Maggie’s Favorite Books Concerning World War II?

[Centuriator]

I've always had an incredible interest in World War II and all issues concerning it. I have a large personal collection of books on World War II and lately I've been listening to audio books on my daily commute to/from work.

I am about four chapters into Steven Ambrose's book on D-Day and it is awesome.

What are some of you favorite books and authors on WWII history?

 

[ForgeValley]

Anything by Jeff Shaara
With the Old Breed
Spearhead - Adam Makos
Sniper on the Eastern Front

 

[Centuriator]

With the Old Breed is epic. Mattis put it on his Commandant's reading list.

 

[El Cid 92]

Churchill's Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

 

[Centuriator]

Churchill's Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

YES...awesome book of a story not very well known.

 

[Kamerad]

I've always had an incredible interest in World War II and all issues concerning it. I have a large personal collection of books on World War II and lately I've been listening to audio books on my daily commute to/from work.

I am about four chapters into Steven Ambrose's book on D-Day and it is awesome.

What are some of you favorite books and authors on WWII history?

Two from Antony Beevor; Stalingrad and The Spanish Civil War. The less WWII is thought of as a conflict between 1939 and 1945, the more things make sense. Spanish Civil War is an example. In future history books, I reckon what we call WWI and WWII will be more accurately be described as Central Bankers Wars of Continuation.

 

[Centuriator]

Stalingrad is awesome. Such an epic battle. Made D-Day look like a cake walk.

 

[Sean the Nailer]

The Man Called Intrepid (and all the other books on that subject)
A Helmet For My Pillow
Agent ZIGZAG

Just to name a few. The rest are in the 'other' library, and I can't remember them all.

 

[Centuriator]

Thanks, I'll have to check those out. "Helmet for my Pillow" is a good read.

 

[dinc3]

War of the Rats by David Robbins. It's the book Enemy at the Gates movie is actually based on. Indianapolis, the True Story of the worst US sea disaster by Lyn Vincent. Code Girls by Lisa Mundy has a lot of behind the scenes in the US history. The Guns at Last Light, the War in Western Europe by Rick Atkinson. Enterprise, America's fightingest ship by Barrett Tillman. Unbroken by Laura Hilenbrand.

 

[Centuriator]

Yup, great book.

 

[rg1911]

"Okinawa: The Last Battle" by Appleman, Burns, Gugeler, and Stevens
"Halder War Diary 1939-1942" by Gen. Franz Halder (Chief of the German General Staff, 1938-1942)
"From Triumph to Disaster: The Fatal Flaws of German Generalship from Moltke to Guderian" by Kenneth Macksey
"Manstein - Hitler's Greatest General" by Major General Mungo Melvin
"U-Boat War" by Lothar-Günther Buchheim
"History of the Second World War" by B.H. Liddell Hart
"The Duel for France" by Martin Blumenson
"This Is Your War" by Ernie Pyle
"Okinawa Diary" by Russell Gugeler

Cheers, Richard

 

[Ledzep]

Another plug for With the Old Breed.

While we're here, are there any good books about the Eastern front in specific?

 

[VSP968]

“The Forgotten Soldier” Guy Sajer

 

[rg1911]

Another plug for With the Old Breed.

While we're here, are there any good books about the Eastern front in specific?

While not limited to the Eastern front, these have seriously good sections:

"Halder War Diary 1939-1942" by Gen. Franz Halder (Chief of the German General Staff, 1938-1942)
"History of the Second World War" by B.H. Liddell Hart
"Manstein - Hitler's Greatest General" by Major General Mungo Melvin

The Halder War Diary gives an almost day-by-day commentary with particularly scathing remarks about Hitler. The diary stops, unfortunately, shortly before the general and his wife were imprisoned in Dachau.

Richard

 

[WestDesertPRS]

If you're interested in WWII fiction then Battle Cry by Leon Uris is one of my favorites. For a non-fiction book Citizen Soldiers by Stephen Ambrose is excellent.

 

[pmclaine]

Shots Fired in Anger

Lt Col George.

He kind of does a review of different weapons encountered during his time on Guadalcanal. Entertaining and of interest to rifle people.

Shots Fired in Anger: A Rifleman's View of Battle of Guadalcanal: John B. George: 9781934044292: Amazon.com: Books

Shots Fired in Anger: A Rifleman's View of Battle of Guadalcanal [John B. George] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Shots Fired in Anger: A Rifleman's View of Battle of Guadalcanal

www.amazon.com

 

[pmclaine]

Heinz Guderian Achtung, Panzer!

