Book that started it all......

[Michael, Assisting Moderator Axis Forces]

For me it was that started my obsession.

[carl]

Nicole wrote: " but the Bataan episode always stuck with me. I"

Bataan stories always stuck w/me too for some reason. i recall when i was in 4th grade i needed to write a history paper of some sort and my Dad encouraged me to write about General Wainwright.
I'm sure I didn't know quite what I was doing and
now that I think about it amid all the stories
of George Washington and Abe Lincoln the teacher was
probably saying what's with this kid?

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

General Wainwright certainly deserves to be remembered. Now you got me wanting to read up on him!

by Duane P. Schultz

Talking about Bataan, I've ordered this new release on the battle:

by Bill Sloan

And I have this book that I am yet to read:

by B. David Mann

[carl]

mixing w/the movie thread; 'Proudly We Hail'
1943 is a good flic about bataan from a different
perspective.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "General Wainwright certainly deserves to be remembered. Now you got me wanting to read up on him!
"

[Ashley]

I think my interest has always been WWII because of Saving Private Ryan, Pearl Harbor, and my history teachers class (even my Japanese class when we did history portions). One of the earlier books is the Children's War,
but now I have started slowly getting more and more WWII books to slowly read up on (already read Band Of Brothers). I enjoy learning more about this time period with each version and new point of view

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Hi Ashley, it's a very interesting period of history, so many different aspects, areas, places and people to learn about and as you mentioned quite a few different points of view!

[Ashley]

Yes, it's very diverse period in history to read on! I've been interested in reading more of other countries (or people in other countries) point of view of the world since we've been drilled in high school and college classes (on WWII) the american point of view. The first time my japanese teacher talked about the war it was interesting to see and read all these things about what they thought of the war, and what they were told. Its amazing. I'm hoping in this group maybe I can find some more like that eventually.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Ashley that is a magnificent opportunity with your Japanese teacher to talk and discuss their country's views.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Hi Ashley, if you wnat to read about the Japanese perspective of the war apparently this book is very good:

by Haruko Taya Cook

I heard such good reviews about it that I sought out a HB second hand copy for my library, I haven't read it yet though.

[happy]

This probably dates me but Flying Fortress: The Illustrated Biography of the B-17s and the Men Who Flew Them was what really got me hooked and I've been fascinated with WWII in general and B-17's in particular ever since (that was over 45 yrs ago)

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

That sounds like a pretty good book Happy. The B-17 is a lovely plane so I can understand your fascination with it and the crews that flew them over Europe.


by Edward Jablonski

[Nick]

The book that first got me hooked on WW2 and U-Boats in particular was Iron Coffins by former U-Boat captain Herbert Werner.



This is a later edition, but I read the first edition from our local library when I was a kid back in the 70's. When I became an adult I made sure to buy my own copy, which became the first volume in my library of U-boat and submarine books. I now have at least 50 books on that topic alone.

As a kid I also read my uncle's full set of Time Life WW2 books. He was a D-Day veteran of the 101st Airborne. When he passed away my aunt gave me all of his WW2 books and I value them highly.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Hi Nick, that's a great story about your uncle, a D-Day vet with the 101 Airborne, imagine what stories and history he had tucked away in his head! I bet it must feel pretty good to have his WW2 books.

[carl]

hey nick, 'Iron Coffins' is a good one. i got it
when it first came out and i still have my copy.
good story about your uncle!

Nick wrote: "The book that first got me hooked on WW2 and U-Boats in particular was Iron Coffins by former U-Boat captain Herbert Werner.

[bookcover:Iron Coffins: A Personal Account Of The German U-boat Battle..."

[[deleted user]]

My dad, aside from being an officer in the Army for 30 years, is a big fan of military history, and his book shelf always had fascinating books about WWII and other wars. We've had long discussions about particular aspects of the war....equipment, tactics, certain battles, etc.......and I remember watching "World at War" with him when it was airing on PBS back in the 70's, though for the longest time all I could remember was the opening sequence until I saw it again on VHS years later.

