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Popski’s Private Army
Popski’s Private Army
Popski’s Private Army
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Popski’s Private Army

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In October 1942, Vladimir Peniakoff (nicknamed Popski) formed his own elite fighting force in the North African desert. Over the next year ‘Popski’s Private Army’ carried out a series of daring raids behind the German lines that were truly spectacular—freeing prisoners, destroying installations, spreading alarm. This, one of the classic memoirs of the Second World War, is their story.

‘A story of adventure...which has no rival in the literature of any war.’—DAILY EXPRESS

‘This is certainly among the best of war books...splendid writing.’—THE OBSERVER

‘One of the small handful of really first-class war books. A superb story of adventure told masterfully, brilliantly.’—EVENING STANDARD

‘His courage, resourcefulness and qualities of leadership deservedly gained him a high reputation. He has now shown that he also possesses unusual literary talent.’—THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
LanguageEnglish
PublisherLucknow Books
Release dateMar 28, 2016
ISBN9781786258724
Popski’s Private Army
Author

Lt.-Col. Vladimir Peniakoff DSO MC

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL VLADIMIR PENIAKOFF DSO MC (1897-1951), nicknamed Popski, was the founder and commanding officer of Popski’s Private Army. Born in Belgium to Russian Jewish intellectual parents, he began his studies in 1914 at St John’s College in Cambridge. Initially opting to join the French artillery as a private to avoid the lengthy British Army training, Peniakoff emigrated to Egypt in 1924 (following invalidation from the French army after the armistice due to an injury), where he worked as an Engineer for a sugar manufacturer. During this time he learned to sail, fly and navigate vehicles through the desert, becoming a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant on the British Army General List on 4 October 1940, serving in the Libyan Arab Force. He was awarded the Military Cross on 26 November 1942, and on 26 April 1945 he was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). In 1947 Popski was made a Belgian Officier de l’Ordre de la Couronne avec Palme and awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 avec Palme. Vladimir Peniakoff was a polyglot who spoke English, Russian, Italian, German, French and Arabic well.

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I enjoyed the book. Gave great insights as to how a "Guerrilla War"is fought using: planning, thought out logic, deception, perseverance, and most importantly, by winning the confidence of locals and utilizing their local knowledge of the terrain & enemy. The captured enemies, by treating them with respect, yielded valuable military intelligence. That is the way Popski won his portion of WWII. The authors style was a little long-winded is why my rating was 4 stars otherwise was a great read.

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Popski’s Private Army - Lt.-Col. Vladimir Peniakoff DSO MC

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