William B. Breuer wijdde zich vanaf 1982 fulltime aan het schrijven van boeken. Zijn literaire werk richt zich op militaire geschiedenis, met name de gebeurtenissen van de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Breuers boeken worden gewaardeerd om hun gedetailleerde onderzoek en meeslepende verhalen die de lezer in het hart van de strijd trekken. Hij brengt zijn uitgebreide kennis en passie voor het onderwerp met opmerkelijke nauwkeurigheid en levendigheid op papier.
Highlighting the often-overlooked contributions of American women in military history, this book chronicles their bravery and dedication in various roles, including spies and frontline correspondents, from World War I to present conflicts. It emphasizes personal stories of heroism, sacrifice, and the challenges faced by women in service, while also addressing the contentious debates surrounding women in combat. The narrative includes poignant accounts of those who suffered in the line of duty, offering a compelling perspective on their significant yet underreported impact.
Few World War II stories are more gripping than those fought behind enemy lines by spies, underground members and special forces. In this collection, the author brings to light largely unknown stories of behind the scenes bravery and covert activities that helped the Allies win critical victories both on the ground and in the air. In historian William Breuer’s latest collection, he brings to light largely unknown stories of behind the scenes bravery and covert activities that helped the Allies win critical victories both on the ground and in the air. Here are more than seventy tales of espionage, sabotage, and derring-do, including thrilling accounts of “impossible” rescues, ingenious secret networks, and high-stakes U.S. Ranger missions within enemy territory. Vivid, fast-paced, and dramatic, Daring Missions of World War II introduces you to the heroes and heroines who risked their lives for victory—and sometimes notoriety.
Despite the mighty invasion force the Americans and British mustered in England in early 1944, a top Allied general warned: If the Germans have even a 48-hour advance notice of the time and place of the Normandy landings, we could suffer a monstrous catastrophe! For his part, Adolf Hitler planned to inflict such a massive bloodbath on the invaders that the Allies would agree to a negotiated peace with Nazi Germany.Hoodwinking Hitler is an action-packed, you-are-there account about a colossal and incredibly intricate deception scheme created and implemented by ingenious and diabolical minds, machinations intended to bamboozle the Germans on true Allied invasion plans. Facets of the global chicanery included electronic spoofing, double agents, diplomatic deceit, whispering campaigns, femmes fatales, camouflage, strategic feints, the French underground, murder plots, phony military installations, misleading bombing raids, sabotage, propaganda, traps, fake codes, and kidnap schemes. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, the Allies gained total surprise, mostly because of what Winston Churchill called the greatest hoax in history. But not until two months later, when the Allies broke out of Normandy, did the deception scheme pass into history. By that time, ultimate Allied victory in Europe was assured.
Guadalcanal…Midway…the battle for the Philippines. In each of these critical conflicts, intelligence played a crucial role in bringing about an Allied victory. General MacArthur's brilliant pacific campaign was designed around espionage and guerrilla warfare. This is the story of his undercover war.
For seven weeks after D-Day, hundreds of thousands of Allied troops were bottled up along the landing beaches. Finally, 3,000 American and British planes bombarded a narrow path into enemy territory. Through the gap American armored spearheads plunged deep behind the lines of the German armies, converging with British and Canadian forces at Falaise. Their trap snapped shut on 100,000 die-hard Germans -- a disaster for the Reich unrivaled since Stalingrad!
In this ingenious volume, victory or defeat in the twentieth century's climactic conflict depended on the secret war of wits that occurred between the scientists, mathematicians, and codebreakers on each side. This is a fascinating look at the behind the scenes duel to develop the winning weapons of World War II. This book is ideal for any historian, war buff, or fan of technology. Here are the extraordinary tales behind the brilliant weapons and technological wizardry that determined the outcome of the war. From radar, huff-duff (high frequency direction finding), invisible radio beams, and “Perfectos” to secret codes, electronic guidance systems, homing devices, and submarine detection equipment, Breuer deftly expose the gargantuan efforts employed by both adversaries and the fascinating details of the high-stakes warfare waged behind the well-known scenes of combat.
