THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP discussion
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New Release Books on WW2
I've read both of those and have his book on Saipan that I am yet to read.
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I've read both of those and have his book on Saipan that I am yet to read."I have the Saipan one as well. I'm sure it will be as good as the others!
The book I just finished, "Above the Pacific" (like "Above the Reich" and "The German Aces Speak" series has the full interviews with 3 MOH fighter pilots, Boyington, Foss and McCampbell.
SolidarityWithUkraine EldritchReadingReindeer wrote: "https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/...Intriguing perspective."
Great article, a very interesting read. Hopefully my copy of the book should arrive soon :)
Yeah, very interesting item, but I am not sure that that is a particularly new perspective, though. I am sure I read or heard Neil Ferguson say something along similar lines, and have read that from a Marxist perspective as well. I have not read Richard Overy before.
For those of you who can still be arsed to throw money at him, apparently the Beev has a new 'tween the wars book out later this month:
Russia: Revolution and Civil War 1917-1921
Among the ww2 authors Antony Beevor is the most widely read author by me. So far I have read 7 books of him. But except Stalingrad and D Day I did not find his books quite up to the mark. Richard Overy John Toland Ian Kershaw's writing style attracted me much more than Beevor. U may disagree with me but Beevor's books are filled with unnecessary details which had often bored me.
Stalingrad and Berlin were good when released, mainly down to their use of them fairly fresh Society archives. He began to dip after that, D-Day was pretty lazy, I can't actually remember anything from his Bulge book and his Arnhem work was awful when you took some time to think on it and compare it to the better works out there.
Jonny wrote: "Stalingrad and Berlin were good when released, mainly down to their use of them fairly fresh Society archives. He began to dip after that, D-Day was pretty lazy, I can't actually remember anything ..."I still can't put my finger on mediocrity by "the Beev" (love this! nicknames should be a trend for popular WWII authors) but it is true that Stalingrad & Berlin engrave entire anecdotal paragraphs on your mind, whereas the battles of Western Europe.. just don't.
I also liked Berlin the downfall. I found battle of the bulge absolutely disappointing. I have not read yet Arnhem, Spanish civil war and mystery of Olga Chekhorova.
Dimitri wrote: "Jonny wrote: "Stalingrad and Berlin were good when released, mainly down to their use of them fairly fresh Society archives. He began to dip after that, D-Day was pretty lazy, .."Several years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Antony Beevor at a local bookstore, where he spoke about his then new book, 'Ardennes 1944: The Battle of the Bulge.'
The Battle of the Bulge has a special resonance for me, because my late father, then a 19-year old GI in a segregated unit of Patton's Third Army, fought in it. I remember him telling me how horribly cold it was as they began the march into Belgium and later seeing so many dead GIs there.
I've also read Beevor's book "The Fall of Berlin 1945." But I confess I found "The Last Battle" by Cornelius Ryan more compelling.
KOMET wrote: "Dimitri wrote: "Jonny wrote: "Stalingrad and Berlin were good when released, mainly down to their use of them fairly fresh Society archives. He began to dip after that, D-Day was pretty lazy, .."..."
That's a nice link to your dad right there Komet. Have you tried caddick-Adams Snow and Steel: The Battle of the Bulge, 1944-45? From what I read of it (I have a suspicion a theme read got in the way), I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Interesting comparison to Ryan as well, in my (amateur) opinion Beev's Arnhem: The Battle for the Bridges, 1944 doesn't add much of anything to the classic A Bridge Too Far . Criminal in light of some of the works in the intervening period.
Caddick-Adams books on D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge have been the best books I have read on those subjects so far. I can understand the frustration with Antony Beevor. I still enjoy his books but as Jonny has stated, he could do a lot better considering what other books have been published lately.
Jonny wrote: That's a nice link to your dad right there Komet. Have you tried caddick-Adams Snow and Steel: The Battle of the Bulge, 1944-45?While I have both of Peter Caddick-Adams' books on D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge, I've yet to read them. But the current discussion in this forum has served to pique my curiosity about the latter book.
