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New Release Books on WW2
I've just ordered a copy of this book as there isn't too much about in English on the Panzer Lehr Division.
by Franz Kurowski
Here is a new book on something different; "Tunisian Tales" by Niall Cherry.
by Niall CherryDescription:
Whilst many books have been written on the history of the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces in the Second World War, none of them have concentrated solely on the story of the 1st Parachute Brigade in North Africa between 1942 and 1943. Helion and Company are therefore pleased to announce the publication of 'Tunisian Tales - the 1st Parachute Brigade in North Africa 1942 - 1943' by Niall Cherry. 'Tunisian Tales' covers the raising of the Brigade in 1941 and training in the UK before their transfer to the Mediterranean theatre of operations. It also covers the three airborne operations carried out by the Brigade there - Bone, Souk-el-Arba and Depienne/Oudna - in great detail. The book is complemented by over 100 photos many never published before, maps (including newly-commissioned colour maps, and one used by Lieutenant Colonel Pearson when in command of the 1st Parachute Battalion) and coverage of the Airborne Medical Services in the area, besides extensive appendices. This is Niall's third book for Helion following on from his highly successful previous titles - 'Most Unfavourable Ground' and 'Striking Back'. As in his previous works, detailed research has been carried out using official reports, war diaries and veterans' accounts. The book has the full approval of 'Airborne Assault', the Museum of the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces at Duxford, and we are delighted that its curator, Jon Baker, has contributed the Foreword. 'Tunisian Tales' represents a notable contribution to new research into the history of Britain's airborne forces.
Reviews:
"As a study of the 1st Parachute Brigade s operations in North Africa, this book is without precedent and without parallel." - Britain at War Magazine
"At last I have got around to thanking you for the safe arrival of your quite remarkable book ... It is, I think, magnificent! Congratulations - I think it is your best yet. You must - even with your two assistants - have done a tremendous amount of research - that was the first thing that struck me as I quickly thumbed through the pages. I was most gratified to learn that there are others who firmly believe (like myself) that for the Medical Services of the Paras North Africa was the 16 PFA s most unified and sustained operation. Include Sicily (whilst we were still an independent brigade) as part of the Mediterranean/North African campaign, then I would say it was 16 PFA s finest hour even though we had lost one Section almost in its entirety." - Jack Bellamy, (Chief Clerk 16 PFA)
I picked up my copies of these two new books today in case they interest other readers of the Eastern Front:
by Valeriy Zamulin
by A. Stephan Hamilton
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I've just ordered a copy of this book as there isn't too much about in English on the Panzer Lehr Division.[bookcover:Elite Panzer Strike Force: Germany's Panzer Lehr Divsion in World War II|12..."
That sounds interesting. Please keep us posted what you think of it.
And the book by Hamilton, interesting for sure, is rather expensive.
Hi Singleton, yes a bit pricy and also the start of 3-4 volumes I think. His previous book; "Bloody Streets" was very well received.
by A. Stephen Hamilton
A new book about the British commando assault unit led by Ian Fleming, author of the James Bond books. 
Book Description
The true story of Ian Fleming's Second World War unit, the real-life inspiration for James Bond.
Product Description
In 1942, Lieutenant-Commander Ian Fleming was personal assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence - the dynamic figure behind James Bond's fictional chief, 'M'. Here, Fleming had a brilliant idea: why not set up a unit of authorised looters, men who would go in hard with the front-line troops and steal enemy intelligence? Known as '30 Assault Unit', they took part in the major campaigns of the Second World War, landing on the Normandy beaches and helping to liberate Paris. 30AU's final amazing coup was to seize the entire archives of the German Navy - thirty tons of documents. Ian Fleming flew out in person to get the loot back to Britain, where it was combed for evidence to use in the Nuremburg trials. In this gripping and highly enjoyable book, Nicholas Rankin, author of the best-selling Churchill's Wizards, puts 30 Assault Unit's fascinating story in a strategic and intelligence context. He also argues that Ian Fleming's Second World War service was one of the most significant periods of his life - without this, the most popular spy fiction of the twentieth century would not have been written.
