I'm Looking for a Book on........ Showing 1,501-1,550 of 1,652

[Nick]

Greetings All,

I'm looking for book recommendations on the operational history of Guderian's 2nd Panzer Army's participation in Operation Typhoon during Nov & Dec '41. A book which includes OOB would be very beneficial.

Thanks!

[Marc]

Nick wrote: "Greetings All,

I'm looking for book recommendations on the operational history of Guderian's 2nd Panzer Army's participation in Operation Typhoon during Nov & Dec '41. A book which includes OOB wo..."

This book by David Stahel should have some of the information you're looking for in regards to Guderian's troops, but it doesn't have an OOB:

Operation Typhoon: Hitler's March on Moscow, October 1941

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I second Marc's recommendation!

[Nick]

Thank you gentlemen!

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Nick wrote: "Thank you gentlemen!"

Nick, another book that I have in my library on Operation Typhoon but I have not read is this book; "The Drive on Moscow, 1941" by Niklas Zetterling & Anders Frankson. It has numerous appendices which includes OOB for the German and Soviet forces.

The Drive on Moscow, 1941 by Niklas Zetterling & Anders Frankson

[zed]

I am not sure where to put this link, but it may be useful for some looking for some reading on the fall of France.

https://neglectedbooks.substack.com/p...

[Nick]

I never knew Shirer wrote another book on WW2. thanks for sharing

[Dj]

Nick wrote: "I never knew Shirer wrote another book on WW2. thanks for sharing"

Three or four I think. But I could be off. I have two of them. The Rise and Fall and his Berlin Diaries. both very good books.

[BA]

Research Conundrum and Impasse
I'm writing a WWII story set on the Eastern Front. I'm struggling to find any historical information for the main character's backstory/background. Once the story beings (1943), my main character (MC) is in the Red Army Air Force.

The MC was born at home in 1910 to a husband and wife that own/run a small business in Mikolaiv, Ukraine (then it was part of the Soviet Union). He (the MC) is the first of two children. I need specific daily life information and challenges this character and this family (mother, father, sister, and MC) would face in the city, including education opportunities, between 1905-1940.

I find a lot of information about the peasants, the rural population and rural/village life, the Jewish population, the Holodrom in the rural areas & villages, the political strife, the Bolsheviks, the politicians/leaders, the policies, etc., etc., but little to nothing about daily life of an urban family and daily city life in this region and time period, other than occasional sentences and comments in passing.

I've read and consulted many articles and books on the history of Ukraine, history of Soviet Revolution and Soviet History, Eastern Front battles/engagements/activities/etc., and even memoirs, including ones from a Red Army pilot and a Red Partisan. Goodness gracious, this research, which I usually enjoy, has become quite frustrating.

Any suggestions and recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Many, many thanks in advance!!!

[Darya Silman]

Have you read 'And Quiet Flows the Don' by Mikhail Sholokhov? It depicts the Donbas region before, during and after the Civil War. Lots of details of ordinary life

[Darya Silman]

And for Ukrainian urban life, you can try 'The White Guard' by Mikhail Bulgakov (set in Kyiv) or 'The Road to Calvary' (Ordeal) by Aleksey Tolstoy (set in St.Petersburg)

[Lee]

There's a LOT of history in 1905-1940 Ukraine, good luck with your research!

The first thing that pops to mind is the autobiography of Lyudmilla Pavlichenko, there was a recent edition titled "Lady Death" . She lived in several Ukrainian cities before the war, maybe there is something there?

I think "Ivan's war: life and death in the Red Army, 1939-1945" should have something about prewar life in there, too.

Have you gotten to Anne Applebaum's "Red Famine" yet? I haven't, but it would seem to cover both countryside and cities?

Timothy Snyder is emerging as a scholar of Ukraine, he's got the book "Bloodlands: Europe between Hitler and Stalin", which I haven't read yet . He also taught a course on Ukrainian history at Yale fall 2022, and the lectures are free on Youtube. I'm almost half done with those. Either of those may have something about Ukrainian cities?

[BA]

Darya Silman wrote: "Have you read 'And Quiet Flows the Don' by Mikhail Sholokhov? It depicts the Donbas region before, during and after the Civil War. Lots of details of ordinary life"

Many thanks, Darya. I have not read these yet! The county library has both "The White Guard" and "And Quiet Flows the Don" - so excited! I just placed them on hold and should receive them this week. I'll look for the "Road to Cavalry" from other sources, as the library didn't have a copy. Looking forward to reading these books.

I really appreciate your taking the time to reply. Thank you!

[BA]

Lee wrote: "There's a LOT of history in 1905-1940 Ukraine, good luck with your research!

Lee - Thank you for taking the time to reply to my post. It is greatly appreciated.
These books look great! "Bloodlands" and "Red Famine" are available in the library. I placed a hold on them & will receive them later this week. Awesome!! And I actually just received a copy of "Ivan's War" and will start reading it today. "Lady Sniper" was not in the library, however, I'll check other sources.

