European Resistance in the Second World War by Philip Cooke & Ben H. Shepherd. Everyone knows of the role of the French Resistance in the fight against Hitler – what is far less well known is the role of other nationalities who were equally active in attacking the Nazis be it underground, partisans or guerrillas or simply non-cooperation.

The Nazi’s actually faced fierce opposition in many occupied countries, none more so than in Greece where the German attempts to capture Crete proved to be a decision they bitterly regretted.  The Cretan warriors were determined not to give in and caused a major headache for the Germans from the moment they arrived.  This is the first time for over thirty years that any historian has attempted to analyse the exact scale of the resistance and the extent to which the resistance was successful.  Resistance within Occupied Europe was strong and at times extremely effective. Countries covered in this volume are Belgium, the Czech lands, France, Greece, Italy, Poland, The Netherlands, Poland, Scandinavia, Soviet Union and Yugoslavia.

A fascinating, thought provoking book which will be essential reading for anyone interested in the events of the Second World War.