Editorial Review

The Battle of Iwo Jima, fought in the winter of 1945 on a rocky island south of Japan, brought a ferocious slice of hell to earth: in a month's time, more than 22,000 Japanese soldiers would die defending a patch of ground a third the size of Manhattan, while nearly 26,000 Americans fell taking it from them. The battle was a turning point in the war in the Pacific, and it produced one of World War II's enduring images: a photograph of six soldiers raising an American flag on the flank of Mount Suribachi, the island's commanding high point.Read more

Reviews (454)

"Flags of Our Fathers" - A Timely Look at a Bloody Battle in Our History
Quite a while ago, Nick Olmsted, a graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy, recommended that I read "Flags of Our Fathers." I am glad that I finally got around to taking his advice. This story struck me on many levels at once, and this seems to be an opportune time to share some of my thoughts about this remarkable book, written by James Bradley, the son of one of the six Marines whose iconic picture of the raising of the flag over Iwo Jima riveted a war-weary nation.
A hard book to read.
World War II seems such a long time ago for so many of us. Most Americans today weren't yet born when it took place. For this reason, I believe everyone old enough to comprehend its stories should read this book. James Bradley and Ron Powers have written a heart-pounding record of the thirty-five bloody days it took to wrest Iwo Jima (Sulfur Island) from the Japanese. The photograph of the raising of the American flag on Mt. Suribachi (1/400th of a second's space in time) is recognized around the world. The men who raised it: John "Doc" Bradley (the author's father);Harlon Block; Rene Gagnon; Ira Hayes; Franklin Sousley; and Mike Strank became instant heroes (though Block, Sousley and Strank died not long after). Bradley, Hayes and Gagnon lived to tell the tale, though both Hayes and Gagnon would die with the pain of their experiences on Iwo Jima seared into their psyches to the point they could not live with it successfully.
1/400th of a second in time
"It's funny what a picture can do":1/400th of a second in time.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Biography    3. History    4. History - Military / War    5. History: World    6. Iwo Jima, Battle of, Japan, 19    7. Iwo Jima, Battle of, Japan, 1945    8. Marines    9. Military    10. Military - Pictorial    11. Military - United States    12. Military - World War II    13. Military History - World War II    14. Photographs    15. Pictorial works    16. United States    17. World War II    18. History / Military / World War II    19. Photographs: collections    20. Second World War, 1939-1945    21. World history: Second World War   

Reviews (11)

Eastern front for dummies
Both of my grandparents fought in WWII on the soviet side, so I'm pretty comfortable with the subject. I've read alot of good stuff about Mr. David Glantz from american, german and russian sources(check out battlefield.ru, choose english language option at the top left, awesome site with lots of info on the subject as well as overview of Mr.Glantz books). In any case this effort by Mr.Glantz is not a book and this is surely can't be called an encyclopedia of Eastern front. This is nothing shourt but a Eastern front for dummies. From a man who knows so much on Eastern front and has access to so much information this book is a joke.

Excellent compact guide to Eastern Front
The brilliant work, Slaugterhouse, by David Glantz is a one of its kind to give the Russians their rightful due in the Second World War. As Mr. Glantz points out in the book, had it not been for the Eastern Front where the Russians took most of the thrust of the Wehrmacht, the war most likely taken a different course. This hand book is a useful guide to anyone wishing to understand this very most important theater. It took many nations to team together to defeat Germany, Italy and Japan. The Allied bombings in Western Europe, the sea battles in the pacific and in Asia, the North African Campaign, and the campaigns in Western Europe have been given total credit for the victory. Mr. Glantz corrects for this and shows how the Russians would have defeated the Germans on their own merit. The reader can find readily information of significant battles and commanders. It is a great guide to use while visiting the Museum of the Great Patriotic War in Moscow. When I was in Moscow the Russians were impressed with this handy book.

