Allied advance to the river Rhine by the US 6th Army and the advance on the Siegfried defensive line which was breached by General Simpson's 9th army. The history of these events are told in these historical military books available from Cranston Fine Arts.

The Last Year of the German Army by James Lucas

Germany began the last year of the war in a crisis situation; the allied landings in Normandy had forced another battle arena upon an army already fighting on the vast Eastern front where Army Group Centre was soon to collapse. The Last Year of the German Army charts the 'progress' of Hitler's army from May 1944 until May 1945, when the once all-conquering German Army was finally defeated. In this absorbing study, James Lucas examines the changing structure of the army throughout this final year of war, and reveals the often surprising measures taken to confront a situation Hitler had never contemplated, and which indeed he never really accepted. The author discuss the growing opposition to the Führer and the resulting attempt on his life in July 1944, which prompted him to withdraw much authority from many of his senior military commanders and give high ranking military positions to men he trusted, party comrades - a move that had a profound effect on the operations of the Army. The role of scientists and research is analysed, as are the solutions found to the many problems faced by the German Army, such as decreasing numbers of German men to fight and the inadequate equipment they were given. The formation of military units independent of the Army is considered and the effect this had on the Army itself. Finally he describes some of the last battles fought by the German Army, which had by no means given up its struggle, as the Allies closed on Berlin.

Post: UK- £3.00 (max post for multiple books £6.00).

For Europe £4.00 (each plus one charge of £3.00 recorded fee per total shipment)

Rest of World £8.00 (each plus one charge of £3.00 recorded fee per total shipment)

The Rhineland 1945, The Last Killing Ground in the West by Ken Ford

Known as the last great 'stand-up fight' of the Second World War, the battle for the Rhineland was brutal in the extreme. Eisenhower's 'broad front' policy called for the whole of the Rhineland to be taken before pushing his troops across the Rhine and into Germany itself. The Germans opened the Roer dams in a vain effort to temper this massive Allied offensive, and this called for a drastic change in tactics. The ensuing battle was characterised by amphibious assaults on the fortified villages of the flooded Rhine lowlands, frontal assaults on the much vaunted Siegfried Line and grim fighting for the Reichswald Forest. It was to be 'the last great killing ground in the west'.

Post: UK- £2.50 (max post for multiple books £6.00).

For Europe £3.00 (each plus one charge of £3.00 recorded fee per total shipment)

Rest of World £6.00 (each plus one charge of £3.00 recorded fee per total shipment)

Book price £12.99. Book serial number Osprey 74.