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French Napoleonic Infantry Tactics 1792-1815
by Peter Dennis Paddy GriffithOsprey's examination of French infantry tactics during the Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815). For over 20 years France was the dominating, controlling and conquering power of the western world, a result not only of Napoleon's inspired leadership, but of the efforts of almost an entire generation of Frenchmen under arms. The French Revolution heralded both social change and a seismic shift in how armies were organized, trained and deployed. This book provides an analysis of the preparation of French troops from manual regulations to the training ground, studying the changing quality of command and control within the army, which initially ensured that the French infantry were virtually unstoppable. Paddy Griffith not only explores the role of the French infantry at the apex of their powers and their actions in key battles, but also provides a detailed explanation of their eventual decline leading to defeat at Waterloo, providing a critical overview of French Napoleonic infantry tactics.
French Revolutionary Infantry 1789-1802
by Terry Crowdy Patrice CourcelleThe years immediately following the French Revolution of 1789 saw an extraordinary transformation of the French army. From a distrusted instrument of the feudal power of the king and nobility, it became the symbol of liberty and citizenship. The transition was complex and painful, as the remnants of the old professional army were joined by a flood of civilian volunteers and conscripts, of whom even the best were short of everything except republican fervour. This book describes the stages of the rebirth that produced an army capable of beating off half the monarchies of Europe, thus laying the foundations for Napoleon's unique victories ten years later.
French Revolutionary Infantryman 1791-1802
by Christa Hook Terry CrowdyThis title, a prequel to Warrior 57 French Napoleonic Infantryman 1803-15, concentrates on the period from the storming of the Bastille in 1789 until Bonaparte's election as Consul for Life in 1802. The meticulously researched text provides an authentic portrait of military life during the Revolution and beyond, with excellent use of contemporary sources, including many illuminating and vivid quotations from the memoirs and letters of those who served during the 'Wars of Liberty'. It follows typical volunteers of 1791, through the early stages of the war, the Civil War in the west of France and into Bonaparte's second Italian campaign, culminating in the Battle of Marengo in 1800.
French Rule in the States of Parma, 1796-1814: Working with Napoleon (War, Culture and Society, 1750 –1850)
by Doina Pasca HarsanyiThis book addresses the interplay between collaboration and resistance during the Revolutionary/Napoleonic era in the Duchies of Parma, Piacenza and Guastalla, renamed States of Parma in 1802 and Department of Taro in 1808. Considered no more than a docile backwater in 1796, the country exploded in violent rebellion at the end of 1805, to the astonishment of the French imperial establishment and of Napoleon himself. Yet, the insurgency – duly suppressed by the French military – did not beget further confrontation. French administrators determined to demonstrate that the empire was a force for good and local citizens compelled to reassess their circumstances realistically settled for cooperation in the form of protracted give and take arrangements. In recounting the events, this book highlights local agency and the myriad ways Parma’s population harnessed the power of empire to shape what eventually became the Napoleonic legacy in the region.
French Soldier in Egypt 1798-1801
by Christa Hook Terry CrowdyThis book concentrates on the dramatic experiences of Napoleon's Army of the Orient in Egypt and the Holy Land. The fighting of the Mamelukes and Turks are covered in depth, detailing desert combat, siege warfare, cavalry skirmishes and the suppression of uprisings. It examines the French treatment of prisoners as well as the fate of captured Frenchmen, and describes caring for the wounded, outbreaks of bubonic plague, and the terrible retreat from Acre in 1799, in accounts by the men who were there. The experiences of infantry, cavalry and sea soldiers of Napoleon's Army of the Orient are brought vividly back to life.
French Soldiers' Morale in the Phoney War, 1939-1940 (Routledge Studies in the Modern History of France)
by Bernard Wilkin Maude WilliamsThe collapse of the French army in 1940 is a well-researched topic in Second World War Studies but a surprising gap in the historiography emerges when it comes to the study of the French military prior to the German offensive of May 1940. Using various public and private sources in different languages, this book aims to address this gap by studying morale on the frontline and its management by the French Government, the Grand Quartier Général, at the scale of the regiment and on a personal level. This research also investigates German and British propaganda in French and aimed at the French sector of the frontline in order to offer the first comprehensive comparative study of French army morale in any language.
