MILITARY HISTORY

If you had seen a certain tall, impeccably-dressed man in Copenhagen in 1934, you might have taken him for a professor. Plenty of Danes did. He called himself Dr. Erich Ring and said he was a journalist. But his real name was Horst von Pflugk-Hartung, Germany’s master spy in northern Europe. After he murdered German communists Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg, vengeance on him was sworn by Communist saboteur Ernst Wollweber.

Kurt Singer provides the sinister story of cat-and-mouse espionage between German Nazis and Russian-backed Communists on the chessboard of northern Europe. The Scandinavian countries were riddled with spies long before Germany put its war machine into action, and Singer dramatically details such men and women, both heroes and traitors.

Duel for the Northland was published in 1943.

Dr. Martin Rywell’s (1905-1972) studious research into the history of American firearms, and those who wielded them, led to the publication of numerous titles exploring the subject. Colt Guns includes a biographical sketch of Samuel Colt, some of Colt’s own discussions, and essays by other authors contemporaneous with Colt. The Colt collector and American weaponry historian will appreciate this look into the development of an important firearms manufacturer.

Colt Guns was published in 1953; this reprints the 1957 edition.

War Eagles is the story of a group of courageous young Americans who joined the RAF because they loved flying and because they couldn’t wait for the U.S. to get into war. Why they left home for the battle front, how they were trained, how they took part in such raids as that on Dieppe, how they spent their leisure time—these are only a few of the many subjects covered in a book which contains laughter and tears, horseplay and tragedy, modesty and heroics. War Eagles is filled with rapid-fire action, memorable characters, exciting information. Interviews with the pilots themselves and official records of the British Air Ministry form the basis of this thrilling true story of aerial warfare.

War Eagles was published in 1943.

Carl Berger relates here the fascinating story of the propaganda and subversion activities of both factions during the American Revolutionary War. The writings of the period, the archives and literature, are filled with intriguing references to “secret arts and machinations.” This book brings these events into perspective, examining in a single, authoritative narrative their role and importance. Mr. Berger explains the great effort which was made by the supporters of both causes toward effective and widespread psychological warfare.

Propaganda activities were not confined to the actual wartime period by any means. The newspaper and pamphlet attacks on the British started well before 1776 and brought to a fighting edge the spirits of the American colonists. Each major protagonist planned intelligent and extensive campaigns to subvert and weaken the enemy camp. “It was a provocative war in which the atrocity story, kidnappings, false rumors, and bribery stirred the people. It w as a conflict which inevitably spread to Europe and there engaged the talents of Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, in America’s first organized overseas propaganda campaign.”

Herbert Treadwell Wade summarizes over 150 years of warfare and conflict during the colonization of the land that would become the United States of America. European governments constantly fought with one another, forcing colonists into waging wars that ha d little to do with them. Cultural differences among arriving immigrants, settlers antagonizing Native Americans, and onerous governmental authorities added to the pressure. From the Pequot War and Bacon’s Rebellion to the French and Indian War, the author provides a concise overview of the history of American settlement warfare that taught colonials the lessons they would use in the American Revolutionary War to overthrow British governance.

From the earliest organized armies to the early days of World War II, Tom Wintringham (soldier and military historian) illustrates the patterns of change that lead to new weapons and tactics. There will always be change, as weapons development progresses from one stage to another; but it is possible to see and even predict the next level of change. This is a highly readable look at a fascinating military subject. It was first published in 1943.

This edition includes an addendum, an 1855 article on ancient artillery.

Behind the headlines and official dispatches there was another World War II. This was the violent, deadly struggle waged between the great intelligence services of the warring powers. It was a war fought in secrecy, under cover of elaborate deceptions and ruthless lies. But it was a war whose victories and defeats were sometimes as important as any decisions reached on a field of battle. Burn After Reading was the first comprehensive account of this subterranean contest. In its dramatic, fully documented pages are told the absorbing stories of the great wartime intelligence organizations—the Abwehr, M.I.5, the Deuxieme Bureau, O.S.S. The activities of modern spymasters such as Admiral Canaris and Allen Dulles are described in vivid detail and all the major espionage and intelligence operations of the war are faithfully reconstructed.

