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The Second World War in Photographs 1945 - A Brave New World

1945 was the meeting point of two eras. It marked the end of the Second World War, a conflict ushered in by the lightning strikes of the Blitzkrieg and characterised by the brutalities inflicted by the Nazi regime. It concluded with the dropping of atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki – events that shaped the course of post-war history.

What's inside 'The Second World War in Photographs 1945 - A Brave New World'

After six long years of war, the Allies’ inexorable push into the heart of Germany brought the conflict in Europe to an end in the spring, but not without incident. The fire-bombing of Dresden in February destroyed a city and killed an estimated 130,000, and the final days of Hitler’s Reich saw bitter battles in the streets of Berlin.

It was only once the fighting was over that the world became aware of the horrors of the concentration camps and the systematic attempt by the Nazis to wipe out an entire section of the human race.

In the Pacific the fighting continued into the summer until the Allies, faced with a prolonged campaign to take each and every island stronghold, dropped the A-bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, bringing the war to a sudden end in August 1945. Yet even before the dust had settled, the victorious nations were carving up the conquered territories to create a new world order in which the Cold War era saw former Allies turned into enemies.

John Christopher and Campbell McCutcheon tell the story of 1945 at war using many rare and often unpublished images, showing the conclusion of the conflict and the dawn of the Cold War.

The Second World War in Photographs 1939
1940 - Britain Stands Alone
1941 - A Global Conflict
1942 - On The Offensive
1943 - The Turning Point
1944 - Liberation And Vengeance

'The Second World War in Photographs 1945 - A Brave New World' in detail

Author: John Christopher and Campbell McCutcheon
Publisher: Amberley Publishing 2015
ISBN: 9781445622156
Format: Softback, 176 pages
Size: 234 x 165 mm
Condition: New

Part of the Droids Books Collection

The Second World War in Photographs 1944 - Liberation And Vengeance

1944 saw the largest seaborne invasion ever staged in Operation Overlord. The Allied landings on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, 6 June 1944, opened the way for the thrust into the occupied countries of northern Europe, in particular France, with the Allies liberating Paris in August.

What's inside 'The Second World War in Photographs 1944 - Liberation And Vengeance'

Other triumphs in the sixth year of the war included the Red Army regaining Leningrad on the Eastern Front, defeats for the Japanese in the Battle of the Philippine Sea as well as the British advances in Burma, and there were the American landings in Anzio, the taking of Rome, and further landings in Greece.

Victory was almost within sight, but it couldn’t be taken for granted as the war was entering a new phase and the Nazi war machine still had a sting in its tail.

Infuriated by Allied gains, Hitler unleashed the long-promised Vengeance weapons, in particular the V1 flying bomb and the V2 ballistic missile, in the belief that they would turn the tide of the war in Germany’s favour. There was also the question of whether Nazi scientists were developing an atomic bomb.

John Christopher and Campbell McCutcheon tell the story of 1944 at war using many rare and often unpublished images, showing the rapidly changing nature of the conflict.

The Second World War in Photographs 1939
1940 - Britain Stands Alone
1941 - A Global Conflict
1942 - On The Offensive
1943 - The Turning Point
1945 - A Brave New World

'The Second World War in Photographs 1944 - Liberation And Vengeance' in detail

Author: John Christopher and Campbell McCutcheon
Publisher: Amberley Publishing 2015
ISBN: 9781445622149
Format: Softback, 176 pages
Size: 234 x 165 mm
Condition: New

Part of the Droids Books Collection

The Second World War in Photographs 1943 - The Turning Point

1943 saw the Allies on the offensive, with victories in North Africa followed by the invasion of Sicily and landings in Italy establishing a foothold on mainland Europe, while on the Eastern Front the Red Army was making gains, and in the Pacific the Japanese-held islands were falling.

What's inside 'The Second World War in Photographs 1943 - The Turning Point'

The change in the Allies’ fortunes had begun the previous year and now they were building on those successes, paving the way for the major return to Europe with D-Day planned for 1944.

