THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP discussion
BOOK DISCUSSIONS
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I'm Looking for a Book on........
Brothers, Rivals, Victors: Eisenhower, Patton, Bradley and the Partnership that Drove the Allied Conquest in Europe
Partners in Command: George Marshall & Dwight Eisenhower in War & Peace
A couple that might interest you.
The best book that I have read on Himmler so far was this title which was first published in the early 1990's:
Himmler by Peter Padfield
I have been reading that Peter Longerich is highly recommended. At over 1,000 pages it seems like a daunting task, lol.
Does anyone know good reference works/websites on SS headgear or the uniforms of the SS panzer troops? Asking for a friend who tries to verify the authenticity of a soft SS panzer cap.
Dimitri wrote: "Does anyone know good reference works/websites on SS headgear or the uniforms of the SS panzer troops? Asking for a friend who tries to verify the authenticity of a soft SS panzer cap."You might try Bender Publishing. They've published quite a few books on German uniforms.
http://www.bender-publishing.com/Home...
Dimitri wrote: "Does anyone know good reference works/websites on SS headgear or the uniforms of the SS panzer troops? Asking for a friend who tries to verify the authenticity of a soft SS panzer cap."I used this book as my reference/guide some many years ago, sadly I no longer have my copy.
Uniforms, Organization and History of the Panzertruppe by Roger James Bender
I'm watching an episode of What History Forgot on the American Heroes Channel and its about the Ritchie Boys. I knew that there were Jews that fled Europe, migrated to America, and joined the US Army to return to Europe to fight Hitler, but I never knew about them as the Ritchie Boys. I found two books - The Ritchie Boys and Sons and Soldiers by the same author, Bruce Henderson. Are these the same book, just printed on different sides of the pond? Anyone have other book recommendations? I feel like I was just given a gift, knowing that there is such a thing as the Ritchie Boys.
Theresa wrote: "I'm watching an episode of What History Forgot on the American Heroes Channel and its about the Ritchie Boys. I knew that there were Jews that fled Europe, migrated to America, and joined the US Ar..."They're the same book, Theresa
Theresa wrote: "I'm watching an episode of What History Forgot on the American Heroes Channel and its about the Ritchie Boys. I knew that there were Jews that fled Europe, migrated to America, and joined the US Ar..."I believe Churchill's German Army by Helen Fry is due to be republished soon.
Derek wrote: "Theresa wrote: "I'm watching an episode of What History Forgot on the American Heroes Channel and its about the Ritchie Boys. I knew that there were Jews that fled Europe, migrated to America, and ..."I just put that on my to read list.
I am interested in any books about flying boats -- aircraft, operations, accounts of or by pilots or crewmembers, tactics, etc. Any recommendations?
Howdy MR9, just finished this good one:
China Clipper: The Age of the Great Flying Boats|
Manray9 wrote: "I am interested in any books about flying boats -- aircraft, operations, accounts of or by pilots or crewmembers, tactics, etc. Any recommendations?"
message 1371:
by
Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
(new)
If you can get a copy then this is a nice one that covers the Walrus's war work including its role as air-sea rescue:The Supermarine Walrus: The story of a unique aircraft by George William Robert Nicholl
Note: Author entry on GR but not the book.
carl wrote: "Howdy MR9, just finished this good one: 
China Clipper: The Age of the Great Flying Boats|
Manray9 wrote: "I am interested..."
Thanks, Carl. I have that one already.
Geevee wrote: "If you can get a copy then this is a nice one that covers the Walrus's war work including its role as air-sea rescue:The Supermarine Walrus: The story of a unique aircraft by [author:George Willi..."
Thanks, Geevee.
Manray9 wrote: "I am interested in any books about flying boats -- aircraft, operations, accounts of or by pilots or crewmembers, tactics, etc. Any recommendations?"Have you come across Corsairville: The Lost Domain of the Flying Boat by Graham Coster? The core of it is an Imperial Airways C-Class boat forced to put down on a muddy creek in the Belgian Congo just before WW2, and the efforts to get her out again. The author ranges fascinatingly over the whole topic of flying boat history, construction and operation.
