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Author : John Sadler
Publisher : Amberley Publishing Limited
Page : 304 pages
File Size : 49,7 Mb
Release : 2012-12-15
Category : History
ISBN : 9781445615851
The story of the last surviving 'Desert Rats' in their own words and their experience of war in North Africa.
Author : Patrick Delaforce
Publisher : Sutton Publishing
Page : 232 pages
File Size : 55,8 Mb
Release : 2002
Category : History
ISBN : UOM:39015055823440
The 7th Armoured Division was widely recognized as being the most powerful in Europe during World War II. Its emblem of a scarlet desert rat became famous throughout the British Army and to the war-torn British public as a symbol of heroism in their time of need. This volume sees the Desert Rats fighting in North Africa, Burma, Sicily and Italy. Their bravery is relived through the words of the combatant soldiers - the author has interviewed troopers, gunners and infantrymen to tell this story of Churchill's favourite division.
Author : H. P. Samwell,Martin Mace
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 53,8 Mb
Release : 2012
Category : History
ISBN : 1848847661
This is a descriptive account of what it was like to serve as an Infantry Officer with the Desert Army in the Western Desert and Sicily between 1942 and 1943. The author is Major H.P. Samwell, MC, who was unfortunately killed on 13 January 1945, whilst serving with the 7th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 51st Highland Division. The chapters include: FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF EGYPT AND ITS WARTIME POPULATION * JOINING THE EIGHTH ARMY THE BATTLE OF EL ALAMEIN * THE ATTACK IS RENEWED * IN A SOUTH AFRICAN HOSPITAL (The author was very badly wounded during the fighting, an event he graphically describes - along with lying in a trench, with an injured German soldier, awaiting rescue) AT THE INFANTRY TRAINING DEPOT AND UP THE LINE * FROM SIRTE TO TRIPOLI * EARLY DAYS IN FRONT OF THE MARETH LINE * ROMMEL ATTACKS * PATROLS AND KEEPS * HOSPITAL IN TRIPOLI UP THE LINE AGAIN * RESTING IN SFAX * ENFIDAVILLE AND THE END OF THE CAMPAIGN * TRAINING FOR SEA INVASION (Sicily) * FOLLOWING THE SICILY CAMPAIGN FROM AN AFRICAN BASE LANDING IN SICILY AND MOVE TO MESSINA * PROBLEMS OF OCCUPATION
Author : John Parker
Publisher : Headline
Page : 265 pages
File Size : 40,6 Mb
Release : 2013-02-28
Category : History
ISBN : 9781472202628
In the recent war in Iraq, the 7th Armoured Brigade, bearers of the Desert Rats insignia, was immediately engaged in some of the fiercest early fighting, ultimately taking Basra for the Allies. The war in Iraq revived public focus on the Desert Rats whose famous battles of World War II helped turn the tide of German dominance. After World War II the Desert Rats re-emerged as part of the NATO forces during the Cold War years, and in other major deployments in the 1991 Gulf War, Bosnia and Kosovo. In this latest of his military histories, John Parker once again draws heavily on the drama of first-hand accounts for a story that is a seminal part of modern military history.
Author : Maj.-Gen. G. L. Verney
Publisher : Pickle Partners Publishing
Page : 278 pages
File Size : 47,6 Mb
Release : 2017-07-11
Category : History
ISBN : 9781787206885
The exploits of the Desert Rats, based on official records and personal accounts traces the division’s progress in North Africa, Italy, Normandy and Germany This classic and inspiring account follows the progress of the 7th Armoured Division from the sands of North Africa to the cold of wintery Holland and the mud of a German springtime, providing a unique insight into the workings of a formidable unit. The division’s reputation was born in the desert. It first went into action against the Italians in 1940 and then, subsequently, fought Rommel’s Afrika Korps in Montgomery’s successful Western Desert campaign. It was during this period of intense fighting that the division won its affectionate nickname of ‘Desert Rats’. From there the division was transported to Italy and, later, Normandy and from then on was almost constantly in battle until the end of the war. Based on official records, and written by one of the division’s key officers, The Desert Rats stands testament to the unique morale of the unit and is an enduring story of the difficulties they had to overcome.
Author : Robin Neillands
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 284 pages
File Size : 43,6 Mb
Release : 2005-01
Category : World War, 1939-1945
ISBN : 1845131150
Of all the units that marched with the Desert Army, none was more famous than the 7th Aroured Division, the most renowned British fighting force of World War II: 'The Desert Rats'. This Division fought in all the great battles of the Desert War - at Sidi Rezegh against the full might of Rommel's Afrika Korps; at Alamein, Tripoll and Tunis. And when the Axis was pushed out of Africa they moved on to Italy, France, Belgium and finally, triumphantly, to Berlin itself, the heart of the Nazi empire. This book tells the story of the Desert Rats largely in the words of the soldiers themselves. From commanding general to tank gunner, artillery man and most junior squaddie, these men bring history to life in all its horror and glory.
