SAS: Rogue Heroes
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- Create Date：2022-11-22 00:53:14
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Ben Macintyre
- ISBN：0241996902
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Summary
THE BOOK BEHIND THE BBC SERIES 'SAS: ROGUE HEROES'
From the secret SAS archives， and acclaimed author Ben Macintyre: the first ever authorized history of the SAS
In the summer of 1941， at the height of the war in the Western Desert， a bored and eccentric young officer， David Stirling， has a vision for a new kind of war: attacking the enemy where they least expect it - from behind their own lines。
Despite the intense opposition of many in British High Command， Winston Churchill personally gives Stirling permission to recruit the toughest， brightest and most ruthless soldiers he can find。 And so begins the most celebrated and mysterious military organisation in the world: the SAS。
With unprecedented access to the SAS secret files， unseen footage and exclusive interviews with its founder members， SAS: Rogue Heroes tells the remarkable story behind an extraordinary fighting force， and the immense cost of making it a reality。
'Impeccably researched， superbly told - by far the best book on the SAS in World War II' Antony Beevor
From the secret SAS archives， and acclaimed author Ben Macintyre: the first ever authorized history of the SAS
In the summer of 1941， at the height of the war in the Western Desert， a bored and eccentric young officer， David Stirling， has a vision for a new kind of war: attacking the enemy where they least expect it - from behind their own lines。
Despite the intense opposition of many in British High Command， Winston Churchill personally gives Stirling permission to recruit the toughest， brightest and most ruthless soldiers he can find。 And so begins the most celebrated and mysterious military organisation in the world: the SAS。
With unprecedented access to the SAS secret files， unseen footage and exclusive interviews with its founder members， SAS: Rogue Heroes tells the remarkable story behind an extraordinary fighting force， and the immense cost of making it a reality。
'Impeccably researched， superbly told - by far the best book on the SAS in World War II' Antony Beevor
Reviews
Nick Harriss
，
A brilliant book - one of my favourite reads of the year。 I had bought this book about a year ago having watched the also excellent BBC documentary series produced alongside it （https://www。bbc。co。uk/programmes/b08f。。。）。 More recently， I have also been watching the drama series inspired by the book， SAS Rogue Heroes （https://www。bbc。co。uk/programmes/p0d5。。。）， which is thoroughly entertaining abut rather less historically accurate， so thought it was about time I read the book。 This book provides A brilliant book - one of my favourite reads of the year。 I had bought this book about a year ago having watched the also excellent BBC documentary series produced alongside it （https://www。bbc。co。uk/programmes/b08f。。。）。 More recently， I have also been watching the drama series inspired by the book， SAS Rogue Heroes （https://www。bbc。co。uk/programmes/p0d5。。。）， which is thoroughly entertaining abut rather less historically accurate， so thought it was about time I read the book。 This book provides a greater level of detail and nuance than the above and takes things to a new level。 Everyone with an interest in military history should read this。 。。。more
Rob Law
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Very good
Hugh Stewart
，
This is an outstanding book。 The fact It is based on real information takes it to a new level。 The courage and mental strength of these individuals takes my breath away。 Remember they were all in their 20s。 Ben does an amazing job as usual。
The Corinthian
，
A Compelling Human History。。A meticulous history undoubtedly enjoying a new lease of life due to the TV series。， which it must be said it bears little resemblance to。 This is a compelling and superbly written history of the origins and exploits of the SAS during WWII which does not shy away from the brutality that was both experienced and demanded。Macintyre has real empathy for the lives of those he writes about and conveys it with skill and never becomes bogged down in unnecessary military deta A Compelling Human History。。A meticulous history undoubtedly enjoying a new lease of life due to the TV series。， which it must be said it bears little resemblance to。 This is a compelling and superbly written history of the origins and exploits of the SAS during WWII which does not shy away from the brutality that was both experienced and demanded。Macintyre has real empathy for the lives of those he writes about and conveys it with skill and never becomes bogged down in unnecessary military detail。 A remarkable book about remarkable people。 。。。more
