The Human Face of War (Birmingham War Studies) by Jim Storr. For me so far a very insightful 'dense' read which takes more time then usual, which is a good sign. Got the kindle edition, which seems cheap for the value you get.
The Human Face of War (Birmingham War Studies) by Jim Storr. For me so far a very insightful 'dense' read which takes more time then usual, which is a good sign. Got the kindle edition, which seems cheap for the value you get.
... "We need officers capable of following systematically the path of logical argument to its conclusion, with disciplined intellect, strong in character and nerve to execute what the intellect dictates"
General Ludwig Beck (1880-1944);
Speech at the Kriegsakademie, 1935
I just finished reading David Kilcullen's Out of the Mountains: the Coming Age of the Urban Guerrilla.
It was a great read as he has not rested on his laurels with his current theories on how to conduct counterinsurgency, but has built upon it.
Chapter 3 on his "Theory of Competitive Control" and the Appendix on how to conduct amphibious assaults on heavily populated cities was worth the price of the book alone.
An example of "Competitive Control" in a peaceful society such as Australia is the use of traffic lights, road rules, and law enforcement all combining together to create normalcy, security, and predictability for Australian citizens. However, in conflicts zones these systems can be manipulated by criminal organisations, or even terrorist elements. But "Competitive Control" is a two-way street, i.e., criminal/terrorist organisations need a population to provide services to, and the population needs criminal/terrorist organisation to receive services from.
He also identifies four "megatrends" that will shape future conflicts.
1. Population growth. The global population will increase to 9.5 billion by the year 2050.
2. Accelerated urbanisation. 75% of these 9.5 billion people will be urbanised.
3. Littoralism. This urbanised population will be concentrated on coastlines in the developing world.
4. Increasing connectedness. Communication and networking opportunities in these coastal cities will increase because of easy access to the Internet, mobile telephones, and social media.
Sorry if this sounds like an advertisement for the book - I've just copied and pasted different parts of a book review I did on it.
Last edited by @timrayner7; 10-03-2014 at 09:40 AM.
timothyrayner.com
Il sergente nella neve, or The Sergent in the Snow. It is one of the most famous Italian novels about the second world war, but surprisingly I never read it before.
Redirected from their way to the Caucasus find themselves thinly spread in the vast open steppe in the freezing temperatures of the winter 42-43, holding the western bank of the Don with few mobile units in depth. Apart from local infiltrations to capture 'tongues' and sporadic sniper activity it is quite Then down the chain of command come reports that Soviet tanks have broken through and the part one 'The strongpoint' gives way among confusion to 'The pocket'...
A brilliant little book of a desperate chapter in a miserable war, I will read more of Stern. In military terms it meshes in some areas remarkably with 'The Human Face of War' and some German 'lessons learned'. For example in a terrbile situation the morale gathered from strong human ties dating often back to areas, schools and villages back home helps to fight towards it.
Last edited by Firn; 10-10-2014 at 08:48 PM.
... "We need officers capable of following systematically the path of logical argument to its conclusion, with disciplined intellect, strong in character and nerve to execute what the intellect dictates"
General Ludwig Beck (1880-1944);
Speech at the Kriegsakademie, 1935
Firn,
Thanks for that discovery. One to add to my list.
I was aware of the Italian Army in Russia, although not in detail. Then a few years ago I read in Jamaica Anthony Beevor's book on Stalingrad, which refers to the Italians in the steppes and a detachment who were surrounded in the city whilst trying to get timber for their field positions.
The Italians were in the Crimea campaign and the siege of Sevastapol before the campaign towards the Caucasus and Stalingrad.
davidbfpo
girls just want to have fun
Warfare and the Third World by Robert E. Harkavy and Stephanie G. Neuman.
The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James Cone.
"Confusion will be my epitaph
As I crawl a cracked and broken path
If we make it we can all sit back and laugh,"
King Crimson, Epitaph
SHADOWS OF A FORGOTTEN PAST: To the Edge with the Rhodesian SAS and Selous Scouts
by Paul French
Glad to help. I don't know how the translation is. In the orginal dialects play a considerable role, just as the Italian army slang of that time.Originally Posted by davidbfpo
I'm not sure about the Crimea one but as Alpini or mountain troops they were earmarked as far as I know for the Caucasus before getting used to hold those extended lines along the Don. Which also meant that they were not only relatively badly equipped as was usual for Italian forces, but also very lightly. If the anti-tank situation was dire for the standard German infantry divisions it was even more so for the Italian mountain ones. Leadership, up from the junior level and morale were problems for Italian troops, less so arguably for the Alpini. I think the rather competent Balck asked why an Italian should fight at the river Don - a question arising also in that book not only once...
Still it seems that the company of Stern wasn't doing badly and did more then it's share in breaking blocking positions, sometimes with German armored and combined fire support.
Writing from a German camp after refusing to join in 1943 he doesn't shy away from describing the nasty and criminal stuff comitted by others or unknowns which is usually omitted if done by one's side. No surprises there, especially if at best the discipline broke down in some of the troops of the various nations or it was seen as 'military necessity'...
Last edited by Firn; 10-13-2014 at 07:21 PM.
... "We need officers capable of following systematically the path of logical argument to its conclusion, with disciplined intellect, strong in character and nerve to execute what the intellect dictates"
General Ludwig Beck (1880-1944);
Speech at the Kriegsakademie, 1935
WW2 Crimean campaign: Italians fighting?
