A Gentleman Warrior (WWII heroes Book 1)

Rogue Heroes has ratings and reviews. (showing ) The narrative starts with the founding of the SAS, goes over the "gentlemanly" operations conducted .. You can look through a lot of World War II history books written between Scottish aristocrat who was not a very good soldier in the traditional sense.
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After 48 hours, someone tried the cocktail and collapsed. Sophie complained that he should have waited for three weeks before drinking it. The equipment list read like something out of an adventure comic and included pistols, bombs, coshes, commando daggers, knuckle-dusters, knock-out drops and suicide pills.

Moss remembered sitting around a small red lacquer table at the Tara farewell party, faces lit by four tall candles, drinking and singing, as they waited to leave on the first leg of the adventure. Just before sunrise, Billy McLean appeared, a shy, nearly naked figure. He presented them with the complete works of Shakespeare and The Oxford Book of English Verse, which he thought had brought him luck in Albania; he hoped that the books would work the same magic for his friends.

When they flew over the rendezvous, Leigh Fermor jumped first, and was greeted by a party of guerrillas and an SOE agent, Sandy Rendel. Suddenly the weather closed in and clouds hid the ground, making it impossible to drop the others — they arrived by motor launch nearly two months later. They were met on the beach by what Moss thought was a group of pantomime pirates.

One, filthy, unshaven and dressed in rags, shook his hand, saying: Paddy will be along in a minute. Leigh Fermor wore clothes that included a bolero, a maroon cummerbund that held an ivory-handled pistol and a dagger. The next fortnight was spent in planning and wild living. Patrick Leigh Fermor on the roof of Tara in Cairo. With the help of the Cretan underground intelligence, the kidnappers devised a plan to capture the general on his way home from his headquarters.

As it stopped, the doors were torn open, 11 guerrillas leapt out of ditches along the sides of the road, and 90 seconds later, Kreipe was on his way towards Heraklion, handcuffed on the floor in the back of the Opel. Moss drove fast, bluffing the car through 22 German roadblocks, after which it was abandoned with a note saying that the abduction was a British commando initiative and that no Cretans were involved. Leigh Fermor hoped that this would stop any reprisals.

It took nearly three weeks to get Kreipe to the rendezvous beach on the south coast. The kidnappers climbed Mount Ida, trudging above the snow line, over the summit and across some of the most rugged terrain in Europe. The general was dressed in the uniform he had put on for a quiet day at the office.

Thousands of German soldiers surrounded the mountain, cutting off escape routes and access to the beaches. For several days, radio contact was lost with Cairo. Sometimes the kidnap team passed within yards of enemy patrols, while in the distance they heard the thud of explosives as German engineers blew up villages. Throughout the journey, the kidnappers were led and protected by the guerrillas, who had risked their lives and those of their families to help the group escape. Kreipe was astonished at the loyalty and friendship shown towards the British. Leigh Fermor and Moss developed a love-hate relationship with their captive.

Kreipe spent a lot of time complaining that he was not well, causing Moss to lose his temper and shout at him to be quiet. He later wrote in his diary: On May 14, they reached the only rendezvous beach not occupied by German patrols. By midnight, Kreipe and his kidnappers were at sea, heading for Egypt and eating lobster sandwiches.

The general told his captors: News of the kidnap flashed around the world and quickly became a sensation. Newspapers carried pictures of the gneral, his arm in a sling, chatting to a group of senior British officers. The story is especially heart breaking! In addition to the combat record, the author does a good job of painting the personalities of various members of the SAS. After the war the SAS is disbanded until the British military realizes the need for that type of unit in the Malaya insurgency and it is reactivated.

All in all this is an excellent look at the beginnings of modern Special Forces and a really good read. View all 4 comments. Oct 16, Mike rated it really liked it Shelves: I received this book at no cost through the GR Giveaway program in the expectation of a review. According to the author, much of this book has been held in secrecy for 70 years.

