Resource Sites for Members

[Manray9]

Geevee wrote: "The list is a good one and I agree fully that Midway is a omission.

I've added a few suggestions below for a wider list:

+ Britain's foray into Norway 1940,
+Operation Market Garden (had it s..."

I did not think of Norway, although it may have been more successful if not pursued in half measure.

The U.S. would have entered the war anyway, but perhaps not with the commitment to Germany first.

[happy]

I totally agree on Hitler's declaring war on the US - one of dumbest moves of all time - esp since he didn't get Japan to declare war on the USSR at the same time.

[Dj]

The fact that Germany had no use for anyone not German cost them a great deal. They could have had a deal with the French that would have given them the French as Allies, instead of less than happy neighbors, when they invaded Russia, at first they were greeted as liberators by some of the Soviet Citizens. But instead the Russians were treated like a bunch of useless impediments to their plans. Which meant that they would never have enough manpower or support to win any sort of war with the major powers.
The fact that he was both insular and prejudice explained why it was that he didn't really comprehend just what a big bite he was taking from the pie. He decided to attack the largest populated nation in Europe and part of Asia, the largest Empire and without even realizing what it meant the largest industrial power in the world.


Geevee wrote: "The list is a good one and I agree fully that Midway is a omission.

I've added a few suggestions below for a wider list:

+ Britain's foray into Norway 1940,
+Operation Market Garden (had it s..."

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Very good point about how the German's treated the occupied peoples, image if they fully utilised the services of those areas where who not happy under Soviet rule!

[Manray9]

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/...

This is a good article linked from RealClearHistory.com on the Channel Dash by the German naval vessels Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, Prinz Eugen and consorts in Feb. '42. It was not an operation in which the warships and command elements of the Royal Navy covered themselves with glory. The same cannot be said of the Fleet Air Arm's antiquated Swordfish torpedo bombers which, though unsuccessful, literally went down in flames in well pressed attacks on the German ships. One interesting note is Hitler's continuing obsession with an Allied attack via Norway -- another of Der Fuhrer's illusions which proved valuable to the Allies on several occasions.

Any book recommendations on Operation Cerberus? I have read several Fleet Air Arm histories in which the operation figures prominently.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Hi Manray9 I haven't read it but this might be of interest: Run The Gauntlet - The Channel Dash 1942 by Ken Ford

[Manray9]

Geevee wrote: "Hi Manray9 I haven't read it but this might be of interest: Run The Gauntlet - The Channel Dash 1942 by [author:Ken Fo..."

Thanks. I like the Osprey books.

[Manray9]

There doesn't appear to be much new on the Channel Dash itself except Ford's Osprey book. The dash is included in many RN and FAA histories. Group members Amit and Patrick Belair gave Four Stars to:

Fiasco: The Breakout of the German Battleships by John Deane Potter.

It was published in 1970 -- before the Ultra revelations. I await input from AR, our fearless leader. :)

[carl]

Manray9 wrote: "http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/...

This is a good article linked from RealClearHistory.com on the Channel Dash by the German naval vessels Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, Prinz Eu..."

a good summary to an interesting event. kinda lost in
the folds of the war.

[Mike, Assisting Moderator US Forces]

Manray9 wrote: "http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/...

This is a good article linked from RealClearHistory.com on the Channel Dash by the German naval vessels Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, Prinz Eu..."

Interesting story, thanks Manray9.

[Nick]

Greetings All,

I recently started reading Joseph Balkoski's series on the US 29th Inf Div. Of course I started reading volume 3 not knowing it was a series. The book, From Brittany to the Reich: The 29th Infantry Division in Germany, September - November 1944, is excellent. Even though I've only just started I can hardly see how it could turn out worse than it has begun.

Once I realized this book was part of a series I did some background checking on the author to find out what else he had written. I discovered Mr. Balkoski was noted as one of today's foremost historians on the D-Day invasion. He recently was collaborating with Rick Atkinson on the Liberation Trilogy. Mr. Atkinson has asked Mr. Balkoski to write a series of essays commemorating the 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. There have been four essays written to date and published Mr. Atkinson's The Liberation Trilogy site.

