Seventy years ago the army’s elite air assault force, the Parachute Regiment was formed, tough and well-trained, designed to fight hazardous operations behind enemy lines, with little or no backup. These are the ‘Sky Men’. Any army’s mavericks. Trained to operate independently in testing conditions. Dropping into the middle of enemy territory, these tough British, American, German and Russian soldiers engage in gruelling combat the most dangerous conflict zones in the world. Robert Kershaw, an ex-Parachute Regiment officer, reveals the history of these airborne forces, and their important role during the most dramatic battles of the twentieth century. He finds out what makes them tick, what drives a ‘Sky Man’ to take these extraordinary risks, what marks these sky warriors out from ordinary soldiers? Based on exclusive interviews with soldiers from around the world, as well as letters and diaries, Sky Men is full of vivid personalities, and nail-biting action. It is the story of the army’s biggest risk-takers, The Paras.
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Reviews
Historian Robert Kershaw uses interviews, diaries and letters to give a unique insight into day-to-day life during the conflict . . . a moving testimony
A highly original and valuable piece of military history. It ought to transform our idea of the Second World War, it has mine...a marvellous and origninal book based on the most detailed research.
I thought Tank Men was a triumph ... it is a really fine piece of work
Some of the eye witness accounts Kershaw has collected for this comprehensive review of tank warfare have the power to chill the reader to the bone. This is warfare at the sharp end.
Very well written, with excellent photographs, it's an indispensable addition to the body of knowledge about modern warfare.