THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP discussion

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message 751: by Dj (new)

Dj | 2295 comments carl wrote: "Oh man Dj !"

Taint nothin, it was almost thirty years ago now and she is on husband number three so I figure I got off pretty lucky.


message 752: by carl (new)

carl  theaker | 1560 comments Ah, ok Dj , onward then !


message 753: by Dj (new)

Dj | 2295 comments carl wrote: "Ah, ok Dj , onward then !"

Since the Divorce I have rebuilt my WWII library and now have more books on my shelf on the topic than some small libraries. It is kind of nice. But you can never have to many books. LOL.


message 754: by Sito (new)

Sito Escayola ankli | 8 comments Dj wrote: "carl wrote: "Ah, ok Dj , onward then !"

Since the Divorce I have rebuilt my WWII library and now have more books on my shelf on the topic than some small libraries. It is kind of nice. But you can..."


AMEN...so true. Never enough. LOL


message 755: by Dimitri (new)

Dimitri | 1413 comments Dj wrote: "Sito wrote: "At the end i bought Drama between Budapest and Viena...my wife is gonna kill me!"

I hear that there are in face a few marriages that end in that fashion. Mine settled for a divorce an..."


Marry a WAC re-enactor ? Or not, she'd take half the library...


message 756: by carl (new)

carl  theaker | 1560 comments Sito wrote: "Dj wrote: "carl wrote: "Ah, ok Dj , onward then !

But you can never have to many books. "

AMEN...so true. Never enough. LOL."


Mmmm, seem to have heard that somewhere before, AR, GV, can you all remind me ?


message 757: by Pamela (new)

Pamela (goodreadscompamela_sampson) | 191 comments Sito wrote: "At the end i bought Drama between Budapest and Viena...my wife is gonna kill me!"

LOL


message 758: by 'Aussie Rick', Moderator (new)

'Aussie Rick' (aussierick) | 19987 comments "You can never have too many books" is my family motto!


message 759: by Dj (new)

Dj | 2295 comments 'Aussie Rick' wrote: ""You can never have too many books" is my family motto!"

At least one side of the family. In my family it is only my motto, the rest of the family not to big on reading. But hey, that just means more for me. When it comes to books, I am kind of like a Dragon. The Horde most be bigger so I can nap more easily. LOL


message 760: by Mike, Assisting Moderator US Forces (new)

Mike | 3595 comments Dj wrote: " When it comes to books, I am kind of like a Dragon. The Horde most be bigger so I can nap more easily..."

I like that image Dj! I am Smaug, in my lair, I know where every tome is and will know if one goes missing....


message 761: by Dj (new)

Dj | 2295 comments Mike wrote: "Dj wrote: " When it comes to books, I am kind of like a Dragon. The Horde most be bigger so I can nap more easily..."

I like that image Dj! I am Smaug, in my lair, I know where every tome is and w..."


I love that image. I just have to change the Dragon name. After all the Dragon in the image I use is from the Online Comic I write. His name is...Vercingetorix. I think they gave me extra points for using a historical reference for the name. LOL


message 762: by 'Aussie Rick', Moderator (last edited Dec 12, 2015 04:32PM) (new)

'Aussie Rick' (aussierick) | 19987 comments One of our members, Rejeev, is asking for some assistance:

"Could anybody please suggest few good books on Military Strategies in ww2?"


message 763: by 'Aussie Rick', Moderator (last edited Dec 12, 2015 09:09PM) (new)


message 764: by Michael (new)

Michael (michaelbl) | 48 comments Panzer Leader by Heinz Guderian by Heinz Guderian Heinz Guderian

Rejeev, I am not sure exactly what you want in the way of strategy reading but I believe this book actually outlines many of the tactics that were used by the German Panzer Units in WW2.


message 765: by 'Aussie Rick', Moderator (new)

'Aussie Rick' (aussierick) | 19987 comments A good recommendation Michael along with Lost Victories by Erich von Manstein.


Lost Victories The War Memoirs of Hilter's Most Brilliant General by Erich von Manstein Lost Victories: The War Memoirs of Hilter's Most Brilliant General by Erich von Manstein


message 766: by Rejeev (last edited Dec 13, 2015 04:16PM) (new)

Rejeev Divakaran | 2 comments @Michael

I am currently reading Engineers of Victory which is on military strategy. However that is too high level. I was thinking of other books on similar lines but may be more low level strategies.


message 767: by 'Aussie Rick', Moderator (last edited Dec 13, 2015 04:20PM) (new)

'Aussie Rick' (aussierick) | 19987 comments What about some of the Osprey series books on WW2 tactics:



World War II Infantry Tactics (2) Company and Battalion by Stephen Bull World War II Infantry Tactics (2): Company and Battalion by Stephen Bull
(there is a number of books in this series - armour, artillery, assault pioneers, etc.)

