Must Read Books of WW2

[Robert]

Manray9 wrote: "Geevee wrote: "Manray9 wrote: "Today, this was named a finalist for the National Book Award --

Hitler's Furies by Wen..."

Life is painful sometimes.

[Manray9]

Here's a book, recently purchased, which will be a November Pacific Theater read for me. I see no previous Goodreads entries about it:


Hurricanes Versus Zeros by Terence Kelly

I haven't found much in English about the ground and air wars in the Dutch East Indies during Japan's invasion. There is a good bit of writing about ABDA naval ops, but little on the ground or air wars. Any recs?

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

You might be able to find a copy of this book at one of the bigger libraries maybe?


by Tom Womack
Description:
December 7, 1941, opened up a new theater of war in the Pacific and a new threat for what was then the Netherlands East Indies. The Dutch, with their Naval Air Force or Marine Luchtvaart Dienst (MLD), made a significant - and often overlooked - contribution to the Allied effort. With their 175 aircraft, the MLD in Southeast Asia outnumbered American and British naval air reconnaissance forces combined. Three months of intense fighting left the Dutch bereft of thousands of naval personnel and over 80 percent of their aircraft. This work details the actions of MLD during the Japanese invasion of the Netherlands East Indies. Beginning with a look at the origins of the MLD, it provides an overview of the force, including an analysis of its aircraft, equipment, personnel and training. Operations of the United States Navy and Royal Air Force seaplane units are included in order to provide a thorough history of the campaign. Final chapters cover the MLD's ill-fated attempts at evacuation of the island battleground and offer an overall review of the MLD's performance.

[Gerald]

Manray9 wrote: "Here's a book, recently purchased, which will be a November Pacific Theater read for me. I see no previous Goodreads entries about it:


[bookcover:Hurricanes Versus Zeros: Air Battles Over Java,..."

Volume 2 of Bloody Shambles: From the Defence of Sumatra to the Fall of Burma by Christopher Shores, Brian Cull, and Yasuho Isawa

[Lilo]

I have a MUST-NOT-READ to offer. Please go to "AIR, LAND & SEA ... Holocaust" thread and read my last two comments re "Er ist wieder da". I consider it outreageous that this book became a bestseller in Germany.

[Manray9]

Gerald wrote: "Manray9 wrote: "Here's a book, recently purchased, which will be a November Pacific Theater read for me. I see no previous Goodreads entries about it:


[bookcover:Hurricanes Versus Zeros: Air Ba..."

Thanks.

[Manray9]

We read and discuss much about generals, admirals and campaigns or battles. The war on the various home fronts and life under war conditions or occupation may be a neglected aspect. Here's a very good read about a single family in the Netherlands. They suffered daily from the shortages and hardships resulting from occupation, but occasionally from the terror of bombing by the RAF too. I found it interesting and insightful.

The Occupied Garden by Kristen Den Hartog.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Thanks Manray9 this is one to add to the the TBR - does it also mention Operation manna at the end of the war too by any chance?

[Manray9]

Geevee wrote: "Thanks Manray9 this is one to add to the the TBR - does it also mention Operation manna at the end of the war too by any chance?"

Not that I recall. It does dwell on the Starvation Winter of '44-'45 and the embargo of food shipments by Seyss-Inquart.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Ok thanks - still very much worth reading though.

[Aditya]

All my books are pretty great to read. Osprey Publishing is a great book publisher, and they make really beautiful books. I like 'War at Sea', published by Oxford University Press, U. S. A., Hitler's Eagles, the history of the Luftwaffe, Osprey Publishing, Operation Barbarossa also Osprey Publishing, Hitler's Navy, By Mr. Mallmann Showell, U. S. Naval Institute, Hitler's Army 1939-1945, by David Stone. These are just a few books that I mention, but my collection isn't very big.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Some excellent books there Aditya and all libraries start of small, just keep on adding great books :)

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Aditya wrote: "All my books are pretty great to read. Osprey Publishing is a great book publisher, and they make really beautiful books. I like 'War at Sea', published by Oxford University Press, U. S. A., Hitler..."

