In December 1944 the Allies were
poised to smash the Siegfried Line and break into Germany.
Arnhem aside, there had been a long run of victories and
there was no intelligence to suggest a German
counter-offensive, so the major attack through the
mountainous Ardennes by massed Panzers and infantry took the
Allies totally by surprise. Fog and low cloud negated the
Allies' air supremacy, English-speaking German commandos in
captured jeeps created panic and withdrawal of U.S. forces
became a near rout. For ten days the situation worsened,
Antwerp was seriously threatened and 21st Army Group in
danger of being cut off. Clear skies for Allied air power
and counter-attacks by rapidly deployed reinforcements
turned the tide in the nick of time. All this is graphically
narrated in this fine study of a pivotal battle, that so
nearly changed the course of war.
This copy is
signed by the author.
New in d/w -
360pp, 13 maps, 52 b/w photos/illustrations
ONSLAUGHT ON HITLER'S RHINE:
OPERATIONS
PLUNDER AND VARSITY, MARCH 1945
by Patrick Delaforce
Operation Plunder was Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery’s swan
song. Monty was by nature a cautious commander with dwindling
manpower resources. Operation Market Garden had not succeeded in
achieving a major lodgement over the Rhine, and Hitler regarded
the river as the final barrier. His storm-troopers and
paratroops had fought like demons in February/March 1945
defending the Siegfried Line and presumably they would continue
to defend their country to the bitter end. So, Monty ensured by
very careful planning, including a huge airborne drop in
Operation Varsity, that the great onslaught would be quick,
ruthless and highly successful.
In this volume Patrick Delaforce examines the final weeks
of World War II. After the Yalta Conference the question was
how to prevent Hitler from implementing a scorched earth
policy across the Reich. As the Russians clawed their way
across Europe, Operation Eclipse prevented them from
occupying Denmark and secured the Kiel naval base. The
author examines events immediately after the surrender and
Hitler's suicide, and the creation of the short-lived fourth
reich under the leadership of Admiral Donitz. He also covers
the liberations of Holland and Norway plus the freeing of
prisoners of war. The book ends with the war crimes trials
and the beginnings of the Cold War.
This copy is
signed by the author.
New in d/w -
284pp, numerous b/w photos & sketch maps
MONTY'S MARAUDERS: THE 4TH & 8TH
ARMOURED BRIGADES IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR
by Patrick Delaforce
When Montgomery was given Allied command of the D Day
landings he wasted no time gathering around him individuals
and formations he could trust. Foremost among the latter
were two armoured brigades: the 4th (Black Desert Rats) and
8th (Red Fox's Mask). Both these units had unrivalled
records having proved themselves in bitter fighting against
Rommel's Afrika Korps and the Italians. Once ashore in
Normandy the two superb brigades went on to enhance their
reputations on the journey to the heart of Hitler's Third
Reich and final victory.
MONTY'S IRON SIDES: FROM THE NORMANDY
BEACHES
TO BREMEN WITH THE 3RD DIVISION
by Patrick Delaforce
The history of the British 3rd Infantry Division in the
North West European Campaign, 1944-45. The story follows the
Division from the Normandy beaches to Bremen. They fought in
the tough battle to take Caen, in Operations 'Goodwood' and
'Bluecoat' and then Operation 'Aintree' to free the Dutch
towns of Overloon and Venraij. Driving through the Siegfried
Line, they then participated in the hard fighting in
Northern Germany which led up to VE Day.
This copy is signed by the author.
New in d/w - 214pp, 40+ illustrations, 12 maps,
bibliography, appendices, index