A "Must-Have" for the Eastern Front
Without echoing what others have written, this book is one that will appeal to both the neophytes and the veterans of researching the Eastern Front. It is useful on several levels, and contains a wealth of information that in some cases is newly available in the English language!
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Subjects:  1. History    2. History / Military / World War II    3. Military    4. Military - Pictorial    5. Armed Forces    6. Battles & campaigns    7. Eastern Front    8. European history: Second World War    9. Germany    10. Military - World War II    11. Reference    12. Russia    13. Second World War, 1939-1945    14. Soviet Union    15. Waffen-SS    16. World War, 1939-1945    17. World history: Second World War   

Reviews (17)

The Complete Roman Army
Adrian Goldsworthy has really produced a concise and at times detailed look at Roman warfare. This book compliments Caesar Against the Celts, Ceasar's Legion and Nero's Killing Machine. Great addition for historical wargamming.

Great Book
An excelnt edition, fully ilustrated.
The Best Illustrated Reference to the Roman Legions
Unlike other armies in antiquity, the Roman army evolved to be a formal institution with a distinctive military code, standard equipment, defined ranks and duties, as well as laws and procedures affecting the life and retirement of its soldiers. Although service was long (20 years/no family allowed) and discipline was strict (i.e. decimation), it was truly the first modern professional army with very specialized units ranging from doctors and cooks to sappers and siege engineers. Its men were led by leaders such as Lucullus, Pompey, and Caesar who took war as an empirical subject in which politics and well calculated strategies implemented with sound logistics and tactics were the decisive factors to victory. Because of such organization, no army would be as highly organized and trained until those of the late 19th century.Despite its defeats, the Roman army's training and efficiency tenaciously allowed it to overcome superior numbers under higher attrition. It made Rome the master of the Mediterranean world and most of modern Europe for over 1500 years (counting the Byzantine.)
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Subjects:  1. Ancient - Rome    2. Ancient Rome - History    3. Army    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Military - General    8. Military - Other    9. Military - Pictorial    10. Military History (General)    11. Military art and science    12. Rome    13. Ancient Rome    14. Military life & institutions   

Reviews (9)

Great book for re-enactors or beginners
This book is very useful for me. I started interesting about WWII items about 2 months ago. In this book are all pages in color. Great for someone who begin interesting about WWII stuff. I highly recommend you this book. The book is about 50% cheaper here on Amazon then in my country - Czech republic.

Fat, Packed, loaded
Want to know anything about the weapons, uniforms and equipment of world war two GIs in Europe, GET THIS BOOK. It is all here.
Outstanding Reference Guide
For the "Newbie" or the "Veteran" collector.This is a wonderful reference showing great color pictures of nearly every piece of U.S. Military uniform and equipment.The great thing about this guide is it explains and shows the differences in a particular piece comparing it to later issues of the same piece of equipment.Lists items with pictures and dates of issue and use.This book is invaluable in preventing a person for buying an item that maybe represented as original or from a particular year's production when it may in fact be a later version. I highly recommend this book. Oh yeah...for those modelers that have trouble determining what colors to paint uniform items on their soldiers..this book is a godsend. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Antiques / Collectibles    2. History    3. Military    4. Military - Pictorial    5. Military - World War II    6. History / Military / World War II    7. Militaria, arms & armour    8. USA    9. Uniforms & insignia   

Subjects:  1. Europe - Germany    2. History - Military / War    3. Military - Pictorial    4. Military - World War II    5. European history: Second World War    6. History / Military / World War II    7. Second World War, 1939-1945    8. Special & elite forces   

Reviews (5)

A Great Read for Anyone Interested in Aviation History.
World War Two was a highly mechanised and technical war, perhaps no more so than in the air. Development of increasingly more sophisticated aircraft meant a greater demand for technical and general arrangement drawings, as well as a wide range of training material. This lavishly-illustrated book celebrates the unsung and in many cases unknown artists and technical illustrators who created the many thousands of drawings and posters produced by the combatants during the war. It draws together samples of obscure, arcane artwork that in was either intended for a limited readership, or would be regarded as ephemera. This provides us with a glimpse into a special and little-known world of over six decades ago.
Beautiful and Fascinating Aviation History
This fine book is cover-to-cover artwork, and descriptive text, of aviation documents produced during World War II. The documents include public information, manufacturer publicity, military training manuals, and conceptual views. There are quite a few aircraft cut-away drawings, but most of the pictures are solid view renderings intended to show what things looked like and how they worked/were used. Any student of historic aviation will find this book an exciting read. All other aviation enthusiasts will love it for the pictures alone.

