THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP discussion
BOOK DISCUSSIONS
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New Release Books on WW2
Kristen wrote: "Rick, I've written three books on Aussie pilots now. Australia's Few and the Battle of Britain will be my fourth. Happy, it will be widely available in Australia and New Zealand, Alexander Fax Book..."Sounds like a good book. I'll bet a few of your pilots are also listed in my book The Star of Africa also.
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Kristen wrote: "Rick, I've written three books on Aussie pilots now. Australia's Few and the Battle of Britain will be my fourth. Happy, it will be widely available in Australia and New Zealand, Alexander Fax Book..."Hi Kristen, thanks for the information on availability via Pen & Sword in the UK. Best wishes for its success.
Oh Aussie Rick, I have been so impressed reading about the Aussies role in .WWII. I was a young girl at the time and did not realiize how much you folks did. However when we visited your war memorial when we visited our friends in Neutral Bay. I was intrigued . I think maybe the museum is in Canberra and it made things more plain to me. Your countrymen were so nice to us and seemed to think visiting Americans were a great thing. I do love to hear Australians speak too. The way you pronounce things is really great!
Hi Trinette, thanks for those kind words. Since Australia's population is so small compared to many of belligerents of WW1 and WW2 we tend to get left out of a lot of the historical accounts. Like America and other countries we are very proud of the history of our armed forces.
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Hi Trinette, thanks for those kind words. Since Australia's population is so small compared to many of belligerents of WW1 and WW2 we tend to get left out of a lot of the historical accounts. Like ..."AR, I tell my nephew-in-law from Cairns that you guys are "Aus-some". :)
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I tell my relations that live in Australia they are there because they are black sheep ;)Rick knows I'm joking and to this day the Aussies are superb military partners (not so their cricket team though).
I hate cricket anyhow Geevee :)Very funny Paul :)
For those WW2 aviation enthusiasts this new release book may hold some interest:
by Peter JacobsDescription:
The air battles of the Second World War were fought ferociously and with extraordinary skill and courage on both fronts. The fighter pilots of the Luftwaffe, the jagdfliegern, in fact outscored their Allied counterparts by some margin and were some of the highest scoring fighter pilots of all time. More than a hundred recorded a century of aerial successes with two going on to surpass a quite astonishing 300 victories. In the end, the vast effort required by the Luftwaffe to maintain the air war on so many fronts proved too much and few jagdfliegern survived the last days of the Reich but their courage and ability was beyond question, and the names of some will live on in the annals of air warfare with their extraordinary achievements never to be surpassed. In Luftwaffe Fighter Aces, Peter Jacobs examines the many campaigns fought by the Luftwaffe from its fledgling days during the Spanish Civil War to its last days defending the Reich, and includes the exploits of Erich Hartmann, the highest scoring fighter pilot of all time, Hans-Joachim Marseille, the Star of Africa, Werner Molders, the first recipient of the Diamonds, and Adolf Galland, perhaps the most famous of all.
Here is another new release, but not due out till October 2014, that may interest a few members in the group:
by Vincent HuntDescription:
When Hitler ordered the north of Nazi-occupied Norway to be destroyed in a scorched earth retreat in 1944, everything of possible use to their Soviet enemy was destroyed. Harbours, bridges and towns were dynamited and every building torched. Fifty thousand people were forcibly evacuated – thousands more fled to hide in caves in sub-zero temperatures. High above the Arctic Circle, the author crosses the region gathering scorched earth stories: of refugees starving on remote islands, fathers shot dead just days before the war ended, grandparents driven crazy by relentless bombing, towns burned to the ground. He explores what remains of the Lyngen Line mountain bunkers in the Norwegian Alps, where the Allies feared a glorious last stand by fanatical Nazis – and where starved Soviet prisoners of war too weak to work were dumped in death camps, driven in some cases to cannibalism. With extracts from the Nuremberg trials of the generals who devastated northern Norway and modern reflections on the mental scars that have passed down generations, the reader is taken to the heart of a cruel and brutal conflict set in a landscape of intense but unforgiving natural beauty.
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "For those WW2 aviation enthusiasts this new release book may hold some interest: by [author:Peter J..."Wonder if he refrenced any of my books on those subjects, will have to get this.
