Knights of the Battle of Britain

Knights of the Battle of Britain
Author: Chris Goss
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Total Pages: 350
Release: 2018-06-30
Genre: History
ISBN: 1526726521

The Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knights Cross of the Iron Cross), known simply as the Ritterkreuz (Knights Cross), was the highest German military award of the Second World War. Instituted on 1 September 1939, to coincide with the German invasion of Poland, it was awarded for leadership, valor or skill. As the war progressed, higher variants were instituted, namely the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves, Knights Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, and the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves Swords and Diamonds. Similar in design, but larger, than the Eiserne Kreuz (Iron Cross), and worn around the neck as opposed to on the breast, the border and hanging loop on the Knights Cross were made of pure silver which was marked ‘800. The award was made by a number of German manufacturers. On 3 June 1940, the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuz mit Eichenlaub (Knights Cross with Oak Leaves) was instituted, by which time 124 Rittterkreuz had been awarded to all arms of the German military, of which forty-nine had been awarded to Luftwaffe personnel. The first recipient was Generalfeldmarschal Hermann Göring on 30 September 1939; the first Luftwaffe operational Luftwaffe aircrew member recipient, and the fifth overall, was Oberst Robert Fuchs, Kommodore of Kampfgeschwader 26. His award was made on 6 April 1940. The first fighter pilot to receive the Ritterkreuz was Hauptmann Werner Mölders of III Gruppe/Jagdgeschwader 53 (III./JG 53) on 29 May 1940. Only three Luftwaffe officers would receive the Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub in 1940, and all of them were fighter pilots – Mölders on 21 September 1940 (he was then Geschwader Kommodore of JG 51), Major Adolf Galland (Kommodore of JG 26) on 24 September 1940, and Hauptmann Helmut Wick (Kommandeur of I Gruppe/JG 2) on 6 October 1940. Throughout the summer of 1940, many more Luftwaffe members, be they serving on fighter, bomber, dive bomber or reconnaissance units, would receive the Ritterkreuz. Some of these awards were made posthumously, whilst others would learn of their awards whilst a prisoner of war in Britain or, later, in Canada. In this book, the renowned aviation historian Chris Goss provides biographical details of all operational members of the Luftwaffe who received the Ritterkreuz during 1940 or were awarded it as a result of their actions in what became known as the Battle of Britain.

The Knight Who Saved England

The Knight Who Saved England
Author: Richard Brooks
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 239
Release: 2014-04-20
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 1472808363

The life and times of the greatest knight of the high middle ages, who saved England from the French. In 1217 England was facing her darkest hour, with foreign troops pillaging the country and defeat close at hand. But, at the battle of Lincoln, the seventy-year-old William Marshal led his men to a victory that would secure the future of his nation. Earl of Pembroke, right-hand man to three kings and regent for a fourth, Marshal was one of the most celebrated men in Europe, yet is virtually unknown today, his impact and influence largely forgotten In this vivid account, Richard Brooks blends colourful contemporary source material with new insights to uncover the tale of this unheralded icon. He traces the rise of Marshal from penniless younger son to renowned knight, national hero and defender of the Magna Carta. What emerges is a fascinating story of a man negotiating the brutal realities of medieval warfare and the conflicting demands of chivalric ideals, and who against the odds defeated the joint French and rebel forces in arguably the most important battle in medieval English history – overshadowing even Agincourt.

The Few

The Few
Author: Alex Kershaw
Publisher: Da Capo Press
Total Pages: 330
Release: 2007-08-28
Genre: History
ISBN: 0306815907

From the author of national bestsellers The Bedford Boys and The Longest Winter comes "a rousing tale of little-known heroes" (Booklist). The Few tells the dramatic and unforgettable story of eight young Americans who joined Britain's Royal Air Force, defying their country's neutrality laws and risking their U.S. citizenship to fight side-by-side with England's finest pilots in the summer of 1940-over a year before America entered the war. Flying the lethal and elegant Spitfire, they became "knights of the air" and with minimal training but plenty of guts, they dueled the skilled and fearsome pilots of Germany's Luftwaffe. By October 1940, they had helped England win the greatest air battle in the history of aviation. Winston Churchill once said of all those who fought in the Battle of Britain, "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." These daring Americans were the few among the "few." Now, with the narrative drive and human drama that made The Bedford Boys and The Longest Winter national bestsellers, Alex Kershaw tells their story for the first time.

With Wings Like Eagles

With Wings Like Eagles
Author: Michael Korda
Publisher: Harper Collins
Total Pages: 407
Release: 2009-10-06
Genre: History
ISBN: 0061984949

“[With Wings Like Eagles is] bold and refreshing… Korda writes with great elegance and flair.”—Wall Street Journal From the New York Times bestselling author of Ike and Horse People, Michael Korda, comes With Wings Like Eagles, the harrowing story of The Battle of Britain, one of the most important battles of World War II. In the words of the Washington Post Book World, “With Wings Like Eagles is a skillful, absorbing, often moving contribution to the popular understanding of one of the few episodes in history … to deserve the description ‘heroic.’”