Over the past 30 years, there have been so many books published about the Battle of the Bulge. In 1992, I purchased at a local used bookstore the book 'A Time for Trumpets: The Untold Story of the Battle of the Bulge' by the late Charles B. MacDonald, a U.S. Army historian and himself a veteran who fought in the Battle of the Bulge as a junior infantry officer with the U.S. First Army. This book has within it a list of the various units (German, U.S., and British) that saw action during the Battle. [The U.S. 87th Infantry Division was of special interest to me as my late Dad's unit provided support for it during the Battle of the Bulge.]
Among a few other books on the Battle of the Bulge that are in my library: 'Hitler's Last Gamble: The Battle of the Bulge, December 1944-January 1945' by Trevor N. Dupuy, 'A G.I. in the Ardennes: The Battle of the Bulge' by Denis Hambucken, and 'To Win The Winter Sky: The Air War Over The Ardennes 1944-45' by Danny S. Parker.
Komet, I think you will quite enjoy "Snow & Steel" by Peter Caddick-Adams. Let us know how you go once you had a chance to read it.
KOMET wrote: "Jonny wrote: That's a nice link to your dad right there Komet. Have you tried caddick-Adams Snow and Steel: The Battle of the Bulge, 1944-45?While I have both of [author:Peter Caddick-Adams'|2539..."
I thought highly of Caddick-Adams' book on the Bulge.
An October release:
by Anthony Tucker-JonesDescription:
The Waffen-SS was one of the most formidable German military formations of the Second World War – feared for its tenacity and ruthlessness in battle, notorious for the atrocities it committed. As a distinct fighting force derived from the Nazi Party’s SS organization, it stood apart from the other units of the German army. Its origins, structure and operational role during the war are often misunderstood and the controversy still surrounding its conduct make it difficult today to get an accurate picture of its actions and its impact on the fighting. Anthony Tucker-Jones, in this concise and fluently written account, provides an absorbing and clear sighted introduction to it.
He traces its development under Himmler from modest beginnings in the early 1930s as Hitler’s personal protection squad of elite soldiers to a force which eventually amounted to thirty-eight divisions. Towards the end of the war many Waffen-SS units were formed from foreign volunteers and proved to be of poor quality, but its premier panzer divisions thoroughly deserved their reputation as tough fighters.
Through accounts of the Waffen-SS’s major battles on the Eastern Front, in Normandy and finally in defense of Germany, a detailed picture emerges of the contribution it made to the German war effort, especially when Hitler’s armies were in retreat. The parts played by the most famous Waffen-SS formations – Das Reich, Totenkopf, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler among them – and their commanders – men like Dietrich and Hausser – can be seen in the wider context of the war and Germany’s defeat.
Another:
by Timothy S. GoodDescription:
No weapon platform sank more U-boats in the Second World War than the Allied aircraft. Whether it was an American ’plane operating from American escort carriers, US aircraft from Royal Air Force bases, or British aircraft from bases throughout the world, these officers and men became the most decisive factor in turning the tide of the Battle of the Atlantic against the German submarine threat. While the German crews could threaten escort vessels with torpedoes, or avoid them by remaining submerged, their leaders never developed an effective strategy against aircraft.
However, the Allied aircraft did not enjoy much early success. British, Canadian and Australian air crews that fought the U-boats from 1939 until 1941 achieved few triumphs. They possessed neither the aircraft nor the bases necessary to deliver consistent lethal attacks against German submarines.
In 1941, the Royal Air Force finally began implementing an effective aircraft response when it initiated training on the American-built Consolidated B-24 Liberators. Supported by other types then in service, these four-engine bombers would prove to be decisive. With America’s entry into the war, the United States Navy and the United States Army Air Forces also began employing Liberators against the U-boats so that by mid-1943, the Admiral Karl Dönitz, commander of U-boat forces, withdrew his submarines from the North Atlantic in recognition of the Allied aircraft’s new dominance.
