Iain Ballantyne Libri

26 May 1941. After a bloody chase lasting more than 1,700 miles, Britain's Home Fleet is finally closing in on the world's most powerful battleship. There will be a fight to the finish between more than 5,000 men of the Royal Navy and 2,600 servicemen of Hitler's Kriegsmarine. Thousands will die... Published here for the first time, alongside a compelling narrative of the final 24 hours of the mission to sink the Nazi ship, are eyewitness accounts of Royal Navy sailors who saw the combat up close. Seventy-five years on from the epic mission to destroy the flagship of Hitler's navy, these testimonies are the product of a unique project by Iain Ballantyne. Over a period of several years he interviewed a select group of surviving veterans in the UK and one in Canada, with transcripts of those remarkable on-camera interviews forming the basis of the exciting first-person stories that unfold here. These final testimonies provide fresh insight into one of World War Two's most dramatic events.

26 May 1941. After a bloody chase lasting more than 1,700 miles, Britain's Home Fleet is finally closing in on the world's most powerful battleship. There will be a fight to the finish between more than 5,000 men of the Royal Navy and 2,600 servicemen of Hitler's Kriegsmarine. Thousands will die... Published here for the first time, alongside a compelling narrative of the final 24 hours of the mission to sink the Nazi ship, are eyewitness accounts of Royal Navy sailors who saw the combat up close. Seventy-five years on from the epic mission to destroy the flagship of Hitler's navy, these testimonies are the product of a unique project by Iain Ballantyne. Over a period of several years he interviewed a select group of surviving veterans in the UK and one in Canada, with transcripts of those remarkable on-camera interviews forming the basis of the exciting first-person stories that unfold here. These final testimonies provide fresh insight into one of World War Two's most dramatic events.

There is no more illustrious warship name in British naval history H.M.S. Victory, which is inextricably linked with Admiral Lord Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar. This fascinating book, the latest in the Famous Warships of the Royal Navy series, clebrates all three at the 200th anniversary of Nelson's greatest triumph and his death in H.M.S. Victory. What is less well-known is that six warships before Nelson's carried the name Victory, the first bieng Sir John Hawkins' during the Battle of the Armada in 1588. All manner of maritime life is included in this book, from piracy in the Azores to gentlemanly encounters between the fleets as well as the battle of annihilation that was Trafalgar. The full horror, majesty and thunder of naval warfare in the age of fighting sail are revealed through the first-hand accounts of those who were there. Superbly illustrated, well-researched and written by two leading maritime experts, H.M.S. Victory will be enjoyed by all those for whom naval heritage, Nelson and his ship hold a fascination.

On September 17, 1944, 30,000 airborne soldiers prepared for a daring drop into Nazi-occupied Holland, aiming to secure eight crucial bridges across the Rhine and end the war by Christmas. Ground troops raced down Hell's Highway to link up with them. However, ten days later, over 15,000 soldiers were dead, and 6,000 were captured. Operation Market Garden sought to seize control of these bridges for a direct route into Germany, but it ended in a brutal defeat for the Allies. While tactics have been scrutinized and blame assigned over the past seventy-five years, the essence of Arnhem's story lies in the bravery of the troops, the resilience of civilians caught in the conflict, and their determination to fight for freedom. This narrative highlights ordinary individuals swept up in extraordinary circumstances. Through first-hand interviews, military records, and diaries, we experience the chaos of war—from its horrific realities to its surreal moments. Most importantly, we witness the self-sacrifice and valor of those who gave their lives to liberate strangers in a foreign land.

History of the Ship told through the accounts of those who served on her.

Since the first edition of this book, the level of interest and the varied forms of assessment and development centres have mushroomed. Iain Ballantyne and Nigel Povah's book looks at the entire process, from the underlying concepts to the most effective methods of validation - not forgetting the organizational politics involved. The main objectives of the book are: [ to establish a thorough understanding of the principles and practice of assessment and development centres; [ to provide sufficient knowledge to enable practitioners to run their own events in a professional manner; [ to help readers to recognise when they may need to call on outside expertise, and [ to equip readers to ask pertinent questions of any prospective advisers. This second edition includes guidance to reflect the significant developments within the technology, along with further advice on quality control, process improvements and further refinements to the increasingly popular development centre concept. Assessment and Development Centres represents a practical approach which is sure of a warm welcome from HR professionals.

W 1901 roku wiele admirałów uważało okręty podwodne za bezużyteczne, a dziś ich posiadanie jest symbolem militarnej potęgi. Uzbrojone w broń nuklearną, mogą zniszczyć miliony istnień, stanowiąc potężny środek odstraszania. Książka przedstawia fascynującą historię ewolucji tych jednostek od niezdarnych pojazdów do zaawansowanych, śmiertelnych okrętów. W opowieści pojawia się wiele barwnych postaci, w tym wizjonerzy i szaleni konstruktorzy, którzy mieli wpływ na rozwój technologii podwodnej. Czytelnik poznaje heroiczne bitwy konwojowe z dwóch wojen światowych, wysiłki Brytyjczyków w przechwytywaniu niemieckich U-bootów oraz codzienne życie na pokładach „szarych wilków” Kriegsmarine. Autor przybliża również incydenty z czasów zimnej wojny oraz zatopienie argentyńskiego pancernika Belgrano. Zawiera refleksje na temat roli okrętów podwodnych jako narzędzi politycznych i militarnych oraz zagrożeń związanych z bronią nuklearną. Jego wyważone oceny, wciągający styl i pasja do tematu czynią tę książkę fascynującą lekturą, docenianą przez ekspertów i entuzjastów historii.