I've just been notified by the author, Jason Mark, that he is releasing a new book; "Besieged the Epic Battle For Cholm". I am sure it will interest a few readers on this forum :)
by Jason D. MarkDescription:
Kampfgruppe Scherer’s outstanding feat of arms was one of Germany’s most famous military achievements during the Second World War. With only a few thousand men from all branches of the service, including mountain troopers, elderly reservists, police officers, navy drivers, SS partisan hunters and supply troops, Generalmajor Theodor Scherer was ordered to hold Cholm in the face of a superior enemy force. That Scherer and his men prevailed is now an historical fact but analysis of daily radio traffic and combat reports reveals that the pocket’s survival was precarious; at times, even senior commanders doubted if it could be saved. On several occasions the Soviet onslaught looked poised to inflict the death blow but somehow the exhausted men of Cholm grimly clung to a few resistance nests upon which a new line was anchored. General Scherer, a popular leader and inspiration to all his soldiers, despaired many times and was forced to continually plead for more men, more supplies and more aerial support. Urgent demands by other sectors meant Kampfgruppe Scherer was drip-fed just enough supplies and reinforcements to stay alive until, eventually, a relief force forged a permanent link and freed the exhausted survivors.
After a catastrophic winter of setbacks and resounding defeats for the Wehrmacht, the General and his men were lauded as heroes and recognised with an arm shield that marked them as “Cholmkämpfer,” men of exceptional courage who had prevailed despite overwhelming odds.
Primary sources have been utilised for the first time to present this battle in a detailed day-by-day format, from the forlorn days of January and February to liberation in early May.
If you want to check out some of his other books try this link:
http://www.leapinghorseman.com.au/ind...
This is an older book that I have just discovered in case it interests other readers of the war on the Eastern Front:
by Helmut PabstDescription:
The posthumously published letter diary of a German forward signals sergeant then lieutenant in Russia, from the 1941 invasion to September 1943. The law student turned signals specialist was an astute and imaginative observer of the wartime scenes around him.
Another good cache of books AR, Besieged looks particularly interesting, thanks.
Here are a couple of new books I recently purchased and have not gotten to read yet: The End: The Defiance & Destruction of Hitler's Germany 1944-45 by Ian Kershaw and The Battle Of Midway by Craig L. Symonds. I'm reading a new 700+page book about John Lennon which could take me a while.
message 163:
by
Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
(new)
Some excellent books there Dr. Michael and Geevee!
Just ordered the following trilogy on the North African Campaign, where my dad served.
Hi Steve, I hope you enjoy them and find out a bit more about the conditions under which your dad served. These books are considered classics on the topic.
message 167:
by
Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
(new)
Steve wrote: "Just ordered the following trilogy on the North African Campaign, where my dad served...."Steve I have those but haven't read them yet. Which unit did he serve in? I wondered if you've tried the divisional/regimental history.
This is also supposed to be good - Moorehead was an Australian war correspondent:
by
Alan Moorehead
Geevee wrote: "Steve wrote: "Just ordered the following trilogy on the North African Campaign, where my dad served.[bookcover:The Crucible of War: Wavell's Command: The Definitive History of the Desert War - Vo..."
Hi Geevee,
I'm not sure which unit my dad served in but I'm waiting on a document from the UK, which I should get in the next week, so I can apply for his service record from the MOD. He also served in Italy. Once I get his service record, I'll be reading up on his division history, war diaries and campaigns. Unfortunately, I've been told that service record searches can take between 8 to 11 months, so it might be a while.
I have the Moorehead trilology on my to read list, so I hope to get around to reading it eventually.
Cheers,
Steve
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Hi Steve, I hope you enjoy them and find out a bit more about the conditions under which your dad served. These books are considered classics on the topic."Hi Rick,
Yes, I've heard many good things about the trilogy and they were recommended to me by a veteran of the North African Campaign. I'm looking forward to reading them.
