By Pudge
If you enjoy history and diving into the roots of current
military units around the world then this is the perfect book for you. It is an
easy read that makes you feel like you are right there beside these history
making warriors. For those that have served it will make you re-live some of
your toughest moments.
The book starts with David Stirling’s brilliant plan to wage
a new kind of warfare against the Axis powers in the vast North African desert.
It follows the heroics of these brave and daring Soldiers from their rough beginnings
in the desert through Italy and finally through the push into France and
Germany. You will feel the frustrations as the successful new unit starts being
used incorrectly by higher echelons and then revel in the victory of proper utilization.
It is again maddening to see the termination of the unit after the end of WWII
only for Britain to immediately realize there will always be a need for such a
specialized group of men.
I really enjoyed this book because in a way, the SAS are the
forefathers of the unit that I currently serve in within 7th Special
Forces Group. Ben Macintyre writes a very thrilling book that is definitely worth
a read.
Concur with all! An excellent read, and yes, frustrating at times as the misuse ramped up, much like what we are seeing with SOCOM community right now.
ReplyDeleteOld NFO,
DeleteTo me the biggest frustration is that we haven't appeared to learn and are repeating the same mistakes.
All of his books are good, this is my favorite of his. That cover has also become a screensaver.
ReplyDeleteThere's an older book out about the SBS in WWII, Raiders from the Sea, by John Lodwick, that's a great companion to this book.
Matt,
DeleteThanks for the info, I'll definitely be looking into his other books and the one by John Lodwick.
Hey Pudge;
ReplyDeleteI'll check it out. I have heard of the SAS being formed, how they were used in Africa, then being disbanded, then the British discovering that they needed them postwar in Malaysia and other insurgencies from the commie Pinko's. to the "troubles" in Ireland and to the present.
Mr. Garabaldi,
DeleteIt is quite amazing to learn how they were started and they way they initially conducted warfare.