Here is another new aviation title due out this month that may interest some group members:
Out in Front: A Polish Fighter Pilot's Dramatic Air War by Witold LanowskiDescription:
Decorated Polish fighter pilot Witold 'Lanny' Lanowski tells his remarkable Second World War story beginning with his dramatic escape from Nazi aggression in Poland, fighting with the reformed Polish Air Force in France, and eventually arriving in England to combat the Luftwaffe. On completion of his tour he joins the United States Army Air Forces and the 56th Fighter Group, 'Zemke's Wolfpack', flying the P47 Thunderbolt, the 'Jug', escorting the heavy bombers over hostile territory and hunting down enemy pilots. In addition to flying as wingman to two of the top scoring aces he also commands the Polish Flight, formed of fellow countrymen who utilise their hard won experience to teach new pilots combat skills. Lanny Lanowski's exploits have become legendary, as has his rebellious nature. His memoir, supported by previously unpublished photographs, recounts an extraordinary personal journey within the life or death context of the European air war - a gripping and revealing insight in to what it was like to be 'Out in Front'.
Must be the month for new WW2 aviation titles, this new release is due out on 15th August 2014 and may interest some of the group members:
SHOT DOWN The true story of pilot Howard Snyder and by Steve SnyderReviews:
"This is no ordinary memoir of a World War II father. The literature of the Second World War is filled with volumes written by sons and daughters, nieces and nephews who step into the shoes of the historian, hoping to preserve a small piece of their family’s history. Only a few are successful. With Shot Down and the story of the Flying Fortress Susan Ruth, Steve Snyder has reached a level of scholarship few amateur historians achieve. Snyder’s story of his father and the Susan Ruth crew provides valuable details about many aspects of the war: the American home front, separation for young families, training, combat operations, bailing out behind enemy lines, the underground, German atrocities, and behind-the-scenes stories of Belgium civilians who risked all to save American flyers. This is a story that all young Americans should read so that they can learn about the price of victory over the tyranny that was Hitler’s Europe. As each generation comes and goes, World War II fades further into the annals of history. Shot Down keeps the story of real people alive for generations of Americans, many who are not yet born. If we can learn from the lessons in the Susan Ruth story, we can apply those experiences to our own future, and our nation will be the better for it." - Vernon L. Williams, Ph.D., Director, East Anglia Air War Archives
"Shot Down is a compelling story of our B-17 aircrews that flew, fought, and died over Europe to save a continent from tyranny and oppression. There were over 56,000 downed airmen in World War II. Many died, many were captured, and some were fortunate enough to escape and evade capture, making it back to friendly lines to fight again. Lt Howard Snyder and the crew of the Susan Ruth was one of those crews that went down over Europe. Their firsthand account of their experiences, including the bravery of the members of the Underground who helped them, is a wonderful read … and gives a great sense of the heroes that made up the 'Greatest Generation'." - General Duncan J. McNabb, USAF, retired, 33rd Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force
"As a young girl, I remember my dad saying that he was going to build a memorial in memory of the B17 “Susan Ruth” crew members, courageous men who wanted to stop a lawless monster. Since 1989, we organize an annual ceremony honoring the memory of those who crashed in Belgium on February 8, 1944. The local population still remembers these Heroes who crossed the Ocean to come and help people who were totally unknown to them; free them and restore their honor and happiness. They gave their lives and we will be eternally grateful to them for their sacrifice. We will always remember these men as Heroes of our Freedom. Thank you, Sirs. We will never forget you." - Christel Delahaye, Association du Devoir de Mémoire de Momignies ‒ Belgique
"As the 424th Air Base Squadron Commander that represents the U.S. at the 'Susan Ruth' memorial every year, I learned about what happened to these crew members. This story is a great example of young men from the greatest generation fighting to defend the cause their country asked them to." - Lt. Col. Christopher Kuester, USAF, Commander, 424th Air Base Squadron, Chievres, Belgium
This new book looks like it is a re-print/re-release of an older book but it may still interest a few of the folks here in the group:
The 7th Panzer Division in France and Russia: Rommel's Ghost Division by Russel H S StolfiDescription:
This excellent study was commissioned by the U.S. Marine Corps from the distinguished academic and military historian Russel Stolfi. This groundbreaking work is more than just a Divisional history. The whole basis of Rommel’s exceptional handling is summed up in Stolfi’s masterful conclusion ‘Rommel had a bias for action.’