Paper Bullets is a highly readable examination of psychological warfare in World War 2. Starting with discussion of the German propaganda machine, Margolin notes that Americans started late when it came to incorporating psychological warfare into their strategy, but once they did, they excelled. This is a terrific introduction to the subject, with plenty of examples for the World War 2 enthusiast.

First published in 1948, Linebarger's treatise is a classic in psychological warfare. Covering both covert and overt operations, as well as the various aspects of propaganda, this book describes the organization, planning, analysis, influence, and best response to psychological warfare. Surprisingly (or perhaps not), this subject is also valuable for its insight into the psychological influences we see today in business, politics, academia, and advertising. The paperback edition incorporates the first edition of this classic.

The hardcover edition includes the chapters added in the updated 1954 edition. In those few short years, the political landscape had changed drastically, as WWII was a memory and the Cold War was beginning. Linebarger realized that this needed to be addressed in a second edition.

This critical survey and bibliography of Nazi Germany's military psychology and propaganda was published by an American committee of experts during World War II for the benefit of the military community and Allied governments. It becomes clear that while the Nazi Party and Germany's military officials were not always in lockstep, they both extensively used psychological profiling and tactics in their pursuit of a dominant Germany on the world stage. ​There is plenty of food for thought for readers of military history and global politics.

This is the fascinating inside story of a British man who was recruited by the Russians to spy on Germany during World War 2 from neutral Switzerland. Foote ran his own network, and provides details on operational procedures along with stories of hiding from German officers and Swiss police, countering double agents, transmitting war information to the Russian "Centre," his capture, his interrogations in Russia upon release, and finally his escape back to Britain. As a spy, Foote passed along vital information for the campaign against the Nazis, but slowly realized that Russia was as great a threat to freedom (and to his personal safety) as were the Nazis. First published in 1949, this is a terrific classic addition to a WWII or espionage enthusiast's library.

Harold D. Lasswell’s thesis offers a general theory of the strategy and role of propaganda within a military campaign. While the examples focus on the First World War, the principles and patterns carry over to modern day warfare, politics, business, and social movements. We undergo a constant barrage of overt and covert propaganda, which can only be effectively countered by recognizing it and understanding its function. This well-written book is both objective and discerning while explaining how and why propaganda works.

This reprint includes two supplemental papers, “Propaganda behind the lines,” by Maj. C. J. C. Street, and “Control of propaganda as a psychological problem,” by Prof. Edward K. Strong, Jr., both referenced in Lasswell’s text.

First published in 1947, Down Ramp! is the history of the Army Amphibian Engineers during WWII, from their formation and training to the Normandy Invasion and battles on Pacific islands. These courageous soldiers were responsible for the beachheads for landing parties, and quickly earned the admiration of their fellow servicemen.

Surrounded by advancing German forces, the 101st Airborne held fast within the town of Bastogne, despite bombardment, poor weather, and short supplies. The courage of these soldiers was summarized by General McAuliffe's reply to German suggestions that they surrender: "Nuts!"

This is a well-illustrated look at the history and development of submarines and submarine warfare up through World War 2.

This is a fixed-layout epub.

Gunner, the French bulldog mascot for a WWII bomber crew, is caught up in adventure and peril when a mission goes south and the plane crashes in the Pacific. Gunner serves as watchdog as they drift in the ocean, far from home.

This is a fascinating first-hand account of an officer in a small motorized anti-tank unit that tried to harry and slow down the invasion of France by the German war machine in early World War II. Fighting Germans, sleep fatigue, and spies, the French and British units lost many men. Gerard gives an honest appraisal of the situation, noting difficulties with red tape and inexperienced higher-ranking officers. This book is easy-to-read, and a great introduction to an important point in world history.