Paula Fialho Silva
，
A minha opinião: https://youtu。be/-zf-dan-27Q A minha opinião: https://youtu。be/-zf-dan-27Q 。。。more
ian jones
，
A fantastic insight into the workings of the sas during ww11。 Ben Macintyre quality author。
Mark
，
Ben McIntyre is an excellent historian whose books are very readable and well documented。 His detailed research ensures his narrative arc covers all the relevant episodes in a fascinating story of wartime derring-do。 Needs must in wartime and so a commando force is created on the hoof by a band of unorthodox career soldiers who are exempt from the Regular Army rules & regulations， and with nothing to lose and everything to gain。 General Auchinleck is backed into a corner by David Stirling who bl Ben McIntyre is an excellent historian whose books are very readable and well documented。 His detailed research ensures his narrative arc covers all the relevant episodes in a fascinating story of wartime derring-do。 Needs must in wartime and so a commando force is created on the hoof by a band of unorthodox career soldiers who are exempt from the Regular Army rules & regulations， and with nothing to lose and everything to gain。 General Auchinleck is backed into a corner by David Stirling who bluffs his way into GHQ in Cairo and finds himself with little choice but to accept his offer of destroying Luftwaffe airfields by raiding out of the desert。 Stirling recruits Jock Lewes and Paddy Mayne and together they make an incredible contribution to the War in the Desert。 Nothing is left out and the reader feels the full story is being told， with the personality of each character being carefully nuanced。 。。。more
Soham Jha
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3。5 stars！
Darren
，
Interesting general history of the start of the SAS。 Don't expect this to be anything like the series they just started airing （Oct 2022） Interesting general history of the start of the SAS。 Don't expect this to be anything like the series they just started airing （Oct 2022） 。。。more
Steve Dedier
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A very readable and excellent history。 Detailed enough to give you and understanding of the people and the missions but no so much as to descend into tedium。
John Baird
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Great book， one of the best which almost makes it pointless reading anything else
Alex Kennedy
，
An excellent war book about an extraordinary group of warriors fighting war in a new way。
Darren
，
Oh， history， how you love to give me stories over and over， and this time it isn’t even American History。 I love World War II history。 Every aspect of this time period holds my attention。 From the battles to the homefront， there is always something to look into。 As far as battles go， Ben Macintyre gives us the story of when the SAS （Special Air Service） was formed during World War II， and what a story it is。War has always had rules to follow for success。 Even though the battles have always been Oh， history， how you love to give me stories over and over， and this time it isn’t even American History。 I love World War II history。 Every aspect of this time period holds my attention。 From the battles to the homefront， there is always something to look into。 As far as battles go， Ben Macintyre gives us the story of when the SAS （Special Air Service） was formed during World War II， and what a story it is。War has always had rules to follow for success。 Even though the battles have always been fierce， and it has had their winners and losers。 Most of all， everyone follows the unspoken rules。 UNTIL an idea takes shape。 A regiment of…let’s call them rascals…are brought together to make war more difficult for Hitler。 There will be some growing pains， as there usually are in such stories， but once they find their feet， hold onto your hats！ This group of men will change the very face and nature of war。 Their orders are simple， go and disrupt Hitler’s war machine by any means possible， and return。 The missions are difficult， and Mr。 Macintyre pulls no punches in telling what happens to each unit that goes out。 Not everyone returns。 In fact， some are left behind in the hopes that they will be saved by the enemy。The stories told here are true。 They may be unbelievable， but they are true。 This fact alone made the book a winner to me。 Ass to it Mr。 Macintuyre’s talents as a storyteller， and you get a book that reads more like a historical thriller than a history book。I give this book 5 very enthusiastic bookmarks out of 5！！！！！！ 。。。more
Rafa
，
