{"title":"Nicholas Rankin","description":"\u003cp\u003eNicholas Rankin is a distinguished author renowned for his detailed and immersive narratives in the \u003cem\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Military\u003c\/em\u003e genre. His works delve into the fascinating tales and strategies behind some of the most pivotal moments in 20th-century warfare and espionage. With a keen eye for historical detail and a storyteller's flair, Rankin offers readers an engaging journey into the past.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cstrong\u003eChurchill's Wizards\u003c\/strong\u003e, Rankin unveils the covert operations and brilliant deception tactics employed by Britain's military during World War II, bringing to light the ingenious minds that concocted daring ploys to mislead the enemy. \u003cstrong\u003eDefending the Rock\u003c\/strong\u003e further explores military history, focusing on the strategic importance and valiant defence of Gibraltar amidst the backdrop of wartime challenges. Meanwhile, \u003cstrong\u003eIan Fleming's Commandos\u003c\/strong\u003e takes readers on an exhilarating ride through the elite commando units organised in part by the famed creator of James Bond, illustrating the extraordinary efforts and daring missions that bolstered the Allied war effort.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you're a history buff or simply enjoy a captivating narrative, Nicholas Rankin’s books offer an insightful and thought-provoking exploration of historical events that shaped the modern world. Discover his expertly crafted stories and gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of warfare and espionage. \u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"churchills-wizards-by-nicholas-rankin-9780571221967","title":"Churchill's Wizards","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe story of how the British really won two world wars - by conning the Kaiser, hoaxing Hitler, and bluffing their way out of trouble.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePretend German radio stations broadcast outrageous British propaganda in Germany. British geniuses broke German secret codes and eavesdropped on their messages. Every German spy in Britain was captured, and many were used to send back false information to their controllers. Forged documents misled their Intelligence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBogus wireless traffic from entire phantom armies, dummy airfields with model planes, disguised ships, and inflatable rubber tanks created a vital illusion of strength. Culminating in the spectacular misdirection that was so essential to the success of D-Day in 1944, \u003cem\u003eChurchill's Wizards\u003c\/em\u003e is a thrilling work of popular military history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46848649625836,"sku":"9780571221967","price":36.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9895783482391.jpg?v=1758996969"},{"product_id":"defending-the-rock-by-nicholas-rankin-9780571307722","title":"Defending the Rock","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwo months before he shot himself, Adolf Hitler saw where it had all gone wrong. By failing to seize Gibraltar in the summer of 1940, he lost the war.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Rock of Gibraltar, a pillar of British sea-power since 1704, looked formidable but was extraordinarily vulnerable. Though menaced on all sides by Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, Vichy France, and Francoist Spain, every day Gibraltar had to let thousands of people cross its frontier to work. Among them came spies and saboteurs, eager to blow up its 25 miles of secret tunnels. In 1942, Gibraltar became US General Eisenhower's HQ for the invasion of North Africa, the campaign that led to Allied victory in the Mediterranean.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNicholas Rankin's revelatory new book, whose cast of characters includes Haile Selassie, Anthony Burgess, and General Sikorski, sets Gibraltar in the wider context of the struggle against fascism, from Abyssinia through the Spanish Civil War. It also chronicles the end of empire and the rise to independence of the Gibraltarian people.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46848963444972,"sku":"9780571307722","price":32.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/10753333482391.jpg?v=1759006108"},{"product_id":"ian-flemings-commandos-by-nicholas-rankin-9780571250639","title":"Ian Fleming's Commandos","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1942, Lieutenant-Commander Ian Fleming was a personal assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence—the dynamic figure behind James Bond's fictional chief, 'M'. Here, Fleming had a brilliant idea: why not set up a unit of authorised looters, men who would go in hard with the front-line troops and steal enemy intelligence?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eKnown as '30 Assault Unit', they took part in the major campaigns of the Second World War, landing on the Normandy beaches and helping to liberate Paris. 30AU's final amazing coup was to seize the entire archives of the German Navy—thirty tons of documents. Ian Fleming flew out in person to get the loot back to Britain, where it was combed for evidence to use in the Nuremberg trials.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this gripping and highly enjoyable book, Nicholas Rankin, author of the best-selling \u003cem\u003eChurchill's Wizards\u003c\/em\u003e, puts 30 Assault Unit's fascinating story in a strategic and intelligence context. He also argues that Ian Fleming's Second World War service was one of the most significant periods of his life—without this, the most popular spy fiction of the twentieth century would not have been written.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46849298039020,"sku":"9780571250639","price":36.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/10182503482391.jpg?v=1759036570"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/nicholas-rankin.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}