A recommended pick for both general collections and in-depth military holdings
World War II students interested in in-depth detail will relish Graphic War: The Secret Aviation Drawings And Illustrations Of World War II: it offers information which until recently was classified and filed away in archives from Britain and the US to Germany and the Soviet Union. Artists on all sides played a major part in the war, creating visual aids vital to pilot training and the aviation industry as a whole. Graphic War surveys artists, drawings, and how the face of the war was transformed because of their efforts. From color cut-away craft illustration to posters, schematics, charts, and other technical works, Graphic War surveys the total impact of graphic art drawings. A recommended pick for both general collections and in-depth military holdings.
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Subjects:  1. Aviation - History    2. Graphic Arts - General    3. History - Military / War    4. Military    5. Military - Aviation    6. Military - Pictorial    7. Military - World War II    8. Transportation    9. Aeronautics, Military - Drawings    10. Air forces & warfare    11. Aircraft: general interest    12. Military vehicles    13. Second World War, 1939-1945    14. Transportation / Aviation / History    15. World War, 1939-1945 - Aerial operations   

Reviews (1)

Production Line to Frontline, the story of the P-51 Mustang
A book for WWII aircraft and modeling enthusiasts. Great little softcover which starts with the circumstances and people leading into the design, developement and prototype testing of the P-51, argueably the mostsuccessfull allied fighter plane of that war. Not a page without a topquality black and white photograph or funky color prints of war propagandaposters. Lots of close up shots of technical details as well as factorylayouts, assembly line photographs,windtunnel testing info, and gossip onthe people involved in this machine's inseption. Well balanced writing,mixing engineering info, historical snaps and human anecdote,ending in ashort chapter featuring a number of fighter aces who flew the Mustang.Madefor three satisfyingevenings of reading.Give us more Michael O'Leary! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - Military / War    3. Military    4. Military - Aviation    5. Military - General    6. Military - Pictorial    7. Military - World War II    8. Military Aircraft - World War II    9. Military Science    10. Air forces & warfare    11. Aircraft: general interest    12. Aviation manufacturing industry    13. History / Military / Aviation    14. History of engineering & technology    15. Military vehicles    16. Second World War, 1939-1945    17. USA   

Reviews (1)

A very impresive book
I had already been impressed by "WWI In Photographs" by the same authour. WWII, however, has been more impresed and contains a larger number of pictures than the former. Do not expect too much from the comments from the authour -please, do not missunderstand- since although they are accurate, they are also brief (this is clearly a "pictures" book). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. History: World    5. Military - Pictorial    6. Military - World War II    7. Pictorial works    8. World War, 1939-1945    9. British & Irish history: Second World War    10. British Isles    11. Europe    12. European history: Second World War    13. History / Military / World War II    14. Photography & Photographs    15. Warfare & Defence    16. Photography   

Reviews (6)

excellent reference
This book is an excellent short reference to the crusades. It is also beautifully illustrated. The fact boxes and appendices are also very good. A good buy

excellent reference book on The Crusades
When I saw the name of Mister Igor Dzis I knew that this book would be beautifully executed,this book is based in the Russian edition by the same name which gave us a nice look inside the weapons and costume of the crusader knight and thier infamous Saracens enemies which is the part that I really enjoy, there is not much books on the subject so enjoy the plates on the arms and armours of the Muslim and Saracens Knights(well remenber that David Nicolle's study on the Saracen Faris Ad 1050-1250 Warrior 10) Easy to Read & Beautiful Art
I'm not much of a history buff, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I'd recommend it to anyone. The text is easy to follow and the art work is very well done -- a fascinating read for those interested in the time period. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History: World    3. Medieval    4. Middle East - General    5. Military - Pictorial   

Reviews (6)

