What Book Are You Reading at the moment?

[warspite1]

Ostkrieg was a good book - lengthy and very dry - but an interesting read nonetheless.

One of the interesting things about The Villa, The Lake, The Meeting is identifying many of the things that appeared in the excellent drama Conspiracy. As per above, because of the lack of minutes etc no one knows exactly what was said at the meeting.

However, I was able to identify many instances where the scriptwriters have obviously sourced their interpretations of the characters behaviour at the conference. For example Stuckhart was seen as doing a volte-face at Wannsee. Eichmann specifically mentioned this at his trial as it made a big impression on him. In Conspiracy Stuckart does a volte-face and the reason (maybe real or maybe just artistic licence) is that Heydrich 'has a little word in his shell-like". Something to the effect that "you wouldn't want the SS to start taking a special interest in you...."

[loki100]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Ostkrieg was a good book - lengthy and very dry - but an interesting read nonetheless.

...

aye, it probably is the best I have read for tieing together the strands of Nazi political theory, the holocaust and the conduct of military actions. Its weakness is in the final third.

Its very clear he is a specialist in German history not Soviet (not even sure he can actually read Russian). So his coverage of the Soviet victories from 43-45 is pretty superficial. The old trope about the Soviets driving their tanks into an anti-tank ditch at Kursk gets an airing [1], and it all comes down to them having more men/guns than the Germans not that they had actually worked out a military doctrine that fitted well with their training, organisation and style of military equipment.

[1] For what its worth, I think it is possible that some Soviet tanks went into a ditch. Rotmistrov's counter-attack involved attacking down a narrow valley, swinging around a hill to engage the Germans. Due to the space, his brigades went in in echelon and provided easy targets. Its clear it was chaotic and formations fell apart as they tried to find a way through and so on.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: loki100

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Ostkrieg was a good book - lengthy and very dry - but an interesting read nonetheless.

...

aye, it probably is the best I have read for tieing together the strands of Nazi political theory, the holocaust and the conduct of military actions. Its weakness is in the final third.

Its very clear he is a specialist in German history not Soviet (not even sure he can actually read Russian). So his coverage of the Soviet victories from 43-45 is pretty superficial. The old trope about the Soviets driving their tanks into an anti-tank ditch at Kursk gets an airing [1], and it all comes down to them having more men/guns than the Germans not that they had actually worked out a military doctrine that fitted well with their training, organisation and style of military equipment.

[1] For what its worth, I think it is possible that some Soviet tanks went into a ditch. Rotmistrov's counter-attack involved attacking down a narrow valley, swinging around a hill to engage the Germans. Due to the space, his brigades went in in echelon and provided easy targets. Its clear it was chaotic and formations fell apart as they tried to find a way through and so on.

warspite1

I think it's fair to say your knowledge of the Soviet Front is probably greater than most here - and certainly mine [&o]

[warspite1]

Next book to be read is The SS Alibi of a Nation 1922-1945 (Reitlinger). This was written in 1956 but is recommended by Martin Gilbert who did the forward when it was re-printed in the early 80's.

I continue to read the monster The Right of the Line but this is too big a tome to carry in my bag to work so save for weekend reading!

[Rodwonder]

Grant- Ron Chernow I'm 80 pages in and so far so good.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Next book to be read is The SS Alibi of a Nation 1922-1945 (Reitlinger). This was written in 1956 but is recommended by Martin Gilbert who did the forward when it was re-printed in the early 80's.

warspite1

This is such a good book. Not the easiest of reads and keeping up with all the characters and their ridiculous - but deadly - intrigues is not always easy.

I had the idea that Hitler's inner circle were generally united in their support of Hitler from the early days, and had at least a vague - and common - notion of where they were going. If I have read Reitlinger right, then this is far from the case - Goebbels for one seemingly could have quite easily found himself not seeing the day after the Night of the Long Knives. Fascinating.

[aldrend]

Just started reading The Path Between The Seas by David McCullough.

[Aurelian]

The Last Nazi: The Life and Times of Dr. Joseph Mengele

Napoleon: The End of Glory.

[Zorch]

Waterloo: The Aftermath by Paul O'Keefe. The horrors of a battle won.

[Zecke]

Introducción a la cultura japonesa

Mr. HISAYASU NAKAGAWA.

[Laskaris]

I plan on one day making it through Churchill's entire multi-volume history of the Second World War. An extremely biased account, obviously, which has to be read with a huge grain of salt. But one of the most important sources we have on the war from one of the key players.

[Anonymous]

[Deleted by Admins]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: larrybush

Just read "Guadalcanal Campaign - The definitive Account of the Landmark Battle" by Richard B. Frank. Had to buy it used since it's been out of print for awhile.
One of the more interesting aspects of the book was the research - 127 pages of bibliography! Well researched!
The book was very comprehensive on the geopolitical issues for both sides, the Air, Naval & land battles were remarkable detailed.

The Japanese side was taken from a 101 volume set of books written about a decade after the war and taking about a decade to finish. The author had to find an interpreter that read an arcane style of Japanese.

I did not know the Yamamoto wanted Midway to be the decisive battle and had asked the Imperial Army for 3 division to invade Hawaii. Hawaii was to be the negotiated chip to get America out of the war. The Imperial Army initially refused but after the Doolittle raid began to draw up plans to find 3 divisions.

I also found it interesting that the Navy and Army had to ask Tojo personally 3 times for additional shipping to deliver troops to Guadalcanal - He protested that the tonnage would cut into Japanese steel production for the coming year. After finally giving the tonnage to the Naval he complained that the next years steel production would be short by about a million pounds from the war plan. Interesting to see the level of detail in how the geopolitical situation affected war plans. Makes me think of all the WITP-AE players, Ha!

One of the best books yet I've read on the Guadalcanal Campaign.

warspite1

+1 for Frank's Guadalcanal, I praise this at any opportunity - one of the best WWII books I've read.

[ncc1701e]

Not yet in my hands but I am waiting for this one :
https://ospreypublishing.com/case-red

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: ncc1701e

Not yet in my hands but I am waiting for this one :
https://ospreypublishing.com/case-red

warspite1

Please let me know what you think - particularly in terms of detailed OOB (or not). Many thanks.

[zakblood]

Terry Goodkind, Stone of Tears

epic, then again not read one of his yet i've not enjoyed

[athineos]

Antigone (Sophocles play) in Greek.

[nelmsm1]

Cross of Iron by Willi Heinrich

[RFalvo69]

"The Cruel Sea", by Nicholas Monsarrat. It is the story (in novel form) of the small British ships who did convoy duty in the Atlantic during WWII. Monsarrat speaks from personal experience, and it shows. As a novel, it is very similar to "Run Silent, Run Deep" by Edward L. Beach Jr (which is about US submariners in the Pacific). If you liked one of the two you will like the other. I'm two thirds in, and I'm glued.

[redcoat]

ORIGINAL: RFalvo69

"The Cruel Sea", by Nicholas Monsarrat. It is the story (in novel form) of the small British ships who did convoy duty in the Atlantic during WWII. Monsarrat speaks from personal experience, and it shows. As a novel, it is very similar to "Run Silent, Run Deep" by Edward L. Beach Jr (which is about US submariners in the Pacific). If you liked one of the two you will like the other. I'm two thirds in, and I'm glued.

I haven't read the book, but I've seen the classic 1953 war film based upon it. I've heard that the film omits some of the book's grimmest moments.