Cheers,
Steve
I've just found this book is to be released soon:
by Danny Sherrill ParkerDescription:
On December 17, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge, more than eighty unarmed United States soldiers were shot down after having surrendered to an SS unit near the small crossroads town of Malmédy, Belgium. Although more than thirty men lived to tell of the massacre, exactly what took place that day remains mired in controversy. Was it just a “battlefield incident” or rather a deliberate slaughter? Who gave the orders: infamous SS leader Jochen Peiper or someone else?
Fatal Crossroads vividly reconstructs the critical events leading up to the atrocity—for the first time in all their revealing detail—as well as the aftermath. Danny S. Parker spent fifteen years researching original sources and interviewing more than one hundred witnesses to uncover the truth behind the Malmédy massacre, and the result is riveting.
I think it will be a case I will have to order a copy!
I've also just ordered a copy of; "Tigers in Normandy" by Wolfgang Schneider. I am such a sucker for books on Tiger tanks.
by Wolfgang Schneider
Here is another title due out very soon that may interest other readers here:
by Richard HargreavesDescription:
In January 1945, the Red Army unleashed its long-awaited thrust into Germany with terrible fury. One by one the provinces and great cities of the German East were captured by the Soviet troops. Breslau, capital of Silesia, a city of 600,000 people stood firm and was declared a fortress by Hitler.
A bitter struggle raged as the Red Army encircled Breslau, then tried to pummel it into submission while the city's Nazi leadership used brutal methods to keep the scratch German troops fighting and maintain order. Aided by supplies flown in nightly and building improvised weapons from torpedoes mounted on trolleys to an armored train, the men of Fortress Breslau held out against superior Soviet forces for three months. The price was fearful. By the time Breslau surrendered on May 6, 1945, four days after Berlin had fallen, 50.00,000 soldiers and civilians were dead, the city a wasteland. Breslau was pillaged, its women raped and every German inhabitant driven out of the city which became Wroclaw in post-war Poland. Based on official documents, newspapers, letters, diaries and personal testimonies, this is the bitter story of Hitler's Final Fortress.
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Here is another title due out very soon that may interest other readers here: by Richard Hargreaves"
That sounds very interesting Rick. I'll be looking forward to that book.
I recent;y Read a good personal account of the battle in (if I recall correctly)
, the recollections of a Dutch Waffen-SS soldier about his entire Eastern Front carreer, ending in Breslau. And only this week read a 40 page chapter on the siege in
which is a history of the city of Breslau. Neither are exhaustive on the subject and may questions remain to be answered. So yes, I am very much looking forward to read more about the subject. Thanks for sharing.
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I've just found this book is to be released soon:
by Danny Sherrill ParkerDescrip..."
Hmmm, I've been there a few years ago during a short vacation at Trois-Ponts in the middle of winter. At that moment I knew only very little about what happened. The idea is to revisit the route of Peiper's advance from Malmedy to the Ambleve and then on foot around Trois-Ponts back across the river. When I do so this book will be on my list to know more about the site as well.
If you'll read it, please tell me what you think of it.
That would be a very interesting trip. I did a few days in the Ardennes but didn't get to see everything I wanted to so I will need to go back. I used as a guide this book:
by Jean-Paul Pallud
Talking of the Battle of the Bulge here are two photographs that I took on my trip in 1990:
message 178:
by
Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
(new)
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "That would be a very interesting trip. I did a few days in the Ardennes but didn't get to see everything I wanted to so I will need to go back. I used as a guide this book:[bookcover:Battle of ..."
That book is a bit too expensive but I'll take along a few good books about the battle on my trip. I just hope there'll be a bit snow when we go in January or February so it 'feels' a bit like it was in '44.
These pictures you showed, the KingTiger, where is ist? I thought I had seen one in Houffalize but that's a different one. And that Sherman, is it in the village of Beffe (close to Hotton?)
