Red Devils cover art

Red Devils

The Trailblazers of the Parachute Regiment in World War Two: An Authorized History

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Red Devils

By: Mark Urban
Narrated by: Mark Urban
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

A gripping authorised history of the daring 'Red Devils', the trailblazers of the parachute regiment.

The Parachute Regiment is Britain's elite airborne infantry. On the 80th anniversary of their first crucial campaign, in Operation Torch in North Africa, historian and broadcaster Mark Urban combines perspectives from German and British sources to tell the gripping stories of the men who had the resilience, fitness and self-reliance to be "Red Devils"—the name they were given by their German enemies.

The Paras comprised everyone from circus performers to solicitors, policemen to gravediggers, Christian Jews and communists. From recently-widowed Colonel Geoffrey Pine-Coffin, who had to leave his little boy to head to the front, to Mike Lewis, whose photographs became iconic images of war; from those who survived to those who longed for "a bloodbath" and died in action; Urban brings life to these men and their experiences, exploring what drove them and covering their daring actions at D-Day, Arnhem and across the Second World War.

Based on deep archival research and new material from the men's families, and giving overdue recognition to the North African campaign, this compelling account paints a true and moving picture of the heart of war.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Mark Urban (P)2022 Penguin Audio
Armed Forces Military Military & War Special & Elite Forces World War II War Africa

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Fantastic audio book really enjoyed it all though i did struggle to understand all the terminology with the make up of the brigades battalions and such like but all in all i thought the author told the story really well i was engaged from the word go

Red Devil's

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An amazingly insightful book,superbly written and read by Mark Urban,will be looking out for more of his books

I have the Hard Back book

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A great story of the heroism, strength, courage and comradeship of an elite group of men, held together through conflict despite the odds against them. Thrown into battles against overwhelming odds, without those in higher command knowing how to plan and use these men to their strengths.
Reading this book it brought back the memories of having visited the grave sites around Arnhem to see the young lives squandered in this fruitless battle.

Story of heroism and strength in conflict

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The story warts and all of the formation and development of the paratroopers is gripping and moving.

But as is usually the case author's should not narrate their own works

Fascinating account

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Great reading by Mark Urban and a very well presented and written book.
Having longer to go into the army from being a very little boy, it wasn't possible due to poor eyesjght, it when I've read anything about the army there are two regiments I would have !over to have been in, The Marines and The Paratroopers.
They both epitomize what serving the country really means.
Well done Mark Urban for reawakening the young child's yearnings once again, and I'm 78 years old. Thank you

A great book on one of our finest regiments

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