Favourite WW2 Books / Publications

motherfunker · 03-04-2008 11:37pm #1

Seing as its a day for establishing favourites, might aswell get the books going.

Cross of Iron - Way better than the movie, which was also brilliant.
Sniper on the Eastern Front - Very Good
Sven Hassel Books - Some good tales, some say he's genuine, some say he's not.

Was just given a copy of a good publication, not sure if its new or not but what I have is Volume 1 Number 1, I think its a monthly publication.
Its called German War Machine, I have only read a few articles yet but it is very good. Examples of articles are "Company Leader at Stalingrad", "Firing the tank killer(flak 88)". Coming in issue 2, "Hitlers Chainsaw(MG42)", "For fighting in Hell, The Eastern Front Medal".

I think I might subscribe if it is new, looks worth it, looks expensive too.

TerrorFirmer · 03-04-2008 11:48pm

The best I have read is probably Berlin by Anthony Beevor. Armageddon by Max Hastings comes a close second, others I'd recommend would be The Black Angels by Rupert Butler and The Battle of France, 1940 by Philip Warner. The Battle of France in particular is excellent, as it's a stage of the war that tends to be constantly overlooked owing to it's early and short place.

I have dozens upon dozens of books here, haven't even read all of them...

kowloon · 03-04-2008 11:52pm

http://www.germanwarmachine.com/

Quarterly Issues, you can buy a subscription online.

Thrill · 03-04-2008 11:57pm

Love the Sven Hassels books. I think they're great.

Cross of Iron.

Where Eagles Dare, HMS Ulysses and Alister MacLean's other war stories as well, in particular, South by Java Head.

William L. Shirer's "The Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich" is one of my favourite non fiction books about WWII.

.

motherfunker · 04-04-2008 12:00am

Thanks Kowloon, I hadent got a chance to look it up yet, was only given a copy yesterday. I must say for that price its good value, it has a semi hard cover so it will last longer than a soft magazine, loads of pics, colour etc. I think I will subscribe.

I got the audio version of "Berlin", I struggled through "Stalingrad" for about 6 months or more, great book but heavy reading. Listened to the whole of "Berlin" in about a week, much better. If you are a slow reader and spend alot of time in your car its a great way to get through a big book, almost worth planning a long journey alone for.

TerrorFirmer · 04-04-2008 12:05am

I read Berlin in one sitting. Read through it every now and again though...:)

Lemon · 04-04-2008 12:10am

I'm currently reading 'The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich', just finished 'Inside the Third Reich' by Albert Speer. I really recommend 'The Nazi's, A Warning from History' by Laurence Rees, his book on Auschwitz was also excellent. Have to admit I struggled through Antony Beevor's Stalingrad but did enjoy Berlin. Has anyone read Richard Evans book 'The Coming of the Third Reich' or 'The Third Reich in Power'? Excellent books!

PS I am so glad this forum exists :-)

motherfunker · 04-04-2008 12:14am

"Kursk" took me 4 months to read, it was only about 350 pages. I just dont know how to read fast, I'm not stupid but for some reason I cant read books quickly, its quite annoying, there are loads of books I want to read but they are too big.
BTW "Kursk" - Very good book also.

Just finished "Downfall", quite different from the movie, deals with Hitlers secretary from 1942 on. Dont expect the film or you will be disapointed, it says on the cover it inspired the movie Downfall. It is a good book though, it gives you an amazing insight into what Hitler was like as a person. You almost start to feel for him and like him at times until you remember that he was a crazed maniac hellbent on taking over the world and exterminating whole races of people, but apart from that....

04-04-2008 12:22am

A WW2 book I enjoyed thoroughly (though it's not in essence about the war alone) is Slaughter House Five by Kurt Vonneghut.

skelliser · 04-04-2008 12:27am

Deleted User wrote: »

A WW2 book I enjoyed thoroughly (though it's not in essence about the war alone) is Slaughter House Five by Kurt Vonneghut.