Second World War Infantry Tactics The European Theatre by Stephen Bull Second World War Infantry Tactics: The European Theatre by Stephen Bull

Or maybe this book:

On the German Art of War Truppenfuhrung German Army Manual for Unit Command in World War II by Bruce Condell On the German Art of War: Truppenfuhrung: German Army Manual for Unit Command in World War II by Bruce Condell


message 768: by Michael (new)

Michael (michaelbl) | 48 comments Rejeev wrote: "@Michael

I am currently reading Engineers of Victory which is on military strategy. However that is too high level. I was thinking of other books on similar lines but may be more low level strateg..."


I just picked up a used copy of Engineers of Victory not too long ago. I am looking forward to reading it.
Engineers of Victory The Making of the War Machine That Defeated the Nazis by Paul Kennedy by Paul Kennedy (No Photo)


message 769: by Nooilforpacifists (new)

Nooilforpacifists (nooil4pacifists) | 97 comments Michael,

On similar themes as "Engineers of Victory," I recommend "Blackett's War", by Stephen Budiansky. Not 100 percent overlap but better written.


message 770: by Sweetwilliam (last edited Dec 17, 2015 05:55PM) (new)

Sweetwilliam | 607 comments https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

This book is dedicated to the US Strategy in the Pacific in 42 and 43. If this is what you like it is a good book but I prefer Lundstrom's the 1st Team much better. I just find books dedicated to strategy a little boring.


message 771: by Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces (new)

Geevee | 3811 comments That's a helpful recommendation Sweetwilliam and one added to my own list.


message 772: by Sweetwilliam (new)

Sweetwilliam | 607 comments Your welcome Geevee. Just to clarify, the author of the strategy book is John Lundstrom. He also wrote the First Team which is about the Naval Aviators in the Pacific. Part I covers the carrier based aviators from just prior to Pearl Harbor through Midway. Part II covers the Naval aviators during the Guadalcanal campaign. These books are extremely detailed but are must reads. I ordered the strategy book by mistake. It is a quick read and very good. Just not as fun as the First Team series.


message 773: by John (new)

John Bruning (johnrbruning) | 3 comments William,

Have you read Lundstrum's "First South Pacific Campaign"? I believe it was his M/A thesis originally before the Naval Institute published it. Lundstrum's level of detail is amazing. I'm anxious to read his book on Fletcher, and I think he's written a Civil War unit history recently as well.

John B


message 774: by carl (new)

carl  theaker | 1560 comments Howdy Doreen, Amazingly enough I've got a buddy whose father was also on the USS Block Island when it was torpedoed. He did say he has books about it, I'll check with him.


Doreen wrote: "I am looking for a book or books on the Rhineland campaign that my dad was involved in. Also any on the USS Block Island that my grandfather served on in the Atlantic before it was torpedoed or in ..."


message 775: by Thiago (last edited Dec 24, 2015 03:19PM) (new)

Thiago S. (thiagos) | 30 comments I am looking for a really UNBIASED AND BALANCED book about WWII. Just got the Beevor's "Second War" and I must tell you that Im slightly disappointed. Passed 15% of the book and I have the impressions that: all japs are rapists, all french are crying babies, Hitler is an overgrown fool child and the english are the only astutes and who can think and take the correct decisions. Its a shame, cause is a book with a lot of useful information but I simply feel demotivated to go on with it.

I has some problems on this issue also with highly praised Max Hastings, on the first pages I had the impression he was taking sides rather than telling history. Same (a little less tho) with Ian Kershaw.

Mind you, I dont want to have this random book by an obscure historian who says Hitler loved peace and the worldwide jewry forced him to war. But after years reading other subjects (mostly politics and law), when I resumed my interest on WWII I just found that authors that I idolized as a teenager showed a lot of emotions on their work that could affect their judgement about the facts they needed to tell. That is the point: I want a solid and balanced (cold? pragmatic?)) book about world war (general, eastern front, the reich itself) with more facts than judgements, more History than hollywood, more sources than opinions. Can you recommend me one? Thanks in advance


message 776: by Dj (new)

Dj | 2295 comments Thiago wrote: "I am looking for a really UNBIASED AND BALANCED book about WWII. Just got the Beevor's "Second War" and I must tell you that Im slightly disappointed. Passed 15% of the book and I have the impressi..."

