I'm Looking for a Book on........ Showing 101-150 of 1,652

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Hi Jerome,

I have a copy of this book in my library waiting to be read that should cover the area your interested in:

by Robert Lyman
Description:
It is commonly held that Montgomery's 1942 victory at El Alamein was the turning point in Britain's fortunes during the Second World War - that it was 'the end of the beginning' (Churchill). However, Robert Lyman reveals here how in the summer of 1941, beleaguered British forces put together a series of largely forgotten victories in Iraq, Syria and Iran that secured crucial supplies of oil and curbed dangerous German expansion in the region. It's an exciting story of victories achieved against the odds - fraught negotiations between London, Cairo and New Delhi, hastily assembled troops and campaigns fought and won in harsh desert conditions. The siege of the RAF base at Lake Habbaniya in Iraq is a brilliant example of this, and forms one of the most exciting passages in the book. 1941 could have been the year in which Britain lost the war - Lyman reveals here how close we came.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Thanks Rick I'd not seen this and looks a nice accompaniment to

[carl]

GV reveals his romantic side ...


Geevee wrote: "Hi Limcj, not sure if these are what you are looking for:
."

[carl]

this book has chapters on the the Commando roles in
Middle East theater:




Jerome wrote: "I'm looking for some books covering the fighting in Syria, Iran, and the Middle East in general. Anyone?"

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

carl wrote: "GV reveals his romantic side ...


Geevee wrote: "Hi Limcj, not sure if these are what you are looking for:
.""

Indeed - or the stuff my mum reads :)

[A.L.]

Hi! I read about a camp on the island of Vis (Tito territory in the Adriatic) where the Yugoslav Partisans sent their political prisoners during WWII. I’ve only found a teeny bit of information about it, in Ally Betrayed by David Martin (and he was writing with a clear anti-Communist slant). I’m wondering if anyone else had ever heard anything about the camp, or can recommend a book, magazine article, or website about it. Thanks!

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Hi A.L., that's a hard one. I did come across a book first published in the late 1970's that may provide some of the information your looking for. It's titled; Island of Terrible Friends by Bill Strutton. Below is a link to it at Amazon with some reviews and below that a Kirkus Review:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Island-Terrib...

This is the story of the island of Vis, the ""umbilicus"" on the soft underbelly of Europe- the Balkan peninsula, which during World War II was surrounded by Germans and which was a last stronghold to be held at all costs by a few Commandos and some of Tito's partisans. Major Rickett, a surgeon, with a team of two, was sent there to set up a hospital with no facilities to cope with- a local unit headed by a Jugoslavian gynecologist who bungled most procedures; a cascade of casualties which required drastic surgery without antibiotics, a blood bank, oxygen; wounds which were often infected if not infested (maggots); and the dead for which there was no mortuary space. Still there was Madame Zena, an indomitable little woman who even managed to ""kidnap"" an X-ray machine on the mainland; the incredible courage of the partisans as they fought their bitterly personal war (the Germans were more barbaric- castration for enemy children); and the sometimes funny as well as fantastic scenes of life and death on this isolated outpost of resistance. The account here, more spit than polish, is stringent and spirited and it should mobilize the reader to strict attention.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

A.L. wrote: "Hi! I read about a camp on the island of Vis (Tito territory in the Adriatic) where the Yugoslav Partisans sent their political prisoners during WWII. I’ve only found a teeny bit of information abo..."

Hi A.L. I've not read anything of it so wondered if these are of any help - I did a quick search as I'd not heard of it:

by Marcia Kurapovna

http://www.pahh.com/oss/straight04.html

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Good find Geevee!

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

aye I can be an expert when I have google ;)

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Me too!

[A.L.]

Thank you Geevee and Aussie Rick. I read Shadows on the Mountain recently and although it does a decent job of covering WWII Yugoslavia, it doesn't mention any prison camps on Vis. And I just finished reading Major Rickett's memoirs (Stretchers Not Available), but maybe Bill Strutton adds some details in his account. Guess I'll try to track down a copy of Island of Terrible Friends. Thank you for your suggestions!

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Lots of luck A.L. !

[Antoine]

I read "Island of Terrible Friends" several years before I read Thomas Keneally's "A Season in Purgatory". The latter purports to be a novel but seems to import most of the most important incidents in it, down to small details, from "Island of Terrible Friends" without any apparent acknowledgement. Was there any agreement between the authors abut this?

