Books in the Osprey Military Campaign S. series

A study of the struggle which took place in 1879 at the small mission station of Rorke's Drift, when more than 3,000 Zulu warriors were pitted against 400 British troops. Features 3-D maps and maps of the various stages of the campaign. From the CAMPAIGN series.

The first major clash of the Great War, Mons came as a nasty shock to the Imperial German Army. Assured by their commanders that they would sweep the French and their British allies in the BEF into the sea in a matter of weeks, they were stopped in their tracks at Mons by a numerically inferior British force.

This volume covers the first of the trench warfare battles of World War I. In the autumn of 1914 the original British Expeditionary Force made its last stand, aided by French troops, against the advancing German army racing towards the French ports.

The most decisive battle of the entire Peninsular War is described in this volume of the "Campaign" series. Wellington smashed Marmont's French Army and pursued its shattered remnants, leading to the famous cavalry charge of the King's German Legion at Garcia Hernandez.

This campaign marked the emergence of Spain as a major military power in Europe and was one of the first campaigns in which artillery played a significant part. By 1481 Granada was the last Islamic enclave in Spain, but it took the Spanish army 11 years of fighting to reach the city walls.

Gravelotte-St-Privat was probably the hardest fought of all the battles of the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871). Attacked by superior Prussian forces from both the First and Second armies, Marshal Bazaine''s French Army of the Rhine inflicted heavy casualties on the advancing Prussian''s before finally being forced to retreat into the fortress city of Metz. Unable to break out and with no hope of relief Bazaine''s army grimly held on to the end of the war. French failure at Gravelotte-St-Privat led directly to their final defeat at Sedan, the collapse of Napoleon III''s regime and the proclamation of the German Empire.

Osprey''s study of one of the battles of the Boer Wars, the Battle of Majuba. In 1881 the tension between Britain and the Boer farmers of southern Africa that had existed for 75 years boiled over into open conflict. The British entered the war full of confidence, yet in a few short weeks they had suffered three separate reverses before suffering their final humiliating defeat on the isolated summit of Majuba. George Colley''s force were swept off their ''unassailable'' position and into headlong retreat. It was a defeat that sent shock waves reverberating around the Empire. Ian Castle examines not only the battle at Majuba, but also the previous engagements at Laing''s Nek, Schuinshoogte and Bronkhorstspruit.

Japan in the 16th century was made up of effectively independent kingdoms led by warrior leaders. The author examines this period of Japanese history, looking at the commanders and armies and the way in which the destruction of the elite Takeda army affected the Samurai on all sides.

The conflict that broke out in 1812 seemed born of an almost subconscious desire for a war to complete the separation of America from England begun by the War of Independence. The war when it came was bloody and hard fought. In one last attempt to break the deadlock the British sent Major-General Sir Edward Pakenham to capture New Orleans. The troops he commanded were elite, veteran regiments. Andrew Jackson, leading the defenders, commanded a mixed force including militia, free Negro battalions, Indians and a group of local pirates. This title describes how this mixed force decisively defeated the British veterans in a battle that has become part of American legend.

Widely believed to be the turning point in the American War of Independence, at Saratoga General Burgoyne's men were forced to surrender. The colour maps, battle charts and artwork accompanying the text detail this crucial campaign.

In 1899 Great Britain was at the height of its Imperial power. The Queen Empress had been on the throne for more than 50 glittering years, and her domain touched upon every continent. Yet, even at this pinnacle of Imperial pomp and majesty, the British army, guardian of the Empire in countless wars across the globe, was destined to be humiliated by poorly-organised citizen militia consisting of men whom the British professionals despised as back-wood farmers. In one week in December 1899 the farmers of the South African Boer Republics of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal inflicted three serious reverses on British troops.

Offers an account of the Battle of Cannae in 216 BC, the most famous battle of the Second Punic War, during which Hannibal's much smaller force inflicted the greatest defeat ever suffered by the Roman army in what is still regarded today as a model display of military tactics.

An account of the epic siege of the island fortress of the Knights Hospitaller by the Turkish Army of the Emperor Suleiman. The six battle scenes in the book depict the brutal fighting and acts of bravery by the 500 Knights who held out against 30,000 Turkish soldiers for four months.

Osprey's Campaign title for the Normandy campaign of World War II (1939-1945). D-Day, 6 June 1944, saw the largest amphibious landing operation in history. From ports and harbours on the southern coast of England, an armada of troopships and landing craft launched the Allied return to mainland Europe. Stephen Badsey provides a concise account of the Normandy campaign, from the fiercely contested landings, to the struggle to capture Caen, the 'Cobra' offensive and the dramatic pursuit of the Germans to the River Seine. This was the crucial campaign of the Western theatre: after the Battle of Normandy the only question was how soon the war would end, not who would win it.

The 'Battle of the Bulge' was the last major German offensive in the West. Three armies attacked through the Ardennes, the weakest point in the American lines - and almost broke through. This title describes the planning of the attack and the course of events, including the defence of Bastogne and the heroic delaying actions fought by GIs supposed to be in a 'quiet' sector of the front. In spite of serious American disadvantages Hitler's offensive was stopped. James Arnold explains exactly how this was achieved, and how Germany's last hopes of victory were finally put to rest. Campaigns 5, 24, 74 and 75 are also available in a single volume special edition as 'Into the Reich'.

The "Campaign" titles provide concise accounts of the great conflicts of history, assessing each commander's strategy, and recounting the progress of the fighting using 3-D battle maps to illustrate the critical stages. This covers the ill-fated assault on Turkey by British and Imperial forces.

The "Campaign" titles provide concise accounts of the great conflicts of history, assessing each commander's strategy, and recounting the progress of the fighting using 3-D battle maps to illustrate the critical stages. At Bull Run, "Stonewall" Jackson secured the first Confederate victory.

The opening of the Suez Canal and inept government culminated in Britain taking effective control of Egyptian affairs in 1879. This book chronicles the revolt against British domination which culminated in this decisive victory for the British army.

One of the most important naval battles in history, Midway was fought barely six months after the devastating Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The badly damaged USS Yorktown was repaired in just 48 hours and with Enterprise and Hornet set out to meet the Japanese. In a battle marked by great heroism on both sides the United States dealt a devastating blow to the Imperial Japanese Fleet sinking four of her most powerful carriers. In this superbly illustrated volume Mark Healy tells the whole story; espionage, daring, luck and extreme heroism. A fascinating read supplemented by genuine photographs of the battle in progress.

An account of the campaign leading to the "Battle of the Nations", the titanic clash which drove the French out of Germany in 1813. The book is illustrated with bird's-eye views.

An account of the origins, events and outcome of the Battle of Wagram in 1809, one of the hardest fought of all Napoleon's victories. It took place against an Austrian army, eager for revenge, that left the battlefield without a rout despite having to admit defeat.

An account of the origins, events and outcome of the Battle of Yarmouk in 636 AD, one of the most decisive battles of Middle East history which resulted in the disastrous defeat of the Byzantine army. The book is illustrated with maps and diagrams, and with contemporary drawings and prints.