We are delighted to welcome Mungo Melvin to talk about his recently published book Sevastopol’s Wars: Crimea from Potemkin to Putin (Osprey, 2017) and to share insights about his research into the subject which lead to this seminal publication.

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 defence inspired those who battled the Germans during the Second World War. 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 a crucible of conflict in three major conflicts: the Crimean War, the Russian Civil War and the Second World War 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, Mungo Melvin has created a rich tapestry of history. In his talk, he will highlight the enduring strategic importance of Crimea and Sevastopol to Russia, and reflect on the events of early 2014 that stunned the world.

Mungo Melvin is the author of Manstein: Hitler’s Greatest General (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), first published to critical acclaim in 2010. In 2011 it was runner-up in the prestigious Westminster Prize; in 2012, it won a distinguished book award as the best biography of the year from the US Society for Military History.

Major General Mungo Melvin CB OBE is a retired senior Army officer. Commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1975, he saw operational service in Northern Ireland, the Middle East and the Balkans. During the latter part of his 37-year career he specialised in strategic analysis and professional military education and doctrine, becoming one of the British Army’s leading thinkers and writers. Mungo Melvin is a former president of the British Commission for Military History, is now a Vice President of the Western Front Association, and is currently advising the British Army on the First World War centenary commemorations. He is 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. He lectures widely on strategy and military history in both the public and commercial sectors.

http://www.mungomelvin.com

Entry: CamRuSS members – Free, others – £5
Language: English