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ALL WORLD WARS: COMPLETE LIST OF PUBLICATIONS BY SUBJECTS

Mediterranean Allied Air Forces. Air Surrender Documents

Doctrines & Theories

Principles of Strategy by Colonel William K. Naylor

"On the reopening of The General Service Schools in September, 1919, and my return to my former position as Instructor in Strategy and Military History, I found that a desire had developed among American officers for American text-books. To meet this expressed desire and to write a text-book that could be available during the course, I merely had an opportunity to assemble the notes I had used in the past, supplementing them with such reference to The World War as the time would permit. Many of the illustrations used have been taken from our own Civil War." >>More

"Dropshot" - American Plan for War with the Soviet Union in 1957

After Nazi's defeat in 1945, Soviet Union emerged as a new superpower with its own aggressive agenda to promote Communism and eventually, dominate in the world. American Joint Chiefs of Stuff had to contemplate probable Soviet's actions and by 1949 came up with a plan of effective military response. "Dropshot" is a result of these contingency planning, a frightening but realistic scenario of the Third World War, started between NATO and USSR in Europe and all over the world on January 1, 1957. >>More

German Doctrine of the Stabilized Front

"German policy has consistently emphasized the development of highly mobile armies, and Germany's military successes have been gained in wars of maneuver. During the past 25 years the German High Command has become thoroughly convinced of the soundness of the Schlieffen theories of movement, envelopment, and annihilation, especially since Germany's central location- in Europe gives her the advantage of interior lines of communication—a decided strategic advantage in a war of maneuver. Indoctrined and trained in the Schlieffen theories, German armies were successful in the Franco-Prussian War, in World War I (until they became involved in trench warfare of attrition), and in the Polish, Norwegian, and western European campaigns of World War II. However, Germany's central position ceases to be an advantage "whenever her enemies can so combine that they engage her in a two-front war. Her transportation, manpower, and other resources are not sufficient to insure a decisive victory on two sides at once. In order to escape this prospect, the German High Command reached the conclusion that at least one side Germany could and must- secure herself with a great fortified system. A doctrine of permanent fortifications, exhaustive in scope, was formulated under the title "The Stabilized Front" (Die Standige Front). The classic concept of fortifications—isolated fortress cities and a line of fortified works—was abandoned as obsolete. The German High Command developed new principles in the light of modern warfare, weapons, and air power which called for the construction of permanent fortifications in systems of zones, organized in great depth. By "stabilized front" they meant not only the fixed positions which the field armies might be compelled to establish during a campaign, but also the 'deep zones of fortified works which would be constructed in peacetime." >>More

CIA Psychological Operations in Guerrilla Warfare

"Guerrilla warfare is essentially a political war. Therefore, its area of operations exceeds the territorial limits of conventional warfare, to penetrate the political entity itself: the "political animal" that Aristotle defined. In effect, the human being should be considered the priority objective in a political war. And conceived as the military target of guerrilla war, the human being has his most critical point in his mind. Once his mind has been reached, the "political animal" has been defeated, without necessarily receiving bullets. Guerrilla warfare is born and grows in the political environment; in the constant combat to dominate that area of political mentality that is inherent to all human beings and which collectively constitutes the "environment" in which guerrilla warfare moves, and which is where precisely its victory or failure is defined. This conception of guerrilla warfare as political war turns Psychological Operations into the decisive factor of the results. The target, then, is the minds of the population, all the population: our troops, the enemy troops and the civilian population. This book is a manual for the training of guerrillas in psychological operations, and its application to the concrete case of the Christian and democratic crusade being waged in Nicaragua by the Freedom Commandos." >>More

Military Biography

Hannibal by Theodore Ayrault Dodge

"IN the study of the campaigns of Alexander, original research has been limited to a few travelers and geographers, or to military men conducting explorations under the auspices of some government and provided with facilities denied to most of us. In the case of Hannibal it is different. Spain and Italy are accessible, as Persia and Afghanistan are not, and the topography of the theatre of the Second Punic War can be readily examined and ascertained. No historian of Hannibal appears, however, to have studied his campaigns on the ground. Almost all accounts of his extraordinary marches, manoeuvres and battles borrow their topography, if they give any, from some predecessor equally limited in his facilities, or from very insufficient maps. Many errors have thus been propagated. The author has been fortunate enough repeatedly to visit the scenes of the Punic captain's achievements. With Polybius and Livy in the hand, he has followed Hannibal from Cartagena across the Pyrenees, the Rhone and the Alps, crossing every pass in the latter range by which the Carthaginian army could possibly have made its way; he has visited every section of Italy and has compared the facts given by the ancient writers with the existing topography; he has been able to consult the best authorities as to the geological changes which the centuries may have wrought: and what he has herein described is from diligent study of the authorities on the ground. This course has enabled him to correct some errors which naturally enough have crept into history, and to harmonize some of the statements of the old authors which have been deemed irreconcilable." >>More

Military Research

A Survey of German Tactics 1918

"A survey of German tactics during 1918 is facilitated by the dramatic change that came over the situation on the 18th of July. Up to that date we are concerned with offensive tactics; after that date only with defensive. The subject thus naturally divides in two. At the head of the German Army as the spring campaign opened was Field Marshal von Hindenburg, an exponent of offensive tactics, who had up till then, and quite recently in the attack on Riga, met with remarkable successes. In the early phases of the war, and on the Eastern front, Hindenburg had more or less practiced von Schlieffen's Cannae theory,—the refusal of the centre and double envelopment of the wings. With the immense frontal developments of the later stages of the war, this tactical scheme became less and less workable and the tendency became rather to search out and exploit a weak point in the opponent's line." >>More