A World at Arms A Global History of World War II by Gerhard L. Weinberg

I enjoyed this as a one volume history of the war.


message 777: by Thiago (new)

Thiago S. (thiagos) | 30 comments Thank you DJ. After I saw your tip I went further to look for its reviews. In the very first at Amazon.com one I found this:

"Weinberg believes in a form of historical writing that downplays the role of individuals. Roosevelt, Hitler, Stalin, Rommel, Churchill, Mussolini, Chang Kai Shek, Hirohito are all in attendance, but their personalities, their quirks, and their habits , hardly enter into the story. Instead, these men represent movements, states, ideologies, etc. Weinberg never uses direct, pithy quotes. That takes something out, compared to other popular history."

I couldnt agree more. I think it will be exactly my cup of tea. Going to order it now. Thanks again.


message 778: by Pamela (new)

Pamela (goodreadscompamela_sampson) | 191 comments I am almost finished with the Weinberg book and highly recommend it. The author's voice is still there, without excessive editorializing.



Thiago wrote: "Thank you DJ. After I saw your tip I went further to look for its reviews. In the very first at Amazon.com one I found this:

"Weinberg believes in a form of historical writing that downplays the r..."



message 779: by 'Aussie Rick', Moderator (new)

'Aussie Rick' (aussierick) | 19987 comments Hmmm, I better go dig out my unread copy and move it a bit closer to the top of the to read pile by the sounds of it :)


message 780: by Pamela (new)

Pamela (goodreadscompamela_sampson) | 191 comments Only if you have a lot of free time on your hands. It's over 1000 pages with bibliography, notes, etc., which are as interesting as the text itself!


'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Hmmm, I better go dig out my unread copy and move it a bit closer to the top of the to read pile by the sounds of it :)"


message 781: by Robert (new)

Robert Hays (goodreadscomroberthays) | 275 comments Thiago wrote: "I am looking for a really UNBIASED AND BALANCED book about WWII. Just got the Beevor's "Second War" and I must tell you that Im slightly disappointed. Passed 15% of the book and I have the impressi..."

As the author of a pretty well received book on a WWII figure, I can tell you that it is extremely difficult to be entirely unbiased. I think it is even more difficult when the writer tries such a broad sweep. I haven't read Beevor's book yet, but you might be interested in a response to the NY TIMES review of it, which I just posted on the Theme Read thread.


message 782: by Sweetwilliam (new)

Sweetwilliam | 607 comments Thiago wrote: "I am looking for a really UNBIASED AND BALANCED book about WWII. Just got the Beevor's "Second War" and I must tell you that Im slightly disappointed. Passed 15% of the book and I have the impressi..."

Check out Rick Atkinson's trilogy on WWII. This work does not lionize anyone. I highly recommend this Trilogy. All the icons of WWII are reduced to the humans that they were. Men that I idolized from childhood had their moments - both good and bad. Churchill, Eisenhower, Patton, Clark, Monty, de Gaulle and so many others. The first book is Army at Dawn about the invasion of North Africa, followed by the Day of Battle about the Italian campaign, and ending with the Guns of Last Light which covers D-Day through VE day.


message 783: by Sweetwilliam (last edited Dec 27, 2015 10:02AM) (new)

Sweetwilliam | 607 comments John wrote: "William,

Have you read Lundstrum's "First South Pacific Campaign"? I believe it was his M/A thesis originally before the Naval Institute published it. Lundstrum's level of detail is amazing. I'm a..."


John wrote: "William,
Have you read Lundstrum's "First South Pacific Campaign"? I believe it was his M/A thesis originally before the Naval Institute published it. Lundstrum's level of detail is amazing. I'm a..."



Yes. I ordered it by mistake and so I read it. I reviewed it right here. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2.... Thanks for the anecdote. I did not realize this was his thesis. I am glad Ir ead it but I was looking forward to the First Team part II - the Guadalcanal Campaign.



message 784: by Bevan Lewis (last edited Dec 27, 2015 11:05PM) (new)

Bevan Lewis | 119 comments Pamela wrote: "I am almost finished with the Weinberg book and highly recommend it. The author's voice is still there, without
I have heard good things about Weinberg and he is known for being good at covering "the big picture ". I've just received Hitler's Foreign Policy: The Road to World War II 1933-1939 which I'm looking forward to - considered one of the definitive works.
I'm almost finished Beevor's book and will be giving it a very good review. It has great prose, and is really well researched and organised. I think the book would be too dry without opinion, and Beevor does base them on facts rather than blind prejudice. You'll find he has plenty of criticism of British leadership and certain military commanders later in the book. There are a few other options though, although for English readers like myself most of the general histories seem to be written by Brits who inevitability have a different perspective to, for example, an Indian historian.


message 785: by Colin (new)

Colin Heaton (colin1962) | 2011 comments Gerhard Weinberg and I had a few chats when I was picking his brain during my grad school days, amazing intellect, like Russel Weigley my late mentor.


message 786: by Michal (new)

Michal | 189 comments Looking for some book about invasion of Poland. Any suggestions?


message 787: by Manray9 (new)

Manray9 | 4785 comments Michal wrote: "Looking for some book about invasion of Poland. Any suggestions?"