The book traces the actions of the 7th ‘Ghost’ division in France during 1940 and the early part of the campaign in Russia during 1941. This powerful work brilliantly illustrates Stolfi’s commanding insight into the genius of Rommel as a Divisional commander. Long out of print, this new edition brings back into circulation a classic piece of military history writing for a new audience.
Well this new release has got my attention, I've never read a biography of George Marshall and this may be the book that I need to rectify that situation:
George Marshall: An Interpretive Biography by Stanley HirshsonDescription:
A major historical biography of George C. Marshall—the general who ran the U.S. campaign during the Second World War, the Secretary of State who oversaw the successful rebuilding of post-war Europe, and the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize—and the first to offer a complete picture of his life.
While Eisenhower Patton, Bradley, Montgomery, MacArthur, Nimitz, and Leahy waged battles in Europe and the Pacific, one military leader actually ran World War II for America, overseeing personnel and logistics: Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army from 1939 to 1945, George C. Marshall.
This interpretive biography of George C. Marshall follows his life from his childhood in Western Pennsylvania and his military training at the Virginia Military Institute to his role during and after World War II and his death in 1959 at the age of seventy-eight. It brings to light the virtuous historical role models who inspired him, including George Washington and Robert E. Lee, and his relationships with the Washington political establishment, military brass, and foreign leaders, from Harry Truman to Chiang Kai-shek. It explores Marshall’s successes and failures during World War II, and his contributions through two critical years of the emerging Cold War—including the transformative Marshall Plan, which saved Western Europe from Soviet domination, and the failed attempt to unite China’s nationalists and communists.
Based on breathtaking research and filled with rich detail, George Marshall is sure to be hailed as the definitive work on one of the most influential figures in American history.
This November release looks quite interesting:
by David Motadel Description:
In the most crucial phase of the Second World War, German troops, fighting in regions as far apart as the Sahara and the Caucasus, confronted the Allies across lands largely populated by Muslims. Nazi officials saw Islam as a powerful force with the same enemies as Germany: the British Empire, the Soviet Union, and the Jews. Islam and Nazi Germany's War is the first comprehensive account of Berlin's remarkably ambitious attempts to build an alliance with the Islamic world.
Drawing on archival research in three continents, David Motadel explains how German officials tried to promote the Third Reich as a patron of Islam. He explores Berlin's policies and propaganda in the Muslim war zones, and the extensive work that authorities undertook for the recruitment, spiritual care, and ideological indoctrination of tens of thousands of Muslim volunteers who fought in the Wehrmacht and the SS.
Islam and Nazi Germany s War reveals how German troops on the ground in North Africa, the Balkans, and the Eastern front engaged with diverse Muslim populations, including Muslim Roma and Jewish converts to Islam. Combining measured argument with a masterly handling of detail, it illuminates the profound impact of the Second World War on Muslims around the world and provides a new understanding of the politics of religion in the bloodiest conflict of the twentieth century.
Something a bit different, thanks for posting the details Jerome.
This is a sibject with which I am well versed, and it is very facinating when you get into the details of the Grand Muftis of both Jreusalem and Egypt having audiences with Hitler. Following one of these meetings, Himmler authorized the creation of the 13th der Waffen SS Division "Hanschar", comprised of Bosnian muslim volunteers. They were primary an anti-partisan force.
Following on from his recent book on Heinrich Himmler, author Peter Longerich has this new book out on Goebbels that may interest some members of the group:
Goebbels: A Biography by Peter LongerichDescription:
In life, and in the grisly manner of his death, Joseph Goebbels was one of Adolf Hitler’s most loyal acolytes. By the end, no one in the Berlin bunker was closer to the Führer than his devoted Reich minister for public enlightenment and propaganda. But how did this clubfooted son of a factory worker rise from obscurity to become Hitler’s most trusted lieutenant and personally anointed successor?
