Glyn Harper – författare

In the early years of World War II, Germany shocked the world with a devastating blitzkrieg, rapidly conquered most of Europe, and pushed into North Africa. As the Allies scrambled to counter the Axis armies, the British Eighth Army confronted the experienced Afrika Corps, led by German field marshal Erwin Rommel, in three battles at El Alamein. In the first battle, the Eighth Army narrowly halted the advance of the Germans during the summer of 1942. However, the stalemate left Nazi troops within striking distance of the Suez Canal, which would provide a critical tactical advantage to the controlling force. War historian Glyn Harper dives into the story, vividly narrating the events, strategies, and personalities surrounding the battles and paying particular attention to the Second Battle of El Alamein, a crucial turning point in the war that would be described by Winston Churchill as "the end of the beginning." Moving beyond a simple narrative of the conflict, The Battle for North Africa tackles critical themes, such as the problems of coalition warfare, the use of military intelligence, the role of celebrity generals, and the importance of an all-arms approach to modern warfare.

The New Zealand soldiers who left these shores to fight in the First World War represented one of the greatest collective endeavours in the nation's history. Over 100,000 men and women would embark for overseas service and almost 60,000 of them became casualties. For a small nation like New Zealand this was a tragedy on an unimagined scale.Using their personal testimony, this book reveals what these men experienced - the truth of their lives in battle, at rest, at their best and their worst. Through a comprehensive and sympathetic scrutiny of New Zealand soldiers' correspondence, diaries and memoirs, a compelling picture of the New Zealand soldier's war from general to private is revealed. This is not a campaign history of dry facts and detail. Rather, it examines minutely the everyday experience of trench life in all its shapes and forms. Diverse topics such as barbed wire, the use of the bayonet, gas attacks, rats, horses, food, communal singing, infectious diseases and much more feature in this riveting account of the New Zealand soldier in the First World War. It is the story of ordinary men thrust into the most extraordinary circumstances imaginable.Written in an accessible style aimed at the interested general reader, the book is the product of a substantial amount of research. The text is complemented by a range of maps, illustrations, graphs and diagrams.

Explores thelife and military career of Lucian Truscott, one of the greatest, yet leastcelebrated, US combat commanders of World War II.Born in Texas to adrug-addicted father, Truscott would become one of the United States’ greatestever combat generals. Expert in mechanised warfare and amphibious operationsduring World War II, he was a plain-speaking, determined fighter. The book tracesTruscott’s rise as a senior American commander in various theaters of war,including the campaigns in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and southern France. Itexamines Truscott’s relationship with other senior American commanders such asGeorge Patton (who once threatened to sack him), Mark Clark (who didn’t likehim), Eisenhower and George Marshall. Truscott made asignificant contribution to the defeat of Nazi Germany, improving his commandskills with each new experience. Being placed in command of the Anzio beachheadwas his finest hour, where his vital contribution ultimately led to the captureof Rome.Truscott garnereda unique record during World War II as the only American officer to commandmilitary formations from regiment up to a full army, with over 200,000 soldiersunder his command. He also took part in five amphibious landings during thewar, becoming the United States’ foremost expert in such operations.General Lucian K.Truscott: ‘Quite a talent for fighting’ is for military enthusiasts looking to expand theirknowledge beyond the well-known names of World War II canon.

Is there a distinctive style of New Zealand command? An examination of New Zealand military commanders and the style of New Zealand command is long overdue, and this superb new book now fills the gap. Glyn Harper, Joel Hayward and a team of top military historians profile the most important commanders in New Zealand history, both Maori and Pakeha, from the nineteenth century to the recent past. Each writer is an expert on the commander concerned, with the subjects drawn from all three arms of the defence forces: Army, Navy and Air Force. The commanders profiled are: Alexander Godley, Andrew Russell, Edward Chaylor, Keith Park, Bernard Freyberg, Howard Kippenberger, Peter Phipps, Harold Barrowclough, Arthur Coningham, Leonard Thornton, Maori Battalion commanders and commanders of the infantry battalions of the 2nd New Zealand Division.