AR, so will you invite us when you dedicate the 'Tiger' wing of your library? 'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I've also just ordered a copy of; "Tigers in Normandy" by Wolfgang Schneider. I am such a sucker for books on Tiger tanks.
by [author:Wolfgang Schneider|1..."
carl wrote: "AR, so will you invite us when you dedicate the 'Tiger' wing of your library? 'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I've also just ordered a copy of; "Tigers in Normandy" by Wolfgang Schneider. I am such a suck..."
Good idea :)
Hi SingletonIt's not a very good picture but it's actually a German Panther tank we found on the side of the road at a cafe at the Celles crossroads where we had coffee in the Ardennes. The Sherman was originally left on the side of the road between Magoster and Beffe, five miles south of Erezee but a few years before I visited the area a local village moved in into town.
there is a Panther in Houffalize (or at least was). and naturally a lot of stuff in Bastogne, museums etc.
some of the museums border on touristy schlocky
stuff cause it's such a popular spot.
Singleton wrote: "'Aussie Rick' wrote: "That would be a very interesting trip. I did a few days in the Ardennes but didn't get to see everything I wanted to so I will need to go back. I used as a guide this book:
[..."
For those who have an interest in the Burma campaign here is a new book just out:
by Alan WarrenDescription:
This is a comprehensive and challenging study of one of the key conflicts of WWII. In December 1941 Japan set out to seize South-East Asia and the western Pacific to complete the building of a self-sufficient empire. The rapid loss of all of Britain's possessions in the Far East was the culmination of a failed attempt to deal with the rise of Japanese imperialism. Britain's bluff was called and millions of Britain's 'protected' subjects in Asia fell into the hands of a brutal occupying power. The British fought the Second World War in Burma and India against the backdrop of nationalist unrest and revolt. The appalling Bengal famine of 1943, brought about by the loss of Burma's rice crop and the dislocation of government, would cause the deaths of many. Alan Warren provides a new study of the series of battles that made up the Burma campaign, including first-hand accounts of the conflict and a fresh examination of the armies and commanders of the major combatants. "Burma 1942" powerfully demonstrates how victory or defeat in particular battles altered the trajectory of the conflict, affecting the lives of millions.
Could I also recommend this book as a pretty good account:
by Fergal Keane
carl wrote: "there is a Panther in Houffalize (or at least was). and naturally a lot of stuff in Bastogne, museums etc.
some of the museums border on touristy schlocky
stuff cause it's such a popular spot.
..."
It isn't there anymore? No idea why I thought that was a King Tiger btw.... There are some 'slight' differences ;)
It's been awhile since I've been in Houffalize so I hope it's still there. Not easy to move are they? I'm counting on your trip to verify!
AR's pic of the panther, well the turret is a giveaway but i agree it does look unusually large. might be the angle and lack of dark paint.
I was about to upload my panther pic but first did asearch on "Panther in Houffalize" and about 328 pics
showed up including a youtube shot. there are several
sites that have a list of BoBulge tanks so be a good
guide to the area, including the TigerII you were interested in!
the panther has been refurbished since i saw it. It has a camo paint scheme and is in it's own little park. when i was there it was a parking lot and like any other car and you could park right next to it. guess they weren't worried about door dings. also it was the standard gun metal gray.
Here is a good link showing what is still about in the Ardennes from the Battle of the Bulge:http://users.skynet.be/fa531049/home/...
message 189:
by
Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
(new)
Wondered if others have seen this?
by Florian BergerDescription:
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was principally the highest award given to German fighters to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II.
The Gold Close Combat Clasp, awarded for at least 50 days of hand-to-hand fighting and often regarded in higher esteem than the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross by the German infantry, was only awarded to 631 German soldiers. Out of the millions who fought for Germany in World War II, only 98 received both the Knights Cross and the Close-Combat Clasp in Gold; providing definitive reference with action-packed narrative and exhaustive footnotes, this volume includes profiles of those servicemen from the Army, the Luftwaffe, and the Waffen SS.Packed with hundreds of photos, many of them not available elsewhere, this is a fascinating profile of some of the bravest soldiers of World War II.
