The Battle of Verdun claims the dubious distinction of being the longest battle of World War I. The fighting began in February 1916 and raged on for ten months, finally ending in December. Its combined casualty count of French and German soldiers numbered more than 700,000, of which 262,308 were either dead or missing. The battle left a keen sense of national pride in the hearts of the French people. It also left a deep emotional scar in their collective psyche.A hundred years after the last guns fell silent along the River Meuse, the mere mention of the name Verdun still evokes ghastly and ghostly remembrances of the unspeakable horror of 1916. Nine villages that once stood on the surroundings in Verdun, vibrant and gay, disappeared in the deathly rain of artillery and mortar shells. They exist today only as names on maps and perhaps in the whispers of the spectral sentinels that patrol the verdant countryside and watch over a nation's dead.
Children will delight in learning about military tanks. Mighty Tanks introduces readers to the different parts that make up a tank and explains how these mighty armored vehicles move over rough terrain.
For kids who love airplanes, it doesn't get any more exciting than fighter jets! Young readers will be fascinated to learn about the different kinds of modern fighter jets, how they operate, and their purpose during wartimeto fight the enemy in the air and control the skies.
Young readers will be amazed by the photos of armored fighting vehicles, or AFVs, in this informative book. Military vehicles protected with plating, such as tanks, artillery, and personnel carriers, are featured along with explanations of how they work and how their armor plating protects them.
Dynamic photos and simple text explain the different roles helicopters play in the military. Young readers will discover which kinds of helicopters are used by the military for rescue, to carry personnel, and to carry out missions. The special features of each kind of helicopter are described.
What does it feel like to live in a pressurized metal tube 1000 feet (300 m) under the ocean, and only steps away from lethally dangerous nuclear fissile material? Nuclear submariners know. In wartime, theirs is an unenviable task - to hunt other submarines and destroy them before they themselves can be hunted down. Nuclear power allows these submarines to operate at high speed for long durations without having to surface frequently. Nuclear submarines never need to be refueled throughout their 25-year life-span. This fascinating book looks at what life is like for the men who live and work together on these boats; what the inside of a nuclear submarine looks like and how it works; how the sea gives the submariners all the air they need to breathe while under water; and how they "fight" the boat while they hunt other submarines.
Piloting experimental aircraft is more dangerous than most other types of flying. Test pilots are generally military aviators who fly new and modified aircraft, allowing the results to be measured and the design to be evaluated. In the 1950s, test pilots were being killed at the rate of about one a week, but the risks have shrunk to a fraction of that, thanks to the sophistication of aircraft technology, better ground-testing, and simulation of aircraft performance. Despite their image as fun-loving daredevils, these pilots have to be ruthlessly precise and professional when flying. This intriguing book looks at what type of people become test pilots, how they train, what the job includes, how it feels to be the first person to fly a new design, the aircraft they fly, and how they analyze and report on each flight.
When the heat gets turned up in a conflict, support helicopter pilots are called upon to bring in additional troops and equipment or even provide battle support from the air. In modern warfare, the helicopter's agility and hovering ability have made it indispensible to the army, navy, air force, and marines for tactical support. This book describes the different missions support helicopter pilots undertake and the dangerous circumstances they must usually fly under.
These army pilots fly the most demanding helicopter in existence, a machine so complex to operate that its known as Riding the Dragon. Only 3% of existing army helicopter pilots qualify to fly it. Trainees have to learn to train their eyes to work independently of each other while the right eye sees flight and weapons information in the helmet's monocle, the left eye is free to look outside the aircraft and scan for threats and other obstacles. And, flying the helicopter is only half the battle - its purpose is to provide firepower from the air to protect soldiers on the ground. This book lifts the lid on what life is like for these men and women: their training; the aircraft; the missions, and what its actually like to be under fire while flying.
The backbone of any army, infantry soldiers seem to get all of the action but none of the glory. Trained for the very physical and aggressive work of engaging the enemy on the ground, the infantry's main focus is to advance on the enemy, take control of territory, and hold it. Not surprisingly the infantry tends to take high casualties because they are usually sent to the hottest spots in combat. This book looks at the high-risk jobs of the infantry soldier, including attack, defense, patrol, and intelligence gathering.
This book follows a student who is helping set up a museum exhibit about the Civil War. The student uses primary sources and artifacts to learn about the causes of the war, the hardships of the war, and how the war concluded.
