Secret Weapons
Death Rays, Doodlebugs and Churchill's Golden Goose
Published on 20. September 2013
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-1-78096-721-9 (ISBN)
Description
Deep in the bunkers of Nazi Germany, many of the world's top scientists worked to create a new generation of war winning super-weapons. A few of these, such as jet aircraft and the V2 rocket, became realities at the end of the war, others never made it off the drawing-board. Written by noted research scientist, Brian Ford, this exciting book charts the history of secret weapons development by all the major powers during the war, from British radar to Japanese ray-guns, and explains the impact that these developments eventually had on the outcome of World War II. Ford also takes a look at the weapons that never made it to development stage, as well as the more radical plans, such as the idea of turning Hitler into a woman with hormone treatment.
Reviews / Votes
'British scientist and TV personality Ford pulls back the curtain in this fascinating, accessible study of the weapons and tactics that changed the course of World War II... Ford's engrossing examination of weapons and tactics will likely be devoured by interested readers.' Publishers Weekly This is an excellent introduction to the subject. - History of WarMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Illustrations
20 b/w; 30 col
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-78096-721-9 (9781780967219)
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.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Brian J Ford is a prolific research scientist who launched major science programmes for the BBC. Over 100 editions of his books have been published around the world, and he appears in TV programmes produced in studios ranging from Hollywood to Delhi, and from Germany to Japan. He has broadcast on The Food Programme, Woman's Hour, Newsnight, Any Questions? and Sky Television News. In 1998 he joined the annual Round Britain Quiz, partnering Lady Antonia Fraser, and he has featured in his Science Hour phone-in sessions for LBC. His work is widely reported and discussed in journals including Scientific American, Nature, New Scientist, The Microscope and the British Medical Journal. In addition to textbooks he has also written the popular 101 Questions about Science books. His First Encyclopedia of Science (for the pre-teens) sold over 70,000 copies in a month. Brian J Ford contributes to The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph and The Times.
Content
Introduction /Chapter 1: The Making of a Secret War /Chapter 2: Flying Weapons: Secret Aircraft /Chapter 3: Flying Weapons: Bombs and Missiles /Chapter 4: the Rocket /Chapter 5: Doctors at War /Chapter 6: Dangerous Ideas /Chapter 7: Doomed to Fail /Chapter 8: Electronic Secrets /Further Reading /Index