Sevastopol's Wars ─ Crimea from Potemkin to Putin

Founded by Catherine the Great, the maritime city of Sevastopol has been fought over for centuries. Crucial battles of the Crimean War were fought on the hills surrounding the city, and the memory of this stalwart defense inspired those who fruitlessly battled the Germans during World War II. Twice the city has faced complete obliteration, yet twice it has risen, phoenix-like, from the ashes.

In this groundbreaking volume, award winning author Mungo Melvin explores how Sevastopol became the crucible of conflict over three major engagements – the Crimean War, the Russian Civil War, and World War II --witnessing the death and destruction of countless armies, yet creating the indomitable "spirit of Sevastopol." By weaving together first-hand interviews, detailed operational reports and battle analysis, Melvin manages to create a rich tapestry of history.

General Mungo Melvin CB OBE is a retired senior Army Officer. In the Royal Engineers, he saw operational service in Northern Ireland, the Middle East, and the Balkans. He specialized in strategic analysis, professional military education, and doctrine. He is president of the British Commission for Military History a senior associate fellow of the Royal United Services Institute, and a senior visiting research fellow of the war studies department of King's College London.