This is an astonishing absolutely absorbing account of the accomplishments of those picked men from the Royal Navy, the British Army, and the Royal Air Force, who work with U.S. Rangers and others of the United Nations in what is known officially as combined operations - or, more popularly, The Commandos. It is the complete story of the Commandos since the very beginning of their activities, commencing with the experimental attacks on Norwegian islands, proceeding with more ambitious attempts on the continent. In quick succession follow highly dramatic accounts of the assault on southern Italy, the evacuation of Crete, the defeat of the French in Syria, the daring penetration of the enemies line in Libya - culminating in the suspenseful stalking of Rommel’s headquarters - the assault at Saint Nazaire, the capture of Madagascar, the Dieppe raid, the invasion of North Africa. The book is utterly without heroics, and yet is all heroism. -- From the book jacket.

List of maps : The Raid on Bruneval ; Attacks on the coasts of Europe ; The Lofoten landings ; Operations in the Mediterranean ; Vaagso : the points of assault ; St. Nazaire : the raiders go in ; The storming of Diego Suarez ; Dieppe : the double assault by No. 4 Commando ; Dieppe : the area of battle. Written by Hilary St. George Saunders.

Forward / by Vice-Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten -- Preface -- To be known as Commandos -- Training for attack -- The steel hand from the sea -- Destruction in their wake -- The exploits of “Layforce” -- A stroke at the brain: the raid on Rommel -- The significant adventure of Vaagso -- Battle over the fiords -- An experiment in radio- dislocation -- Assault from the sea : St. Nazaire -- The glorious rendezvous of HMS Campbelltown -- The commandos got cracking -- The storming of Diego Suarez -- Reconnaissance in force: Dieppe -- The battery did not fire again -- The Canadians go in -- The battle of the sea-wall -- The triumph in the air -- This majestic enterprise -- To the day of assault.