Author Spotlight
Stephen Robinson is a regular name amongst our military titles, and that is because his books are filled with expertise, knowledge, and passion for all things military history.
To celebrate his latest release Eight Hundred Heroes we are shining a light on all of Stephen’s books, as well as the other exciting military history books we’ve had the privilege of publishing over the years.
Stephen Robinson
Stephen Robinson studied Asian history and politics at the University of Western Sydney, graduating with First Class Honours. He has worked at the Department of Veterans' Affairs researching British atomic weapons tests and as a policy officer in the Department of Defence. Stephen has graduated from Australian Command and Staff College, worked as an officer in the Australian Army Reserve and has served as an instructor at the Royal Military College.
Eight Hundred Heroes
China’s Lost Battalion and the Fall of Shanghai
Shanghai, 1937. As invading Japanese troops are poised to capture one of the world’s greatest cities, the Chinese Army retreats but one battalion stays behind to fight. These Eight Hundred Heroes – defended Sihang Warehouse with intense bravery and their incredible heroism became an enduring myth that helped define modern China. This is the exciting story of the Battle of Sihang Warehouse told as never before, bringing together Chinese and western accounts for the first time to create a thorough and compelling depiction of the legendary battle.
The Blind Strategist
John Boyd and the American Art of War
Colonel John Boyd, a maverick fighter pilot, revolutionized the American art of war but his research relied on accounts written by Wehrmacht veterans who fabricated historical evidence to cover up their participation in Nazi war crimes. The Blind Strategist separates fact from fantasy and exposes the myths of maneuver warfare through a detailed evidence-based investigation and is a must-read for anybody interested in American military history.
Panzer Commander Hermann Balck
Germany’s Master Tactician
PANZER COMMANDER HERMANN BALCK is regarded as one of the world’s greatest armoured warfare commanders. In this intriguing history, we follow his perilous journey through the fields of France, the mountains of Greece and the steppes of Russia. In Greece, through flair and innovative leadership, his soldiers overcome every obstacle to defeat determined Allied forces defending the narrow mountain passes.
False Flags
Disguised German raiders of World War II
In 1940 the raiders Orion, Komet, Pinguin and Kormoran left Germany and waged a ‘pirate war’ across the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans as well as the Arctic and Antarctic, as part of Germany’s strategy to attack the British Empire’s maritime trade on a global scale. Their extraordinary voyages are maritime sagas in the finest tradition of seafaring.
More Military History
Anzac Ted (10th Anniversary Edition)
Re-issued as a gorgeous hardback to celebrate it’s 10th anniversary, meet a bear who is more extraordinary than most in this best-selling story about the Anzac spirit.
These days, Anzac Ted doesn’t score any votes at classroom Show and Tell, with his worn patches and missing parts. But when he belonged to Grandpa Jack, he travelled across the world to be a mascot for Anzac soldiers, giving them comfort, courage and hope that they would return home. Told with heart and sensitivity, Anzac Ted is a celebration of the Anzac spirit.
This special edition includes additional content such as a page of information on the history of the ANZACS and the shared experience of ANZAC and Turkish soldiers, as well as a ‘How to draw Anzac Ted’ activity page.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 32 Pages | EkBooks
Deceptions of World War II
From camouflage techniques to deception tactics
Only available in Australia & New Zealand
Bluff and camouflage were vital wartime tactics. At home and in the Pacific, artists and photographers like William Dobell and Max Dupain were drafted into bold and creative efforts. Enjoy the ingenious and outrageous acts of military subterfuge of WWII. From disguising military bases as market gardens to creating mythical brigades in the Pacific, to fictitious spy networks feeding the enemy false information, these absorbing stories unveil the war-winning deceptions – and their masterminds.
Specifications: Hardback | 230 x 172mm | 224 Pages
Secret Heroes of World War II
Spies, scientists and other heroes
Only available in Australia & New Zealand
Look behind the curtain and meet the engineers, resistance fighters, spies, physicists and more who committed incredible acts of heroism amidst the chaos and danger of WWII. From the priest who hid thousands of POWs and Jews in the Vatican, to the Antipodean servicewoman who led a formidable Resistance group, prepare to be awed and captivated.
Specifications: Hardback | 230 x 172mm | 224 Pages
My Grandfather’s War
USD $17.99 Tax IncludedThe award-winning team of Glyn Harper and Jenny Cooper share this poignant story about a Vietnam veteran and his relationship with his granddaughter. While the relationship is a positive one, the young girl senses her grandfather’s pain and is curious to find out the cause of it. As she innocently seeks answers, she unknowingly opens old wounds and discovers her grandfather’s sadness is a legacy of the Vietnam War and his experiences there.
