NCW Libraries

In 1940, as the world was embroiled in the Second World War, several key battles shaped the trajectory of global events. The relentless advance of Nazi forces across Europe met with formidable resistance from the Allied powers, setting the stage for historic confrontations. The Battle of Britain, a significant aerial combat, unfolded in the skies over England. Here, the future of the United Kingdom was fiercely contested, with every sortie and...

In July 1944, the Allies were stunned by the appearance of the Messerschmitt Me 262, the world's first operational jet warplane. More than one hundred mph faster than any other aircraft in the skies, the Me 262 gained scores of victories over Allied fighters and bombers, and by the end of the war, many of the Luftwaffe's greatest aces had clamored to be in their cockpits. Sharks of the Air tells the story of Willy Messerschmitt's life and shows how...

The story of Arthur DeVendt, born in 1927, proves that even though war, political and economic turmoil adversely impacted his future, by maintaining his honor, dogged persistence, and ability to adjust to changing conditions he manages to succeed. Seventeen-year-old Arthur, the son of a Hungarian army officer, of French extraction finds himself orphaned in a refugee camp of postwar Germany.

As the Nazis sweep across Europe, Jewish teen Max and his parents flee persecution in Germany for Holland, where Max finds friends and romance. But when Hitler invades in 1940, Max escapes to Chicago, leaving his parents and friends behind. When he learns of his parents' deportation and murders, Max immediately enlists in the US Army. After basic training he is sent to Camp Ritchie, Maryland, where he is trained in interrogation and counterintelligence....

To Great Britain and Germany, the Battle of the Denmark Strait came like a thunderclap in the spring of 1941. The pride of the Royal Navy, HMS Hood, was utterly destroyed, and its newest battleship, Prince of Wales, severely damaged and forced to withdraw. This was at the hands of Germany's huge battleship Bismarck, on its first foray into North Atlantic waters. The blast of heavy shells between the behemoths resonated both in Whitehall and Berlin. However,...

This chronicle of an armored division's bravery during the Battle of the Bulge sheds new light on the legendary Siege of Bastogne in WWII. Before the 101st Airborne Division's famous Siege of Bastogne, there was already a US unit holding the town when they arrived. This unit-the 10th Armored Division-continued to play a major role in its defense through the German onslaught. The Tigers of Bastogne offers a detailed chronicle of the young armored...

Beautifully illustrated with more than 1,000 photos of American tanks and armored vehicles. Steven Zaloga, an internationally recognized military historian, has written numerous books on the vehicles and campaigns of World War II, including Armored Champion (978-0-8117-1437-2), Armored Thunderbolt (978-0-8117-0424-3), Armored Attack 1944 (978-0-8117-0769-5), Armored Victory 1945 (978-0-8117-0771-8), and The Devil's Garden (978-0-8117-1228-6). He has...

This book is a torn page from the History of World War II. It cost the author 20 years of research. It cost the Greek National Resistance thousands of dead and wounded in battles and acts of sabotage that have remained unsung. The inspiration and the leader of the unorthodox and harsh war without prisoners against the invaders was Aris; a charismatic 36-year-old man with an iron will. He created ELAS, the largest volunteer army in the history of...

Travel across the battlefields of WWII with this beautiful book combining historical images, full-color aerial photography, and informative text. In June, 1944, Allied forces invaded Nazi-occupied France, beginning a sweep of fierce battles that would eventually liberate Western Europe. With aerial photography, historic images, maps, and other illustrations, Race to the Rhine brings readers to the fateful grounds where men sacrificed their lives...

Presents information from a wealth of contemporary World War II training manuals and tactical documents. The battle for Europe in 1943–45 was one of the greatest military challenges in the history of the U.S. Army. Fighting against often veteran German forces from the mountains of Italy to the beaches of Normandy and the frozen forests of the Ardennes, hundreds of thousands of US infantrymen had to move quickly beyond their training and acquire...