In this ground-breaking biography, Peter Longerich sifts through the historical record—and thirty thousand pages of Goebbels’s own diary entries—to provide the answer to that question. Longerich, the first historian to make use of the Goebbels diaries in a biographical work, engages and challenges the self-serving portrait the propaganda chief left behind. Spanning thirty years, the diaries paint a chilling picture of a man driven by a narcissistic desire for recognition who found the personal affirmation he craved within the virulently racist National Socialist movement. Delving into the mind of his subject, Longerich reveals how Goebbels’s lifelong search for a charismatic father figure inexorably led him to Hitler, to whom he ascribed almost godlike powers.
This comprehensive biography documents Goebbels’s ascent through the ranks of the Nazi Party, where he became a member of the Führer’s inner circle and launched a brutal campaign of anti-Semitic propaganda. Though endowed with near-dictatorial control of the media—film, radio, press, and the fine arts—Longerich’s Goebbels is a man dogged by insecurities and beset by bureaucratic infighting. He feuds with his bitter rivals Hermann Göring and Alfred Rosenberg, unsuccessfully advocates for a more radical line of “total war,” and is thwarted in his attempt to pursue a separate peace with the Allies during the waning days of World War II. This book also reveals, as never before, Goebbels’s twisted personal life—his mawkish sentimentality, manipulative nature, and voracious sexual appetite.
A harrowing look at the life of one of history’s greatest monsters, Goebbels delivers fresh insight into how the Nazi message of hate was conceived, nurtured, and disseminated. This complete portrait of the man behind that message is sure to become a standard for historians and students of the Holocaust for decades to come.
Thanks Rick. Having read the review I'm very eager to read it.
It sounds like a pretty interesting book on a very evil personality.
For those fans of books on 'A Bridge Too Far' here is a new title due for release in a few days. It appears to be a quite substantial book, over 600 pages.
Arnhem, the Battle of the Bridges by William F BuckinghamDescription:
On 21 August 1944 German Army Group B was destroyed in Normandy and Allied troops began pressing east from the beachhead they had occupied since the D-Day landings. Within days British troops had liberated Brussels and reached the Dutch border. Encouraged by seeming total German collapse, the Allies gambled their over stretched resources on a high-risk strategy aimed at opening the way into Germany itself – crossing the Rhine river.
On the afternoon of Sunday 17 September British tanks advanced into Holland in concert with 1,534 transport aircraft and 491 gliders. Their objective was a series of bridges across the Rhine, possession of which would allow the Allies to advance into Germany. In the event the operation was dogged by bad weather, flawed planning, tardiness and overconfidence, and ended with the Arnhem crossing still in German hands despite an epic nine-day battle that cost the British 1st Airborne Division over two thirds of its men killed, wounded or captured.
Arnhem, the Battle of the Bridges combines analysis and new research by a leading authority on Operation MARKET GARDEN with the words of the men who were there, and provides the most comprehensive account of the battle to date.
Here is a new book from one of our members, looks like a very interesting read and one that I am sure will interest a few folks here:
Kamikaze Destroyer by Jeff VeesenmeyerDescription:
USS Hugh W. Hadley (DD-774) was an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer which served in the United States Navy during World War II. Commissioned in November 1944, and after extensive shakedown training off the coast of California, Hadley sailed for Ulithi where she joined the Okinawa invasion force. In early May 1945 Hadley was assigned to radar picket duty along with the USS Evans. The following day a large force of Japanese aircraft attacked. The two ships fought off these attackers, but not without damage to themselves. Evans took several hits and was dead in the water; Hadley fought on, but was hit by a bomb and three kamikaze aircraft. Hadley shot down a record 23 aircraft that day and aided in splashing many others, but lost 30 crew members. A determined crew kept her afloat and she was towed back to the States. She was decommissioned in December 1945 and scrapped in 1947. In addition to one battle star for her World War II Service, Hugh W. Hadley received the Presidential Unit Citation for her performance in the action off Okinawa 11 May 1945.