If for no other reason than he describes standing on a mountain in France overlooking Switzerland that I also climbed in 1989.

 

[rg1911]

Heinz Guderian Achtung, Panzer!

If for no other reason than he describes standing on a mountain in France overlooking Switzerland that I also climbed in 1989.

Another vote for "Achtung, Panzer!"

 

[pmclaine]

For general war experience, what it takes to function, conditions.....its WWI but its good.

Storm of Steel

Ernst Junger

Junger is a hard dude, the 1 of the 100 Heraclitus talks about.

 

[Kamerad]

I read an autobiography of a German soldier fighting with the Finns against the Soviet invasion there. The Winter War was an absolute ice cold nightmare.

It opened my eyes to what determined people are capable of, and the peculiar nature of the Finnish situation. No Western countries would help Finland overtly. Sweden sent supplies and volunteers, other Nordic countries sent volunteers, but Germany was the only one to offer to fight with them. Upon the cessation of hostilities, the terms of peace dictated the German units must vacate Finland in a matter of days, and many were forced to march North to the Norwegian border to meet the deadline. The Finnish soldiers were angry and heartbroken at the fact that they were kicking out the only people who would fight at their side. The Germans no less conflicted.

It’s been years since I read it, I’ll track down the title and author.

ETA - ‘Black Edelweiss’ by Johann Voss is the book.

 

[pmclaine]

I read an autobiography of a German soldier fighting with the Finns against the Soviet invasion there. The Winter War was an absolute ice cold nightmare.

It opened my eyes to what determined people are capable of, and the peculiar nature of the Finnish situation. No Western countries would help Finland overtly. Sweden sent supplies and volunteers, other Nordic countries sent volunteers, but Germany was the only one to offer to fight with them. Upon the cessation of hostilities, the terms of peace dictated the German units must vacate Finland in a matter of days, and many were forced to march North to the Norwegian border to meet the deadline. The Finnish soldiers were angry and heartbroken at the fact that they were kicking out the only people who would fight at their side. The Germans no less conflicted.

It’s been years since I read it, I’ll track down the title and author.

The Story Of The American War Hero Who Went From Nazi SS Officer To Green Beret

The most badass Green Beret you'll ever read about was once a Nazi soldier.

allthatsinteresting.com

 

[Kamerad]

The Story Of The American War Hero Who Went From Nazi SS Officer To Green Beret

The most badass Green Beret you'll ever read about was once a Nazi soldier.

allthatsinteresting.com

Ah, that is quite a story!

 

[VSP968]

Here’s a good one, when you can find it:

 

[Kamerad]

Here’s a good one, when you can find it:

View attachment 7171369

View attachment 7171370

I’ll look for it.

I just ordered ‘Sniper on the Eastern Front-Memoirs of Sepp Allerberger Knights Cross’, by Albrecht Wacker.

 

[Centuriator]

I enjoy any book that tells the tale of how NAZI bastards, particularly SS, were killed during WWII.

 

[Kamerad]

I enjoy any book that tells the tale of how NAZI bastards, particularly SS, were killed during WWII.

I enjoy any book that tells the tale of how BOLSHEVIK bastards, particularly NKVD, were killed....ever.

 

[pmclaine]

I enjoy any book that tells the tale of how NAZI bastards, particularly SS, were killed during WWII.

I enjoy any book that tells the tale of how BOLSHEVIK bastards, particularly NKVD, were killed....ever.

I enjoy books that have dead NKVD guys surrounded by dead SS guys with an American Ranger taking a piss on their rapidly cooling bodies.

Better than Penthouse Forum.

 

[Kamerad]

Is

I enjoy books that have dead NKVD guys surrounded by dead SS guys with an American Ranger taking a piss on their rapidly cooling bodies.

Better than Penthouse Forum.

In your scenario, is Larry Thorne getting pissed on or doing the pissing, or both?

 

[ForgeValley]

Is

In your scenario, is Larry Thorne getting pissed on or doing the pissing, or both?

It's a conundrum, isnt it?

 

[Kamerad]

It's a conundrum, isnt it?

Verily, it is.

 

[pmclaine]

Is

In your scenario, is Larry Thorne getting pissed on or doing the pissing, or both?

He wasn't dead as either NKVD or SS.

In the end he finally figured it out and joined the team for the win....

 

[Kamerad]

He wasn't dead as either NKVD or SS.

In the end he finally figured it out and joined the team for the win....

This is true, that is a difference with a distinction.
The running theme is that whether he wore the uniform of his native Finland, Waffen SS, or the US Army, he was fighting against Communism.