Snyder's Ukrainian History series on YouTube? Yes, please - how awesome is that? I will be watching those. Many thanks. Any reliable sources about Ukraine, both past and present, are greatly appreciated always. I'm almost finished with this book:

I'm learning a lot, but it's quite dense. It is taking me a while to wade through it. And it doesn't have the daily city life details, not a surprise, though, given the huge time period it covers.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

"Bloodlands" and "Red Famine" are two excellent recommendations!

[Marc]

BA wrote: "Research Conundrum and Impasse
I'm writing a WWII story set on the Eastern Front. I'm struggling to find any historical information for the main character's backstory/background. Once the story bei..."

Two others which might give you some Ukrainian background are these:

On a Knife's Edge: The Ukraine, November 1942–March 1943

Retribution: The Soviet Reconquest of Central Ukraine, 1943

[BA]

Marc wrote: "Two others which might give you some Ukrainian background are these:"

Thank you, Marc! I don't have these two and will see if I can get them from the library, or elsewhere if the library doesn't have them. They sound excellent and will be good resources. I appreciate your taking the time to make these recommendations.

[Marc]

BA wrote: "Marc wrote: "Two others which might give you some Ukrainian background are these:"

Thank you, Marc! I don't have these two and will see if I can get them from the library, or elsewhere if the libr..."

Glad to help.

I found another one which might be of interest as well:

Kiev 1941: Hitler's Battle for Supremacy in the East

[Phrodrick slowed his growing backlog]

Fiction, but with some history , WW II from a more civilian POV

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian or just a light read

[BA]

Phrodrick wrote: "Fiction, but with some history , WW II from a more civilian POV

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian or just a light read"

Thank you for this recommendation! I will add this to my list. Sounds like an interesting book; I love historical fiction.

[BA]

Marc wrote: "I found another one which might be of interest as well"

Thank you again, Marc! This should be quite helpful, too. I'll request it from the library; they seem to have most of the books that were recommended to me in this post.

[Creighton]

I’m looking for books on the New Guinea campaign, the new Britain campaign, and a book on the Burma campaign. What can you recommend?

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

For the New Guinea campaign I recommend Paul Ham's book on Kokoda and then David Cameron has a series of books covering the campaign as well.

Kokoda by Paul Ham

& & & by David W. Cameron

[Jonny]

Ham's excellent. Michael Veitch has three excellent books on aspects of the campaign in New Guinea too:

[Creighton]

Are there any good books on Douglas MacArthur? I’m trying to learn about his generalship and trying to judge whether he was a good general or not. What do you recommend?

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I quite enjoyed William Manchester's book on MacArthur:

American Caesar: Douglas MacArthur 1880-1964 by William Manchester

[Nick]

Creighton wrote: "I’m looking for books on the New Guinea campaign, the new Britain campaign, and a book on the Burma campaign. What can you recommend?"

Try https://www.amazon.com/War-End-World-...

[Marc]

Creighton wrote: "I’m looking for books on the New Guinea campaign, the new Britain campaign, and a book on the Burma campaign. What can you recommend?"

Two books on Burma which I haven't read but which are supposed to be quite good are these:

Burma: The Longest War 1941-45

Defeat Into Victory: Battling Japan in Burma and India, 1942-1945

Now, two which I have read and which I definitely recommend are these:

Road of Bones: The Siege of Kohima 1944 - The Epic Story of the Last Great Stand of Empire

BURMA '44

[Dipanjan]

I have read Road of Bones and Burma 44. Road of bones is a better book in my opinion. I had also written a review on Road of bones.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Totally agree about "Road of Bones", its an excellent book!

[Bryan]

Creighton wrote: "Are there any good books on Douglas MacArthur? I’m trying to learn about his generalship and trying to judge whether he was a good general or not. What do you recommend?"

I looked for books on MacArthur, as well, trying to answer the same question.

It's been over 40 years since American Caesar: Douglas MacArthur 1880-1964 has been published, and I'm surprised nothing new has come out.

It's time for a new biography to be written, but I don't know anyone who did it recently.

[Marc]

Creighton wrote: "I’m looking for books on the New Guinea campaign, the new Britain campaign, and a book on the Burma campaign. What can you recommend?"

Some other books which might be of interest to you:

Drop Zone Burma: Adventures in Allied Air-Supply 1943-45

The Final Curtain: Burma 1941-1945: Veterans' Stories

New Georgia, Bougainville, and Cape Gloucester: The U.S. Marines in World War II: A Pictorial Tribute

Marines on New Britain: Cape Gloucester and Rabaul. A Pictorial Record

[Marc]

Creighton wrote: "Are there any good books on Douglas MacArthur? I’m trying to learn about his generalship and trying to judge whether he was a good general or not. What do you recommend?"

John McManus has written a trilogy on the U.S. Army in the Pacific which has some good information on MacArthur and his generalship, as well as his personal life.

