Blitzkrieg : from the rise of Hitler to the fall of Dunkirk

A compelling history of Blitzkrieg: the 'lightning war' by which Hitler and his generals overwhelmed the Allied armies in Western Europe.'Blitzkrieg' begins with a chilling portrait of Hitler's rise to power in pre-war Germany, setting the stage for the outbreak of the Second World War and his conquests of Poland and Norway. This riveting history sets out clearly the tactical thinking behind Blitzkrieg and focuses an expert's eye on the materiel -- pre-eminently the Panzer tank -- that made it possible. Concluding with a compelling account of the campaigns that drove the German armies through the Low Countries and into France, Deighton reveals the Führer's 'fatal flaw', which made possible the evacuation of Allied forces from Dunkirk.'Blitzkrieg' is the story of Hitler's triumph and Europe's darkest hour. Few writers have understood it as well as Deighton -- an ex-RAF pilot -- and perhaps none has been able to describe it so...

From the Colosseum to Hadrian's Wall, Gem Ancient Rome shows us how Rome's vast empire laid the foundations of today's civilisation. From the Colosseum to Hadrian' s Wall, Gem Ancient Rome shows us how Rome' s vast empire laid the foundations of today' s civilisation. From aqueducts to baths, from gladiators to emperors, the fascinating history of and mythology of ancient Rome are brought to life in this entertaining and highly-readable guide. From aqueducts to baths, from gladiators to emperors, the fascinating history of and mythology of ancient Rome are brought to life in this entertaining and highly-readable guide. With their sophisticated army, monuments and roads, the Romans literally paved the way to modern Europe. Learn about the hand-to-hand combat at gladiatorial shows, rediscover the myths and legends of the Roman gods and find out how and why Rome became the conquering superpower that it did. History will come to life in this engaging and comprehensive introduction to one of the most fascinating and influential places the world has ever known. Learn about the hand-to-hand combat at gladiatorial shows, rediscover the myths and legends of the Roman gods and find out how and why Rome became the conquering superpower that it did. History will come to life in this engaging and comprehensive introduction to one of the most fascinating and influential places the world has ever known. Includes: Includes: • Geography – map of the Roman Empire • History – a timeline with the accomplishments of the emperors • Culture – what the Romans did for us • Religion – Gods and Festivals • Mythology – Virgil's Aeneid, Romulus and Remus • Daily life in Ancient Greece – different levels in society, the jobs, family life, leisure activities • Politics – transition from Republic to Dictatorship • Learning and knowledge – Law, Science, Architecture, Literature, Art • War – important wars, the Empire, the army and navy • Rome Today – temples, archaeology, and modern tourist sites

"A compelling history of Blitzkrieg: the 'lightning war' by which Hitler and his generals overwhelmed the Allied armies in Western Europe. 'Blitzkrieg' begins with a chilling portrait of Hitler's rise to power in pre-war Germany, setting the stage for the outbreak of the Second World War and his conquests of Poland and Norway. This riveting history sets out clearly the tactical thinking behind Blitzkrieg and focuses an expert's eye on the materiel - pre-eminently the Panzer tank - that made it possible. Concluding with a compelling account of the campaigns that drove the German armies through the Low Countries and into France, Deighton reveals the Fuhrer's 'fatal flaw', which made possible the evacuation of Allied forces from Dunkirk. 'Blitzkrieg' is the story of Hitler's triumph and Europe's darkest hour. Few writers have understood it as well as Deighton - an ex-RAF pilot - and perhaps none has been able to describe it so tellingly"--Publisher's description Len Deighton brings to bear all the skills of a best-selling novelist in this compelling study. In Blitzkrieg, Len Deighton turns a searchlight on the rise of Hitler, the lightning dash of his armies to the Channel coast in 1940 and on the debacle of Dunkirk, where — in a mistake that was to trigger his eventual downfall — a quarter of a million British troops were allowed to escape.