Innholdsfortegnelse for No.33 i History of War

On 22 January 1879, the British military suffered one of its most embarrassing defeats at the hands of a foe it had fatally underestimated: the army of the Zulu Kingdom. Though the disaster at Isandlwana would swiftly be eclipsed by an against-the-odds victory at Rorke’s Drift, the rest of the Anglo-Zulu War would be far from a glorious campaign. This issue’s cover feature explores how the war’s opening bloodbath was just the first of a string of colonial blunders. British commanders not only repeatedly overestimated the strength of their more-advanced weaponry, they were also outmanoeuvred, outnumbered and often out-thought by the battle-hardened Zulu warriors. “The terrible disaster has shaken me to the centre” – Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, after Isandlwana www.historyanswers.co.uk EMAIL frontline@imagine-publishing.co.uk FACEBOOK /HistoryofWarMag TWITTER @HistoryofWarMag…

378-95 A TEMPORARY REPRIEVE In the aftermath of Adrianople, Theodosius restores order but he allows the barbarians to settle on imperial territory. Serving in the Roman army under their own commanders, the barbarians become difficult to control. 400 MASSACRE IN CONSTANTINOPLE Hating the barbarian, heretical Arian Visigoths, the populace of the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire rises up against them. More than 7,000 Gothic men, women and children are brutally massacred as they try to evacuate the city. 405/06 RHINE FREEZES OVER On the final day of 406, the Rhine freezes over and huge numbers of Germanic Vandals, Suevi and Alans evade Roman border defences and cross over into the empire. 407 EVACUATION OF BRITAIN Constantine III, a usurper in Britain, leads all Roman troops out of Britain to…

Most warriors of the 5th century, whether fighting for or against Rome, would have been of barbarian origin, with the bulk drawn from the Germanic tribes living east of the Rhine and north of the Danube. Foremost among the migrating tribes were the Goths and the Franks. Opposing them were the Roman cavalryman and infantryman, the final products of the once glorious Roman army. “IT WAS THE VISIGOTHS WHO SMASHED AN EASTERN ROMAN ARMY AT ADRIANOPLE IN 378, LEAVING THE EMPIRE BEREFT OF TROOPS” GOTH WARRIOR OF ALL ROME’S BARBARIAN ENEMIES, THE GOTHS WOULD HAVE THE MOST PROFOUND EFFECTS, SACKING ROME AND LATER FOUNDING SUCCESSOR KINGDOMS OF THEIR OWN IN GAUL, SPAIN AND ITALY Divided into a western branch – the Visigoths – and an eastern branch – the Ostrogoths…

LATE-ROMAN INFANTRYMAN RANGE Compared to the Hun, a Roman soldier carried much shorter-ranged spears, javelins and lead-weighted darts. He might cast a javelin up to 30 metres, but in this area, the Hun out-matched him. MOBILITY As infantry, the Late Roman soldier was much slower than the mounted Hun. It was therefore imperative that the Roman never break ranks, or else he would be cut down. TRAINING Training and discipline had declined since Rome’s glory days. The Romans still fought in ranks, and if they held their nerve and didn’t run, they could hold off the enemy. ARMOUR The Late Roman soldier wore a light and resilient mail shirt and iron helmet. For additional protection in battle, he would also carry an oval wooden shield. TACTICS In battle, the Romans…

BRITISH ARMY 22ND ARMOURED BRIGADE LEADER Brigadier Robert ‘Looney’ Hinde INFANTRY 1/7th Battalion Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey); 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade ARMOUR 4th County of London Yeomanry; 5th Royal Tank Regiment GERMAN ARMY SS HEAVY TANK BATTALION 101 LEADERS SS Obersturmbannführer (lieutenant colonel) Heinz von Westerhagen ARMOR 1st Panzer Company, SS Hauptsturmführer (captain) Rolf Mobius; 2nd Panzer Company, SS Obersturmführer (1st lieutenant) Michael Wittmann…

 In 1879, Louis Napoléon, prince imperial, was the former heir to the throne of France. Born in 1856, he was the only son of Emperor Napoleon III and the great-nephew of the legendary Napoleon I. His pampered existence had ended in 1870 when his father lost the Franco-Prussian War and the Bonaparte family was exiled to England. When Napoleon III died in 1873, Louis became the Bonpartists’ last hope. Popular with Queen Victoria and eager to continue the martial traditions of his family, Louis joined the British Army and, like his great uncle, trained as an artillery officer. Keen to prove himself as a true Bonaparte in war, he successfully lobbied to serve in southern Africa. In a letter to a friend, Louis wrote: “I am thirsting to smell powder.”…

 ‘On 14 March 1915, Balling was still a corporal attached to a mining unit of the 2nd Pioneer Battalion and was already known for his bravery. After a successful detonation near Saint Eloi, he immediately charged the enemy lines long before our own storm troops started the advance. Acting alone and without orders, he made his way through withering defensive fire to the English position. Standing on the sand sack parapet he cracked the skulls of two Englishmen with his rifle butt. Then, still standing in his exposed position, he started shooting the English inside the trench. His daring and contempt for death continued to serve as a glowing example of bravery for the storm troops following behind.’ “HIS DARING AND CONTEMPT FOR DEATH CONTINUED TO SERVE AS A GLOWING…

Flavius Josephus (37/38-100 CE) is one of the most controversial actors in the Great Revolt. He was born into a renowned priestly aristocratic family in Jerusalem as Joseph ben Mathitjahu. During the initial stage of the rebellion, he was in charge of the defence in Galilee and commanded the defence of Jotapata. When the town fell, he and 40 men managed to hide in a cistern. According to Josephus’s account, Vespasian promised to keep them alive if they surrendered. However, the Jews decided they would rather kill themselves than spend a life in slavery. The men drew lots in order to determine who would kill who. However, Josephus and another man survived and surrendered to Vespasian. By his own account, he saved his life by prophesying that Vespasian would become…

 The Landsknecht showed that fashion could indeed be deadly. They were rightly famous and instantly recognisable from their bright and flamboyant clothing. Tights, slashed doublets, plumed hats, billowing sleeves and a wide range of codpieces identified an archetypal mercenary in the 16th and early-17th centuries. Wool was preferred over linen, as slashes in linen tended to unravel. The reason for this peculiar fashion sense was that the life of a mercenary was often short and brutal and so the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian I, encouraged them to dress to impress. Armour, usually a breastplate, could be worn over the slashed doublet for added protection. “THE LIFE OF A MERCENARY WAS OFTEN SHORT AND BRUTAL AND SO THE HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR, MAXIMILIAN I, ENCOURAGED THEM TO DRESS TO IMPRESS”…

“THE DOCTOR DEATH OF THE BOOK’S TITLE IS ARIBERT HEIM, AN AUSTRIAN NAZI WHO, IN 1941, EARNED HIS GHOULISH NICKNAME AT MALTHAUSEN CONCENTRATION CAMP FOR A SERIES OF MACABRE ‘OPERATIONS’ THAT HE CARRIED OUT ON PRISONERS THERE” Writer: Danny Baz Publisher John Blake Price: £7.99 Released: Out now From its movie poster title to its ensemble cast of Nazis, secret agents and Vietnam vets, this is a story that could have been dreamt up by an over-imaginative Hollywood scriptwriter. Yet, if we are to believe its author, Danny Baz, it’s all true. The Dr Death of the book’s title is Aribert Heim, an Austrian Nazi who, in 1941, earned his ghoulish nickname at Malthausen Concentration Camp for a series of macabre ‘operations’ that he carried out on prisoners there. Unlike…

Writer: Jonathan Falcolner Publisher: Haynes Publishing Price: £25 Released: Out now The Haynes manuals are, of course, a British institution. Having built their reputation as a publisher with their series of automotive repair guides, they have, in recent years, expanded their repertoire to include more gimmicky ideas, like a book on the famous USS Enterprise (the space ship in Star Trek not the former US navy aircraft carrier) and Thomas the Tank Engine. Their range also now includes manuals on a variety of World War II and post-World War II aircraft, including the Focke-Wulfe FW190, the Westland Sea King Helicopter and this one, on the Handley Page Halifax. Of course the Owners’ Workshop Manual part of the title is a just a bit of fun. If you do happen to…

“THIS SLIM BOOK PROVIDES AN INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF ONE OF THE WORST ATROCITIES OF WORLD WAR I: THE TRIAL AND THE EXECUTION OF CAPTAIN CHARLES FRYATT” Writer: Ben Carver Publisher: Amberley Price: £12.99 Released: Out now Illustrated with numerous photographs, this slim book provides an interesting account of one of the worst atrocities of World War I: the trial and execution of Captain Charles Fryatt. The master of the Great Eastern Railway ship Brussels was executed by the Germans on 27 July 1916 for attempting to ram the German submarine U33 earlier, in March 1915. It gives a fascinating social history of Fryatt’s upbringing and career: his capture by the Germans in June 1916; his brief show-trial and summary execution by firing squad; his burial alongside Belgian civilians also shot…