The German Campaign in the Balkans, 1941, by Mueller-Hillebrand

"The tentative study, "The German Campaigns in the Balkans (Spring 1941)," is an account of a Nazi blitz in which political machinations and military policy were synchronised and utilized to insure rapidity in decision, in planning, in concentration, end in operations. The campaigns culminated in the largest mass airborne attack that had ever been launched up to that time. The success of this action captivated the minds of Allied military men and probably helped create the very considerable airborne force organized by Great Britain and the United States. Little did they know at the time of the serious loss sustained by the Germans who never again employed any considerable number of airborne troops in an air landing. It is believed that this study, although tentative, will prove of interest and of value to all serious military students." >>More

Airborne Invasion of Crete, May 1941

"The drama of Crete marks an epic in warfare. The concept of the operation was highly imaginative, daringly new. Combat elements drawn from Central Eerope moved with precision into funnel shaped Greece. Here they re-formed, took shape as a balanced force, were given wings. The operation had the movement, rhythm, harmony of a master1s organ composition. On 20 May and succeeding days this force soared through space; its elements broke over CRETE in thundering crescendos - all stops out. For the first time in history airborne troops, supplied and supported, by air, landed in the face of an enemy, defeated him. For the first time an air force defeated a first-rate Navy, inflicted such staggering losses that the fleet was ordered back to Alexandria three days after the battle started." >>More

German Exploitation of Arab Nationalist Movements in World War II

"German exploitation of the Arab nationalist movements in World War II extended from the field of strategic planning at the highest levels of command to the military measures actually taken. General der Flieger Helmut Felmy has presented an account of the military measures taken by Germany. Under the terms of Hitler's Directive No. 30 of 23 May 1941, and the "Service Regulations for Special Staff F" of 21 June 1941, General Felmy was appointed as the central authority for all Arab affairs concerning the Wehrmacht. Of all contemporary authorities on the subject still available, he therefore has the most thorough knowledge of the military steps actually taken on the German side." >>More

Flank Defense in Far Reaching Operations by Heinz Guderian, 1948

"This study will chiefly be concerned with the operations of the Second Panzer Army which were commanded by the author. The theme will also be illustrated with examples from other Panzer Armies." >>More

German Minefields at Alamein (October - November, 1942)

"The accompanying report from British sources on enemy minefields at Alamein is published for the information of all concerned. This is the most complete and succinct report published to date." >>More

Terrain Factors in the Russian Campaign

"This pamphlet was compiled from a series of reports written especially for the Historical Division, EUCOM, by several former German generals. All of these officers had extensive combat experience during World War II, especially on the eastern front. The principal author, for example, was successively chief of staff of a corps in France and Holland (1939-40), commander of an infantry division in northern and central Russia (1941-43), instructor at a school for division commanders in Berlin (1943), commander of a corps in southern Russia (1943-44), and acting commander of an army in southern Russia (1944)." >>More

Effects of Climate on Combat in European Russia

"This study was prepared by a committee of former German generals and general staff officers under the supervision of the Historical Division, EUCOM. The material, based on the personal experiences of the principal author and his associates, was written largely from memory, with some assistance from diaries, earlier studies, and documents. All the German officers involved had extensive experience on the Eastern Front during the period 1941-45. The principal author, for example [Raus], commanded in succession a panzer division, a panzer army, and an army group. " >>More

Small Unit Actions During the German Campaign in Russia

The purpose of this text is to provide small unit commanders with instructional material, at their own level, concerning the Russian front during World War II. A careful study of the examples in the text will provide many lessons in tactics, logistics, and techniques, in the coordination of weapons, in the influence of terrain, climatic and weather conditions upon operations, and in the qualities of the officers and men who fought on the Russian front. It is only by utilizing German experience that the best insight into the fighting on that front can be secured. >>More

Japanese in Battle. First & Second Editions. 1943, 1944

"This pamphlet is largely the work of soldiers and airmen fighting in Burma and the South West Pacific who, in notes, sketches and photographs, have recorded their observations of the Japanese in Battle." [Foreword to the First edition]. "The object of this pamphlet is to indicate briefly the chief characteristics of Japanese behaviour in the field as they differ from our own and that of western generally. Principles and methods which the Japanese share with most other armies are touched on lightly or passed over. Japanese strategy, though it too is strong peculiarities, is not dealt with in this pamphlet, which restricts itself to tactics, major and minor. The description of Japanese tactics is based on observation of Japanese practice in the field rather than on the rules laid down in Japanese ulitary handbooks, to which their practice often bears little relation.[Introduction to the second edition]. >>More

The Defeat of the German Air Force

On 6 June 1944, General Eisenhower was able to say, "If you see fighter aircraft over you, they will be ours." This remark signalized the achievement of the first objective of the Allied Air Forces In Europe: the reduction of the GAF as an effective deterrent to land or air invasion. This attainment of superiority over the GAF, given priority in the Casablanca Directive of January 1943, was the result of concentrated air action during the nine months prior to D-Day by the Allied Air Forces In the European Theater. It was brought about primarily through: a) Attrition of the enemy fighter force in the air and on the ground, and the consequent deterioration of the quality of enemy fighter pilots; b) Attacks on enemy aircraft production which caused vital delay in the expansion of the GAF fighter force. The air superiority gained before D-Day was maintained throughout 1944 and 1945 by the combined efforts of the RAF and USAAF through attrition and c) Destruction of the sources of enemy aircraft fuel production; d) Disruption of the GAF system for supply and repair caused by attacks on the German transportation. >>More

V-Weapons (Crossbow) Campaign

The code word "Crossbow" was used throughout the period of planning and operations as a convenient term for any matters relating to the attack on England by long range weapons, including all counter-measures against such attacks. It is used in the same sense in this paper, although after D-day the term included attacks against continental targets as well. This report does not attempt to be a complete account of the development and exploitation of "secret weapons" by Germany, nor a detailed and final appraisal of the success or failure of the counter-measures employed against them. This report attempts rather to consider the "Crossbow" campaign as an influence on the operational pattern of the Strategic Air Forces. Considerable background material has been included to place in better perspective a subject which has been clouded by secrecy and distorted by propaganda. >>More

German Field Fortifications on the Eastern Front

This album contains original drawings of German field fortifications on the Eastern Front, made in 1943-1944. Prepared for publication by Engineering Department of Soviet Army in 1945-1946, album remained in archives as a manuscript, until its recent discovery and publication on www.fortifications.ru, which kindly gave us permission for reproduction. (Special thanks to Oleg V. Tulnov.). "The album was developed with a purpose to familiarize staff of the Land forces with types and designs of field fortifications, which were used by German defense. This album is based on the Reports of Fronts Engineering Departments and various commissions, created under Chief of Military Engineering. The album contains 7 sections: I. Opened Fire Positions. II. Covered Fire Positions. III. Observation Posts. IV. Shelters. V. Preparing Local Environment for Defense. VI. Anti-tank and Anti-personnel Obstacles. VII. Camouflage." >>More

German Radio Intelligence by Lieutenant-General Albert Praun

"Because of the difficulties encountered in this highly specialized field the topic required treatment by an expert of recognized standing. Since such an expert was not available among the men in the German Control Group working under the supervision of the Historical Division, SUCOM, the writing of the over-all report was assigned to General Praun. By virtue of the knowledge acquired by him in his military career, and especially during the tenure of his final position, General Praun has a thorough grasp of German radio intelligence. Moreover, as a result of his acquaintance with German signal service personnel, he was able to obtain the co-operation of the foremost experts in this field." >>More

Photo Interpreter's Guide to Japanese Military Installations, 1945

"Specialized knowledge and guides are usually necessary to make identifications of enemy weapons, field equipment, and installations on air reconnaissance photographs. This publication, arranged as a guide for ground force interpreters, is intended primarily for men with the specialized knowledge requisite to derive maximum information from aerial photographs. Photographic examples are given of typical Japanese installations and materiel." >>More

Armies & Forces

French Army from Revolution to the First Empire

Illustrations by Hippolyte Bellangé from the book P.-M. Laurent de L`Ardeche «Histoire de Napoleon», 1843 >>More

Russian Horse Guards Commemorative Manual 1730-1930

"The present volume is a Hand Book of the Horse Guards published by His Imperial Highness Grand Duke Dmitri of Russia, President: of Honour of the Association of Former Officers of the Horse Guards, Imperial Russian Guards, on the occasion of the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the foundation of this regiment, which took place in Paris on April 26th, 1931." >>More

USSR NAVY, by Division of Naval Intelligence, 1943

"This serial contains all pertinent information concerning the Navy of the U.S.S.R available in the Division of Naval Intelligence. It covers the organization of the Soviet Navy, naval policy, personnel, tactics and operations, naval ordnance, an estimate of the strength and disposition of the various fleets and descriptions of the units which comprise them, descriptions of all known naval bases and yards, of the naval air force and of coast defense." >>More

German Snipers Field Training, 1944

This video includes 2 training films: Snipers Field Training: Masters of Camouflage and Deception, Training film for the German Air Force High Command (38 min) and Snipers in action: the Unseen Weapon, Training film of the German Army High Command No 668, Spring 1944 (30 min). German narrator, with English subtitles. >>More

Armies of the World: Photo Collection

1. Military parade in China. 2. Night military exercises on Bobochinsky range, Russia). >>More

Military Memoires

Balaclava and the Sevastopol Inquiry

Dramatic report of W.Gordon, commanding officer of H.M.S. Sansapareil regarding condition of Balaclava harbour during the winter of 1854/55 in Crimea. >>More

From Libau to Tsushima by Eugene Politovsk

Sniping in France by Major H. Hesketh-Prichard

"It may fairly be claimed that when hostilities ceased on November 11th, 1918, we had outplayed Germany at all points of the game. Perhaps as a nation we failed in imagination. Possibly Germany was more quick to initiate new methods of warfare or to adapt her existing methods to meet prevailing conditions. Certainly we were slow to adopt, indeed, our souls abhorred, anything unsportsmanlike. Had it been left to us, "Gas" would have taken no part in the Great European War. But, however lacking in imagination, however slow to realize the importance of novel methods, once we were convinced of their necessity, once we decided to adopt them, we managed by a combination of brains and energy, pluck and endurance, not only to make up the lost ground, but to take the lead in the race. In proof of this statement I would instance Heavy Field Artillery, High Explosives, Gas, Work in the Air, etc., and many other points I could mention in which Germany started ahead of us, including Sniping Observation and Scouting. And for our eventual superiority we owe much to individuals, men who, like the author of this book Major Hesketh-Prichard, combined expert knowledge with untiring energy, men who would not be denied and could not recognize defeat." >>More

