'Aussie Rick'’s Comments (group member since Jun 12, 2009)

'Aussie Rick'’s comments from the THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP group.

Marc wrote: "Needed a big book to get me through my long airplane ride on Wednesday, so I started this one last night:

[boo..."

A classic account, one of the first books that I read on the battle. I hope you enjoy it and the flight goes smoothly!

Doubledf99.99 wrote: "Have started reading The Naked and the Dead.

Norman Mailer"

I classic!

Manray9 wrote: "This afternoon I've started --

[book:The First Victory: The Second World War and the East Africa Campaign|..."

That's a very interesting campaign to read about. I hope its a good account MR9!

Some excellent titles there 4ZZZ!

Phrodrick wrote: "Been intimidating me from my shelf for a while now, I have finally opened the covers to The Second World War"

One of his books that I am yet to read. I hope you enjoy it Phrodrick - keep us all posted!

fourtriplezed wrote: "I have a couple that fit a couple of the themes."

Good news, a few books to take of your pile of TBR books :)

Joao check out this book; "Red Famine: Stalin's War on Ukraine" by Anne Applebaum.

Red Famine: Stalin's War on Ukraine by Anne Applebaum

Joao wrote: "Latest Buys.








[bookcover:Ahnene..."

Some very good books there Joao!

My pleasure :)

OK, the 2024 theme read subjects are as follows:

Feb. - The interwar years (any country) and/or the rise of the war leaders
April - Eastern Front Theatre during 1944 (land, air or sea)
June - D-Day and/or Normandy Camp.
Aug. - Italian Theatre during 1944 (land, air or sea)
Oct. - Biography of WW2 personality
Dec. - Pacific Theatre during 1944 (land, air or sea)

Now within these theme's the subject you choose to read about can encompass social issues, battles, weapons or people/countries, anything really, as long as it fits in within the overall theme title, i.e.; Eastern Front.

Does anyone have and issues or questions in regard to the forthcoming themes?

Dipanjan wrote: "


[bookcover:Triumph and ..."

Nice acquisitions Dipanjan!

Nice shelf to have Dimitri!

Here is a March 2024 book release that may interest a few group members; "American Thunder: U.S. Army Tank Design, Development, and Doctrine in World War II" by Richard Anderson.

American Thunder: U.S. Army Tank Design, Development, and Doctrine in World War II by Richard Anderson
Description:
If the machine gun changed the course of ground combat in the First World War, it was the tank that shaped ground combat in World War II. The tank was introduced in World War I in an effort to end the stalemate of the machine gun versus barbed-wire trenches, and by World War II, the tank’s mobility and firepower became a rolling, thundering difference-maker on the battlefield. In this detailed, deeply researched, and heavily illustrated book, tank expert Richard Anderson tells the story of how the United States developed its armored force, turning it into a war-winning weapon in World War II that powered American ground forces and supplied armies around the world, including the British and Soviets.

For decades, American tanks of World War II have been undervalued in comparisons with German and Soviet tanks―and it’s true that the best of American armor tended to underperform the best of German and Soviet armor during the war. That’s because the U.S. had a different goal: not only to create battleworthy tanks like the Sherman, and to develop other tanks, but also to supply American allies with serviceable, combat-ready tanks. The United States did all this, but until now the complete story of American tanks in World War II has yet to be told.

Anderson’s book is deeper and more thorough a chronicle of American tanks in World War II than has ever been done. This book is colorful, vivid, and thought-provokingly insightful on how the U.S. produced a tank force capable of conducting its own battlefield efforts and sustaining key allies around the world. This will be the go-to volume on American tanks for years to come.

Reviews:
American Thunder is an exceptionally fine account of U.S. tanks in World War II. It provides a broad perspective on technical development, army tactical doctrine, and tank unit organization. Most importantly, it clearly connects how all of these factors influenced the combat effectiveness of U.S. tanks on the WWII battlefield. It addresses the many controversies about U.S. tanks head-on in a very convincing fashion. Very detailed and thoroughly researched, this book is a "must" for anyone seriously interested in the U.S. Army of World War II. --Steven Zaloga, author of Armored Thunderbolt: The US Army Sherman Tank in World War II

American Thunder: U.S. Army Tank Design, Development, and Doctrine in World War II is an in-depth history of the mobilization of U.S. armored forces for WW II. Starting practically from scratch, the Army equipped, trained, and fielded 16 armored divisions and more than 70 separate tank battalions. In minute detail, the author relates the successes, failures, and controversies involved in this accomplishment. This book is destined to become a classic reference work for students of U.S. armor in WW II. --Joe DeMarco, coauthor of the website, Sherman Minutia

The publication of Richard Anderson's study of the development of U.S. armored fighting vehicles for World War II will be welcomed for its value as a wide-ranging reference that stimulates one's understanding of how myriad concepts and persons contributed to resolving so many difficulties and false steps in an era particularly fraught with dangers. His meticulous use of contemporary documents, reports, and studies clarifies many obscure developments with detailed analyses of the ways taken to produce such a highly successful military arm. The reader will be treated to new assessments of decision making, lessons learned, and controversies that remain controversial to this day. I was impressed equally by the excellent layout of the book and well-chosen photos. Enjoy the read! --Kenneth W. Estes (Colonel U.S.M.C., Ret.), author of Marines Under Armor and Tanks on the Beaches

This new book just popped up on my radar; "Japan's Holocaust: History of Imperial Japan's Mass Murder and Rape During World War II" by Bryan Mark Rigg Ph.D.

Japan's Holocaust: History of Imperial Japan's Mass Murder and Rape During World War II by Bryan Mark Rigg Ph.D.
Description:
Japan's Holocaust is a comprehensive exploration of Japan's mass murder and sexual crimes during the Pacific and Asian Wars from 1927 to 1945.

Japan's Holocaust combines research conducted in over eighteen research facilities in five nations to explore Imperial Japan's atrocities from 1927 to 1945 during its military expansions and reckless campaigns throughout Asia and the Pacific. This book brings together the most recent scholarship and new primary research to ascertain that Japan claimed a minimum of thirty million lives, slaughtering far more than Hitler's Nazi Germany. Japan's Holocaust shows that Emperor Hirohito not only knew about the atrocities his legions committed, but actually ordered them. He did nothing to stop them when they exceeded even the most depraved person's imagination, as illustrated during the Rape of Nanking as well as many other events. Japan's Holocaust will document in painful detail that the Rape of Nanking was not an isolated event during the Asian War but rather representative of how Japan behaved for all its campaigns throughout Asia and the Pacific from 1927 to 1945.
Mass murder, rape, and economic exploitation was Japan's modus operandi during this time period, and whereas Hitler's SS Death's Head outfits attempted to hide their atrocities, Hirohito's legions committed their atrocities out in the open with fanfare and enthusiasm. Moreover, whereas Germany has done much since World War II to atone for its crimes and to document them, Japan has been absolutely disgraceful with its reparations for its crimes and in its efforts to educate its population about its wartime past. Shockingly, Japan continues, in general, to glorify is criminals and its wartime past.

Appears Pen & Sword are doing a re-release of J.J. Fedorowicz book on the Panzerkorps Grossdeutschland (published 1992).

Panzerkorps Grossdeutschland: The Battle of France to Operation Barbarossa by Helmuth Spaeter

Today's arrival in the mail; "To Besiege a City: Leningrad 1941–42" by Prit Buttar.

To Besiege a City: Leningrad 1941–42 by Prit Buttar

Lee wrote: "At the library yesterday, I wrestled with my conscience. "I have enough to read right now, and a busy season before me, with reduced time to read."
" But James Holland's 'Savage Storm' is right the..."

Glad to hear you are enjoying the book, Lee. I found it another one of his excellent accounts.

Great batch of books there Dimitri, nice way to finish 2023!

My copy of "The Panzers of Prokhorovka: The Myth of Hitler’s Greatest Armoured Defeat|" arrived in todays mail.

The Panzers of Prokhorovka: The Myth of Hitler’s Greatest Armoured Defeat by Ben Wheatley

Billy wrote: "I know its dated (written in 1970) but there are two chapters in John Toland's epic "The Rise and Decline of the Rising Sun" That are devoted to the dropping of the atomic bombs. A large portion of..."

John Toland's book was one of my early favourites on the Pacific War, a classic!

The Rising Sun: The Decline & Fall of the Japanese Empire, 1936-45 by John Toland