Fire and Fortitude: The US Army in the Pacific War, 1941-1943

Island Infernos: The US Army's Pacific War Odyssey, 1944

To the End of the Earth: The US Army and the Downfall of Japan, 1945

[Bryan]

Thanks, Marc!

[Lee]

MacArthur books more recent than Manchester?











Those are just the ones on my list. I will also echo the recommendation for McManus' recent trilogy on the US Army in the Pacific, mentioned above. MacArthur either commands the soldiers, or is a shadow on the Navy's half of the war.

[Bryan]

Great, Lee, I look forward to digging into these titles. Glad to see people examining MacArthur

[Nick]

Creighton wrote: "I’m looking for books on the New Guinea campaign, the new Britain campaign, and a book on the Burma campaign. What can you recommend?"

Allen and Slim probably set the standard for works on Burma and are both excellent. Holland is a good read but he tends to understate British weaknesses and mistakes. Two others that I can recommend are BURMA, THE FORGOTTEN WAR by Jon Latimer and WAR OF EMPIRES by Robert Lyman

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Here are two more recent books on MacArthur:


Old Soldiers Never Die: The Life of Douglas MacArthur by Geoffrey Perrett

Douglas MacArthur: American Warrior by Arthur Herman

[Joao]

Hello everyone, i was looking for a book on the portuguese and nazi interactions during WW2... Also ive seen a few Churchill memories books, any recommendation on a comprehensive single book or volumes about his life ofcourse with WW2 in focus... Also greetings from Portugal.

[Manray9]

Joao wrote: "Hello everyone, i was looking for a book on the portuguese and nazi interactions during WW2... Also ive seen a few Churchill memories books, any recommendation on a comprehensive single book or vol..."

Joao: This is relevant, but not just to Portugal --

Neither Friend Nor Foe: The European Neutrals in World War II by Jerrold Packard.

[carl]

Looks good MR9 !

[Graeme]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Here are two more recent books on MacArthur:


Old Soldiers Never Die: The Life of Douglas MacArthur by [author..."

I've read the Manchester book. Doug has an ego as big as an aircraft carrier (nimitz class).

[Josh]

I’m looking for a book about the Point du Hoc battle.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Josh wrote: "I’m looking for a book about the Point du Hoc battle."

Hi Josh,

Check out this book on the subject:

Dog Company: The Boys of Pointe du Hoc--the Rangers Who Accomplished D-Day's Toughest Mission and Led the Way across Europe by Patrick K. O'Donnell

[Joao]

looking for a book about or that has some information on General Rudolf Schmidt. also any books that beside written details also has supporting images and illustrations on the German/USSR conflict.

[Dj]

Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.

Here are two books that I found in regards to General Rudolf Schmidt, I don't know how good or bad they might be, because I don't read German, but if you do they might fight your needs

[David A]

Hi all. Started watching “Das Boot” and I’m gripped. Submarine wwrfare in WWII is not something I’m well versed in. I’d appreciate any recommendations on this. Looking at Lawrence Paterson’s “The U-Boat War” thanks in advance.

[Jonny]

David A wrote: "Hi all. Started watching “Das Boot” and I’m gripped. Submarine wwrfare in WWII is not something I’m well versed in. I’d appreciate any recommendations on this. Looking at Lawrence Paterson’s “The U..."

Tremaine's BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS; it's maybe handy to look at the evolution of things? Still the best examination of a convoy battle (until the end of the month, maybe) is Middlebrook's Convoy

[Jonny]

And maybe you shouldn't miss out on the other end of the torpedo either? Richard Woodman has two eccentric titles on the Merchies war: The Real Cruel Sea: The Merchant Navy in the Battle of the Atlantic, 1939–1943 and Arctic Convoys 1941–1945

[Marc]

David A wrote: "Hi all. Started watching “Das Boot” and I’m gripped. Submarine wwrfare in WWII is not something I’m well versed in. I’d appreciate any recommendations on this. Looking at Lawrence Paterson’s “The U..."

While he's not everyone's cup of tea, Clay Blair, Jr. has written some really good books on submarine warfare in World War II:

Hitler's U-Boat War: The Hunters, 1939-1942

Hitler's U-Boat War: The Hunted, 1942-1945

Silent Victory: The U.S. Submarine War Against Japan

I haven't read Paterson's book on the overall U-boat war yet, but I have read these two and they're good reads:

Hitler's Gray Wolves: U-Boats in the Indian Ocean

Steel and Ice: The U-Boat Battle in the Arctic and Black Sea 1941-45

Another good one is this book by James Scott:

The War Below: The Story of Three Submarines That Battled Japan

Now, if it's first-person accounts you're looking for, I recommend these:

Clear the Bridge!: The War Patrols of the U.S.S. Tang

Thunder Below!: The USS *Barb* Revolutionizes Submarine Warfare in World War II

Iron Coffins: A Personal Account of the German U-boat Battles of World War II