A damn shame if this is the first time some of these stories have been told. This book only deals I received this book at no cost through the GR Giveaway program in the expectation of a review. This book only deals with the unit through the end of WWII. The first mission, Operation Squatter , does not go well. Storm-driven sand and pelting rain completely obscured the flares on the ground, dropped by the Royal Air Force to guide the planes to the drop zone, 12 miles inland.

The pilots could not even make out the shape of the shoreline. German searchlights on the coast picked out the incoming planes, and flak began exploding around them in blinding flashes. A shell ripped through the floor of one plane and missed the auxiliary fuel tank by inches. One of the sergeants made a joke which no one could hear, though, everyone grinned. The pilots indicated that the parachutists should prepare to jump—although, in truth, they were now flying blind, navigating by guesswork.

The parachute-canisters were tossed out first containing explosives, tommy guns, ammunition, food, water, maps, blankets and medical supplies. Then, one by one, the men hurled themselves into the seething darkness. Things go better later and the SAS grows into a formidable force, striking from the shadows and disappearing into the vast deserts.

The men and the stories are epic, daring, crazy. Toward the end of the desert campaign, Stirling is captured by the Germans as he tries to link up with the US forces from Operation Torch. This had a major, negative impact on the SAS in the Italian campaign.

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They suffer awful casualties assaulting various hard targets. This would continue throughout the war, at various times. The missions in Europe are tremendously aggressive. The French SAS are occasionally mentioned and they were just as brave and daring and crazy as the Brits. Many stories are told of incredible daring and bravery.


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This book gets 4 Stars because it has no maps or photos. However, it is an uncorrected proof copy and I suspect the retail version with reference material would earn the fifth star. View all 14 comments. It makes for compelling and unforgettable reading. It unflinchingly captures both the romance and the tragedy of being i Rogue Heroes: It unflinchingly captures both the romance and the tragedy of being involved in the Special Forces.

In the majority of fiction the good guys win and the bad guys lose, the side characters come and , but the one constant throughout this read was the loss of good men for no good reasons. Bad weather blowing entire planes off course and scattering the sticks, injured men having to be left in the desert or the jungle with their only hope of survival being capture; simply doing their jobs resulted in unfathomable losses.

At any time proposing and implementing a new system of warfare has the potential to be a dangerous course of action but in the middle of a war the incredibly high stakes amplifies everything. Rogue Heroes is a powerful and unforgettable reading experience. Ben Macintyre does a superb job capturing the sense of adventure that inspired these men to fight a different way and the intensity and commitment with which they did so.

10 Legendary Soldiers Of WWII

View all 3 comments. Aug 30, Book Riot Community added it Shelves: Macintyre has a knack for finding outrageous stories from history and turning them into fascinating books that read like thrillers. I am always riveted by these tales! A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal by Ben Macintyre Tune in to our weekly podcast dedicated to all things new books, All The Macintyre has a knack for finding outrageous stories from history and turning them into fascinating books that read like thrillers. Mar 21, HBalikov rated it really liked it.

You can look through a lot of World War II history books written between and the end of the 20th century and not find more than a mention of the S. This group consisted of a small number of British Army soldiers later linked with other countries' forces that were primarily functioning in North Africa during the time the Allies were battling with Rommel to control this vast territory. According to Ben Macintyre, their role and actions have required a high security clearance to review t You can look through a lot of World War II history books written between and the end of the 20th century and not find more than a mention of the S.

According to Ben Macintyre, their role and actions have required a high security clearance to review the documents that detail S. Rogue Heroes may be the first book to look deeply and exclusively into their origins and how these troops may have affected the outcome of some familiar campaigns. This book goes into detail on the personalities involved in creating and running the S. By the way, the initials stand for Special Air Service, a total misnomer. It was meant to fool the Nazis into thinking that these guys were going to be parachuting behind enemy lines to do their damage.