What we do, and how we do it
Catherine stops the action with a great sense of timing. I'm not sure how she does it, but to show violence, heart break, and compassion is incrediable. As a Marine who was on Hill 484 where she took photos, Catherine gets it right. A must read for those who weren't there, her book explains the madness some call a political extension and others call war. Not for the squemish or the undecided, her photos show real people doing what they must to survive. About as real as you can get, and not be there that instant.
Still Waiting...
In no way would I ever take away from the effort and images that most of the photographers mentioned in this book accomplished. What I have always found disheartening (in this book and all previous books published of Vietnam photographs) is the fact that these photographers were pretty much first "shown the ropes" by military combat photographers that were in country. Many military combat photographers on many occasions saved these journalists' asses that were good photographers but were dumber than dirt in a combat zone. I'm still waiting for the book to be published using images of Vietnam by combat photographers that are filed away somewhere in the Dept of Defense archives.

This is Reality Folks!
I first met Catherine Leroy on the Bien Hoa airfield as the 173D Airborne Brigade prepared for Operation Junction City, the only parachute assult of that war. A diminutive blonde French woman, barely in her twenties, Ms Leroy was tough as nails and "cute as a button". I managed to take a photograph of her rigged in her parachute and "armed" with a pair if Leika cameras just before we boarded our aircraft (see the insert inside the back of the dust cover). Cathe was a no nonsense professional then as she is now. She and her colleagues have done a magnificent job of portraying the reality of war. "Under Fire" is a must read, not only for veterans of all wars but, especially for those other souls who have not experienced the realities of combat. Through first rate up close and personal photography, with associatednarrative and comment, Cathe and her "band of brothers" have brought "great dignity to what might otherwise be viewed as a vulgar brawl". ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History - Military / War    2. Military - Pictorial    3. Military - Vietnam War    4. Photo Techniques    5. Photography    6. Photojournalism    7. Pictorial works    8. Vietnam War, 1961-1975    9. Vietnamese Conflict, 1961-1975    10. Photography / Photojournalism   

Reviews (5)

All aspects of the Iraq experience are illustrated.
THIS IS OUR WAR: A SOLDIERS' PORTFOLIO: SERVICEMEN'S PHOTOGRAPHS OF LIFE IN IRAQ is simply outstanding: it offers powerful and personal photos all taken by the men and women serving in Iraq, thus going beyond a reporter's outsider impressions to provide nearly three hundred images culled from tens of thousands GQ collected from servicemen and women. From everyday life to combat, all aspects of the Iraq experience are illustrated.
Beauty and Truth
This book is a remarkable look into the daily lives, trials, and hardships our troops in Iraq are facing. The beauty and truth in the images taken by soldiers is a priceless glimpse into our mission there that every American ought to see.

A picture is worth a thousand words
As I write this review, it is Memorial Day in the United States, a time for remembering those who have sacrificed in conflicts past and present in defense of the nation.We are currently engaged in a conflict, one like no other in many ways (however, I am reminded of the words of Anthony Swofford, who wrote 'Jarhead', that every war is different, and every war is the same).One of the differences of the war in Iraq is the ubiquitous nature of personal recording devices - virtually every soldier and marine on the ground there has a digital camera, a cell phone that takes pictures, a video camera, or other way of making a personal chronicle.This gives a remarkable view and insight into the daily life and work of those who are fighting in Iraq.
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Subjects:  1. Armed Forces    2. Documentary Photo Collections    3. History    4. History - Military / War    5. Iraq    6. Iraq War, 2003-    7. Middle East - General    8. Military    9. Military - Pictorial    10. Military History - 1990-    11. Photoessays & Documentaries    12. Pictorial works    13. United States    14. 21st century    15. Asian / Middle Eastern history: postwar, from c 1945 -    16. History / Military / Pictorial    17. PHOTOGRAPHY / Photoessays & Documentaries    18. Photographs: collections    19. War & defence operations   

Subjects:  1. History / Military / Pictorial    2. History    3. Military - Pictorial   

Reviews (4)

