Looking for WWII Book Recommendation

[slybelle]

Hello,

I'm looking for a recommendation on some books concerning WWII. What I'm looking for is a book at a personal soldier level describing their individual experiences during the war. So basically a "day in the life" of a soldier. I'm looking for a book from the perspective of the americans as well as a book from the perspective of the germans. They can be separate books.

Any recommendations?

[leastonh1]

Hi slybelle,

There are hundreds of published personal memoirs around and you'll probably get just as many suggestions from the very knowledgeable people here.

Here's my 2p worth:
One that I'm reading right now and that stands out for me is: Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters - I loved Band of Brothers, the series and the book. This additional documentation from Richard Winters is outstanding and personal to him. He took much of the material from his own war diary and a lot of it wasn't included in Ambrose's book. It's well written and fascinating.

Edit: I believe at least a couple of the other guys from Band of Brothers (e.g. Bill Guarnere) have written memoirs too. They might be worth a look too.

All the best,
Jim

[vonRocko]

Panzer Commander by Col. Hans von Luck.

[Hartford688]

Two suggestions for German soldiers:

The inevitable "Forgotten soldier" by Guy Sajer. Some will suggest it is a hoax, but there you go. Excellent book.

Also "In deadly combat" by Gottlob Herbert Bidermann. Another excellent book.

[Emobama]

If you can find it The Black March by Peter Neumann is great.

See also Death Traps: The Survival of an American Armored Division in World War II by Belton Y. Cooper

[Hartford688]

ORIGINAL: Emobama

If you can find it The Black March by Peter Neumann is great.

See also Death Traps: The Survival of an American Armored Division in World War II by Belton Y. Cooper

I was going to mention "Death traps" as well as it has some really interesting anecdotes and insights. But it needed more love from an editor. It could have been shorter and better; there were several grating repetitions. Still worth the read.

[Emobama]

ORIGINAL: Hartford688

I was going to mention "Death traps" as well as it has some really interesting anecdotes and insights. But it needed more love from an editor. It could have been shorter and better; there were several grating repetitions. Still worth the read.

In D-Day and or Citizen Soldiers Ambrose used a lot from it.

[Hartford688]

ORIGINAL: Emobama

ORIGINAL: Hartford688

I was going to mention "Death traps" as well as it has some really interesting anecdotes and insights. But it needed more love from an editor. It could have been shorter and better; there were several grating repetitions. Still worth the read.

In D-Day and or Citizen Soldiers Ambrose used a lot from it.

I have no doubt he did. Got a rep for it in 2002 as well.

But I certainly agree, it is well worth reading. I'm glad I bought it.

Slybelle, are you only after American and German, and only infantrymen?

[Lützow]

There is a plethora of excellent German literature, mainly written in the postwar era. I don't know how many got translated to English, but for sure the Paul Carell books about Russian Campaign are recommendable:

- Unternehmen Barbarossa (Operation Barbarossa)
- Verbrannte Erde (Scorched Earth)

[Aurelian]

Soldat. http://www.amazon.com/Soldat-Reflection ... 584&sr=8-1

[slybelle]

ORIGINAL: Hartford688

ORIGINAL: Emobama

ORIGINAL: Hartford688

I was going to mention "Death traps" as well as it has some really interesting anecdotes and insights. But it needed more love from an editor. It could have been shorter and better; there were several grating repetitions. Still worth the read.

In D-Day and or Citizen Soldiers Ambrose used a lot from it.

I have no doubt he did. Got a rep for it in 2002 as well.

But I certainly agree, it is well worth reading. I'm glad I bought it.

Slybelle, are you only after American and German, and only infantrymen?

I'm actually looking for both american and german. I would prefer infantry as well. Thanks.

[Southernland]

Personally I found the last 100 days by John Toland good.  Read it years ago at high school but from what I recall its anecdotal from many soldiers/nationalities perspectives with the historical overview to hold it all together

[KG Erwin]

For the Pacific War, I must recommend the classic "With the Old Breed", by Eugene Sledge. Sledge served as a mortarman with K Company 5th Marines at Peleliu and Okinawa 1944-45.

[htuna]

I agree with the two choices above for life of a soldier.. "Forgotten Soldier" and "Soldat"

[06 Maestro]

For an up close, down and dirty view of the Russian Front I would suggest Campaign in Russia by Leon Degrelle. Whatever one might think of his politics, that man was an amazing author. He went from a Private to a General in the Wallonian SS. Some of it is a little unsettling-even if you are "hardened".

Its a bit expensive for the hardcover-50 bucks.

http://www.amazon.com/Campaign-Russia-L ... 0939484188

[Jeffrey H.]

ORIGINAL: Emobama

If you can find it The Black March by Peter Neumann is great.

I read this one in high school, or maybe even before then.

It left a very strong impresion on me. Particularly the bit about engineered or arranged sexual encounters.

Years later I had a mid level history teacher in the USA tell the entire class there was no evidence of the Nazis trying to engineer a race of Germanic children. After class I told him about this book and that it was a first hand account, (an autobiography) by someone who had been part of it.

