Commando Tactics: The Second World War

British commandos are among the most celebrated soldiers of the Second World War. Their daring, ingenuity and bravery have given rise to an almost legendary reputation that makes it difficult to appreciate fully their role and their true value as fighting men.

Stephen Bull, in this in-depth study of commando tactics and history, seeks to dispel the myths and the misunderstandings that surround them, and he places these elite troops of 70 years ago in the context of their times. He also demonstrates that the idea of the commando took time to develop – and that commando operations were far from always successful. Commando tactics – amphibious, mountain, close quarter – were forged through the often-painful experience of raids and combined operations. And commando tactics and organization remained in a state of flux throughout the war as new situations and challenges arose.

Stephen Bull’s vivid account will be essential reading for anyone who is interested in commando fighting techniques and the early history of special forces.

Dr Stephen Bull is a museum curator and university external examiner who straddles the divide between the 'serious' and what most of the world actually wants to read. Interested in history from an early age he studied at the University of Wales, and has previously worked at the BBC and National Army Museum in London. Now Curator of Military History and Archaeology for Lancashire County Museums, he has curated a number of exhibitions as well as completing an MBA, and been elected to the Institute for Archaeologists. His work is published on both sides of the Atlantic and translated into a variety of languages. Recently he was listed for the Portico Prize for Literature.

Stephen has made many TV and radio appearances, and at time of writing is working with Definition Media on a new UK TV series. In 2011 he collaborated with Impossible Pictures on 'Last War Heroes', writing the book to accompany this well received Channel 4 production which has been broadcast in the UK, US, and Canada. Having been a lecturer or examiner with several North West universities he is now a consultant to the University of Oxford, where he is assisting in the creation of a European database to document the individual experience of the First World War through archives, photographs, and objects. The photograph shows Stephen (right) with Lorenz Andraes at the German National Library, 'DNB', Frankfurt.

Dr Stephen Bull is currently Curator of Military History and Archaeology for Lancashire Museums. He has previously worked at the National Army Museum, and for the BBC in London. He is the author of more than twenty military and historical titles published in Europe and the US, and he has appeared in the TV series Battlefield Detectives. Among his many publications are An Historical Guide to Arms and Armour, Volunteer! The Lancashire Rifle Volunteers 1859-1885, Brassey's History of Uniforms: World War One British Army, World War I Trench Warfare, Encyclopedia of Military Technology and Innovation, World War II Infantry Tactics, World War II Jungle Warfare Tactics and Commando Tactics: The Second World War.