“THE FILM CAPTURES THE REAL THREAT UNDER WHICH RESISTANCE MEMBERS AND COLLABORATORS LIVED” Director: Sean Ellis Starring: Cillian Murphy, Jamie Doran, Charlotte Le Bon Release Date: 9 September 2016 Occupied Czechoslovakia, 1942, two exiled soldiers, Jozef Gabcík (Cilian Murphy) and Jan Kubiš (Jamie Donan) have returned to their homeland to kill its most ruthless enemy: Reinhard Heydrich, the Butcher of Prague. Rather than the sweeping panoramas and CG-saturated Hollywood action shots you might find in some WWII epics, here the filmmakers draw viewers into the dark recesses of the Czech resistance and the heroic stories of its members. Scenes are crammed into dingy safe houses and hushed back-room meetings, brimming with an atmosphere of suspicion, paranoia, and ever-present danger. The film captures the real threat under which resistance members and…

TOM GARNER Tom re-watched both Zulu and Zulu Dawn this month to get him in the right frame of mind for this issue’s cover feature on the Anglo-Zulu War (page 38). He also took a trip to the RAF Museum to climb inside their B-17 Flying Fortress (page 80). MICHAEL HASKEW The Normandy landings in June 1944 were just the beginning of a long, gruelling campaign to liberate France. This issue, Mike explores one of these desperate armoured clashes in his Great Battles feature on the Battle of Villers-Bocage (page 28). MIGUEL MIRANDA Focusing on a conflict a little closer to home this issue, Miguel takes on the decades-long Moro insurgency in the southern Philippines (page 74). He explores its origins and the intricate politics that have marked its history.…

“THERE IS A SENSE IN WHICH ATTILA THE HUN IS OVERRATED, HE HAS THIS REPUTATION THAT GOES BEYOND THE DESTRUCTION HE ACTUALLY CAUSED” The fall of the Western Roman Empire is one of the most significant events in history and ushered in the Dark Ages across Europe. As part of the History Channel’s brand-new docu-drama series Barbarians Rising, expert contributor Dr Steve Kershaw explains how various barbarian groups nibbled away at Roman supremacy until the empire was a husk of its former self. WHAT WAS THE CONDITION OF RELATIONS BETWEEN THE ROMAN EMPIRE AND THE BARBARIANS IN THE LATTER PART OF THE WESTERN EMPIRE’S HISTORY? In a sense, it is the same as it ever was. On the one hand, you’ve got peaceful co-existence, trade and mutual benefits. The Romans…

Attila unified the Huns under his sole kingship in c. 444, and set his sights on conquering the ailing Western Roman Empire. Having crossed the Rhine and moved deep into Gaul in June 451, Attila was besieging Orléans when he learned that a large army under Roman warlord Flavius Aetius was approaching. He broke off the siege, but Aetius’s combined Roman-barbarian army caught him at the Catalaunian Plains, somewhere in the vicinity of modern Troyes. The stage was set for one of the last great battles of antiquity. “THEODORIC IS THROWN FROM HIS HORSE AND EITHER TRAMPLED UNDERFOOT BY HIS OWN TROOPS OR SKEWERED BY A SPEAR” 1. HUNS ARRIVE FOR BATTLE Attila draws up his army for battle. He positions his Hunnic troops in the centre of his line,…

DESPITE HIS MERCENARY CAREER AND DUBIOUS LOYALTIES, EL CID BECAME KNOWN TO HISTORY AS A PATRIOTIC HERO THANKS TO AN UNTRUSTWORTHY SOURCE: POPULAR CULTURE Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar’s fame grew significantly in the centuries after his death, to the point where history became blurred with fiction. He was the glowing subject of an important long poem called Cantar De Mio Cid (‘The Song Of The Cid’) which was written between 1150 and 1207. It is the oldest preserved poem written in Castilian, which is the basis for the modern Spanish language. Tales of Rodrigo’s exploits had already been circulating, but the poem, which was designed to be performed in public, distorted his character into a saintly figure. Every incident in the poem demonstrates his nobility at the expense of Alfonso…