Derek wrote: "Manray9 wrote: "I am interested in any books about flying boats -- aircraft, operations, accounts of or by pilots or crewmembers, tactics, etc. Any recommendations?"Have you come across [book:Cor..."
Derek: I have a copy, unread. Thanks.
Sir Frances Chichester is a kinda hero of mine. He did sail around the wold, solo, before that became an annual race.Many years ago he tried to fly around the worlds in a small seaplane a Gipsy Mouth..
Gipsy Moth Circles the World
Not a war book, but I liked it and he tells a lot about his time flying a seaplane.
Phrodrick wrote: "Sir Frances Chichester is a kinda hero of mine. He did sail around the wold, solo, before that became an annual race.Many years ago he tried to fly around the worlds in a small seaplane a Gipsy Mo..."
I had the pleasure of going on the Gypsy Moth at Greenidge in London. It was beside the tea clipper The Cutty Sark that sadly burnt to the water line not long after I was there. I do have a couple of Chichester books that came to me from my dad. Interestingly (to me at least) my dad was born not far from the city of Chichester in West Sussex in the south of England.
One of our group members is looking for a book:Jerry: I just finished up Ian Toll's trilogy on the Pacific War. Obviously it touched on the Mahattan Project. Can anyone recommend a good book about the Project? I don't want a physics lesson about the bomb, I'm more interested in what it was like living at Los Alamos and some of the other sites.
Any suggestions appreciated.
Thank you,
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "One of our group members is looking for a book:Jerry: I just finished up Ian Toll's trilogy on the Pacific War. Obviously it touched on the Mahattan Project. Can anyone recommend a good book abou..."
Since I haven't read it, but seems like an obvious candidate for at least browsing I'll suggest looking more into;
Pulitzer winning The Making of the Atomic Bomb
No idea how much it has on the life in Los Alamos, but I'll bet someone in here has read it being over 30y old "classic" on the subject. And if one gets his hands on it, I'll make another bet that it's sources list has some book covering the los alamos part.
Hi Rick,I read it a long time ago, rated it two stars back then. I don't really recall why, as it's too long ago. I remember the description of the Japanese survivors of the aftermath after the bomb exploded were really haunting.
If you're looking for a book focussing on the Los Alamos period, I think this book would not be the right one.
I read The Bomb: A Life a while back; decent on Manhattan and way beyond, or Shockwave: the countdown to Hiroshima had a decent section on it too.
Does anyone know of any good (non-fiction) accounts by/about Hungarian forced laborers?Or books that focus on Truman's actions and reactions with respect to the Holocaust?
Thank you!
Two very interesting topics Bernice. I don't know of any books in answer to your question but hopefully another group member may be able to help ...
Bernice wrote: "Does anyone know of any good (non-fiction) accounts by/about Hungarian forced laborers?Or books that focus on Truman's actions and reactions with respect to the Holocaust?
Thank you!"
Well doing a search I found one on the forced Labor, it is spendy, to say the least. I would suggest trying interlibrary loans to see if you can get a copy to look at before shelling out that much money.
https://www.amazon.com/Conscripted-Sl...
For Truman I found these
https://www.amazon.com/Conscripted-Sl...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archiv...
They seem more articles than actual books though.
Hope that helps.
Bernice wrote: "Does anyone know of any good (non-fiction) accounts by/about Hungarian forced laborers?Or books that focus on Truman's actions and reactions with respect to the Holocaust?
Thank you!"
Wikipedia has a section on forced labor in WWII Hungary, with a few references that you might wish to check out.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labou....
Randolph L. Braham
Judit Takács
I am looking for a book on Japanese occupation of Vietnam in WW2 and how the allies liberated Vietnam from the Japanese as well as Vietminh's resistance against Japanese. Can u plz suggest me one ?
