Any one know any decent war novel?

Toey · Post by **Toey** » Fri Sep 22, 2000 1:42 am

I have read Red Storm Rising, Red Army (by Ralph Peters), Vortex and Cauldron (by Larry Bond), Team Yankee and all the follow books. I have also read a few Sven Hassell novels. And the book about the Bridge to Far. I also read Where Eagles Dare.

I have tried a few libraries in my area, but can’t seem to find any more decent war books.

I’m interested in Modern Wars, and WW2 infantry/Tank warfare.

I’m reading Secret Solider at the moment. It’s about the Israelis.

Thanks guys!

Toey · Post by **Toey** » Fri Sep 22, 2000 1:44 am

OOPS, sorry for the double post, my PC locked up! I feel like such an idiot!

Sorry! Can the Admin delete one of the threads?

Drake · Post by **Drake** » Fri Sep 22, 2000 1:52 am

I found "With Rommel In The Desert" by Heinz Werner Schmidt, a aide-de-camp to rommel for a time before getting a battlefield commission very good.

I found my copy in a second hand book store, very good place to find books like this.

Fabs · Post by **Fabs** » Fri Sep 22, 2000 2:37 am

A good war novel that'll keep you busy for a while is "The forgotten soldier" by Guy Sajer.

It has the added attraction of being autobiographical.

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Fabs

Don · Post by **Don** » Fri Sep 22, 2000 2:49 am

"The Forgotten Soldier" is a must read!

Right now I'm finishing "Stalingrad" by Anthony Beevor - excellent book!

Try also "The Longest Day" by Ryan, and
"The Armies of Rommel" by George Forty.

Don

Grumble · Post by **Grumble** » Fri Sep 22, 2000 2:51 am

"Company Commander" written by an American veteran of the Ardennes Campaign, Charles Brown MacDonald. Outstanding textbook of leadership at the tactical level.

"Das Boot", by Lothar Gunther Bueckheim. Book that the movie was based on.

"Arnhem, 1944" by Martin Middlebrook. Much better history than "Bridge Too Far".

"Panzer Commander" by Col Hans von Luck.

"Panzer Battles" by von Mellinthin. Outstanding. Battles are very well explained and conclusions clearly drawn.

"Lost Victories" by Erich von Manstein.
If you're into analysis of "why":
"Stumbling Collossus" by Glantz.
"Kursk" by the same author. To be honest I think he underestimates the chances of the Germans to win (Stalin tried to surrender twice after all-which he doesn't discuss) but excellent research using E German and ex-Soviet archives.
"Finland in Peace & War" MH Tillotsen.

jpkeenan · Post by **jpkeenan** » Fri Sep 22, 2000 3:15 am

The Thin Red Line is still my alltime favorite WWII novel. Written in the 60s I think , but still an incredible read.

JPKeenan

victorhauser · Post by **victorhauser** » Fri Sep 22, 2000 3:17 am

One of the best WWII novels (as opposed to historical textbooks) I've read is "Cross of Iron".

There is also a series of novels I enjoyed years ago and I've forgotten the author, but they are the "Gunner Asch" series of novels. I think there are a half-dozen novels or so in the series. They are probably out of print and probably hard to find, but they are very much like German versions of Catch-22 concerning a Wehrmacht anti-tank gunner named Asch. One title I remember in the series is "Forward, Gunner Asch!". If you can find them, I rpomise you will enjoy them.

Toey · Post by **Toey** » Fri Sep 22, 2000 3:20 am

Thanks for the responces so far. I too have read the Thin Red Line. It was very good and I was very very disapointed with the movie when it came out.

I'll pop into the city at lunch time and scour the second hand books stores and let you know what I find.

Elvis · Post by **Elvis** » Fri Sep 22, 2000 7:51 am

If you want a good read about modern warfare, try "Blackhawk Down" by Mark Bowden.

Excellent work of non-fiction describing the 1993 Task Force Ranger fiasco in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Bowden is an excellent writer - I read the entire 345 page book in 2 evenings.
I spent 6 months in Somalia during 1992-93, and was impressed that he really did his homework on this one.

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alea iacta est
sooperduk@hotmail.com

Ed James · Post by **Ed James** » Fri Sep 22, 2000 8:06 am

I just finished "War of the Rats", by David Robbins. Excellent novelized account of the famous sniper duel between the top Soviet sniper (Zaitsev) and the best German sniper (Thorvald). It took place during Stalingrad.

