2SAS Hardback

Drawing on recently declassified files and interviews with veterans, this is a fascinating history of Bill Stirling and 2SAS – pioneering founders of modern special forces. David Stirling is the name synonymous with the wartime SAS, but the real brains behind the operation was in fact Bill Stirling, David's eldest brother. Bill was described in the SAS War Diary as a 'man from the shadows'; it was an apt description for, unlike his attention seeking brother, Bill shunned the spotlight. Now for the first time the truth – and the triumph – of 2SAS is revealed. Having originally joined the SOE in March 1940, Bill Stirling sailed for Cairo in 1941 and there had the idea for a small special forces unit to be led by his mercurial brother. But despite some success, David allowed the legendary 1SAS to drift under his leadership. Following his capture, Bill re-directed 2SAS, under his personal command, to the strategy he had originally envisaged: parachuting behind enemy lines to gather intelligence. Fully illustrated with rare and previously unpublished photographs, this compelling history details how 2SAS fought with ingenuity and aggression, from Italy and then into France before heading through Holland into Germany. The unit was capable of attacking by parachute, jeep or landing craft, establishing a template for future special forces' operations. Their feats have been overshadowed by the many books that have focused on David and 1SAS. 2SAS corrects this oversight, revealing that the real innovator was Bill Stirling – the true pioneer of Who Dares Wins. Table of Contents Acknowledgements Chronology Prologue: Stirling and Stirling Chapter 1: Commando College Chapter 2: Territorial Dispute Chapter 3: Cleaning up the Chaos Chapter 4: Warmer Climes Chapter 5: Training-ville Chapter 6: The Best Die First Chapter 7: Eyeing Up Italy Chapter 8: Use Your Initiative Chapter 9: Hitler's Henchmen Chapter 10: The Farren Phenomenon Chapter 11: The Hell of Termoli Chapter 12: Blinded by Science Chapter 13: Difference of Opinion Chapter 14: Hushed Up Chapter 15: Hell Raisers Chapter 16: Thick with Germans Chapter 17: The Winter War Chapter 18: Up Close to Evil Chapter 19: Boy's Own Finale Epilogue Glossary Published 12 Oct 2023 Format Hardback Edition 1st Pages 272 ISBN 9781472856739 Imprint Osprey Publishing Illustrations Fully illustrated Dimensions 242 x 190 mm Series General Military Short code GNM Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing