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The Second World War Series #2
Battleaxe
1941.
As the war enters a second year, things look bleak for the Allies. Europe has fallen beneath the Nazi jackboot and the British are alone, fighting a war of survival against a brutal and sadistic enemy.
In North Africa, the Germans sit poised to strike into Egypt, however, they lack the fuel they need to attack.
Only a besieged force of British and Australian soldiers holding out at Tobruk stand in Rommel's way.
If the Germans can take the port, then their supply problems will be over.
The British know that they have to attack if they are to prevent the harbour from falling into enemy hands.
Little do they know that Rommel is waiting for them.
For Jack and his section the battle will be a desperate ordeal beneath the burning desert sun. Days of relentless fighting grind down their nerves and lay bare their fears, but through it all they stand by each other as they struggle to break through and rescue the men holding out at Tobruk.
As the war enters a second year, things look bleak for the Allies. Europe has fallen beneath the Nazi jackboot and the British are alone, fighting a war of survival against a brutal and sadistic enemy.
In North Africa, the Germans sit poised to strike into Egypt, however, they lack the fuel they need to attack.
Only a besieged force of British and Australian soldiers holding out at Tobruk stand in Rommel's way.
If the Germans can take the port, then their supply problems will be over.
The British know that they have to attack if they are to prevent the harbour from falling into enemy hands.
Little do they know that Rommel is waiting for them.
For Jack and his section the battle will be a desperate ordeal beneath the burning desert sun. Days of relentless fighting grind down their nerves and lay bare their fears, but through it all they stand by each other as they struggle to break through and rescue the men holding out at Tobruk.
- GenresMilitary Fiction
233 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 4, 2019
69 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Stuart Minor
45 books15 followersStuart Minor was born and raised in the rural county of Shropshire. Before becoming a professional writer he worked in a number of different trades and countries, seeing the world and doing everything from labouring to management. He has a degree in history and has been writing full-time since 2014 when he published his first novel: The Call of War. Since then he has seen considerable success, his series of sixteen books set in the First World War receiving high acclaim.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 3, 2023
This is the second book in The Second World War Series. The theater of war shifted from Europe to North Africa. The squad that battled to Dunkirk with the exception of one member who was lost while struggling to make it to a ship fought together again in the sands, hardscrabble, and wadi's of the North African coastal plain and escarpment as part of the major Allied thrust to relieve the embattled garrison at Tobruk.
The narrowed lens of the narrative focusing on the small group of soldiers provided a close eye to the intimacy of battle as well as the relations between the soldiers. I was struck that the characters seemed not to bond closely. Jack's one close mate never made it to relief ship. The group protected each other but did not seem to adhere to each other with a strong sense of the intimacy that fighting together often binds one to another. In many ways the characters seemed to be the same individuals who left Dunkirk.
The descriptions were colorful and helped to project the reader into the theater of action. The writing was crisp and the pace was fast enough without leaving the reader behind searching for what had just happened. One of the issues that occurs when the action is small unit based is how to weave in the threads of the larger picture. The historical note at the end was most helpful. One reviewer stated that he/she reads the historical note first to prove context for the story. I will give that try.
I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next in the series.
The narrowed lens of the narrative focusing on the small group of soldiers provided a close eye to the intimacy of battle as well as the relations between the soldiers. I was struck that the characters seemed not to bond closely. Jack's one close mate never made it to relief ship. The group protected each other but did not seem to adhere to each other with a strong sense of the intimacy that fighting together often binds one to another. In many ways the characters seemed to be the same individuals who left Dunkirk.
The descriptions were colorful and helped to project the reader into the theater of action. The writing was crisp and the pace was fast enough without leaving the reader behind searching for what had just happened. One of the issues that occurs when the action is small unit based is how to weave in the threads of the larger picture. The historical note at the end was most helpful. One reviewer stated that he/she reads the historical note first to prove context for the story. I will give that try.
I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next in the series.
May 4, 2020
A Great Read
As ones comes to expect from this author, Battleaxe is a fascinating historical novel that captures the raw essence of the desert campaign.
Following on from the Northshires exploits in France, readers of the first novel will be able to.catch up with the section as it meets the realities of war in the desert.
An Excellent novel with supporting historical notes. I can not recommend this novel enough.
As ones comes to expect from this author, Battleaxe is a fascinating historical novel that captures the raw essence of the desert campaign.
Following on from the Northshires exploits in France, readers of the first novel will be able to.catch up with the section as it meets the realities of war in the desert.
An Excellent novel with supporting historical notes. I can not recommend this novel enough.
December 17, 2019
If you have read other titles from Stuart Minor then this is a disappointment, it's the same as the rest. Very descriptive and it demonstrates the horrors of fighting vividly. But so do all the other books and it was pretty monotonous and had no climax.
March 24, 2020
A gritty English World War Two action
Action in London, Egypt and Libya Almost all the verbiage was what transpires between men, when women are not around, particularly for long periods of time.
Action in London, Egypt and Libya Almost all the verbiage was what transpires between men, when women are not around, particularly for long periods of time.
February 16, 2020
A good read
Interesting story of infantry soldiers plight in the western desert. Nice to read a more realistic account,a bit gung no in parts,but worth reading.
Interesting story of infantry soldiers plight in the western desert. Nice to read a more realistic account,a bit gung no in parts,but worth reading.
May 5, 2021
Pongoes
Anybody with relatives in North Africa. Father and Uncle with others in Royal Hampshires. An excellent read. Well done impressive research.
Anybody with relatives in North Africa. Father and Uncle with others in Royal Hampshires. An excellent read. Well done impressive research.
August 21, 2024
Great read
While reading this I felt I could image what it must have been like for Jack and the platoons. To fight in that heat must have been unbearable for both sides
While reading this I felt I could image what it must have been like for Jack and the platoons. To fight in that heat must have been unbearable for both sides
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews