THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP discussion
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New Release Books on WW2
I'm sure this June 2014 release may interest a few members here in the group:
by Sophie JacksonDescription:
Hanna Reitsch longed to fly. Breaking records and earning the respect of the Nazi regime, she became the first female Luftwaffe test pilot, earning significant awards and becoming a personal heroine of Hitler’s. Reitsch was an ardent Nazi and was prepared to die for the cause, first as a test pilot for the dangerous V1 rockets and later by volunteering for a suggested Nazi ‘kamikaze’ squadron. After her capture she complained bitterly of not being able to die with her leader, but went on to live a celebrated flying career post-war, breaking more records for gliding. When she died a new mystery was created – did Hanna kill herself? Why did she die when she did? This book reveals new facts about the mysterious Hanna and cuts through the many myths that have surrounded her life and death, bringing the fascinating Reitsch back to life for the twenty-first century.
Here is another June 2014 release that may attract some interest with members in this group:
by Reinhold BuschDescription:
In November 1942 - in a devastating counter-attack from outside the city - Soviet forces smashed the German siege and encircled Stalingrad, trapping some 290,000 soldiers of the 6th Army inside. For almost three months, during the harshest part of the Russian winter, the German troops endured atrocious conditions. Freezing cold and reliant on dwindling food supplies from Luftwaffe air drops, thousands died from starvation, frostbite or infection if not from the fighting itself. This important work reconstructs the grim fate of the 6th Army in full for the first time by examining the little-known story of the field hospitals and central dressing stations. The author has trawled through hundreds of previously unpublished reports, interviews, diaries and newspaper accounts to reveal the experiences of soldiers of all ranks, from simple soldiers to generals. The book includes first-hand accounts of soldiers who were wounded or fell ill and were flown out of the encirclement; as well as those who fought to the bitter end and were taken prisoner by the Soviets. They reflect on the severity of the fighting, and reveal the slowly ebbing hopes for survival. Together they provide an illuminating and tragic portrait of the appalling events at Stalingrad.
Also posted in the Eastern Front thread.
Looks like June 2014 will have a number of interesting WW2 titles being released! This should interest quite a few members here in the group:
by Gilberto VilahermosaDescription:
In June 1944, Allied forces fighting desperately to establish a foothold in Normandy and then breakout of the confining bocage found themselves opposed by a bewildering array of formations of the German Wehrmacht. Among them were the newly formed German II Parachute Corps. This gripping new account examines the exploits of Germany's II Parachute Corps and its commander, Eugen Meindl from the Allied invasion on 6 June to the end of August 1944. Meindl was the epitome of the senior German airborne commander in World War II. Tough, experienced, and aggressive, he cared deeply for his troops. His Parachute Corps fought stubbornly for three weeks, before being forced to fall back. Trapped along with the bulk of the German Seventh Army in the Falaise pocket, Meindl and his paratroopers maintained their discipline and were selected by the Commander in Chief of OB West to lead the German breakout to the east. That they managed to do so, despite suffering grievous losses, while so many around them died or surrendered, is a testament to their dedication and fighting ability. Theirs is a story that deserves to be told.
Also posted in the European Theatre thread.
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I purchased a copy of this brand new book which holds a lot of interest for me but may have limited availability for those outside of Australia:
by [author:Adr..."Looks like a good read.
Something a little bit different, covers training and how they adapted weapons and tactics to fight the Japanese and the terrain/weather/climate, etc.
A December 2016 release, the first of two projected volumes:
by Niall CherryDescription:
Books on the events of the early months of 1940 are dominated by the desperate fighting undertaken the British Expeditionary Force in Northern France and Belgium following the German invasion of May 10th and it is often overlooked that prior to this another British expeditionary force was involved in fierce fighting in Norway. Indeed, the invasion on April 9th saw the first use of airborne troops in the war and was also one of the very few amphibious operations undertaken by the Germans during the Second World War. It is hoped that Niall Cherry's new two-volume work covering the Allied intervention in Norway 1940 will fill this significant gap.
The author provides a detailed account of the German invasion and the Allied reaction, including the land, sea and air battles. This includes such actions as the sinking of HMS Glowworm and HMS Glorious, the Gladiators on the frozen lakes and Maurice Force, the sacrifice of the Territorial Battalions at Tretten and the Independent Companies, to name but a few. Volume 1 focuses on the prelude to and early phases of the German invasion and Allied response.
As in Niall's previous books, detailed research has been carried out using official reports, war diaries and veterans' accounts, supported by photographs and color maps.
Picked up this one hope to get to it most tick.
Doubledf99.99 wrote: "Picked up this one hope to get to it most tick."I hope you enjoy the book!
A November release:
by Leo Barron (no photo)Description:
Hitler’s forces had pressed in on the small Belgian town in a desperate offensive designed to push back the Allies, starting the Battle of the Bulge. So far the U.S. soldiers had managed to repel waves of attackers and even a panzer onslaught. But as their ammunition dwindled, the weary paratroopers of the 101st Airborne could only hope for a miracle—a miracle in the form of General George S. Patton and his Third Army.
More than a hundred miles away, Patton, ordered to race his men to Bastogne, was already putting in motion the most crucial charge of his career. Tapped to spearhead his counterstrike against the Wehrmacht was the 4th Armored Division, a bloodied but experienced unit that had fought and slogged its way across France. But blazing a trail into Belgium meant going up against some of the best infantry and tank units in the German Army. Failure to reach Bastogne in time could result in the overrunning of the 101st—a catastrophic defeat that could turn the tide of the war and secure victory for the Nazis.
In Patton at the Battle of the Bulge, Army veteran and historian Leo Barron explores one of the most famous yet little understood clashes of the war, a vitally important chapter in one of history’s biggest battles.
Okay, that wasn't nice, I had just about decided that I wasn't going to buy any more Bulge books. Jerome wrote: "A November release:
by Leo Barron (no photo)Description:
Hitler’s forc..."
Lol, isn't that just too darn bad? :)
This looks interesting as well:Release date: June 3, 2014
by
Neill LocheryDescription:
When World War II erupted in 1939, Brazil seemed a world away. Lush, remote, and underdeveloped, the country and its capital of Rio de Janeiro lured international travelers seeking a respite from the drums of the war. “Rio: at the end of civilization, as we know it,” claimed Orson Welles as he set out for the city in 1942. But Brazil’s bucolic reputation as a distant land of palm trees and pristine beaches masked a more complex reality—one that the country’s leaders were busily exploiting in a desperate gambit to secure Brazil’s place in the modern world.
In Brazil, acclaimed historian Neill Lochery reveals the secret history of the country’s involvement in World War II, showing how the cunning statecraft and economic opportunism of Brazil’s leaders transformed it into a regional superpower over the course of the war. Brazil’s natural resources and proximity to the United States made it strategically invaluable to both the Allies and the Axis, a fact that the country’s dictator, Getúlio Dornelles Vargas, keenly understood. In the war’s early years, Vargas and a handful of his close advisors dexterously played both sides against each other, generating enormous wealth for Brazil and fundamentally transforming its economy and infrastructure.
But Brazil’s cozy neutrality was not to last. Forced to choose sides, Vargas declared war on the Axis powers and sent 25,000 troops to the European theater. This Brazilian expeditionary force arrived too late—and was called home too early—to secure a significant role for Brazil in the postwar order. But within Brazil, at least, Vargas had made his mark, ensuring Rio’s emergence as a major international city and effectively remaking Brazil as a modern nation.
A fast-paced tale of war and diplomatic intrigue, Brazil reveals a long-buried chapter of World War II and the little-known origins of one of the world’s emerging economic powerhouses.
Something different Jerome, thanks for the details.
message 1017:
by
Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
(new)
Good one Jerome - I knew Brazil were an ally but have read little (if anything?) on their contribution. Onto the TBR it goes!
Geevee wrote: "Good one Jerome - I knew Brazil were an ally but have read little (if anything?) on their contribution. Onto the TBR it goes!"During WW II my father was a USN parachute rigger for PBY (Catalina) squadrons. Part of that time, his squadron flew from Natal, Brazil.
message 1019:
by
Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
(new)
Great connection Manray9, thank you. The PBY was a great plane and I've been fortunate to see it fly a few times at the Flying Legends Airshow at Duxford.
Geevee wrote: "Great connection Manray9, thank you. The PBY was a great plane and I've been fortunate to see it fly a few times at the Flying Legends Airshow at Duxford."According to my dad, Brazil was very popular with young sailors = cheap rum and exotic women.
A July release:
by Leo McKinstryDescription:
In the summer of 1940, the Nazi war machine was at its zenith. France, Denmark, Norway and the Low Countries were all under occupation. Only Britain stood in the way of the complete triumph, and Hitler planned a two-pronged offensive—a blistering aerial bombardment followed by a land invasion—to subdue his final enemy. But for the first time in the war, Hitler did not prevail.
As Leo McKinstry details in this fascinating new history, the British were far more ruthless and proficient than is usually recognized. The brilliance of the RAF in the Battle of Britain was not an exception but part of a pattern of magnificent organization that thwarted Hitler’s armies at every turn. Using a wealth of archival and primary source materials, Leo McKinstry provides a groundbreaking new assessment of the six fateful months in mid-1940 when Operation Sea Lion was all that stood between the Nazis and total victory.
Looks like a good book, thanks for the details Jerome.
Can't wait to hear the comments on that one.
Manray9 wrote: "According to my dad, Brazil ..."
Brazil was also a stop along the way for bombers going to North Africa & Italy. they would fly out of florida. refuel in Devil's Island, stop in Belem Brazil, then again to Fortaleza, Brazil then onto Dakar - Marrakesh - Tunis - Italy. all that to get 1 bomber to combat.
also anyone remember the Avalon Hill game Anzio? seems like it had 1 little light blue counter that represented Brazilian troops.
carl wrote: "Manray9 wrote: "According to my dad, Brazil ..."
Brazil was also a stop along the way for bombers going to North Africa & Italy. they would fly out of florida. refuel in Devil's Island, stop i..."
Avalon Hill, that brings back memories, didn't have that one but did have Gettysburg.
carl wrote: "Manray9 wrote: "According to my dad, Brazil ..."
Brazil was also a stop along the way for bombers going to North Africa & Italy. they would fly out of florida. refuel in Devil's Island, stop i..."
The British writer and journalist Patrick Skene Catling was a navigator on that route - I think he wrote about it in his autobiography (Better Than Working). I wonder how many of those planes made a half-a-degree error and wound up in the middle of nowhere, or the sea.
Mike wrote: "carl wrote: "Manray9 wrote: "According to my dad, Brazil ..."
Brazil was also a stop along the way for bombers going to North Africa & Italy. they would fly out of florida. refuel in Devil's ..."
I guess it was just like the old days at sea -- celestial observations and dead-reckoning. There were RF beacons in WW II, but what were the ranges? I would think short?
message 1028:
by
Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
(new)
Jerome wrote: "A July release: by Leo McKinstryDescription:
In the summer of 1940, the Nazi war mach..."
Thanks Jerome I have this on my TBR on strength of his excellent
Spitfire: Portrait of a Legend
Manray9 wrote: "Mike wrote: "carl wrote: "Manray9 wrote: "According to my dad, Brazil ..."
Brazil was also a stop along the way for bombers going to North Africa & Italy. they would fly out of florida. refue..."
the brazil route was primarily B-24s, though I'm sure others made the trip. I know several disappeared without a trace on the florida to devil's island to brazil leg. for some reason, they often flew solo planes on that route. B-24s did have a fueling problem and sometimes would blowup when fumes condensed in the plane. so that may account for some.
on the brazil to dakar route they often flew with other planes so a little safer. plus not too hard to hit africa, now finding the runway may be a bit more difficult.
message 1030:
by
Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
(new)
Thanks Carl and Manray9 - this is interesting info on the aircraft and routes used to Africa via Brazil.
Manray9 wrote: "Mike wrote: "carl wrote: "Manray9 wrote: "According to my dad, Brazil ..."
Brazil was also a stop along the way for bombers going to North Africa & Italy. they would fly out of florida. refue..."
The RF beacons may not have helped a lot. Navigation aids such as Gee and later Loran developed rapidly during the war, but Gee was used mainly for bombing. I wonder what was available for the ferry pilots? - on the North Atlantic as well.
Manray9 wrote: "Mike wrote: "carl wrote: "Manray9 wrote: "
According to my dad, Brazil ..."
Brazil was also a stop along the way for bombers going to North Africa & Italy. they would fly out of florida. refue..."
Mike wrote: "Manray9 wrote: "Mike wrote: "carl wrote: "Manray9 wrote: "According to my dad, Brazil ..."
Brazil was also a stop along the way for bombers going to North Africa & Italy. they would fly out o..."
In my navy days, we relied on Loran C off the U.S. east coast and the Caribbean. It was reliable with spot on fixes. Later Sat Nav became the "go to" fix, but junior officers were still required to "shoot the sun" every day. My celestial nav skills were atrocious. I could reliably place the ship in the proper hemisphere of the earth, but that was as good as I got.
message 1033:
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Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
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My troop commander was very good at placing us in the right hemisphere and with help could show us which ocean he placed us in......just a shame we were in a tank LOL
Geevee wrote: "My troop commander was very good at placing us in the right hemisphere and with help could show us which ocean he placed us in......just a shame we were in a tank LOL"
I may boast to always knowing which ocean we were in.
I could reliably name the state we were in :)Once when we were flying from Ft. Campbell up to Ft. Drum on a C-141, somewhere over PA, the plane dropped down below the clouds and one of the flight crew told us the pilot was trying to figure out where we were - I hope the crew member was pulling out legs, but the Bn Cdr was with in hearing distance...
That's a nice one Happy! :)
happy wrote: "I could reliably name the state we were in :)Once when we were flying from Ft. Campbell up to Ft. Drum on a C-141, somewhere over PA, the plane dropped down below the clouds and one of the flight..."
Damn, where you with the Rakkasans, or with 1/22 INF 'Regulars By God' at Drum, had a flight eerier similar.
3/187th - we were heading up there for winter tng, Jan/Feb of '84 - right after Grenada - in fact the bn that followed us in came directly from that island paradise. This was before they activated 10th ID.The first night we went into the field - Watertown, NY was the cold spot in the lower 48, -45F. In the six weeks we were there we never did quite figure out how to keep the coal burning stoves going - they were alway going out, nobody seemed to figure out how to keep them banked right.
happy wrote: "3/187th - we were heading up there for winter tng, Jan/Feb of '84 - right after Grenada - in fact the bn that followed us in came directly from that island paradise. This was before they activated ..."It snowed 110 inches the first month i was at Drum, thought I was in the Rockies with that snow pack. They don't call Watertown 'Snowtown' for nothing.
Mike wrote: "The RF beacons may not have helped a lot. Navigation aids such as Gee and later Loran developed rapidly during the war, but Gee was used mainly for bombing. I wonder what was available for the ferry pilots? - on the North Atlantic as well. "I happened to have a B-24 pilot handy... so
I asked him. Bob Cook is an old buddy and old!
He gets a bit miffed if he's not the oldest guy
in the room.
They few single planes across the South Atlantic as flying in formation took more fuel, and the trip was about the limit of the range of the B-24, they didn't want to waste any. I'd said before they flew in groups for safety, but not so.
Flying from Brazil to Dakar they were told not to use the Dakar radio beacon for guidance as the Uboats were known to use the same frequency to lead the planes astray. As the trip was at the limit of a B-24s range of 10-11 hours, they only
had to get them a little off course. They were told they lost several planes that way, but Bob says they don't know if that was true, may have just been told that to keep them on the straight and narrow.
Bob learned not to doubt his navigator- after many hours of flying, Bob told his navigator "These white caps all look the same, are you sure you don't have us flying in circles?" Next time he tried to raise the fellow on the radio, the navigator wouldn't answer. After awhile someone tugged on Bob's sleeve and he looked over and the navigator was sitting on the floor behind him with all of his equipment packed up.
Bob wondered if he realized that they are all in the
same plane? Bob struggled to recall the last correction he was given and after awhile they saw a sand bar, which meant they were close to the coast.
They ended up just a little south of Dakar so pretty
good navigating by the stars for the trip. Bob never
gave his navigator a hard time about his skills after that.
...also anyone remember the Avalon Hill game Anzio? seems like it had 1 little light blue counter that represented Brazilian troops.They were light green, actually. (Grin)
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Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
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carl wrote: "Mike wrote: "The RF beacons may not have helped a lot. Navigation aids such as Gee and later Loran developed rapidly during the war, but Gee was used mainly for bombing. I wonder what was available..."Really interesting post Carl, thanks for telling us this.
Where the Iron Crosses Grow: The Crimea 1941-44Looks like another good one from Osprey. Right up your ally I'd reckon Rick.
message 1044:
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Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
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Added to the TBR, thanks James.
Got it sitting in a few online shopping carts waiting for it's release James :)
Nick wrote: "...also anyone remember the Avalon Hill game Anzio? seems like it had 1 little light blue counter that represented Brazilian troops.They were light green, actually. (Grin)"
i'm going to check on that Nick!
and thanks for thanks GV.
Another July release:
by
Vicki CrokeDescription:
Billy Williams came to colonial Burma in 1920, fresh from service in World War I, to a job as a “forest man” for a British teak company. Mesmerized by the intelligence, character, and even humor of the great animals who hauled logs through the remote jungles, he became a gifted “elephant wallah.” Increasingly skilled at treating their illnesses and injuries, he also championed more humane treatment for them, even establishing an elephant “school” and “hospital.” In return, he said, the elephants made him a better man. The friendship of one magnificent tusker in particular, Bandoola, would be revelatory. In Elephant Company, Vicki Constantine Croke chronicles Williams’s growing love for elephants as the animals provide him lessons in courage, trust, and gratitude.
But Elephant Company is also a tale of war and daring. When Imperial Japanese forces invaded Burma in 1942, Williams joined the elite Force 136, the British dirty tricks department, operating behind enemy lines. His war elephants would carry supplies, build bridges, and transport the sick and elderly over treacherous mountain terrain. Now well versed in the ways of the jungle, an older, wiser Williams even added to his stable by smuggling more elephants out of Japanese-held territory. As the occupying authorities put a price on his head, Williams and his elephants faced his most perilous test. In a Hollywood-worthy climax, Elephant Company, cornered by the enemy, attempted a desperate escape: a risky trek over the mountainous border to India, with a bedraggled group of refugees in tow. Elephant Bill’s exploits would earn him top military honors and the praise of famed Field Marshal Sir William Slim.
Part biography, part war epic, and part wildlife adventure, Elephant Company is an inspirational narrative that illuminates a little-known chapter in the annals of wartime heroism.
carl wrote: "Nick wrote: "...also anyone remember the Avalon Hill game Anzio? seems like it had 1 little light blue counter that represented Brazilian troops.They were light green, actually. (Grin)"
i'm go..."
I remember Avalon Hill. Never had Anzio, but had Third Reich, have Afrika Korps, Russian Campaign, and lots of others by other companies.
The thing you have to remember about Anzio is that there four (five ?) editions. Although the game uses the same map and counters that look similar, the mechanics were changed after the third edition (I think) They're still fairly archaic by today's standards. On the other hand, it's the only game on the entire Italian Campaign.
I would have thought that SPI might have come up with something for Italy as well. Seems they have a game for everything else.
Nick wrote: "The thing you have to remember about Anzio is that there four (five ?) editions. Although the game uses the same map and counters that look similar, the mechanics were changed after the third edit..."
THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP
Books mentioned in this topic
Empire of Ashes: Truman, Hirohito, and the Descent into Total War (other topics)Empire of Ashes: Truman, Hirohito, and the Descent into Total War (other topics)
1942: Hitler's Gamble for Victory (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
James M. Scott (other topics)James M. Scott (other topics)
Richard Hargreaves (other topics)
Richard Hargreaves (other topics)
Andrew Faltum (other topics)
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Description:
Sunday, December 7, 1941, dawned clear and bright over the Pacific....
But for the Dauntless dive-bomber crews of the USS Enterprise returning to their home base on Oahu, it was a morning from hell. Flying directly into the Japanese ambush at Pearl Harbor, they lost a third of their squadron and witnessed the heart of America’s Navy broken and smoldering on the oil-slicked waters below.
The next six months, from Pearl Harbor to the Battle of Midway—a dark time during which the Japanese scored victory after victory—this small band of aviators saw almost constant deployment, intense carrier combat, and fearsome casualties. Many were killed by enemy Zero fighters, antiaircraft fire, or deadly crash landings in the Pacific, while others were captured and spent years in POW camps. Yet the Enterprise’s Dauntless crews would be the first to strike an offensive blow against Japanese installations in the Marshall Islands, would be the first to sink a Japanese warship, and would shepherd the Doolittle Raiders’ bombing of Tokyo.
Not until Midway, though, would Dauntless crews get the chance to settle the score. In June 1942, Japan mobilized the best of its Navy to draw out the smaller American carrier fleet for a final showdown designed to destroy the U.S. Navy once and for all. What they didn’t anticipate was the gutsy dive-bombing pilots and gunners whose courage and skill would change the course of World War II.
Drawing on dozens of new interviews and oral histories, author Stephen L. Moore brings to life inspiring stories of individual sacrifice and bravery—and the sweeping saga of one of America’s greatest triumphs.