French Tanks of World War I
by Steven Zaloga Tony BryanThis title examines the emergence of the first modern tank, the Renault FT. It is a little known fact that France fielded more tanks in World War I than any other army. However, France's early tanks suffered from poor mobility and armor compared to their contemporaries. Indeed, their initial use on the Chemin des Dames in 1917 was a bloody fiasco. In spite of initial set-backs, the French army redeemed its reputation with the Renault FT. The Renault FT pioneered the modern tank design, with armament in a revolutionary central turret and the engine in the rear. More importantly, the Renault was designed to be cheap and easy to manufacture. Discover the history of the early French armor developments and their triumphant new design, the Renault FT, that helped to turn the tide of war in the favor of the Allies.From the Trade Paperback edition.
French Tanks of World War II
by Steven Zaloga Ian PalmerAll the French medium and heavy tanks of 1940 are in this title: Renault FT, Renault R-35, FCM-36, Hotchkiss H.38, Char B1bis, Renault D-1, and Renault D-2.The first volume of this two part series will cover the infantry tanks and battle tanks that served in 1940. Starting with the Renault FT of World War I fame, it will cover the modernization of the FT in the inter-war years. The focus of the infantry tank section will be on the attempts to replace the FT with designs such as the Renault R-35, FCM-36, and the Hotchkiss H.38. Derivatives of these types will also be covered such as the R-40. France also had a separate family of battle tanks starting with the Renault D-1, Renault D-2, and finally the best known tank of the campaign, the Char B1 bis. This book will provide a brief development account these tanks types, covering the tactical rationales for their design and their basic technical features. It will also briefly address their performance in the 1940 campaign, pointing out the salient features of the combat record.
French Tanks of World War II
by Steven ZalogaThe design quality of France's armored vehicles is somewhat forgotten in light of the myth of superiority surrounding the German Panzers' role in the Blitzkrieg against France, Belgium and the Netherlands.The second volume of two covering the French tanks of World War II, this title focuses primarily on the design, development, combat performance, and technical features of France's armored cavalry vehicles, including the AMR and AMC families of light reconnaissance tanks, and the famous Somua S.35 cavalry tank. Also examined are the wide array of armored cars and half-tracks employed by the French Cavalry, and the extensively produced Hotchkiss H-35/H-39 series that was designed for the Cavalry but also saw widespread use by the Infantry. This volume also looks at the specialized armored vehicles used by the French military, including the Chenillette US, Lorraine, and the various tank destroyer types brought hastily into service in 1940.
French Tanks of the Great War: Development, Tactics and Operations
by Tim GaleA detailed history of France&’s development of tanks and the combat the tanks served in during World War I, by an armored warfare expert. The French tank corps was an essential part of the French army from 1917 onwards, yet its history has been strangely neglected in English accounts of the Western Front. Using information derived from the French military archives at Vincennes—much of which has never been published in English before—author Tim Gale describes the design and development of the tanks, the political and organizational issues that arose between the French military and civilian bureaucracy, and the record of these pioneering fighting vehicles in combat. All the major engagements in which French tanks participated are depicted in graphic detail, often quoting directly from recollections left by individual tank commanders of their experience in battle, and each operation is assessed in terms of its impact on French tactics in general and on tank tactics in particular. The Nivelle offensive and the battles of Malmaison, the Matz, Soissons, and Champagne are featured in the narrative, and the actions of the French tanks serving with the U.S. army are covered, too. Much of the material in Tim Gale&’s study will be entirely new to non-French speakers. The story will be fascinating reading for anyone who is interested in the Great War, the French army, military innovation and the history of armored warfare.Praise for French Tanks of the Great War&“Gale&’s book . . . is very easy to dip into.&” —Military Modelling&“It is a wealth of information and I would definitely recommend it.&” —Forgotten Weapons
French Units in the Waffen-SS
by Rolf MichaelisConcise history of the French Waffen-SS units in WWII
French Warship Crews 1789-1805
by Steve Noon Terry CrowdyThis book gives a detailed and authentic account of the life and experiences of French warship crews from the French Revolutionary Wars (1792-1802) up to Trafalgar. It describes the recruitment and composition of crews, the different duties performed and the living conditions they had to endure at sea. Their experiences of fighting the British are covered in depth; from preparing the ship for action, to the violent discharges of heavy calibre guns, the often gruesome realities of sea warfare are revealed through pictures and contemporary testimonies.
