Operation Suicide

Dr Robert Lyman FRHistS is a writer and historian. He is a Research Fellow at the Changing Character of War Centre, Pembroke College, University of Oxford. After finishing a twenty year career in the British Army in 2001 he has published widely on the Second World War in Europe, North Africa and Asia. He is Field Marshal Bill Slim's military biographer. His presentation of the case for Slim won a National Army Museum debate in 2011 for Britain's Greatest General and his case for Kohima/Imphal won a National Army Museum debate in 2013 for Britain's Greatest Battle. He was the BBC's historical adviser for the VJ commemorations in 2015 and 2020 and is a regular contributor to documentary films on aspects of the war. His previous books include The Longest Siege: Tobruk; Slim, Master of War; Operation Suicide and Into the Jaws of Death. He lives in Berkshire, England.

Preface. German Military Ranks. Dramatis Personae. Prologue. 1941 and 1942. The Hand of Steel from the Sea. Bordeaux. The Intelligence War. 'Blondie' Hasler. The Boom Patrol. Decision. 1a Richmond Terrace. The Clyde and the Thames. Journey to the Gironde. The First Night. The Garonne. Murder by Telephone. Attack. Escape. Execution. Home Run. Epilogue. Glossary. Appendix I: Hitler's Kommandobefehl. Appendix 2: The Yanagi Trade. Appendix 3: Combined Operations Raids, 1940-2. Appendix 4: Maps and Illustrations. Sources. Select Bibliography. Acknowledgements. Index.