+1 on this, one of my favorite books, even tho its not really about ww2
the only real ww2 book iv read was "kommandant of aushiwtiz", its kinda a autobioghraphy/ personal diary of the commander of the camp whose name escapes me,
good to get an insight into these lunatics minds!

might get Berlin to see what the fuss is about

Cato · 05-04-2008 1:39am

Is berlin heavy stuff? might have a look. Read his Spanish civil war book and it was hard, although ive read other Spanish civil war books, and i would have to say its a pretty complicated conflict not as straight forward as WW2.

Ive read many WW2 books especially when i was younger, Books that come to mind are Stephen E. Ambrose's books D-DAY,Citizen Soldiers, Pegasus Bridge,Band Of Brothers and the Wild Blue other stuff ive read was mainly read like a history book and went into tactics and strategy of the time which i loved but not really a great read.

Starting to read about ancient military now, Romans etc pretty interesting stuff!:cool:

Nordwind · 05-04-2008 8:10pm

Berlin and Stalingrad are easy reading. As to which one I prefer I'd have to say I liked the latter more but I was shocked by some of the content of Berlin - something that a lot of people don't realise.

motherfunker · 05-04-2008 9:32pm

Berlin has some very shocking revelations, the scale of the mass rape of German women and girls took me by surprise, I think the fact that the Russians even raped liberated russian women shocked me even more. But I'm not here to judge, the Germans made their own bed in Russia.
I found I got bogged down in Stalingrad when he described the battle formations but when it got past that it was a great read. It was this book that ignited my fascination with the Eastern Front.
I'm reading a book at the minute called "A woman in Berlin", its a diary from a woman who lived in Berlin from the day the Russian offensive to take Berlin started until a few days after it was all over. Only started it but it looks promising so far, probably not going to be plesant reading in some parts.

redbhoy1888 · 06-04-2008 9:44pm

Read Berlin a few years ago and flew through it a magnificent read.Have attempted Stalingrad 3 times but its beaten me I found it tough going.As a kid I got a book called Secrets And Stories Of The War,Readers Digest did it and its to blame for my lifelong interest in WW2.

Ray Mears wrote a book about the real attack on the Telemark heavy water plant in Norway that I can recommend real boys own stuff that actually happened.

trout · 08-04-2008 8:16pm

I read Stalingrad over several weeks ... I found it quite dense at first, maybe because I wasn't overly familiar with the material, but it has re-kindled my interest in WWII.

For Berlin, I got a notebook and jotted down notes about the key players & events, building and reinforcing my understanding as I went along. Absolutely fascinating, and horrifying stuff. Particularly when you try to imagine the sheer numbers of lives lost. I found this made it much easier and more rewarding to read.

As a kid I read all the Sven Hassell books ... and I mean all of them. I thought the earlier ones were clearly inspired by 'All Quiet on the Western Front' ... but the later ones were more like repetitive pulp. Still, some good reads and some excellent dialog. I'd imagine they're all out of print at this stage. The author is still alive, I believe, but he has been the subject of some controversy ... I won't link to the sites, but google is your friend.

I've just finished reading 'Spitfire' by Jonathan Glancy ... it's a magnificent book and highly recommended for anyone with a even a passing interest in military aviation. My grandfather, who fought (and lost a leg) in WWII, always maintained this aircraft was absolutely pivotal to the final outcome of the war.

tribulus · 08-04-2008 8:24pm

Bomber Boys by Mel Rolfe. A collection of stories and interviews from bomber crews over occupied Europe, very interesting.

Monte Casino by Sven Hassel. As has been mentioned I'm sure there was more than a little poetic license in his books but I thought this one was great with characters like the Legionaire and Tiny, brilliant!

As a matter of interest does anyone know where I could get a copy of the book in Dublin by any chance? Or online? I lost mine several years ago.