Ludendorff’s Own Story by Erich von Ludendorff

- As far as human judgment could foresee, everything pointed to the Western front as the scene of our chief defensive fighting in 1917, although a severe struggle was also going on in the East. Direct cooperation with the Austro-Hungarian High Command was not so necessary as it had been during the campaign against Rumania, after the command on the Eastern front had been reorganized in a less complicated form. The supreme importance of the Western theater of war now demanded the presence there of the Commander-in-chief. I suggested Spa or Kreuznach as the new headquarters. Spa was rejected; Kreuznach was particularly suitable, as many of the cables to the front passed near the town, and it had suitable hotel and other accommodation. Orders were accordingly given for General Headquarters to be established at Kreuznach, Munster am Stein, and Bingen, and the second fortnight of February was contemplated as the time when the transfer should take place. Meanwhile, the possibility of having to return to Pless had to be kept in view. The Austro-Hungarian High Command was transferred to Baden, near Vienna. The submarine-cruiser campaign opened on February 1, 1917, and as soon as it became evident that the troops that had been concentrated on the frontiers of Holland and Denmark to meet a possible attack from these quarters would not be required, these forces and their staffs, which had been held in reserve for this purpose, were liberated for use on the Western front. >>More

The War of Lost Opportunities by General Max von Hoffmann

A World War I memoir by the famous German officer, a brain behind the German war efforts on the Russian front during World War I. In August 1914 von Hoffmann served in East Prussia, and it were primarily his plans, prepared even before Gindenburg's arrival, which were used to win the epic battle of Tannenberg, the most decisive German victory in the First World War. He was also responsible for the successful winter Battle of the Masurian Lakes in Feb. 1915 and Gorlice breakthrough, which ended a century-long Russian dominance in Eastern Poland. In July 1916 von Hoffmann was instrumental in organizing Austrian response to the Russian Brusilov offensive 1916 and planned bold and imaginative Riga offensive in July 1917, the most humuliating and eventually fatal blow against Russian provisional government under Kerensky. Von Hoffmann highlighted his career on the Eastern front as Hindenburg & Ludendorff's representative at the Brest-Litovsk peace negotiations with Russia and then as de-facto military ruler of the conquered Russian provinces. He ends the book, first published in 1923 with his bitter comments on what Germany could have done to win the war and how the numerous opportunities were let to slip away, popular tune, which would constitute an important part of the Third Reich's Weltschauung. >>More

Field Marshal Paulus in Captivity: NKVD Files

"February, 3rd, 1943. To Deputy of the National Commissioner of Internal Affairs of the USSR, Commissioner of State Security Third Rank comrade Abakumov. According your order, I placed agents in the premises, occupied by captured German generals.With Paulus and Schmidt I placed an agent of counter-intelligence department, junior lieutenant of the state security comrade Tarabrin, who speaks German language well, and our representative Nesterov.Tarabrin's task was to write down all discussions of German POWs, not revealing his knowledge of German language, and present his notes in the diary form (below)." >>More

History of the Attempt on Hitler's Life 20 July 1944 by von Gersdorff

"One of the essential conditions for the success of the conspiracy of 20 July 1944 was the maintenance of absolute secrecy. Even those persons who played an active role in the dvelopment of the conspiracy were not informed of all its details. Naturally, too, very few written notes were made which an exhaustive, documented report could be prepared. For that reason, I will set down my own experiences in detail, while giving only general treatment to information derived from others." >>More

Wars, Campaigns, Battles

Italian Renaissance Sketchbook on Military Art

This unique Italian sketchbook includes more than 200 highly detailed sketches and provides valuable insights into design and construction principles of Renaissance fortresses; siege and storm tactics of the era; guns development and gunnery intricacies; handling of the heavy objects, guns and siege towers on the battlefield; working principles of hydraulics mechanisms; distance, angle and height measurements for siege works and target acquisition; etc. >>More

The Battle of Borodino, September 7, 1812. 12.30 pm.

The Battle of Borodino. September 7, 1812. Visual tour of Borodino panorama by Franz A. Roubaud. ...Situation at 12.30 p.m. Napoleon is making his second attempt to break Russian left flank, anchored at Semenovskoe village. >>More

Crimean War Photographs by Roger Fenton, 1855

Roger Fenton's Crimean War photo series is the first historic attempt to portray war campaign with the help of new magic photo media, then still in its infancy. Sent as a replacement for the Richard Nicklin, a civilian photographer, who was lost at sea, along with his assistants, photographs, and equipment, when their ship sank during the hurricane that stuck the harbor at Balaklava on November 14, 1854. Fenton spend 4 months 1855 in Crimea (early March-June 26), recording participants and landscapes for posterity. >>More

Battlefields of the Crimean Campaign 1854-1855

Photo collection of Colonel V. Klembovsky, published by Museum of Sevastopol Defense in 1904 to commemorate 50th anniversary of the siege. >>More

First World War Magazines

Covers and special reports from the magazines, published in France, Germany and Great Britain during the First World War 1914-1918: miltary leaders, famous soldiers from both sides, troops, weapons, battlefields, life in the trenches, propaganda pieces. >>More

The German Air Force In The Great War by Georg Paul Neumann

"THE original work, Die Deutschen Luftstreitkrafte im Weltkriege, is approximately three times the size of this English version. As Major Neumann points out in his Preface, his object has been to accumulate records concerning everything that appertains to the German Air Force, not only with regard to its history, but also with regard to its development in technical design and organisation. He has been assisted in this endeavour by twenty-nine contributors, each one of whom is a specialist in some branch of the aircraft industry or flying service, and it is well to mention that the result is a very comprehensive and accurate survey." >>More

World War I German Photographic Postcards 1914-1916

Loose collection of German photograsphic postcards covering events of 1914-1916 on all fronts: Battlefields; generals, soldiers and officers; life in the trenches; military hardware; POWs and deserters; German allies and enemies; destruction and misery of war Part I and Part II.

German Documentary Film "Fighting in Poland", 1940.

German Documentary Film "Fighting in Poland", 1940. 67 min. >>More

Katyn Files, 1940

"In 1943 the German authorities published a special report under the title: "The Official Statement Concerning the Mass Murder at Katyn. Collected, prepared and edited by the German Information Bureau on the basis of documentary evidence by order of the German Foreign Office."[Amthches Material zum Massenmord van Katyn." Berlin 1943.] This volume of 330 pages begins with a short introductory section entitled "General Outline", followed by the "Documentary Evidence", divided in five chapters." >>More

Victor Suvorov Presents "Chief Culprit" at Hudson Institute

Best-selling author and former Soviet Army itelligence operative Victor Suvorov analyzes Joseph Stalin's alleged strategic design to conquer Europe and his reasons for supporting Nazi Germany. Suvorov debunks mainstream theories that Stalin was duped by Hitler and that the Soviet Union was a victim of Nazi aggression. This interesting discussion was organized by Hudson Institute in Washington D.C. on February 2, 2009. Victor Suvorov was joined by Andrei Piontkovsky and David Sutter and responded to many questions from the audience. Discussion was moderated by Richard Weitz, Director of Hudson's Center for Political-Military Analysis. >>More

"Against All Odds" - Pictures of the Campaign in the East

Published by OKH in 1942, this extensive collection of the dramatic war photos covers the early stages of the German campaign in the east, from the frontier battles in June 1941 to the stalemate before Moscow in early December, 27 min. >>More

Panzer Artillery Regiment 78 in Russia: Photo Collection

"Russland 1941/42" is an extensive photo collection, made by German soldier from Panzer Artillery Regiment 78 (7th Panzer "Ghost" Division, formerly Erwin Rommel's) in Russia. These undated and unnamed photos were re-arranged in 7 categories: Pz. Artillerie-Regiment 78 and 7th Panzer in action, German signature "Totem poles", German graves and graveyards, Luftwaffe exploits as seen from the ground, "getting to know locals", Russian POWs and dead, destroyed and captured Russian airplanes, tanks and other hardware, war destruction and a number of unsorted miscellaneous collages. >>More

The History of Maxim Gorky-I Naval Battery

After disastrous war with Japan in 1904-1905 Russian Imperial government decided to upgrade coastal defenses of the Sevastopol Navy Base in Crimea with two huge armored naval gun batteries. Existing batteries of 11-inch naval guns were constructed in 1867-1877 and by 1905 they were completely outdated and outclassed by the guns of the modern battleships. Old coastal defense guns were standing in the open and all loading operations were conducted manually, slowing down the rate of fire to one shell in 2 minutes, against 2 shells per minute of contemporary English battleships. Another major drawback was the concentration of all batteries on the relatively narrow shore strip from Cape Tolsty to Quarantine Bay, where they protected entrance to the Sevastopol Bay. This position was considered as suitable to protect Sevastopol from European Navies of 1870-s, but in 1900s, in the era of new, much more powerful battleships, able to shell Sevastopol from offshore areas near Balaklava and Cape Violent up to 30 km distance above Mackenzie and Cape Chersonese mountain ranges, old coastal artillery defense system had to be upgraded and re-positioned. >>More

Operation Wunderland, August 1942

"Dezhnev out of the picture, Scheer concentrated her fire on Revolutionary (under command of captain Panfilov), barely visible through the smoke screen. In 5 minutes this Russian ship took 3 hits, which started fire on the deck and wooden bridge, damaged several compartments inside the ship, and, most importantly, destroyed steam line, powering anchor-winch, preventing ship from weighing the anchor, and making her another sitting duck, easy target for German gun practice. Luckily for the Russians, Scheer hadn’t been able yet to observe third ship, Kara, heavily laden with explosives and with few members of the crew on board, still invisible behind the protection of the rocky shore and Dezhnev’s smoke screen. Even one well-placed shell would be enough to produce huge explosion and completely obliterate port and defense forces. That hadn't happened so far, but obviously, Kara’s discovery was only a matter of minutes. Russians found themselves on the verge of complete annihilation. All their naval forces were out of action and it seems nothing stood between German landing party and command center of the Northern Sea Route." >>More

1943 OKH Training Film - "Close Range Tank Fighting"

This video includes: Men against tanks. Staged, but realistically looking training film. German infantry, supported by PAK and machine-guns fights numerous Soviet T-34 and KV with mines and granades. Stuff and supply troops must also be ready for close-range tank foghtings. Lone Russian tank stopped dead in its tracks by stuff and supply troops. New close-range anti-tank weapon of greater effectiveness are now available. Rifle tank grenade, combat pistol 42 LP, Puppchen, Ofenrohr-"stovepipe", and Panzrfaust in action. English subtitles. >>More