The 8th Army’s successes in the Tunisian campaign pushed the German Afrika Korps out of North Africa. This was followed by the invasion of Sicily in May and landings on the toe of Italy in September, resulting in the ousting of Benito Mussolini. Other Allied successes came in the Pacific with the taking of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, together with British and Chinese advances in Burma, putting the Japanese onto the defensive.

The conflict in Russia saw the key tank battle at Kursk and the subsequent retaking of some German-held territory. Other events included the Dambuster raids, an attack on the Ploesti oil refineries and the uprising in the Warsaw Ghetto.

John Christopher and Campbell McCutcheon tell the story of 1943 at war using many rare and often unpublished images, showing the rapidly changing nature of the conflict, as well as its impact on the everyday person. It is part of a year-by-year series documenting the Second World War from 1939 to 1945.

The Second World War in Photographs 1939
1940 - Britain Stands Alone
1941 - A Global Conflict
1942 - On The Offensive
1944 - Liberation And Vengeance
1945 - A Brave New World

'The Second World War in Photographs 1943 - The Turning Point' in detail

Author: John Christopher and Campbell McCutcheon
Publisher: Amberley Publishing 2015
ISBN: 9781445622132
Format: Softback, 176 pages
Size: 234 x 165 mm
Condition: New

Part of the Droids Books Collection

The Second World War in Photographs 1942 - On The Offensive

1942 was the turning point of the war. In the words of Winston Churchill, it was ‘not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end, but it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.’

What's inside 'The Second World War in Photographs 1942 - On The Offensive

In the Pacific the Japanese had been soundly defeated at the Battle of Midway, with the loss of four valuable and irreplaceable aircraft carriers, while the Allied landings in North Africa had been a complete success, and the rout of the German and Italian soldiers in the desert war had begun in earnest.

Fortress Britain saw the infamous Baedeker raids on English towns and cities, but also the build-up of American troops and material in preparation for the invasion of mainland Europe, of which August’s costly raid on Dieppe was a precursor.

Despite some setbacks, the war had changed and the Allies were on the attack on all fronts. In Russia, the German 6th Army spent the New Year surrounded in Stalingrad, the Germans and Italians being squeezed in North Africa, and the Japanese were suffering defeat after defeat.

John Christopher and Campbell McCutcheon tell the story of 1942 at war using many rare and often unpublished images, showing the rapidly changing nature of the conflict, as well as its impact on the everyday person. It is part of a year-by-year series documenting the Second World War from 1939 to 1945.

The Second World War in Photographs 1939
1940 - Britain Stands Alone
1941 - A Global Conflict
1943 - The Turning Point
1944 - Liberation And Vengeance
1945 - A Brave New World

'The Second World War in Photographs 1942 - On The Offensive' in detail

Author: John Christopher and Campbell McCutcheon
Publisher: Amberley Publishing 2015
ISBN: 9781445622118
Format: Softback, 176 pages
Size: 234 x 165 mm
Condition: New

Part of the Droids Books Collection

The First World War in Photographs 1916 - A War of Attrition - Signed copy

The third year of the Great War was to see the introduction of conscription for the first time in Britain to feed the insatiable demand for men at the Front. It was just as well, as the spring saw the launch of the German offensive at Verdun and the British counter-attack, but neither side achieved any significant gains.

What's inside 'The First World War in Photographs 1916 - A War of Attrition'

On 1 July the Allies experienced the bloodiest day of the war at the start of the Somme campaign with some 60,000 men killed in a single day. The British Mark 1 tank also made its combat debut at the Somme, heralding a new era of mechanised warfare. 1916 was also the year of the Battle of Jutland, which was the greatest naval encounter of the war but resulted in an inconclusive outcome with both sides losing many ships.

Shortly afterwards Lord Kitchener died when HMS Hampshire hit a mine. Kitchener had become the iconic figure of the First World War, appearing on countless recruiting posters. On the Eastern Front the Russian forces pushed forward to draw the Germans into pulling their troops away from the Western Front.

