Series: Command

A focused, military biography of Heinz Guderian, perhaps the most highly respected tank commander of World War II. Guderian was a typical product of the Prussian military elite; the son of a general in the army, there was little doubt that he would follow in his father's footsteps. Some consider Guderian to be the founding father of blitzkrieg warfare, and...

This Osprey Command title looks closely at the early life, military experiences, and key battlefield exploits of Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, first Viscount Montgomery of Alamein (1887–1976), perhaps the best-known, most highly respected, and most controversial British general of World War II. Monty's reputation was made while in command in North Africa, in the Mediterranean, and then North-West Europe....

Bill Slim was one of the greatest British generals of World War II. In a career that stretched from 1914 until 1958, his greatest triumphs came in India and Burma during the long war against the Japanese. Thrust into a desperate situation, he orchestrated the longest retreat in British Army history in the withdrawal from Burma. He then turned on...

Erich von Manstein was one of the most successful German commanders of World War II. His military mind proved outstanding in many a conflict, but perhaps his greatest triumph was his ingenious operational plan that led to the rapid defeat of France in May 1940. Manstein also showed great skill under adversity by commanding a furious rebuff to the Soviet...

Nicknamed 'The Desert Fox' for his cunning command of the Afrika Korps, Erwin Rommel remains one of the most popular and studied of Germany's World War II commanders. He got his first taste of combat in World War I, where his daring command earned him the Blue Max, Germany's highest decoration for bravery. He followed this up with numerous successes...

An examination of the life, military experiences and key battlefield exploits of Giuseppe Garibaldi. Born on 4 July 1807 in the city of Nice, the turning point in his life occurred in April 1833 when he met Giovanni Battista Cuneo, a member of the secret movement known as 'Young Italy'. Joining this society, Garibaldi took an oath dedicating his life...

General Omar Bradley was the premier US Army tactical commander in the European Theatre of Operations in 1944–45. A West Point classmate of Dwight Eisenhower, Bradley was the quintessential US field commander of World War II. He was elevated to high command with little combat experience but had a solid track record as a skilled planner and organiser. Bradley was...

A close look at the early life, military experiences and key battlefield exploits of Al-Malik al-Nasir Yusuf Ibn Najm al-Din Ayyub Ibn Shahdi Abu'l-Muzaffar Salah al-Din, broadly regarded as the greatest hero of the Crusades, even in Europe. Most chroniclers present him as a man of outstanding virtue, courage and political skill. More recently, however, efforts have been made to...