Advice on WW 2 and WW1 Novels

[JudgeDredd]

Well that's the whole point about The Forgotten Soldier - no-one really knows. There is speculation (educated?) on both sides.

I enjoyed it. Great read.

As for the Ice Cream Wars - I missed it. I was in the Army by then, but there were a few "gangsters" about around the 80's in Glasgow. I haven't lived there since '83, so I don't really know what it's like now...much the same as other big cities I guess.

[sprior]

Ot how about Mimi and Toutou in WW1?

[wodin]

I mentioned Forgotten Soldier in my original post....[;)]

[JudgeDredd]

mmm...it appears my powers of observation have nose dived in the last few hours!!!

[nicwb]

Not an easy question

For WWI novels - no one's mention the classic "All Quiet on the Western Front" by Remarque - hard to go by.

If your less interested in a classic - "Aces high" or the "Blue Max" - their both film tie-ins.

Better is "in the Company of Eagles" by Ernest K Gann

For an unusual choice -"the Good Soldier Svejk" by Jaroslav Hasek - mind you its not really a traditional war story but a satire on the Austrian/Czech army and society in the early days of the war but it has a very interesting perspective of the early days of Austrian mobilization and the botched Serbian campaign from an infantryman's view.

Most of the rest of my stuff are first hand accounts etc.

WWII Eastern Front ? err another unusual suggestion - "Night of the Generals" by HH Kirst - again not some much a War story as a Detective story set against the background of the Warsaw uprising. I think Kirst also wrote a couple of other books about the German army in WWII with a central character called Gunner Asch - they were satiric in style - I've never read them though.

Outside eastern front - "Piece of cake" by Derek Robinson.

"We were the Rats" by Lawson Glassop - about Australian troops at Tobruk. Interesting as it was initially published during the war

"The Ridge and The river" by TAG Hungerford - about Australian commando's in Bougainville

[nelmsm1]

Once an Eagle by Anton Meyer.  Been years since I read it but it follows an American from WWI through WWII as he fights and rises through the ranks.  Very good read.

[wodin]

@nicwb The Officer Factory by H H Kirst is a great read....might try Night of the generals...will also check out In the company of Eagles....I have read all your other recomendations...thanks for the tips..

@nelmsm Thanks for the tip...I will buy this book...have to be secondhand though as new they want £50 for it s it's out of print...looks good though and a hefty read aswell...

@sprior will check out the book...haven't read anything on Africa in WW1 so I may give it a try...thanks for the tip...Oh I've read Bomber and fatherland...enhoyed them both...also a great read by Len Deigthon is Winter...a great read following two German brothers from the start of WW1 to the end of WW2...

[nicwb]

Your welcome Wodin,

I forgot- if you liked "Piece of Cake' - Derek Robinson also wrote a WWI novel called "Goshawk Squadron"

[Adam Parker]

Hi wodin.

Jeff Shaara has written a WW2 Trilogy starting with the book The Rising Tide that follows the course of the war in Europe in the style of the politico techno-thriller - that is, putting the politicians generals and soldiers in the narrative with a strong reverence to historical fact.

Then there's my favourite WW2 duo epic by Herman Wouk beginning with The Winds of War

One novel I absolutely loved was written by Newt Gingrich and also inteneded as a series of two books 1945. In it Germany remains far from undefeated and Otto Skorzeny is sent to America to infiltrate the US atomic testing program, all amidst the struggle to contain Nazi hegemony in Europe and abroad. Alas, the sequel never came into being but the original book, if you can find it, is a real gem.

There's some options that come to mind. I believe that Shaara has written on WW1 too.

Cheers,
Adam.

[Adam Parker]

Oh damn it - I didn't read the orignal post properly either! [:D]

[wodin]

nicwb...I've read all the Derek Robibson books...very good indeed....A recent book by Robert Radcliffe called Across blood red skys is in a similar vein and one great read...

@Adam Parker...I read the WW1 Shaara book and didn't enjoy it at all....abit to American centric...also a rather dull read...I will check out the Herman Wouk books...thanks

[sillyflower]

WW11 - Devil's Guard -but most of it in vietnam now I think of it
William Wharton's 'A Midnight clear' is a classic - set in the ardennes. turned into a poor film.
best military history novel ever imo is Eagle in the Snow by Wallace Breem set in 5th century AD
try any by Alfred Duggan for ancient/feudal periods