Pen and Sword have developed an unrivalled reputation for the quality and scope of its battlefield guides.
We are proud to publish the Holt's Series of Guide Books. Tonie and Valmai Holt are the pioneers of battlefield touring, having developed the concept nearly 40 years ago. Now millions visit the battlefields every year and their bestselling titles have been assisting with this for many years.
For those looking to understand battles in a bit more detail, then the battleground series, now with over 100 titles in print, is perfect for the armchair historian or battlefield traveller alike.
One of three books in the Battleground series about the Rhine Crossing of March 1945, focusing on the landing of the 17th Airborne Division and the crossing of the 9th US Army, in what was the last great set piece operation carried out by the western Allies during the Second World War. The 9th Army quickly secured a foothold on the eastern bank against relatively little opposition and made steady progress towards the airborne troops, who, landing on heavily defended drop zones overlooked by anti-aircraft weapons, had a much more eventful experience, but despite very heavy casualties were able to secure all of their objectives within a few hours. As with all books in the Battleground series, the concise narrative succeeds in cramming an impressive amount of detailed information, first hand accounts, as well as a great many photographs and maps, into a remarkably small space. As such while it can be used solely as a battlefield guide, it also makes for an easy to read and surprisingly comprehensive.. Read more
Pegasus Archive, Mark Hickman
One of three books in the Battleground series about the Rhine Crossing of March 1945, focusing on the landing of the 17th Airborne Division and the crossing of the 9th US Army, in what was the last great set piece operation carried out by the western Allies during the Second World War. The 9th Army quickly secured a foothold on the eastern bank against relatively little opposition and made steady progress towards the airborne troops, who, landing on heavily defended drop zones overlooked by anti-aircraft weapons, had a much more eventful experience, but despite very heavy casualties were able to secure all of their objectives within a few hours. As with all books in the Battleground series, the concise narrative succeeds in cramming an impressive amount of detailed information, first hand accounts, as well as a great many photographs and maps, into a remarkably small space. As such while it can be used solely as a battlefield guide, it also makes for an easy to read and surprisingly comprehensive.. Read more
Pegasus Archive, Mark Hickman
This is a book that discusses the British landings on the 'King' sector of the GOLD BEACH, Normandy , June 6th 1944, and the subsequent push inland from it. It concentrates on the initial objectives and the taking of them, but does not go further than that. In addition to a good description of the fighting, which includes low level clashes between individual infantry groups, naming the participants, it is also a battlefield tour guide. The author has visited the site and provides information on how to find the various locations mentioned in the text. Although now several years old, I'm sure it has not altered that much since writing, because the over all locations had not altered much since 1944! For someone intending to visit the Normandy sites this book would be a valuable source of how to find the smaller actions that are not marked on the tourist maps. Its general description is also very good and gives the reader a particularly good view of how things went and events unfolded.
Malcolm Wright, Australian Maritime Artist & Author
This is a book that discusses the British landings on the 'King' sector of the GOLD BEACH, Normandy , June 6th 1944, and the subsequent push inland from it. It concentrates on the initial objectives and the taking of them, but does not go further than that. In addition to a good description of the fighting, which includes low level clashes between individual infantry groups, naming the participants, it is also a battlefield tour guide. The author has visited the site and provides information on how to find the various locations mentioned in the text. Although now several years old, I'm sure it has not altered that much since writing, because the over all locations had not altered much since 1944! For someone intending to visit the Normandy sites this book would be a valuable source of how to find the smaller actions that are not marked on the tourist maps. Its general description is also very good and gives the reader a particularly good view of how things went and events unfolded.
Malcolm Wright, Australian Maritime Artist & Author
Featured in 'further reading' part of [I]Going Large in the Great War[/I] article
Wargames Illustrated, April 2018
Featured in 'further reading' part of [I]Going Large in the Great War[/I] article
Wargames Illustrated, April 2018
Overall, this book will provide a valuable addition to any WW1 Library on the Battle, and an effective guide book.
Jon Sandison, Freelance
Overall, this book will provide a valuable addition to any WW1 Library on the Battle, and an effective guide book.
Jon Sandison, Freelance
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Aisne 1914
The 1914 Battle of the Aisne, officially from 12 – 15 September, came about as a result of the German retirement from the Battle of the Marne, which took place further south as the huge conscript armies of France and Germany jostled for position almost within sight of Paris. By the time the British arrived on the Aisne the battle line stretched some… Read more...
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Fort Vaux
The bitter fight for Fort Vaux is one of the most famous episodes in the Battle of Verdun - it has achieved almost legendary status in French military history. The heroic resistance put up by the fort's commander, Major Raynal, and his small, isolated garrison in the face of repeated German assaults was remarkable at the time, and it is still seen… Read more...
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Operation Bluecoat-Over the Battlefield
After seven weeks of bitter fighting there was a desperate need to break out of the Normandy bridgehead. In late July 1944 Lieutenant-General Sir Miles Dempsey's Second Army moved two entire corps from the Caen sector to the relatively quiet countryside around Caumont. Here, the British XXX Corps prepared to give battle, with VII Corps advancing in… Read more...
The invasion was launched to round off Hitler's Balkan Campaign against Crete in May 1941. The Island was important to Britain's control of the Eastern Mediterranean and Churchill was determined that the Island would be held. The British garrison was largely made up of New Zealand and Australian troops who had been evacuated from Greece, with little… Read more...