Mr. Balkoski's website is dedicated to his works and D-Day research. In addition to details about his books there is also research material available. The site can be found at Joseph Balkoski.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Thanks for the link to the site Nick. I have managed to get all three volumes of his trilogy on the 29th Infantry Division but have not read any yet. Let me know how you go with yours.

[Manray9]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Thanks for the link to the site Nick. I have managed to get all three volumes of his trilogy on the 29th Infantry Division but have not read any yet. Let me know how you go with yours."

The old "Blue and Gray" Division of North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland National Guard troops. Their nickname honored ties to their Confederate and Union forebears. They lived up to their heritage at Omaha Beach and St. Lo.

[Colin]

Manray9 wrote: "http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/...

This is a good article linked from RealClearHistory.com on the Channel Dash by the German naval vessels Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, Prinz Eu..."

My book The German Aces Speak has the interview with Adolf Galland, who planned and executed that operation.

[Korzoran {William Massey}]

Anybody who is interested in the U.S.S. Enterprise CV-6, this is a good website.
http://cv6.org

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Nice site William, thanks for the link.

[Korzoran {William Massey}]

No problem.

[Colin]

William Massey wrote: "Anybody who is interested in the U.S.S. Enterprise CV-6, this is a good website.
http://cv6.org"

Read the book on the ship by my friend Barrett Tillman

[Korzoran {William Massey}]

Watch Battle 360: U.S.S. Enterprise.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

For those interested this is the book Colin is referring to:

by Barrett Tillman

[Dj]

Another good book on the Enterprise, older and perhaps harder to find.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Another good recommendation Dj, thanks.

[Manray9]

Today is the anniversary of the Battle of the Java Sea. The battle doomed Allied resistance to the Japanese conquest of the Dutch East Indies, as well as destroying the ABDA fleet as an effective force. It was not a glorious day in the history of the USN (the Dutch, Aussie or Royal Navies either). USS HOUSTON (CA-30) and HMAS PERTH (D29) survived until the next night when they met their ends at Sunda Strait.

These are pretty good books on HOUSTON and her operations in the East Indies. Her mission wasn't successful, but she went down with her battle ensign flying and her skipper was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

A Different Kind of Victory by James Leutze

Ship of Ghosts by James Hornfischer.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Thanks for the reminder on this terrible campaign at sea Manray9. I have read an older book on this engagement but I can't remember the title. I will be ordering a copy of this book though when it becomes available:

by Jeffrey Cox

[Manray9]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Thanks for the reminder on this terrible campaign at sea Manray9. I have read an older book on this engagement but I can't remember the title. I will be ordering a copy of this book though when it ..."

I forgot to add the link:

http://www.dutcheastindies.webs.com/j...

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Excellent link Manray9, the story of HMAS Yarra and Leading Seaman Ronald (Buck) Taylor standing by his guns is a great but very sad account.

[Manray9]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Excellent link Manray9, the story of HMAS Yarra and Leading Seaman Ronald (Buck) Taylor standing by his guns is a great but very sad account."

That story was told in:

Hurricanes versus Zeros bt Terrence Kelly

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Thanks Manray9 for this link. A young man on my home town's memorial was lost on HMS Stronghold.

[carl]

once again you all aren't shortening the TBR
list any.

[Manray9]

carl wrote: "once again you all aren't shortening the TBR
list any."

Sorry, but it's a hazard of GR.

[Jeff]

Has anyone read any books about Russian women pilots? I knew they served in the army, but not the airforce. Here's book link: http://amzn.to/1mTMad9

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Here are a few more books on female Russian pilots of WW2 if anyone else is interested:


by Bruce Myles

by Anne Noggle

by A.A. Timofeeva-Egorova

[Jeff]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Here are a few more books on female Russian pilots of WW2 if anyone else is interested:


by [author:Bruce Myles..."

Thank you for the heads up Rick.

[Jill H.]

While in Washington, DC, this is a must see attraction....The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The web site below affords a wealth of information, no only about the museum but about the event it commemorates. This is not an easy place to visit and I spent some time after the tour in the room for reflection to get my emotions under control.