Since the 19th century, scholars have been fascinated by the Great Revolt and have excavated Jerusalem and various other sites in Israel for traces of the fighting and destruction. The findings are plentiful and paint a dramatic picture of the events. The Romans were obviously very furious when they finally captured the Temple Mount, because it must have been a straining effort to push the huge stones from the upper colonnade down into the street. The result is still visible today. Other remains offer more personal stories of the destruction. The so-called ‘Burnt House’ in the upper city of Jerusalem has been identified as the residence of the Kathros family (a stone weight with their name on it was found there). Weapons and the remains of body parts point to…

 The organisation of a Landsknecht company revolved around a complex command and disciplinary structure. The highest ranking officer, usually a colonel, would have direct control over the rest of his command group, which would have numbered about 22 men. In addition to ranks like captain, lieutenant, sergeant and corporal, there was also an ensign rank. It was their duty to bear the company colours, which served a dual purpose: One was to embody the company spirit and the other, more practical role was to act as a rallying point and landmark on the battlefield, where smoke and the clamour of battle could obscure views, the colours would act as a marker. “IF ANYONE SHOULD LOOT, BURN OR ATTACK WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE COMMANDING OFFICER, THEY COULD BE IN LINE…

1450 Muslim Arab traders arrive in Sulu and establish ties with the local nobility. The loose collection of islands above the Celebes Sea becomes a long-standing market for slaves and spices. 1565 The Spanish adventurer Miguel Lopez de Legazpi arrives in the Visayas where he establishes a permanent base. In several years, he’s the governor general of the Philippine Islands. 1899-1918 Having bested Spain in Cuba and Manila Bay, the United States begins its conquest of the Philippines. The imperial project bogs down in Mindanao where local resistance drags on for almost 20 years. 1941 A day after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the Imperial Japanese Navy launches its assault on the Philippines. The USA’s last bastion in Asia succumbs within months and endures brutal occupation. 1946 Though devastated…

“MANY LEADING NAZIS REALLY DID HAVE AN OBSESSION WITH THE OCCULT, AND SENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPEDITIONS TO MANY DIFFERENT COUNTRIES SEARCHING FOR, AMONG OTHER ARTEFACTS, THE HOLY GRAIL” While Raiders Of The Lost Ark and The Last Crusade would have us believe Hitler’s henchmen were constantly busy scouring the world for historical and religious artefacts to satisfy a Nazi obsession with the occult, there is a portion of fact behind this Hollywood fiction. Many leading Nazis did have an obsession with the occult, and sent archaeological expeditions to different countries searching for, among other artefacts, the Holy Grail. Nazi ideology and symbols also drew heavily from religions and philosophies long pre-dating Christianity, a religion Himmler personally loathed. From his youth, Himmler was fascinated by ancient beliefs, folk tales and legends –…

Writer: Eric Armstrong Publisher: Amberley Price: £12.99 In the modern era, the use of smartphones has made citizen journalists – amateur reporters who record newsworthy events as they unfold – a commonplace phenomenon, but it’s not a new one. During World War II, the Congregational Church on Westminster Road, in Handsworth Birmingham, began printing a magazine called the Westminster Chimes. The idea was to provide a platform for local people to write about their experiences serving in the conflict. Over the next six years, about 100 of the church’s congregation who found themselves serving in uniform, were invited to send in dispatches home, which the Chimes would then print. The author of this book, Eric Armstrong, has studied this archive and distilled its contents into a fascinating slice of social…

WHITE RAGE In White Rage, Anderson details a US socio-political phenomenon that’s so deep-seated it has barely registered in the collective consciousness of the layman – even this side of the millennium where the racial barriers are crumbling and the USA is supposed to be a land of equal opportunity for everyone. Anderson starts with the Thirteenth Amendment – the abolition of slavery in the US – and moves through post-civil war history showing that, for every time black Americans have made legitimate movements towards achieving equal rights, these opportunities have been sabotaged. Sometimes it’s through creative application of the law and, far too frequently, through white-on-black violence. BODYSNATCHERS: DIGGING UP THE UNTOLD STORIES OF BRITAIN’S RESURRECTION MEN Suzie Lennox’s new book takes readers back in time to the 18th…

