An "easy" to read WW2 book?

[Asterix]

Siko said:

Asterix said:

And I've just ordered.

Hopefully with me tomorrow.

Hope you enjoy it chaps...I must admit I find most WW2 history a little jaded, but Hastings gives you a fresh perspective on lots of different elements of it. Just reading Richard Overy's 'the bombing war' about strategic bombing in WW2...I think this is for the war in the air like Hastings book was for the whole war.....just fantastic and a whole new outlook on things

Turned up this morning - will get stuck in over the weekend

[bint]

All Quiet on the Western Front - I read as a child and has stuck in my head all these years.

[iwantagta]

Operation mincemeat is a good read from one specific element.

Behind closed doors by Laurence Rees gives a good account of the politics behind the decisions & the complex relationships.It explains the relationship between the big 3 allied (in the end) leaders.

[Johnnytheboy]

bint said:

All Quiet on the Western Front - I read as a child and has stuck in my head all these years.

Good book.

Wrong war.

[bint]

Johnnytheboy said:

Good book.

Wrong war.

Good point. My drunk brain didn't think that through last night did it?!

Um WW2.... Fatherland is a good non fiction what if!

[Justin Cyder]

bint said:

Good point. My drunk brain didn't think that through last night did it?!

Um WW2.... Fatherland is a good non fiction what if!

Um...it is fiction though.

[bint]

Justin Cyder said:

Um...it is fiction though.

Oh FFS I can't blame alcohol this time....

[AAGR]

Justin Cyder said:

Nom de ploom said:

+1 for "all Hell Let Loose" by Max Hastings.

I've been on this book for a few months. It's gripping. There are fairly dry chapters dealing with specific battles, but these are more than offset by Hastings' grasp of the human story & he gets under the skin of specific aspects of the war, such as the experience of airmen, the Jewish experience & the German public in ways that have you turning pages at a rapid rate. It's an excellent read.

+1 for this. Superb - but so is anything military by Max Hastings.

End of thread ....

[Ozzie Dave]

No one has mentioned Spike Miligans war memoirs, humerous and very well written (and technically accurate) , read them at school many years ago, still have them today, having said that its also an insight into the logic and stupidity that affected so many for the rest of their lives.

[cardigankid]

I recommend the following for a slightly more personal view and from a German standpoint:

1 The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer
2 Rocket Fighter by Mano Ziegler
3 Bomber by Len Deighton

[Alpha97]

cardigankid said:

I recommend the following for a slightly more personal view and from a German standpoint:

1 The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer
2 Rocket Fighter by Mano Ziegler
3 Bomber by Len Deighton

It should be noted that there is some dispute as to the authenticity of The Forgotten Soldier. I think someone tracked the author down recently and were also able to confirm the identity of another person in the book. Unfortunately the author wrote quite a lot of war-comic fiction type stuff before writing The Forgotten Soldier which I think is where the suspicion comes from.

I would also recommend 'Blood Red Snow' by Gunter Koschorrek for a German perspective.

[Justin Cyder]

Might try one from the German perspective. It would be fair to say between the high command blunders & Hitler's insistence that the Wehrmacht fight to the last man repeatedly, the German foot soldier had a rough war, particularly in the east.

[cardigankid]

All of those books give a personal perspective rather than set out to be history books. There was a dispute over whether The Forgotten Soldier was autobiographical. I am inclined to think that it is, subject to the normal errors of time and confusion. Mano Ziegler is another controversial figure, but his book is demonstrably true, and if you want to pick up a book you won't be able to put down, Rocket Fighter is it. 'Bomber' is entirely fictional, but is as authentic in describing the detail of a bombing raid - from both sides - as you are going to find. When Len Deighton wrote the accompanying book 'Fighter', it was a very good historical account of the Battle of Britain.

[AlRaven]

+1 again for "All hell let loose" - absolutely the best all in one accessible book on WW2 and still full of fascinating stuff for those who read lots of other more specific stuff - I love how he brings over a personal perspective on many occasions.

[irocfan]

I've heard good things about Stuka Pilot

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1512790.Stuka_P...

so that's on my to read list in over the next few months - one thing to be aware of (which may be an issue for some) is that the guy was an unrepentant nazi, but from snippets I have read about him he is actually quite an amazing character (though obviously trying to disengage the fact that the guy was actually a full on tool)

[Elroy Blue]

I found Stuka Pilot a bit disappointing. The descriptions of missions flown is often quite short and it never really grabbed me. I was lucky enough to find 'Combat Crew' is a second hand book shop today. £1.99 got me a book that has received very, very good reviews.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Combat-Crew-Missions-Europ...

For anybody that has a kindle, you could do worse than download this, for all of 77p.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Widow-Maker-E-R-Johnson-eb...

It's fiction, but very well written and a very enjoyable read.

[grahamtr7]

I can highly recommend "Digger's Story" - a biography of David "Digger" Barrett who was a prisoner of war on the Burmese railway - an amazing story and a very easy read. See link below for details. I am slightly biased as my Dad wrote it , but it really is a good read! Details on the website below:

http://warstory.com.au/

Graham

Edited by grahamtr7 on Sunday 21st September 21:06

[Flip Martian]

irocfan said:

I've heard good things about Stuka Pilot

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1512790.Stuka_P...

so that's on my to read list in over the next few months - one thing to be aware of (which may be an issue for some) is that the guy was an unrepentant nazi, but from snippets I have read about him he is actually quite an amazing character (though obviously trying to disengage the fact that the guy was actually a full on tool)

Similarly, "I Flew For The Fuhrer" by Heinz Knoke:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/758780.I_Flew_f...

Although he appeared to see the flaws in nazism. Its a fascinating account from the German point of view and very readable.

[Crafty_]

There is also this one "Spitfire on my tail: A view from the other side" by Ulrich Steinhilper
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spitfire-My-Tail-View-Othe...

He was a luftwaffe fighter pilot, he and his comrades were probably some of the first combatants that figured out it wasn't all going to go Hitler's way. Worth a read.

[Flip Martian]

Crafty_ said:

There is also this one "Spitfire on my tail: A view from the other side" by Ulrich Steinhilper
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spitfire-My-Tail-View-Othe...

He was a luftwaffe fighter pilot, he and his comrades were probably some of the first combatants that figured out it wasn't all going to go Hitler's way. Worth a read.

Going to try that and Stuka Pilot I think. I found it interesting reading the view from "the other side" for a change. Reading Knoke's increasing disillusionment with Hitler and nazism - plus the demoralising effect of losing most of his friends over time - was quite a read.