French Warships in the Age of Sail, 1626–1786: Design, Construction, Careers And Fates
by Rif WinfieldThe origins of a permanent French sailing navy can be traced to the work of Cardinal Richelieu in the 1620s, but this naval force declined rapidly in the 1650s and a virtually new Marine Royale had to be re-created by Colbert from 1661. Thereafter, Louis XIV"s navy grew rapidly to become the largest and most powerful in the world, at the same time establishing a reputation for the quality of its ship design that lasted until the end of sail. The eighteenth century was to see defeat and decline, revival and victory, but by 1786 the French Navy had emerged from its most successful naval war having frequently outfought or outmanoeuvred the British Navy in battle, and in the process making a major contribution to American independence.This book is the first comprehensive listing of these ships in English, and follows the pattern set by its companion volume on the 1786–1861 period in providing an impressive depth of information. It is organised by Rate, classification and class, with significant technical and building data, followed by highlights of the careers of each ship in every class. Thus for the first time it is possible to form a clear picture of the overall development of French warships throughout the whole of the sailing era.Certain to become the standard English-language reference work, its publication is of the utmost importance to every naval historian and general reader interested in the navies of the sailing era.
French Warships in the Age of Sail, 1786–1861: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates
by Rif Winfield Stephen S RobertsIn 1786 the French Navy had just emerged from its most successful war of the eighteenth century, having frequently outfought or outmanoeuvred the Royal Navy in battle, and made a major contribution to American independence. The reputation of its ship design and fighting skills never stood higher, yet within a few years the effects of the French Revolution had devastated its efficiency, leading to defeat after defeat. Fine ships continued to be built, but even under Napoleon's dynamic influence the navy never recovered sufficiently to alter the balance of sea power. It was only after 1815 that the navy revived, espousing technical innovation and invention, to produce some of the most advanced ships of the age.This book is the first comprehensive listing of these ships in English, and follows the pattern set by the companion series on British warships in the age of sail in providing an impressive depth of information. It is organised by Rate, classification and class, with significant technical and building data, followed by a concise summary of the careers of each ship in every class. Thus for the first time it is possible to form a clear picture of the overall development of French warships in the latter half of the sailing era.
French Warships in the Age of Steam 1859–1914
by Stephen S. RobertsIn 1859 the French navy was at a high point, having fought alongside the British in the Crimean War and developed a formidable fleet of fast wooden-hulled steam ships of the line. But in that very year the world’s navies had to start over again when French naval architect Dupuy de Lôme introduced the ironclad battleship. The French navy then went through three tumultuous phases. In the 1860s and 1870s it focused on building a new traditionally-structured fleet in which wooden-hulled battleships gave way to iron and steel ships with massive guns and armour. In the 1880s and 1890s this effort was disrupted by a vigorous contest between battleship sailors and advocates of fast steel cruisers and small torpedo craft, leaving France by the end of the 1890s with few new battleships (none as large as the best foreign ships) but some two hundred torpedo boats. The Fashoda crisis in 1898 revealed the weakness of the French navy and between 1900 and 1914 the French focused on building a strong battle fleet. In 1914 this fleet remained well behind those of Britain and Germany in numbers, but taken individually French warships remained among the best in the world. This book is the first comprehensive listing in English of the over 1400 warships that were added to the official French navy fleet list between 1 January 1859 and World War I. It includes everything from the largest battleships to a small armoured gunboat that looked like a floating egg. The ships are listed in three separate parts to keep contemporary ships together and then by ship type and class. For each class the book provides a design history explaining why the ships were built, substantial technical characteristics for the ships as completed and after major reconstructions, and selected career milestones including the ultimate fate of each ship. Like its predecessors written jointly with Rif Winfield, French Warships in the Age of Sail 1626-1786 and French Warships in the Age of Sail 1786-1861, with which it forms the third in a trilogy, it provides a complete picture of the overall development of French warships over a period of almost three centuries.