John Christopher and Campbell McCutcheon tell the story of 1916 at war using many rare and often unpublished images, showing the full horror of the conflict, as well as its impact on the everyday person. 1916 is the third volume in this year-by-year series documenting those times.

'The First World War in Photographs 1916 - A War of Attrition' in detail

Author: John Christopher and Campbell McCutcheon
Publisher: Amberley Publishing 2014
ISBN: 9781445622088
Format: Softback, 176 pages
Size: 234 x 165 mm
Condition: New

Part of the Droids Books Collection

The First World War in Photographs 1914 - Over by Christmas

The first year of the 'war to end all wars', documented through old photographs. In 1914, after more than a decade of sabre-rattling, arms races and localised wars, mainland Europe erupted into the greatest war man had ever seen.

What's inside 'The First World War in Photographs 1914 - Over by Christmas'

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand saw the beginning of a conflict that was, according to some, going to be over by Christmas but which, in reality, lasted over five years.

With battles on all fronts, from Russia to the Falklands, West Africa to China and the Middle East, at sea, on land and by the fledgling air forces of the world, 1914's war culminated in the famous football match on the Western Front on Christmas Day, but also saw the invasion of neutral Belgium, the Battle of the Marne and the sinking of the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse.

This collection of photographs and other images tell the story of the world at war in a graphic and telling way. The First World War changed the art of war forever; 1914 is the first year-by-year volume in this series that documents the horrors of those times.

'The First World War in Photographs 1914 - Over by Christmas' in detail

Author: John Christopher and Campbell McCutcheon
Publisher: Amberley Publishing 2012
ISBN: 9781445621814
Format: Softback, 176 pages
Size: 234 x 165 mm
Condition: New

Part of the Droids Books Collection

British Posters Of The First World War - Signed copy

“Iconic and memorable... beautifully crafted.” (Britain at War magazine)

During the First World War the authorities emulated the simple slogans and strong graphic imagery of advertising posters to create a form of mass communication that was easily and instantly understood by the British public, in particular the mostly illiterate working class who did more than their share to feed the machinery of war.

'British Posters Of WWI', this is what's inside

For the most part the posters were calls to action, starting with the initial period of voluntary enlistment and leading on to conscription. Psychologically they worked on several levels, appealing to a sense of duty or tapping into feelings of guilt. Patriotic fervour was heightened by the appearance of the Union Jack, the King and, most enduringly perhaps, the iconic image of Lord Kitchener.

In addition, propaganda posters heaped on the pressure with scenes of German atrocities, such as the sinking of the Lusitania and the spectre of Zeppelin raiders over England. Those not directly involved in the fighting were also urged to do their part; women in particular either by sending their men to the front or by working in the munitions factories or on the land.

Even children had a part to play – ‘Daddy, what did YOU do in the Great War?’ Money for the war effort is another recurring theme, with war savings and bonds, and countless charities appealing for funds to care for the wounded and the war orphans.

'British Posters Of The First World War' is fully illustrated throughout

Author: John Christopher (signed)
Publisher: Amberley Publishing 2015
ISBN: 9781445655260
Format: Softback, 192 pages
Size: 248 x 172 mm
Condition: New

Part of the Droids Books Collection

Organisation Todt - From Autobahns to the Atlantic Wall - Signed copy

Based on a confidential wartime report, issued by the British Government in March 1945, this in-depth dossier details the inner workings of Organisation Todt, which not only built the Reichsautobahns, but also Germany's Siegfried Line and the Atlantic Wall. Founded by the charismatic Fritz Todt, the OT was responsible for the construction of all of the major military works across Europe - from the Siegfried Line and Atlantic Wall, to the U-Boat pens and V1 and V2 weapon sites.

What to expect from 'Building the Third Reich - Organisation Todt'

When Fritz Todt died in a flying accident in 1942 he was succeeded by Hitler's chief architect, Albert Speer, who was also appointed as Reich Minister of Armaments and War Production. Although the Organisation Todt was not a military organization as such, it literally underpinned the Nazis' stranglehold on the occupied territories.