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

http://www.ushmm.org/

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Thanks Jill. I have been to Washington twice and crammed much in on both visits but this is a place on my list for the next time I visit. The website itself is very good. I liked the history & timelines of the museum as well.

[Mikey B.]

Jill wrote: "While in Washington, DC, this is a must see attraction....The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The web site below affords a wealth of information, no only about the museum but about the eve..."

Yes I have been there and well worth it.
And as you say This is not an easy place to visit
The visit has to be planned, I remember on one visit to Washington and realizing on our last day that we did NOT want to visit the Holocaust Memorial. Better to see it at the beginning of your travels I feel.

[Manray9]

Here is another interesting article linked from RealClearHistory.com. The oddities of history are one aspect that makes it so endlessly fascinating.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/mu...

The article mentions "They (Finnish Jews) were viewed with some suspicion by the rest of Finland, which itself had been ruled by Russia until its independence in 1917..." which, while true, is misleading. Finland was a part of the Russian empire for just over 100 years. It was seized from Sweden in 1809. The Finns enjoyed special privileges within the Russian empire as a separate Grand Duchy of Finland with the tsar as Grand Duke. Each successive tsar vowed, upon coronation, to uphold the unique laws of Finland which had its own Senate and minister in St. Petersburg.

[Manray9]

This is a glimpse at a post-war problem which doesn't get much attention. When I lived in Alaska, on a naval installation, a utility crew digging with a backhoe struck a buried cache of 8 inch gun ammo from WW II (Not the preferred method of finding old ammo). It created chaos because we had to close some roads, evacuate a residential area, and contend with terrified mothers until EOD could render the old shells safe.

Check this out:

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htpe...

[carl]

Manray9 wrote: "Not the preferred method of finding old ammo) "

that'd probably be called the 'Oh crap!" method, but the fellow in the article throwing it in the fire would be the 'Oh holy crap!' method!

[Manray9]

carl wrote: "Manray9 wrote: "Not the preferred method of finding old ammo) "

that'd probably be called the 'Oh crap!" method, but the fellow in the article throwing it in the fire would be the 'Oh holy crap..."

I would call tossing old shells in the fire the "Dumbass Method."

[Dj]

In France there are still deaths every year from people 'finding' unexploded ordinance from WWI, much less WWII.


Manray9 wrote: "This is a glimpse at a post-war problem which doesn't get much attention. When I lived in Alaska, on a naval installation, a utility crew digging with a backhoe struck a buried cache of 8 inch gun..."

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

As Dj says there is much live ordnance still in the ground (including chemical) and the Belgians have a very active and world class EOD unit - this old article gives some idea on their role including call outs and volume of munitions tackled: http://www.jmu.edu/cisr/journal/8.1/f...

[Manray9]

Geevee wrote: "As Dj says there is much live ordnance still in the ground (including chemical) and the Belgians have a very active and world class EOD unit - this old article gives some idea on their role includi..."

Good link, Geevee. The Belgians also excel at maritime minesweeping.

[Mike]

Manray9 wrote: "carl wrote: "Manray9 wrote: "Not the preferred method of finding old ammo) "

that'd probably be called the 'Oh crap!" method, but the fellow in the article throwing it in the fire would be the..."

er, yes, so would I :-)

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Manray9 wrote: "Geevee wrote: "As Dj says there is much live ordnance still in the ground (including chemical) and the Belgians have a very active and world class EOD unit - this old article gives some idea on the..."

I wasn't aware of that Manray9 thanks - I guess they work a lot with the RN in this area.

[Manray9]

Geevee wrote: "Manray9 wrote: "Geevee wrote: "As Dj says there is much live ordnance still in the ground (including chemical) and the Belgians have a very active and world class EOD unit - this old article gives ..."

Some years ago, NATO gave Belgium the lead role in naval minesweeping.

[Jill H.]

The Battle of Britain Historical Society maintains a very nice web site, full of information and photos. It is worth a look.

http://www.battleofbritain1940.net/

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Great site, thanks for the link Jill!

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

This relates to WWI but has direct links to WWII so I thought some members might find it of interest: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26170799

[happy]

Tnx for those sites Geevee and Jill

I rather like the BoB memorial when I visited it in '08