Rex Applegate's Kill or be Killed is a timeless classic of WW2 military combatives. Printed in 1943 for military and civil markets, it explores the core techniques and training needed to stay safe in the warzones and combat theatres of the second world war.

Kill or Get Killed, via a wide array of photographs and illustrated diagrams explore unarmed combat, use of blades, pistols and sub-machine guns. The manual also provides details on training programs and setting up ranges for skill development.

Rex Applegate was famous for his holistic approach in training soldiers and spies in WW2 using his own methods, and those inspired and taught by contemporaries such as W.E Fairbairn. The manual is designed to be an easy-to-follow guide for learning and teaching the tactics, strategies and approaches.

Rex Applegate's kill or be killed helped prepare America's marines, soldiers, sailors, spies and airmen for the realities of war. This highly shared and respected work provides all you need to know about unarmed combat and close quarter engagement with the enemy.

The fully illustrated distilled knowledge of W.E. Fairbairn, legendary SOE instructor in unarmed combat, and co-inventor of the Sykes-Fairbairn knife, who learned his deadly skills in 30 years on the Shanghai waterfront. It has been suggested that Fairbairn was the inspiration for Q Branch, in Ian Fleming's fictional books about the British Secret Service agent James Bond.

Get Tough is the fully illustrated manual of lethal unarmed combat methods taught to British and US Special Forces in the Second World War by Major W.E. Fairbairn, co-inventor of the Sykes-Fairbairn knife, and senior instructor to WW2's Special Forces. The methods used in this book should only be employed when life is in danger from an attacker, since correctly applied they can kill or maim an opponent.

All-In Fighting shows how to deliver deadly blows with hand, fist, knee and boot; wrist, bear and strangle holds (and how to break them); how to throw an enemy, and how to break their backs; how to disarm a pistol-wielding attacker; and securing a prisoner.

Actual incidents provided the basis for Shooting to Live; this is an instruction manual on life-or-death close-quarters shootouts with the pistol. The emphasis is on training to fight with no notice, at very close ranges, in poor lighting and in unexpected environments.

Originally published during the Second World War, Hands Off shows the emancipated woman how to deal with any 'unpleasant'situation which would immeasurably increase their efficiency in the War effort. The methods of self-defence were especially selected for use by women, taking into account their disadvantages of weight, build and strength.

Scientific Self-Defence is the hand-to-hand combat system based on practical experience mixed with jujutsu and boxing that Fairbairn developed to train the Shanghai Municipal Police and was later taught in expanded form to the Office of Strategic Services and Special Operations Executive members during World War II.

Defendu is the classic hand-to-hand combat system based on practical experience mixed with jujutsu and boxing that Fairbairn developed to train the Shanghai Municipal Police.

Rex Applegate's Kill or be Killed is a timeless classic of WW2 military combatives. Printed in 1943 for military and civil markets, it explores the core techniques and training needed to stay safe in the warzones and combat theatres of the second world war.

Kill or Get Killed, via a wide array of photographs and illustrated diagrams explore unarmed combat, use of blades, pistols and sub-machine guns. The manual also provides details on training programs and setting up ranges for skill development.

Rex Applegate was famous for his holistic approach in training soldiers and spies in WW2 using his own methods, and those inspired and taught by contemporaries such as W.E Fairbairn. The manual is designed to be an easy-to-follow guide for learning and teaching the tactics, strategies and approaches.

The author of this concise guide to unarmed combat and self-defence is a legend. W. E. Fairbairn (1885-1960) spent over thirty years in the tough environment of the Riot Squads of China's Shanghai Municipal Police. In order to lower levels of Police mortality at the hands of Chinese Tongs, he studied ancient Chinese and Japanese martial arts, including Ju-jitsu, and was the first foreigner to be awarded a black belt in the discipline. He developed his own system which he called 'Defendu'. At the outbreak of the Second World War, he was recruited by Britain's Special Operations Executive as an Instructor in unarmed combat and expounded the deadly mysteries of attack and defence to scores of trainee agents about to be dropped into occupied Europe. His methods were approved and officially adopted throughout the British army. Fairbairn also developed weapons and defence aids such as bullet proof vests. He is best known as the co-inventor of the famous Sykes-Fairbairn knife. In this book he expounds his distilled experience of unarmed combat. Fully illustrated, it shows how to deliver deadly blows with hand, fist, knee and boot; wrist, bear- and strangle holds (and how to break them); how to throw an enemy, and how to break their backs; how to disarm a pistol-wielding attacker; and securing a prisoner. The book also contains a chapter on the use of the rifle in close combat by Captain P. N. Walbridge.