The Remagen Bridgehead March 1945

The purpose of this study is to collect all available facts pertinent to the Remagen Bridgehead Operation, to collate these data in cases of conflicting reports, and to present the processed material in such a form that it may be efficiently utilized by an instructor in preparing a period of instruction. The data on which this study is based was obtained from interviews with personnel who took part in the operation and from after action reports listed in the bibliography. This is an Armored School publication and is not the official Department of the Army history of the Remagen Operation. It must be remembered that the Remagen Operation is an example of a rapid and successful exploitation of an unexpected fortune of war. As such, the inevitable confusion of facts and the normal fog of war are more prevalent than usual. The absence of specific, detailed prior plans, the frequent changes of command, and the initial lack of an integrated force all make the details of the operation most difficult to evaluate and the motives of some decisions rather obscure. The operation started as a two-battalion action and grew into a four-division operation within a week. Units were initially employed in the bridgehead, as they became available, where they were most needed: a line of action that frequently broke up regiments. In cases of conflicting accounts of the action, the authors of this study have checked each action and each time of action included in the study and have evaluated the various reports in order to arrive at the most probable conclusions. >>More

Mediterranean Allied Air Forces. Air Surrender Documents

"In the next few years there will be many appraisals of the contribution of air power to this greatest of all historic struggles, and it is with this in mind that the present compilation of documents as future source material has been made. The reports included are of a variety of types, but all of them contain statements concerning the effects of air power on the German War Machine by German officers and officials who were in positions where the impact of air power could best be estimated. No attempt has been made to "edit" the material included; intelligence reports and newspaper accounts alike have been presented exactly as they were submitted. The latter section of this compilation has been devoted to a handy reference in which the more important statements have been indexed by subject." >>More

The War Against Japan. Pictorial Record

"During World War II the photographers of the United States armed forces created on film a pictorial record of immeasurable value. Thousands of pictures are preserved in the photographic libraries of the armed services but are little seen by the public. In the narrative volumes of United States Army in World War II, now being prepared by the Office of the Chief of Military History of the United States Army, it is possible to include only a limited number of pictures. Therefore, a subseries of pictorial volumes, of which this is the last, has been planned to supplement the other volumes of the series. The photographs have been especially selected to show important terrain features, types of equipment and weapons, living and weather conditions, military operations, and matters of human interest. These volumes will preserve and make accessible for future reference some of the best pictures of World War II. An appreciation not only of the terrain upon which actions were fought, but also of its influence on the capabilities and limitations of weapons in the hands of both our troops and those of the enemy, can be gained through a careful study of the pictures herein presented. These factors are essential to a clear understanding of military history." >>More

Photographs of the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Compiled by the Manhattan Engineer District, January 1947. >>More

Battle for the South Ossetia, August 2008

"In the early morning hours of August 8 2008, centuries-old Georgian-Ossetian conflict erupted into the full-scale military battle between central Georgian government and Ossetian separatists. The Georgian authorities under President M. Saakashvili declared that separatists haven't observed conditions of the cease-fire, frequently opening fire on the Georgian villages in the region, and announced “the beginning of the military operation to restore a constitutional order". By the middle of August 8th, after hours-long artillery barrage and rocket attacks, Georgian Army, well equiped with new American, Ukranian, Russian, and Israeli weapons, occupied the center of Zhinvali, the capital of the self-declared Republic of South Ossetia, burning local House of Parlament, destroying large parts of the city and attacking the barracks of the Russian peace-keeping batallion, when reportedly 15 Russians were killed and 150 wounded". Historical roots of the conflcit, political reasoning, composition of forces, weapons and tactics, eyewitness accounts, military analysis, extensive photo gallery, detailed maps of the region and actions, >>More.

Georgian Soldiers in Zhinvali. August 2008

These videos were taken on the cell phones of the dead and captured Gerogian soldiers before and during the Battle for Zhinvali, August 8, 2008. Video includes 4 parts: Georgian rocket artillery fires on Zhinvali; Georgian Army unit destroys Zhinvali city sign on the Zhinvali-Tbilisi highway; Georgian infantry before the battle for Zhinvali; Column of the Georgian armor enters Zhinvali. 10 min, Georgian language >>More.

Israel-Gaza War 2008-2009

Photos from the Israeli-Gaza war, December 2008-January 2009. >>More

Weapon Files

Gatling Guns: Service and Description, 1878

"The Gatlitig gun, shown on its carriage in Fig. 1, may be described as consisting of a number of very simple breech-loading rifled barrels grouped around and revolving about a common axis, with which they lie parallel. These component barrels are loaded and fired while revolving, the empty cartridge-shells being ejected in continuous succession." >>More

Handbook of the Maxim Automatic Machine Gun, Caliber .30, Model of 1904

Each machine-gun company or troop is provided with four guns, including tripods, ammunition, spare parts, tools, and accessories, together with the necessary packs. The equipment for each organization is carried on 20 mules, constituting 4 sections of 5 each. The sections are essentially complete units, although certain articles are not carried in every section. The equipment of each section consists of one gun, ammunition, and the necessary equipment for maneuvering the piece in the field. It is divided into the following parts: Part I. The gun with its ammunition and accompanying parts. Part II. The pack harness. Part III. The special pack equipment. Part IV. The pioneer tools. A description of each of these parts, together with a statement of all equipment issued to one machine-gun company or troop, follows. >>More

