Simon McCouaig Bücher

In a period of just over two years, from 15 March 1939 to 30 April 1941, ten countries were defeated in campaigns in which Nazi Germany deployed revolutionary techniques of mobile warfare. The breakneck speed of German victories allowed some defeated troops to escape to friendly countries, where their political leaders established governments-in-exile and formed them into military units to continue the struggle. The hard-pressed Western Allies welcomed this well-motivated manpower with open arms. Nigel Thomas investigates the foreign volunteers of the Western Allies in a fascinating text backed by contemporary photographs and eight full page colour plates by Simon McCouaig.

This volume details the various UN peace keeping operations around the globe from 1948–94, which have seen UN forces deployed in almost every corner of the world – Africa (Namibia and Somalia), South America (El Salvador), the Middle East (Cyprus, Sinai, Golan Heights, Lebanon and Kuwait), the Far East (Cambodia and Korea) and Europe (Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia). In addition two major wars have been fought under the banner of the United Nations – The Korean War (1950-1953) and the Gulf War (1990-1991). A huge number of nations have contributed troops to these various efforts, with the result that the UN forces are extremely varied and colourful. The vast variety uniforms and insignia are illustrated in twelve full page colour plates.