Knights of Agincourt: A Roll of Honour

Knights of Agincourt: A Roll of Honour
Author: Steve Archibald
Publisher: Redcrest Publishing
Total Pages: 66
Release: 2019-02-07
Genre: History
ISBN: 9781999667733

The Battle of Agincourt was a major turning point during the Hundred Years War. England's victory against the numerically superior French army was totally unexpected. It crippled the French army and began a period of military success for the English. In this book the author has researched countless references and compiled a full colour armorial of as many of the known combatants from both sides. This colourful and useful reference includes 159 English and 324 French heraldic Coats of Arms.

Battle of Britain

Battle of Britain
Author: Christer Bergström
Publisher: Casemate / Vaktel Forlag
Total Pages: 328
Release: 2015-09-19
Genre: History
ISBN: 1612003478

In time for the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, we now have—thanks to Swedish historian Bergström—perhaps the most thorough, expert examination of the topic ever written. Illustrated throughout with maps and rare photos, plus a color section closely depicting the aircraft, this work lays out the battle as seldom seen before. The battle was a turning in point in military history, and arguably in the fate of the world. By late summer 1940 Nazi Germany had conquered all its opponents on the continent, including the British Army itself, which was forced to scramble back aboard small boats to its shores. With a Non-Aggression Pact with the Soviet Union in hand, Hitler had only one remaining object that season—the British Isles themselves. However, before he could invade, his Luftwaffe needed to wipe the Royal Air Force from the skies. Thus took place history’s first strategic military campaign conducted in the air alone. This book contains a large number of dramatic eyewitness accounts, even as it reveals new facts that will alter perception of the battle in the public’s eyes. For example, the twin-engined Messerschmitt Bf 110 was actually a good day fighter, and it performed at least as well in this role as the Bf 109 during the battle. The Luftwaffe’s commander, Hermann Göring, performed far better than has previously been his image. The British night bombers played a more decisive role than previously thought; meantime this book disproves that the German 109 pilots were in any way superior to their Hurricane or Spitfire counterparts. The author has made a detailed search into the loss records for both sides, and provides statistics that will raise more than one eyebrow. The “revisionist” version, according to which the courage and skill of the RAF airmen is “exaggerated” is scrutinized and completely shattered. There is no doubt that it was the unparalleled efforts of “The Few” that won the battle. The Germans, on the other hand, did not show the same stamina as they had on the continent. The following summer they would show it again when they went in to Russia. In the skies over Britain this work verifies where credit was due.

The Medieval Knights

The Medieval Knights
Author: Louise Park
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish
Total Pages: 36
Release: 2010-01-30
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 9780761444442

Ancient and Medieval People profiles some of the fiercest warriors in history. Learn about their lives and times, notorious battles, and daring feats! In The Medieval Knights, read about bloody battles during the Crusades. Learn about chivalry among knights, their armor, and their code of honor. Special features in the series include: In Profile looks at some of history's greatest warriors, raiders, and heroes Spotlight On key historical events Timelines of historical events Quick Facts provide fascinating facts What's In a Name? defines and explains foreign or ancient words Locator maps, labeled illustrations, and diagrams. Book jacket.

Knights of England a Complete Record from the Earliest Time to the Present Day of the Knights of All the Orders of Chivalry

Knights of England a Complete Record from the Earliest Time to the Present Day of the Knights of All the Orders of Chivalry
Author: William a Shaw
Publisher:
Total Pages: 1248
Release: 2016-10-26
Genre:
ISBN: 9781783311002

These hitherto hard-to-find two volumes are a gem of reference history, being a complete record of all Knights created by the English Crown. Volume 1 deals with the Knights belonging to chivalric Orders, from the Black Prince who became the First Knight of the Garter on the Field of the battle of Crecy, created by his father Edward III, onwards and upwards until 1906. All the major Orders, Bath, Thistle, Royal Victorian Order are listed in chronological order, with full names and dates of those invested. Among the early entries are Sir William Hastings, an early victim of Richard III beheaded in the Tower in 1483; and knights who fell in battle during the fratricidal Wars of the Roses. Volume 2 is a chronological list of Knights Bachelors - ordinary knights (ie. those not belonging to an Order) from the introduction of the Angevin knight-dubbing ceremony in c.1250.

The Medieval Knight at War

The Medieval Knight at War
Author: Brooks Robards
Publisher:
Total Pages: 168
Release: 1997
Genre: Armor, Medieval
ISBN: 9780760707180

Superbly illustrated history of medieval warfare including the origins of knighthood, the rise of the knight, Charlemagne's knights, castles, chivalry, the crusades, brotherhoods of knights, tournaments and jousts, legendary leaders, celebrated wars, and the end of knighthood.

The Most Dangerous Enemy

The Most Dangerous Enemy
Author: Stephen Bungay
Publisher: Aurum
Total Pages: 542
Release: 2010-09-25
Genre: History
ISBN: 1845136500

Stephen Bungay’s magisterial history is acclaimed as the account of the Battle of Britain. Unrivalled for its synthesis of all previous historical accounts, for the quality of its strategic analysis and its truly compulsive narrative, this is a book ultimately distinguished by its conclusions – that it was the British in the Battle who displayed all the virtues of efficiency, organisation and even ruthlessness we habitually attribute to the Germans, and they who fell short in their amateurism, ill-preparedness, poor engineering and even in their old-fashioned notions of gallantry. An engrossing read for the military scholar and the general reader alike, this is a classic of military history that looks beyond the mythology, to explore all the tragedy and comedy; the brutality and compassion of war.