From Dönitz’s retreat to the end of the war, Allied aircraft continued to dominate the U-boat battle as it shifted to other areas including the Bay of Biscay. Dönitz eventually ordered his U-boats to remain on the surface and engage Allied aircraft as opposed to submerging. This approach did lead to the demise of some Allied aircraft, but it also resulted in even more U-boat being sunk. Most critically, Dönitz acknowledged with his new policy that he knew of no tactics or weapons that would defend his submarines from Allied aircraft. In the end, it was a matter of choosing whether his submariners would die submerged or die surfaced. Either way, Allied aircraft prevailed.
The Allied Air Campaign Against Hitler’s U-Boats is the most comprehensive study ever undertaken of this most crucial battle which helped turn the Battle of the Atlantic irrevocably in favor of the Allies.
Two books to keep an eye-out for, thanks for the notification Jerome.
One for Hornfischer fans as well as all. He was writing this when he passed away last year. His friends and coworkers put what was finished and helped with the existing research to complete this tale. 
Who Can Hold the Sea: The U.S. Navy in the Cold War 1945-1960
carl wrote: "One for Hornfischer fans as well as all. He was writing this when he passed away last year. His friends and coworkers put what was finished and helped with the existing research to complete this ta..."Got this one already. While I'm sad it will be the last book of his, I'm happy that at least there was one more.
carl wrote: "One for Hornfischer fans as well as all. He was writing this when he passed away last year. His friends and coworkers put what was finished and helped with the existing research to complete this ta..."I ordered a copy as soon as I saw it, still waiting for it to arrive.
Here is a new release that I am sure will interest a few group members; "Team America: Patton, Macarthur, Marshall, Eisenhower, and the World They Forged" by Robert L. O'Connell.
Team America: Patton, Macarthur, Marshall, Eisenhower, and the World They Forged by Robert L. O'ConnellDescription:
From national bestselling author and acclaimed military historian Robert L. O’Connell, a dynamic history of four military leaders whose extraordinary leadership and strategy led the United States to success during World War I and beyond.
By the first half of the twentieth century, technology had transformed warfare into a series of intense bloodbaths in which the line between soldiers and civilians was obliterated, resulting in the deaths of one hundred million people. During this period, four men exhibited unparalleled military leadership that led the United States victoriously through two World Wars: Douglas MacArthur, George Patton, George Marshall, and Dwight “Ike” Eisenhower; or, as bestselling author Robert O’Connell calls them, Team America.
O’Connell captures these men’s unique charisma as he chronicles the path each forged—from their upbringings to their educational experiences to their storied military careers—experiences that shaped them into majestic leaders who would play major roles in saving the free world and preserving the security of the United States in times of unparalleled danger. O’Connell shows how the lives of these men—all born within the span of a decade—twisted around each other like a giant braid in time. Throughout their careers, they would use each other brilliantly in a series of symbiotic relationships that would hold increasingly greater consequences.
At the end of their star-studded careers (twenty-four out of a possible twenty-five), O’Connell concludes that what set Team America apart was not their ability to wield the proverbial sword, but rather their ability to plot strategy, give orders, and inspire others. The key ingredients to their success was mental agility, a gravitas that masked their intensity, and an almost intuitive understanding of how armies in the millions actually functioned and fought. Without the leadership of these men, O’Connell makes clear, the world we know would be vastly different.
War in the Pacific: Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay
The first book of the series World War Two at Sea written by John Winton. Heavy bombardment with tonnage, maneuvers, and names of every regiment involved. But overall, it's a relatively light read, an overview of sorts, so I can recommend it.
4/5 from me.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Darya Silman wrote: "War in the Pacific: Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay
The first book of the series World War Two at Sea written by John W..."
Darya: I have read several of Winton's books. His bio of Andrew Cunningham is quite good.
Cunningham: The Greatest Admiral Since Nelson by John Winton.Also his book on the British Pacific Fleet during WW II --
The Forgotten Fleet: The British Navy in the Pacific, 1944-1945. I don't believe British naval ops in the Pacific are as "forgotten" now as they were in 1970.
