Recent Publications - Tag military history

Book Review: The Boundaries of War: Local and Global Perspectives in Military History
June 15, 2026 — The Boundaries of War: Local and Global Perspectives in Military History, edited by Lee L. Brice and Timothy M. Roberts, challenges traditional narratives by exploring how warfare is shaped by both local conditions and global forces. Through case studies ranging from ancient Rome to the World Wars, the book asks whether military history should be understood through regional uniqueness or broader transnational patterns. This thought-provoking collection redefines how we study conflict by bridging the gap between micro-level experiences and macro-level trends... MORE

Cover of The Boundaries of War: Local and Global Perspectives in Military History, edited by Lee L. Brice and Timothy M. Roberts

Book Review: A Violent Peace: A Global Military History of the Interwar Peace
June 15, 2026 — In A Violent Peace: A Global Military History of the Interwar Peace, editors Ian Ona Johnson and Robert Clemm challenge the myth of a tranquil interlude between the world wars by revealing a landscape of persistent and widespread conflict. Spanning four continents, the book uncovers forgotten wars, ideological clashes, and military transformations that shaped the global order long before 1939. This compelling volume reframes the interwar years as a violent and formative era, essential to understanding the trajectory of twentieth-century warfare... MORE

Cover of A Violent Peace: A Global Military History of the Interwar Peace, edited by Ian Ona Johnson and Robert Clemm

Book Review: Beyond Black Hawk Down: Intervention, Nation-Building, and Insurgency in Somalia, 1992-1995
June 1, 2026 — In this groundbreaking military history, Jonathan Carroll moves beyond the infamous Battle of Mogadishu to uncover the full scope of the US and UN intervention in Somalia. Drawing on newly available sources and the Somali perspective, Carroll reveals how a promising humanitarian mission unraveled into a cautionary tale of political missteps and failed nation-building. Beyond Black Hawk Down offers vital lessons for future interventions in fragile states, making it essential reading for policymakers, historians, and military strategists alike... MORE

Cover of Beyond Black Hawk Down: Intervention, Nation-Building, and Insurgency in Somalia, 1992–1995 by Jonathan Carroll

Book Review: Blood, Mud, and Oil Paint: The Remarkable Year That Made Winston Churchill
June 1, 2026 — In Blood, Mud, and Oil Paint, J. Furman Daniel III captures the transformative year that shaped Winston Churchill’s resilience, leadership, and artistry. From the trenches of World War I to the quiet refuge of his painting studio, Churchill’s journey reveals a man grappling with failure, reinvention, and the pursuit of purpose. This compelling portrait blends military history with personal introspection, offering a fresh lens on one of the 20th century’s most iconic figures... MORE

Cover of Blood, Mud, and Oil Paint: The Remarkable Year That Made Winston Churchill by J. Furman Daniel III

Book Review: Total Defense: The New Deal and the Invention of National Security
June 1, 2026 — In Total Defense: The New Deal and the Invention of National Security, Andrew Preston reveals how Franklin D. Roosevelt’s domestic reforms laid the groundwork for America’s modern national security state. Blending political history with strategic insight, the book uncovers how the New Deal reshaped the US approach to global threats long before World War II. It’s a compelling story of how internal crises forged a new vision of American power on the world stage... MORE

Cover of Total Defense: The New Deal and the Invention of National Security by Andrew Preston

Book Review: Lessons Learned and Unlearned: The Drivers of US Indirect-Fire Innovation
June 1, 2026 — How does military innovation really happen—and what causes it to stall? In Lessons Learned and Unlearned, Brennan S. Deveraux traces the evolution of US indirect-fire systems, revealing how institutional memory, battlefield experience, and strategic priorities shape technological progress. This sharp analysis offers vital insights for defense planners, historians, and anyone interested in the mechanics of military adaptation... MORE

Cover of Lessons Learned and Unlearned: The Drivers of US Indirect-Fire Innovation by Brennan S. Deveraux

Book Review: GSG 9: From Munich to Mogadishu: The Birth of Germany's Counterterrorism Force
April 15, 2026 — In the wake of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre, Germany forged GSG 9—an elite counterterrorism unit that would stun the world with its daring 1977 rescue mission in Mogadishu. Martin Herzog’s gripping account traces the unit’s evolution from humble beginnings to global renown, drawing on exclusive interviews and archival research. This book tells the untold story of how one covert force reshaped modern counterterrorism—and inspired the creation of America’s Delta Force... MORE

Cover of GSG 9: From Munich to Mogadishu: The Birth of Germany's Counterterrorism Force by Martin Herzog

Book Review: The Raider: The Untold Story of a Renegade Marine and the Birth of U.S. Special Forces in World War II
April 15, 2026 — In this gripping narrative, Stephen R. Platt uncovers the forgotten legacy of a rebellious Marine whose daring vision helped shape the future of US Special Forces. Blending biography with battlefield drama, the book reveals how unconventional tactics and bold leadership redefined America’s approach to warfare. A must-read for anyone interested in the origins of elite military units and the individuals who defied tradition to forge them... MORE

Cover of The Raider: The Untold Story of a Renegade Marine and the Birth of U.S. Special Forces in World War II by Stephen R. Platt

Book Review: Victory ’45: The End of the War in Eight Surrenders
April 15, 2026 — In Victory ’45: The End of the War in Eight Surrenders, James Holland and Al Murray trace the dramatic final days of World War II through eight pivotal surrender moments that reshaped the postwar world. With gripping detail and fresh perspectives, they reveal how victory was secured not just through battles, but through diplomacy, resilience, and human decisions. This compelling narrative offers a powerful lens on the war’s conclusion and the fragile peace that followed... MORE

Cover of Victory ’45: The End of the War in Eight Surrenders by James Holland and Al Murray

Book Review: Betting Against America: The Axis Powers’ Views of the United States
February 17, 2026 — What if the Axis powers had seen America clearly before launching into war? Betting Against America dives into the flawed intelligence, cultural biases, and strategic miscalculations that led Germany, Japan, and Italy to underestimate the United States. Through intercepted communications and insider reports, Harry Yeide reveals how these fatal errors shaped the course of World War II... MORE

Cover of Betting Against America: The Axis Powers’ Views of the United States

Book Review: Valiant Women: The Extraordinary American Servicewomen Who Helped Win World War II
January 12, 2026 — In Valiant Women, author Lena Andrews compiles stories that were largely gathered through interviews with women who served during World War II and uncovers their important but often overlooked contributions to the war effort. Although the reviewer regrets Andrews’s missed opportunity to include academic sources alongside the firsthand accounts, she still sees this compilation of untold stories as relevant and important... MORE

Cover for Valiant Women: The Extraordinary American Servicewomen Who Helped Win World War II

Useful Captives: The Role of POWs in American Military Conflicts
April 7, 2023 — Military History Useful Captives: The Role of POWs in American Military Conflicts Edited by Daniel Krebs and Lorien Foote | Reviewed by Dr. Michael E. Lynch, senior historian, Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College | A book of useful and thought-provoking essays, Useful Captives: The Role of POWs in American Military History explores 300... MORE

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews: Useful Captives: The Role of POWs in American Military