This is a sensitive exploration of the lingering cost of war and of the PTSD so many returned servicemen experience. Released to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Khe Sanh (the Vietnam War’s longest battle), it also sheds light on a war that is not always remembered in the same way that the world wars and other conflicts are. Many who served experience a sense of betrayal at the treatment they received on their return, as the conflict came to be regarded as the ‘unpopular’ war, and this is covered in a child-friendly way in a note at the back of the book.
My Grandfathers War has won the Children’s Book Council’s Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Award for 2019.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 245 x 255 mm / 9½ x 10 Inches | Colour | 32 Pages |
Voices of World War II-Flexibound
Download Teacher’s Notes
New Zealanders Share Their Stories
In this collection of memories sent in by families across New Zealand, you will find a rare insight into wartime life across generations and vocations. Fascinating and genuine, it is both a tribute to the resilience and bravery of those who served in WWII, and a historical account which will teach younger generations about the lives of their ancestors.
Descriptions are given by a solider lying in his tent, hearing bombs land close by; young school children explain what it was like to have bomb shelter practices at school; a Land Girl meets the farmer she would work with for the first time.
This book is a visually captivating compendium of photographs and written accounts, it provides a snapshot of what life was like during WWII, from the point of view of those who lived through it.
SPECIFICATIONS 280mm x 210mm | Flexi-Bound| Illustrated | 296 pages
Eight Hundred Heroes: China’s Lost Battalion and the Fall of Shanghai
USD $35.99 Tax IncludedAlso available in eBook
From acclaimed historian Stephen Robinson comes an account of a battle which has taken on mythic dimensions in Chinese and international military history. From 26th October to 1st November 1937, the ‘800 Heroes’ defended Sihang Warehouse from wave after wave of Japanese assaults. This is the exciting story of the Battle of Sihang Warehouse told as never before, bringing together Chinese and western accounts for the first time to create a thorough and compelling depiction of the legendary battle.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 234 x 151 mm | 304 Pages | B & W Photographs & Maps
Voices of World War II- H.B
New Zealanders Share Their Stories
In this collection of memories sent in by families across New Zealand, you will find a rare insight into wartime life across generations and vocations. Fascinating and genuine, it is both a tribute to the resilience and bravery of those who served in WWII, and a historical account which will teach younger generations about the lives of their ancestors.
Descriptions are given by a solider lying in his tent, hearing bombs land close by; young school children explain what it was like to have bomb shelter practices at school; a Land Girl meets the farmer she would work with for the first time.
This book is a visually captivating compendium of photographs and written accounts, it provides a snapshot of what life was like during WWII, from the point of view of those who lived through it.
SPECIFICATIONS 280mm x 210mm | Hardback PLC | Illustrated | 296 pages | 9781775594314
The Blind Strategist
From: USD $24.99Available in paperback and hardcover
Colonel John Boyd, a maverick fighter pilot, revolutionized the American art of war but his research relied on accounts written by Wehrmacht veterans who fabricated historical evidence to cover up their participation in Nazi war crimes. The Blind Strategist separates fact from fantasy and exposes the myths of maneuver warfare through a detailed evidence-based investigation and is a must-read for anybody interested in American military history.
Specifications: Hardback: 9781925820348 | Cover and Jacket |234 x 151mm/9.25 x 6 in | 360 pages / Paperback: 9781922539861| 234 x 151mm/9.25 x 6 in | 360 pages
False Flags (paperback edition)
Disguised German raiders of World War II
Now available in paperback, False Flags tells the epic story of German raider voyages to the South Seas during the early years of World War II. In 1940 the raiders Orion, Komet, Pinguin and Kormoran left Germany and waged a ‘pirate war’ across the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans as well as the Arctic and Antarctic, as part of Germany’s strategy to attack the British Empire’s maritime trade on a global scale. Their extraordinary voyages are maritime sagas in the finest tradition of seafaring.
SPECIFICATIONS: 9781925335804 | Paperback | 234 x 151 mm / 9.21 x 5.94 inches | 320 Pages
Godley
USD $35.00 Tax IncludedThe Man Behind the Myth
A comprehensive biography of General Sir Alexander Godley, presenting for the first time a fair and balanced look at his time as commander of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) and II ANZAC Corps during World War I. While Godley is generally remembered as being a poor field commander, Terry Kinloch argues that he was in fact a capable one who had little or no ability to influence the failed battles at Gallipoli and Passchendaele that he is often seen as responsible for. Kinloch also presents, for the first time, a detailed account of Godley’s long pre- and post-World War I career in the British Army. After the war Godley returned to the British Army, eventually reaching the rank of general before retiring in 1933. During his 48-year military career, he also served on operations in Rhodesia and South Africa, as a mounted infantry instructor, in the post-war British occupation force in Germany, and as the Governor of Gibraltar.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 240 x 160 mm | 9.5 x 6.25 inches| 328 Pages
World War Two at Sea
Conflict on the Oceans – 1939 to 1945
During the Second World War, battles raged not just on land and in the air but on the sea, and whichever side triumphed at sea would have an essential advantage; naval success was a crucial preliminary to the air and land campaigns that would lead to final victory.