Author : Tim Moreman
Publisher : Osprey Publishing
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 48,9 Mb
Release : 2011-11-22
Category : History
ISBN : 1849085013
Osprey's examination of the 'Desert Rats', a popular nickname used to describe first 7th Armoured Division and then all the mixed body of British Commonwealth troops - British, Australian, New Zealand and Indian - that fought against Axis forces in North Africa between 1940 and 1943. For a long period during the early years of World War II (1939-1945), this was the only theatre of war where the United Kingdom could strike back against the Axis powers, and the seesaw desert war fought out along the coast of the Mediterranean in Egypt, Libya and then Tunisia proved a harsh testing ground for British arms - in terms of organization, equipment and methods of waging war. The distinctive dress, equipment and weapons developed and carried by the Desert Rats into battle will be examined as will the expansion, organization and training of the desert army. To illustrate the distinctive combat experience gained by the Desert Rats between 1940 and 1943, three representative operations will be examined in detail - Operation Compass in 1940, the battle of Gazala in May 1942 and finally the last phase of the decisive fighting at El Alamein in October-November 1942. Accompanied by full-color illustrations, this title will shed new light on these fascinating troops.
Author : George Forty
Publisher : Air Sea Media
Page : 224 pages
File Size : 43,7 Mb
Release : 2014-06-19
Category : History
ISBN : 9780957691551
70 years ago, on 7 June 1944, the British 7th Armored Division landed in Normandy, halfway through a wartime journey that had started in north Africa. Formed on 16 February 1940, it adopted the Jerboa as its divisional signÑand while many units that fought in the desert call themselves by the name, 7th Armoured Division are the original ÔDesert RatsÕ. The division helped destroy the Italian Tenth Army at Beda Fomm on 7 February 1941, defeat the Desert?FoxÑRommelÑat El Alamein in October 1942, and drive Axis forces out of North?Africa. After the desert, 7th Armored Division landed at Salerno on 15 September 1943, in time to help repulse concerted German counterattacks, beforeÑas part of U.S. Fifth ArmyÕs British X CorpsÑit took Naples and crossed the Volturno. Pulled out of Italy, it reached England in January 1944 where it prepared to enter the Northwestern European theater at Gold Beach from 7 June, equipped with the new Cromwell and the Sherman Firefly. The division had difficulties in Normandy, particularly at Villers-Bocage, and suffered the ignominy of having its GOCÑGeorge ErskineÑand a number of officers sacked and moved to other positions. Erskine was replaced by Gerald Lloyd Verney on 4 August 1944. He helped reinstill confidence and discipline to the division which took part in the Allied liberation of France and Belgium, entering Ghent in September. Verney was, in turn, replaced by Lewis Lyne in November 1944 and Lyne led the division on their final advance through Holland and into Germany. The Desert Rats ended the war with the liberation of Hamburg on 3 May 1945 after one of the most remarkable military journeys in history and was chosen to take part in the Allied victory parade held in Berlin on 21 July 1945. Winston Churchill recognized the achievements of the division when he spoke at the opening of a soldiersÕ club in Berlin: ÔDear Desert Rats! May your glory ever shine! May your laurels never fade! May the memory of this glorious pilgrimage of war which you have made from Alamein, via the Baltic to Berlin never die!Õ Desert Rats at War is an evocation of what it was like to serve with the division, in the African desert and Europe, from the first encounters by the Mobile Force in 1940 to Berlin in 1945. Full of eyewitness accounts and private photos, Desert Rats at War has been completely revised and updated, with additional text, maps and photographs.
Author : Patrick Delaforce
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 240 pages
File Size : 54,6 Mb
Release : 2009
Category : History
ISBN : IND:30000126987530
The 7th Armoured Division - the Desert Rats - was the most famous British fighting formation of World War Two, and the Division remains a household name to this day. This book covers the Desert Rats' early name-making campaigns, particularly their deployment in the vitally important North African theatre.
Author : Patrick Delaforce
Publisher : Pen and Sword
Page : 321 pages
File Size : 51,7 Mb
Release : 2010-05-19
Category : History
ISBN : 9781783035434
When Montgomery took command prior to D-Day he gathered around him commanders and formations he knew and trusted. Not surprisingly 7th Armoured Division was one of these and they were deployed from Italy to England. In this fine account the author who fought alongside the Desert Rats describes the Divisions battles from the beaches, the breakout battles (Goodwood and Bluecoat), the liberation of Northern France and Belgium. After taking Ghent there were the long months fighting in the Peel country of the Netherlands before Operation BLACKCOCK, the Rhine Crossing and the final advance into Germany, the capture of Hamburg and the Allies triumphant entry into Berlin. No reader of this magnificent history, with its many personal accounts, will question why the Desert Rats wore and still wear their Jerboa insignia with such pride.
Author : Calum Laird
Publisher : Carlton Books
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 45,5 Mb
Release : 2012-04
Category : Graphic novels
ISBN : 1847329683
These pocket-format compilations each contain three classic Commando war stories printed the same size as the original comics. Desert Rats features "Fighting Fool!," "Oasis of Death," and "Chariot of War." Tales of courage in the North African desert make this action-packed but handily formatted collection of stories a thrill for Commando fans of all ages.