French and American Prisoners of War at Dartmoor Prison, 1805-1816: The Strangest Experiment
by Neil DavieThis book explores the history of Dartmoor War Prison (1805-16). This is not the well-known Victorian convict prison, but a less familiar penal institution, conceived and built nearly half a century earlier in the midst of the long-running wars against France, and destined, not for criminals, but for French and later American prisoners of war. During a period of six and a half years, more than 20,000 captives passed through its gates. Drawing on contemporary official records from Britain, France and the USA, and a wealth of prisoners’ letters, diaries and memoirs (many of them studied here in detail for the first time), this book examines how Dartmoor War Prison was conceived and designed; how it was administered both from London and on the ground; how the fate of its prisoners intertwined with the military and diplomatic history of the period; and finally how those prisoners interacted with each other, with their captors, and with the wider community. The history of the prison on the moor is one marked by high hopes and noble intentions, but also of neglect, hardship, disease and death
French's Cavalry Campaign
by John George MaydonField-Marshal French is best known for his military services during the First World War; however, his military service stretches back through to his commands in the Boer War. In his campaigns with the newly formed cavalry division he was to receive much acclaim and praise for his adroit handling of his troops and their effectiveness against the largely irregular Boers. He won the battle of Elanslaagte and, having escaped the encirclement of Ladysmith, led his troops on to the capture of Bloemfontain and the relief of Kimberley. Tough and uncompromising, he became a celebrity with the papers back home, his character summed up by the verse:"E's so tough and terse 'E don't want no bloomin' nurse and 'E ain't had one reverse Ave yer, French?"This book charts Colonel French's adventurous division across the vledts and kops of the South African landscape with pace and verve.The author, John George Maydon, was a prominent member of the Natal parliament that accompanied Colonel French on his cavalry campaign and writes from this unique perspective combining local South African knowledge with a loyalist viewpoint.
French-German Military Cooperation and European Defence: From Driving Engine to Divergence of Interests? (Routledge Studies in European Security and Strategy)
by Delphine Deschaux-DutardThis book examines the role of French-German cooperation within European military cooperation and European defence, and particularly the CSDP (Common Security and Defence Policy).The work explores whether Franco-German bilateral leadership is still relevant in European defence and military cooperation at the EU level, and analyses the reasons for its difficulties in the current context of the return to conventional warfare on the European continent. With an innovative research design that mixes a conceptual framework (discursive institutionalism) with tools from the sociology of International Relations, the book offers both a macro- and an actor-level perspective. The focus on the strategic discourses of both French and German actors, and the institutional settings within which these discourses develop, also enables to better grasp the complexity of military cooperation and the recurring limits of bilateral leadership by Paris and Berlin. Based on extensive fieldwork in Paris, Berlin and Brussels over the past two decades, including data collected since 2022, the book offers a longitudinal view of the issue as well as the most recent developments since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.This book will be of much interest to students of European security, European politics and security studies in general.
Friend of My Enemy: A Novel
by Benjamin Eric HillArab or Jew? Either way, they were damned. Alone and in secrecy, a pair of star-crossed lovers battle for survival in a world seething with spies and informers. Israel's greatest fear becomes a reality in Benjamin Eric Hill's audacious and thrilling debut, FRIEND OF MY ENEMY. Vividly portraying the characters behind Mideast headlines, this story shows why the conflict is so intractable, why the violence is so pervasive. Christina Goryeb: an idealistic Palestinian lawyer blackmailed by terrorists to smuggle explosives. Chaim Asher: the Mossad's top agent whose desire for a mysterious Palestinian woman shatters his most deeply held beliefs. Shlomo Arendt: Head of Arab Affairs in the Shin Bet driven by an intense nationalism that could lead to Israel's destruction. Hamad Taleb: Mastermind of the Lions of Allah, a murderous enemy, willing to sacrifice everyone's life for Jihad but his own. Rabbi Ben Yusuf: Messianic leader of Israeli settlers who would sacrifice the Jewish State on an altar of blood for the sake of the Jewish people. The stench of gunpowder and fierce passions for a beloved land ignite every page. FRIEND OF MY ENEMY will grip you with relentless suspense right up to its white-knuckle ending.