[Christie]

Ashley wrote: "Oh I could use this topic... I'm wondering if anyone knows any good books on the battle of the bulge?"

New to the group, so not sure if this one has been recommended or not, but two of the best I've read are and

[Christie]

Geevee wrote: "Morgiana I've not read this but it has very good reviews: by Roger Moorhouse

This book about Claus Stauffenber..."

Morgiana,
Here are a couple that I've read on the July 20th assassination attempt as well as the origin of the plot to kill Hitler prior to the beginning of WWII that were pretty good

The Secret Plot to Kill Hitler and The Oster Conspiracy of 1938: The Unknown Story of the Military Plot to Kill Hitler & Avert World War II

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Good recommendations Christie :)

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

One of our newer members Tacgo, had this question in relation to a book he is looking for, if anyone has any suggestions:

Just wanted to say - I just finished reading a marvelous book (although I now find it is over a year old) but thought it was very incisive and informative - and presented a whole new view of the Luftwaffe and the Nazi hierarchy......

The German Aces Speak: World War II Through the Eyes of Four of the Luftwaffe's Most Important Commanders 0 by Heaton, Lewis & Guttman.....

How did others find the book???

I now would like to find a comparable book from the Brits......

I look forward to being part of the group.....

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Hi Tacgo,
Hope some of these are of interest:

by Dilip Sarkar

by Patrick Bishop

by Jimmy Corbin

by Geoffrey Wellum

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Good recommendations there Geevee, a few of my favourites!

Tacgo you could also try these titles:

by Joshua Levine

by Brian Lane

by Mike Spick

[Wade]

I am looking for book(s) on the zGerman garrison troops left behind in Lorient,St. Nazaire, Brest, ect...am i correct in understanding that most or all of these port fortifications held out for the remainder of the war in Europe.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Hi Wade, I think Lorient and St. Nazaire held out till the end of the war however Brest was taken in September 1944 but due to the cost I think the Allied high command decided to just surround the other heavily fortified coastal bases and by pass them:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_f...

I recently ordered a copy of this book which is supposed to cover the fighting around Breast:

by Joseph Balkoski

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Wade this might contain some references too: by Randolph Bradham

[carl]

hey wade, this book contains some references to brittany, as that was also the responsibility of the 7th Army. As most forces were transferred to normandy, the germans gave up on trying to control the country-side, so withdrew early into the fortresses.

whereas w/cherbourg, they fought outside the city as long as they could, then withdrew into the city for the grand finale.

[Wade]

Thanks to all for the fine sugjestions....best group ever,,,,

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

One more book for you to consider Wade is Smashing The Atlantic Wall which seems to give a general overview of the campaign & battles against the coastal fortresses in Europe.

by Patrick Delaforce
Description:
When Adolf Hitler reluctantly called off the proposed invasion of Britain in the autumn of 1940, he immediately ordered by secret edict the building of his Atlantic Wall. The Todt Organisation, which used slave labour, was entrusted with this monumental task along 1500 miles of coastline. Hitler had an unexpected talent: he personally designed the layout and military defences of each fortress and the selection of the fortress commandant. All the glamour and news headlines concentrated on the Allied army's successes. No one gave a thought to the forgotten formations of Americans left behind in Brittany, or Canadians and British fighting in appalling condition. The forces fighting their 'horrible little battles' called it 'The Cinderella War' and this book is the record of their bravery and determination.

[Wade]

OK

[Wade]

What is avaliable on the British Navy in the Pacific in WW2?....thanks

[Jerome]

Hope these help, Wade:

The Forgotten Fleet by John Winton

Operation Pacific: The Royal Navy's War Against Japan, 1941-1945 by Edwyn Gray

by Gerald Horne

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Some good suggestions there Jerome, thanks. You could also check these books out Wade:


by Peter C. Smith

by David Hobbs

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Wade aside from the fine recommendations by Rick and Jerome, I'd recommend:

by Martin Middlebrook

[happy]

That one looks good Geevee - As a general rule I've like the stuff I've read of his. It looks my tbr list just got longer :)

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Happy it is good - I thought, and again for me Mr Middlebrook's scene setting, description of action and the use of survivors' recollections was very well written.