 

[Centuriator]

"Kamerad" has some serious NAZI-love issues.

 

[Kamerad]

"Kamerad" has some serious NAZI-love issues.

Oy gevald, you’re using the internet on shomer Shabbos!

Let’s hear it, Walter.

 

[Centuriator]

 

[Kamerad]

 

[pmclaine]

This is true, that is a difference with a distinction.
The running theme is that whether he wore the uniform of his native Finland, Waffen SS, or the US Army, he was fighting against Communism.

I ascertain no difference between National Socialism and Communism.

Two sides of the same coin.

Both result in the same thing and it aint good.

Im wondering if @Centuriator created this thread to troll for Nazis.

He was trying to see how many listed "Mein Kampf" as their favorite book.

 

[Centuriator]

"Im wondering if @Centuriator created this thread to troll for Nazis."

Yes, that was the reason I created this thread.

 

[Maddybrook]

Unbroken

 

[Centuriator]

View attachment 7171541
Unbroken

Yes, fantastic book, much better than than the movie, as per the usual.

 

[Maddybrook]

Yes, fantastic book, much better than than the movie, as per the usual.

Very true!

 

[Scrubsr1]

“The Forgotten Soldier” Guy Sajer

Wow, really surprised this hasn't been recommended more. Guy Sajers perspective is so unique in that he was a young French boy who enlisted to fight for the Wehrmacht.

His account of the horrific fighting that took place on the eastern front is without equal. I've read many books on ww2, but none have helped me visual what desperate soldiers were willing to do OR BECOME to survive...it's visceral, authentic, and unbiased. Read it, or if possible listen to the audio book.

 

[pmclaine]

Wow, really surprised this hasn't been recommended more. Guy Sajers perspective is so unique in that he was a young French boy who enlisted to fight for the Wehrmacht.

His account of the horrific fighting that took place on the eastern front is without equal. I've read many books on ww2, but none have helped me visual what desperate soldiers were willing to do OR BECOME to survive...it's visceral, authentic, and unbiased. Read it, or if possible listen to the audio book.

Read it twice. It is horrific.

Wonder how his life went after the war as being neither French having been a collaborator nor German despite being Waffen SS.

Of course many French could consider their glass houses before casting any stones.

I thought it real weird that Joachim Peiper found his refuge in France sort of, until some hard corps French found him.

 

[EddieNFL]

I've always had an incredible interest in World War II and all issues concerning it. I have a large personal collection of books on World War II and lately I've been listening to audio books on my daily commute to/from work.

I am about four chapters into Steven Ambrose's book on D-Day and it is awesome.

Read it twice (so far). The detail is amazing. Read probably half of the above mentioned. Old Breed is my second favorite of the Pacific campaign.

When I was about 12, I found a paperback called, "True Marine," by Russell Davis. It was a marine infantryman's (1st Division) account of Peleliu and Okinawa. Read it over and over until it fell apart. There wasn't much on tactics, no backstory, no girl waiting at home, just his personal experiences.

P.S. Just ordered a copy from Amazon. Renamed "Marine at War."

 

[jphil108]

All of James Hornfischers books are great but they are entirely focused on US Navy and USMC action, Barret Tillman wrote some great accounts of carrier aircraft and carrier warfare.

 

[hankpac]

"Nuts" by Vince Speranza. A short read, autobiographical. A great guy, who is often seen on clips leading "Blood On The Risers", with the younger paratroopers. Veteran of Bastogne and Market Garden.

 

[168BTHPM]

 

[Jlknights61]

Red Sniper on the Eastern Front: The Memoirs of Joseph Pilyushin by Joseph Pilyushin.

The Admirals: Nimitz, Halsey, Leahy, and King-The Five-Star Admirals Who Won the War at Sea by Walter Borneman.

A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II by Adam Makos

Enemy at the Gates: The Battle for Stalingrad by William Craig

The Last Battle by Stephen Harding.

Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose

With the Old Breed by E.B. Sledge

Rick Atkinson liberation trilogy

- Army at Dawn
- The day of battle
- Guns at last light

They fought alone by Charles Glass
- interesting story about Brit SOE operators in occupied France

I’m currently reading - Soldier, Sailor, Frogman, Spy, Airman, Gangster, Kill or Die by Giles Milton about D-Day and so far it’s very good.

 

[canman]

First to Jump Jerome Preisler. 101st Pathfinders

First to Jump: How the Band of Brothers was Aided by th…

The U.S. Army Pathfinders. The vanguard of the Allied f…

www.goodreads.com