Page 93 - History of War - Issue 18-15

REVIEWS

GLE TROOP AND THE BATTLE OF 73 EASTING

her Casemate
HE HEAT OF THE GULF WAR, 12 AMERICAN TANKS SMASHED THROUGH THE IRAQI REPUBLICAN
RD – A MONUMENTAL BATTLE IN A WAR THAT CHANGED THE WORLD
Gulf War is arguably the most pivotal confl ict Americans’ M1A1 tanks had destroyed more
e modern world. It came as the ashes of than 50 enemy vehicles and smashed a hole
Cold War were being swept aside and the straight through to the Iraqi front. It was a
ed States’ focus turned to the Middle East, remarkable victory in an unremarkable place;
e it remains to this day. By 1990, when so barren and featureless was the desert land
dam Hussein invaded the small emirate in which it was fought that the battle’s name is
uwait, the US Army had also undergone a taken from the ‘Easting’ longitudinal gridline on
fi cant transformation since the Vietnam the military map, rather than any distinctive local
And for many, the Gulf War was the fi rst feature or monument.
ict experienced live, through the television Guardia’s writing does justice to the
newspapers. All of this feeds directly into exciting story, providing a minute-by-minute
Guardia’s account of the Battle of 73 account collated through archival research
ing, important components that provide the and interviews with the members of Eagle
kdrop to what is, in essence, the story of a Troop. There’s no sugarcoating either – not
erful tank battle. all memoirs show the soldiers in a favourable
n 26 February, just days before the war light. This is a no-holds-barred account, told
ed, Eagle Troop of the US VII Corps were as truthfully as possible. It’s also the story of
ncing into Iraq. They would encounter the how the technology of war had changed, with
kalna Brigade of Iraq’s elite Republican particular focus on tanks and weaponry used
d. The troop’s 12 tanks were surely by the Armored Cavalry Regiment. Overall, it’s
hed, but in under 25 minutes the gripping stuff.
There’s no sugarcoating either – not all
memoirs show the soldiers in a favourable

ght. This is a no-holds-barred account,
oldastruthfullyaspossible”

AFRICA AND WORLD WAR II

A COLLECTION OF ESSAYS EXAMINING THE MILITARY, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL IMPORTANCE
OF AFRICA DURING WORLD WAR II
Editors Judith A Byfi eld, Carolyn A Brown, Timothy Parsons and Ahmad
Alawad Sikainga Price £22.99 Publisher CambridgeUniversityPress
Africa is far from the first place that springs subject, and more suited to anyone studying
tomindinrelationtoWorldWarII.Thisbook, the wider effects of the war at an academic or
however, offers an extensive look at the effects advanced level.
of the war on Africa, and vice versa. Taken from It will come as little surprise that this book
alonglistofacademics,theessaysincluded breaks new ground in its examination of Africa’s
focusonthreeimportantissues:periodisation, position in the war. It is the fi rst time a critical
colonial policies and the impact on African analysis of this kind has been collated on the
people and communities. As is no doubt subject, and for that it will be a defi nite interest
alreadyclear,thisisfarfromlightreading; for the hardcore researchers and enthusiasts, if
indeed,itisaspecialisttomeforaspecialist not casual readers based on curiosity alone.
The writing is dense and most suited for the
Native west Africans help the crew experienced academic reader, but the essays
of 200 Squadron load their plane are divided into manageable areas of study.
The fi rst section includes introductory essays
that offer a continent-wide overview of Africa’s
efforts in supporting and sustaining the Allied
efforts, while the following six sections include
individual case studies on different parts of the
continent that examine the changing political
and economic landscapes.
For those brave enough to take on its
near-500 pages, there is plenty to learn. For
example, did you know that Africa’s war started to be properly recognised, a fact that underpins
way back in 1935, when Italy invaded? Or that the racial and social problems between Africa
despite its contributions to the Allied war effort before, during and since the war. Covering
– which included labour, resources, and great these issues in great depth, this book is for the
sacrifi ces to its people – it struggled for years most committed of World War II readers.

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