Michal: I thought this was thorough and complete for the Polish perspective on the entire war:

The Eagle Unbowed Poland and the Poles in the Second World War by Halik Kochanski The Eagle Unbowed: Poland and the Poles in the Second World War by Halik Kochanski


message 788: by Pamela (new)

Pamela (goodreadscompamela_sampson) | 191 comments Cool ! I am just in awe of him after reading his book.


Colin wrote: "Gerhard Weinberg and I had a few chats when I was picking his brain during my grad school days, amazing intellect, like Russel Weigley my late mentor."


message 789: by Dj (new)

Dj | 2295 comments Michal wrote: "Looking for some book about invasion of Poland. Any suggestions?"

Michal wrote: "Looking for some book about invasion of Poland. Any suggestions?"

http://www.amazon.com/Polish-Campaign...

You might try the book attached to the link. It is one of the best and most balanced I have ever read.


message 790: by Manray9 (last edited Jan 01, 2016 09:22AM) (new)

Manray9 | 4785 comments Michal: Dj mentioned Steven Zaloga. I read his book from the Osprey Campaign series (#107) on the 1939 fighting. It was good, but cursory -- only 96 pages:

Poland 1939 The Birth Of Blitzkrieg by Steven J. Zaloga Poland 1939: The Birth Of Blitzkrieg


message 791: by Michal (new)

Michal | 189 comments Thanks a lot!


message 792: by Dimitri (last edited Jan 01, 2016 02:21PM) (new)

Dimitri | 1413 comments Manray9 wrote: "Michal: Dj mentioned Steven Zaloga. I read his book from the Osprey Campaign series (#107) on the 1939 fighting. It was good, but cursory -- only 96 pages:

Poland 1939: The Birth Of Blitzkrieg


what really bugged me was his acknowledged scarsity of English-language works on the Polish campaigns. Even a bad Osprey can point in the right direction. Zaloga's one of their best stock writers atm tough.


message 793: by Lee (new)

Lee | 237 comments Michal wrote: "Looking for some book about invasion of Poland. Any suggestions?"

I will echo the Eagle Unbowed recommendation. I haven't read the Osprey books, but Zaloga & Madej have solid reputations.


message 794: by Marc (new)

Marc | 1748 comments Michal wrote: "Looking for some book about invasion of Poland. Any suggestions?"

Blitzkrieg Unleashed by Michael Hargreaves.


message 795: by Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces (new)


message 796: by 'Aussie Rick', Moderator (last edited Jan 02, 2016 12:14PM) (new)

'Aussie Rick' (aussierick) | 19987 comments Some excellent recommendations folks, thanks for helping Michal out. Here is one more title to consider:

Poland Betrayed The Nazi-Soviet Invasions of 1939 by David G. Williamson Poland Betrayed: The Nazi-Soviet Invasions of 1939 by David G. Williamson


message 797: by Michal (new)

Michal | 189 comments Well all these gonna help me meet my reading goal for the year. Thank You guys


message 798: by Alex (new)

Alex Gosman | 203 comments Anyone suggest a good warts and all bio of Field Marshall Montgomery. Just finished Ardennes by Beevor and that and a number of other recently read books criticise Montgomery over his ego and lack of emotional intelligence. Complex character and would like to dig deeper. Any suggested books greatly appreciated. Alex


message 799: by 'Aussie Rick', Moderator (new)

'Aussie Rick' (aussierick) | 19987 comments Good request Alex. I have not read a stand alone biography on Monty but have had my eyes on this detailed book for some time:

Monty Master Of The Battlefield, 1942 1944 by Nigel Hamilton Monty: Master Of The Battlefield, 1942 1944 by Nigel Hamilton

This is the middle volume of a three volume set. I also have a unread copy of this book:

The Lonely Leader Monty 1944-1945 by Alistair Horne The Lonely Leader: Monty: 1944-1945 by Alistair Horne


message 800: by Positive Kate (new)

Positive Kate | 88 comments Hi, does anyone have any recommendations on books about General Jonathan Wainwright? Thank you!!!


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