This spectacular retelling of the naval history of WWII covers everything from submarine warfare in the Atlantic to major operations in the Pacific. With fascinating archive photographs and detailed information about significant operations, alongside some of the lesser-known aspects of the conflict, World War Two at Sea brings to life the ferocity of naval warfare.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 220 x 250 mm | Colour | 208 Pages |
Under a Bomber’s Moon
USD $14.99The True Story of Two Airmen at War Over Germany
They were the best of enemies – dedicated, skilled, deadly. In the treacherous night skies above wartime Germany, an RAF bomber from New Zealand and a Luftwaffe pilot hunt their targets, passing each other in the darkness.
Stephen Harris wanted to discover the truth about his great-uncle’s exploits during WWII; he never imagined it would lead to meeting the pilot from the other side. Under a Bomber’s Moon reaches across the divide of years and countries to tell the story of these two brave men, describing both the breathtaking clashes in the air and the camaraderie, patriotism and personal tragedies that became their war.
SPECIFICATIONS: Paperback with Flaps | 234 x 153 mm | 16 Pages Photographs | 224 Pages |
New Zealand’s Great War
New Zealand, the Allies and the First World War
The First World War, with all its appalling mistakes and tragic waste of life, has the capacity to horrify even a century after its end. No country, even New Zealand, escaped its reach. This illuminating collection brings together essays by distinguished historians discussing many aspects of the country’s participation in ‘the war to end all wars’.
From the complex reasons NZ became involved, the social and cultural repercussions and the experiences of soldiers on the battlefields, New Zealand’s Great War offers a groundbreaking examination of the lasting effects of such a devastating global conflict.
SPECIFICATIONS: Cased with Jacket | 234 x 153 mm | Photographs | 678 Pages |
New Zealand’s First World War Heritage
USD $59.99 Tax IncludedFrom Northland to Stewart Island, remnants, reminders and traces of the First World War can still be found in New Zealand. Stories are waiting everywhere, if you know where to look.
Although no battles were fought here, the Great War intruded into the life of every New Zealander – the country’s landscape is signposted with thousands of memorials and a legacy waiting to be heard. Illustrated with new and period photographs and fascinating maps, this unique book reveals the landscape of war beneath and opens your eyes to the stories and legacy hidden around you.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 242 x 184 mm | 288 Pages |
The Nek
One of the greatest tragedies in Australian military history occurred at Gallipoli on 7th August 1915, when hundreds of soldiers were repeatedly ordered to charge the massed rifles and machine guns of the Turkish enemy. It was a bloodbath, a hopeless endeavour that has been the subject of considerable scrutiny by historians.
This new edition of Peter Burness’ classic book features arresting new photographs, maps and information. In it, he examines the formation, training and character of the regiments involved and devotes careful attention to considering how, and why, the suicidal charges were allowed to continue when all hope of success was lost.
SPECIFICATIONS: Paperback | 234 x 153 mm | 9¼ x 6 in | 168 + 8pp Insert Pages |
A Job to Do
When the news broke that Britain had declared war against Germany, New Zealand was quick to follow suit. In the weeks after, thousands of New Zealand men – brothers, husbands, friends, fathers – left their ordinary lives and stepped into new identities; almost overnight, they became soldiers. They did so with characteristically kiwi frankness, with humour and a wry cynicism that is captured profoundly in A Job to Do.
This wonderful collection of first-hand accounts, drawings, memoirs and verse from soldiers of ‘The Div’ is a revelatory window into their personal experiences of wartime that showcases the courage the Division became famous for.
SPECIFICATIONS: Cased with Jacket | 242 x 184 mm | 368 Pages | Cartoons, Line drawings and Photographs
The Devil’s Own War
Herbert Hart’s diary is an unrivalled and gripping account of life on the front lines of the First World War. Hart commanded the Wellington Battalion during the closing stages of the ill-fated Gallipoli campaign and went on to serve as a commander on the Western Front for two brutal years.
