Overview

From the critically acclaimed author of Dünkirchen 1940, this is a groundbreaking history of the epic three-day battle for Hill 107 that changed the course of the war in the Mediterranean. In this remarkable history, we discover each of the individuals whose actions determined the outcome of the battle for Hill 107, the key event that decided the campaign to capture the vitally strategic island of Crete in May 1941. All the events are narrated through the filter of these eyewitnesses. The Allied perspective is from the summit of Hill 107. We experience the fear and the adrenalin of a lowly platoon commander, Lieutenant Ed McAra, perilously positioned at the top of the hill, alongside the combat stress and command fatigue of the battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Andew. In contrast, the German view is looking up from below as they cling to the slopes while simultaneous dazzled by the morning glare and decimated by defensive fire. We join the regimental doctor, Dr Heinrich Neumann, as he assumes command of one battalion and leads a daring nighttime charge towards the summit. The Hill details what was felt, heard or seen throughout the battle for both attacker and defender. Drawing upon original combat reports, diary entries, letters and interviews, the battle is brought vividly to life. The narrative reads like a Shakespearean tragedy, the soldiers revealing their stories in and around the shadows of Hill 107.

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9781472864550

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Reviews

Robert Kershaw has written a vivid narrative that is rich in detail and based on, but not burdened by, prodigious research. The result is well-written page-turner about a hard-fought battle that really mattered. * Jonathan Dimbleby, broadcaster and author *

Robert Kershaw has written a vivid narrative that is rich in detail and based on, but not burdened by, prodigious research. The result is a well-written page-turner about a hard-fought battle that really mattered. * Jonathan Dimbleby, broadcaster and author *

Robert Kershaw has written a vivid narrative that is rich in detail and based on, but not burdened by, prodigious research. The result is a well-written page-turner about a hard-fought battle that really mattered. * Jonathan Dimbleby, broadcaster and author * Using first-hand accounts from both sides, the author focuses on the actions around Hill 107 and weaves a gripping account in such a way that it reads more like a conversation or interview of veterans... This is one of the finest works on the Crete campaign. * Gunmart * A compelling read. * Miniature Wargames * The narrative stars alongside numerous contemporary photographs and a useful addendum listing the key characters and their fates, making The Hill a superb addition to the Battle of Crete historiography. Highly recommended. * Britain at War *

Author Information

Robert Kershaw is a previous commander of 10th Battalion the Parachute Regiment. He attended German Staff College spending a further two years with the Bundeswehr as an infantry, airborne and arctic warfare instructor. He speaks fluent German. On leaving the British Army in 2006 he became a full-time author. His most recent book was the critically acclaimed Dünkirchen 1940: The German View of Dunkirk (Osprey, 2022). He lives in Salisbury, England.

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