During World War II, an unusual unit terrified Hitler's and Mussolini's soldiers in North Africa and Italy: appearing out of nowhere, these daring men would shell the enemy from a dozen positions simultaneously, burn warehouses and airfields, and force entire garrisons to surrender. This was the behavior of the fighters led by second-generation Russian émigré Vladimir 'Popsky' Penyakov, who formed his own battalion under the wing of the British armed forces to sow fear and despondency behind enemy lines. Penyakov's memoir, 'Popsky's Private Army,' published in Russian for the first time, is a cold-blooded account by an adventurer and gentleman. Friendship with Senussi Arabs, grueling journeys through the desert and mountains, mockery of the stupidity of army command, valor, and mortal danger all come together to create one of the most astonishing stories of World War II.