Edit: There's also a brilliant book about Stalingrad written by a soldier who was in the German 6th (I think) Army who survived the fighting and capture. Henry something was the name, if anyone finds that also that would be great

//OT

trout · 08-04-2008 8:35pm

We shouldn't forget about Spike Milligan's autobiography of his war years. I think it was in six or seven parts "Monty, my part in his victory", "Hitler, my part in his downfall" etc.

Some very, very funny and very poignant accounts, told by a genius with many authentic photographs, sketches, notes and regimental diaries.

If I remember correctly, Milligan attributes his manic-depressive tendencies surfacing at the same time as he was bombarded by his own artillery at Monte Cassino ... leading to 'shell shock'.

440Hz · 09-04-2008 12:31pm

Gee I wouldnt know where to start my book shelf is so full.

Non-fiction, probably Stalingrad or Rise and Fall.. too any to think of straight off.
Fiction, I must say I liked Fatherland. Currently reading "The Book Thief" which is more of a novel, but its good, Im liking it so far.

mossym · 11-04-2008 5:08pm

The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944 (The Liberation Trilogy) by Rick Atkinson

An Army at Dawn: The War in North Africa, 1942-1943 (Liberation Trilogy) by Rick Atkinson

Omaha Beach: D-Day, June 6, 1944 by Joseph Balkoski

Utah Beach: The Amphibious Landing and Airborne Operations on D-Day, June 6, 1944

loved all the above, the two authors have a style that really appealed to me, have also read most of the books mentioned above

jcatony · 17-04-2008 9:31pm

Das Boot, Cross of Iron and the forgotten soldier. To name but a few...

jcatony · 17-04-2008 9:47pm

Kokoda, by paul ham.

Meself · 17-04-2008 10:24pm

Lemon wrote: »

I'm currently reading 'The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich', just finished 'Inside the Third Reich' by Albert Speer. I really recommend 'The Nazi's, A Warning from History' by Laurence Rees, his book on Auschwitz was also excellent. Have to admit I struggled through Antony Beevor's Stalingrad but did enjoy Berlin. Has anyone read Richard Evans book 'The Coming of the Third Reich' or 'The Third Reich in Power'? Excellent books!

PS I am so glad this forum exists :-)

Hi Lemon,

Read both Richard Evans books.. they are excellent books about WW2 really gets into the social as well as the politial aspects of Germany at the time. His 3rd book 'the third reich at war' is out in Oct 08.. lookin forward to that.

ojewriej · 17-04-2008 10:33pm

I just finished reading Ghost Soldiers, by Hampton Sides. It was reccomended in the smilar thread on the History Forum. I was sceptical, but got hooked straight away. Great book.

On similar note, I would reccomend "King Rat". It's a novel set in a Japanese POW camp. It's very factual, the author - James Clavell - was himself a POW in the Changi prison. He also co-wrote the screenplay to the "Great Escape".

King Rat is not really about the war, but about the life in the camp. Black market, homo-sexualism, persecution by the guards, this kind of stuff. It's very interesting, and more so as not that often covered anywhere else. I would highly reccomend it.

Lemon · 20-04-2008 8:02pm

Meself wrote: »

Hi Lemon,

Read both Richard Evans books.. they are excellent books about WW2 really gets into the social as well as the politial aspects of Germany at the time. His 3rd book 'the third reich at war' is out in Oct 08.. lookin forward to that.

Cheers Meself,
I'll await that book with excitement, he really is a great writer...

I'm currently reading 'Paris After The Liberation' by Antony Beevor and Artemis Cooper (his wife)....It is ok...can't really say I am really getting into it unfortunately...

dresden8 · 02-05-2008 9:37pm

tribulus wrote: »

Monte Casino by Sven Hassel. As has been mentioned I'm sure there was more than a little poetic license in his books but I thought this one was great with characters like the Legionaire and Tiny, brilliant!

As a matter of interest does anyone know where I could get a copy of the book in Dublin by any chance? Or online? I lost mine several years ago.

//OT

Chapters in Parnell St. had a load on Sven Hassel books there late last year or early this year. Might be worth a ring or a look.

