Description: In 1940, soon after the fall of France, when Britain stood alone and isolated from Europe, Winston Churchill decided to introduce paratroopers for the first time into the British Army, in the hope of striking at the enemy in his own territory. In February of the following year a small volunteer force – the Guinea Pigs, pioneers in the use of airborne troops – parachuted into the snow-bound Italian Apennines on a sabotage raid. This book tells the story of these first parachute commandos – the forerunners of the Arnhem and D-Day paratroop brigades – and of the raid which proved the value of Churchill’s inspired innovation. Here is a detailed narrative of the difficulties encountered in training men in a new military art and the problems of preparing a mission from which there could be no way back. Operation Colossus is a significant stage in the history of military tactics and the ‘X’ Troop, No.2 Commando, which carried it out, is an extraordinary example of human endeavour.