Army Commandos 1940-45 (Elite) [Paperback]

Mike Chappell (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Elite | Publication Date: September 15, 1996

The period from early 1940 to the end of 1942 was a time of gloom and uncertainty for the British, who stood alone against the assembled might of the Axis powers. They badly needed a champion, and were to find this in a small force of soldiers who inspired them with a series of daring raids against the coasts of 'occupied Europe', becoming the heroes of the British public and of the British Prime Minister who had created them. This title explores the wartime history of the British Army Commandos whose bravery did so much to raise the morale of the British public during World War II (1939-1945).

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

An unrivalled illustrated reference source on fighting men and commanders, past and present. Each volume is packed with full colour artwork, making military history uniquely accessible to enthusiasts of all ages.

About the Author

Mike Chappell comes from an Aldershot family with British Army connections stretching back several generations. He enlisted as a teenage private in the Royal Hampshire Regiment in 1952. Over the next 22 years of infantry soldiering, many of them spent with the Gloucester Regiment, he held every rank and many regimental appointments up to WO1 and Regimental Sergeant Major. He retired in 1974, as RSM of the 1st Battalion The Wessex Regiment (Rifle Volunteers), after seeing service in Malaya, Cyprus, Swaziland, Libya, Germany, Ulster and home garrisons. He began painting military subjects in 1968 and since then has gained worldwide popularity as a military illustrator.

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (September 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1855325799
• ISBN-13: 978-1855325791
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 0.2 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,342,365 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fine Study of FIne Men, January 23, 2002

By 

El Cutachero (MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Army Commandos 1940-45 (Elite) (Paperback)

ARmy Commandos published 2001, is the trade edition of Elite No. 64 so this review is identical to that.
The famed British Commandos had their origins in the dark days of 1940 after the Army had been forced to evacuate at Dunkirk. Although the active campaigning continued in the Middle East and war broke out in the Far East in Dec 1941, those were peripheral campaigns and would never result in the defeat of Hitler's forces. The attack on the Soviet Union in 1941 led to a powerful ally but Stalin was always on the lookout for the main chance and there was always a possibility that he would make an armistice with Germany well into 1943.
The Navy and the RAF could strike directly at Germany's far flung forces but the only one that could strike Germany itself was the RAF.
The Army therefore under the direct orders of Churchill combed its ranks and those of the foreign exiles in Britain for men of initiative and daring. These units were first known under various titles but eventually they settled on Commandos, a term taken from the valorous opponents of the Boer War, whose mounted raiders wreaked such havoc on the railbound British attackers in 1900.
For the first two years, raids were conducted from the sea on islands in the North Sea, Norway, the French Coast, and in the Middle East. After the turn of the tide of war, the Commandos acquired much more heavy armament and became what is termed light infantry serving on the flanks of the forces landing in Normandy.
There has always been much controversy within the armies of the world objecting to elite forces on the grounds that they take the best men and leave the plodders to trudge on. Of course, this is mostly specious because in all cases that I know of special troops amounted to very few in a mass army. But it has hindered US Special Forces and Rangers over the years.
In the case of the British Army Commandos this led to their disbandment after WWII. Today the Special Air Service carries out these specialized raiding tasks while there are still Commando units in the Royal Marines.
This work shows the usual fine work of this author and illustrator. Everything he has ever done has been of quality.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Army Commando's WW2, December 30, 2011

By 

K. Schneider (New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Army Commandos 1940-45 (Elite) (Paperback)

Many people dont remember that teh British Army started the COMMANDO's (now Royal Marines). Tis Osprey books is a great booklet giving the reader an great insight into the units 1940-1945. Full of text ,phto's and data. This is not a money waster..but somehting that "should be on your" book collection.