An expert account of how different countries have sought to hide their forces in plain view for the past century packed with photographs and colour artworks, Camouflage at War is a fascinating exploration of how the nature of combat has changed over the last hundred years.

Examines how literary writers including Ford Madox Ford, Siegfried Sassoon, Wilfred Owen, James Hanley, Evelyn Waugh, Graham Greene, and others countered the war culture promoted by mass media, war planners, and military historians.

From its origins to its use in combat today, The Little Book of Camouflage tells the history of camouflage in conflict. Its conception, its uses and the colours are looked at, as well as the key patterns such as the German uniforms of World War II, the ever-recognisable American type worn during Vietnam and the British DPM forming a sort of recognition guide to the various patterns in use in the armies of history and present day. Illustrated throughout with the patterns themselves and images of camouflage in use, Tim Newark presents a quick and detailed look at the most prolific camouflage patterns.

While concealment has been a vital requirement for hunting, fighting and protection since earliest days, the use of camouflage as deception purposes came of age in the First World War. The growing use of aircraft was a factor no doubt as the author of this fascinating study concludes. The inventiveness and improvisation required suited the British temperament well. Given that those individuals who particularly excel at creativity are often artists, scientist and engineers with a fine disregard for orthodox military practice there are plenty of examples of clashes with more conventional military thinkers and bureaucracy. The levels of ingenuity achieved in hiding huge installations, airfields and ships are astounding. Lakes were hidden and river courses concealed. 'Active' camouflage designed to deceive the enemy as to strengths and directions of attack was accepted as a vital part of offensive planning for example at El Alamein and in the run-up to D Day, Guy Hartcup's Camouflage is not only instructive reading for military practitioners intent on developing their skills but a most interesting and entertaining read for a much wider audience. The use of photographs provides graphic examples of attempts at concealment and deception over the years in many different wars and theaters.

This book explains and illustrates the actual materials and techniques adopted (both successfully and unsuccessfully) by tactical units – i.e. the concealment of personnel, weapons, equipment, field positions, and movement by infantry riflemen and weapons crews, artillerymen, and vehicle crews. It covers all areas and seasons in the European and Mediterranean theaters of operations, for the US, British, German, and Soviet armies. It includes camouflage of the person, personal equipment, and weapons; natural materials and “expedient” techniques; issued camouflage materials such as nets, ponchos, etc; the principles of camouflaging equipment and vehicles, of positioning and terrain integration, the effects of light and shadow, and the use of decoy and dummy positions. Featuring meticulous full-color artwork and specially selected period photographs, this absorbing study casts new light on the camouflaging techniques developed by the major armies of World War II on a host of European battlefields.

The story behind the various organizations responsible for trickery and deception during World War II.

This book tells a once secret and little known story of how the Australian government accepted the advice of a zoologist and seconded the country's leading artists and designers to deploy optical tricks and illusions to protect the nation.

'The paciest and most entertaining history book to come my way' Ian McIntyre, The Times 'Riveting and beautifully illustrated' The Lady 'Engrossing . . . far more than a sartorial survey' The Oldie * * * * * * A vivid history of ordinary women and their extraordinary deeds through two world wars and beyond, by From Our Own Correspondent presenter Kate Adie. Uniform is universally seen as both a stamp of authority and of official acceptance. But the sight of a woman in military uniform still provokes controversy. Although more women are now taking prominent roles in combat, the status implied by uniform is often regarded as contrary to the general perception of womanhood. In association with the Imperial War Museum, this is the first book to look at the image of uniformed women, both in conflict and in civilian roles throughout the twentieth century. Kate Adie examines the extraordinary range of jobs that uniformed women have performed, from nursing to the armed services. Through contemporary correspondence and many personal stories she brings the enormous and often unsung achievements of women in uniform vividly to life, and looks at how far women have come in a century which, for them, began restricted in corsets and has ended on the battlefield in camouflage.

Henrietta Goodden explores the development of the extraordinary ideas which were to play such an important part in defeating the enemy in the air, on land and at sea.

The real story of how Winston Churchill and the British mastered deception to defeat the Nazis - by conning the Kaiser, hoaxing Hitler and using brains to outwit brawn. By June 1940, most of Europe had fallen to the Nazis and Britain stood alone. So, with Winston Churchill in charge the British bluffed their way out of trouble, drawing on the trickery which had helped them win the First World War. They broadcast outrageous British propaganda on pretend German radio stations, broke German secret codes and eavesdropped on their messages. Every German spy in Britain was captured and many were used to send back false information to their controllers. Forged documents misled their intelligence. Bogus wireless traffic from entire phantom armies, dummy airfields with model planes, disguised ships and inflatable rubber tanks created a vital illusion of strength. Culminating in the spectacular misdirection that was so essential to the success of D-Day in 1944, Churchill's Wizards: The British Genius for Deception 1914-1945 is a thrilling work of popular military history filled with almost unbelievable stories of bravery, creativity and deception. Nicholas Rankin is the author of Dead Man's Chest, Telegram From Guernica and Ian Fleming's Commandos. 'This is a story clamouring to be told. We could not have imagined the scope of the inventiveness, the daring of these people's imaginations . . . I could not stop reading this book.' Doris Lessing