Description of 2-inch Telescopic Sights Model 1906

No. 1956
OCTOBER II, 1907. REVISED OCTOBER II, 1910. REVISED DECEMBER 16, 1913. REVISED MARCH I, 1917
WAR DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ORDNANCE,
Washington, March 1, 1917. This manual is published for the information and government of the Regular Army and National Guard of the United States. By order of the Secretary of War:
WILLIAM CROZIER, Brigadier General, Chief of Ordnance.
TWO-INCH TELESCOPIC SIGHTS.
MODEL OF 1906.
(THREE PLATES.)
(THE TELESCOPES OF THESE SIGHTS WERE DESIGNED BY THE WARNER & SWASEY Co., CLEVELAND, OHIO.). >>More

Colt's Double-Action Revolver Caliber .45

This manual is published for the information and government of the Regular Army and Organized Militia of the United States. >>More

Luger 1900/06 Original German Manual 1911

"Die Pistole 1900/06 ist eine automatische Waffe. Als solche bezweckt sie — nebst der Erreichung eines hohen Feuereffektes — durch das selbsttätige Oeffnen. Spannen und Schliessen des Verschlusses, die mechanische Tätigkeit des Schützen zu reduzieren, damit, abgesehen vom paketweisen Laden, seine volle Kraft und Aufmerksamkeit verwendet werde auf die Haupttätigkeiten: Zielen und Abfeuern." >>More

Description of Telescopic Musket Sights Model 1908 - 1913

Description of Telescopic Musket Sights Model 1908 - 1913. War Department, Office of the Chief of Ordnance,
Washington, November 18, 1915. >>More

Lewis Automatic Machine Gun Model 1916

"THERE have been many attempts in recent years to produce a really effective air-cooled machine gun suitable for general military, naval and aerial service. The advantages possessed by such an arm are recognized universally but the practical difficulties in the way of its development have been so many and of such a character as to lead to complete failure of the attempt in most cases and to only partial success in others. The successful weapon must be capable of sufficiently sustained rapid fire to meet the severest emergency demand of the modern battlefield, without change of barrels or other assembled parts, and without the use of water for cooling purposes. It must be sufficiently light and portable to be carried easily by a single foot soldier to any firing-point accessible to infantry. It must be capable of firing at a moment's notice in any direction from any position, from any sort of mount, rest, or cover and must not be dependent upon any special equipment, tools, or other extras to insure at all times a condition of readiness for immediate service. The Lewis Machine Gun is designed to meet these ideal requirements." >>More

Wings of War by Theodore Macfarlane Knappen

"...The war happily came to an end too soon for our huge industrial conversions and mobilizations to enjoy the spectacular triumph that would have been theirs in the spring of 1919. Nevertheless, the knowledge of the Central Empires that a country that was as innocent of knowledge of the art of making military aircraft in the spring of 1917 as it was before the Wright Brothers made their first flight in a heavier-than-air machine, was, in the fall of 1918, producing air service engines in greater volume than all the rest of the Allies together, with a similar pre-eminence in the production of planes rapidly approaching and a magical expansion of all related productivities, had its certain and conclusive though undramatic effect on the moral and mental processes that led to the collapse of Germany before the death blow was delivered." >>More

T-34 Tank Service Manual

by The Directorate of the Armoured Forces of the Red Army. For Service Use. T-34 TANK SERVICE MANUAL. People's Commissariat of Defence of the U. S. S. R. Moscow, 1942. >>More

Il-2 Sturmovik Illustrated Flight Manual, 1942

Original comic-style Il-2 "Sturmovik" illustrated flight manual, published in 1942 by Engineering Service of the Red Army Air Force. Covers pre-flight inspection, checking engine before take-off, check and preparation of the radio transmitter, preparations for take-off and take-off, flight in battlefield conditions, and flight completion. >>More

How to Fly IL-2 Sturmovik. Pilot's Instructions, 1943

Training film for IL-2 pilots, produced by the Red Army Air Force Research Institute in 1943. (24 min). Detailed and extensive instructions, based on the official Red Air Force IL-2 manual, unique close-ups, authentic winter background. Russian narrator, with English subtitles. >>More

German Volkswagen 1944 Technical Manual

"These instructions are published for the information and guidance of the personnel to whom this equipment is assigned. They
contain information on the operation and maintenance of the German Volkswagen as well as descriptions of the major units and their functions in relation to the other components of the vehicle. This manual has the following arrangement. (1) Part One, Introduction, contains description and data. (2) Part Two, Operating Instructions, contains instructions for the operation of the vehicle, with description and location of the controls and instruments. (3) Part Three, Maintenance Instructions, contains information needed for the performance of the scheduled lubrication and preventive maintenance services, and instructions for maintenance opera¬tions which can ordinarily be performed by using organizations (first and second echelons)." >>More

Japanese Balloon and Attached Devices

"This report represents the results of tests conducted on the various parts of Japanese Balloons that have been submitted to the Technical Air Intelligence Center for examination. There has, in this report, been no effort to evaluate the various aspects of the subject, but merely to present the material in a readily usable form to facilitate any studies that might be made. In order that there be more accurate reporting of the material found, the reporting form was created. It represents the combined effort of the Military Intelligence Service of the Army and the Office of Naval Intelligence of the Navy, but is in no sense final, and constructive criticism both as to content and form is welcome. It is easily recognised that the use of the form will result in more accurate transmission of information. The composite table was created from every source available and since the reports were, in many cases, in conflict with each other, the resulting information may not be accurate in all cases and it is requested that any additional information that is now, or becomes available be transmitted, through channels, to the Army or Navy Agency in Washington that is appropriate." >>More

Technical Data on the Development of the A4 (V-2)

