
Ghost Riders
Operation Cowboy, the World War Two Mission to Save the World's Finest Horses
Mark Felton(Author)
Icon Books (Publisher)
Published on 5. July 2018
Book
Hardback
320 pages
978-1-78578-402-6 (ISBN)
Description
April 1945. As Allied
bombs rain down on Europe, a 400-year-old institution looks set to be wiped off
the face of the Earth. The famous white Lipizzaner stallions of the Spanish
Riding School in Vienna, unique and precious animals representing centuries of
careful breeding, are scattered across rural Austria and Czechoslovakia in
areas soon to be swallowed up by Soviet forces - there, doubtless, to become
rations for the Red Army.
Their only hope lies with
the Americans: what if a small, highly mobile US task force could be sent deep
behind German lines, through fanatical SS troops, to rescue the horses before
the Soviets arrive. Just five light tanks, a handful of armoured cars and jeeps,
and 300 battle-weary GIs must plunge headlong into the unknown on a rescue
mission that could change the course of European history.
So begins
Operation Cowboy, the greatest Second World War story that has never been fully
told. GIs will join forces with surrendered German soldiers and liberated
prisoners of war to save the world's finest horses from fanatical SS and the
ruthless Red Army in an extraordinary battle during the last few days of the
war in Europe.
bombs rain down on Europe, a 400-year-old institution looks set to be wiped off
the face of the Earth. The famous white Lipizzaner stallions of the Spanish
Riding School in Vienna, unique and precious animals representing centuries of
careful breeding, are scattered across rural Austria and Czechoslovakia in
areas soon to be swallowed up by Soviet forces - there, doubtless, to become
rations for the Red Army.
Their only hope lies with
the Americans: what if a small, highly mobile US task force could be sent deep
behind German lines, through fanatical SS troops, to rescue the horses before
the Soviets arrive. Just five light tanks, a handful of armoured cars and jeeps,
and 300 battle-weary GIs must plunge headlong into the unknown on a rescue
mission that could change the course of European history.
So begins
Operation Cowboy, the greatest Second World War story that has never been fully
told. GIs will join forces with surrendered German soldiers and liberated
prisoners of war to save the world's finest horses from fanatical SS and the
ruthless Red Army in an extraordinary battle during the last few days of the
war in Europe.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Duxford
United Kingdom
Illustrations
8Illustrations, black & white
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 162 mm
Thickness: 29 mm
Weight
561 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78578-402-6 (9781785784026)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
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Mark Felton
Ghost Riders
Operation Cowboy, the World War Two Mission to Save the World's Finest Horses
E-Book
07/2018
Icon Books
€1.99
Available for download
Person
Mark Felton is a
well-known British historian whose numerous books and articles on military
history have received international attention. His last book Castle of the Eagles ('an extraordinary
and largely forgotten wartime story, brought back to life in this Boys' Own
account' - Daily Mail) has been
optioned by Hollywood for movie development, as has his Zero Night ('a thundering good read' - History of War). After a decade working in Shanghai, Mark now lives
in Norwich.
well-known British historian whose numerous books and articles on military
history have received international attention. His last book Castle of the Eagles ('an extraordinary
and largely forgotten wartime story, brought back to life in this Boys' Own
account' - Daily Mail) has been
optioned by Hollywood for movie development, as has his Zero Night ('a thundering good read' - History of War). After a decade working in Shanghai, Mark now lives
in Norwich.