Anyway, Len Deighton's Fighter and Blitzkrieg are great books. Good mix of detail and general info. Very well written.

kowloon · 03-05-2008 12:45pm

I check up anything I want on ebay first, I generally don't buy sometimes you find some gems.
I got a copy of Soviet Orders and Medals (The McDaniels one) for 2.99 + Postage. (It's an expensive book).

Amazon Marketplace can have some good bargains.
Naval & Military Bookstore in the UK sell online and have a good selection.
Collectors Bookstore in the US are good for some stuff aswell and are a nice bunch.

Of course if you're just browsing you can't beat a real bookshop.

humberklog · 04-05-2008 7:44pm

J.P. Stern's The Fuhrer and the german people(1975) is excellent. A very different choice but also excellent is Catch 22, Josef Heller.

ojewriej · 07-05-2008 10:44am

At the moment I'm reading " Europe at War - 1939 - 1945, No simple Victory" by Norman Davies. It's a quite comprehensive view on the whole conflict, split into four main parts - Warfare, Politics, Soldiers, and Civilians. He also portrays economical and political situation before and after the war.

It's a good read, I would highly reccomend it.

kowloon · 08-05-2008 1:36am

Davies has written quite a lot on Polish history which you might find interesting aswell.

ojewriej · 08-05-2008 8:30am

I know, read "Rising 44" few weeks back, I read Microcosm few times as well - I't about Wroclaw, my home town.

The thing with him is, he loves Poland and Poles for some reason, you can feel it in his books, even I sometimes find it a bit much. And that's why he is often accused of being seriously biased.

kowloon · 08-05-2008 11:41pm

I've heard that he sued someone over questioning his objectivity.
How does english language coverage of poland in ww2 compare to the polish literature?

ojewriej · 09-05-2008 11:26am

kowloon wrote: »

How does english language coverage of poland in ww2 compare to the polish literature?

I was born in 1980, so most of my Primary Education was under the socialists. All the books, including schoolbooks had to be aproved by Soveits before publishing. Because of that, I didn't know that Soviet Union invaded us in 1939, until I was about 13-14. I Never heard of Katyn before that either. Basically the story was Gemans - Bad, they invaded and persecuted us, Soviets - good, they liberated us, and basically made our lifes better. Very little of the western involvement was mentioned. Communist People's Army were portraited as our main ressistance movement, when in fact they contributed very little. Home Army in turn, which did unbelieveble things during the occupation, and then tried stop Soviets from forming the govermnent, were portraited as fascist terrorists and Nazi Colaborators. That's just few examples.

It's better now, but there is still many historians with the deep roots in the communist system, as well as many historians for whom the hatred for Soviets is a gooid enough excuse to stretch the facts, or plainly lie. So basically sometimes it's very hard to decide what's true and what's not.

That's why now I stick to foreign writers, I find that people who weren't directly involved in the events are usually more objective.

Heisenberg. · 14-05-2008 9:38am

This post has been deleted.

Fratton Fred · 14-05-2008 12:04pm

The last two relevant books I read and would totally recommend, were "Never Surrender" and "Churchill's Triumph" written by Michael Dobbs.

The first covers the period that Churchill came to power, up to him delivering his "We will fight them on the beaches" speach. Gives a good account of how the man came to power and fought off those who wanted to give in.

The second is as interesting a read about the Yalta conference as you will get, again it is Churchill based, but gives a good insight into the other two leaders there and what each was trying to get from the conference.

Mushy · 21-06-2008 2:52pm

Have just stated reading Stalingrad by Anthony Beevor. Really enjoying it. Thanks for all other tips lads, I'll get around to as many as possible over time now.

marcsignal · 21-06-2008 5:58pm

Mushy wrote: »

Have just stated reading Stalingrad by Anthony Beevor. Really enjoying it. Thanks for all other tips lads, I'll get around to as many as possible over time now.

