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The D-Day Atlas: anatomy of the Normandy campaign
This impressively illustrated study by Charles Messenger, re-released to mark the 80th anniversary of D Day this summer, chronicles the evolution of the Normandy invasion plan, the Allied coastal landings by sea and air, and the subsequent six-week struggle to break through the entrenched German defences. With a new introduction by historian James Holland, the book has at its heart more than 70 richly detailed full-colour maps, accompanied by original drawings used by the Allies during the war and contemporary photographs of the Normandy coastline.
The D-Day Atlas: anatomy of the Normandy campaign, Charles Messenger, Thames & Hudson, hbk, 176pp (£25), ISBN 978-0500297643
The Illusionist: The true story of the man who fooled Hitler
Throughout history, military commanders have sought to dupe their opponents. But the eccentric Dudley Clarke did so on a scale never accomplished before. In The Illusionist, historian Robert Hutton reveals the amazing story of how Clarke hoodwinked ‘Desert Fox’ Erwin Rommel, at the Battle of El Alamein in 1942 – an experiment in subterfuge that saved many lives on both sides.
The Illusionist: The true story of the man who fooled Hitler, Robert Hutton, W&N, hbk, 384pp (£25), ISBN 978-1474626026
Enemies at the Gate: The city walls of ancient Rome
Rome has been surrounded by walls for almost as long as the city has existed, and many enemies of the empire have found themselves attacking these mighty fortifications. In her new book Enemies at the Gate, Patricia Southern – who has explored at first hand the considerable archaeological remains of Rome’s military defences – provides a new perspective on their history.
Enemies at the Gate: The city walls of ancient Rome, Patricia Southern, Amberley, hbk, 384pp (£30), ISBN 978-1398112971
Operation Biting
In February 1942, a company of newly formed airborne forces was dropped into northern France amid heavy snow, tasked with capturing the key components of Würzburg, a newly identified Nazi radar network whose discovery had baffled the Allies. Max Hastings recounts this action-packed story, from the initial discovery through the bungled landing to the nail-biting escape of the forces back to England.
Operation Biting, Max Hastings, William Collins, hbk, 384pp (£25), ISBN 978-0008642167
A Guide to the Medieval Castles of England
Spread across the medieval kingdom of England was a network of formidable military strongholds, dominating the landscape at the time and in many cases even to this day. Buildings archaeologist Malcolm Hislop offers this comprehensive yet accessible guide to the castles of the medieval era, exploring how they played such a significant role in the country’s defences.
A Guide to the Medieval Castles of England, Malcolm Hislop, Pen & Sword, hbk, 304pp (£28), ISBN 978-1399001106
The Hill: the brutal fight for Hill 107 in the Battle of Crete
The Allied campaign to capture the strategically vital island of Crete in May 1941 hinged on the three-day battle for Hill 107. Drawing on original combat reports, letters, diaries, and interviews, Robert Kershaw, author of Dünkirchen 1940 (a previous winner in the MHM Book Awards), looks at the struggle for the hill from both Allied and Axis perspectives.
The Hill: the brutal fight for Hill 107 in the Battle of Crete, Robert Kershaw, Osprey Publishing, hbk, 368pp (£20), ISBN 978-1472864550
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