This new book by a relative of a crew member killed that day off Okinawa, tells the story of the ship, and that fateful day, through the words of many of the survivors, which the author interviewed. This is not just a story about a ship, but about the men that made that ship a legend in the annals of U.S. Navy history. 9 appendices, bibliography, 112 B&W photos, 6 illustrations, 6 maps, color painting.
This new release is due out in November 2014 and sounds like it may be a book of some interest, for those who enjoying reading first-hand accounts:
Swansong 1945: A Collective Diary from Hitler's Last Birthday to VE Day by Walter KempowskiDescription:
Swansong 1945 brings together hundreds of letters, diary extracts and autobiographical accounts to chronicle four days in 1945: 20th April, Hitler's last birthday, 25th April, when American and Soviet troops first met at the Elbe, 30th April, the day Hitler committed suicide, and 8th May, the day of the German surrender. Side by side in these pages, we encounter civilians fleeing on foot to the west, British and American POWs dreaming of home, concentration camp survivors, loyal soldiers from both sides of the conflict as well as national leaders including Churchill.
These first-hand accounts, which Walter Kempowski painstakingly collected, organised and shaped for publication over twenty years, provide the raw material of history unmediated by a historian's narrative. The voices of individuals speak for themselves, and through their many experiences, perspectives and situations, the condition of Europe during the zero hour of war is viscerally recreated. A modern classic, this vital work brings to life a time whose repercussions are still felt today.
Another November release:
by Ross CoenDescription:
Near the end of World War II, in an attempt to attack the United States mainland, Japan launched its fu-go campaign, deploying thousands of high-altitude hydrogen balloons armed with incendiary and high-explosive bombs designed to follow the westerly winds of the upper atmosphere and drift to the west coast of North America. After reaching the mainland, these fu-go, the Japanese hoped, would terrorize American citizens and ignite devastating forest fires across the western states, ultimately causing the United States to divert wartime resources to deal with the domestic crisis. While the fu-go offensive proved to be a complete tactical failure, six Americans lost their lives when a discovered balloon exploded.
Ross Coen provides a fascinating look into the obscure history of the fu-go campaign, from the Japanese schoolgirls who manufactured the balloons by hand to the generals in the U.S. War Department who developed defense procedures. The book delves into panic, propaganda, and media censorship in wartime. Fu-go is a compelling story of a little-known episode in our national history that unfolded virtually unseen.
Something a bit different, I have read about these balloon operations in other WW2 books but nothing in detail, this could be an interesting account.
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'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Following on from his recent book on Heinrich Himmler, author Peter Longerich has this new book out on Goebbels that may interest some members of the group Thanks Rick and one for me and a complement on my shelves to the excellent
Joseph Goebbels: Life and Death by Toby Thacker
Today's The Washington Post features a review of --
When Paris Went Dark: The City of Light Under German Occupation, 1940-1944 by Ronald Rosbottomhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinion...
Review excerpts, admittedly backing my personal viewpoint, include: "The unhappy truth, about France generally and Paris specifically, is that there were more overt acts of collaboration than of resistance...The French have been eager to present themselves as far more important to the fight for freedom than they actually were, and the Resistance mythology has been essential to maintaining what is largely a fiction, if not a fantasy."
Thanks for the link to that review Manray9, I am sure it will interest a few members here in the group.
Looks like this will come out later this month:
by Mark ObmascikDescription:
From a bestselling author, the heartbreaking, redemptive story of two World War II soldiers whose fateful encounter in the Forgotten War of Alaska has fascinated Americans for decades.
In researching his bestselling book The Big Year, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Mark Obmascik rediscovered a long-lost document from World War II: the diary of a Japanese surgeon, recovered from his body by the soldier who killed him. In the Cradle of Storms reveals the layered and moving story of two men bound together by a nineteen-page diary and how its words eventually captivated American troops and changed our war-torn society.
Written as one desperate man’s final testament, Paul Nobuo Tatsuguchi's journal revealed the medic's studies in America and his love for the US. It sent shock waves through American troops of the 1940s, shattering racist preconceptions and opening eyes to the common humanity of soldiers on both sides of the battle lines. Years later, it sent Laura Tatsuguchi Davis, the dead medic’s daughter, on an intense search for the truth behind her father's life and legacy. And it drove Dick Laird, the sergeant who found the diary, to undertake a forty-year quest on two continents to find Laura, whose kindness and forgiveness offered redemption for his own tortured soul.
