Maggie’s Favorite Books Concerning World War II?

Centuriator

Centuriator

Dude...you're being very un-Dude.
Banned !
Full Member
Minuteman
Jul 3, 2012
2,798
1,631
Middle 'Merica!
#1
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?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shanghai McCoy and Rover31
#6
Centuriator said:
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?
Click to expand...
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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Centuriator
#10
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.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Centuriator
#12
"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
 
  • Like
Reactions: Centuriator
#15
Ledzep said:
Another plug for With the Old Breed.

While we're here, are there any good books about the Eastern front in specific?
Click to expand...
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
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ledzep
#16
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.
 
#17
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
 
#18
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.
 
#21
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.
 
Last edited:
#22
Kamerad said:
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.
Click to expand...


allthatsinteresting.com

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 allthatsinteresting.com
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zorrosdens and dinc3
#24
Here’s a good one, when you can find it:

D32A1C82-060C-4FE2-8015-AF2B0D870873.jpeg


3A9D62CB-9BFB-4E48-8445-6B3D0D731828.jpeg
 
#28
Centuriator said:
I enjoy any book that tells the tale of how NAZI bastards, particularly SS, were killed during WWII.
Click to expand...
Kamerad said:
I enjoy any book that tells the tale of how BOLSHEVIK bastards, particularly NKVD, were killed....ever.
Click to expand...


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.
 
#33
pmclaine said:
He wasn't dead as either NKVD or SS.

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

Click to expand...

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.
 
#38
Kamerad said:
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.
Click to expand...


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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Darayavaus
#43
VSP968 said:
“The Forgotten Soldier” Guy Sajer
Click to expand...

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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Darayavaus and Centuriator
#44
Scrubsr1 said:
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.
Click to expand...


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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Darayavaus and Stevo86
#45
Centuriator said:
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.
Click to expand...


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."
 
#46
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.
 
#49
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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Centuriator
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

fpgt72
Put the book down and walk away thread.
Replies
5
Views
531
fpgt72
fpgt72
Edsel
GET YOUR NUCLEAR STIFFY RIGHT HERE!
Replies
36
Views
3K
Edsel
Edsel
Lowlight
The Everyday Sniper Podcast:Military History Author Gary Yee, WWII Snipers
Replies
5
Views
1K
Gary/CO
Gary/CO
steve podleski
"Here's how a wildly outgunned US Navy pilot outfoxed one of the Soviet Union's best jets, scoring a string of kills in a legendary dogfight"
Replies
3
Views
1K
acudaowner
acudaowner
lonegunman762x51
Taking a cruise with a$$holes.........................
Replies
129
Views
8K
Big Phish
Big Phish
Top Bottom
Back
Home
Forums
Merch
Alerts