THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP discussion
BOOK DISCUSSIONS
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I'm Looking for a Book on........
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 ?"Hey, Dipanjan. Interesting subject, here's two that should cover that timeframe.
by Fredrik Logevall
by Lloyd C. GardnerI'm surprised Liam hasn't shown up to comment yet, haha.
Helene wrote: "I am looking for a book on WWII child soldiers! Any suggestions? Thanks"
This book might cover some of what you are looking for. I have a copy but am yet to read it yet:
Witnesses of War: Children's Lives Under the Nazis by Nicholas Stargardt
You could also check these two out:
In a Raging Inferno: Combat Units of the Hitler Youth 1944-45 by Hans Holztrager
Hitler Youth by Michael H. Kater
Helene wrote: "I am looking for a book on WWII child soldiers! Any suggestions? Thanks"
Catherine Merridale's book has some short parts about children in the Red army. Not enough worth buying it for just for those parts, but it's a good book even so. Ivan's War: Life and Death in the Red Army, 1939-1945
Helene wrote: "I am looking for a book on WWII child soldiers! Any suggestions? Thanks"
This one might be of interest as well:
A Child of Hitler: Germany in the Days When God Wore a Swastika
I just remembers this book that may also interest you on the subject of 'boy' soldiers:
Another Man's War: The Story of a Burma Boy in Britain's Forgotten African Army by Barnaby Phillips
Thank you for all the good suggestion of books on boy soldiers, very helpful. I am using them as background for my own "Boy Soldiers" book based on my father's juvenile diary from the Eastern Front.
Helene wrote: "I am looking for a book on WWII child soldiers! Any suggestions? Thanks"
Europa, Europa by Solomon Perel, a Jewish boy in the Hitlerjugend. Made into a movie.
Dimitri wrote: "Helene wrote: "I am looking for a book on WWII child soldiers! Any suggestions? Thanks"
Europa, Europa by Solomon Perel, a Jewish boy ..."Thank you
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Helene wrote: "I am looking for a book on WWII child soldiers! Any suggestions? Thanks"
This book might cover some of what you are looking for. I have a copy but am yet to read it yet:
[bookcove..."
Just to thank you again,. I looked at the book you recommended, its actually very good and comprehensive. One of the better ones in the filed. I wish I had looked at it earlier. There is a very well written section about the euthanasia program that extended to German children a topic very rarely covered by other authors. I touched on it in my own manuscript when I visited the Pirna Sonnenstein camp, but could have used some of the background info.
Hi i am interested to know about America's role in the great war. Can u plz suggest me the best books on this topic ?
Dipanjan wrote: "Hi i am interested to know about America's role in the great war. Can u plz suggest me the best books on this topic ?"Dipanjan: I have not read this, but it's well reviewed:
The World Remade: America in World War I by G. J. Meyer.
Pretty specific, but I really rated To Conquer Hell: The Meuse-Argonne, 1918; Thunder and Flames: Americans in the Crucible of Combat, 1917-1918 is on my to buy list but currently the bank manager says no...
"Thunder and Flames: Americans in the Crucible of Combat, 1917-1918" by Edward Lengel is an excellent suggestion. Another good book on the subject is this title:
The Last Days of Innocence: America at War, 1917-1918 by Meirion Harries
Dipanjan wrote: "Hi i am interested to know about America's role in the great war. Can u plz suggest me the best books on this topic ?"Hey Dipanjan, Meyer's book is great, I can definitely recommend that one.
Here's two more I enjoyed:
by Thomas Fleming
by Justus D. DoeneckeDoenecke's book only deals with the origins and background of American intervention, though. He does a have a book on America during the war, but it won't come out until next year:
by Justus D. Doenecke
Dipanjan wrote: "Hi i am interested to know about America's role in the great war. Can u plz suggest me the best books on this topic ?"Not sure about quality or contents, but Cambridge's Armies of WW1 has one about US as well. About 400 pages +notes/index/bibliography.
https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/...
Hi everyone,I am looking for some memoirs written by German Generals from the Second World War. I am familiar mansteins lost victories, but I am looking to see if any other German generals wrote books after the war about their experiences?
Also, I am looking for any books that might have been written that detail Stalin's military conferences during the war. I have a copy of Hitler's military conferences, and I am wanting to study about the Eastern Front, so I am curious if anyone knows of any books that might detail some of Stalins military conferences, meetings, or maybe even a book that focuses on Stalin during the Second World War.
