Book Recommendations
Moderator: MOD_SPWaW
Although it has been debunked quite recently as a work of non fiction, I would recomend Guy Sajer's autobiography "Forgotten Soldier" because it got me started in wargaming as a kid.... I guess I should have read "Treasure Island" instead... I also like Keegans "Face of Battle" and Charles B. Mc Donald's "Company Commander" . There's more but I can't think of them right now!
"Enemy at the gates", by Craig, very well done book on the Stalingrad battle. Also "A time for trumpets", by MacDonald, on Battle of the Bulge. "Das Reich", by James Lucas, "Hitler Moves East", and "Scorched Earth", both by Paul Carrell, on east front action, but hard to find, unfortunately, just a few, can you tell I'm a used book dealer?!:D
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Belisarius
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Antony Beevor: Stalingrad
Antony Beevor: The Downfall of Berlin, 1945
Antony Beevor
I love those books.
Antony Beevor: The Downfall of Berlin, 1945
Antony Beevor
I love those books.
Re: Book Recommendations
Originally posted by mlomax
Anyone have any good book recommendations?
Please be specific. Many of us have extensive libraries concerning war and warfare. If its the Red Army WW2, I'm your man. If its the Wehrmacht, there are dozens of others who can recommend books.
I will make one general rec: Richard Franks "Guadacanal", which is I feel a "must read" book. It is one of those books that when you finish it you may very well feel it would be next to impossible to do a better job of documenting the campaign.
Especially good are the sections devoted to the terrible, agonizing struggle the IJA had with the jungle. This material might be available elsehwere, but you also might spend years finding it. Five out of five stars.
Otherwise, let us know your area of interest and you will get lots of recs.
Bing
"For Those That Fought For It, Freedom Has a Taste And A Meaning The Protected Will Never Know. " -
From the 101st Airborne Division Association Website
From the 101st Airborne Division Association Website
World war II
The books I was thinking about were from the World War II era. I have recently started reading military history and have enjoyed it alot.
WW2 was a VERY large undertaking. Be specific. You will get better recs that way.
If its general WW2, pick a history at random - you could do worse than the Churchill series. Costello (IIRC) did a good single volume on the PTO. Gordon Prange for Pearl Harbor and Midway. Eisenhower's Crusade in Europe is interesting.
But you do have to narrow the field to get specific recommendations.
Bing
If its general WW2, pick a history at random - you could do worse than the Churchill series. Costello (IIRC) did a good single volume on the PTO. Gordon Prange for Pearl Harbor and Midway. Eisenhower's Crusade in Europe is interesting.
But you do have to narrow the field to get specific recommendations.
Bing
"For Those That Fought For It, Freedom Has a Taste And A Meaning The Protected Will Never Know. " -
From the 101st Airborne Division Association Website
From the 101st Airborne Division Association Website
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Belisarius
- Posts: 3099
- Joined: Sat May 26, 2001 8:00 am
- Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
- Contact:
confession
I've read Anthony Beevor's "Stalingrad", and it's very good! It covers both the campaign and the battle itself as well as Operation Saturn - the Russian encirclement of the city. Good Stuff. 
In the pipeline, I've got - "Achtung Panzer" and "Panzer Heroes" by Gen. Guderian on it's way, as well as the assembled "The Rommel Papers" (by Rommel et al.) and "the Road to Stalingrad" by Erickson and "Kursk" in some fancy print that I haven't seen before.
Have someone already read this? (as for the Guderian works, I assume that's the case :p ) Are they worth the money?
In the pipeline, I've got - "Achtung Panzer" and "Panzer Heroes" by Gen. Guderian on it's way, as well as the assembled "The Rommel Papers" (by Rommel et al.) and "the Road to Stalingrad" by Erickson and "Kursk" in some fancy print that I haven't seen before.
Have someone already read this? (as for the Guderian works, I assume that's the case :p ) Are they worth the money?
Got StuG?
If you're fishing, here's the books I received for Christmas (all autobigraphies/memoirs):
-Panzer Commander by Colonel Hans von Luck
-Soldat by Siefried Knappe
-Panzer Battles by Gen. F.W. von Mellenthin
-Panzer Leader by Gen. Heinz Guderian
The only one I haven't opened yet is Guderian's.
Of the others I thought von Luck's was the best, but they were all very good.
