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

Red Devils

The Trailblazers of the Paras in World War Two

A GRIPPING, AUTHORISED HISTORY OF THE DARING 'RED DEVILS' TOLD THROUGH THE FATES OF SIX HEROES. 
 
'Riveting . . . Full of daring action, standout characters and cutting edge operations, this is unputdownable' Damien Lewis 
 
'Gripping and authoritative. Family men, circus performers, solicitors, communists, and reactionaries all fought together and shed blood for their country - a true and moving story of war' Andy McNab 
 
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Their German enemies called them the 'Red Devils'. Montgomery described them as 'men apart - every man an Emperor'. The cards they received on qualifying began: 'You are the elite of the British army'. 
 
The Parachute Regiment. 
 
In this gripping, authorized account, bestselling historian Mark Urban tells the story of the wartime creation and development of Britain's elite airborne infantry - who ranged from circus performers to solicitors, policemen to gravediggers, Christians and Jews to communists. 
 
Through the fates of six men - including recently widowed Geoffrey Pine-Coffin, who had to leave his little boy at home to head to the front, and Mike Lewis, whose photographs became iconic images of war - Urban vividly shows what it took to succeed in this new regiment. All six men would shed blood for their country in daring actions at D-Day, Arnhem and across the Second World War; two would not survive, and one would face disgrace. 
 
Based on deep archival research, British and German sources and new material from the men's families, and giving overdue recognition to the North African campaign, Urban's unvarnished history is a compelling and moving depiction of the highs and lows of battle.

Gripping and authoritative. Family men, circus performers, solicitors, communists, and reactionaries all fought together and shed blood for their country-a true and moving story of war

Riveting. Impeccably researched. Authoritative. Urban reveals the Red Devils in all their glory, as they forged the path for airborne forces to follow in WWII. Full of daring action, standout characters and cutting edge operations, this is unputdownable

A detailed, fast-paced history of these remarkable men that reads like a thriller. Brilliantly researched and brilliantly told

I couldn't put Red Devils down

Excellent . . . Mark Urban has brought an old soldier's insights and a fine journalist's clarity to tell this story resoundingly well, mixing superb accounts of the battles with a deep understanding of personalities, service politics and the paratrooper ethos

If you want to get under the skin of the pioneers of airborne soldiering, this is it . . . fast paced, well written and attention-grabbing from start to finish

Masterful . . . Mark Urban paints a colourful picture of the officers and men who volunteered for what in 1940 was a leap into the unknown

Does not disappoint . . . A story of courage and adversity, Red Devils is a must-read

Mark Urban is a writer and columnist for the Sunday Times, specialising in defence and foreign affairs. Until 2024, he was the Diplomatic Editor of BBC's Newsnight programme. He formerly served in the British Army, both in the Royal Tank Regiment and in the Territorial Army. He is the author of several books, including Red Devils, Task Force Black (his deep-dive look at the SAS in the Iraq War, which was a Sunday Times number one bestseller) and The Skripal Files, a Sunday Times Best Politics Book of 2018.

In this gripping, authorised account, bestselling historian Mark Urban tells the story of the wartime creation and development of Britain's elite airborne infantry - who ranged from circus performers to solicitors, policemen to gravediggers, Christians and Jews to communists. 
 
Through the fates of six men - including recently widowed Geoffrey Pine-Coffin, who had to leave his little boy at home to head to the front, and Mike Lewis, whose photographs became iconic images of war - Urban vividly shows what it took to succeed in this new regiment. All six men would shed blood for their country in daring actions at D-Day, Arnhem and across the Second World War; two would not survive, and one would face disgrace. 
 
Based on deep archival research, British and German sources and new material from the men's families, Urban's unvarnished history is a compelling and moving depiction of the highs and lows of battle.

Mark Urban

Punchy. Trenchant. Heavyweight. Mark Urban’s Tank blows the doors off, just as you’d expect from such an accomplished author. Take cover!

Damien Lewis, author of SAS Great Escapes

Tank takes the reader deep into the heart of armoured shock action on the battlefield with all its horror and drama

Stuart Tootal, co-author of SAS: Sea King Down

A really accomplished blending of technology, tactics and politics, and it couldn’t be more relevant as we experience new phases of conflict . . . an engaging read

Dr Emily Mayhew, author of The Four Horsemen

Mark Urban brings his signature flair and vivid storytelling to Tank . . . essential reading for all students of war

An illuminating and exciting drive through the mud and blood of twentieth-century warfare . . . With his customary panache, Mark Urban demonstrates convincingly that tanks have been not merely armoured horses, but the key to enabling armies to manoeuvre through contested battle space

Mark Urban

Praise for Tank

Punchy. Trenchant. Heavyweight. Mark Urban’s Tank blows the doors off, just as you’d expect from such an accomplished author. Take cover!

Tank takes the reader deep into the heart of armoured shock action on the battlefield with all its horror and drama

A really accomplished blending of technology, tactics and politics, and it couldn’t be more relevant as we experience new phases of conflict . . . an engaging read

Punchy. Trenchant. Heavyweight. Mark Urban’s Tank blows the doors off, just as you’d expect from such an accomplished author. Take cover!

Tank takes the reader deep into the heart of armoured shock action on the battlefield with all its horror and drama

A really accomplished blending of technology, tactics and politics, and it couldn’t be more relevant as we experience new phases of conflict . . . an engaging read

Punchy. Trenchant. Heavyweight. Mark Urban’s Tank blows the doors off, just as you’d expect from such an accomplished author. Take cover!

Tank takes the reader deep into the heart of armoured shock action on the battlefield with all its horror and drama

A really accomplished blending of technology, tactics and politics, and it couldn’t be more relevant as we experience new phases of conflict . . . an engaging read

Books by Mark Urban

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