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Fighting with Popski's Private Army
This WWII memoir gives the inside story of Britain’s legendary demolition squadron and their daring escapades in Italy and Norther Africa.
During the Second World War, a Russian-born emigre named Vladimir Peniakoff emerged as a decorated officer of the British Special Forces in Cairo. Code-named Popski, he started the No. 1 Demolition Squadron—known as Popski’s Private Army—charged with thwarting Field-Marshal Rommel’s fuel supply in Northern Africa. This is the story of Popski's famous fighting unit as told by his second-in-command, Captain Bob (Park) Yunnie.
As Britain’s Eighth Army advanced toward Tripoli, PPA set out in jeeps across the desert to mount raids behind the Mareth Line in Southern Tunisia. In his lively and intimate account, Yunnie describes the ensuing action at Gafsa and Kasserine, and vividly depicts the sorties which took the men straight across the German Line of Command. As Tunis fell to the Allies on May, 7th, 1943, PPA began raid operations for the Italian Campaign. Dropped into Central Italy by RAF gliders, they set about blowing up strategic targets while waiting for the Allied landings. Yunnie takes command of his own patrol, and through a series of daring missions, colorful characters flit in and out of the front-line action.
During the Second World War, a Russian-born emigre named Vladimir Peniakoff emerged as a decorated officer of the British Special Forces in Cairo. Code-named Popski, he started the No. 1 Demolition Squadron—known as Popski’s Private Army—charged with thwarting Field-Marshal Rommel’s fuel supply in Northern Africa. This is the story of Popski's famous fighting unit as told by his second-in-command, Captain Bob (Park) Yunnie.
As Britain’s Eighth Army advanced toward Tripoli, PPA set out in jeeps across the desert to mount raids behind the Mareth Line in Southern Tunisia. In his lively and intimate account, Yunnie describes the ensuing action at Gafsa and Kasserine, and vividly depicts the sorties which took the men straight across the German Line of Command. As Tunis fell to the Allies on May, 7th, 1943, PPA began raid operations for the Italian Campaign. Dropped into Central Italy by RAF gliders, they set about blowing up strategic targets while waiting for the Allied landings. Yunnie takes command of his own patrol, and through a series of daring missions, colorful characters flit in and out of the front-line action.
542 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 14, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 14, 2022
What makes this a different story of wild things tearing around blowing up things is the lyrical writing, and the obvious affections the author has for the lands and people among who he does his dangerous work. The desert of the Sunussi Tribesmen and the mountainous regions of Southern Italy could not be more different, but Yunnie extracts the best of them, without omitting some faults.
Wonderful book. Read Popski's own book straight after.
Wonderful book. Read Popski's own book straight after.
August 9, 2021
Pirates and Heroes
Could not put it down, my own rebel yearning that my youth had the chance these maniacs made to fully savor life, on the side of the angels, heedless of their fates and dismissive of authority and military custom. Why has this not been a film series? It would put James Bond and Hollywood heroes to shame! Highest recommendation!
Could not put it down, my own rebel yearning that my youth had the chance these maniacs made to fully savor life, on the side of the angels, heedless of their fates and dismissive of authority and military custom. Why has this not been a film series? It would put James Bond and Hollywood heroes to shame! Highest recommendation!
November 9, 2023
True to life that many will never know
Having been operating in Africa and the Middle East, this book and the author's descriptive eloquence made this most enjoyable. The thrill of combat and the comardre will never leave nor will the scars not the physical ones those in the head. Read and enjoy. Live life to the full no one knows when it will end.
Having been operating in Africa and the Middle East, this book and the author's descriptive eloquence made this most enjoyable. The thrill of combat and the comardre will never leave nor will the scars not the physical ones those in the head. Read and enjoy. Live life to the full no one knows when it will end.
December 19, 2022
Feeding do done
I was introduced to the PPA by my father, a genuine desert rat (1/6 Queens, 7 armou red) who prized Popskis own account in his library... This is a great account of B Patrols war, highly readable and engaging
I was introduced to the PPA by my father, a genuine desert rat (1/6 Queens, 7 armou red) who prized Popskis own account in his library... This is a great account of B Patrols war, highly readable and engaging
January 14, 2023
I was fascinated by this book, although as a non-fiction book about war it was a considerable departure for me. Yunnie stayed mostly on the right side of repetition and it offered a novel insight into the North African and Italian theatres of war - with a refreshing lack of jingoism.
July 30, 2024
Totally Gripping
Cracking rollercoaster of a book. Loved it. Read it! I recommend thiis book to anyone who enjoys an immersive (true) story.
Cracking rollercoaster of a book. Loved it. Read it! I recommend thiis book to anyone who enjoys an immersive (true) story.
March 2, 2023
Unconventional warfare
Many years ago I read about Popski's Private Army. So when I saw this book I knew I had to read it. This the story of an unconventional type of war that seems to be the domain of the British Army during World War Two. Now there will be people that think this is a load of bull crap. However like the SAS and the LEFT thiese thing happened. This book is more a memoir than an action adventure story. Now there is some action, but it is more about the bonds that form between men in combat and how they face the uncertainty of live or die situations. If you are interested in the history of World War Two then this is a book to read.
Many years ago I read about Popski's Private Army. So when I saw this book I knew I had to read it. This the story of an unconventional type of war that seems to be the domain of the British Army during World War Two. Now there will be people that think this is a load of bull crap. However like the SAS and the LEFT thiese thing happened. This book is more a memoir than an action adventure story. Now there is some action, but it is more about the bonds that form between men in combat and how they face the uncertainty of live or die situations. If you are interested in the history of World War Two then this is a book to read.
January 16, 2013
An excellent book for those interested in behind-the-lines actions and first person accounts of WWII. Second only to MacDonald's fantastic "Quartered Safe..." in my experience of first person accounts.
January 15, 2014
One of the great surprises of the year.... I came to it expecting an intriguing yet somewhat simplistic war story, and it turned out to be written in a very lively, captivating style. A different look at world war II in North Africa and Italy.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews