Operation Agreement
Jewish Commandos and the Raid on Tobruk
John Sadler
Osprey, New York, 2016, 340 pages
Book Review published on: July 14, 2017
In Operation Agreement: Jewish Commandos and the Raid on Tobruk, John Sadler assembles a vast array of material into a logical and understandable framework, set in September 1942, and this distinguishes the book from others on this topic. Additionally, as the history unfolds in one region, the author reminds the reader of important events that are occurring in other desert regions simultaneously as part of the complex pattern of North African military history. The level of detail in the narrative is designed to enhance a broad understanding and place events in context. Key actors and events are identified and discussed effectively in the narrative without overburdening the reader with nonessential information.
Operation Agreement is well written, logical, and relatively free of difficult military language and detail. It does not require a thorough understanding of the individual desert campaigns to understand the events relayed by the author. This book is for desert warfare enthusiasts, novices, and scholars alike, as well as military professionals interested in the clash of divergent cultures and the various approaches taken to resolve those conflicts.
Sadler has provided a timeline of 6 to 16 September 1942, placing key events with regard to the complex desert geographical region. This effectively allows the reader to place events broadly in context to the overall actions throughout the North African desert campaign. The author provides overall maps of the North African Theater of War with some key battles identified.
If your interest is of the North African Campaign and the brave men who dared to survive harsh conditions, I would recommend this book as an initial read to gain a broad understanding of events in time and space before delving into the detailed research of specific campaigns.
Book Review written by: Lt. Col. W. Bryan Green, U.S. Army, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas