Operation Biting

Resumen del libro

Operation Biting was one of the most thrilling British commando raids of World War II, and probably the most successful. In February 1942 RAF intelligence was baffled by a newly-identified radar network on the coast of Nazi-occupied Europe, codenamed Würzburg. The brilliant scientist Dr RV Jones proposed an assault to capture key components.

The nearest accessible enemy set stood upon a steep cliff at Bruneval in Normandy. Winston Churchill enthused, as did Lord Louis Mountbatten, chief of Combined Operations. A company of the newly-formed Airborne Forces was committed to the operation, which took place on the night of 27/28 February.

Amid heavy snow 120 men landed, some of whom were misdropped almost two miles from their objective. They nonetheless launched the assault, dismantled the German radar, and after three nail-biting hours in France and a fierce battle with Wehrmacht defenders, escaped in the nick of time by landing-craft across stormy seas to Portsmouth. Max Hastings recounts this cliffhanging tale in a wealth of previously unchronicled detail.

Biografía del autor

Max Hastings inició su carrera periodística como corresponsal para varios periódicos y para la BBC en más de sesenta países. Entre 1986 y 2002 dirigió el Daily Telegraph y, con posterioridad, el Evening Standard. Su dedicación a la historia y el periodismo ha sido distinguida con numerosos premios. Es autor de veintiséis libros, la mayoría sobre conflicto, y en Crítica ha publicado Armagedón (2005), Némesis (2008), La guerra de Churchill (2010), Se desataron todos los infiernos (2011), 1914. El año de la catástrofe (2013), La guerra secreta (2016), La guerra de Vietnam (2019), Operación Castigo (2021), Operación Pedestal (2024) y Operación Biting (2025). Es fellow de la Royal Society of Literature, honorary fellow del Kingx{0026} x02019;s College y en 2002 fue nombrado caballero por sus servicios al periodismo.