The American victory at Yorktown brought to an end a long war with Britain, while the circumstances and events leading to this point shaped (for better or worse) the character of a new nation. Significant characters and events during the war, and especially as they relate to the Siege at Yorktown, are described in detail. This collection of essays and speeches was originally written for the membership of the National Society, Sons of the American Revolution, during the early 1930s and received limited distribution. This is the first reprint of these fascinating papers.

A reviled president, lackluster leadership, battle tactics both inept and brilliant, profiteering with the enemy, threats of secession, warfare by public opinion, political blustering . . . the War of 1812 has it all. Originally published as chapters in Adams' multi-volume History of the United States, in the late 1800s, they were collected for this volume in 1944. It provides a thorough and fascinating overview of a rarely-discussed war between the United States and the British Empire.

Seven classic papers are compiled and reprinted in this anthology of primitive weapons technology, describing styles, creation, and usage of boomerangs, slings, spear-throwers, harpoons, blowguns, and throwing sticks. Most are illustrated. These are primarily anthropological papers, with an emphasis on specimens in collections, but there is a good deal of practical and historical information for the primitive weapons enthusiast. Papers included are: The Cane Blowgun in Catawba and Southeastern Ethnology (Speck), Boomerangs (Walker), Australian Throwing Sticks, Throwing-Clubs, and Boomerangs (Davidson), Distribution and Use of Slings in Pre-Columbian America (Means), Sling Contrivances for Projectile Weapons (Krause), Throwing Sticks in the National Museum (Mason), and Aboriginal American Harpoons (Mason).

Professor F. E. Adcock produced an interesting and readable account of the Greek and Macedonian art of war. Strategy and battle tactics of ground troops are discussed, along with specifics on naval warfare, the cavalry (including those with elephants), siege warfare, and leadership on the battlefield. Historians of military history and the ancient world will find this text an informative and useful resource.

“Ancient Armour” was a serial article on ancient armour and weaponry published in The Family Magazine for 1839, edited by Eli Taylor. It covers helmets, body armour, shields, spears, swords, other “engines of war,” and standards used by Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, Israelites, and other ancient cultures. Numerous engravings accompany this popularly-written article. “Observations on the Use of the Sling . . .” by Walter Hawkins gives a detailed look at the ancient use of slings in warfare. This article was published in Archaeologia in 1847.

The use of the military tank was a turning point in modern warfare, and this fascinating text details the varieties developed for use by different nations during World War I. Their combat history during WWI is also given. A number of black and white photos and illustrations are given to complement the text. (This book was published in 1933, so only includes tanks up to that point.)

Obviously, battles between pirates or buccaneers and their prey or adversaries led to injuries, and life on ship or in tropical climes brought disease . . . so, what did they do? Leo Eloesser introduces us to the doctors who rode the high seas with their pirate and buccaneer brethren. Highly respected onboard, but often as villainous as their shipmates, these doctors practiced under unusual conditions, whether dealing with lost limbs or STDs. This is a reprint of the original 30-page article from the Annals of Medical History.

Cartoonist Gene Byrnes (1889-1974) brought “Reg’lar Fellers” characters to life in 1917, and they continued to entertain newspaper readers through 1949. In 1943, two patriotic collections of “Reg’lar Fellers” were published honoring the Army and the Navy, with comics interspaced with official military photos of soldiers and sailors, along with their military equipment. As Byrnes noted, “People, in these trying war days, must find time for more smiling.”

Cartoonist Gene Byrnes (1889-1974) brought “Reg’lar Fellers” characters to life in 1917, and they continued to entertain newspaper readers through 1949. In 1943, two patriotic collections of “Reg’lar Fellers” were published honoring the Army and the Navy, with comics interspaced with official military photos of soldiers and sailors, along with their military equipment. As Byrnes noted, “People, in these trying war days, must find time for more smiling.”