MILITARY TITLES FROM VINE HOUSE
Winston Churchill on war
We shall never surrender
We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender. – speech in the House of Commons, 4 June 1940.
BLACK STAR
Black Star is the first in a series of novels written by Steve Marshall,
played out on the Eastern Front during World War Two. The story revolves around a unit of SS troops, heavily involved in the frontline fighting as the Germans continue their advance towards
Moscow. It is autumn 1941 and Operation Typhoon, Adolf Hitler´s drive to capture Moscow, is under way. The conditions are atrocious, the -fighting is brutal and it seems there is no end in sight.
SS Scharführer Willi Schaaf and his comrades are fighting for their lives but the men’s belief in the Fatherland and their Führer does not waver.
Schaaf, however, is also fighting private battles of his own. It´s been a long and eventful journey for him so far; from leaving the Hitler Jugend and his family in Munich to fighting the Russians on the Eastern Front, and his journey is long from over... He must also be continuously on his guard in order to prevent his personal demons from escaping; A scenario that would surely bring horrific Consequences. As their advance progresses, battles are won, comrades are lost, new enemies are
encountered and at times, the enemy proves to be just a little bit too close for comfort.
AUTHOR: STEVE MARSHALL ISBN: 978 91 85657 26 1 £14.99 PB 299 PAGES 212MM X 147MM PUBLICATION DATE: DECEMBER 2013
YPRES MEMORIES
This graphic novel is made up of two stories that are connected by geography and the tragic events that took place almost one hundred years ago. An extension of the original Philippe Glogowski graphic novel, ‘Ypres – Henry’s Notebook’, Ypres Memories offers an inside look into the plight of the Scottish Military who fought during World War I, with a story revolving around a trip to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and the memories that this triggers for a particular elderly veteran.
Ypres Memories is for all ages and makes the real history of the war more accessible to the younger readers without glorifying war or violence.
AUTHOR: PHILIPPE GLOGOWSKI ISBN: 978 2 930743 03 5 £14.95 HB 48 PAGES 320MM X 240MM PUBLICATION DATE: MAY 2014
REMEMBRANCE POEMS
Traditional and contemporary poems for Remembrance Day and peace events. Many of the poems have appeared on the ‘warpoetry’ website where they have proved immensely popular. The poems have been selected and are introduced by David Roberts.Editor: David Roberts ISBN: 978 0 9528969 6 8 £14.00 HB 144 pages 198mm x 129mm Publication date: June 2014
FALKLANDS WAR POETRY
A collection of poetry by poets from the UK, Argentina and the Falklands published to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the Falklands war.The poets are mainly former British servicemen who took part in the Falklands War 30 years ago and poets from Argentina including two former Argentine conscripts who fought in the war. There are also a few poems by wives of servicemen and Falklands residents.
Editor: David Roberts ISBN: 978 0 9528969 5 1 £14.99 HB 144 pages 198mm X 129 mm
OUT IN THE DARK
This anthology, based on Minds at War – by the same author - has been prepared for the general reader who requires less background information, and for students, including GCSE and A’ Level.
This volume contains: The great classic poems of the First World War, a wide range of popular verse, and propagandist verse. A substantial selection of poems by women writers, basic notes on almost all poems and ample material for in-depth course work studies Poems by Wilfred Owen (19 poems), Siegfried Sassoon (27), Edward Thomas (13), Thomas Hardy (9), Rupert Brooke (6), Charles Sorley (6), and Isaac Rosenberg (9), are arranged in date order in separate chapters. As a result, the development of their ideas or styles may more readily be appreciated.
Many of the poems in Out in the Dark are currently selected by exam boards. The 19th Century poems, examples of the culture of Empire and militarism, help to explain both the rush to war and the nature of the early poetry of the First World War – 140 poems in all. Appreciating the poems: Out in the Dark contains the background information and specialised vocabulary that students need to be able to understand and interpret set war poetry texts. Comments of past and present day critics give starting points for considering “alternative interpretations” of many poems, making it ideal for students.