Dipanjan wrote: "I am looking for a book on Japanese occupation of Vietnam in WW2 and how the allies liberated Vietnam from the Japanese as well as Vietminh's resistance against Japanese. Can u plz suggest me one ?"This book may offer something on the subject:
Vietnam 1945: The Quest For Power by David G. Marr
Dipanjan wrote: "I am looking for a book on Japanese occupation of Vietnam in WW2 and how the allies liberated Vietnam from the Japanese as well as Vietminh's resistance against Japanese. Can u plz suggest me one ?"And this one:
History of Vietnam, Early History: World War II and Japanese Occupation, First Indochina War, Second Indochina War, Government, Politics, Economy by Sampson Jerry
Looking to read up on the USS Indianapolis. I have been reading a lot of WWII naval history over the last few years and the sinking of that cruiser is something I would like to zero in on.I have access to some decent local libraries and bookstores to hunt for quality stuff. But I would appreciate it if those who respond would limit their lists to their Top 3 book choices. That way I can keep my own "hunt list" at a more manageable size. Thanks :-)
My two favourite books on the subject have been so far:
In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors by Doug Stanton
Abandon Ship!: The Saga of the U.S.S. Indianapolis, the Navy's Greatest Sea Disaster by Richard F. NewcombPlus I have a copy of this latest book on the subject that I am yet to read:
Indianapolis: The True Story of the Worst Sea Disaster in U.S. Naval History and the Fifty-Year Fight to Exonerate an Innocent Man by Lynn Vincent
James wrote: "Thanks, Rick! I will add them to the first draft of my hunt list. :-)"I hope you find copies and you enjoy them as much as I did.
An interesting niche of the war. Usually you only find references to the occupation in stories about Ho Chi Minh. I'll also be interested in the responses. Dipanjan wrote: "I am looking for a book on Japanese occupation of Vietnam in WW2 and how the allies liberated Vietnam from the Japanese as well as Vietminh's resistance against Japanese. Can u plz suggest me one ?"
Dipanjan wrote: "I am looking for a book on Japanese occupation of Vietnam in WW2 and how the allies liberated Vietnam from the Japanese as well as Vietminh's resistance against Japanese. Can u plz suggest me one ?"Dipanjan: Here are two that I've read relevant to the topic, but not exclusively so:
Ho Chi Minh: A Life by William Duiker.
My Own River Kwai by Pierre Boulle.Boulle's book is a personal account of his attempt as a Free French officer to infiltrate Vichyite Vietnam while it was under Japanese occupation. Later he wrote The Bridge Over the River Kwai.
Currently I am reading a historical fiction, The nightingale. It is set in occupied France during WW2. The book is fairly good, and it made me curious about what life exactly was for ordinary people during that time. So what I'm looking for is something non-fiction about life in a Nazi occupied France. Any suggestions?
Dipanjan wrote: "I am looking for a book on Japanese occupation of Vietnam in WW2 and how the allies liberated Vietnam from the Japanese as well as Vietminh's resistance against Japanese. Can u plz suggest me one ?"I forgot this one, Dipanjan:
The OSS and Ho Chi Minh: Unexpected Allies in the War Against Japan by Dixee R. Bartholomew-Feis.
Reshteen wrote: "Currently I am reading a historical fiction, The nightingale. It is set in occupied France during WW2. The book is fairly good, and it made me curious about what life exactly was for ordinary peopl..."This book might get you started Reshteen:
When Paris Went Dark: The City of Light Under German Occupation, 1940-1944 by Ronald C. Rosbottom
Books mentioned in this topic
Hap Arnold: The General Who Invented the US Air Force (other topics)Hap Arnold and the Evolution of American Airpower (other topics)
Hap The Story of the U.S. Air Force and the Man who Built It (other topics)
Hap Arnold: The General Who Invented the US Air Force (other topics)
Soldier Dead: How We Recover, Identify, Bury, and Honor Our Military Fallen (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Thomas M. Coffey (other topics)Dik A. Daso (other topics)
Bill Yenne (other topics)
Mike (Michael) Sledge (other topics)
James Sidney Lucas (other topics)
More...




This book is a very good military account of Okinawa:
This is more recent publication and a very good general account with lots of first-hand accounts.