"The reason for the compilation of this report was the desire to preserve significant historical information before it became lost or misplaced with time. It is hoped that this book has given the reader an inside view of the tremendous amount of work in development, research, and technology which had to be performed within the last 25 to 30 years to make our today's "Space Effort" possible. This report shows the very early, but real simple or crude start of our rocket, missile, and space development and gives an appreciation of the amount of research performed to come from the "Grand-Daddy" (A-4/V-2) to our present "Space Vehicles" (Saturn IB and Saturn V)." >>More

Wars & Diplomacy

The French Yellow Book. Diplomatic Documents (1938-1939)

The present Yellow Book is a collection of the most important among the documents which bring out clearly the course of French diplomatic action from September 29, 1938, the date of the Munich Agreement, to September 3, 1939, the date when France and Great Britain, in execution of their pledges of assistance, declared themselves to be in a state of war with Germany. >>More

The British War Blue Book, 1939

Documents, concerning German-Polish relations and the outbreak of hostilities between Great britain and Germany on September 3, 1939. Presented by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to Parliament by Command of His Majesty >>More

100 Documents on the Origins of the War from Official German White Book

"Immediately after the outbreak of hostilities, the German Foreign Office published, in the form of a White Paper, those documents which shed a light upon the last phase of the German-Polish crisis. The Foreign Office now publishes a more comprehensive collection of documents relating not only to the period immediately preceding the outbreak of hostilities, but to the most important political events which gave rise to the conflict with Poland in the first place, and subsequently, to the conflict with Britain and France." >>More

Nazi-Soviet Relations, 1939-1941

"In 1945 the American and British armies captured the archives of the German Foreign Office which had been evacuated from Berlin. Use of the archives for intelligence purposes began immediately. Later, it became evident that the documents concerning the aims and methods of German foreign policy should be published for the enlightenment of world opinion, including German opinion... The Department of State has decided to publish separately the most significant documents bearing on German-Soviet relations during 1939-1941. This collection has been made by the Washington editors of the documents, Raymond James Sontag and James Stuart Beddie, assisted by Jean Brownell Dulaney." >>More

CIA Documents on the Cuban Missile Crisis 1962

"The collection in this volume includes many of CIA's most important documents on the Cuban missile crisis. It contains the "honeymoon cables" that Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) John A. McCone sent to Headquarters from France a month before the missile crisis, as well as McCone's notes taken during the National Security Council Executive Committee meetings at the height of the crisis. It also includes intelligence memorandums and estimates, briefing papers, Cuban refugee reports, and memorandums on Operation MONGOOSE, aimed at destabilizing the Castro regime. Many of the evaluations of the missile threat contained here draw upon IRONBARK material, whose source was Soviet Colonel Oleg Penkovsky." >>More

Art & Propaganda

German Movie "Stukas", 1941

Third Reich-era classic. Young and vigor German pilots battle their French arch-enemy during the Nazi campaign in the West, May-June 1940. Real aerial footage; close-ups on J-87 and other German hardware of the period; life cycle of a Stuka pilot on the frontlines; “Death for the Fatherland is so sweet” motto; French tanker from hell trying to humiliate captured pilots, and other assorted propaganda perks; Carl Raddatz as an archetypical Luftwaffe officer, role model for J-87 aces like Ulrich Rudel and others. >>More

World War II Sketches by Hans Liska

Hans Liska (1907-1984) is one of the most well-known and prolific WWII Axis illustrators, who served with the German Armed Forces during the war. In 1942 and 1943 German publishing house Carl Werner in Reichenbach, sponsored by Junkers Flugzeug und Motorenwerke AG, published 2 albums with Hans Liska's sketches and color illustrations "to please the frontline soldiers and the workers of the weapon factories" in Germany. Definitely, Liska's art lived up to the expectations of his peers, and propaganda clichés left the well-recognizable footprints all over his painting and drawings. However, at the same time artist was also able to create something more valuable than NSDAP-commissioned propaganda poster for the crumbling wall of the neighborhood bakery in bombed-up German provincial town. Liska convincingly demonstrates that he has an eye for the real war drama, with all its pain, suffering, desperation, hard work, endurance, sense of duty, and courage for yet one more push to the utmost, which all participants are likely to share, no matter under what colors they fought and died. >>More

Soviet War Paintings. Part I

Soviet War paintings. Part I. >>More

Soviet War Paintings. Part II

Soviet War paintings. Part II. >>More

Nazi Collaboration Posters 1939-1945

Nazi Collaboration Posters 1939-1945. >>More

Russian WWII Propaganda Posters

Russian World War II Propaganda Posters >>More

Soviet Anti-War Propaganda Posters, 1960s - 1980s

"Soviet Anti-War propaganda posters, 1960s - 1980s." >>More

Airplane Paintings by Artist Dmitri Choibolsan

>>More

Navy Paintings by Artist Vladimir Emyshev

>>More

Military Dictionaries

German-English Military Dictionary, 1944

"This Dictionary [contains approximately 15300 entries - AWW] has been intentionally limited in scope to military subject matter and directly related fields. It has been compiled primarily for use by American military personnel with at least a fair knowledge of German. As far as possible the editors have endeavored to furnish actual equivalents rather than literal translations from one language into the other. Thus, although the literal translation of Entwicklung would be "development," a study of the German operations manual reveals that Entwicklung follows Entfaltung ("development") and hence is the equivalent of "deployment." Translations have been provided (generally with a note of explanation) only where equivalents do not exist or could not be found." >>More

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