Twentieth Century Wars – serie

In August 1990, Saddam Hussein's Iraqi forces boldly invaded and occupied neighboring Kuwait. It was a move that shocked the world and threatened the interests of those countries, such as the USA and the nations of Europe, dependent on oil from the Middle East. The ensuing Gulf War signaled, for many, a new dawn in warfare: one based upon lethal technology, low casualties, and quick decisive victory.Incorporating the latest scholarship, William Thomas Allison provides a concise overview of the origins, key events and legacy of the first Gulf War, as well as the major issues and debates. Allison also examines the relevance of this war to other twentieth-century conflicts and the ongoing situation in the region.

In August 1990, Saddam Hussein's Iraqi forces boldly invaded and occupied neighboring Kuwait. It was a move that shocked the world and threatened the interests of those countries, such as the USA and the nations of Europe, dependent on oil from the Middle East. The ensuing Gulf War signaled, for many, a new dawn in warfare: one based upon lethal technology, low casualties, and quick decisive victory.Incorporating the latest scholarship, William Thomas Allison provides a concise overview of the origins, key events and legacy of the first Gulf War, as well as the major issues and debates. Allison also examines the relevance of this war to other twentieth-century conflicts and the ongoing situation in the region.

The Iran-Iraq War was personified by the determination and ambition of the key leaders, Saddam Hussein and Ayatollah Khomeini, and characterised by mass casualties, the repression of the civilian populations and chemical warfare. Fought with lucrative oil money, it left the belligerents with crippling debts.In this important reappraisal, Rob Johnson explores the major issues surrounding the war, offers a fresh analysis of the military aspects and assesses the far-reaching consequences for the wider world. It is essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand the ensuing conflicts in the reqion, including the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

The Iran-Iraq War was personified by the determination and ambition of the key leaders, Saddam Hussein and Ayatollah Khomeini, and characterised by mass casualties, the repression of the civilian populations and chemical warfare. Fought with lucrative oil money, it left the belligerents with crippling debts.In this important reappraisal, Rob Johnson explores the major issues surrounding the war, offers a fresh analysis of the military aspects and assesses the far-reaching consequences for the wider world. It is essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand the ensuing conflicts in the reqion, including the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

This volume provides an overview of the origins, nature and aftermath of the war that was fought in the Korean peninsula between 1950 and 1953. Attention is focused particularly on the first year of the war, which witnessed profound variations in the fortunes of both sides. This includes the initial North Korean attack, China's dramatic entry into the war, and the controversy surrounding the conduct and dismissal of General MacArthur. Lowe also discusses why the signing of an armistice in July 1953 failed to secure a full peace settlement. He brings his discussion right up to date with the developments in Korea since the death of Kim Il Sung in 1994.

This book explains the First World War in a manner the lay person can understand, and the expert will still find intriguing. It covers a broad canvas, but does so with great economy. The origins of the war, both diplomatic and social, are discussed in a particularly illuminating fashion. The reader is then taken through the major battles on the Eastern and Western Fronts, and is in the process given insight into the eventual Allied victory. The war at sea, on the home front and in distant theatres is also carefully examined. There is, in addition, a worm's eye view of the conflict - the war as it was experienced by the men in the trenches.The book provides a wonderfully clear and sustaining introduction to a conflict usually mired in confusion. The strong narrative drive and lively style make it an easy and enjoyable read. Students will find the book a very good starting point for a study of the war, and lay readers will simply enjoy the clarity and drama it brings to a war which continues to intrigue and torment.

The Falklands War of 1982 was a small war, but one with large resonances. The Argentine invasion of the one of the few remaining British colonies on 2 April might have been prevented by a more coherent British foreign policy, better intelligence analysis, and military precautions; and once the crisis began, it could have possibly ended by negotiation. Instead it involved both countries in a short, but intense, conflict which cost the lives of 255 British, and 625 Argentine, personnel.The Falklands War- Examines the interaction between military force and diplomacy, shedding light on their often hidden relationship- Explores the deeply personal response of the British and Argentine public to the conflict- Assesses the relationship between the Government and the media, and considers the interpretation of the war in Britain- Analyses the effect of the conflict on the concept of 'Thatcher's Britain'The Falklands War exemplified what one historian has called the 'myriad faces of war'. It was the last war which Britain fought outside a coalition or an international organisation, and, far from being marginal to Britain's key role as part of the defence system against the Soviet threat, it held a mirror up to the face of the British people in the late twentieth century.Authoritative and clear, this is the ideal introduction for anyone with an interest in one of Britain's most significant military engagements, its impact and consequences.

The Spanish Civil War was more than a fratricidal struggle. Nobody could have predicted in July 1936 that a failed military coup could give way to three years of vicious conflict, transcending national barriers and arousing passions and divisions throughout Europe. In one form or another, all the great powers were involved in the affair. Yet it was the appeal to common people which surrounded the war in Spain with special nostalgia and romanticism. Seen by many as the first opportunity to defend democracy and prevent the growth of Fascism, the Spanish Civil War became the 'last great cause' - an almost epic struggle in which thousands of men and women went to fight as volunteers in, what was for many, a distant and unknown country.The Spanish Civil War- Provides a comprehensive and thorough analysis of this fascinating and complex subject- Examines the social and political polarisation of both the Bourbon Monarchy (1874-1931) and the Second Republic (1931-1936)- Offers an original and gripping account of the political, social and military impact of the conflict on the two warring Spains- Explores the crucial international dimension of the war- Considers the legacy which was ensured by the establishment of a dictatorship whose primary objective was the persecution and punishment of the vanquishedClear and concise, this is the essential guide to one of the most terrible wars of the twentieth century.

The Spanish Civil War was more than a fratricidal struggle. Nobody could have predicted in July 1936 that a failed military coup could give way to three years of vicious conflict, transcending national barriers and arousing passions and divisions throughout Europe. In one form or another, all the great powers were involved in the affair. Yet it was the appeal to common people which surrounded the war in Spain with special nostalgia and romanticism. Seen by many as the first opportunity to defend democracy and prevent the growth of Fascism, the Spanish Civil War became the 'last great cause' - an almost epic struggle in which thousands of men and women went to fight as volunteers in, what was for many, a distant and unknown country.The Spanish Civil War- Provides a comprehensive and thorough analysis of this fascinating and complex subject- Examines the social and political polarisation of both the Bourbon Monarchy (1874-1931) and the Second Republic (1931-1936)- Offers an original and gripping account of the political, social and military impact of the conflict on the two warring Spains- Explores the crucial international dimension of the war- Considers the legacy which was ensured by the establishment of a dictatorship whose primary objective was the persecution and punishment of the vanquishedClear and concise, this is the essential guide to one of the most terrible wars of the twentieth century.

The Vietnam War endured for thirty years, cost billions of dollars, and resulted in thousands of Vietnamese, French, and American deaths. Massive American military intervention in Vietnam embroiled America in protests, placed enormous strains on the western alliance, and altered U.S. relations with the Soviet Union and China. David L. Anderson's concise overview critiques U.S. errors in magnifying the strategic importance of South-east Asia in the Cold War and in underestimating the strength of the Vietnamese communist movement.

The Vietnam War endured for thirty years, cost billions of dollars, and resulted in thousands of Vietnamese, French, and American deaths. Massive American military intervention in Vietnam embroiled America in protests, placed enormous strains on the western alliance, and altered U.S. relations with the Soviet Union and China. David L. Anderson's concise overview critiques U.S. errors in magnifying the strategic importance of South-east Asia in the Cold War and in underestimating the strength of the Vietnamese communist movement.