Llegaba a este libro con el buen sabor de boca que me dejó "Operación Mincemeat" del mismo autor， pero he de reconocer que este volumen me ha defraudado un poco， quizás por las elevadas expectativas que había puesto en él。A medio camino de entre la historia y la recopilación de hazañas del SAS， el libro va perdiendo fuelle a medida que avanza para acabar sin pena ni gloria。El texto tiene un estilo atractivo y se lee con facilidad， aunque hay algunos errores técnicos en la traducción， pero llega Llegaba a este libro con el buen sabor de boca que me dejó "Operación Mincemeat" del mismo autor， pero he de reconocer que este volumen me ha defraudado un poco， quizás por las elevadas expectativas que había puesto en él。A medio camino de entre la historia y la recopilación de hazañas del SAS， el libro va perdiendo fuelle a medida que avanza para acabar sin pena ni gloria。El texto tiene un estilo atractivo y se lee con facilidad， aunque hay algunos errores técnicos en la traducción， pero llega un momento en el que se pierde， al menos en mi caso， el interés ante la concatenación de misiones。Postdata: para los que están esperando la serie， yo entre ellos， me da que adaptará apenas los 3 ó 4 primeros capítulos， quizás pensando en una segunda temporada， y ya hay elementos en el tráiler que invitan a pensar en una adaptación bastante libre。 。。。more
Jenna
，
Here's another one where I saw a trailer for tv show on youtube。 When looking it up on google， I discovered that I didn't have that streamer but it was a book。So why not read the book？I didn't know anything about the beginnings of the British SAS so it was interesting to learn about all that。There were a lot of people introduced/to keep track of and b/c this is war， many of those brave men didn't make it home which always bums me out。And I'm sure there was a ton of info kept out but I felt that Here's another one where I saw a trailer for tv show on youtube。 When looking it up on google， I discovered that I didn't have that streamer but it was a book。So why not read the book？I didn't know anything about the beginnings of the British SAS so it was interesting to learn about all that。There were a lot of people introduced/to keep track of and b/c this is war， many of those brave men didn't make it home which always bums me out。And I'm sure there was a ton of info kept out but I felt that the writer did a good job of encapsulating/summing up the history of the subject。 。。。more
Johan Rehnstrom
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Very well written。 A definite must read if you are interested in this genre。 Character descriptions are great。 It is easy to get emotionally involved in all that happened during those years the SAS was active in WW2。
Bobo_helix
，
Love the last part - what everyone made a living after the Great War。In the end， even the special force returns to business as usual
Dan Olson
，
Very interesting history of the SAS。 MacIntyre didn't hold back on the graphic violence or the atrocities of war。 While he portrayed several of the main characters as heroes， he also detailed some of their human frailties。 I found the chapter detailing the SAS liberation of a Nazi Jewish concentration camp particularly disturbing。 Not from the way the SAS handled it， but from horrendous treatment of the Jews who were interned there。 I would highly recommend this book。 Very interesting history of the SAS。 MacIntyre didn't hold back on the graphic violence or the atrocities of war。 While he portrayed several of the main characters as heroes， he also detailed some of their human frailties。 I found the chapter detailing the SAS liberation of a Nazi Jewish concentration camp particularly disturbing。 Not from the way the SAS handled it， but from horrendous treatment of the Jews who were interned there。 I would highly recommend this book。 。。。more
Thomas Scott
，
So unbelievably interesting I could explode with enthusiasm。
MIKE DROGEMULLER
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The original Desert Rats！ Is it fact or fiction？ Brilliant read。 Bravo。
Craig Hanglin
，
A comprehensive and extremely entertaining read， where you are able to emerse yourself into a wide range of SAS operations from North Africa and as far in to Germany。 This book truly offers a superb description of operations conducted clandestinely behind enemy lines and through brute force/head on engagements， highlighting just how effective the formation of the SAS was。 Also refreshing to note is the precise dialogue between real members of the SAS at that time， from first hand accounts。 If yo A comprehensive and extremely entertaining read， where you are able to emerse yourself into a wide range of SAS operations from North Africa and as far in to Germany。 This book truly offers a superb description of operations conducted clandestinely behind enemy lines and through brute force/head on engagements， highlighting just how effective the formation of the SAS was。 Also refreshing to note is the precise dialogue between real members of the SAS at that time， from first hand accounts。 If you wish to enhance your knowledge and understanding on what kind of SAS operations were mounted throughout the ETO in WW2 I can not recommend this book enough。 。。。more
