Osprey Elite Series SC (1984-2008 OSPREY) comic books 2006

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Volume 131 - 1st printing. "The Condor Legion!" Written by Carlos Caballero Jurado. Art by Ramiro Bujeiro. The Condor Legion was the expeditionary force of soldiers and airmen sent by Hitler to aid Franco's Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War. The Germans used the war as an opportunity to develop equipment and tactics, and their force included not only instructors, but also combat units of artillery, tanks and aircraft. These units tested guns, tanks and planes and perfected techniques which were used in the 1940 Blitzkrieg. Many of officers prominent in the early campaigns of World War II won their first successes in Spain. This book details the Legion and its unique uniform and insignia. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $18.95.

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Volume 132 - 1st printing. "German Commanders of World War II Part 2!" Written by Gordon Williamson. Art by Malcolm McGregor. This second of two selections of Germany's World War II field commanders summarizes the careers, and illustrates the appearance, of 26 men who rose to prominence in the Waffen-SS, Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe. The subjects range from the commanders-in-chief and generals to younger officers whose fame and promotions were earned in combat on land, at sea and in the air. Some were dedicated supporters of the Nazi regime; others were motivated simply by patriotism and their military training. Every commander has an individual colour portrait expertly drawn by the respected World War II illustrator Malcolm McGregor. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $7.00

Add to cart Near Mint $7.00

Volume 136 - 1st printing. "World War II Airborne Warfare Tactics!" Written by Gordon L Rottman. Art by Peter Dennis. The delivery of entire divisions to battlefields behind enemy lines by parachute and glider played a significant part in the European campaigns of World War II. Despite notable successes, the costs and difficulties of this wholly new form of warfare have prevented airborne operations on a comparable scale since 1945. This book - by an airborne veteran of a later generation - explains in detail their advantages and drawbacks, developing techniques and equipment, with reference to specific German, US, British, Soviet and Japanese operations. The text is illustrated with period photographs, colour artwork and operation maps. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $18.95.

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Volume 137 - 1st printing. "The Mexican Revolution 1910?20!" Written by Gordon L Rottman. Art by Peter Dennis. Some of the most famous Western movies have been set against the background of the Mexican Revolution of the early 20th century. Now, for the first time in English, Osprey offer a concise but fact-packed account of the events, armies, uniforms and weapons of those ten chaotic and bloody years, putting in context such famous but half-understood names as Diaz, Pancho Villa, Zapata, Madero and Huerta. The text is illustrated with many rare and fascinating period photographs, and with eight detailed color plates of orfiristas and Rurales, Maderisitas, Federales, Villistas, Zapatistas,and US volunteers and intervention troops. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $18.95.

Volume 138 - 1st printing. "The Yugoslav Wars Part 1!" Written by Nigel Thomas K Mikulan. Art by Darko Pavlovic. Following the death of the Yugoslavian strongman President Tito in 1980, the several semi-autonomous republics and provinces that he had welded into a nation in 1945 moved inexorably towards separation. After a deceptively clean break for independence by Slovenia in 1991, the world watched a series of wars rip through this modern European state. In this first of two volumes, experts on the Balkan region give an unprecedentedly clear, concise explanation of the Slovene, Croatian and Krajina-Serb armies of these campaigns, illustrated with rare photos and colour uniform plates. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $18.95.

Volume 139 - 1st printing. "Knight's Cross with Diamonds Recipients!" Written by Gordon Williamson. Art by Ramiro Bujeiro. On 28 September 1941, Hitler instituted a new, supreme class of the Knight's Cross decoration for gallantry and leadership: the Oak-Leaves with Swords and Diamonds. This award would be presented to only 28 soldiers, sailors and airmen, out of the approximately 15 million who served in the German armed forces. This title describes and illustrates all 28 of those men - from fighter aces and U-boat commanders, to the youngest generals in the Wehrmacht, and field marshals in command of army groups - and including one officer for whom Hitler had to invent a literally unique award that set him apart even among the 'Diamond-bearers'. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $18.95.

Volume 140 - 1st printing. "The American Civil War in the Indian Territory!" Written by John D. Spencer. Art by Adam Hook. One of the most tragic theaters of Civil War conflict was the Indian Territory (modern Oklahoma), and the borderlands of Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and Texas. Both the Union and the Confederacy raised Native American units to contest this ground, and tribes were divided against one another and amongst themselves. Federal and Confederate cavalry also struck into the Territory from Kansas and Texas; and the irregular marauders who raided the area such as Kansas Red Legs and Quantrill's Raiders earned notoriety. This fascinating account of the groups which fought in the Territory is richly illustrated with rare early photos, and detailed color reconstructions. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $18.95.

Volume 141 - 1st printing. "Finland at War 1939-45!" Written by Philip Jowett, and Brent Snodgrass. Art by Raffaele Ruggeri. In the face of Soviet invasion in 1939-40, and once again in 1941-44, the armies raised by Finland - a tiny nation of only 4 million people - astonished the world by their effective resistance. At the end of both these campaigns - the Winter War, and the Continuation War - the fiercely patriotic defiance of vastly stronger Soviet forces by Marshal Mannerheim's soldiers won their country a unique prize: although forced to accept harsh terms, Finland was never occupied by the Red Army, and retained its independence. This book explains and illustrates, for the first time in English, the organization, uniforms, equipment and tactics of Finland's defenders. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $18.95.