Friend or Foe: Friendly Fire at Sea, 1939–1945
by Paul KempDuring the Second World War, there were over 100 instances of naval engagements between ships, submarines and aircraft of the same side. In the past there has often been a reluctance by the authorities to admit to these losses but with operational records now available, it is possible for historians to explain how a good number of ships and submarines were attacked, damaged or sunk by the forces of their own side.
Friendly Fire
by C. D. BryanThe true story of Michael Mullen, a soldier killed in Vietnam, and his parents&’ quest for the truth from the US government: &“Brilliantly done&” (The Boston Globe). Drafted into the US Army, Michael Mullen left his family&’s Iowa farm in September 1969 to fight for his country in Vietnam. Six months later, he returned home in a casket. Michael wasn&’t killed by the North Vietnamese, but by artillery fire from friendly forces. With the government failing to provide the precise circumstances of his death, Mullen&’s devastated parents, Peg and Gene, demanded to know the truth. A year later, Peg Mullen was under FBI surveillance. In a riveting narrative that moves from the American heartland to the jungles of Vietnam to the Vietnam Veterans Against the War march in Washington, DC, to an interview with Mullen&’s battalion commander, Lt. Col. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, author C. D. B. Bryan brings to life with brilliant clarity a military mission gone horrifically wrong, a patriotic family&’s explosive confrontation with their government, and the tragedy of a nation at war with itself. Originally intended to be an interview for the New Yorker, the story Bryan uncovered proved to be bigger than he expected, and it was serialized in three consecutive issues during February and March 1976, and was eventually published as a book that May. In 1979, Friendly Fire was made into an Emmy Award–winning TV movie, starring Carol Burnett, Ned Beatty, and Sam Waterston. This ebook features an illustrated biography of C. D. B. Bryan, including rare images from the author&’s estate.
Friendly Fire (A Jonathan Grave Thriller #8)
by John Gilstrap"Will leave you breathless." --Harlan Coben "When you pick up a Gilstrap novel, one thing is always true--you are going to be entertained at a high rate of speed." --Suspense MagazineIt begins with a shocking act of vengeance. Barista Ethan Falk chases a customer into the parking lot and kills him. He tells police that years ago the older man abducted and tortured him. Then Ethan's story takes an even stranger turn: he says he was rescued by a guy named Scorpion. Of course, there is no record of either the kidnapping or the rescue, because Scorpion--Jonathan Grave--operates outside the law and leaves no evidence. As Grave struggles to find a way to defend his former precious cargo without blowing his cover, he learns the dead man has secrets that trace to an ongoing terrorist plot against the heart of America. It's up to Grave and his team to stop it. But first they must rescue Ethan Falk--a second time. "If you like Vince Flynn and Brad Thor, you'll love John Gilstrap." --Gayle Lynds"Gilstrap pushes every thriller button." --San Francisco Chronicle
Friendly Fire (The Echo Platoon Series #3)
by Marliss MeltonBoarding a cruise ship bound for Mexico, vacationing Navy SEAL Jeremiah "Bullfrog" Winters runs into Emma Albright, the only woman he ever loved... and lost.Emma might still teach Romantic Lit at George Mason University, but life taught her there's no such thing as everlasting love. Good thing she can still enjoy her vacation without falling for the man who captivated her years earlier.But re-awakening Emma's passions becomes Jeremiah's current mission until violence breaks out on their port excursion to the Mayan ruins of Tulum. Now, love may be the only weapon powerful enough to save them both, if Emma can bring herself to believe in its permanence and power.THE ECHO PLATOON SERIES, in orderDanger CloseHard LandingFriendly FireTHE TASKFORCE SERIES, in order The ProtectorThe GuardianThe Enforcer
Friendly Invasion: Memories of Operation Bolero, The American Occupation of Britain 1942-1945
by Henry BucktonBetween 1942 and 1945, tens of thousands of young American servicemen arrived in Britain. This book is an examination of the way their presence affected them and the local people during the Second World War. It is a social history and studies the various relationships forged between the British public and their American guests.