As men with a background in combat sports began returning from night raids at greater number than those lacking, it soon became obvious to both the troops in the field and their commanding officers that some knowledge in hand-to-hand combat was beneficial for the survival and success of a soldier on the front lines. Even a small amount of training proved incredibly helpful, and thus by the third year of the war, when hand-to-hand combats became the rule rather than the exception, English officers stated... that their men had found the application of a few jiu-jitsu tricks in grappling to be of great service in vanquishing of their opponent. Among the more noteworthy trainers was the author of this training manual A. E. Marriott who's fighting system incorporated Greco-Roman, catch-as-catch-can, and jiu-jitsu wrestling.

This book, by the man who taught them, shows how the British Commandos fought in the Second World War in unarmed hand-to hand combat. It shows how they won their fights - even against enemies who were bigger, stronger, and armed. Brute strength is not required. This book shows you how to put a thug out of action with your bare hands, so fast he won't know what's hit him.

Get Tough is filled with clear, graphic line drawings which, with the easy-to-follow directions, demonstrate the Fairbairn System. The author, Major W. E. Fairbairn, was a tough Police officer who spent 30 years with the Shanghai Municipal Police, where he learned ju-jitsu (Judo), Chinese boxing and other martial arts. He was senior instructor to British Special Forces during the war, and was the co-inventor of the legendary Sykes-Fairbairn Commando knife. While in China he became the first foreigner, living outside Japan, ever admitted to Kodokan Jiu-Jutsu University in Tokyo where he was awarded the black belt, second degree. Combining all the knowledge thus acquired he developed a system that stopped the Shanghai terrorists in their tracks, demoralised the Nazis, and probably proved a decisive factor in the success of Allied Special forces in World War Two.

This is a must book for the armed forces, civilian defence groups, police, security guards, and indeed anyone whose life may be threatened.

The Fairbairn's system was based on his training and knowledge in boxing, wrestling, savate, jujutsu, judo and fights he was involved in during his police work, Fairbairn began to develop his own system of hand to hand combat, initially referring it as Defendu. It was designed to be simple to learn and to provide effective results. Fairbairn published his book, Defendu, in 1926 2] (reprinted as Scientific Self Defence in 1931), illustrating this method and it is here that the term Defendu first appeared This confused early readers of the book, who assumed that the techniques within had been based mainly in the Eastern martial arts that Fairbairn had learned. Thus, in an attempt to highlight the originality of Fairbairn's material, the term did not appear in the 1931 edition of the book.

Fairbairn was called upon by the British to help train Allied troops in World War II. Fairbairn and others expanded on this system to create the Close Quarters Combat system that was then taught to the troops. This system was built on Defendu, but modified for military applications, rather than police and riot control.

The original Defendu was oriented towards self-defence and restraint, while the Close Quarters Combat system concentrated on rapid disabling of an opponent, with potentially lethal force. The militarised version of Defendu is described in the military manual All in fighting 1942, used as a supplement during WW2 CQB-training. This book was later published in a civilian edition, missing the chapters on bayonet-fighting and rifle sighting, under the name Get Tough How To Win In Hand-To-Hand Fighting. As Taught To The British Commandos And The U.S. Armed Forces. Fairbairn's CQC-system is also described in Rex Applegate's book Kill or Get Killed.

Publications:

Defendu

Scientific Self-Defence

All-In Fighting

Get Tough

Hands Off (Self Defence for Women and Girls)

Shooting to Live

All of Fairbairn's works are published and available from The Naval & Military Press.

The fully illustrated distilled knowledge of W.E. Fairbairn, legendary SOE instructor in unarmed combat, and co-inventor of the Sykes-Fairbairn knife, who learned his deadly skills in 30 years on the Shanghai waterfront. It has been suggested that Fairbairn was the inspiration for Q Branch, in Ian Fleming's fictional books about the British Secret Service agent James Bond.

Get Tough is the fully illustrated manual of lethal unarmed combat methods taught to British and US Special Forces in the Second World War by Major W.E. Fairbairn, co-inventor of the Sykes-Fairbairn knife, and senior instructor to WW2's Special Forces. The methods used in this book should only be employed when life is in danger from an attacker, since correctly applied they can kill or maim an opponent.

All-In Fighting shows how to deliver deadly blows with hand, fist, knee and boot; wrist, bear and strangle holds (and how to break them); how to throw an enemy, and how to break their backs; how to disarm a pistol-wielding attacker; and securing a prisoner.

Actual incidents provided the basis for Shooting to Live; this is an instruction manual on life-or-death close-quarters shootouts with the pistol. The emphasis is on training to fight with no notice, at very close ranges, in poor lighting and in unexpected environments.

Originally published during the Second World War, Hands Off shows the emancipated woman how to deal with any 'unpleasant'situation which would immeasurably increase their efficiency in the War effort. The methods of self-defence were especially selected for use by women, taking into account their disadvantages of weight, build and strength.

Scientific Self-Defence is the hand-to-hand combat system based on practical experience mixed with jujutsu and boxing that Fairbairn developed to train the Shanghai Municipal Police and was later taught in expanded form to the Office of Strategic Services and Special Operations Executive members during World War II.

Defendu is the classic hand-to-hand combat system based on practical experience mixed with jujutsu and boxing that Fairbairn developed to train the Shanghai Municipal Police.

The art of fieldcraft explained by an expert Royal Marine sniper. Illustrated with practical demonstrations and commentary, this excellent Gale & Polden manual dated 1942 has good black & white illustrative photographs to accompany the authoritative text.

Good fieldcraft is especially important for the effectiveness and survival of infantry soldiers, snipers, special forces, reconnaissance and sabotage teams.

This is the classic WW2 sniping handbook. The author had much experience in sniping on the western front in the First World War, and he wrote his experiences down for the use of troops and the Home Guard at the beginning of the Second World War. This important manual covers all aspects of sniping and is a first class introduction to the subject both then and now. At the start of the Second World War, Armstrong became an instructor in the Sniping Wing of the Small Arms Schools at Hythe and Bisley. In 1942 he became Commandant at the Royal Marine Sniping School.

Written by one of the greatest experts in the art of sniping, Lt-Colonel Nevill Armstrong, a Canadian Officer who served with distinction on the Western Front during the First World War, this is the classic WW2 sniping handbook. The author had much experience in sniping during the war and he wrote his experiences down for the use of troops and the Home Guard at the beginning of the Second World War. This important manual covers all aspects of sniping and is a first-class introduction to the subject both then and now. At the start of the Second World War, Armstrong became an instructor in the Sniping Wing of the Small Arms Schools at Hythe and Bisley. In 1942 he became Commandant at the Royal Marine Sniping School.

Armstrong served in France between 1915 and 1917, being mentioned in despatches four times. He was Chief Instructor at the 2nd Army School of Scouting, Observation and Sniping from 1915-16, and Commandant of the Canadian Corps School of Sniping from 1917-18. The book covers all aspects of sniping, fieldcraft and intelligence. It was largely based on Armstrong's experiences in the trenches, and includes detailed instructions for snipers operating in trench warfare, along with descriptions of hides, loopholes, sniper suits and all the other equipment and techniques in use at the time. It is well illustrated with many line drawings and diagrams, some of which are in colour. The book also looks at the tactical use of fieldcraft, camouflage and battlefield intelligence work.

The Allies' development of systematic sniping during WW1 was initially unpopular, even among their own troops, but was an inevitable response to highly effective German sniping. In the first two years of the war German sniping was accounting for around 100 fatalities a day. By the end of the war, Allied snipers were more than matching their German opponents, thanks largely to their Canadian instructors. In 'Fieldcraft, Sniping and Intelligence', Armstrong defines the sniper as: An expert rifleman 'out to kill' who is highly trained in observation and the use of ground; equally valuable in trench and open warfare. He should be able to pick out targets exposed for only short periods and kill with a single shot from concealed positions.

Francois d'Eliscu taught thousands of U.S. Army Rangers how to fight down and dirty in World War II.

d'Eliscu doesn't get the press that Fairbairn and Applegate do, but he did a commendable job writing this book. It is basic, meant for training raw recruits

in a short amount of time before sending them to the front, but simple is good when you are in combat, as most combative experts will tell you.

D'Eliscu wrote this manual when in France in 1944 organising training at the officers' candidate school at Fontainebleau. Hand to Hand Combat outlined his techniques for hip throws, joint locks, eye-gouging finger strikes, shin kicks, grappling on the ground, and defensive tactics against knife attacks. Practice for speed and perfection, d'Eliscu admonishes in it.

This book is published strictly for historical purposes. The Naval & Military Press Ltd expressly bears no responsibility or liability of any type, to any first, second or third party, for any harm, injury, or loss whatsoever.

The author of this concise guide to unarmed combat and self-defence is a legend. W. E. Fairbairn (1885-1960) spent over thirty years in the tough environment of the Riot Squads of China's Shanghai Municipal Police. In order to lower levels of Police mortality at the hands of Chinese Tongs, he studied ancient Chinese and Japanese martial arts, including Ju-jitsu, and was the first foreigner to be awarded a black belt in the discipline. He developed his own system which he called 'Defendu'. At the outbreak of the Second World War, he was recruited by Britain's Special Operations Executive as an Instructor in unarmed combat and expounded the deadly mysteries of attack and defence to scores of trainee agents about to be dropped into occupied Europe. His methods were approved and officially adopted throughout the British army. Fairbairn also developed weapons and defence aids such as bullet proof vests. He is best known as the co-inventor of the famous Sykes-Fairbairn knife. In this book he expounds his distilled experience of unarmed combat. Fully illustrated, it shows how to deliver deadly blows with hand, fist, knee and boot; wrist, bear- and strangle holds (and how to break them); how to throw an enemy, and how to break their backs; how to disarm a pistol-wielding attacker; and securing a prisoner. The book also contains a chapter on the use of the rifle in close combat by Captain P. N. Walbridge.

Originally published during the Second World War, Major Fairbairn's Hands Off shows the emancipated woman how to deal with any unpleasant situation which would immeasurably increase their efficiency in the War Effort. The methods of self-defence explained and illustrated were especially selected for use by women, taking into account their disadvantages of weight, build and strength. They are all practicable, and many were originally worked out in answer to the question 'what should I do if I were attacked like this'.

Amongst the twenty measures advocated are: Wrist Hold - Being Strangled - How to Apply the Chin Jab - Bear Hug - Waist, Coat, Hair and Belt Holds - Umbrella Drill - Car Hold Up - Give Me a Light.

They are all as valid today as they were seventy years ago.

A very thorough and readable history for the WW2 period: the work of the corps at home and overseas, and the impact of Partition. The maps, and detailed index, are exceptionally helpful.

The Indian Engineers were a part of every division in the army. The Engineers corps started the war with two army troops companies, 11 field companies and one field park company. Expansion during the war took the totals of Engineers to five army troops companies, 67 field companies, six independent field squadrons, 20 field park companies and two independent field park squadrons.

The Indian Army began the war, in 1939, numbering just under 200,000 men. By the end of the war it had become the largest volunteer army in history, rising to over 2.5 million men in August 1945. Serving in divisions of infantry, armour and a fledgling airborne force, they fought on three continents, in Africa, Europe and Asia. The Indian Army fought in Ethiopia against the Italian Army, in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia against both the Italian and German Army, and, after the Italian surrender, against the German Army in Italy. However, the bulk of the Indian Army was committed to fighting the Japanese Army, first during the British defeats in Malaya and the retreat from Burma to the Indian border; later, after resting and refitting for the victorious advance back into Burma, as part of the largest British Empire army ever formed.

The V-Five programme of the 1940s represented a comprehensive overhaul and alignment of US Naval Aviation Physical Training. The programme covered combat sports like Boxing and Wrestling, alongside Swimming, American Football, Track & Field, Swimming and more.

The Boxing edition of the V-Five programme has special poignancy as boxing has many of the attributes designed to upskill and empower those going into combat.

The guide is designed for military instructors, who can then follow its steps to a) fully understand the skills and techniques of the sport, and b) plan, prepare and assess training sessions to engage the aviators in practice. There is a large portion dedicated to tactical drills to hone skills of combinations, defence, padwork and sparring strategy.

The volume is crisp and clear in its format (following military tradition) and is easy to follow. It is filled with many lucid, step by step photographs to help the reader understand the content and improve their ability to teach the smallest of details.