Excellent Visual Companion to WWI
With all due respect to the man from BC, Columbia, this is an excellent book.If you are a visual person you will love this book.It is full of photos, maps, personal histories and letters.Yes, he is correct, there are some errors present, but nothing so significant that it takes away from this wonderful book.
Too much flash
If you are looking to fork $60.00 for photos thats great, however there are serious flaws in the editing of this mammoth book. Photo captions are wrong eg. pg 4 "British army in a trench January 1914"!!! They wear helmets introduced in late 1915, early 1916! The war wasn't on in January 1914! Excellent view of WWI
Beautifully illustrated, and well written.The first chapter called "the Road to War" takes you from 1878 to 1914 and describes the tensions in Europe that lead to war.The rest of the book covers 1914 through 1923.It describes the war on all fronts including what was happening in the Middle East and Russia.The photos are stunning and include pictures of a line of Mark V tanks, the evolution of the machine gun, Russian soldiers caught in barbed wire,etc.Many maps are included showing troop movements and battles.I didn't notice any of the typos mentioned by the previous reviewer.This is a great book for anyone wanting an complete overview of World War Iand I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - Military / War    3. Military    4. Military - General    5. Military - Pictorial    6. Military - World War I    7. Pictorial works    8. World War, 1914-1918    9. History / Military / World War I   

Reviews (2)

Great photography, broad sweep of history, but uninspiring prose.
This is a very nice, broad look at lots of cockpit interiors and aircraft exteriors. It's not as good as Nijboer and Patterson's Cockpits of the Cold War, but I found the pictures very clear and devoid of the overly-dramatic (and obscuring) artsy-fartsy photography typical of aviation history books.
Get in the Cockpit and Fly
If you love aircraft, this is a book for you !The photography of the cockpits is stunning.The information about the control and instruments of flying from the day Wright Brothers, to the Spirit of St. Louis, the Warbirds of WW II, to today's SpacecraftRead more

Subjects:  1. Aeronautics & Astronautics    2. Aviation - History    3. Military - Aviation    4. Military - Pictorial    5. Transportation    6. Aircraft: general interest    7. History of engineering & technology    8. Transportation / Aviation / History   

Reviews (3)

The All American Division.
The photos and accompanying text are excellent. A condensed version of Nordke`s earlier work on the 82nd, but with a much larger format.

Exceptional history, a fine supplement to the first book!
I am both pleased and impressed with this latest work by Mr. Nordyke.This book is an outstanding visual supplement to the history ALL AMERICAN ALL THE WAY which came out last year.
TWO FOR TWO -- HE'S DONE IT AGAIN!!
Phil Nordyke's latest work THE ALL AMERICANS IN WORLD WAR TWO is truly a magnificent work of eye-poping photo journalism worthy of it's juggernaut narrative companion volume ALL AMERICAN ALL THE WAY!
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Subjects:  1. History    2. History - Military / War    3. Military    4. Military - Aviation    5. Military - Pictorial    6. Military - United States    7. Military - World War II    8. Air forces & warfare    9. American history: Second World War    10. History / Modern / 20th Century    11. Photography & Photographs    12. The Americas   

Reviews (15)

A must have for Tiger fans!!!
This is THE BOOK for anyone interested in this legendary vehicle.
An Excellent Reference
Tigers in Combat, Vol. 1 is an excellent reference for serious scale modellers and for others who have a need for details of German Army Tiger tanks in WW II. The range of photographs is extensive, with many published for the first time. Summaries of individual heavy tank battalion operations throughout the war and details of their organization are invaluable -- especially for the diorama builder. One point of criticism is the treatment of the system of numbers used to identify vehicles in Heavy Tank Battalion 505. This unit used an unique system whereby a mounted knight replaced the German cross on the turrets, and the vehicle numbers were placed on the main guns. This system is explained on page 256 of the book -- company number in large numerals on the gun mantlet, with platoon and tank numbers in smaller type on the gun barrel. However in at least a half-dozen cases elsewhere in the book, photo captions do not follow this rule, thus causing confusion and thereby detracting from an otherwise first class publication.