Oh Yes! Brilliant book Mushy, you just won't be able to put that one down. It even kept me from the pub a few nights, and that's some achievement. It'll put things into serious perspective when when you hear people whinging about the cold, having to smoke outside as well, awesome!

skelliser wrote: »

the only real ww2 book iv read was "kommandant of aushiwtiz", its kinda a autobioghraphy/ personal diary of the commander of the camp whose name escapes me,
good to get an insight into these lunatics minds!

Yeah, Rudolf Höss. I read that too, really shocking and frightening stuff, and a must for all Holocaust deniers I have to say.

I was absolutely dug into 'Sven Hassel' books when I was younger, I must have read them all, the ones I can remember off hand were

SS General
Blitzfreeze
Liquidate Paris
OGPU Prison
Court Martial
Assignment Gestapo
Comrades of War
March Batallion
Wheels of Terror
Monte Casino
Reign of Hell
The Bloody Road to Death
The Commissar

I think they're all still lying around in boxes at home somewhere, (original 70's/80's editions) but you'll find em all on ebay.
I never read 'Legion of the Dammned' because my favourite character was killed in it, and I couldn't bring myself to read about it at the time.
It only got a small mention in one of the sections before the opening of the next chapter, I was gutted

(I wont say who, in case I ruin it for anyone)

I'm reading one now called "Wenn alle Brüder schweigen" - (When All The Brothers Are Silent) It's printed half in German and English.
The Illustrations/Photos in it are the best I've seen so far. There are a lot of new books out now in Germany about the war, printed in this way, but tbh I can't help feeling, there's kind of subtle apologist undertones in some of the text with many of them.

http://www.worldwartwobooks.com/product.php/3283/wenn-alle-br-der-schweigen-when-all-the-brothers-are-silent

Some others I've read available on ebay, etc.

Hitlers Samuri - http://cgi.ebay.com/PSL---Hitler%27s-Samurai:-The-Waffen-SS-In-Action_W0QQitemZ120274346689QQcmdZViewItem?IMSfp=TL0806191711r16986

The Hitler Book (Written by the NKVD as a Dossier for Stalin) - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hitler-Book-Secret-Report-Close/dp/0719554993

The Devils Desciples - http://www.amazon.com/Devils-Disciples-Hitlers-Inner-Circle/dp/0393048004

Morlar · 24-06-2008 11:36am

I picked up a copy of the Stalin dossier book on hitler for a €5'er the other day and have an eye out for an affordable copy of 'Wenn alle Brüder schweigen' - (as the last 2 I saw were £40 a piece not including postage).

Another excellent one is 'Barbarossa' by Alan clarke which really brings you into the nitty gritty of things, also 'The fall of crete'. Albert Speer's 'Inside the Third Reich' for a more glossed over view of things, also Irivings Hitlers war & Kershaw's Hubris & Nemesis. Walter Schellenberg's (SD) memoirs are interesting too. Enno Stephan's 'Spies in Ireland' and Mark Hulls Irish Secrets' alongside the recently published 'Hitlers Irishmen'. Never got into the whole Sven Hassel side of things but might check a few out if I see any going cheap.

UrbanFox · 13-07-2008 7:49pm

Try reading the 6 volumes of Winston Churchill's account of WW II. I think that volume 1 was "The gathering storm". Volume 6 was "Triumph & tragedy". I would say that volume 6 was not quite as good as the others.

They are quite detailed works that are like a running commentary on how things were going and straight from the bosse's mouth.

Mark Arnold Foster's "The World at War" was very good if you wanted a one volume oversight of it all.

motherfunker · 09-08-2008 11:22pm

Read a couple of books lately, some good, some not great.
A good one with a different slant was "A woman in Berlin", a womans story of the few weeks before and after the Russians entered Berlin.
A not so good one was "Hitlers Irishmen", it wasent bad, found it a bit confusing dealing with peoples aliases. The best parts were when he was talking about the units actions in general, not much to do with the two Irish guys who happened to be with them.
Reading "Lenningrad - State of Siege" at the minute, my main interest is with the German side of the war but this book makes me question that interest. It also shows what a shower of bastar*s the Russians were to their own people, the Germans wanted to starve several million people to death but the Russians would have let several million of their own people starve to death just to make a point. I honestly dont know which is worse.

youcancallmeal · 11-08-2008 4:44pm

Could anyone recommend a good book about the pacific theatre of war? I've read The Thin Red Line and War Cry both of which were pretty good.

motherfunker · 11-08-2008 7:42pm

Ghost Soldiers is a good book but its more about life in a Jap pow camp than the actual war. Very good book though.