Have you read this by him: (Apologies this is not the right thread for this one).

[happy]

I haven't - another entry to the tbr list

[Wade]

Thanks to ALL for the info.///I will be adding some British Navy/Pacific to my collection....those sugjestions are EXACTLY what i am looking for....own/read Mr.MBrook's Prince of Wales work itis most enjoyable...until later thanks again.i am out.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I think I have read nearly all of Martin Middlebrook's military titles and I don't think I have read a bad one yet. His book on the Somme was 'the' book that got me interested in WW1, a great writer.

by Martin Middlebrook

[A.L.]

Antoine wrote: "I read "Island of Terrible Friends" several years before I read Thomas Keneally's "A Season in Purgatory". The latter purports to be a novel but seems to import most of the most important incidents..."

I managed to find a copy of Island of Terrible Friends, but I didn’t see any information about A Season in Purgatory, mentioned by Antoine. The same author, Bill Strutton, also wrote Commando Force 133, which looks very similar to Island of Terrible Friends. And the main figure in all the books, Major Jim Rickett, wrote some memoirs, published with some additions by his son as Stretchers Not Available. So it seems there are several very similar versions of the same events. Stretchers Not Available mentioned a thanks to Bill Strutton, and Bill Strutton thanks Jim Rickett for his assistance with Island of Terrible Friends, but other than that I haven’t seen any info about how much the writers of the accounts collaborated with each other.

If anyone is interested, there was a camp the Partisans sent their political and military prisoners to, but it wasn’t on Vis after all. It was on Bisevo, an even smaller island just off the coast of Vis. Thank you Aussie Rick, Geevee, and Antoine for your help. I found the information I needed!

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Hi A.L.

Glad to hear you found the information you were looking for, a very interesting subject by the sounds of it!

[carl]

i've been looking for 'First Day on the Somme' at
used book stores for years, ever since i saw it
on a 'best of' list for history. one of these days ...

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I think I have read nearly all of Martin Middlebrook's military titles and I don't think I have read a bad one yet. His book on the Somme was 'the' book that got me interested in WW1, a great write..."

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Fingers crossed Carl, I found my copy at a second-hand book shop.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

A.L. wrote: "If anyone is interested, there was a camp the Partisans sent their political and military prisoners to, but it wasn’t on Vis after all. It was on Bisevo, an even smaller island just off the coast of Vis. ..."

Hi A.L. I'm pleased you found the info that you wanted, and as Rick says it does sound interesting especially through it being a subject many are unaware of..

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I have moved this request from one of our members (Singleton) in the hope somebody may be able to help:


In May I will be visiting northern France and the crossing site of the Meuse at Montherme in particular.
It was here one of the three German spearheads breached the Meuse defence (the others being Sedan and Dinant). Montherme was a hard and tough battle for the Germans and the least succesful.

Now, I have read some short accounts of this part of the battle but not yet a full book or full study which I can read before visiting the site.

Who can recommend a good book?

[Paul]

(I also posted this on the other thread, but since AR moved it here, I will, also.)

Here is a pretty cool link, Singleton:

http://johnsmilitaryhistory.com/Month...

That is part of a larger site that has a link for European Military History (including more than just WW2) at this link:

http://johnsmilitaryhistory.com/europ...

There is also some good text (about 10 pages worth) at this link:

http://www.history.army.mil/books/OpA...

That latter link is written by Karl-Heinz Frieser (on the official US Army History website), and the excerpt is titled "Panzer Group Kleist and the Breakthrough in France, 1940." I hope that might lead you to some other sources.

[Paul]

There are also some good sources at this Wikipedia link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_o...

[Singleton]

Paul wrote: Here is a pretty cool link, Singleton:

Thanks a lot for the link Paul. That is indeed pretty neat. On top of that it made me realise I also need to visit the Ardennes in autumn as it looks brilliant.

[Paul]

No problem. I hope it leads you to some sources that have more detail.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Thanks for those links Paul, much appreciated.

[Paul]

You're welcome. (And still not trying to steal your job!)

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I'll let you know if it becomes vacant :)

[Hashem]

I am looking for a book on the german's experience inside the u-boats. I believe there is the Das Boot: The Boat but its more of fiction. I would like real accounts.