Look for books by Heinz Guderian (Panzer Leader), Maj Gen Walter Dornberger's V-2, Lt Gen Adolf Galland's The First and the Last, Johannes Steinhoff (became a Lt. Gen. after the war) wrote many books. My books The German Aces Speak I and II have their first person interviews/recollections. Also Brig. Gen Leon Degrelle (who I also interviewed) wrote a few, and Gen Hans von Luck (also interviewed)
Kesselring, Balck also wrote memoirs;The Memoirs of Field-Marshal Kesselring
Order in Chaos: The Memoirs of General of Panzer Troops Hermann Balck
and Franz Halder's diaries have been published:
The Halder Diaries: The Private War Journals Of Colonel General Franz Halder
Some great recommendations Colin and Perato! I also second "Panzer Leader" by Guderian and "Order in Chaos" by Balck. Plus you could check out these two titles:
Neither Fear Nor Hope: The Wartime Memoirs Of The German Defender Of Cassino by Frido von Senger und Etterlin
Panzer Commander: The Memoirs of Colonel Hans von Luck by Hans von Luck
Two more to consider:
Panzer Battles: A Study of the Employment of Armor in the Second World War
Panzer Operations: The Eastern Front Memoir of General Raus, 1941-1945
Perato wrote: "Kesselring, Balck also wrote memoirs;The Memoirs of Field-Marshal Kesselring
Order in Chaos: The Memoirs of General of Panzer Troops Hermann Balck
and Franz Halder's ..."
Just an FYI, the Halder Diaries are the War Diaries, so lacking in personal information. A good resource, but not something that give much insight into the Man.
Creighton wrote: "Hi everyone,I am looking for some memoirs written by German Generals from the Second World War. I am familiar mansteins lost victories, but I am looking to see if any other German generals wrote b..."
Hi Creighton
I found this book very good:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
It is by General-Major F.W. von Mellenthin who fought both in the West and the East, and was present at many important panzer battles. He explains a lot about the generals' thought processes and actions, and which units were used in what capacity. I hope it helps you in your research.
I'd like to read about the little ships at Dunkirk, Ideally a first hand account from the crew of a little ship, If such a book exists.
I've seen this book in one of the local bookshops but I don't actual have a copy but it may cover what you need:
Dunkirk by A.D. DivineDescription:
This is the story of Dunkirk and of the men who planned it (insofar as it was planned) and of the men who carried it out, and of their ships. Mr Divine, who was himself with the small boats, writes with the authority of direct knowledge. He had the assistance of the men who were intimately concerned with planning and organising the operation.
This is the true story of Dunkirk from its almost nebulous beginnings to the astonishing triumph of its end.
Reviews:
"Dunkirk tells the sublime story of an evacuation such as the world had never seen and is never likely to see again, and Divine tells it the only way such a story could be told, by collating in a single volume all the first-hand material available. You have to get hold of the book and read it for yourself." - Compton Mackenzie, The Evening News
"An authoritative, fully-documented, full-length record. It is no mere dramatic rendering, though drama abounds throughout; but a careful compilation of facts, a page of naval history told in impressive detail from the logs of the Little Ships, from every available source, and written up by a man who himself took part in the great Adventure and was decorated for doing so." - The Illustrated London News
Trilobyte wrote: "I'd like to read about the little ships at Dunkirk, Ideally a first hand account from the crew of a little ship, If such a book exists."It is a novel but the first five chapters of my Wren Jane Beacon Goes to War give a graphic description of of Dunkirk seen from a small boat running the beaches. Combined with Devine's book you will get a very good sense of what it was like.
I am looking for a book on the reaction of British people in Britain during the Indian mutiny 1857. How did the British society react in Britain at the horrors of the mutiny or what did the British parlament members discuss about it ?
https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/...https://www.jstor.org/stable/44137493
Well, I found these, didn't look through them, most of the books I looked at seemed to be focused on the actions themselves, so not likely to provide the information you're looking for.
Dipanjan wrote: "I am looking for a book on the reaction of British people in Britain during the Indian mutiny 1857. How did the British society react in Britain at the horrors of the mutiny or what did the British..."Hi Dipanjan. I found this page online which may help you track down reaction to that event as set out in letters between British citizens at that time.
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a...
Good luck in your search.
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Members can request information of any book, subject, battle, commander or weapon that they are looking for information on and hopefully someone can post some details here.
"
I'm looking for books on Berchtesgaden, Obersalzberg, Eagle's Nest, Berghof etc. We've been to the tunnel system under the Tuerken Hotel on Obersalzberg a few years ago, but there doesn't seem to be much literature.
Christine wrote: "'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Members can request information of any book, subject, battle, commander or weapon that they are looking for information on and hopefully someone can post some details here...."
Hi, Christine, here's a few I found:
by Arthur H. Mitchell
by Geoffrey R. Walden
by James Wilson
by J.C. Boone
Jerome wrote: "Christine wrote: "'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Members can request information of any book, subject, battle, commander or weapon that they are looking for information on and hopefully someone can post ..."
