Osprey Trade Editions : Army Commandos

The period from early 1940 to the end of 1942 was a time of gloom and uncertainty for the British. Standing alone against the assembled might of the Axis powers, their armed forces won precious few victories to redress the military disasters that befell them in Norway, Dunkirk, North Africa, Greece, Crete, Malaya, Singapore and Burma. To the rest of the world it seemed to be just a matter of time before Britain and her Empire went the way of other defeated countries and was forced to seek an armistice. In those early, dark years of the war the British public badly needed a champion to strike at Adolf Hitler's Germany. At sea the Royal Navy fought to keep the lifelines of supply open, and in the air Bomber Command struck at the enemy in a way the British understood - for they were being bombed and wished for greater retaliation against the Germans. But it was a small force of soldiers who inspired the British with a series of daring raids against the coasts of 'occupied Europe'. For over two years this force struck at the enemy with increasing force and skill, becoming the heroes of the British public and of the British Prime Minister who had created them. Mike Chappell explores the wartime history of the British Army Commandos whose bravery did so much to raise the morale of the British public at a time when it was desperately needed.