With journalistic acumen, sensitivity, and unmatched narrative skills, Obmascik tells the unforgettable true story of a horrific battle on a barren Alaskan island, two families struggling for peace, and the unlikely road to forgiveness.
Sounds interesting, thanks for the details Jerome.
This November 2014 release may interest some of the members in the group:
Whitey: The Story of Rear Admiral E. L. Feightner, a Navy Fighter Ace by Peter B MerskyDescription:
Whitey is the first complete biography of one of the last surviving World War II U.S. Navy aces, and one of the Navy's most respected officers of any period. Following a typical American, mid-western boyhood, Whitey Feightner was in the vanguard of the huge group of young men thrust into World War II. Upon receiving his commission and his gold wings, he was assigned to a fighter squadron in the Pacific and soon found himself flying with the likes of Jimmy Flatley and Butch O'Hare, two leaders who imparted their own brand of flying skill and leadership to the young ensign. He flew through many of the war's most hectic and dangerous campaigns, such as Guadalcanal and the Marianas, gaining nine official kills. There were times he should not have returned from a mission, but his own skill and positive outlook helped him make it through all the dangers. After the war, Whitey became a member of the Regular Navy and was assigned to several of the Navy's most secret and action-filled projects at Patuxent River, Maryland. He flew and helped develop legendary fighters like the F7U Cutlass, F9F Banshee, and Cougar and the attack aircraft AD Skyraider as they joined the fleet, and was one of only two men who flew the radical F7U Cutlass in Blue Angels colors. Returning to the fleet in command of a squadron, and later of an air group, he continued to develop fighter tactics. In between tours at sea, he served in the Pentagon dealing with all the personalities and political turmoil of the time while trying to bring naval aviation into the future. Working with such luminaries as Hyman Rickover and Elmo Zumwalt was not for the feint-hearted, and even Whitey did not come away unscathed. Yet, through it all, he retained the affable demeanor that characterized this rare and highly skilled naval aviator. His life story could serve as a model for any young aviator to follow.
A May 2015 release:
by Mark ZuehlkeDescription:
During the winter of 1944–45, the western Allies desperately sought a strategy that would lead to Germany’s quick defeat. After much rancorous debate, the Allied high command decided that First Canadian Army would launch the pivotal offensive to win the war—an attack against the Rhineland, an area of Germany on the west bank of the Rhine. Winning this land would give them a launching point for crossing the river and driving into Germany’s heartland. This was considered the road to victory. For those who fought, the names of battlegrounds such as Moyland Wood and the Hochwald Gap would forever call up memories of uncommon heroism, endurance and tragic sacrifice. Their story is one largely lost to the common national history of World War II. Forgotten Victory gives this important legacy back to Canadians.
Jerome wrote: "A May 2015 release: by Mark ZuehlkeDescription:
During the winter of 1944–45, the weste..."
Looks good!
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Jerome wrote: "A May 2015 release: by Mark ZuehlkeDescription:
During the winter of 1944–45, the weste..."
Another book by Mr Zuehlke that I must read.
This is a welcome contribution on the excellent Canadian Army which, had a costly slog, especially at the Scheldt and was so important to overall victory in the West but is often missed - or rather too briefly or under mentioned by many histories through focus on US and British progress and also the better known battles such as for example Arnhem and the Bulge.
2nd Canadian Corps fought these battles (with Belgian, Dutch, British and US units in their corps) and were later joined by 1st Canadian Corps (who did sterling work in Italy and are the subject of the author's earlier books) for the later and bitter stages of the NW European campaign from early 1945 to war's end.
Worth noting the US 104th Div came under Canadian army control for the Scheldt and later when they were attached to the British whose 1st Corps were under 1st Canadian Army command.
Another new release due out in October 2014 that may interest some members of the group, it does me!