Authors: David Roberts and key poets ISBN: 978 0 952896 91 3 £8.99 PB
192 pages 234mm x 155 mm
LEGEND RP
Like the Spitfire, and a relatively small number of other classic aircraft, the C-47 Dakota is a breed apart, distinguished not only by her exceptional design, engineering, durability, performance, and her
many other fine characteristics, but by her enormous base of admirers.
Without question, the great Douglas Plane changes history, opening the era of modern air travel in the 1930’s and as the backbone of allied air transport in the Second World War. In this new book,
Legend, the fascinating wartime and post-war history of a significant surviving veteran of that war, the C-47A N1944A is traced, along with the pre-war, wartime and post-war story of the fabulous DC-3/C-47 Dakota type.Legend is a powerful, impressive celebration of one of the most important machines of all time.
Author: Philip Kaplan ISBN: 978 0 9557061 1 0 £40.00 HB 272 pages 295mm x 247mm
Over 210 colour & 128 b/w images
MINDS AT WAR RP
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Minds at War contains 250 poems by 80 poets. It includes the most enduringly popular poems of the war such as Brookes’ sonnets and McCrae’s In Flanders Fields. Women poets are exceptionally well represented. There are examples of the once hugely popular poems which were written as Propaganda. Some of these are now seem in print for the first time since the First World War.
Poets include: Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Edward Thomas, Charles Sorley, Isaac Rosenberg, Herbert Read, Robert Graves, Vera Brittain, Rose Macaulay, Eleanor Farjeon, D H Lawrence, John
Galsworthy, Edmund Blunden, Thomas Hardy, Rudyard Kipling, Walter de la Mare, John Masefield, Lawrence Binyon, John McCrae, Ivor Gurney, John Oxenham, Arthur Graeme West, Rupert Brooke.
The Background: Historical and biographical background material, extracts from diaries, personal letters and autobiographies of poets illuminate the poetry. The comments of general, pundits and politicians help to provide the necessary context and deepen our appreciation of one of the most important and tragic periods in the history of the 20th Century.
Authors: David Roberts and 80 poets ISBN: 978 0 952896 90 6 £14.99 PB
410 pages 234mm x 155mm
SPITFIRE: THE ONE RP
Spitfire: The One, by Philip Kaplan, leading author of many books on aviation, military and naval history, is a result of his collaboration with shipping magnate, Peter Livanos, himself a collector of classic aircraft. It is centred on Livanos’ Spitfire, the famous AR213, the only airworthy Mk I in the world, and its restoration. This heavily illustrated publication presents the Spitfire in an attractive, beautifully photographed and colourful format. Like the restoration itself, nothing has been spared in producing an unusually handsome book to celebrate all aspects of the Spitfire legend and the Livanos example of it.
Of the many books that have been written about the Spitfire, relatively few might be considered appropriate tributes to the fighter which, along with its partner the Hawker Hurricane, saved Britain from Nazi invasion, changing the course of the Second World War.
Spitfire: The One joins those special few in bringing a unique look at R.J. Mitchell’s lovely, deadly creation.
Author: Philip Kaplan ISBN: 978 0 9557061 0 3 £40.00 HB 224 pages
295mm x 247mm Over 230 colour & b/w images
LEANDOER & CO FORLAG NON FICTION TITLES
DAMBUSTERS VOLUME 1
A low flying aircraft, faced with an onslaught of Flak,
releases a cylindrical, black spinning bomb that bounces across the water;
lands against a dam; and destroys it. It’s a story that’s been told on numerous
occasions and still has an air of improbability about it. The RAF’s 617
Squadron will forever be remembered as the unit which delivered the famous
Barnes Wallis bouncing bombs, on Operation Chastise in May 1943, to the German
Möhne, Eder and Sorpe dams. There is often debate as to whether the dam raids
did much to disrupt German industry, but the psychological effect of Guy
Gibson’s bomber crews’ action as they breached the two dams, and the disruption
caused to a wide area, was substantial. This book describes the Dam raids in
great detail, including the detailed planning prior to the operation. Over the next two years this one squadron
would go on to sink the battleship Tirpitz, demolish impregnable U-boat pens
and smash deadly V-weapon sites.
Their story is both unique and familiar, serving to remind
us all of the sacrifice made by a generation to ensure the freedoms all of us
enjoy today. They must not be forgotten - this is their story.
