Stackpole Military History
2 total works
The birth and baptism of fire of one of Britain's most illustrious military units Studded with numerous firsthand descriptions from soldiers in the African desert Head to head with Erwin Rommel in Africa, the British Eighth Army enjoyed superior numbers and a more effective air force, but despite the valor of its men, it had difficulty turning those advantages into battlefield victory because of command, equipment, and morale problems. After modest success during Operation Crusader in November 1941, the Eighth Army found itself battered and driven back for much of the ensuing year as Rommel scored victory after victory. Not until the fall of 1942 at the Alamein Line did the Eighth Army's fortunes begin to reverse."
Readers of this Author's Eighth Army's Greatest Victories (shortly to appear as a Penguin paperback) will welcome this latest work covering the difficult early period of what was to become one of the most illustrious formations in British military history. Born from the Western Desert force, the Eighth Army was beset with command, equipment and morale problems before it emerged to enjoy glory. The book recounts the events of the first year of Eighth Army's existence when it enjoyed the advantages of superior numbers, superior tanks (contrary to legend), superior Intelligence and the support of a more effective air force. Despite these benefits and the undoubted valour of its soldiers, however, it suffered a series of defeats or, even more disheartening, successes which brought no lasting benefit. The book describes these events and explains the reasons with authority.