Forming part of the excellent Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939-1945 series, this is the story of the 1st Ammunition Company, 2nd NZEF. The title derives from the hope that every soldier has to be 'home by Christmas'. As a published by authority history the narrative is of very high quality and it provides a vivid 'feel' for the soldiers' experience in many hard-fought actions in WW2. The text is complemented by nine good colour maps, numerous back-and-white illustrations and a Roll of Honour plus Honours and Awards.

The company was organised into specialist sections and they worked in almost every area of Europe and the Middle East. 2nd NZEF fought in Greece, Crete, the Western Desert and Italy. In the Western Desert Campaign, the division played a prominent role in the defeat of German and Italian forces in the Second Battle of El Alamein and the British Eighth Army's advance to Tunisia.

In late 1943, the division was moved to Italy, taking part in the Eighth Army's campaign on Italy's Adriatic coast, which ground to a halt at the end of the year. In early 1944, the division formed the nucleus of the New Zealand Corps, fighting two battles and attempting unsuccessfully to penetrate the Gustav Line at Monte Cassino. The division saw further action on the Gothic Line in Italy in 1944 and took part in the Allied 1945 Spring offensive, which led to the surrender of German forces in Italy in May.

Forming part of the excellent Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939-1945 series, this is the story of the 1st Ammunition Company, 2nd NZEF. The title derives from the hope that every soldier has to be 'home by Christmas'. As a published by authority history the narrative is of very high quality and it provides a vivid 'feel' for the soldiers' experience in many hard-fought actions in WW2. The text is complemented by nine good colour maps, numerous back-and-white illustrations and a Roll of Honour plus Honours and Awards.

The company was organised into specialist sections and they worked in almost every area of Europe and the Middle East. 2nd NZEF fought in Greece, Crete, the Western Desert and Italy. In the Western Desert Campaign, the division played a prominent role in the defeat of German and Italian forces in the Second Battle of El Alamein and the British Eighth Army's advance to Tunisia.

In late 1943, the division was moved to Italy, taking part in the Eighth Army's campaign on Italy's Adriatic coast, which ground to a halt at the end of the year. In early 1944, the division formed the nucleus of the New Zealand Corps, fighting two battles and attempting unsuccessfully to penetrate the Gustav Line at Monte Cassino. The division saw further action on the Gothic Line in Italy in 1944 and took part in the Allied 1945 Spring offensive, which led to the surrender of German forces in Italy in May.

This book is an excellent summary and was the first time that fighting with firearms was clearly and explicitly disassociated from classical target/range shooting.

This is the concept that spawned most modern pistol techniques because it is simple, effective and proven. It is written as instruction to police forces in the methods of shooting (reflexive/instinctive) and training (realistic/challenging) that the author developed over two decades active service in Shanghai.

A full assembly, of all 98 colour maps and plans (+ 7 in B&W) from Sir Charles Oman's History of the Peninsular War. The maps are in chronological in order and include the famous such as Ciudad Rodrigo & Badajoz and the not so famous as Battle of Espinosa. November 11, 1818.

The maps are full size, and faithful to the original cartography in all respects, allowing the reader to follow the War and its Battles, Campaigns and Skirmishes, as the fighting and it's various phases developed month by month and year by year. This is a very impressive map collection that should be part of every serious Napoleonic scholar's collection.

A very thorough and readable history for the WW2 period: the work of the corps at home and overseas, and the impact of Partition. The maps, and detailed index, are exceptionally helpful.

The Indian Engineers were a part of every division in the army. The Engineers corps started the war with two army troops companies, 11 field companies and one field park company. Expansion during the war took the totals of Engineers to five army troops companies, 67 field companies, six independent field squadrons, 20 field park companies and two independent field park squadrons.

The Indian Army began the war, in 1939, numbering just under 200,000 men. By the end of the war it had become the largest volunteer army in history, rising to over 2.5 million men in August 1945. Serving in divisions of infantry, armour and a fledgling airborne force, they fought on three continents, in Africa, Europe and Asia. The Indian Army fought in Ethiopia against the Italian Army, in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia against both the Italian and German Army, and, after the Italian surrender, against the German Army in Italy. However, the bulk of the Indian Army was committed to fighting the Japanese Army, first during the British defeats in Malaya and the retreat from Burma to the Indian border; later, after resting and refitting for the victorious advance back into Burma, as part of the largest British Empire army ever formed.