AUTHOR: SAM OLSEN ISBN: 978 91 85657 04 9 £44.99 HB 400
PAGES 255MM X 195MM FULLY ILLUSTRATED THROUGHOUT WITH 200 PHOTOGRAPHS AND 48
COLOUR PROFILES
JAGDTIGER
This stunning book covers the design, development and
subsequent operational use of the mighty German wartime Jagdtiger tank
destroyer. The Jagdtiger was an extension of the Jagdpanzer designs from tanks
such as the Jagdpanther. The Jagdtiger used a boxy superstructure on top of a lengthened Tiger II chassis. The resulting
vehicle featured very heavy armour and the powerful 128 mm PaK 44 L/55 gun
capable of defeating any tank fielded in World War II, even at long ranges
(+3,500 m). The Jagdtiger suffered from a variet
y of mechanical and technical
problems due to its immense weight and under-powered engine. Ultimately, more Jagdtigers
were lost to mechanical problems or lack of fuel than to enemy action. Despite
these shortcomings it was still very effective in defensive roles. This mammoth
wasn’t just the biggest vehicle of the war; it also had the biggest gun with
the greatest calibre. And its power to kill tanks would be great even on the
modern battlefield.
So why wasn't it successful? Why didn't they build more of
them? How did it ‘tick’? Who used it? What modifications were applied? These
questions and many more are answered in this first release of the Tech series.
AUTHOR: CHRIS MEADOWS ISBN: 978 81 85657 01 8 £39.99 HB 386
PAGES 255MM X 195MM FULLY ILLUSTRATED THROUGHOUT WITH 200 PHOTOGRAPHS AND 48
COLOUR PROFILES
MURDEROUS ELITE
There is a curious lack of published information concerning
wartime atrocities committed by Nazi Germany's military elite, the Waffen-SS.
In fact, there are very few books currently in print that examine the nature
and commission of war crimes perpetrated by any of the armed forces
participating in the Second World War. Examining an enemy's wartime behaviour
holds many potential dangers since our own conduct might also be scrutinized
with the goal of uncovering similar transgressions. This book is not intended
to be read from cover to cover as a continuous narrative; rather it is arranged
into well-defined sections to have maximum effectiveness as a reference work.
The three main sections -- Atrocities, Unit Histories, and
Individuals -- are adopted to guide readers along the most natural paths of
inquiry: What happened and where? What was the unit's record? What was the
individual's involvement? This is probably the most comprehensive reference
book on the subject.
AUTHOR: JAMES PONTOLILLO ISBN: 978 9
OPERATION FRESHMAN
In February 1943, the heavy water plant in Vermork/Rjukan,
which Hitler needed for the making of the atomic bomb, was rendered useless by
a combined British/Norwegian sabotage operation. This operation became a legend
in history. What is less well known is the fact that there was an earlier
attempt at sabotaging the plant in late 1942. This failed attempt is known in
history as Operation Freshman. This book is about both operations and covers
what happened before, during, and after. It describes the planning, the German
response, and the horrible way the German forces dealt with the captured allied
soldiers in the aftermath of the failed attack.
AUTHOR: JOSTEIN BERGLYD ISBN: 978 91 975895 9 8 £9.99 HB 190
PAGES 240MM X 170MM FULLY ILLUSTRATED WITH 80 PHOTOGRAPHS
ORDNUNGS POLIZEI: ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE GERMAN BATTALIONS
From June 27 1941 this war erased, like a hurricane, most of
the Jewish communities in the Baltic area, in Galicia, in Belorussia and in
Ukraine, with hundreds of thousands of victims. There are some places where
apocalyptic slaughters were perpetrated during the summer of 1941 and this encyclopaedia
of German Police battalions details their involvement.
All along the eastern front, police units were steadily
engaged in fierce anti- partisan warfare, as well as in security activities
behind the lines. On several occasions and in adverse conditions, police
battalions were moved to the front line, where they ended up suffering heavy
losses. Many policemen were involved in activities that could be deemed as
"civil defence", especially in the German cities targeted by air
bombing. All these roles required the
involvement of thousands of policemen. But the most unsettling aspect is the
way in which these men acted – efficient and scrupulous. Whether they were
called to carry out a reprisal or to remove the debris after a bombing;
perpetrate the round-up of a ghetto or accomplish guard services; burn down a
village or perform ordinary garrison tasks.