Loss of life, destruction, unending pain and misery - the results of war never seem to make sense. War defies logic. Having searched through stacks of periodicals, military reports, interviews, and other publications, author William Breuer has come up with over one hundred such illogical events, and presents them in Unexplained Mysteries of World War II. From popular mysteries to barely believable happenings, Breuer sheds light on the absurdity of war from a different angle. The book is broken down into multiple sections, and delves into mysteries like: Who torched the Normandie in New York Harbor? Did a New Yorker ad warn of Pearl Harbor? Did Churchill have a “feeling” that saved his life? Ernest Hemingway lives to tell about switching seats. The night when an American and Japanese soldier accidentally shares a foxhole overnight. A U-boat gives a battleship a piggyback ride in the Atlantic.
Through gripping accounts of actual incidents, William Breuer brings the reader to the front lines of battle with Hoover and his crimebusters. Thrilling manhunts, thwarted mayhem, and tense confrontations dominate the action as the FBI tracks down the most dangerous hoodlums, kidnappers, and marauders of the era. Breuer also examines the social obstacles of pursuing justice during that bleak period in American history. Citizen apathy spurred by the Depression further stacked the odds against the G-Men as they chased desperadoes across the landscape. Somehow, the FBI achieved unprecedented success in the face of almost insurmountable odds. This powerful volume demonstrates the stunning evolution of a tattered, corrupt organization into a disciplined unit priding itself on integrity and a tireless dedication to duty. Most of all, Hoover's mystique and the sheer force of his will can be felt with each encounter detailed in this fascinating book. As the blood of criminal violence flowed through the streets in early 1920s America, the FBI was rendered helpless by unholy alliances with crooked politicians and shady dealings. A dynamic, young J. Edgar Hoover would change all that. After being named director of the FBI, Hoover quickly whipped the bureau into crime-fighting shape through mass firings of political hacks and painstaking screening of new recruits. Hoover's meticulous revitalization of the FBI resulted in the forming of a small, coldly efficient force that eagerly awaited its chance to battle the criminal element. Once Congress removed limitations on making arrests and carrying firearms, Hoover and 600 G-Men took to the streets, matching guns and wits with America's most notorious gangsters in an all-out war. The G-Men rapidly nailed ruthless criminals and well-known kingpins such as John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, Pretty Boy Floyd, Ma Barker and her sons, Machine Gun Kelly, and Creepy Karpis (who was personally apprehended by Hoover). Through gripping accounts of actual incidents, William Breuer brings the reader to the front lines of battle with Hoover and his crimebusters. Thrilling manhunts, thwarted mayhem, and tense confrontations dominate the action as the FBI tracks down the most dangerous hoodlums, kidnappers, and marauders of the era. Breuer also examines the social obstacles of pursuing justice during that bleak period in American history. Citizen apathy spurred by the Depression further stacked the odds against the G-Men as they chased desperadoes across the landscape. Somehow, the FBI achieved unprecented success in the face of almost insurmountable odds. This powerful volume demonstrates the stunning evolution of a tattered, corrupt organization into a disciplined unit priding itself on integrity and a tireless dedication to duty. Most of all, Hoover's mystique and the sheer force of his will can be felt with each encounter detailed in this fascinating book.
Set against the backdrop of the Cold War in the early 1960s, this book delves into the covert conflict between John F. Kennedy and Fidel Castro. As the U.S. grapples with the rise of Communism, Kennedy, with the help of his brother Robert, orchestrates a secret war to undermine Castro's regime without provoking a nuclear crisis. The narrative reveals thrilling espionage, sabotage, and political intrigue, drawing from firsthand accounts of key figures involved in this dangerous chapter of history. Breuer's gripping storytelling uncovers the complexities of this clandestine battle.