Carrier Glorious: The Life And Death Of An Aircraft Carrier. An account to lend glory to a disastrous encounter at sea early in WW II.
Thank you for the recommendations. I'm planning to read Winton's other books. 'The Forgotten Fleet' that will come up in June 2022 is also his book. Maybe, it's just a new edition? I'm currently exploring the Pacific theatre, particularly this book
Mastering the Art of Command: Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and Victory in the PacificIt looks at Nimitz's leading skills from the sociological viewpoint. The book will be released in September 2022. I'll post a review after reading my advance copy.
Darya Silman wrote: "War in the Pacific: Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay
The first book of the series World War Two at Sea written by John W..."
Wow, this is a flashback! I read this one around 40 years ago I think. Really enjoyed it and read it more than once.
A September release:
by Ted BarrisDescription:
The years 2019 to 2025 mark the eightieth anniversary of the longest battle of the Second World War, the Battle of the Atlantic. It also proved to be the war’s most critical and dramatic battle of attrition. For five and a half years, German surface warships and submarines attempted to destroy Allied trans-Atlantic convoys, most of which were escorted by Royal Canadian destroyers and corvettes, as well as aircraft of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Throwing deadly U-boat “wolf packs” in the paths of the convoys, the German Kriegsmarine almost succeeded in cutting off this vital lifeline to a beleaguered Great Britain.
In 1939, the Royal Canadian Navy went to war with exactly thirteen warships and about 3,500 regular servicemen and reservists. During the desperate days and nights of the Battle of the Atlantic, the RCN grew to 400 fighting ships and over 100,000 men and women in uniform. By V-E Day in 1945, it had become the fourth largest navy in the world.
The story of Canada’s naval awakening from the dark, bloody winters of 1939–1942, to be “ready, aye, ready” to challenge the U-boats and drive them to defeat, is a Canadian wartime saga for the ages. While Canadians think of the Great War battle of Vimy Ridge as the country’s coming of age, it was the Battle of the Atlantic that proved Canada’s gauntlet to victory and a nation-building milestone.
Boudewijn wrote: "Released today:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Y64QMZT/..."
Yep, already have my copy :)
Here is a link for a book/site the group might find of interest. The book is called Crushing the Japanese Fleet. It is a part of the last major surface engagement in the Philippines about the last crossing of the T. https://www.facebook.com/commerce/pro...
Tank Combat in Spain: Armored Warfare During the Spanish Civil War 1936-1939 by Anthony Candilbecause personally, i'm sick of reading "the lessons of Spain were put to good use in Poland / France, full stop."
SYNOPSIS
Although Spain had been for many years on the periphery of the great affairs of Europe, within a few months of the Civil War breaking out in 1936, three out of the four major European powers—Italy, Germany, and the Soviet Union—decided to intervene. Spain turned out to be the perfect proving ground to carry out controlled, realistic experiments with live weapons and troops. This book covers the theories of the three main contributors that provided armor to the warring parties in the civil war, how those contributions shaped combat, and how the lessons learned were then applied to tank combat in World War II.
The use of tanks in the Spanish Civil War wedded traditional war to modern technology. The fighting in Spain did not offer any easy answers, however, to the question of infantry-armor cooperation, primarily because the tanks supplied were not very worthy and had been supplied in small numbers, even though the Republicans organized an ‘armored division.' The situation for the tanks on the Nationalist side was so bad in practical terms that they reused captured Russian armor in their units. Tank employment in Spain did offer many lessons, but the lessons did not always lie in what was done or accomplished but precisely on what was not done and was not accomplished.
REVIEW
https://www.miwsr.com/2022-014.aspx
Amazon also lists the table of content:
https://www.amazon.com/Tank-Combat-Sp...
Dimitri wrote: "Tank Combat in Spain: Armored Warfare During the Spanish Civil War 1936-1939 by [aut..."Thanks for those details Dimitri, it sounds like a book that should be in most military history libraries :)
A March 2023 release:
by Jeffrey R. CoxDescription:
Thousands of miles from friendly ports, the US Navy fought to turn the tide of World War II. Jeffrey Cox turns his razor-sharp focus to these final months of the Guadalcanal-Solomons Campaign. This is the central plotline running through this page-turning history beginning with the Japanese Operation I and the American ambush of Admiral Yamamoto; continuing with the Allied invasions of New Georgia, Bougainville, and the central and upper Solomons; and ending with the isolation of the Japanese base at Rabaul.
While the ambush of Yamamoto has received considerable attention in the intervening years, the remainder of this campaign, surprisingly, has not. Using first-hand accounts from both sides, this book vividly recreates all the terror and drama of these nighttime naval battles fought to secure the Allied landings. The reader can easily imagine the steely determination of Captain Arleigh Burke with his five destroyers intercepting a Japanese destroyer force at the Battle of Cape St. George, or the fear of an eighteen-year-old ensign as eight-inch naval shells wreak havoc on his cruiser.
Increasingly Allied dominance of the skies was the crucial factor in the campaign. Yet even with Japanese power in its twilight, victory was by no means assured. This book illustrates how formidable an enemy the Imperial Japanese Navy truly was and how victory here would ultimately ensure victory in the Pacific War.
Jerome wrote: "A February 2023 release:
by Jeffrey R. CoxDescription:
..."
Thanks for the info--definitely going to get this one!
The Digger of Kokoda: The Official Biography of Reg ChardThis comes out June 28th 2022 via Pan Macmillan Australia.
Rowan wrote: "The Digger of Kokoda: The Official Biography of Reg ChardThis comes out June 28th 2022 via Pan Macmil..."
Sounds like a book I will have to keep an eye-out for, thanks for posting those details Rowan.
I meet up with a local author, Stephen Robinson, for a coffee and chat about his latest release; "Eight Hundred Heroes: China's Lost Battalion and the Fall of Shanghai", which is his fourth book:
Eight Hundred Heroes: China's Lost Battalion and the Fall of Shanghai by Stephen RobinsonDescription:
Acclaimed historian Stephen Robinson brings to life a legendary last stand.
Shanghai 1937. With invading Japanese troops poised to capture one of the world’s greatest cities after almost three months of brutal urban warfare, the Chinese Army begins to retreat – except for a single battalion that stays behind to fight. These soldiers led by Lieutenant Colonel Xie Jinyuan, known as the ‘Eight Hundred Heroes’, defended Sihang Warehouse – a six-storey concrete building and natural fortress. The men repulsed waves of Japanese attacks with intense bravery as thousands of spectators looked on from the relative safety of the British Concession inside Shanghai’s International Settlement. Western journalists with front row seats to the spectacle spread the story across the globe as the plight of the heroes captured the sympathy of the world. Their valour raised Chinese morale as did the actions of the heroine Yang Huimin, a Girl Guide who delivered a Chinese flag to the defenders that flew over Sihang Warehouse as a beacon of hope.
Eight Hundred Heroes is an in-depth account, resulting from extensive research that for the first time comprehensively utilises first-hand accounts of the Chinese participants and the observations of westerners who witnessed the battle at close range. It also explains how this incredible feat of heroism became an enduring myth that helped define modern China.
There is also a movie on this battle titled; "The 800 Hundred":
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7294150/...
'Aussie Rick' wrote: The Digger of Kokoda: The Official Biography of Reg ChardThis comes out June 28th 2022 ..."
Upon reflection, I think Kokoda is to the Aussies what Guadalcanal is for us Americans.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...Members might be interested in my new book on Operation Aerial, the first time the full story of how 250,000 desperate souls were lifted from the ports around the Brittany and Atlantic coasts of France after Dunkirk has been told in one book.
Operation Aerial, Churchill’s second miracle of deliverance, was an audacious plan to bring home the disparate units of the BEF that were cut off after the fall of Dunkirk in June 1940, together with thousands of British citizens who were also trapped in France as the Germans advanced.
Amid the controversies and cover ups are stories of incredible resourcefulness. simple courage and remarkable heroism. Nurses on board the hospital ships, demolition teams that stayed, and the many ordinary soldiers and civilians who struggled through the chaos, confusion and disintegration of France to get back home so they could continue the battle against Hitler. There are many dramatic stories, including the sinking of the Lancastria at St Nazaire – Britain’s largest maritime loss of life – the surrender of the Highland Division at St Valery and the spiriting out of the world’s supply of heavy water from under the noses of the Nazis by an eccentric British aristocrat.
I would love to know what people think of the book and the stories it tells.
I didn't know if anyone captured this one:
by Richard OveryDescription:
Richard Overy sets out in Blood and Ruins to recast the way in which we view the Second World War and its origins and aftermath. As one of Britain’s most decorated and respected World War II historians, he argues that this was the “last imperial war,” with almost a century-long lead-up of global imperial expansion, which reached its peak in the territorial ambitions of Italy, Germany and Japan in the 1930s and early 1940s, before descending into the largest and costliest war in human history and the end, after 1945, of all territorial empires.
Overy also argues for a more global perspective on the war, one that looks broader than the typical focus on military conflict between the Allied and Axis states. Above all, Overy explains the bitter cost for those involved in fighting, and the exceptional level of crime and atrocity that marked the war and its protracted aftermath—which extended far beyond 1945.
Blood and Ruins is a masterpiece, a new and definitive look at the ultimate struggle over the future of the global order, which will compel us to view the war in novel and unfamiliar ways. Thought-provoking, original and challenging, Blood and Ruins sets out to understand the war anew.
Bryan wrote: "I didn't know if anyone captured this one: by Richard OveryDescription:
Richard Overy sets out in Blood and..."
Already captured and waiting to be read!
David wrote: "https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...Members might be interested in my new book on Operation Aerial, the first time the..."
Ten (10) years ago, I read "Churchill's Sacrifice of the Highland Division: France 1940" by Saul David. That book first brought my attention to that aspect of the War that I hitherto knew little about. That is, the fighting British forces engaged in in France against the Wehrmacht after Dunkirk, culminating with France's request to Nazi Germany for an armistice on June 18, 1940.
Your book has piqued my interest considerably. I'm buying it today.
Bryan wrote: "I didn't know if anyone captured this one: by Richard OveryDescription:
Richard Overy sets out in Blood and..."
I've captured a copy, its sitting in my library waiting to be read :)
David wrote: "https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...Members might be interested in my new book on Operation Aerial, the first time the..."
Sounds like a fascinating book! It's on my list!
An April 2023 release:
by James M. FenelonDescription:
The Pacific War in World War II pitted American fighting men against two merciless enemies: the fanatical Japanese army and the combined forces of monsoons, swamps, mud, privation, and disease.
The rowdy paratroopers of the 11th Airborne Division—nicknamed “The Angels”—answered the call and fought in some of World War II’s most dramatic campaigns, ranging from bloody skirmishes in New Guinea’s unforgiving rainforests to the ferocious battles of the Philippines, including the liberation of Leyte and the hellscape urban combat of Manila.
General Joseph Swing’s paratroopers weren’t trained for slogging jungle warfare, but high American casualties forced them into action. Swing kept his men supplied by airdropping food, ammunition, medical teams, and reinforcements over nearly impassable terrain, and the Angels fought on, emerging as one of the most lethal units in the Pacific War. Their final task was in the occupation of Japan, where they were the first American boots on the ground.
Angels Against the Sun provides an unforgettable grunt’s eye view of America’s victory in the Pacific.
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Bryan wrote: "I didn't know if anyone captured this one: by Richard OveryDescription:
Richard Overy sets ou..."
Have to keep us up to date on what you think of it.
September release. Suitable for those who are not afraid of academic style and have prior knowledge about Nimitz and/or WW2.. Mainly about strategy, tactics, and psychology.
Mastering the Art of Command: Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and Victory in the PacificMy review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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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[bookcover:Fly Boy He..."
Oh dang, gotta get this one. I've read two of Hallas' books so far (Peleliu and Okinawa) and really enjoyed both.