The Ordnungspolizei did not have all the characteristics
needed to become a symbol of the Nazi regime but were still a versatile and
ruthless instrument. Mostly formed with reservists: "ordinary men" very
similar to each of us, yet capable of unspeakable atrocities. This book has 560
pages in which every police battalion formed in the period September 1939 through
July 1942 has been examined. Each chapter deals with a single battalion.
AUTHOR: MASSIMO ARICO ISBN: 978 91 85657 99 5 £44.99 HB 560
PAGES 255MM X 195MM ILLUSTRATED WITH
100 PHOTOGRAPHS
ORDNUNGS POLIZEI: IDEOLOGICAL WAR & GENOCIDE
From June 27 1941 this war erased, like a hurricane, most of
the Jewish communities in the Baltic area, in Galicia, in Belorussia and in
Ukraine, with hundreds of thousands of victims. There are some places where
apocalyptic slaughters were perpetrated by the German police during the summer
of 1941 and this book looks at them in detail. Dozens of massacres perpetrated
by the German Ordnungspolizei on the Eastern Front have been examined in-depth.
The context, the perpetrators and the victims are described in detail plus an
attempt to explain ‘the why’.
Given the complex dynamics that led to the criminal
behaviour of hundreds of thousands of ordinary’ men, a multi-disciplinary
approach has been taken, using psychological, social, philosophical and
religious contributions.
AUTHOR: MASSIMO ARICO ISBN: 978 91 85657 20 9 £39.99 HB 560
PAGES 255MM X 195MM ILLUSTRATED WITH 50
PHOTOGRAPHS
SS SCHIJAGER: BATTALION NORGE
Norway was one of the nations producing the highest number
of volunteers for the German war machine during WWII. Most of them ended up in
the mechanized units belonging to the famous Waffen SS units "Wiking"
and "Nordland". A number of them etched their place in the history
books as members of the elitist sub-divisional units of the SS-Division
"Nord", fighting above the Polar Circle during the war. Among these
units were the Ski infantry Battalion the “SS- Schijäger, Batallion
"Norge".” This is their story.
This is the first ever study published on the unknown
Norwegian SS-Ski Infantry in the “Nord” division. It contains the complete
Order of Battle for all the different Norwegian sub-units in the division,
complete lists of losses and never before published photos from private
sources.
AUTHOR: GEIR BRENDEN & HAAKON THOMASSEN ISBN: 978 91
85657 06 3 £19.99 HB 256 PAGES 255MM X
195MM ILLUSTRATED WITH 300 PHOTOGRAPHS
SS PANZER: AUFKLARUNGS ABTEILUNG 11
The Swedish SS Reconnaissance Platoon in the SS division
Nordland fought in varied battlefields. From Ingermanlands snow-clad hills to
the defence of the historic town of Narva; then further over Latvia's billowing
landscape against the Soviet armoured thrusts that were threatening Riga. Later
on, the battalion fought in the muddy trenches in Kurland and on the plains of
Pomerania. Finally, in 1945, it was pulled in and exterminated in the final
battle of Brandenburg, in the last desperate defence of the chancellor's office
in Berlin. This unit was unique as it contained the largest number of Swedish
volunteers - fighting for Hitler. This book is unique in that no other book on
the market has even tried to describe all events and battles fought by this
unit from 1943 to 1945. The appendixes include very detailed information about
the unit, its equipment, and its soldiers.
AUTHOR: PHIL NIX & GEORGE JEROME ISBN: 978 91 975895 5 0
£38.99 HB 384 PGES 255MM X 195MM ILLUSTRATED
WITH 200 PHOTOGRAPHS AND 32 COLOUR PROFILES
UNIFORMED POLICE FORCES OF THE THIRD REICH
Germany had no national police force until 1920 when it was
formed by the Weimar regime. The National Socialists were instrumental in its
development. The duties performed by the Ordnungspolizei were the same as those
performed in any other country in peace time. However, it did supervise the professional
and voluntary fire services and provided advice to private factory security
units.