Colonel Klink · Post by **Colonel Klink** » Fri Sep 22, 2000 9:22 am

The trail of the fox by david irving is a good read. A bridge too far and the last battle by cornelius ryan are good ones too.

Supervisor · Post by **Supervisor** » Fri Sep 22, 2000 9:56 am

My favorites
The Cross of Iron
The Crack of Doom both by Willi Heinrich

Night of the Generals-Hans Helmut Kirst

The Blue Max

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Grenadier
SPWAW Beta Team

Randy · Post by **Randy** » Fri Sep 22, 2000 10:17 am

A new book in paperback is Proud Legions, by
Lt. Col John Antal (he's written Armor Attacks, Infantry Combat, Combat Team). This
book is current, about a battalion task force in Korea. Good info on M1A1 tactics.
In the next couple of months are two new books on German Paratropers (Hitler's Sky
Warriors:German Paratroopers in Action 1939-1945-by Ailsby, and German Paratroopers:The
History of the Fallschirmjager in WWII-by
Motorbooks International. Another new book
is Marines Under Armor-by Lt Col. Estes. I think these would make good stocking stuffers for Christmas.
Semper Fi
Randy

Colonel Klink · Post by **Colonel Klink** » Fri Sep 22, 2000 1:46 pm

The Blue Max:
i didn't read the book but loved the movie. cool stuff.

Fredde · Post by **Fredde** » Fri Sep 22, 2000 2:25 pm

"Unknown soldier", original title "Tuntematon Sotilas" (sp?), written by the finnish author Väinö Linna must be one of the all-time best war novels. Very realistic writing. Perhaps difficult to get for you in the USA but worth it. Also exists in two very good movie versions (with the older one beating the newer).

Toey · Post by **Toey** » Fri Sep 22, 2000 2:48 pm

I found a great Military book store at lunch time today. All sorts of books from BC warfare to modern counter terrorist units. If anyone is from Melbourne, let me know and I'll tell you where to find the book shop.

Rickenbacker · Post by **Rickenbacker** » Fri Sep 22, 2000 3:03 pm

Originally posted by Fabs:
A good war novel that'll keep you busy for a while is "The forgotten soldier" by Guy Sajer.

Was he a german soldier on the east front? If so I've read it and it's excellent. I don't seem to have read a lot of WW2 books, but some gems follow:

"Bravo Two Zero" by Andy McNab
"The one that got away" by Chris Ryan
"Das Boot" by Lothar Gunther Bucheim

The first two are about the same mission during the Gulf War, though seen from different perspectives, which is pretty interesting if you read both. The third is about a german submarine during WW2, and is probably one of the best war novels ever written.

If you're into flying I can also recommend "Fly for your life" by Robert Stanford Tuck and "Yeager" by Chuck Yeager and Leo Janos.

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Mats 'Rickenbacker' Nylund
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rickenbacker@innocent.com

zombie · Post by **zombie** » Fri Sep 22, 2000 4:05 pm

Regarding the `forgotten soldier` by Sajer, i read an article by an ex-GD vet who said the book was utter nonsense, he thinks it was written by a French author. It was pretty persausive,if i can find it i can post the relevant points here if anybody is interested. War of the rats also has my vote for a great read and if you are interested in artillery at all read the series by Geogre Blackburn, The guns of normandy,victory and where the hell are the guns, its a bout a Canadian FO from before the start of the war to the finish.

Supervisor · Post by **Supervisor** » Fri Sep 22, 2000 6:13 pm

This has been reputed by the author of the History of the PanzerKorps Grossdeutschland, Helmut Spaeter, who agrees that Sajer did serve in the division. Look at the German Army in WW2 site for a complete description of the controversy

Originally posted by zombie:
Regarding the `forgotten soldier` by Sajer, i read an article by an ex-GD vet who said the book was utter nonsense, he thinks it was written by a French author. It was pretty persausive,if i can find it i can post the relevant points here if anybody is interested. War of the rats also has my vote for a great read and if you are interested in artillery at all read the series by Geogre Blackburn, The guns of normandy,victory and where the hell are the guns, its a bout a Canadian FO from before the start of the war to the finish.