Hi Geevee, I have a hardback edition in my library, its a great reference book!
message 191:
by
Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
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'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Hi Geevee, I have a hardback edition in my library, its a great reference book!"Now why I am not surprised you have a copy...LoL
Here's a NY Times article about a new WWII book that came out a few weeks ago. Thought some of y'all might be interested in reading it
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/20/boo...
Good post Chrissy, Max Hastings is an excellent author and one of my favourites.
"Snow: the double life of a world war II spy" (Kindle) The true story of a nazi spy whose daughter became a Hollywood film star.
I purchased a copy of "No Greater Ally" today, looks like a decent account of Polands efforts during the Second World War.
by Kenneth K. KoskodanDescription:
There is a chapter of World War 2 history that remains largely untold: the story of the fourth largest Allied military of the war, and the only nation to have fought in the battles of Leningrad, Arnhem, Tobruk and Normandy. This is the story of the Polish forces during the Second World War, the story of millions of young men and women who gave everything for freedom and in the final victory lost all. In a cruel twist of history, the monumental struggles of an entire nation have been largely forgotten, and even intentionally obscured.
No Greater Ally redresses the balance, giving a comprehensive overview of Poland's participation in World War 2. Following their valiant but doomed defense of Poland in 1939, members of the Polish armed forces fought with the Allies wherever and however they could. With previously unpublished first-hand accounts, information never before seen in English, and rare photographs, this title provides a detailed analysis of the devastation the war brought to Poland, and the final betrayal when, having fought for freedom for six long years, Poland was handed to the Soviet Union.
Chrissy wrote: "Here's a NY Times article about a new WWII book that came out a few weeks ago. Thought some of y'all might be interested in reading itht..."
Thanks for the link! Depending on where you live, you may also find this book published under the title
Chrissy wrote: "Here's a NY Times article about a new WWII book that came out a few weeks ago. Thought some of y'all might be interested in reading itht..."
From the review:
"He thinks the armies of the two Allied powers were mostly no match for the ruthless fighting prowess of the Germans and Japanese, whose willingness to sacrifice themselves contrasted with the care taken by Allied generals to minimize casualties among their own men. Red Army troops behaved in a manner not unlike that of the Germans, their reckless disregard for their own safety driven on by the knowledge that the Soviet secret police would shoot them if they hesitated. What shifted the balance in favor of the Allies in the end was America’s industrial might."
This passage is a good example of why Max Hastings is a poor historian. First, his contention that British and American troops were 'no match' for the Germans and Japanese is utterly false, and there is a mountain of evidence against it. Second, by 1943-45 Soviet tactics and operations were often very sophisticated, as good or better than the German. Third, while the US industrial acheivement was indeed a major reason for Allied victory, Hastings forgets that large numbers of weapons alone cannot make a difference without the bravery, intelligence, and skill to use them properly. The ordinary servicemen of the Allied armies had all three, and that is why they won.
Hastings' "Bomber Commmand" was a good book, and he always writes well; but his general understanding of WWII is full of logical flaws and begged questions.
Here are a few future releases due out in 2012 that look very interesting:
by David R. DorondoDescription:
The history of the German cavalry, a combat arm that not only survived World War I but also rode to war again in 1939 Despite the enduring popular image of the blitzkrieg of World War II, the German Army always depended on horses and could not have waged war without them. While the Army's reliance on draft horses to pull artillery, supply wagons, and field kitchens is now generally acknowledged, David Dorondo's Riders of the Apocalypse examines the history of the German cavalry. Though concentrating on the period between 1939 and 1945, the book places that history firmly within the larger context of the mounted arm's development from the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 to the Third Reich's surrender. Driven by both internal and external constraints to retain mounted forces after 1918, the German Army effectively did nothing to reduce, much less eliminate, the preponderance of non-mechanised formations during its breakneck expansion under the Nazis after 1933. Instead, politicised command decisions, technical insufficiency, industrial bottlenecks, and, finally, wartime attrition meant that Army leaders were compelled to rely on a steadily growing number of combat horsemen throughout World War II. These horsemen were best represented by the 1st Cavalry Brigade which saw combat in Poland, the Netherlands, France, Russia, and Hungary. Their service, however, came to be cruelly dishonoured by the horsemen of the 8th Waffen-SS Cavalry Division, a unit whose troopers spent more time killing civilians than fighting enemy soldiers.