Jerôme, thank you so much!
Chrissie
Hi there everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I am looking for books on the Spanish Civil War, which started in July of 1936. I tend to enjoy first person accounts of a conflict, but anything that goes into detail would be appreciated.Thank you for your book recommendations in advanced. Have a wonderful day!
Positive Kate wrote: "Hi there everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I am looking for books on the Spanish Civil War, which started in July of 1936. I tend to enjoy first person accounts of a conflict, but anything t..."The usual books that are recommended on the Spanish Civil War are those by Antony Beevor and Hugh Thomas. However one book that I really enjoyed was; "The International Brigades: Fascism, Freedom and the Spanish Civil War" by Giles Tremlett.
The International Brigades: Fascism, Freedom and the Spanish Civil War by Giles Tremlett
Positive Kate wrote: "Thank you Aussie Rick! It’s exactly what I was looking for…."My pleasure, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did :)
Positive Kate wrote: "Hi there everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I am looking for books on the Spanish Civil War, which started in July of 1936. I tend to enjoy first person accounts of a conflict..."Since you like first person accounts, I suggest
by Laurie Lee. I also very much liked
in which he writes about his experiences and the people he meets while walking through Spain just before the start of the war.Laurie Lee was a gifted writer and a keen observer with a great sense of humor.
Laurie Lee
Positive Kate wrote: "Hi there everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I am looking for books on the Spanish Civil War, which started in July of 1936. I tend to enjoy first person accounts of a conflict, but anything t..."Kate: Paul Preston has written extensively on Spain and the Civil War. For first-person accounts don't neglect Orwell's Homage to Catalonia, My Mission to Spain: Watching the Rehearsal for World War II by Claude Bowers, They Shall Not Pass: The Autobiography of La Pasionaria by Dolores Ibárruri, American Commissar by Sandor Voros, Between the Bullet and the Lie: American Volunteers in the Spanish Civil War by Cecil Eby or Men in Battle: A Story of Americans in Spain by Alvah Bessie.
Positive Kate wrote: "Hi there everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I am looking for books on the Spanish Civil War, which started in July of 1936. I tend to enjoy first person accounts of a conflict, but anything t..."Hey Kate, I too like first person accounts. Here is one I really enjoyed:
War Is Beautiful: An American Ambulance Driver in the Spanish Civil War by James Neugass
Recently heard about this 'Battery X' where US women were trained w/Anti Aircraft. First I'd ever heard of it. Thought I'd check with the vast resources of you all, see if there is anything out there in the world on the subject. I did find this short description on line. WACs served in many different roles to support the war effort, where they even worked on secret experiments. One such secret experiment was Battery X, formally composed of the 71st and 89th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalions, where the Army tested the feasibility of men and women soldiers fighting together in a combat unit.
In the experiment, General George C. Marshall and Colonel Oveta Hobby hand-picked eleven WAC officers and fifty-eight enlisted women to compose the WAC component of Battery X, and the two complimented units worked around the clock in three 8-hour shifts to operate the M1A1 90mm heavy antiaircraft gun batteries and their supporting radar stations.
The experiment ran from February to August 1943, when the experiment concluded with a radar tracking and gun-laying test on Bethany Beach, Delaware. In the concluding test, the WACs used radar to aim the connected 90mm gun at a moving target attached to a B-17 heavy bomber. This test was deemed to be successful by General Marshall and Colonel Hobby, though the units were quickly disbanded for other roles in other theaters.
Does anyone have any recommendations for a read on Operation mincemeat or the man who never was. While at work today I was stunned to see a memorial for Glyndwr Michael (the man who’s body was used for operation mincemeat). Would like to read up on it more if people have recommendations?
Nathan wrote: "Does anyone have any recommendations for a read on Operation mincemeat or the man who never was. While at work today I was stunned to see a memorial for Glyndwr Michael (the man who’s body was used..."I haven't read any of these so I am just dropping the search results. I would look and see what the ratings are and go from there. Hope this helps some
https://www.google.com/search?q=books...
Nathan wrote: "Does anyone have any recommendations for a read on Operation mincemeat or the man who never was. While at work today I was stunned to see a memorial for Glyndwr Michael (the man who’s body was used..."The only full-length book I've read on the subject has been; "Operation Mincemeat: How a Dead Man and a Bizarre Plan Fooled the Nazis and Assured an Allied Victory" by Ben Macintyre. Overall I found it an interesting and enjoyable account.
Operation Mincemeat: How a Dead Man and a Bizarre Plan Fooled the Nazis and Assured an Allied Victory by Ben Macintyre
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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Thanks,