books to read before you die

Fiction, movies, alternate history, humor, and other non-research topics related to WWII.

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Dragunov
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books to read before you die

Post by Dragunov »

put the best ww2 books you've ever read here.
I need some good reccomendations...



The Fall Of Berlin-1945/ Anthony Beevor
that one was pure excellence.
Last edited by Dragunov on Sun Dec 03, 2006 9:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
When Stalin says "Dance" a wise man dances.- Nikita Kruschev
Reb
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Post by Reb »

Caen: Anvil of Victory Alex McKee - an early look at caen - very objective - author was there

Hill 112 - JJ How - won of the best books on the battle I've ever read - again - shows the German side too

Battle: Story of the Bulge John Toland (should be supplemented by McDonalds Time for Trumpets which is more up to date)

12 ss pz div - Hubert Meyer (2 vols)

The Osprey book on Kursk has some good geeky info in a small package.

Helmet for my Pillow - bob leckie (guadlecanel)

etc etc

must go to work!

cheers
Reb
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TPMM
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Post by TPMM »

Hi.
Not true history, but really good:
-"Das Boot", L.-G. Buchheim
Strictly historical:
-"Panzer Leader" H.Guderian
-"Panzer Battles" F.W. von Mellenthin
-"Sharks over China" C.Molesworth
-"The Arctic Convoys 1941-1945" R.Woodman
-"Friend or Foe?" P.Kemp

....and many others :D
Don't worry, be crazy ;]
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Stalingrad
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Post by Stalingrad »

"Panzer Commander" Hans von Luck

"Black Edelweiss" Johan Voss
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Post by phylo_roadking »

"The Crucible of War" by Barrie Pitt, three volumes about the war in the desert, but particularly Vol 1 - "Wavell's Command" very good read about a period in the desert war usually forgotten.
"Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle." - Malcolm Reynolds
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Post by Reb »

Phylo

Barrie Pitt eh? I was unaware of this. Does one of the volumes cover Crusader and Gazala? (my favorite desert battles - yeah, I know Beda Fomm but still...)

cheers
Reb
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Post by phylo_roadking »

I'll be up Home over the weekend, I'll check. I think I does or maybe II
"Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle." - Malcolm Reynolds
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Luftman129
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Post by Luftman129 »

No Picnic on Mount Kenya by Felice Benuzzi. Very good read on the life of an Italian POW in Kenya.

Requiem for Battleship Yamato by Yoshida Mitsuru. The way this sailor wrote about life aboard the IJNS Yamato sounded beautiful like a haiku.

Iron Coffins by Herbert A. Werner. Here is the real way to experience the way the Kriegsmarine U-boat officers and sailors felt aboard their vessels.

Thanks,
Chris
Haleem Majeed
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Post by Haleem Majeed »

Hi D.
The best WW2 books!!! I can mention several but I find that it depends on ones personal interest.

Having guessed wrongly on your first riddle (well done), I headed for my book reol when learning it was Werra´s plane. Found one on him.
If you have an interest in him then try reading "The one that got away" by Kendall Burt and James Leasor.

Since you have already finished Beevors book "Fall of Berlin", maybe you should try out his book "Stalingrad". I liked them both.

Maybe the following could be of interest.
"Reach for the sky" by Paul Brickhill.
"Case by case" by Ib Melchior.
"The phantom major" by Virginia Cowles.

Happy reading.
VMEK in a VW181.
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Dragunov
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Post by Dragunov »

i took out stalingrad from the library but am still reading 'the liri valley' by Mark Zuelhke. can't wait for the break at Christmas, i'm so darn busy right now.
When Stalin says "Dance" a wise man dances.- Nikita Kruschev
chambers
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Post by chambers »

Reb wrote:Helmet for my Pillow - bob leckie (guadlecanel)
Reb
This is the only one I've read from your list but it's definately a good one. I liked it and will read it again sometime.

Brooke
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L. Kafka
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The Idiots Guide To Eternity...

Post by L. Kafka »

I suggest that one before one punches out.
"What are they going to do, send me to Vietnam?"
A oft heard GI refrain in Vietnam in '68.
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Spandau
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Post by Spandau »

Avete,

Berlin Dance of Death by Helmut Altner. A fascinating first hand account of the Battle of Berlin. It very well captures the chaos of that final battle.

Iron Coffins by Herbert A. Werner. It was recommended above and I will recommend it again, it is very good.

The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer. Yes, the book of great controversy. Despite whatever factual errors it has, it is a fantastic literary work (take it from a Literature major) about men at war. As far as storytelling goes, Sajer ranks with Tolstoy, Remarque, and Graves.

Valete,

-Spandau
If you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will gaze into you.
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haen2
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book to read

Post by haen2 »

"Wenn all Brüder schweigen" . A must to read. Very factual, many illistrations.
It's not a "read in one session" book though.
HN
joined forum early spring of 2002 as Haen- posts: legio :-)

Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think !
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Imad
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Post by Imad »

Normandy 1944 by Niklas Zetterling
Cry 'havoc' and let slip... the dogs of war
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