Osprey will be releasing two new titles in October.
This book, which features full-colour artwork, carefully selected archive photographs and incisive analysis, sheds light on the Commonwealth and Italian Infantrymen who participated in the seesaw battle for control of the North African coastline as it entered its decisive phase, played out over two bloody engagements during July to October 1942. Featuring full-colour artwork, carefully chosen archive photographs and incisive analysis, this book casts light on the Commonwealth and Italian infantrymen who participated in the seesaw battle for control of the North African coastline as it entered its decisive phase, played out over two bloody engagements during July-October 1942.
Although Allied and Axis commanders saw armour as the decisive weapon in the Desert War, the infantry fielded by both sides would be key to the outcomes of the two El Alamein battles. The majority of Axis forces at the First Battle of El Alamein were Italians, who mainly fought as infantry. Commonwealth troops made up the bulk of Eighth Army. This book is a fascinating account of Australia’s largest military operation of World War II, the biggest Allied offensive in the South-West Pacific. In eight weeks the island was overrun and all Dutch and British Indians defenders were ejected. The US invasion of the Philippines in late 1944 effectively isolated oil and resource rich Borneo from Japan. Now that it was considered a worthy strategic prize for the Allies, General Douglas MacArthur, commanding the South-West Pacific Theater, began planning for the recapture of the key island.
This compelling work explores the planning and execution of Operation
Oboe
, which was spearheaded by Australian troops but involved naval and special forces from the United States, Britain and the Netherlands. Maps are used to explore each stage, which included amphibious landings. Photographs and artwork of battlescenes bring important events to life, such as Tarakan’s capture, Labuan’s, Brunei, and Sarawak. The Allied Special Forces Guerrilla Campaigns and the Australian 7th Infantry Division landing at Balikapan – which was the turning point in this long-fought campaign – are also covered.