt it will remain so for a long time to come.” — Gordon W. Prange, Military Affairs “Christopher Sykes’ Orde Wingate reveals enormous research work, an overall understanding of the problems of the time, and sufficient critical distance for an evaluation of the man and his deeds... Sykes’ plastic art of description... found in this biography fullest expression; it is a literary treat.” — Oskar K. Rabinowicz, Jewish Social Studies

“Exciting . . . a comprehensive account of an overlooked campaign in which an outnumbered imperial army destroyed Mussolini’s dream of a new Roman Empire.” —Ashley Jackson, author of Churchill Surprisingly neglected in accounts of Allied wartime triumphs, this is the story of the British and Commonwealth forces who, against all odds, completed a stunning and important victory in East Africa against an overwhelmingly superior Italian opponent in 1941. A hastily formed British-led force, never larger than 70,000 strong, advanced along two fronts to defeat nearly 300,000 Italian and colonial troops. This compelling book draws on an array of previously unseen documents to provide both a detailed campaign history and a fresh appreciation of the first significant Allied success of the war. Andrew Stewart investigates such topics as Britain’s African wartime strategy; how the fighting forces were assembled (most from British colonies, none from the U.S.); General Archibald Wavell’s command abilities and his difficult relationship with Winston Churchill; the resolute Italian defense at Keren, one of the most bitterly fought battles of the entire war; the legacy of the campaign in East Africa; and much more. “The First Victory is that rarity of military history: groundbreaking research combined with first-rate narrative skills.” —Open Letters Includes maps and photographs

This book, first published in 1963, is an analysis of modern warfare in the enemy’s rear, written by the leading authority on irregular warfare, and stemming from a close examination of real-life examples. Rear warfare on scale poses many problems, such as the exact field of operations; supply line issues; combat or harassment; and coordination with frontline troops. There is also the issue of protecting one’s own rear troops.

The 4 volumes in this set, originally published between 1980 and 1983, bring to light and focus on the conflict between Japan and Australia and Japan and the USA. Timothy Hall’s volumes, richly illustrated with black & white photographs, used highly contentious documents as their sources and give fascinating insights into a period of Australian history which is sometimes less than gloious. John J. Sbrega’s tour de force is not only one of the most extensive annotated bibliographies on the USA and Japan in World War 2 ever published, but it also provides invaluable information on lesser known but no less important aspects of the conflict.

Winston Churchill described Wingate as a ‘man of genius who might well have become a man of destiny’. Tragically, he died in an jungle aircraft crash in 1944. Like his famous kinsman Lawrence of Arabia, Wingate was renowned for being an unorthodox soldier, inclined to reject received patterns of military thought. He was a fundamentalist Christian with a biblical certainty in himself and his mission. He is best-remembered as the charismatic and abrasive leader of the Chindits. With the support of Wavell, he was responsible for a strategy of using independent groups deep behind enemy limes, supported only by air drops. Wingate was responsible for leading the charge of 2,000 Ethiopians and the Sudan Defence Force into Italian-occupied Abyssinia. Remarkably, he defeated a 40,000 strong enemy that was supported by aircraft and artillery, which Wingate did not possess. Despite his achievements, Wingate suffered from illness and depression and in Cairo attempted suicide. He was not universally liked: his romantic Zionism contrasted with the traditional British Arabist notions. He did, however, lead from the front and marched, ate and slept with his men. In this authoritative biography, Royle expertly brings to life a ruthless, complex, arrogant – but ultimately admirable – general. Trevor Royle is an author and broadcaster specialising in the history of war and empire, with more than 30 books to his credit. His latest book is The Road to Bosworth, a study of the War of the Roses. He is a columnist for the Sunday Herald and is an Honorary Fellow at Edinburgh University’s School of History. He was born in India in 1945.

Volume VII of the 'Germany and the Second World War' series looks at Germany and her Japanese ally on the defensive after the tide of war turned in 1943. An exhaustive study of the air war over the Reich and the Luftwaffe's growing impotence is followed by an account of the invasion of occupied France and the Allies' advance to Germany's borders. A final section examines Japan's defeat and capitulation, and the creation of a new order in the Far East.

The Indian Air Force is today 82 years old, a battle-scarred, highly professional force. How it reached this level is an epic saga of struggle against bias and racial prejudice for the officers and men from early thirties to the beginning of World War II. The charge was that Indians lacked leadership qualities and could not fly military aircraft and technically maintain them. In just three years, IAF technicians and pilots imbibed the discipline of the Air Force and performed magnificently in the North West Frontier Province. By 1939, when the war broke out, there was just one squadron. In 1941-42, the Japanese onslaught on Burma provided the IAF with an opportunity to show its competence and leadership in battle. As the Allied armies were retreating, along with the RAF, the IAF provided air cover. By 1944-45, there were nine squadrons and till the end of the war there were constantly in action. History records events taking an impersonal view. What our younger generations need to know is people. Without people there are no units and no organization. This narrative is an effort to bring to the reader the fierce joy at fighting for the country, the professional pride of doing one’s duty and finally the personal touch: “I did it.” Through the mouths of youngsters (who are no longer youngsters and some who have passed away) the reader can imagine himself to be there whether in the North-West tribal region, or flying over the thick jungles of Burma. It is the first-person account that provides the flesh and blood to history by describing hopes, fears, and pride in facing death and the enemy at close quarters on the frontier or in Burma. The narrative has interviews with those who took part in operations. This is a story of the Indian Air Force coming of age after being bloodied in war.