The Royal United Services Institute Westminster metal. In fact, if you look at all of his books on world war ii, paris after the liberation or the fall of berlin, all of them have garnered awards because of the work he has done. His latest book, 1944, hitlers last gamble was published in may. It went straight to number one in the sunday times bestsellers list and it stayed there for about five weeks. His former chairman of the society of authors, he is received honorary doctorates from the university, he is a visiting professor at the university of kent. Please try me in welcoming him. [applause]. Thank you. After the liberation of paris at the end of august 1944, the allies indulged and to create euphoria as they raced towards the german frontier. Spoken formations were falling back in holland and entered germany be behind the line. Americans, british and canadian generals were convinced that this was just like the german army collapse in the late summer of 1918. Then, in midseptember