Not just through the fortifications but also through the systematic and highly controversial use of enforced labour drawn from the populations of the vanquished countries. At its peak the Organisation Todt consisted of a force of almost two million men and women, and it is through the depth of detail revealed in this handbook that we discover the largely untold human story.

'Organisation Todt - From Autobahns to the Atlantic Wall' in detail

Editor: John Christopher (signed)
Publisher: Amberley Publishing 2015
ISBN: 9781445638560
Format: Softback, 278 pages
Size: 248 x 172 mm
Condition: New

Part of the Droids Books Collection

The Second World War In Colour - Luftwaffe - Signed copy

This superb collection of wartime colour photographs brings the Luftwaffe – its aircraft and personnel – to life in a dramatically vivid way. Colour photography was still a rare thing in the 1930s and 1940s.

What to expect from the book 'WWII In Colour - Luftwaffe'

Various systems had been tried, but it was the Germans who had the greatest success with their Agfacolor process. This meant that colour images could be produced with basic darkroom equipment, even close to the action.

As a result the members of the Propaganda Kompanie, armed with Leica cameras and the new Agfacolor film, were able to capture aspects of the Luftwaffe’s operations in a way never seen before.

A wide range of aircraft and theatres of war are featured, including Messerschmitts Bf 109 and Bf 110, Junkers Ju 87 Stuka, Ju 52 transport, Ju 86 and Ju 88, Dornier 17, Focke-Wulf 200 Condor, Heinkel He 111, Gotha Go 224 transport and others plus ground crew and anti-aircraft teams.

The resulting pictures were published in a number of magazines, including the Luftwaffe’s Der Adler, as well as in books aimed at the home front audience.

'The Second World War In Colour - Luftwaffe' in detail

Author: John Christopher (signed)
Publisher: Amberley Publishing 2014
ISBN: 9781445638928
Format: Softback, 128 pages
Size: 246 x 165 mm
Condition: New

Part of the Droids Books Collection

German Infantry Weapons of the WWII - Signed copy

A fascinating in-depth dossier is based on original classified wartime reports issued by the US Military Intelligence Services. It examines the main weapon types – pistols, rifles, grenades, machine guns and mortars - as well as anti-tank guns and infantry howitzers.

What to expect from the 'German Infantry Weapons of the Second World War'

The equipment of the German Army in 1939 reflected the High Command’s policy of having the smallest variety of weapon types consistent with meeting operational requirements.

Initially the emphasis was on developing only selected types for mass production. As the battle fronts widened and conditions in the theatres of operations became more diversified, they were forced to increase the variety of their weapons.

Detailed descriptions and specifications are accompanied by diagrams and photographs, providing an invaluable resource on Germany’s infantry weapons of WW2.

'German Infantry Weapons of the Second World War' in detail

Editor: John Christopher (signed)
Publisher: Amberley Publishing 2014
ISBN: 9781445642208
Format: Softback 160 pages
Size: 235 x 165 mm
Condition: New

Part of the Droids Books Collection

Balloons At War - Gasbags, Flying Bombs & Cold War Secrets - Signed

"I hope these new mechanic meteors will prove only playthings ... and not be converted into new engines of destruction to the human race." (Horace Walpole, 1785)."

Walpole's words prove to be prophetic. Even before a balloon had left the ground, Joseph Montgolfier had seen a potential use for his new invention in attacking the English at Gibraltar.

What's inside 'Balloons At War'

The first 'air force' was founded by Napoleon Bonaparte. The American Civil, Franco-Prussian and First World Wars saw extensive use of balloons, but it was during the Second World War that barrage balloons helped prevent incursions by enemy aircraft and new, ingenious uses were found for balloons, including dropping bombs (by the Japanese against the USA), destroying enemy aircraft, and in many clandestine operations.

'Balloons At War' - The Details

Author: John Christopher (signed)
Publisher: History Press 2004
ISBN: 9780752429953
Format: Softback 224 pages
Size: 247 x 172 mm
Condition: New

Part of the Droids Books Collection