SPEARHEAD 14: 7TH ARMOURED DIVISION: The ‘Desert Rats’

Spearhead looks at the cutting edge of war, units capable of operating completely independently in the forefront of battle. The series examines the unit’s: origins and history : organisation :order of battle and how this changed : battle history : theatre by theatre : insignia and markings : top people - biographies of commanders and personalities: Each book ends with an assessment of unit effectiveness - as seen by itself, its opponents and the wider viewpoint of history - and a full reference section including: critical biography : relevant museums or exhibits : website links : re-enactment groups : memorials.

Distinguished by their red jerboa shoulder flash, the Desert Rats proved masters of desert fighting. As part of O’Connor’s Western Desert Force, they helped destroy the Italian forces at Beda Fomm on 5-7 February 1941; then they fought toe-to-toe with Rommel’s Deutsches Afrika Korps in a see-saw campaign that ended in victory in May 1943.Next they were involved in the major amphibious landing at Salerno, fighting on in Italy until withdrawn to spearhead British forces in Normandy.The division leant new skills in the bocage countryside and from then on was hardly ever out of action, advancing through France and Belgium and on to Germany, where it took the surrender of Hamburg. These tough troops were then honoured by being chosen to go to Berlin to take part in the great Victory Parade of 1945.

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Details


Product Code:	10011
Author:	George Forty
ISBN:	0 7110 2988 1
Format:	96pp, b/w and colour photographs, maps, sb. Published Price £12.99
Shipping Time:	This item is usually dispatched Next Day
Retail Price:	~~£12.99~~
Our Price:	£4.95 save 62%