Dirk_Diggler · 17-08-2008 9:23pm

Anyone selling on any of their books? I'd be interested in picking up a few if that was the case.

Funkstard · 25-08-2008 3:54pm

D-Day by Stephen E. Ambrose is one I've read countless times, that and the original Band of Brothers book. All his books make for great reading. Must try and get both Berlin and Stalingrad by Anthony Beevor..been a while since I've been properly stuck into a WWII book.

Dockfive · 29-08-2008 10:07am

I've read both Stalingrad and Berlin and preferred Stalingrad - thought it flowed better as a book and really felt the immediacy of the battle. It actually inspired me to go visit Stalingrad (Volgograd). I regularly re read it just because it's written so well.

Like Motherfunker have recently read A Woman in Berlin and agree that it's a gripping alternative to the accounts of leaders, generals, battles and soldiers. It make you realise the realities of what its like to be in a war zone and what amazed me was the obvious but little considered problem of how do you get food and water in a warzone.

Have read Stephen E Ambrose's Citizen Soldiers which like Stalingrad is really well written and flows very well. Very enjoyable read but very non critical I think.

Finally, for a good British Etonian view of WWII as an another enjoyable scrap with Jerry, read Fitzroy MacLeans Eastern Approaches. This book also covers his pre war stint in Russia during Stalin's purges. They don't make em like Fitzroy MacLean anymore.

Clytus · 29-08-2008 9:41pm

Lost Victories....Erich Von Manstein. Its a pretty difficult read...but if you stick at it,is well worth while.
Great detail about the capture of the Crimea and Sevastapol. had to get it on amazon.

motherfunker · 01-10-2008 11:49pm

Germans in Normandy
Mostly constructed around letters sent home by soldiers on the front lines and other documents, many found on dead German soldiers.
Brilliant book, if you like personal accounts of war with no long strategy discussions.

Rockshamrover · 05-10-2008 10:42pm

Best WW11 facual book I have read was "The forgotten soldier' by Guy Sajer. It's his biography and details his service on the eastern front for the Germans. It's an amazing story. Tells how he managed to some how survive and make it all the way back home to his parents house in France (I think).

Should be made into a film as it's epic stuff.

Morlar · 06-10-2008 12:53pm

Rockshamrover wrote: »

Best WW11 facual book I have read was "The forgotten soldier' by Guy Sajer. It's his biography and details his service on the eastern front for the Germans. It's an amazing story. Tells how he managed to some how survive and make it all the way back home to his parents house in France (I think).

Should be made into a film as it's epic stuff.

I heard that they are in talks about making that into a movie! Hopefully they will get the go ahead and get the right director and cast etc.

Rockshamrover · 06-10-2008 5:52pm

Thanks for letting me know. Roman Polanski should do it. He did a brilliant job on "The Pianist". One of the best war films ever made imho.

Morlar · 06-10-2008 6:09pm

Rockshamrover wrote: »

Thanks for letting me know. Roman Polanski should do it. He did a brilliant job on "The Pianist". One of the best war films ever made imho.

Can't say I would agree with you on that re polanski or the pianist.

Far as I know its Paul Verhoeven who is looking at making it currently - just checked and it seems to already be in production. He wouldn't be my choice after 'the black book' but there ya go.

Rockshamrover · 07-10-2008 7:46am

Very interesting.

Hopefully he will do the book justice.

Favourite WW2 Books / Publications

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