Well look to help you make it bigger with recommendations Aditya :)

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

For those interested I have opened up a thread so members can discuss the best WW2 book they have read this year. It does not have to have been a 2013 publication, just the book they thought was the best they read this year on a WW2 subject. Give the group your thoughts:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Lee]

I've read many of the titles on this list, and flagged a few more.

Two that I don't see, but blew me away with the depth of research, were John Lundstrom's "The first team" and "The first team and the Guadalcanal campaign." Both on USN fighter pilots and how they adapted in air combat through the first year of the war in the Pacific.

Lundstrom's other works stack tall in my opinion, too.

So... how do you do that trick of posting thumbnails of the covers in a post?

[Manray9]

Lee wrote: "I've read many of the titles on this list, and flagged a few more.

Two that I don't see, but blew me away with the depth of research, were John Lundstrom's "The first team" and "The first team and..."

In the comment box, click the "add book/author" then look up the book of interest and indicate at the bottom "cover." You may want to type in the title and author as they won't appear -- just the cover photo.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Till Lee gets the hang of the book covers here are those books for any members interested:

and by John B. Lundstrom

[Dhiraj]

Must read books :

[happy]

Good recommendations, Dhirah

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Very good books indeed Dhiraj.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Nice selection Dhiraj.

[Mike, Assisting Moderator US Forces]

Added HMS Ulysses to the TBR. the only one I haven't read. Agree with the selections Dhiraj.

[Rebecca]

Flags of Our Fathers (Bradley) and Band of Brothers (Ambrose) were the two books that jump-started my personal WWII study. I loved the individual stories in each book and how the authors presented the big picture by showcasing the experiences of a few men. Flags of our Fathers further humanized the war in the Pacific for me and brought me to tears on several occasions.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Hi Rebecca, I agree with you in regards to Flags of Our Fathers, for me it was a great story of some exceptional men.

by James Bradley

[Michael, Assisting Moderator Axis Forces]

The book that has stuck with me the longest over the last year was by Paul Ham. A very powerful piece of writing.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Yet to read it Michael but I have enjoyed the author's books on Kokoda and Vietnam.

[Michael, Assisting Moderator Axis Forces]

Hi Rick I hope this year find you fighting fit and your bookshelves overflowing. For me this is Paul Hams best book to date. But I have yet to read his new offering .

You should be seeing more of me on this group life has finally slowed down a bit and I can get back to the things I enjoy.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I wonder if this is the same book or something different:


by Paul Ham

Glad to hear you will have a bit more time to enjoy the group :)

[Michael, Assisting Moderator Axis Forces]

Yeps that's one. Bloody confusing when that happens.

[Miss M]

I don't think they're the same. The 1913 seems to be a shorter intro - per Amazon, about 80 pages and digital only.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I wonder if it's left over research material. I think he did something similar with:


and by Paul Ham

[Michael, Assisting Moderator Axis Forces]

Hmmm will have to look into it and get back.

[Michael, Assisting Moderator Axis Forces]

Yep you are right Rick it is only a wee little book.

[Chin Joo]

Michael wrote: "The book that has stuck with me the longest over the last year was by Paul Ham. A very powerful piece of writing."

I've just finished it last weekend. I've been wanting to write a review on it but have been having difficulties deciding how to write it. My first problem is how to rate the book.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I'll be interested to hear your views on the book Chin Joo.

[Chin Joo]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I'll be interested to hear your views on the book Chin Joo."

Here it is AR, sorry that it is so long.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Great review Chin Joo! I will have to try and read my copy soon then, thanks for posting the link to your review, much appreciated.

[happy]

Chin Joo wrote: "'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I'll be interested to hear your views on the book Chin Joo."

Here it is AR, sorry that it is so long."

Good review - very thoughtful.

[James]

happy wrote: "Gun bunnies, red legs - among others"

Trail apes.

[Bob]

The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest HourWith the Old Breed: At Peleliu and OkinawaHelmet for My Pillow

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Excellent suggestion Bob!

[Mike]

My personal suggestions - neither of these books is much read now, but they are extraordinary eyewitness accounts from multiple theatres.
Journey Among Warriors By the daughter of Marie Curie; she died fairly recently at the age of 103.
The Frontiers Are GreenRichard Dimbleby's excellent reportage from the Greek-Italian, Eritrean and Western Desert campaigns.
Sadly both books will be hard to find now - the Curie a bit easier perhaps.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Two excellent books there Mike and I'm glad you mentioned them as I had not heard of ever title before. I will see if I can find either of them now to add to my library :)

Have you seen Jonathan Dimbleby's latest book:

by Jonathan Dimbleby

[Mike]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Two excellent books there Mike and I'm glad you mentioned them as I had not heard of ever title before. I will see if I can find either of them now to add to my library :)

Have you seen Jonathan D..."
I have, but have not read it; I would be quite keen to. Have you read it yet? What do you think?

On the subject of the unjustly forgotten, this is also rather good: Going to the Wars. Verney was one of the aristocratic reservists who found themselves in Palestine with a yeomanry regiment at the start of the war. He later managed to get into a commando outfit. It's written with a very light touch, but without being whimsical. Someone, somewhere must have a copy for sale on Amazon for a penny plus postage!

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Hi Mike,

I've managed to find and order a decent second-hand copy of The Frontiers are Green. So thanks for the heads-up on this 'forgotten' book!

Jonathan Dimbleby's book Destiny in the Desert was a very enjoyable read. I noted a few annoying historical errors which was surprising but after I got over those it was a very good account.

[Mike]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Hi Mike,

I've managed to find and order a decent second-hand copy of The Frontiers are Green. So thanks for the heads-up on this 'forgotten' book!

Jonathan Dimbleby's book Destiny in the Desert w..."

I'll give it a whirl then. It'll be a chance to find out if he writes as well as his dad!
Seriously, the importance of this battle should never be forgotten and a good new book about it has got to be welcome.

[Doubledf99.99]

happy wrote: "Dj wrote: "happy wrote: "Gun bunnies, red legs - among others"

A note about US Artillery then and now.
US Artillery made a bigger bang for the buck than most other WWII Artillery forces due to th..."

Did a Corp TOT at Graf a few times.. Usually on the last day.. Once that was done it was March Order..

[happy]

When I was a wee lad, we lived at Ft. Sill - the US Army's Arty trng center (this was at the height of Viet Nam)- every qtr they would put on a fire power demonstration. All of III Corps Arty, plus all of the graduating AIT batteries would shoot. There must have been upwards of 200 tubes of all calibers (105mm up to 8 in), they even had a company of Infantry come out at demonstrate small arms. At the end they would launch a Honest John Rocket. It lasted about 2 hrs and was very impressive!

Sadly when I went back to Ft. Sill while was in the Army - mid '80s - they had stopped doing them.

[Michael]

Here is a Book that I would highly recommend..


follows the forgotten polish warriors that in 1939 defended their homeland. Once their land was overrun by the Germans. majority of the airman, soldiers and sailors. made there way to France to help them in which they find out that most French have the attitude of finding away of not fighting.. Then moving on to Great Briton to help fight their war by defending London during the battle of Briton. from first not sure of what to do with the polish airman to becoming one of the top scoring unit in the RAF. then being excluded by the British Government at the end of the war.. Here was a nation shattered by war who never lost faith in a restored Poland after the war, who never surrendered to the Germans and the only Conquered nation that never collaborated with the German. Was sold out by Churchill and Roosevelt to appease Stalin...

Gives me a new perspective on Churchill and Roosevelt

[Manray9]

Michael wrote: "Here is a Book that I would highly recommend..


follows the forgotten polish warriors that in 193..."

I wouldn't say "sold out." Good leaders make tough decisions. Churchill and FDR faced political and military realities which unfortunately did not favor the Poles. The hard realities in no way degrade the valor or patriotism of the Poles. Look at the eastern European situation today. How can we thwart Russian aggression or aggrandizement in Ukraine? We can't. We are no more likely to go to war with Russia over Ukraine than we were over Poland in 1945.