Forgotten Soldiers: Ordinary Men Whose Extraordinary Deeds Changed History

by Brian Moynahan

Book Overview

Forgotten Soldiers is an enthralling work of military history that shows how the courage, intelligence or simple good fortune of the individual can exert a decisive influence on the outcome of a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1847241034
• ISBN13: 9781847241030
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Quercus Books
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.32 lbs.

Customer Reviews

One Man Can Make a Difference!

Though generals might like to think that only they make history, Brian Moynahan's marvelous FORGOTTEN SOLDIERS demonstrates fairly conclusively that one lowly soldier's - or civilian's - efforts can decide a battle, a campaign, a war and even the course of history! Moynahan relates the stories of fifteen - largely unsung - heroes whose efforts make a crucial difference in history. It makes for compelling reading! FORGOTTEN SOLDIERS ranges from 55 B.C. to the Yom Kippur War. In the case of Julius Caesar, the act in question was simplicity itself, hic chief standard-bearer rising up and inspiring his comrades to attack in an unfavorable situation. By comparison Red Army sergeant Yakov Pavlov held a crucial building in the ruins of Stalingrad for 58 days and nights, breaking the momentum of German attacks and ensuring the defeat of the Sixth Army. Others in Moyhanhan's book include the pilot whose last-ditch torpedo launching crippled the Bismarck; a Japanese officer who realized that bicycles were the key to the Japanese attack in Malaya; an Israeli reservist who hitchhiked his way into battle, commandered a tank and held off Syrian attacks on the Golan Heights; the American boatbuilder who invented the landing craft, making amphibious warfare possible; and so on. As Mr Spock would say: Fascinating! Short and sweet: I can't remember when I've enjoyed reading a book more! FORGOTTEN SOLDIERS is a fresh take on military history and an enthralling read to boot. It comes Highly Recommended.

Amazing Revelations,

I could not put this book down. The writer did his research for this one. I was taken to the opening days of WW2 and beyond.