One of the most important personal sources relating to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, this riveting record of his experiences during the great battles of Gallipolli, the Somme and Passchendaele tells an extraordinary tale of combat and the wartime reality of NZ soldiers, with unexpected humour and captivating detail.
SPECIFICATIONS: Paperback | 234 x 153 mm | Photographs | 336 Pages |
One Woman’s War and Peace: A nurse’s journey in the Royal Australian Air Force
USD $24.99 Tax IncludedIn 1999, idealistic 23-year-old Registered Nurse Sharon Bown left her comfortable family life in Tasmania and joined the Royal Australian Air Force with the aim of providing humanitarian aid to the world.
Through her 16-year military career she deployed on three operations, barely survived a helicopter crash, struggled to return to military service, mixed in political circles in Canberra and around the world as Aide de Camp to the Minister for Defence, and commanded a combat surgical team during some of the most intense fighting in Afghanistan.
From teaching East Timorese orphans to learn English to tending to wounded Coalition soldiers choppered into her surgical team from deadly battles on the Afghan dust, Sharon’s story is that of a sheltered civilian RN becoming a military Nursing Officer and a commander.
Her military service was unique, varied and far-reaching but came at the cost of her physical and mental health. A broken back, shattered jaw and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder are the price she has paid for a remarkable and inspirational career in the Royal Australian Air Force.
SPECIFICATIONS: Paperback | 229 x 152 mm / 9 x 6 Inches | Approx. 30 Colour Photographs | 248 Pages |
Gallipoli: A Ridge Too Far
USD $34.99 Tax IncludedWhen troops from Great Britain, France, Australia, New Zealand and India landed on a strategic peninsula in the Aegean Sea in April 1915, they believed they would quickly defeat Turkey and shorten the war with Germany. Few foresaw the tragedy that lay ahead and no one predicted the impact Gallipoli would have on the later development of the participating nations.
Now, for the first time, Gallipoli: A Ridge Too Far tells the full story of the climactic battles from multiple perspectives, describing the pivotal events of that momentous year as they affected all the countries involved.
SPECIFICATIONS: Paperback | 242 x 184 mm / 9 ½ x 7 â…• Inches | 8 Pages of Photographs & Maps | 336 Pages |
False Flags: Disguised German Raiders of World War II
USD $38.99False Flags tells the epic untold story of German raider voyages to the South Seas during the early years of World War II. In 1940 the raiders Orion, Komet, Pinguin and Kormoran left Germany and waged a ‘pirate war’ in the South Seas — part of Germany’s strategy to attack the British Empire’s maritime trade on a global scale. Their remarkable voyages spanned the globe and are maritime sagas in the finest tradition of seafaring. The four raiders voyaged across the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans as well as the Arctic and Antarctic.
False Flags is also the story of the Allied sailors who encountered these raiders and fought suicidal battles against a superior foe as well as the men, women and children who endured captivity on board the raiders as prisoners of the Third Reich.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 234 x 151 mm / 9 ¼ x 6 Inches | Approx. 50 Black & White photos and maps | 368 Pages |
Desert War: The Battle of Sidi Rezegh
Sir Geoffrey Cox described Sidi Rezegh, fought during Operation Crusader in Libya over November and December 1941, as ‘the forgotten battle of the Desert War’. The objective of Crusader was to retake Cyrenaica, the eastern region of Libya, and ultimately drive the Italians and Germans out of North Africa. The campaign also involved British and South African troops, and did achieve the badly needed relief of Tobruk.
Despite the New Zealand Division’s major role, and the importance of this campaign in achieving British victory in North Africa, it has largely been neglected by historians, failing to receive as much attention as Crete, El Alamein or Cassino. Yet more New Zealand soldiers were killed or taken prisoner during Crusader than in any other campaign fought by ‘the Div’ during the war.
SPECIFICATIONS: Paperback | 234 x 151 mm / 9 ¼ x 6 Inches | 240 Pages |
Johnny Enzed – Limited Leather Edition
The New Zealand Soldier in the First World War 1914–1918
Produced to commemorate the publishing of one of New Zealand’s most important historical works, Johnny Enzed (Limited Leather Edition) is a foundation title in the First World War Centenary History Series. This handcrafted limited edition leather bound book will be a collectors’ piece for generations. Just 101 have been produced and all have been individually signed and numbered by the author. Johnny Enzed was published in an ordinary edition hardback to vast critical acclaim.
SPECIFICATIONS: Leather bound hardback in slip case | Signed and Numbered Limited Ediiton | 240 x 160 mm / 9 ½ x 6 ¼ Inches | Black & White (150 photographs, 9 maps, plus diagrams) | 720 Pages |