by Bryn HammondDescription:
The battle of El Alamein in 1942 was one of the most crucial events in the entire Second World War. Before it, the British had never won a major battle on land against the Germans; nor indeed had anyone else, even the Russians. At Alamein the British Eighth Army first thwarted the Axis attempts in North Africa to seize Cairo and the Suez Canal and then smashed through the German-Italian defences, eventually driving the Axis forces out of North Africa. This victory, by a 'British' army actually composed of a variety of nationalities including men and women from the Indian sub-continent, southern Africa, Australians, New Zealanders, French and Greeks, as well as British troops, had psychological and morale-raising significance that exceeded even its strategic importance. Nothing had the sweet smell of success prior to this battle than El Alamein and for the battered British Empire battling against the might of the Third Reich this victory was crucial to its ability to continue its war efforts.
El Alamein's significance went beyond the events of the war. The opposing army commanders were perhaps the first 'celebrity' generals, attracting the attention of press and newsreel reporters alike. This led to a host of myths and tales of idiosyncratic behaviour that were shamelessly exploited by the individuals themselves and, especially in Britain, eagerly devoured by a public enamoured of the romance of warfare in this remarkable and hostile environment where men were at war with each other as well as with the elements. Drawing on a remarkable array of first-hand accounts, this book reveals the personal experiences of those on the frontline, giving the individual's point of view of the battle, from all sides, and provide a fascinating account of the minutiae detail of how war was actually fought alongside the analysis of the strategic decisions made by the generals.
El Alamein 1942 is the story of exactly how a seemingly beaten and demoralized army turned near-defeat into victory in a little over four months of protracted and bloody fighting in the harsh North African desert and of the repercussions of the battle for the participants, for historians and in popular culture.
by Stuart D. GoldmanDescription:
The story of a little-known Soviet-Japanese conflict that influenced the outbreak and shaped the course of World War II In the summers of 1937, 1938, and 1939, Japan and the Soviet Union fought a series of border conflicts, the first being on the Amur River days before the outbreak of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War. In 1938, division-strength units fought a bloody two-week battle at Changkufeng near the Korea-Manchuria-Soviet border. The Nomonhan conflict (May-September 1939) on the Manchurian-Mongolian frontier, was a small undeclared war, with over 100,000 troops, 500 tanks and aircraft, and 30,000-50,000 killed and wounded. In the climactic battle, August 20-31, the Japanese were annihilated. This coincided precisely with the conclusion of the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact, the green light to Hitler's invasion of Poland and the outbreak of World War II one week later. This book relates these developments and weaves them together. The fact that these events coincided was not accidental. Europe was sliding toward war as Hitler prepared to attack Poland. Stalin sought to avoid a two-front war against Germany and Japan. His ideal outcome would be for the fascist/militarist capitalists (Germany, Italy, and Japan) to fight the bourgeois/democratic capitalists (Britain, France, and perhaps the United States), leaving the Soviet Union on the sidelines while the capitalists exhausted themselves. The Nazi-Soviet Pact pitted Germany against Britain and France and allowed Stalin to deal decisively with an isolated Japan, which he did at Nomonhan.
message 199:
by
Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
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'Aussie Rick' wrote: ".. by Stuart D. Goldman"Thanks Aussie Rick - looks interesting. Added to my TBR.
message 200:
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Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
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Found this browsing, and as I own offical histories on Food and Agriculture and find the home front really interesting I have ordered it:
by Daniel Smithand if this intrigues or interests you then this related title may too:
by Lizzie Collingham
THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP
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Just another title to tempt you with :)