A German General on the Eastern Front: The Letters and Diaries of Gotthard Heinrici 1941-1942 by Dr Johannes HurterDescription:
The Eastern Front, 1941. Operation Barbarossa. Hitler's armies advance into the Soviet Union to conquer Lebensraum in the East. Among the corps commanders is General Gotthard Heinrici, a career soldier, a highly decorated First World War veteran, who observed and recorded in his diary and letters the unprecedented harshness of the German conduct of the campaign. With remarkable candour he described his experiences at the front and the everyday lives of the troops under his command - and the appalling conditions in which the war was fought. In his writings he revealed his growing doubts about Hitler's strategy and his mounting concern as the Wehrmacht was implicated in war crimes and the first actions of the Holocaust. This selection from Heinrici's diaries and letters, edited and with a perceptive introduction by Johannes Hurter, gives a fascinating inside view of the fighting on the Eastern Front from a commander's perspective. It is also provides an unusual insight into the feelings, attitudes and acute anxieties of one of the Wehrmacht's most able generals in the midst of a brutal campaign.
Here is the latest book by Roger Moorhouse that covers an interesting period of WW2 history and sure to attract the interest of some members in the group:
The Devils' Alliance: Hitler's Pact with Stalin, 1939-1941 by Roger MoorhouseDescription:
For nearly two years the two most infamous dictators in history actively collaborated with one another. The Nazi-Soviet Pact stunned the world when it was announced, the Second World War was launched under its auspices with the invasion and division of Poland, and its eventual collapse led to the war's defining and deciding clash.
It is a chapter too often skimmed over by popular histories of the Second World War, and in The Devils' Alliance Roger Moorhouse tells the full story of the pact between Hitler and Stalin for the first time, from the motivation for its inception to its dramatic and abrupt end in 1941 as Germany declared war against its former partner.
Using first-hand and eye-witness testimony, this is not just an account of the turbulent, febrile politics underlying the unlikely collaboration between these two totalitarian regimes, but of the human costs of the pact, as millions of eastern Europeans fell victim to the nefarious ambitions of Hitler and Stalin.
' Roger Moorhouse tells the full story of the pact between Hitler and Stalin for the first time, from the motivation for its inception to its dramatic and abrupt end in 1941 as Germany declared war against its former partner."I always welcome books on this subject area of two of the 20th century most malevolent dictators - but another excellent book was written on the same subject some years ago The Deadly Embrace: Hitler, Stalin and the Nazi-Soviet Pact, 1939-1941.
Good review on The Deadly Embrace, hopefully you will enjoy Roger Moorhouse's book as much.
A May 2015 release:
by Phil KeithDescription:
In May 1942, the United States' first first naval victory against the Japanese in the Coral Sea was marred by the loss of the aircraft carrier USS Lexington. Another carrier was nearly ready for launch when the news arrived, so the navy changed her name to Lexington, confusing the Japanese.
The men of the original "Lady Lex" loved their ship and fought hard to protect her. They were also seeking revenge for the losses sustained at Pearl Harbor. Crippling attacks by the Japanese left her on fire and dead in the water. A remarkable 90 percent of the crew made it off the burning decks before Lexington had to be abandoned. In all the annals of the Second World War, there is hardly a battle story more compelling.
Lexington's legacy did not end with her demise, however. Although the battle was deemed a tactical success for the Japanese, it turned out to be a strategic loss: For the first time in the war, a Japanese invasion force was forced to retreat.
The lessons learned by losing the Lexington at Coral Sea impacted tactics, air wing operations, damage control, and ship construction. Altogether, they forged a critical, positive turning point in the war. The ship that ushered in and gave birth to a new era in naval warfare might be gone, but fate decreed that her important legacy would live on.
Looks like another good book, thanks for the details Jerome.
An April 2015 release:
by Philip Nord Description:
In this revisionist account of France’s crushing defeat in 1940, a world authority on French history argues that the nation’s downfall has long been misunderstood. Philip Nord assesses France’s diplomatic and military preparations for war with Germany, its conduct of the war once the fighting began, and the political consequences of defeat on the battlefield. He also tracks attitudes among French leaders once defeat seemed a likelihood, identifying who among them took advantage of the nation’s misfortunes to sabotage democratic institutions and plot an authoritarian way forward. Nord finds that the longstanding view that France’s collapse was due to military unpreparedeness and a decadent national character is unsupported by fact.