This fascinating title chronicles the U.S. bombing of these Japanese cities during World War II. Topics include the development of the atomic bomb, Truman's decision to drop the bombs, and the long-term consequences of this historical event. Primary source accounts present reactions from both sides.
On December 7, 1941, Americans woke up to find World War II had landed harshly at their doorstep. This amazing book describes the surprise air raid by Japan on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, that shocked the United States into joining the war in Europe. This gripping account describes events leading up to the attack, the preparation made by the Japanese military, the chaos of the attack, and the unleashing of the atomic bomb afterward on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
This title provides a factual and in-depth look at one of the bloodiest battles in American history. Features include a day-by-day breakdown of events, profiles of major figures, and a detailed review of President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, one of the most important speeches in American history.
This gripping title describes the events of June 6, 1944 and explains how the Normandy landings had a momentous effect on the outcome of the war.
This title provides a detailed overview of the Navy SEALs, including the history of the organization, training programs, equipment, and the type of missions they perform.
Each year on November 11th, millions of people in Canada and other countries in the Commonwealth take time to remember the men and women who served their countries during times of war. This book describes how people around the world hold similar services to make sure that the sacrifices they made for the world's security are remembered. Poppies, poems, and special prayers are featured as important symbols and traditions.
This volume details the crucial early battles of the Civil War in 1861-62, including the firing on Fort Sumter, the Confederate victory at First Manassas (Bull Run), Stonewall Jackson's Shenandoah Valley campaign, the Union victory at Shiloh, and Robert E. Lee's Second Manassas (Bull Run) success. Timelines, annotated diagrams, and colorful maps bring each battle to life.
This fascinating book describes Canada's coming of age during World War I on the battlefields and at home. When Britain declared war on Germany, it meant that Canada was at war, too. Most Canadians supported the war, but the government faced opposition about conscription from French-speaking Canadians who did not feel a particular loyalty to Britain. In the air, the incredible feats of Canadian flying ace Billy Bishop made him a hero back home. On the battlefield, Britain came to rely on Canadian soldiers, who had a formidable reputation for taking and holding military objectives when other troops had failed. Find out how the victories of Canadian shock troops in battles at Ypres (where they faced mustard gas poisoning), the Somme, Vimy Ridge, Hill 70, and Passchendaele helped give Canada a presence on the world stage.
When war was declared in Europe in 1914, Americans were divided about becoming involved. President Wilson vowed to keep the United States neutral and tried to influence each side in the war through diplomacy. In this compelling book, readers will learn how the loss of American lives on the torpedoed ship RMS Lusitania and a telegram from Germany asking Mexico to join the German side convinced the American government to declare war on Germany in 1917. Find out how the American people responded at home, and how fresh troops from the United States, nicknamed doughboys, helped re-energize the Allies fight. Victories in the air by American aces, such as Rickenbacker, and on the battlefields of Amiens, the Marne, and the Argonne Forest are highlighted.
Events in 1917 had a dramatic influence on the course of World War I. This exciting book about the second half of World War I details the effects of the political revolution in Russia and the entry of the United States into the war. Exciting stories of tank warfare, war at sea, and war in the airhighlighting famous flying acesare featured along with such famous battles as Vimy, Passchendaele, and the Hundred Day Offensive. Find out how fresh U.S. forces helped bring the war to a conclusion and an armistice, or agreement to stop fighting, with Germany.
Abraham Lincoln. Robert E. Lee. Ulysses S. Grant. William Tecumseh Sherman. Jefferson Davis. Stonewall Jackson. These larger than life figures tower in history and their decisions and actions influenced the progress and outcome of the Civil War. This volume gives background on the politicians, generals, naval and militia commanders, and other prominent people who were involved in the Civil War, including African American leaders and women.
More than 3 million men served in the Union and Confederate militaries during the Civil War. This volume traces their recruitment, training, battle tactics, weapons, food and clothing, and medical care during the long struggle. Issues of conscription, desertion, African American regiments, and prisoners of war are covered. Primary source text and period photographs bring the battlefield camps and soldiers' experiences to life for young readers.
As the Civil War entered its final years in 1864-65, several important campaigns would be fought. Petersburg, Mobile Bay, Franklin/Nashville, Sherman's March to the Sea, and Five Forks are all covered in this volume. The significance of General Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House is also discussed. Primary source text and photographs accompany colorful maps and timelines.
This engaging graphic novel recounts three historic battles at sea during World War I: Second Blood to U-9, September 22, 1914; Under Savage Fire, May 31, 1916; and The Zeebrugge Raid, April 23, 1918.
