About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherCase Mate Publishers & Book Distributors, LLC

ISBN-101612001750

ISBN-139781612001753

eBay Product ID (ePID)160043323

Product Key Features

Book TitleFour War Boer : the Century and Life of Pieter Arnoldus Krueler

Number of Pages288 Pages

LanguageEnglish

TopicCultural Heritage, Military / General, Military / World War I, Military

Publication Year2014

IllustratorYes

GenreBiography & Autobiography, History

AuthorAnne-Marie Lewis, Colin D. Heaton

FormatHardcover

Dimensions

Item Length9 in

Item Width6 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceTrade

LCCN2014-453607

Dewey Edition23

Reviewspowerful book sheds eye-opening light on one warrior's first hand view points on pivotal events during a transformative and controversial century of military history, "Four War Boer" is the fascinating story of Pieter Krueler; a warrior in the truest sense of the word. From his service in the Boer War, to fighting with von Lettow in East Africa to fighting as a mercenary with "Mad" Mike Hoare in the Congo before training Rhodesia's famed Selous Scouts; "Four-War Boer" is essential reading for every serious military historian., Colin D. Heaton and his wife and co-author Anne-Marie Lewis have uncovered a forgotten chapter of African history - and one of the most distinctive characters in the history of warfare. Pieter Krueler, who died in 1986 at the age of 101, was a real-life equivalent of Forrest Gump, or rather, Capt. 'Pug' Henry in Herman Wouk's 'The Winds of War.' . . . Heaton met Krueler in the early 1980s and conducted a series of long interviews, which form the spine of this book. Krueler's fantastic-seeming adventures are confirmed by a number of secondary sources. . . . [His] exploits and quirky character should find a ready audience with military history buffs|9781612001753|, Colin D. Heaton and his wife and co-author Anne-Marie Lewis have uncovered a forgotten chapter of African history - and one of the most distinctive characters in the history of warfare. Pieter Krueler, who died in 1986 at the age of 101, was a real-life equivalent of Forrest Gump, or rather, Capt. 'Pug' Henry in Herman Wouk's 'The Winds of War.' . . . Heaton met Krueler in the early 1980s and conducted a series of long interviews, which form the spine of this book. Krueler's fantastic-seeming adventures are confirmed by a number of secondary sources. . . . [His] exploits and quirky character should find a ready audience with military history buffs|9781612001753|, As a leader of brave men who fought in desperate battles, I can relate to much of this story. Incredible displays of heroism, leadership and high adventure worthy of military study. Recommended as a learning tool., Grueling combat like none I ever experienced is depicted. The hardships and horrors of the conflicts Krueler endured explode upon the pages of history and stun the imagination, and it all started when he was fourteen years old., More than a biography, Four War Boer is a sweeping epic that chronicle the genesis of modern guerrilla warfare., Peter Krueler, the "Four War Boer" served a life in hell and had the stories to prove it. Now, the "Grandfather of Special Forces," speaks again in this fascinating adventure tome, one best read beneath the stars, by a campfire's flickering flame.

Dewey Decimal355.0092

Table Of ContentAcknowledgments Foreword: Colonel John H. Roberts, British Army Supplemental Commentary Introduction 1: Background To War And First Combat 2: Spion Kop: The Most Dangerous Acre On Earth 3: Paardeberg: A Change Of Misfortune 4: Bloemfontein: Captivity And Misery 5: A Great War Comes: Tanga 6: Vorbeck's Volunteers 7: Clash Of Empires 8: The Congo And Beyond 9: Storm Clouds In Spain 10: Life As A Mercenary 11: Communists And Terrorists Appendix: Jan Smuts's Field Report Notes Bibliography Index

SynopsisThe amazing life of Pieter Krueler (1885-1986) provides a window into a full century of conflict such as one man rarely experiences. Four-War Boer traces Krueler's highly colorful life from the Second Boer War, where he first served as a 14-year-old scout, through his service in World War I with the German army in East Africa, to the Spanish Civil, The amazing life of Pieter Krueler (1885-1986) provides a window into a full century of conflict such as one man rarely experiences. Four-War Boer traces Krueler's highly colorful life from the Second Boer War, where he first served as a 14-year-old scout, through his service in World War I with the German army in East Africa, to the Spanish Civil War to World War II, this time with the Allies, and on into the latter part of the 20th century, when he served as a mercenary during the 1960s Congo Crisis. Later, by this time in his eighties, he became a civilian trainer for the original Selous Scouts of Rhodesia, and later still a trainer for South African commandos. This biography of a most remarkable man and warrior is based on six years of historical research through hard-to-find secondary and published primary sources as well as extensive interviews with Krueler himself. Interviews with German officers and others who knew and worked with Krueler amply document the biography, adding first-person testimony and giving the work the immediacy of a memoir. Following the Boer defeat by the British, Krueler sided with the Germans during the East African Campaign. He also operated in the Belgian Congo where he led native African soldiers on extremely dangerous missions. After WWI, Krueler's distrust of both the rising Fascist and Communist movements in Europe led him to volunteer as a mercenary during the Spanish Civil War, where he worked with the Pyrenees Basque movement. In World War II, he worked as a reserve officer instructor, and later as a coast watcher to guard the coast of South Africa from German incursion. Krueler later served as a mercenary with Michael Hoare during the 1960s Congo Crisis, before serving South Africa to train commandos. A chapter of this book is devoted to the formation of Rhodesia's highly elite Selous Scouts, along with highlights of several previously classified missions. This material includes a wealth of fascinating new information, and breaks the great secrecy surrounding Rhodesian and South African special operations, as unveiled through the experience of a man who was a founding father of counterinsurgency in Africa. About the Authors Anne-Marie Lewis received a BA in International Relations (Peacekeeping and Conflict Resolution) as well as a MA in International Relations focusing on Transnational Security Issues and Counterterrorism from American Military University. With a blended background in public relations, international relations, international law and photography, Anne has coordinated and created projects in all forms of media. Colin D. Heaton is a veteran of the US Army and Marine Corps. A former professor at American Military University, he has authored six published books of military history, over thirty articles for periodicals such as Military History, Aviation History, and World War II.

LC Classification NumberU55