The Hill: The brutal fight for Hill 107 in the Battle of Crete: Robert Kershaw: Osprey Publishing

The Hill

The brutal fight for Hill 107 in the Battle of Crete

The Hill

The brutal fight for Hill 107 in the Battle of Crete

Description

From the critically acclaimed author of Dünkirchen 1940, this is a groundbreaking history of the epic three-day battle for Hill 107 that changed the course of the war in the Mediterranean.

In this remarkable history, we discover each of the individuals whose actions determined the outcome of the battle for Hill 107, the key event that decided the campaign to capture the vitally strategic island of Crete in May 1941. All the events are narrated through the filter of these eyewitnesses. The Allied perspective is from the summit of Hill 107. We experience the fear and the adrenalin of a lowly platoon commander, Lieutenant Ed McAra, perilously positioned at the top of the hill, alongside the combat stress and command fatigue of the battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Andew. In contrast, the German view is looking up from below as they cling to the slopes while simultaneous dazzled by the morning glare and decimated by defensive fire. We join the regimental doctor, Dr Heinrich Neumann, as he assumes command of one battalion and leads a daring nighttime charge towards the summit. The Hill details what was felt, heard or seen throughout the battle for both attacker and defender.

Drawing upon original combat reports, diary entries, letters and interviews, the battle is brought vividly to life. The narrative reads like a Shakespearean tragedy, the soldiers revealing their stories in and around the shadows of Hill 107.

Introduction
Prologue
List of Illustrations
List of Maps

Chapter 1: The Decision
Chapter 2: Deployment and Plan
Chapter 3: Eve of Battle
Chapter 4: The Flight of Daedalus and Icarus
Chapter 5: Parachute Assault
Chapter 6: A Battalion Dies
Chapter 7: Command Dilemmas
Chapter 8: Victory by Chance
Chapter 9: Daedalus Returned
Chapter 10: The Swing of the Force Pendulum
Postscript

The Key Decision-Makers and Takers
Table of German Military Ranks
Notes
Bibliography
Index

Product details

Published	May 09 2024
Format	Ebook (PDF)
Edition	1st
Extent	352
ISBN	9781472864529
Imprint	Osprey Publishing
Illustrations	8-page plate section in black and white
Series	General Military
Short code	GNM
Publisher	Bloomsbury Publishing

Author

Robert Kershaw

A graduate of Reading University, Robert Kershaw j…

Robert Kershaw has written a vivid narrative that is rich in detail and based on, but not burdened by, prodigious research. The result is a well-written page-turner about a hard-fought battle that really mattered.

Jonathan Dimbleby, broadcaster and author
Using first-hand accounts from both sides, the author focuses on the actions around Hill 107 and weaves a gripping account in such a way that it reads more like a conversation or interview of veterans... This is one of the finest works on the Crete campaign.

Gunmart
A compelling read.

Miniature Wargames
The narrative stars alongside numerous contemporary photographs and a useful addendum listing the key characters and their fates, making The Hill a superb addition to the Battle of Crete historiography. Highly recommended.

Britain at War