Exceptional value.
This edition makes the english translation available to all those unable to bear the far higher cost of the limited edition. Stackpole continue making these seminal works on German armor available to all. I recomend this title and the series to the amateur WW2 historian. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Germany    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. Military    5. Military - Pictorial    6. Military - Weapons    7. Military - World War II    8. Germany    9. Military vehicles    10. Second World War, 1939-1945   

Reviews (8)

Essential, Important, & Inclusive, but falls short of "Best"
Widely praised as the best single volume history of the American Civil War, James McPherson's `Battle Cry of Freedom' comes close, but does not quite live up to that high praise. It has many virtues to recommend it, yet it contains flaws that are closely related to its virtues which, to my mind, make it fall short of the admittedly arbitrary "best" status.
Civil War Without Lincoln?
I've spent the last five hours reading big chunks of McPherson's book. It is full of scholarly political insights, and best of all, full of wonderful photos and paintings from the Civil War Era.Interstingly: the author's sense of the era is greatly extended in the beginning.His first 184 pages (of 760 total) discuss the Louisiana Purchase, the Mormon trek to Utah, the War with Mexico, etc.Finally on page 185 the southern sessession begins and the presidential election results of 1860 are shown.Even more interesting: the book abruptly ends before the war did.In the final chapter, in which Lee meets Grant at Appomattox, the closing sentence is a quote from John Wilkes Booth vowing, "Now by God I'll put him through..."That's the end.Then in the Epilogue, the first sentence is: "The weeks after Booth fulfilled his vow..." and continues with a one-paragraph kaliedescope of various events.Strangely nothing is said about the assassination of Pres. Abraham Lincoln that put such an emotional exclamation point on the end of the war.I also checked, and Lincoln's famous Gettysburg address is not included either.So give it four stars for good writing (although not the equal of a Will Durant) and some excellent insights, but what about Lincoln?Go figure.

Amazon's Packaging :((((((
I have returned this item TWICE to Amazon.For some reason, they do not think it needs much packaging.Its not a $12.95 paperback, its a signed,limited edition, slipcase edition and should be treated as such.If you want to get a good copy I would recommend buying it a bricks and mortar store.The extra $$ you pay will be worth it in the long run. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Campaigns    2. Civil War, 1861-1865    3. History    4. History - U.S.    5. History: American    6. Military - General    7. Military - Pictorial    8. Pictorial works    9. United States    10. United States - Civil War    11. History / United States / Civil War Period (1850-1877)    12. History, American | Civil War & Reconstruction   

Reviews (3)

Excellent book
I must admit I am a bit biased. My son was in Buds class 246 which is the subject of the book. It gave me a real life insight into what BUDs is really all about. I had a difficult time finding the book a local books stores and really appreciated the fact that Amazon carried it. Some hard to find dealers wanted as much as $120.00 for a used copy of it.

Nice depicted pictoral of basic BUD/S training
This oversized pictorial book describes the training conducted at BUD/S in pretty good detail. In my opinion the photographer, did a fairly decent job with the capture methods used to entail the rigorous training involved in the six month training program.

AWESOME
First of all, it's HUGE and BOLD! ... not wimpy on presentation.Very interesting narrative you don't normally see in photographer's projects; you can really follow these soldiers through their intriguing training process and their "becoming". ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions    2. Individual Photographer    3. Photo Techniques    4. Photography    5. Photojournalism    6. Naval forces & warfare    7. Special & elite forces    8. USA   

Reviews (7)

Savage Tales!
Whenever you are disgusted with the disgraceful passive-aggressive, anti-confrontational, and indirectly rude bahavior which characterizes our present age, open Mr. Kirchner's excellent tome of warriors! These were people who weren't afraid to go into harm's way. They solved their conflicts with blades, bullets, and bare fists! No "sensitivity training" for these worthy fighters! The author has compiled his list of his favorite fighting men and women, from antiquity to the present. We all have our own list that we would compile in a similar manner, but this list is damned good! I would have included more U.S. Marines, Vikings, Medieval Knights, and Samurai, but this not my book! In here you will find a number of well-known heros and rogues, and many more who should be better known than they are. Here is a sampling: