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Book Review: GSG 9: From Munich to Mogadishu: The Birth of Germany's Counterterrorism Force
Lester W. Grau
Author: Martin Herzog
Reviewed by: Lester W. Grau, Russian analyst, Foreign Military Studies Office
In the wake of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre, Germany forged GSG 9—an elite counterterrorism unit that would stun the world with its daring 1977 rescue mission in Mogadishu. Martin Herzog’s gripping account traces the unit’s evolution from humble beginnings to global renown, drawing on exclusive interviews and archival research. This book tells the untold story of how one covert force reshaped modern counterterrorism—and inspired the creation of America’s Delta Force.
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Book Review: The Raider: The Untold Story of a Renegade Marine and the Birth of U.S. Special Forces in World War II
Wylie W. Johnson
Author: Stephen R. Platt
Reviewed by: Dr. Wylie W. Johnson, chaplain, US Army War College class of 2010
In this gripping narrative, Stephen R. Platt uncovers the forgotten legacy of a rebellious Marine whose daring vision helped shape the future of US Special Forces. Blending biography with battlefield drama, the book reveals how unconventional tactics and bold leadership redefined America’s approach to warfare. A must-read for anyone interested in the origins of elite military units and the individuals who defied tradition to forge them.
©2026 Wylie W. Johnson
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Book Review: Victory ’45: The End of the War in Eight Surrenders
James Allen Knechtmann
Authors: James Holland and Al Murray
Reviewed by: James Allen Knechtmann, supervisory archivist/chief, Ridgway Library Branch, US Army Heritage and Education Center, US Army War College
In Victory ’45: The End of the War in Eight Surrenders, James Holland and Al Murray trace the dramatic final days of World War II through eight pivotal surrender moments that reshaped the postwar world. With gripping detail and fresh perspectives, they reveal how victory was secured not just through battles, but through diplomacy, resilience, and human decisions. This compelling narrative offers a powerful lens on the war’s conclusion and the fragile peace that followed.
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Book Review: Training for Victory: U.S. Special Forces Advisory Operations from El Salvador to Afghanistan
Joshua O. Lehman
Author: Frank K. Sobchak
Reviewed by: Lieutenant Colonel Joshua O. Lehman, academy professor, United States Military Academy
What makes some US Special Forces advisory missions succeed while others fail? In Training for Victory, Frank K. Sobchak examines five decades of elite Green Beret operations—from El Salvador to Afghanistan—to uncover the critical factors behind building effective partner forces. Challenging conventional wisdom, this book reveals surprising truths about language, culture, and combat advising in America’s most complex wars.
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