“REYNOLDS IS AN ENGAGING HOST, WITH A DELIBERATE DELIVERY ENLIVENED BY MANY IMPERSONATIONS” Studio: Simply Media Running Time: 90 mins Price: £19.99 This two-part DVD is an entertaining attempt to answer a simple question: why did the British spend so much of the war paddling around the Mediterranean? Although pressed for time in this two-episode format, Cambridge professor David Reynolds manages to present an unhurried appraisal of the military and political thinking behind the war in the Mediterranean. Borne out of Churchill’s political insecurity and his doubts about the fighting ability of the British Army, the North African theatre was initially meant to be a relatively easy way of opening a second front against the Germans, who were being hard pressed by the Russians in the east. However, rather than…

On 22 July 1812, Arthur Wellesley (the future duke of Wellington) won a famous victory against the French at the Battle of Salamanca, a clash that saw the French army driven from Andalusia and Madrid temporarily liberated. It was a major turning point in the Peninsular War, and among the spoils of the Portuguese-British triumph were two regimental eagles. Each regiment of Napoleon’s Grande Armée carried its own golden eagle as a personal badge of honour – styled after the standards of the Roman legions. The loss of an eagle in battle brought shame to the entire regiment, and as such they were defended fiercely – conversely, the enemies of France considered them to be prestigious war trophies. At the Battle of Salamanca, Ensign John Pratt of the 30th Regiment…

In October 1094, the city of Valencia stood on the brink of falling to yet another conquest. Besieged by tens of thousands of invaders, the city’s aging lord and his small force of knights were trapped within their own walls, awaiting almost certain defeat. Valencia’s master had been a warrior for more than 30 years, but by now must have realised he was facing his greatest test. Gathering his men into order, he betrayed no fear as he gave his orders: they would ride out and meet the enemy head on. In a cry that would echo down the centuries, he drew his sword and proclaimed to his fellow knights: “For God and Saint James and at them!” He then charged through the gates and into legend. The man in…

At the start of the First World War, Germany had the most advanced, and probably the most complicated, military awards system in Europe. Between 1871 and 1918 there was, in a certain sense, no such thing as a single German army. Germany was an empire of four kingdoms, six grand duchies, five duchies, seven principalities and three Hanseatic free cities. Most of these states fielded their own armies (some only a single regiment of infantry) that was trained, organised and equipped after the Prussian model, which in wartime came under the control of the Prussian general staff. The institution and bestowal of awards remained a privilege of the territorial lords and sovereigns of the Reich. While Prussian awards could be given to all German personnel, those of other states were…

‘Unteroffizier Weißer joined 12th company as a volunteer at the outbreak of war. In many, often hard battles in which the regiment fought at Becelaere and Polygon Wood against the English in late autumn 1914, the 17-year-old had already distinguished himself greatly. As a reward for his courage, he had received the Iron Cross 2nd Class and a promotion to gefreiter in May 1915. ‘During the Battle of the Somme, he again showed exemplary and cold-blooded behaviour, staying calm even in the thickest drumfire and never losing control of his men, who followed him with absolute loyalty. Wherever there was a patrol to lead, Weißer was the first man to volunteer and he considered it to be an honour to be chosen for the most dangerous of tasks. During the…

Jerusalem in the 1st century CE was stretched out over several hills. The north-eastern hill, Moriah, (pictured on the right) hosted the Temple Mount – a huge artificial plateau built by Herod the Great. Adjacent to the north is the Antonia Fortress – also built by Herod and named after his patron Marc Anthony. The ramparts were 18 metres high with 20-30 metre-high towers at each corner (the towers are visible in the picture). The south-western hill (pictured on the left) is called Mount Zion today and accommodated the upper city with spacious and palatial villas. This included King Herod’s palace at the western corner, which was guarded by three mighty towers, each between 25 and 40 metres high and named Mariamne (Herod’s favourite wife), Phasael (his brother), and Hippicus…

The Thirty Years’ War is often remembered as one of Europe’s longest and bloodiest conflicts, with its destructive origins rooted in the religious friction between Catholic and Protestant factions within the Holy Roman Empire. The treaty of Augsburg in 1555 settled many of the existing disagreements between the two factions, but did little to resolve the fundamental issues of imperial authority and the rights of individual states. When Ferdinand II, a zealous Catholic Habsburg, became king of Bohemia, Hungary, and then was eventually elected emperor, Catholicism began to be strictly imposed throughout the empire. By 1618, many Protestant states, angry at the imposition, openly revolted and war had begun. For 30 years, terror and destruction plagued European countries, especially in the German states, where the lion’s share of the fighting…