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Favourite WW2 Books / Publications

  • 03-04-2008 10:37pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 397 ✭✭motherfunker


    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.


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Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 29,930 ✭✭✭✭TerrorFirmer


    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...


  • Registered Users Posts: 13,254 ✭✭✭✭kowloon


    http://www.germanwarmachine.com/

    Quarterly Issues, you can buy a subscription online.


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,485 ✭✭✭Thrill


    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.




    .


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 397 ✭✭motherfunker


    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.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 29,930 ✭✭✭✭TerrorFirmer


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


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 138 ✭✭Lemon


    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 :-)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 397 ✭✭motherfunker


    "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....


  • Posts: 0 Brayden Lazy Owl


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


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,985 ✭✭✭skelliser


    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


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 347 ✭✭Cato


    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:


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 143 ✭✭Nordwind


    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.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 397 ✭✭motherfunker


    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.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 118 ✭✭redbhoy1888


    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.


  • Registered Users Posts: 9,919 ✭✭✭trout


    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.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,635 ✭✭✭tribulus


    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


  • Registered Users Posts: 9,919 ✭✭✭trout


    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'.


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,424 ✭✭✭440Hz


    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.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 8,766 Mod ✭✭✭✭mossym


    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


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 93 ✭✭jcatony


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


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 93 ✭✭jcatony


    Kokoda, by paul ham.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 227 ✭✭Meself


    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.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,468 ✭✭✭ojewriej


    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.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 138 ✭✭Lemon


    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...


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,289 ✭✭✭dresden8


    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.


  • Registered Users Posts: 13,254 ✭✭✭✭kowloon


    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.


  • Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 10,365 Mod ✭✭✭✭humberklog


    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.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,468 ✭✭✭ojewriej


    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.


  • Registered Users Posts: 13,254 ✭✭✭✭kowloon


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


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,468 ✭✭✭ojewriej


    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.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 13,254 ✭✭✭✭kowloon


    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?


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