In the entire history of human warfare, a few key battles have achieved legendary status. Trafalgar. Waterloo. Gettysburg. Gallipoli. Pearl Harbor. The Battle of Britain. The Tet Offensive. Desert Storm. Whether as a result of superior tactics, dominant firepower or a simple twist of fate, these key conflicts have become bywords for the moment when victory and defeat were decided. Some have been adopted as symbols of triumph in the face of almost overwhelming odds. Others live on in infamy. Each can be seen as a point at which the course of history was changed irrevocably.
Turning the Tide of War explores 50 key battles of the past 200 years. With the help of detailed maps and battle plans, eyewitness testimony and rare archival photography, each battle is examined in detail and within its wider historical context.
From Napoleons conquest of Europe,through the decisive moments of the First and Second World Wars, to more recent struggles in Vietnam, Afghanistan and the Balkans, author Tim Newark analyses not only the strategy behind each individual battle, but the changing ideologies that led to war. He examines how technology has affected military theory and practice, from the introduction of the tank and fighter aircraft to the advent of intercontinental missiles and 'smart bombs'. And he pays tribute to the skill, courage and dedication of the military forces of the world.
Turning the Tide of Wans a fascinating overview of how warfare has evolved from an era of small localized conflicts to an age of mechanized battles on a global scale, and also a glimpse into the inner workings of the military mind.