During the war the uniformed police undertook an important
new task. It was used to assist the security police in carrying out duties in
occupied territories. To this end a total of 38 police regiments and a number
of local regiments in occupied territories were formed. Police members were
used to raise and man two Waffen-SS divisions to fight alongside the army. The
police were at the core of the civil defences in the Third Reich providing the
organization for defence against air raids in towns and industrial complexes.
Outstanding service was given in fighting fires and in the protection of
members of the population. This book will attempt to show the complete
organization of the police forces of the Third Reich and will provide
biographical information on the most senior officers.
AUTHOR: PHIL NIX & GEORGE JEROME ISBN: 978 91 9758954 3
7 £14.99 HB 380 PAGES 305MM X 212MM ILLUSTRATED WITH 100 PHOTOGRAPHS
TANKS IN THE WINTER WAR
Tanks in the Winter War is a unique book. There have been
many books written about the Winter War, but none have described the Soviet
units and their efforts, and none have described the tanks used in the
conflict. This book is based upon Russian sources. There are concise accounts
of the Soviet units, their equipment and the commanders and operations. There
is also an account of the Finnish defence, fortifications, mines and more. Furthermore;
the only tank battle of the Winter War, the battle of Honkaniemi, is described
in detail.
Tanks in the Winter War is a must for all who are interested
in what happened in Finland during World War II.
AUTHOR: MAXIM KOLOMYETS ISBN: 978 91 975895 2 9 £25.99 HB
160 PAGES 255MM X 195MM FULLY ILLUSTRATED THROUGHOUT
WARSAW 1: TANKS IN THE UPRISING AUG – OCT 1944
Many books have been written about the Uprising in Warsaw,
but none have been written in this detailed manner describing the use of the
armoured weapons of war. The Warsaw Uprising of 1944 was a heroic and tragic
63-day struggle to liberate Warsaw from Nazi/ German occupation. Bitterly
fought by the Polish Home Army, (the Polish resistance group), many men
perished in the fight to overthrow the Germans and banish them from Poland.Warsaw
could have been one of the first European capitals liberated; however, various
military and political miscalculations turned the dice against it.
This book is the first to examine the armoured operations
during the Warsaw Uprising. It was the first time that tanks had been used so
extensively in a city environment, and Tanks in the Uprising looks at all of
the vehicles used in this conflict.
AUTHOR: JANUSZ LEDWOCH ISBN: 978 91 975895 3 6 £29.99 HB 304
PAGES 255MM X 195MM ILLUSTRATED WITH
200 PHOTOGRAPHS AND 48 COLOUR PROFILES
WARSAW II: THE TANK BATTLE AT PRAGA JUL – DEC 1944
It is a common misunderstanding that the Red army, on
Stalin's order, halted outside Warsaw in August 1944 to let the German troops
suppress the Polish uprising in the capital. Joseph Stalin of course didn't
want to let a pro-British, Polish government get a foothold in Warsaw. The fact
is that on the last day of July (the night before the start of the uprising)
the Red Army was on their way into Praga (the east part of Warsaw on the east
bank of Vistula) when the German troops put in a violent counterattack. This
started the bitter fight that came to be called The Battle for Praga, which is virtually
unknown in
Western military history publishing. The epic tank battle
that took place at Praga on the Belorussian Front on the outskirts of Warsaw
between the Soviet and German forces is one that is still talked about today
and this book takes a detailed look at the units, tanks and equipment involved
in this historical action. The 256-pages feature numerous black & white archive
photographs taken during the fighting, covering a great many of the tanks and
vehicles involved as well as some more unusual items such as the German
armoured trains used to such good effect. The colour maps, separate appendix on
the various tanks and vehicles involved on both sides, plus the excellent
colour illustrations all combine to give a detailed and highly visual account of
the events at Praga in1944.
AUTHOR: NORBERT BACYK ISBN: 978 91 975895 4 3 £25.99 HB 272
PAGES 255MM X 195MM ILLUSTRATED WITH
200 PHOTOGRAPHS AND 48 COLOUR PROFILES