Author : Charles River Charles River Editors
Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Page : 48 pages
File Size : 40,9 Mb
Release : 2018-03-29
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 198694011X
*Includes pictures *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading The fighting in North Africa during World War II is commonly overlooked, aside from the famous battle at El Alamein that pitted the British under General Bernard Montgomery against the legendary "Desert Fox," Erwin Rommel. But while the Second Battle of El Alamein would be the pivotal action in North Africa, the conflict in North Africa began all the way back in the summer of 1940 when Italian dictator Benito Mussolini declared Italy's entrance into the war. From his perspective, the fact that the British and French had their hands full with the Germans created an opportunity for Italy to enlarge its colonial holdings in Africa by seizing portions of the British Empire. However, British troops in the colony of Egypt responded to Italy's declaration of war by driving through the Egyptian-Ethiopian border and attacking Italian troops stationed in the Italian colony of Ethiopia. By September 13, 1940, Italian commanders in Ethiopia were finally ready to put Mussolini's plan into action and attack British colonial holdings, but British troops had already attacked a series of Italian frontier posts and had inflicted 3,500 casualties among Italy's North African troops. Despite Italy's advantages, in December 1940, Operation Compass was launched under the overall command of British General Archibald Percival Wavell. In a mobile campaign, the Italian 10th Army was swiftly routed and pitched into retreat. A headlong pursuit followed, spearheaded by the 7th Armoured Division, who would become known as the legendary Desert Rats, and supported by a variety of British and Commonwealth troops. It was during this advance that the important port of Tobruk was taken, mainly by Australians troops, and held for 241 days, despite the ebb and flow of Allied military fortunes. Dealing with the Italians was one thing, but the British faced an entirely different monster in North Africa when Erwin Rommel, a German general who had gained much fame for his role in the invasions of Poland and France, was sent to North Africa in February 1941 along with the Afrika Korps. Rommel's directives from the German headquarters were to maneuver in a way that would allow him to hide the fact that his ultimate goal was the capture of Cairo and the Suez Canal. The ultimate plan was that Rommel would not reveal the Germans' true intentions in North Africa until after the Germans had made headway in their invasion of the Soviet Union. With the Axis forces trying to push through Egypt towards the Suez Canal and the British Mandate of Palestine, American forces landed to their west in North Africa, which ultimately compelled Rommel to try to break through before the Allies could build up and overwhelm them with superior numbers. Given that the combined Allied forces under Montgomery already had an advantage in manpower, Montgomery also wanted to be aggressive, and the fighting would start in late October 1942 with an Allied attack. The Second Battle of El Alamein was a turning point in the campaign. While the scale of the battle paled in comparison to the battles of the Eastern Front, where the majority of German troops were concentrated, it still marked an important victory in World War II, especially from the British perspective. The fighting at the end of 1942 inevitably compelled all Axis forces to quit the theater, the first time since the beginning of the war that Africa was safe for the Allies. The Desert Rats: The History and Legacy of the British Army's 7th Armoured Division during World War II chronicles the legendary unit's war record, and how the Desert Rats earned their name in North Africa. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the Desert Rats like never before.
Author : G. L. Verney
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 312 pages
File Size : 49,6 Mb
Release : 2005-03-01
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 0756788706
This classic and inspiring account follows the progress of the 7th Armoured Div. from the sands of N. Africa to the cold of wintery Holland and the mud of a German springtime, providing a unique insight into the workings of a formidable unit in WW2. The division1s reputation was born in the desert. It first went into action against the Italians in 1940 and then, subsequently, fought Rommel1s Afrika Korps in Montgomery1s successful Western Desert campaign. During this period of intense fighting the division won its nickname of Desert Rats1. From there the division was transported to Italy &, later, Normandy and from then on was almost constantly in battle until the end of the war. Written by one of the divisions key officers. Maps and photos.
Author : Tim Moreman
Publisher : Osprey Publishing
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 50,8 Mb
Release : 2007-07-24
Category : History
ISBN : 1846031443
Tim Moreman examines the creation and deployment of British 8th Army, probably the most famous military formation raised by the British during World War II. Formed in September 1941 from the Western Desert Force, it went on to wage a lengthy, hard-fought campaign against German and Italian troops across the deserts of North Africa. It was composed of British and Commonwealth troops - as well as smaller numbers of French and Polish troops. Additionally, a variety of specialized elite forces came under its umbrella including the Special Air Service, Popski's Private Army and the Long Range Desert Group. This book will provide a fascinating insight into these unconventional troops who became the inspiration for today's Special Forces. It was also the first Allied army to rely on close air support; a revolutionary, war-winning tactic that would shaped combined forces strategy throughout the rest of the war. The Desert War was unlike any other fought by the British Army. The hot, dusty, and unforgiving climate and environment in which its troops lived, moved, and fought was almost as troublesome as the enemy. During its two-year period of service in North Africa, 8th Army underwent major changes in organization, equipment, and training to adapt it to the terrain. Discover the difficulties of desert warfare and how these were overcome by the 8th Army to defeat Rommel and become masters of the desert.
Author : Andrew Burn
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 292 pages
File Size : 44,8 Mb
Release : 2003-10-01
Category : World War, 1939-1945
ISBN : 0954599217