Volume 142 - 1st printing. "No.10 (Inter-Allied) Commando 1942-45!" Written by Nick van der Bijl. Art by Rob Chapman. The largest, but least-known of all Britain's elite wartime Commando raiding units, No.10 (Inter-Allied) was recruited from volunteers from many nations who had fled to Britain after their own countries fell to the Nazis. Alongside Poles, Frenchmen, Dutchmen, Belgians and Norwegians, the unit included a small number of remarkably brave German and Austrian refugees. These commandos took part in daring raids, intelligence missions and conventional infantry battles, earning many decorations for gallantry and leadership. Detailing the wartime exploits of these courageous fighters, some of whom went on to form the nucleus of their liberated nations' new special forces, this book gives an insight into a fascinating unit that is often overlooked. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $18.95.

Volume 143 - 1st printing. "Canadian Airborne Forces since 1942!" Written by Bernd Horn PhD, and Michel Wyczynski. Art by Carlos Chagas. Canada's 1st Parachute Battalion earned a fearsome reputation on D-Day and in the two months of grim fighting that followed. It jumped again in the Rhine crossings, and fought its way deep into Germany by VE-Day - only to be disbanded soon afterwards. In the post-war era soldiers struggled to keep airborne skills alive until an ambitious new Airborne Regiment was raised in 1968. Since its controversial disbandment in 1995, the airborne torch has been carried onwards by the Parachute Companies of three Canadian infantry regiments who have recently served in Afghanistan. This book details the fascinating history of the Canadian Airborne forces. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $18.95.

Volume 144 - 1st printing. "US World War II Amphibious Tactics!" Written by Gordon L Rottman. Art by Peter Dennis. The US armed forces pioneered amphibious warfare in the Pacific and by the time of the D-day landings they had perfected the special equipment and tactics necessary for this extraordinarily difficult and risky form of warfare. This fact-packed study details the doctrine, equipment and tactics that evolved between the North African landings of November 1942 and those in the South of France in August 1944, and illustrates many aspects of the physical realities of assault landings through the use of photos, diagrams and color plates. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $18.95.

Volume 145 - 1st printing. "First Special Service Force 1942-44!" Written by Bret Werner. Art by Michael Welply. This is a concise history of the unique integrated commando-style brigade of US and Canadian volunteers formed in 1942. Hand picked, and trained in airborne, amphibious, mountain and winter warfare, demolitions and close-quarter tactics, they left a combat legacy still recognized amongst today's Special Forces. This book explores the remarkable results the FSSF achieved in Italy - in the harsh mountain fighting on the Winter Line, in the trenches of Anzio, and in the breakthrough to Rome. Accompanied by unique combat photography and illustrations of their distinctive uniforms, this is an insight into a famous, but little explored unit. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

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Volume 146 - 1st printing. "The Yugoslav Wars Part 2!" Written by Nigel Thomas, and K Mikulan . Art by Darko Pavlovic. Following the death of the Yugoslavian President Tito in 1980, the semi-autonomous republics and provinces that he had welded into a multi-cultural nation in 1945 slid gradually towards separation. For ten years following 1991, the world watched in horror as a series of bloody wars ripped a modern European state apart, and the intolerable spectacle eventually forced international intervention. Illustrated with rare photos and colour uniform plates, this second of two volumes by experts on the Balkan region offers a concise breakdown of the indigenous forces involved in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and Macedonia. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $18.95.

Volume 148 - 1st printing. "The Hungarian Revolution 1956!" Written by Erwin Schmidl, and László Ritter. Art by Peter Dennis. Stalin's death in 1953 led to unrest in several states of the Soviet empire, as their hungry, tyrannized peoples sensed a slackening in the grip of their hard-line regimes. This is an account of the October 1956 student demonstrators in Budapest who attracted growing support from workers - and, when the secret police opened fire, from many Hungarian troops. For five days they successfully fought off Soviet tanks, and it even seemed that Moscow might negotiate a withdrawal; but then the tanks rolled in again, in crushing numbers. This stirring story is illustrated with fascinating contemporary photos and meticulously researched colour plates. Softcover, 64 pages,PC/PB&W. Cover price $18.95.

Volume 149 - 1st printing. "The Scottish Jacobite Army 1745-46!" Written by Stuart Reid. Art by Gary Zaboly. One of the most celebrated moments in Scottish history, the Jacobite Rising of 1745 is often romanticized. Drawing on the work of historians and a wide range of contemporary sources, Culloden expert Stuart Reid strips away the myths surrounding the events of the campaign, revealing some of the lesser known and fascinating truths about the Rising. Illustrated with contemporary sketches and meticulous full-colour reconstructions of dress and equipment, the raising of Prince Charles Edward Stuart's army is examined in detail - from its organization in regiments and their command system, to its weapons, tactical strengths and weaknesses. Softcover, 64 pages,PC/PB&W. Cover price $18.95.

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Volume 150 - 1st printing. "World War I Gas Warfare Tactics and Equipment!" Written by Simon Jones. Art by Richard Hook. This remarkable book explains the practical details of a type of warfare waged for only three years, but which became one of the dominant aspects of World War I: the mass use of poison gases. It tells the story of German and Allied gas warfare from the first German attack at Ypres in April 1915 through to the 1918 Armistice: the gases, the means and tactics of delivery, the effects and influence on the battles, and the race to produce better protection for the troops on both sides. It is illustrated with very rare wartime photographs and diagrams of equipment, and with a series of colour plates showing gas equipment in use. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $18.95.