I think I found it in the HS library of all places.

[Adam Parker]

Two favourites:

US WW2: "Company Commander" - by Charles MacDonald.

German WW2: "Front Soldaten" - by Stephen Fritz.

[Emobama]

ORIGINAL: Jeffrey H.

ORIGINAL: Emobama

If you can find it The Black March by Peter Neumann is great.

I read this one in high school, or maybe even before then.

It left a very strong impresion on me. Particularly the bit about engineered or arranged sexual encounters.

Years later I had a mid level history teacher in the USA tell the entire class there was no evidence of the Nazis trying to engineer a race of Germanic children. After class I told him about this book and that it was a first hand account, (an autobiography) by someone who had been part of it.

I think I found it in the HS library of all places.

Years later I had a mid level history teacher in the USA tell the entire class there was no evidence of the Nazis trying to engineer a race of Germanic children. After class I told him about this book and that it was a first hand account, (an autobiography) by someone who had been part of it.

I think I found it in the HS library of all places.

Though I believe there is evidence of the Germans trying to breed Aryan Children the authenticity of the book itself has been questioned. Still a good story.

[New York Jets]

ORIGINAL: slybelle

Hello,

I'm looking for a recommendation on some books concerning WWII. What I'm looking for is a book at a personal soldier level describing their individual experiences during the war. So basically a "day in the life" of a soldier. I'm looking for a book from the perspective of the americans as well as a book from the perspective of the germans. They can be separate books.

Any recommendations?

Pick up the first two books in Rick Atkinson's "Liberation Trilogy" (the third book is still on the way), An Army at Dawn and The Day of Battle. They concentrate on the American experience in the ETO in WWII. The first one covers the campaign in North Africa and the second book covers Sicily and Italy.

They are very well written and tell many stories from the persective of the individual soldiers. They also give great insight into the minds and actions of the various leaders in the operations.

A great read. I can't wait for the third book. It will cover Northwestern Europe and the final drive into Germany.

[D.Ilse]

HELL'S GATE: The Battle of the Cherkassy Pocket January to February 1944 by Douglas Nash(Who wrote the great book on the 272.Volksgrenadier Div's Fusilier Company Victory was beyond their grasp)

Hell's Gate is 5 for 5 stars..and although it was 70$ at Barnes and Noble I got a coupon with my membership if I used my MC I would get 50% off and it was shipped free...so much the better...but even at full price or Amazon discount the book is fully worth it.

Product Description
Virtually unknown in the English-speaking world, the Battle of Cherkassy (also known as the Korsun Pocket) still stirs controversy in both the former Soviet Union and in Germany.
It was at Cherkassy where the last German offensive strength in the Ukraine was drained away, creating the conditions for the victorious Soviet advance into Poland, Rumania, and the Balkans during the summer and autumn of 1944. Eclipsed by a war of such gigantic proportions that saw battles of over one million men or more as commonplace, the events which occurred along the banks of the Gniloy Tickich river should have faded into obscurity. However, to the 60,000 German soldiers who were encircled there at the end of January 1944, this was perhaps one of the most brutal, physically exhausting, and morally demanding battles they had ever experienced. Thirty-four percent of them would not escape.

The culmination of years of research and survivor interviews, Hell's Gate is a riveting hour by hour and day by day account of this desperate struggle analyzed on a tactical level through maps and military transcripts, as well as on a personal level, through the words of the enlisted men and officers who risked the roaring waters of the Gniloy Tickich to avoid certain death at the hands of their Soviet foe.

Review on H.G>

Mr. Nashs' recent release concerning the Kourson Pocket Jan.- Feb. 1944 is, to me the closest thing to perfect military historical writing that I've read yet! To begin with, the book is physically HUGE. The fact that Mr. Nash has done exhaustive research from both the german and soviet sides is evident - having a bibliography following each chapter was quite impressive. In addition, the author has done many, many interviews with surviving participants that add a intimate flavor to his writing, with a myriad of details that gives the reader the reader the feel of being immersed amid the chaos and desperation of the action. Numerous side stories to the main action are covered in astonishing detail. And the pictures! Where on earth did he collect all these wonderful pictures that make it much easier to visualize what was going on. I have been a long time student of the Ost Front, having read all of Carell's books, the recent autobiographies by common landsers' and many, many other books on the subject. None of them comes even close to the detail and pure readibility of Mr. Nashs' masterpiece on the Kourson Pocket! Buy the book, eagerly await its' arrival, and then savor it like a fine wine upon obtaining it. This should be required reading for anyone thinking of pursuing writing in military history - the gold standard against which any future writing will be measured. My only hopes are (1)That the author wil turn his protean writing talents to other neglected, but equally exciting Ost Front actions such as Mansteins' actions in the Crimea in '42, or his masterful retreat from the Caucasas, or his crowning jewel - the recapture of Kharkov in '43. (2)That the motion picture industry will recognize this work that captures the chaos and hell of war on a personal level and the sacrifice involved for its' participants and make a movie that attempts to convey this. Friends and colleagues, it doesn't get any better than this!