One set of books that I would turn to a lot in my youth, and got me on the path to more reading, was the Ballentine's History of WWII books. I have a little more then 30 of the 150 or so books they published, but I found them intriguing.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Great TV series The World at War, I got the re-release series on DVD and I'm half way through watching it.

I'm glad you mentioned Ballentine's History of WWII books, they were a great series. I had about 20 of them and packed them about with me everytime I moved house.

[carl]

oh yes, still have a dozen or so Ballantine books.
just saw 'Battle of the Bulge' at a used bookstore, but i already have that one. fun to look in the back and see the book lists for ordering, $1.25 and such!


'Aussie Rick' wrote: "

I'm glad you mentioned Ballentine's History of WWII books, they were a great series. I ha..."

[[deleted user]]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Great TV series The World at War, I got the re-release series on DVD and I'm half way through watching it.

I'm glad you mentioned Ballentine's History of WWII books, they were a great series. I ha..."

I saw it recently, I think History International was airing it for a while. I need to pick up the DVDs at some point.

I see the Ballentine's books quite a bit, but they almost always have the ones that I already have. My two favorites are Martin Caidin's "ME 109" book and John Vader's "Spitfire".

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

They were a great series of books to get you interested in WW2.

[David A]

Wade wrote: "Welcome David..you have found the BEST group site on the web....We have many knowledgable members who have wide and expansive comprehention of WW2.Our members are very generous in sharring their v..."

Wade i never replied to your welcome, so forguive me and thanks. Good to be here.

[Wade]

Good to have you David....

[David A]

Cheers Wade.

[Mansoor]

Nick wrote: "The book that first got me hooked on WW2 and U-Boats in particular was Iron Coffins by former U-Boat captain Herbert Werner.

[bookcover:Iron Coffins: A Personal Account Of The German U-boat Battle..."

great account this Iron Coffins.. a good read indeed

[Mackenzie]

I'm not quite sure what got me interested in WWII, although I do know that it started about six years ago when I was in middle school. History has always been my favorite topic/subject, yet I wasn't really into warfare until then. I do believe I owe the credit to my seventh grade Social Studies teacher.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Was that a good thing Mackenzie? Some teachers really inspire people to learn more, others turn you off school!

[[deleted user]]

With my Dad being a WWII/Pearl Harbor veteran, I grew up listening to his stories of the war. The book that started my reading interest in WWII, however, was Walter Lord's Day of Infamy.

I also enjoyed many hours of reading my Dad's stack of the 7th Army Air Corps magazines - The Brief, which he saved from the war, and the monthly newsletters from the Pearl Harbor Survivor's Association that came in the mail. Also back in the 60s, I spent a great deal of time reading World Book Encyclopedia and Encyclopedia Britannica.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

A classic book Day of Infamy! It must have been pretty amazing as a young kid hearing history being told by your father.


by Walter Lord

[Mackenzie]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Was that a good thing Mackenzie? Some teachers really inspire people to learn more, others turn you off school!"

It certainly was! I love WWII.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Excellent :)

[Joe]

I read "The Rising Tide" by Jeff Shaara (2006) and was hooked. Although considered a work of fiction, his books are based on real characters and real events, apparently some of the narrative is partly his own and thus needs to be labeled as fiction. This is the first book of a triology he wrote on the European theatre of WWII and it inspired me to want to learn more and more on the subject. I've since read the trilogy and highly recommend any of his work to the group.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Thanks Joe, I've not read any of his works but have considered his novel on the Mexican War, as it has characters who later are involved in the American Civil War by Jeff Shaara

[happy]

Geevee wrote: "Thanks Joe, I've not read any of his works but have considered his novel on the Mexican War, as it has characters who later are involved in the American Civil War by ..."

He has a total of 4 books on WW II - three set in the ETO





and one on Okinawa/the Atomic Bombings



He has written about the major wars the US has been involved with except the War of 1812, Spanish American, Korea and Viet Nam.

Currently he has gone back to the Civil war and is working on a trilogy on the War in the West.

