Books by Ian Sumner

During World War One the French Army was in a state of disarray, plagued by indiscipline, mutinies and desertion. The ordinary French citizens that were called upon to defend their motherland - the Poilu - were disrespected and demoralized. This title charts the history of the Poilu.

This work takes a look at the Royal Navy during World War II. It covers the organization of the fleet, the duties and conditions of shipboard life, and the uniforms and gear worn in all theatres of war. It also traces the development of the Royal Navy from 1939 to the end of the war.

This second volume details the uniforms and equipment of the Free French forces which fought alongside the Allies to defeat Germany and liberate Western Europe.

This volume looks at the uniforms, equipment and organization of France's military forces during the first two years of World War II. On paper, the French army was the most powerful in the world in 1939, but it's officers were unprepared for Germany's "Blitskrieg" tactics of 1940.

Initially the strongest of all the Allied armies, France''s metropolitan and colonial units bore the greatest burden during the first two years of the Great War, and made a great contribution to the final victory. In common with most European countries, the pre-war French Army was based on a system of national military service providing conscripts who could be subject to recall as reservists for several years after. However, the advent of war, the crisis in manpower, and the development of new tactics and weapons brought radical changes. The influence of these factors on the organisation, equipment, uniforms and tactics of the French Army during World War I is examined in detail in this title.