There is no attempt to make the S. Many of them were captured and not treated well. Many of them had narrow escapes. Sillito was part of a small group trying to sabotage a rail line being used by the Nazis. They came under attack by a night patrol and in the battle he became separated. He had only a few items, no weapon, just a compass and a small canteen of water meant to last less than 24 hours. His choice was between surrendering or trying to make it across miles of desert not a typo to where the rest of his S.

In choosing the latter, he endured some incredible experiences, near capture, heat stroke and was finally found barely alive almost two weeks later. Most of his buddies never made it back, and he never was the same. Macintyre provides new details about this legendary WWII group and presents their goals and accomplishments in a way that never seems to compromise historical accuracy while relating the details in a compelling narrative. There is more to the history of the S. Dec 19, Thomas rated it really liked it Recommends it for: It was the brainchild of David Stirling, an eccentric Scottish aristocrat who was not a very good soldier in the traditional sense.

But his offbeat, unusual mind came up with the idea of a small mobile force that go behind German lines and wreak havoc on the unprepared Afrika Corps. Stirling was a terrible University student: The book is well written and easy to read. It still exists today. The author wrote this book with the cooperation of the SAS.

I rate this book 3. Thanks to the publisher and LibraryThing for sending me this uncorrected proof copy. The table of contents lists a bibliography and a list of maps, which were not in this book. Sep 12, Cheese rated it it was amazing. A fantasticly well researched and written book. I can't stand books that over dramatise events and embelish them to get more drama out of them. This didn't need embelishing, the writer kept the balance throughout. Astonishing tales of suicidal heroism and extremely moving tragedy on a regular basis make this book a must read.

It really makes you appreciate the idea that was the creation of the SAS, and how change can change the world for the better. A lone unit deployed behind enemy lines, to caus A fantasticly well researched and written book. A lone unit deployed behind enemy lines, to cause absolute havoc and destroy the enemies moral.

If these brave men didn't exist, I think the world would be a different place today. View all 5 comments. Jan 03, Nigeyb rated it liked it.

Whilst not as jaw dropping as Agent Zigzag: Ben Macintyre was the first person to be given full access to the Special Air Service SAS library which contained a wealth of varied and detailed information. By its nature, a WW2 history of the SAS lacks the compelling narrative which makes his other work so gripping but yet still contains some great anecdotes and memorable characters and - if you're interested in WW2 history - is well worth seeking out.

Sep 19, Kay rated it really liked it Shelves: The first bomb went off at forty-two minutes past midnight, followed by three more in quick succession as the attackers scrambled off the airfield…. The next morning…Fraser was summoned to report to the brigadier. He recounts the genesis of the unit, then moves on to its first and often unsuccessful baby steps in the African campaign, then on to later developments in the European theater, primarily Italy and Germany. In his preface, Macintyre outlines his stance on the SAS: The SAS has become a legend, but the true story contains darkness as well as light, tragedy and evil alongside heroism; it is a tale of unparalleled bravery and ingenuity, interspersed with moments of rank incompetence, raw brutality and touching human frailty.

The men of SAS were a colorful lot, and Macintyre demonstrates a flair for the quick character study. This I much appreciated, as it helped me remember who was who in the extensive cast of SAS figures. First and foremost was Lieutenant David Stirling, the founder of the SAS, an unfailingly polite but unconventional man. While recovering in a hospital from his disastrous first parachute jump, Stirling came up with a vision that he then refined and zealously promoted: When sober, he seemed subdued and thoughtful, but Paddy was transformed by drink into a raging bull.

Mayne led some of the most successful SAS attacks, but his actions in battle sometimes demonstrated almost suicidal bravery and at other times cold-blooded murder. Essentially, each chapter of the book is a concise narrative of a major operation undertaken by the SAS. As these were generally carried out by small groups, there are brief synopses of the key figures involved, followed by a dramatic recounting of the action.