Robert
，
The SAS was founded by the Scottish aristocrat David Stirling （while convivial in nature （friendly） was also very lonely）。 It was in that spirit in North Africa， when after defeats by Rommel that David had the idea to form the SAS。 Although slightly exaggerated （as some SAS stories were）， David claims to have hijacked embassy security， chased through the building by guards before bursting through the door of a British General to present his plans about the SAS。 The plan was signed off by the com The SAS was founded by the Scottish aristocrat David Stirling （while convivial in nature （friendly） was also very lonely）。 It was in that spirit in North Africa， when after defeats by Rommel that David had the idea to form the SAS。 Although slightly exaggerated （as some SAS stories were）， David claims to have hijacked embassy security， chased through the building by guards before bursting through the door of a British General to present his plans about the SAS。 The plan was signed off by the commander， and David Stirling would be responsible for building the first SAS unit and to turn the tide of the war in North Africa。 Incredibly polite， popular， never raising a voice， and possessing a knack of getting men to do what needed （"Would you mind heading back out to mount another raid if you are not too tired” was a typical David Stirling request）。 Quite a few SAS missions failed as expected， but very quickly huge wins were secured by men who were highly trained， thrived off the adrenaline of sabotage， and enjoyed the secret nature of their work。 Even Randolph Churchill was part of the SAS （he was a challenging character who spent his life attempting unsuccessfully to please his father， drank a lot， and would often cry a lot）。 The SAS’s success caused much concern amongst Rommel and his generals， particularly after the SAS destroyed some of Tobruk’s German fleet that was destined to invade Malta （Malta never was invaded in the end）。 One old fashioned general who was captured by the SAS said waging war against Britain was a mistake （lots of old-fashioned German generals thought that）， a reflection of the respect the German commanders had for the SAS。 North Africa was too many in the SAS and Germany the gentleman's war， whereby tough fighting was matched by generally good treatment of prisoners。 However， in Italy， and very much in France， fighting became savage， particularly after Hitler's order that any soldiers caught behind enemy lines were to be executed。 The SS would happily execute SAS personal， and locals who helped them。 The SAS were also guilty of their fair share of brutally， often machining gunning sleeping German soldiers in camps。 Furthermore， whereas in Africa the SAS would go behind enemy lines briefly， before returning to base， in Europe they would spend months behind enemy lines， often being chased by SS soldiers。 What to make of the SAS？ Brave， skilled， loners， rebellious rule breakers with a slight suspicion of office-based army generals， swashbuckling adrenaline junkies， some from humble backgrounds， other public-school toffs who thrived off adventure， and a good dinner party story to tell， bravado， and often not far below the surface cruelty as well。 After the war ended， the SAS was disbanded with a final parade at their headquarters at Hylands House， Chelmsford。 Some men struggled after the war， others were successful in hands on business pursuits， such as hotels and mining。 。。。more
Melanie Vinton
，
Incredibly interesting account of the origins of SAS in North Africa and beyond。
Peter Lipták
，
Vynikajúce， strhujúce。
Judy Moe
，
If you are interested in WWII events， this is a must read book。 It chronicles the hundreds of missions the British SAS （Special Air Service） performed behind enemy lines， from North Africa， Greece， Italy and France。 It became the model for Delta Force， Navy Seals and similar sabotage military units。
Christopher Spears
，
A rip-roaring good read。 Ben Macintyre seems to always on focus on rogues and miscreants。 This time the rogues and miscreants are the commandos of the storied Special Air Service。 The book follows the unit's history in World War 2。 Some readers have described the exploits as romantic。 I am not sure I completely agree。 The unit's early engagements in the North African desert do feel like a cross between Ocean's Eleven and Mad Max。 However， as the war grinds on， it becomes darker and grittier （thi A rip-roaring good read。 Ben Macintyre seems to always on focus on rogues and miscreants。 This time the rogues and miscreants are the commandos of the storied Special Air Service。 The book follows the unit's history in World War 2。 Some readers have described the exploits as romantic。 I am not sure I completely agree。 The unit's early engagements in the North African desert do feel like a cross between Ocean's Eleven and Mad Max。 However， as the war grinds on， it becomes darker and grittier （think Inglorious Basterds）。 The liberation of a concentration camp is especially horrifying and surreal。Recommended to fans of military history and World War 2 history。 。。。more
