THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP discussion
Introduction to the WW2 Site - Please Say Hi
Adam wrote: "Hello. I'm oddly fascinated by history, including military history. I'm currently reading 'Savage Continent' (Keith Lowe), which describes a lawless europe post WWII. My father was a child during t..."I loved The Guns of August. Nice rec, and welcome!
Hi Adam and welcome to the group, I think I will find quite a few members here interested in bit World Wars, great introduction as well!
Geevee wrote: "Welcome to the Group Adam and please feel free to join in as much as you want - keep them recommendations coming :)I thought Ms Tuchman's Guns of August was excellent - have you read [bookcover:1..."
Thanks. I read your recommendation on 14-18 and it seems very much like a book I read some months back. Might be the same one. You don't really feel the scale of the war until you see just how many battlefronts there were.
Tionne wrote: "Adam wrote: "Hello. I'm oddly fascinated by history, including military history. I'm currently reading 'Savage Continent' (Keith Lowe), which describes a lawless europe post WWII. My father was a c..."As you might notice I'm a big Tuchman fan. Zimmerman Telegram is another favorite from WWI. Looking forward to seeing what's being read here. Thanks!
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Hi Adam and welcome to the group, I think I will find quite a few members here interested in bit World Wars, great introduction as well!"Thanks. I see you're an Aussie. I have to admit I'm pretty ignorant of the role Oz played in WWII (obviously a horrific one in WWI). Any suggestions for reading up on that?
Hi Adam, I'm a bit jet lagged but I will get a few suggestions for you tomorrow after I've had a good sleep - been on planes and at airports for the last 2 days!
Hi, Jim, Robert, and Adam,Welcome to the group. You'll soon feel at home here. I find this group the nicest one I have come across on Goodreads.
A very hearty welcome to AdamI think Guns of August is a must read for anyone interested in WW I.
Adam - your TBR list will grow exponentially if you stay around here very long:)
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Adam wrote: "'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Hi Adam and welcome to the group, I think I will find quite a few members here interested in bit World Wars, great introduction as well!"Thanks. I see you're an Aussie. I ha..."
Adam anything you read on RAF Bomber Command will likely touch an Australian as some 10,000 Australian airmen served with the Royal Air Force’s Bomber Command during the Second World War. Over 4000 were killed in action and in training accidents in the United Kingdom – making the bombing campaign against Germany and Italy Australia’s costliest combat action of the Second World War.
There are some good books too on the Desert War where Australians (Tobruk & El Alamein for instance) showed great courage and excellence.
Outside of Europe they fought in Pacific (Malaya, Singapore, New Guinea and Solomons).
I'll let Rick nominate some for you but any general history of those theatres and operations will mention the Aussies.
Geevee wrote: "Adam wrote: "'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Hi Adam and welcome to the group, I think I will find quite a few members here interested in bit World Wars, great introduction as well!"Thanks. I see you're an..."
See my book Night Fighters regarding RAF losses, german Losses, with interviews from both sides.
Hi Adam,I am trying to remember the title for a very good single volume covering Australia's war effort during WWII but here are two decent books covering different aspects of our commitment during the war:
by Mark D. Johnston
by Peter Rees
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Hi Adam,I am trying to remember the title for a very good single volume covering Australia's war effort during WWII but here are two decent books covering different aspects of our commitment duri..."
Thanks Rick. The first book looks interesting. $40 at B&N though... hmm...
Might find it cheaper second hand as its an older title, I am still looking for this one title which I think you would enjoy.
Hi Adam, this was the book I was trying to remember, it covers all facets of Australia's involvement in the Second World War:
by Michael McKernanFor a detailed military history there is this classic account:
by Gavin Long
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Adam I can recommend the Gavin Long book as Rick suggests as he was the editor of the Australian WWII official histories (22 volumes) writing three volumes himself. During WWII he also served with the Australians in the Desert. His two official history volumes on the desert are very readable:
and
I just joined the group and am hoping to participate in some of the discussions. I Have read many books about WW II but for the last five years have concentrated on the pacific theater and the Marine Corps. My brother was a combat photographer who survived battles for Guam and Peleliu, but was killed on Okinawa. I have recently published his story "My Brother's Letters Sgt. Robert LeRoy Watson USMCR Combat Cinematographer in the Pacific Theater During WW II. With regard to the Sept. discussion: The Eastern Front, I recommend "Ivan's War: Life and Death in the Red Army, 1939-1945 by Catherine Merridale.. Both German and Russian mistakes and successes are analyzed. The weather of course eventually helped the Russians and Hitler's stubborn determination to attack when he no longer had the resources made the German situation worse. Russian tactics and deployments eventually improved, but Stalin was willing to sacrifice millions of young soldiers to push the Wehrmact back to Berlin and victory.
Hi James and welcome to the group. Your book on your brother sounds very interesting. I have always been fascinated by books on the USMC in the Pacific theatre and I am sure quite a few members here will check out your book.
by James Watson
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Hi, I'm John, an active community pharmacist and history buff. I have my home in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St Paul in the USA. I have been a member of WW2 and Civil War Roundtables. I have visited many Civil War battlefields, in fact I have visited Gettysburg many times.I focus my reading on WW2 and the American Civil War. I enjoy personal accounts of veterans war experiences, but recently, I have focused on discovering the strategy of major decision makers.
I am also an active fiction reader, my average in 2 fiction books to one non-fiction volume.
My latest reading has focused on Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy and I was able to obtain 2 out of print books, one actually written by the author. I have just finished I Was There and Witness to Power arrived a few days ago. Interesting reading and insight abound filling in a multitude of details.
Hello to all in the WW II Group. I am new to group membership on Goodreads, but look forward to finding some interesting books and kindred spirits. I am a retired naval officer, living in South Carolina, USA. My naval specialty was intelligence and electronic warfare -- mostly targeting the Soviet (later Russian) Navy. I enjoyed living and working around the world, but my last posting was best -- as a naval attaché at the U.S. embassy in Moscow. I was fortunate to be there to participate in many activities surrounding the 50th anniversary of the end of WW II. As a reader, I am predominately a history hound, but have soft spots for 20th century British literature, Russian literature and books on baseball too. Thanks to Aussie Rick for his efforts with this group.
Manray 9, looks like we have some things in common. My wife is a native of S.C. and we have a son and grandson who live there now. Also, my principal WWII interest and writing has centered on intelligence, as you will see below. It was my privilege to know and work with B.G. Oscar Koch, Patton's G-2, in his late years. Thank you for your service. The Moscow station surely must have been a fascinating experience!
Robert Hays
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Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
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Hi John and Manray9 and a warm welcome to you both. I hope you have a fun time here and find heaps of good books and authors to keep you interested for quite a while.
Manray9 wrote: "Hello to all in the WW II Group. I am new to group membership on Goodreads, but look forward to finding some interesting books and kindred spirits. I am a retired naval officer, living in South C..."Oh Manray welcome to our group. I hope you learn the system faster than I do. As a Navy man, you may be interested in my little book which tells the story of my father in law who was in the navy 40 years. He & his family saw the bombing of Pearl Harbor fom the submarine dock. The book is called, "From Shaniko to Pearl Harbor". I could send you a book, or it is available as an ebook on Amazon. You have had a very impressive life. Good to hear about.
Welcome to the group, Manray9. You have picked the right group. I am a member of many Goodreads groups, but this one is by far the nicest.
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Hello to the Group!Was introduced to World War II by my classmate, Brad Reedy in the 5th Grade. Up till then, I was only reading about the Rev War and Civil War.
I really liked "Frozen Hell" and "A Jew in the Soviet Army". Thanks for having me aboard.
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Welcome ArtYou should be able to find some books that spark your interest - look forward to you insights
Hi there, I'm Stephanie and have just joined the group. I'm quite a big reader of books about the European therater of war (mainly the Holocaust and Germany), and am looking to broaden my horizons in regards to the history of WWII. Just thought I'd say hello!
Hi Stephanie and welcome to the group, I hope you find a few things of interest here. In regards to the Holocaust you could check out this thread for some good books/suggestions:http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/8...
Stephanie wrote: "Hi there, I'm Stephanie and have just joined the group. I'm quite a big reader of books about the European therater of war (mainly the Holocaust and Germany), and am looking to broaden my horizons ..."Welcome, Stephanie. You should find much of interest in this group. Many of us share your particular interest in the European theater.
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Welcome Stephanie and please feel free to join in on the threads and please share the books you think we might like to read too.
Stephanie wrote: "Hi there, I'm Stephanie and have just joined the group. I'm quite a big reader of books about the European therater of war (mainly the Holocaust and Germany), and am looking to broaden my horizons ..."Hi, Stephanie,
Welcome to the group. May I recommend my favorite Third-Reich/WWII memoir (labeled novel) to you. It is "My Name Was Five", by Heinz Kohler (also member of this group). Please read my review of this book.
I am presently reading the Holocaust survival memoir "In the Face of Evil", by Tema Merback. I am halfway through and find this book very compelling. I think I can recommend this book without having finished it yet. (It has also earned some literary prize.)
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Hi Stephanie and welcome to the group, I hope you find a few things of interest here. In regards to the Holocaust you could check out this thread for some good books/suggestions:http://www.goodre..."
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Hi Stephanie and welcome to the group, I hope you find a few things of interest here. In regards to the Holocaust you could check out this thread for some good books/suggestions:
http://www.goodre..."
I am glad you gave this link, Rick. I am also very much into Holocaust stories and had completely overlooked that the "Land, Air, Sea ..." discussion thread includes Holocaust. I think our group alone could occupy me all day. Never mind the rest of Goodreads, or reading, or writing, or anything else ...
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "As long as you continue to find things of interest Lilio that's good eh :)"So, then, when do I finally get my book published? Instead of working on the final edit, I have been hanging around with you people.
And I have also been neglecting my cooking and other household chores because it is much more fun, here in the group.
If my dear, sweet husband wasn't so good-natured, he would have already divorced me on account of culinary neglect.
Oh Lilo, if your favorite is "My Name is Five, I will try to read that next. Is it available as an ebook? Thanks for the suggestion.
Trinette wrote: "Oh Lilo, if your favorite is "My Name is Five, I will try to read that next. Is it available as an ebook? Thanks for the suggestion.""My Name Was Five" is available as an e-book, and I had bought and read it as an e-book. Yet this book is really something special. So I was going to buy it additionally as a paperback. However, the author, with whom I had been in contact (to ask him why he had labeled the obvious memoir a novel) was so nice to send me an autographed copy, which I really and truly cherish.
So my strong advice is: Even if you should be on a budget, you might want to buy the paper-version as you will regret, in all possibility, if you don't own this book as a paperback.
@ Aussie Rick: Coming to think of it, you just simply have to add "My Name is Five" to your widely admired library. This book is a must-have and a must-read.
Hi all. I'll probably just lurk around here mostly as I'm not that well informed on WWII yet. It's a new interest. But, very dependable sources tell me that this is a very friendly group:)
Derek
Derek
Books mentioned in this topic
The Battle of Britain: Five Months That Changed History, May-October 1940 (other topics)Afterbursts: Reliving World War II (other topics)
MacArthur's WWII Seaborne Communications: CP Fleet reports, brochures, memos from the scrapbooks of a Signal Corps Commanding Officer (other topics)
Last Citadel: A Novel of the Battle of Kursk (other topics)
The Ghost Tattoo (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Stephen Harding (other topics)Alex Kershaw (other topics)
James M. Fenelon (other topics)
Günter K. Koschorrek (other topics)
Rick Atkinson (other topics)
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I thought Ms Tuchman's Guns of August was excellent - have you read
My review if it is of interest: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...