Playlist - World War Two

“Killing Rommel” (2008) by Steven Pressfield

“Killing Rommel” (2008) by Steven Pressfield

It must first be pointed out that this is not a factual book; it is a novel and, as such, is an unusual selection to be on Military Matters, which generally deals with factual sources. The reason for its inclusion is that Pressfield manages to convey something in this book that most writers never seem to get right – the sheer confusion, boredom and terror of war.

MAC and CAM; When Merchantmen Became Aircraft Carriers

MAC and CAM; When Merchantmen Became Aircraft Carriers

Few situations were more desperate than that of the British in the early years of World War Two when they faced being starved into submission by German blockade. Desperate times, as the saying goes, call for desperate measures. And few measures show how desperate the British were to combat the threat of submarine and air attack on their convoys than the first stopgap counters to the threat; the CAM and MAC vessels of the British and Dutch merchant marine – in essence civilian aircraft carriers!

No “Goddamn Politician Made Wars” – The Life of Charles Michael Sweeny, Mercenary of Conscience

No “Goddamn Politician Made Wars” – The Life of Charles Michael Sweeny, Mercenary of Conscience

Charles Michael Sweeny (1882-1963) is describable as the soldier-of-fortune but it would probably be fairer to call him a soldier-of-conscience. Sweeny played a role in many of the major conflicts that occurred in the first half of the twentieth century where his natural aptitude for soldiering saw him rise from the ranks of rebel and private soldier to various command positions in armies around the world.

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