Bret Werner – författare

In December 1943 Monte La Difensa was part of the formidable German defences overlooking the Allies’ planned route to Rome via Monte Cassino.In the First Special Service Force’s first combat in the Mediterranean theater, the Force would employ its special training in mountain and winter warfare to scale the peak, capture it, and then hold it against the inevitable German counterattacks. Astonishing their superiors, the First Special Service Force succeeded in the face of seemingly impossible odds, but suffered a 77 percent casualty rate. Their victory, founded on their aggressive doctrine and extensive training in a variety of combat techniques, would prove instrumental in the postwar development of special forces.Employing full-colour artwork, archive photographs, and first-hand accounts from participants, the author examines the origins, execution, and aftermath of the FSSF’s spectacular success at Monte La Difensa amid the savage winter conditions of December 1943.

In December 1943 Monte La Difensa was part of the formidable German defences overlooking the Allies'' planned route to Rome via Monte Cassino. In the First Special Service Force''s first combat in the Mediterranean theater, the Force would employ its special training in mountain and winter warfare to scale the peak, capture it, and then hold it against the inevitable German counterattacks. Astonishing their superiors, the First Special Service Force succeeded in the face of seemingly impossible odds, but suffered a 77 percent casualty rate. Their victory, founded on their aggressive doctrine and extensive training in a variety of combat techniques, would prove instrumental in the postwar development of special forces. Employing full-colour artwork, archive photographs, and first-hand accounts from participants, the author examines the origins, execution, and aftermath of the FSSF''s spectacular success at Monte La Difensa amid the savage winter conditions of December 1943.

In December 1943 Monte La Difensa was part of the formidable German defences overlooking the Allies'' planned route to Rome via Monte Cassino. In the First Special Service Force''s first combat in the Mediterranean theater, the Force would employ its special training in mountain and winter warfare to scale the peak, capture it, and then hold it against the inevitable German counterattacks. Astonishing their superiors, the First Special Service Force succeeded in the face of seemingly impossible odds, but suffered a 77 percent casualty rate. Their victory, founded on their aggressive doctrine and extensive training in a variety of combat techniques, would prove instrumental in the postwar development of special forces. Employing full-colour artwork, archive photographs, and first-hand accounts from participants, the author examines the origins, execution, and aftermath of the FSSF''s spectacular success at Monte La Difensa amid the savage winter conditions of December 1943.

Between 1941 and 1945, American volunteers enlisted in foreign militaries across land, sea and air; this fully illustrated study describes their service.US volunteers served in a variety of foreign military organizations, from World War I’s Western Front to the skies of China in World War II. In this book, Bret Werner explores these volunteers’ stories including high-profile examples such as the Lafayette Escadrille in World War I and the Flying Tigers in World War II, with his account featuring rare archive photographs and full-color artwork.During World War I, American volunteers joined a range of foreign services, from the French Air Force and Foreign Legion to the American Ambulance Field Service and the Canadian Expeditionary Force. After 1918, their involvement continued in conflicts such as the Polish–Soviet War and the Spanish Civil War. The outbreak of World War II prompted Americans to enlist abroad again, joining the “Eagle Squadrons” of Britain’s Royal Air Force as well as serving in the Royal Navy, British Army, and Home Guard, while members of the American Field Service served in France in 1940. A year later the American Volunteer Group, aka the “Flying Tigers,” took to the skies over war-torn China, striving to defeat the Japanese invaders.All of these volunteers are examined and depicted in this lively account of American men and women serving in voluntary military roles across the globe.

A concise history of the unique integrated commando-style brigade of US and Canadian volunteers formed in 1942.Hand picked, and trained in airborne, amphibious, mountain and winter warfare, demolitions and close-quarter tactics, they left a combat legacy still recognized amongst today''s Special Forces. This book explores the remarkable results the FSSF achieved in Italy - in the harsh mountain fighting on the Winter Line, in the trenches of Anzio, and in the breakthrough to Rome. Accompanied by unique combat photography and illustrations of their distinctive uniforms, this is an insight into a famous, but little explored unit.

A concise history of the unique integrated commando-style brigade of US and Canadian volunteers formed in 1942.Hand picked, and trained in airborne, amphibious, mountain and winter warfare, demolitions and close-quarter tactics, they left a combat legacy still recognized amongst today''s Special Forces. This book explores the remarkable results the FSSF achieved in Italy - in the harsh mountain fighting on the Winter Line, in the trenches of Anzio, and in the breakthrough to Rome. Accompanied by unique combat photography and illustrations of their distinctive uniforms, this is an insight into a famous, but little explored unit.