-Panzer Commander by Colonel Hans von Luck
-Soldat by Siefried Knappe
-Panzer Battles by Gen. F.W. von Mellenthin
-Panzer Leader by Gen. Heinz Guderian
The only one I haven't opened yet is Guderian's.
Of the others I thought von Luck's was the best, but they were all very good.
Jim NSB 
The Guderian entries are of course classics in their own right, I suppose we can't say we have studied much about armor and armor development unless we HAVE read Guderian.
The Rommel papers are good to have, I've had them for years. For a balanced and thorough Rommel biography, however, I will take the David Fraser "Kinght's Cross". Fraser at times almost goes too far in being "fair", but I like him allowing readers to draw their own conclusions.
Erickson I don't know, the other reference escapes me. Depends upon whether you want to be entertained by a bio or dig into some heavy professional historian's material. a few writers, such as Franks and Hastings, can follow a pretty even line between the two.
For a fine selection of books on war and warfare, get yourself over to Articles of War: http://209.204.189.49/cgi-bin/foxweb.exe/articles/home -- there are other specialty stores, but I've done business with this fellow for years, back when he had a store in Skokie, Illinois. Bob will never tell you he can get a book when he doesn't have it - other booksellers certainly do, I have had to cancel more than one OP order from Barnes & Noble becuase the vendor simply could not deliver.
Why they say they can when they can't I don't know, but Bob never does this.
A very few books can be said to be definitive. I can't imagine anything on the subject of the Pearl Harbor attack or the battle of Midway that is not covered in the respective books by Gordon Prange - the P.H. book is rather amazing in this respect, until you realize he worked on it over a fifteen year period.
For an excellent introduction to everything about Operation Overlord it is hard to beat the book by Max Hastings - I reread this book annually, its that good. Caveat: If you are a fan of General Montgomery, you are not going to like this book. Everything Hastings has to say about Montie is true, it just isn't particularly flattering to his image.
A fine book on the IJN during WW2? Dr. Paul Dull, without question. If you can find it.
We could go on and on and we haven't even mentioned technical reference sources.
Bing
The Rommel papers are good to have, I've had them for years. For a balanced and thorough Rommel biography, however, I will take the David Fraser "Kinght's Cross". Fraser at times almost goes too far in being "fair", but I like him allowing readers to draw their own conclusions.
Erickson I don't know, the other reference escapes me. Depends upon whether you want to be entertained by a bio or dig into some heavy professional historian's material. a few writers, such as Franks and Hastings, can follow a pretty even line between the two.
For a fine selection of books on war and warfare, get yourself over to Articles of War: http://209.204.189.49/cgi-bin/foxweb.exe/articles/home -- there are other specialty stores, but I've done business with this fellow for years, back when he had a store in Skokie, Illinois. Bob will never tell you he can get a book when he doesn't have it - other booksellers certainly do, I have had to cancel more than one OP order from Barnes & Noble becuase the vendor simply could not deliver.
Why they say they can when they can't I don't know, but Bob never does this.
A very few books can be said to be definitive. I can't imagine anything on the subject of the Pearl Harbor attack or the battle of Midway that is not covered in the respective books by Gordon Prange - the P.H. book is rather amazing in this respect, until you realize he worked on it over a fifteen year period.
For an excellent introduction to everything about Operation Overlord it is hard to beat the book by Max Hastings - I reread this book annually, its that good. Caveat: If you are a fan of General Montgomery, you are not going to like this book. Everything Hastings has to say about Montie is true, it just isn't particularly flattering to his image.
A fine book on the IJN during WW2? Dr. Paul Dull, without question. If you can find it.
We could go on and on and we haven't even mentioned technical reference sources.
Bing
"For Those That Fought For It, Freedom Has a Taste And A Meaning The Protected Will Never Know. " -
From the 101st Airborne Division Association Website
From the 101st Airborne Division Association Website
My recommendations join further suggestions:
- "The forgotten soldier", by Guy Sajer, perhaps it's basied on german side, but the feelings it gave to me are unforgettable, I remember again the assault by t-34.... or the soviet barrages...
- "Stalingrad & The Downfall of Berlin, 1945" by Anthony Beevor, excellent if you search a mix of historic references and interwievs with survivors of the battles.
Regards.
- "The forgotten soldier", by Guy Sajer, perhaps it's basied on german side, but the feelings it gave to me are unforgettable, I remember again the assault by t-34.... or the soviet barrages...
- "Stalingrad & The Downfall of Berlin, 1945" by Anthony Beevor, excellent if you search a mix of historic references and interwievs with survivors of the battles.
Regards.
Re: confession
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Belisarius
I've read Anthony Beevor's "Stalingrad", and it's very good! It covers both the campaign and the battle itself as well as Operation Saturn - the Russian encirclement of the city. Good Stuff.
I believe the operation was called Uranus:) I highly recommend Russ Schnieder's"Gotterdammerung 1945 germany's last stand in the east"I've alway's been interested in the last month's of the war and this document's it admirably.As for the pacific Bill Ross's "Iwo Jima"and "Peleilu"are riveting.
I've read Anthony Beevor's "Stalingrad", and it's very good! It covers both the campaign and the battle itself as well as Operation Saturn - the Russian encirclement of the city. Good Stuff.
I believe the operation was called Uranus:) I highly recommend Russ Schnieder's"Gotterdammerung 1945 germany's last stand in the east"I've alway's been interested in the last month's of the war and this document's it admirably.As for the pacific Bill Ross's "Iwo Jima"and "Peleilu"are riveting.
If you're into armor tactics, you must read also "Armored Warfare", by Major General J.F.C. Fuller, it may be hard to get a hold of, but well worth it, it was first published in 1932, but was unpopular with the British, if they had heeded Fullers work...who knows, Guderian, Russia, Czechoslovakia and others did, especially Guderian...The Blitzkrieg was based on fullers teachings, ironic, no?!
Originally posted by Bing
For an excellent introduction to everything about Operation Overlord it is hard to beat the book by Max Hastings - I reread this book annually, its that good. Caveat: If you are a fan of General Montgomery, you are not going to like this book. Everything Hastings has to say about Montie is true, it just isn't particularly flattering to his image.
I'll second that; I got that book last summer after Bing (pretty sure it was him) recommended it in a thread. Hastings' writing style and frequent use of anecdotes make his books very entertaining.
John Erickson's two-book series on Barbarossa (Road to Stalingrad & Road to Berlin) is also a favorite of mine, but reads more like a dry history text.
Jim NSB
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simulacrum
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- Joined: Sun Jun 30, 2002 6:15 pm
- Location: Michigan, USA
Book Recommdations
Most of my WWII library is made up of naval titles. Two notable exceptions are:
"The Patton Papers: 1940-1945" by Martin Blumenson (which includes some of Patton's own observations, and is more comprehensive than the popular "Patton: Ordeal and Triumph" by Ladislas Farago), and...
"Death Traps" by Belton Y. Cooper (which documents the misery of the Sherman).
Prefer to read titles that cover specialty or obscure topics not covered by more common titles. Find biographies particularly interesting. Occasionally pickup a title on a specific battle when using a game to study tactics.
"The Patton Papers: 1940-1945" by Martin Blumenson (which includes some of Patton's own observations, and is more comprehensive than the popular "Patton: Ordeal and Triumph" by Ladislas Farago), and...
"Death Traps" by Belton Y. Cooper (which documents the misery of the Sherman).
Prefer to read titles that cover specialty or obscure topics not covered by more common titles. Find biographies particularly interesting. Occasionally pickup a title on a specific battle when using a game to study tactics.
"Generals and Admirals win high renown for the military achievements of their men, but personal deeds of heroism by simple privates or subalterns are rarely recorded." Albert Lawson, "War Anecdotes and Incidents of Army Life" (Cincinnati: Beasley, 1888)
If it is the Pacific theater, I would recommend the following (in no particular order):
* Destroyer Squadron 23: Combat Exploits of Arleigh Burke's Gallant Force, Ken Jones
* US Army in WWII Series: Victory in Papua, Samuel Milner
* US Army in WWII Series: CARTWHEEL - The Reduction of Rabaul, John Miller
* US Army in WWII: Guadalcanal - The First Offensive
* The Shame of Savo, Bruce Loxton w/Chris Coulthard-Clark
* Disaster in the Pacific - New Light on the Battle of Savo Island, Denis and Peggy Warner w/ Sadao Seno
* A Battle History of The Imperial Japanese Navy, Paul S. Dull
* The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, James W. Grace
* The Battle of Cape Esperance, Charles Cook
* The Battle of Tassafaronga, Capt. (Ret) Rusell Crenshaw
* Guadalcanal: Starvation Island, Eric Hammel
*Guadalcanal: The Carrier Battles, Eric Hammel
* Guadalcanal: Decision at Sea, Eric Hammel
* Guadalcanal: The Definitive Account, Richard B. Frank (my personal favorite on the subject)
* Into the Shadows Furious : The Brutal Battle for New Georgia, Brian Altobello
* No Bended Knee: The Battle for Guadalcanal, Gen. Merrill B. Twining, USMC
* Guadalcanal, Edwin P. Hoyt
* The Glory of the Solomons, Edwin P. Hoyt (A good 1 volume of campaign up the chain after Guadalcanal)
* Savo, Richard Newcomb
* Bloody Ridge: The Battle that Saved Guadalcanal, Michael S. Smith
* South Pacific Destroyer: The Battle for the Solomons from Savo Island to Vella Gulf, Russell S. Crenshaw Jr.
* The Battle of Guadalcanal, Samuel B. Griffith
* Once A Marine, Gen. A. Vandergrift
* Several volumes from S. E. Morison's USN WWII history series.
* Empire in the Balance, H.P. Willmott
* The Barrier and the Javelin, H.P. Willmott
* The Second World War in the Far East, H.P. Willmott
Lord knows, there are hundreds more.
Good luck!
RayM
* Destroyer Squadron 23: Combat Exploits of Arleigh Burke's Gallant Force, Ken Jones
* US Army in WWII Series: Victory in Papua, Samuel Milner
* US Army in WWII Series: CARTWHEEL - The Reduction of Rabaul, John Miller
* US Army in WWII: Guadalcanal - The First Offensive
* The Shame of Savo, Bruce Loxton w/Chris Coulthard-Clark
* Disaster in the Pacific - New Light on the Battle of Savo Island, Denis and Peggy Warner w/ Sadao Seno
* A Battle History of The Imperial Japanese Navy, Paul S. Dull
* The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, James W. Grace
* The Battle of Cape Esperance, Charles Cook
* The Battle of Tassafaronga, Capt. (Ret) Rusell Crenshaw
* Guadalcanal: Starvation Island, Eric Hammel
*Guadalcanal: The Carrier Battles, Eric Hammel
* Guadalcanal: Decision at Sea, Eric Hammel
* Guadalcanal: The Definitive Account, Richard B. Frank (my personal favorite on the subject)
* Into the Shadows Furious : The Brutal Battle for New Georgia, Brian Altobello
* No Bended Knee: The Battle for Guadalcanal, Gen. Merrill B. Twining, USMC
* Guadalcanal, Edwin P. Hoyt
* The Glory of the Solomons, Edwin P. Hoyt (A good 1 volume of campaign up the chain after Guadalcanal)
* Savo, Richard Newcomb
* Bloody Ridge: The Battle that Saved Guadalcanal, Michael S. Smith
* South Pacific Destroyer: The Battle for the Solomons from Savo Island to Vella Gulf, Russell S. Crenshaw Jr.
* The Battle of Guadalcanal, Samuel B. Griffith
* Once A Marine, Gen. A. Vandergrift
* Several volumes from S. E. Morison's USN WWII history series.
* Empire in the Balance, H.P. Willmott
* The Barrier and the Javelin, H.P. Willmott
* The Second World War in the Far East, H.P. Willmott
Lord knows, there are hundreds more.
Good luck!
RayM
Some of my fav:s..
Prisoners of Hope - Chindits in Burma, written by the commander of 77. Indian Brigade.. cool.
The Rock of Anzio - Division history of the US 45th Infantry Division... cool.
In Deadly Combat - Eastern Front through the eyes of a German Pak-gunner, later infanteryman... good one, not the SS or FJ again
and for my scandinavian brothers, check out:
17. Divisionen - The story of the Finnish 17th Div 1941 through -44... it included JR 13 and 61, upcoming movies, need I say more...
The Rock of Anzio - Division history of the US 45th Infantry Division... cool.
In Deadly Combat - Eastern Front through the eyes of a German Pak-gunner, later infanteryman... good one, not the SS or FJ again
and for my scandinavian brothers, check out:
17. Divisionen - The story of the Finnish 17th Div 1941 through -44... it included JR 13 and 61, upcoming movies, need I say more...
Semper in Primis