I think he does an excellent job and would recommend all of his books

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Look good for holiday reading then - just checked my library and they have 2 of his books (one civil war and one WWI).

[Jolo]

The First book I ever read on the Second World War was a collection of periodicals from Time and Life Magazine that was condensed (unofficially) into one book by my school's library. It showed photos from both the Pacific and European theaters of war, much of which were incredibly graphic in nature. That certainly peaked my interest. But the definitive book that made me want to learn more about the Second World War in general, and the Third Reich in particular, was William Shirer's "Rise and Fall of the Third Reich", which I got from a second hand book shop.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Thanks for sharing your story Jolo, it seems a few members of the group got interested in WW2 due to William Shirer's Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.

[Jolo]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Thanks for sharing your story Jolo, it seems a few members of the group got interested in WW2 due to William Shirer's Rise and Fall of the Third Reich."

That's actually rather surprising. Shirer had his unfair biases but he was a good story teller. Before him, much of what I knew about the War was generic and pointless. After him, every thing made more sense in terms of historicity and importance of history thereof.

Totalitarianism fascinated me (not in the sense that I think a state should impose it on its people, much less others, but rather on how and why it worked as well as how and why it failed), and Shirer definitely gave a vivid idea of it's machinations. I think it's a good start for anyone wanting to learn about tyranny, despite its imposing breadth. LOL!

[Jolo]

Jolo wrote: "'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Thanks for sharing your story Jolo, it seems a few members of the group got interested in WW2 due to William Shirer's Rise and Fall of the Third Reich."

That's actually rathe..."

Oh wait! I read that wrong! LOL... Sorry!

In that light, Great Job everyone!

[Morgiana]

whoff, this is a really interesting question, I thought about it, and I found out I was always fascinated with WW2 since my childhood, but the first book what got me hooked it was William Shirer's Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Good book to get started on Morgiana!

[Morgiana]

You see Rick? I was able to start with one of the thickest book about WW2 when I was a teen (asked it already for Christmas, LOL!)
:)

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

You did well! I bet your parents were surprised :)

[Morgiana]

hmm, good question if my parents were surprised - they knew I am a bookworm (as I proudly say) so when I asked a book for birthdays/Christmas/every other occasion they weren't/aren't surprised.
But this book should be a surprise for them - when they looked at the size at least:)

[David A]

Morgiana wrote: "whoff, this is a really interesting question, I thought about it, and I found out I was always fascinated with WW2 since my childhood, but the first book what got me hooked it was William Shirer's ..."

Excellent book choice to get started Morgiana. I loved u and it read like a novel almost

[Morgiana]

David, yes, you are right - there was a lot of Shirer's personal things but it just added a big plus to this book, right?

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

I really must find the time to read it.

[Ryan]

Earliest non-fiction WW2 book I remember reading-

The Heroes by Ronald McKie. Must have been 10 or 11. Been fascinated with Jaywick and Rimau ever since. Have also watched both mini-series based on the story and read several other books on the subject. By now of course I have read many hundreds of books on WW2.

[Morgiana]

Ryan, never heard about this book - I'll check this out, but I think I have to put it already on my TBR-list;)

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Thanks Ryan looks very interesting and I've not read anything on Operation Jaywick - added to my TBR.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Hi Ryan,

I don't think I have read The Heroes but a few years ago I read this account and really enjoyed it:


(no cover) The Heroes Of Rimau: Unravelling The Mystery Of One Of World War Ii's Most Daring Raids by Lynette Ramsay Silver

[Ryan]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Hi Ryan,

I don't think I have read The Heroes but a few years ago I read this account and really enjoyed it:


[bookcover:The Heroes Of Rimau: Unravelling The Mystery Of One Of World War Ii's Most..."

Thanks I will try to get hold of it. The last book I read on the subject was Kill the Tiger by Peter Thompson and Robert Macklin. I can't say I would recommend it. These guys come to some very overblown conclusions. I didn't like the almost tabloid journalism style of writing either. Disappointing.