Instead, he reveals that the Third Republic was no worse prepared and its military failings no less dramatic than those of the United States and other Allies in the early years of the war. What was unique in France was the betrayal by military and political elites who abandoned the Republic and supported the reprehensible Vichy takeover. Why then have historians and politicians ever since interpreted the defeat as a judgment on the nation as a whole? Why has the focus been on the failings of the Third Republic and not on elite betrayal? The author examines these questions in a fascinating conclusion.
Jerome wrote: "An April 2015 release: by Philip Nord Description:
In this revisionist account of France’s crushing defeat in 1940, a worl..."
Thanks, AR, maybe I'll give this a chance and reconsider my attitudes about the "cheese-eating surrender monkeys" that I've always heard about.
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Jerome wrote: "An April 2015 release: by Philip Nord Description:
In this revisionist account of France’s crushing defeat in 1940, a worl..."
Thanks Jerome, looks good. I have thought for a while especially after reading this that the French air force has never received due credit for their courage:
The Battle Of France Then And Now by Peter D. Cornwell
This new title from Danny Parker is dur for release in December 2014 and may interest some members of the group:
Hitler's Warrior: The Life and Wars of SS Colonel Jochen Peiper by Danny S. ParkerDescription:
From a leading expert, a definitive biography of the fearsome and controversial German SS tank commander of "Hitler's Own" Panzer Division. Handsome, intelligent, impetuous, and dedicated to the Nazi cause, SS Colonel Jochen Peiper (1915--1976) was one of the most controversial figures of World War II. As Heinrich Himmler's personal adjutant, Peiper became a legend for his flamboyant and brutal style of warfare; as one of Hitler's favorites, he was chosen to spearhead the Ardennes Offensive. After the war, Peiper became the central subject in the bitterly disputed Malmedy war crimes trial. Convicted but later released, he died in a fiery gun battle by killers unknown even today. In a rich narrative supported by years of research, Hitler's Warrior describes Peiper both on and off the battlefield, with keen insight into the morally inverted world of Hitler's Third Reich.
This November 2014 release covers a subject that is sure to be of interest to some of the group members:
Soldier of Misfortune: The Execution of Private Eddie Slovik and Its Aftermath by Richard BakDescription:
The tragic life story of Private Eddie Slovik and his controversial legacy as the last American soldier shot for desertion. Toward the end of World War II, private Eddie Slovik deserted his unit in France. Like thousands of other convicted deserters, the homesick draftee was determined to sit out the war in jail. General Eisenhower, however, looking to set an example during the Battle of the Bulge, confirmed his execution instead, and Slovik was shot to death by firing squad. He remains the only American executed for desertion since the Civil War. Slovik's story continues as his widow, Antoinette--sickly, despondent, and destitute--struggles to clear his name and have his body returned from a dishonored overseas grave. Soldier of Misfortune revitalizes Slovik in a fresh and vigorously written narrative that tells the complete story of one of the most compelling, controversial--and, yes, romantic--chapters of World War II.
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "This November 2014 release covers a subject that is sure to be of interest to some of the group members:[bookcover:Soldier of Misfortune: The Execution of Private Eddie Slovik and Its Aftermath|2..."
i certainly recall the '70s made for TV movie w/Martin Sheen.
Paul wrote: "Jerome wrote: "An April 2015 release: by Philip Nord Description:
In this revisionist account of France’s crushing defeat ..."
There is a lot of prejudiced views on French military history in the Anglo-Saxon world. Those views are typically not grounded on facts, but rather because of emotional reactions due to France's standing on some international issues. The more recent one was the criticism of France against the U.S. during Iraq's invasion in 2003. France got a lot of uncalled for mudslinging from the U.S. because of that. Looking at current events in Iraq, the French may have been the wiser ones here.
It is also quite ironic to read about France's "flawed" military if, for instance, you know a little bit of history about Vietnam...U.S. fared no better in Vietnam than the French did.
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)
1942: Hitler's Gamble for Victory (other topics)
Greyhounds of the Pacific: U.S. Destroyers in the War Against Japan (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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Its on the TBR list :)