Firn replied:When I visited Sevastapol our guides pointed out an Italian war memorial, built recently after the USSR fell - that is what I relied upon.I'm not sure about the Crimea one...
Incidentally the official German war cemetery organisation pulled out when they realised their negoitations were not with the local government, but the local mafia.There was only a wooden marker on a German mass grave.
I shall see if my memory can be confirmed by some research.
davidbfpo
Maybe your guide intended to say Romanian, which speak a Romance languages and fought with the Germans in considerable numbers against Soviet troops from 1941-1944. I can not recall anything about Italians, nor did I find any in the order of the Sevastopol battles in Crimea:Where the Iron Crosses grow. Another book which I intend to read in the future but time is harder to find then the money for good books.
... "We need officers capable of following systematically the path of logical argument to its conclusion, with disciplined intellect, strong in character and nerve to execute what the intellect dictates"
General Ludwig Beck (1880-1944);
Speech at the Kriegsakademie, 1935
Jim Storr is heavily involved with the Journal of Military Operations. The British Army senior leadership seems to regards him as part of the 'awkward squad', somewhat of an accolade I think.
If you enjoyed The Human Face of War another book that is worth reading is:
Brains and Bullets
RR
"War is an option of difficulties"
An Intimate War
Simply a book to read and discover what Helmandis thought of the ISAF visit to their land. A second read is probably needed. Short of time? Read the introduction and the conclusion.
Mike Martin's book 'An Intimate War: An Oral History of the Helmand Conflict' attracted publicity just before publication this year, when officialdom (UK MoD) sought to stop it; the author being a reserve Army officer, commissioned to conduct the research for a doctorate @ Kings War Studies.
This is not a book about combat in Helmand Province, though fighting does appear, before 9/11 and after US / UK / ISAF appeared. Using numerous face-to-face interviews with Helmandis the author creates a narrative to explain what is both a simple tribal society and a complex operating environment. Minus the conflict, notably since the UK's arrival in 2006, some powerful Helmandis have made a fortune and the main US$ earner, opium poppy production has increased.
The official legend that ISAF was fighting an insurgency for Afghanistans as represented by their government was not the reality Helmandis experienced.
It is fascinating to read and learn that to Helmandis the terms 'government' and 'police' for two notable examples do not mean what we think they mean. Those two are privately-run enterprises to make US$ from enabling commerce - by 'protecting' road traffic and the drugs trade.
That the Helmandis thought the British were allied with the Taliban (a factional, local coalition; with limited external ties and ISI support) took me by surprise. It seemed so illogical and was based on their long held hostility to the British, who in the First and Second Afghan Wars had invaded their homeland (not then called Helmand Province). The British were there for revenge and sadly repeated the Soviet approach to COIN. The Helmandis noticed that the small Estonian contingent included Soviet-era veterans.
Within this confused, barely understood situation - one Helmandi told the author, even with his studying, he only knew 1% of what was happening on the ground - ISAF had various approaches. The use of SOF is criticised, partly as their targeting was based on rivals accussing them of being 'Taliban'.
This book is similar to Carter Malkasian's book and if read together would give anyone a guide to what intervention in Afghanistan really faced. (My review of Carter Malkasian's book see Post 68 on:http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...ead.php?t=3192 ).
No wonder the UK's former senior Army commander, General Sir David Richards writes this is THE book on Helmand.
UK Amazon has many reviews:http://www.amazon.co.uk/An-Intimate-...pr_product_top
Amazon.com has only one:http://www.amazon.com/Intimate-War-H...n+intimate+war
Last edited by davidbfpo; 12-20-2014 at 05:02 PM.
davidbfpo
when you wish upon a star
The Administration of Fear by Paul Virilio
Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy
"We build a tower of stone
With our flesh and bone
To see him fly
But we don't know why" Rainbow, Stargazer
See you in November: The Story of an SAS Assassin by Peter Stiff
http://www.amazon.com/See-You-Novemb.../dp/1919854053
Think Like a Freak: The Authors of Freakonomics Offer to Retrain Your Brain by Levitt and Dubner
http://www.amazon.com/Think-Like-Fre...k+like+a+freak
Flagg,
Thanks for the reminder that Peter Stiff (Ex-BSAP) is still publishing via Galago; over many years he has published key works on the wars in Southern Africa. Have a peek:http://www.galago.co.za/index.htm
Another publisher, UK-based, that specialises in those wars is on:http://www.30degreessouth.co.uk/cata...x.php/cPath/29
davidbfpo
No worries David!
I know there has been a longstanding forum thread about Fireforce(and a heated discussion about it's applicability or lack of it in recent conflicts), but in some of Stiff's books(See you in November and Selous Scouts: Top Secret War) I reckon if you update them for the Bladerunner world we seem to be living, and focus on Title 50 over Title 10, it doesn't take a stretch of the imagination to see potential applicability to today and the near future with the right approach.
It's probably already been happening, but I think the history of external operations in the Rhodesian/Zimbabwean Bush War provide the best available window into possibilities regarding recent/current/near future operations.
Just my 0.02c
There's also www.dandy.co.za
Although Jonathan Pittaway's SAS and Selous Scouts books can now only be found on the secondary market at sometimes exceptionally high prices.
I managed to secure copies and they are VERY good.
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