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Although this renders the structure of the book episodic, it is engrossing nontheless, particularly as the accounts are laced with flashes of humor and genuine drama. In fact, I found myself wondering how many of these exploits had already been mined or will be mined by Hollywood scripwriters. Some operations were spectacular successes, while others were catastrophes. As promised, he cleaves to his goal of telling the unvarnished truth. Aside from fighting with what amounted to a death sentence if captured, the SAS was now fighting alongside various European partisan forces, who were a mixed bag, often poorly trained and equipped, prone to endless infighting and, on more than one occasion, betrayed by spies and informants.

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In one of the most sobering chapters of the book, Macintyre describes the horrifying conditions the SAS men witnessed. While I was told that writing a review was optional, I am happy to share my honest opinion on this latest work by one of my favorite nonfiction authors. Nov 25, Chris rated it it was amazing. Really enjoyed this both exhaustive and episodic history of Britain's renegade special forces and the crazy risks they took in North Africa and Europe to help defeat Nazi Germany. Nov 16, Donna rated it liked it Shelves: I liked this, so three stars. I liked the history of particular time frame.

It really is interesting how things all played out and fell into place. They were tenacious even with things didn't work. I enjoyed that part of it So now with that being said, this was a little dry especially the beginning. But once I fell into its rhythm, it worked for me.

Hellraisers with deadly intent: the hard-living war heroes who captured a Nazi general

Oct 24, Glen rated it really liked it Shelves: I won an ARC of this book in a goodreads drawing. Most of the time is spent on defining the characters during the North African desert campaign and then following them through the spoiler alert liberation of Europe. I'm sure someone could have written a page version of this history but I appreciated the fast pace, emphasis on personalities over battle specifics, and the in-depth research done by the author to p A nice account of the early years of the SAS in World War II with a distinctly British sense of humor that made reading it a joy.

I'm sure someone could have written a page version of this history but I appreciated the fast pace, emphasis on personalities over battle specifics, and the in-depth research done by the author to pull out lots of interesting trivia and anecdotes. The only improvement I would have made is to just make the book about the desert since it made for the most interesting material. But the subsequent sections, especially the ones where they sneak into occupied cities in regular cars was highly enjoyable. I strongly recommend this for military history fans. Jun 02, Brandon Forsyth rated it liked it.

I love Ben Macintyre - I think I have four or five of his books on my shelf, and I love the way he blends personal details with gripping narrative non-fiction. I think he's one of the best in the business. Which is why it pains me to say this is not his best work.

All the hallmarks are there, but there's just something missing. I think it's due to profiling an organization as opposed to specific individuals - some flamboyant characters rise out of the soup of tactics and division names, but not e I love Ben Macintyre - I think I have four or five of his books on my shelf, and I love the way he blends personal details with gripping narrative non-fiction. I think it's due to profiling an organization as opposed to specific individuals - some flamboyant characters rise out of the soup of tactics and division names, but not enough to craft a really compelling narrative.

Still, mediocre Macintyre is better than most. Jun 06, Andrew rated it really liked it. Never in the field of human conflict has so much been destroyed by so many - misfits, rogues, psychopaths, traitors, savants, and all out geniuses - yet known by so few. So goes the wartime history of the early SAS, and told from their own archives never before opened up to a historian. Like the saying goes, you couldn't make this stuff up! Dec 14, Pamela Huck rated it liked it. I read this book while Aleppo was under siege and finally fell on 13 December With thousands and thousands of innocents slaughtered in the ruins of their destroyed homes while the whole world was watching, I found it hard to accept that the author doesn't tackle a single one of the many pressing questions concerning the "guerilla tactics" the SAS so famously adopted for warefare.

MacIntyre seems to have stuck completely to the testimony of the SAS and other military. This makes for a quite I read this book while Aleppo was under siege and finally fell on 13 December This makes for a quite repetitive read, with one ambush followed by another secret attack again and again. The troubled personalities of some of his protagonists - finding out more about which has drawn me to this book in the first place - remain relatively obscure.

For me, this was hagiography for the SAS.