Charles
，
This is another excellent well documented historical account by Ben Macintyre-of the SAS（Special Air Service）-the 1st behind the line commando & sabotage unit， after which many countries have copied the idea which is part of modern warfare strategy-including Canada， the US， Israel， New Zealand & Australia。 Initiated by David Sterling in 1941， to operate in the North African theatre against Rommel's army， then moving on to Sicily & up the Italian peninsula with the Allied advance & into France & This is another excellent well documented historical account by Ben Macintyre-of the SAS（Special Air Service）-the 1st behind the line commando & sabotage unit， after which many countries have copied the idea which is part of modern warfare strategy-including Canada， the US， Israel， New Zealand & Australia。 Initiated by David Sterling in 1941， to operate in the North African theatre against Rommel's army， then moving on to Sicily & up the Italian peninsula with the Allied advance & into France & finally Germany until allied victory。 It was the 1st allied group to discover Bergen-Belsen concentration camp & free the survivors。 The SAS punched much above its weight in spite of some spectacular screwups & though initially resisted by military command， it got Churchill's imprimatur， after his son extolled it after participating in it briefly。 After the war in Europe， it contributed to the war in Asia against the Japanese。 It was resuscitated after the war & continues today to be used against terrorists & other military operations。 It went through several restructurations & leaders， but the concept survives。 。。。more
Ben
，
Fantastic book。 This book tells the story from the very beginning and goes into what happens after World War 2 with the SAS unit as well as the members who served。 This book gives specifics as to what they did， how they did it and how that impacted other units。 The writing style if direct， written from a English perspective and is overall an enjoyable read。 The book is on the longer side but it really goes into details and is a good read。
Jill Hutchinson
，
I could write pages about this book which I found fascinating but I will spare you my tortured rhetoric and keep it short。The SAS （Special Air Service） was founded during WWII when Britain was on the verge of losing the battle against Hitler and information about it was classified for years after the war。 The author finally gained access to it and in conjunction with personal diaries， interviews， etc。 has provided the reader with a riveting tale of bravery and deception。The SAS， which today are I could write pages about this book which I found fascinating but I will spare you my tortured rhetoric and keep it short。The SAS （Special Air Service） was founded during WWII when Britain was on the verge of losing the battle against Hitler and information about it was classified for years after the war。 The author finally gained access to it and in conjunction with personal diaries， interviews， etc。 has provided the reader with a riveting tale of bravery and deception。The SAS， which today are called "special forces"， was the brainchild of a rather unconventional soldier。 Lt。 David Stirling who felt that dropping men behind enemy lines to destroy airplanes， fuel supplies， railroads， and cause general disruption was essential。 It was not an idea well received but Stirling prevailed since Churchill was enamored with the idea。 Stirling gathered a group of men who were as unconventional as he was and their first target was the African desert against the forces of the feared "Desert Fox"， Erwin Rommel。 And so it began。I will go no further since the SAS adventures were many and varied and the author covers them in detail that will keep the reader engrossed。 This is a must-read book for any WWII buff and I highly recommend it。 A true five star read！ 。。。more
Daniel Blount
，
Excellent recounting of the founding and early exploits of the SAS during WWII。 These men were true rebels who livid to buck the conventional military customs and dogmatic way of thinking pioneering the formation of modern special operations units。
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=SAS: Rogue Heroes
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=SAS: Rogue Heroes&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,SAS: Rogue Heroes&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0