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The Jedburghs - The Secret History of the Allied Special Forces

$27.95

Author - Lt Col. Will Irwin
Published in 2005 by Public Affair, USA
Hardcover, 323 Pages
Size - 25cm * 16.5cm

The Jedburghs were a pioneering Special Forces unit, uniquely made up of American, British, and French volunteers. They parachuted deep behind the German lines to assist with the recapture of France in I944. Dropped in teams of three, the Jeds would rally local opposition to the Germans and conduct guerrilla warfare - sabotage, ambush, and intelligence gathering - ahead of the advancing Allied armies. In doing so, they contributed to the Allied breakout from the Normandy bridgehead and to the rapid advance to the German border.

Above all, the Jedburgh teams were trained to survive. The three-man teams could not be certain that their communications with London would survive the drop or that any meaningful resupply would be possible. They had to operate alone against extraordinary odds in a country almost entirely occupied by a hostile force, prepared to survive pitched battles with the Wehrmacht and relentless manhunts by the Gestapo. Nor did they know how long they would have to wait before the Allied front line reached them. It was an enormous test of endurance, cunning, and strength of will.

The Jedburghs tells the story of these heroic young men, and offers a new perspective on the D-Day landings. Will Irwin, who served in the modern U.S. Army Special Forces himself, has selected seven of the Jedburgh teams and told their stories as gripping personal narratives. He has gathered archival documents, diaries, and correspondence, and interviewed veterans and family members in order to present a full portrait of their crucial role - recognized by Churchill and Eisenhower - in the struggle to liberate Europe. It is narrative history at its most compelling: a vivid drama of the battle for France from deep behind enemy lines.

Lt Col. Will Irwin retired from the United States Army in January 2000 after a career of more than twenty-eight years, half of that in Special Forces. He received a B.A. in history from Methodist College and a master of military arts and sciences degree from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. He has done graduate work in modern European history at the University of Kansas and has served as a research fellow at the RAND Corporation. He now works as a defense contractor. Born in Iowa, Irwin lives in Valrico, Florida.