- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
WWII books rec
Posted on 12/15/21 at 6:04 pm
Posted on 12/15/21 at 6:04 pm
I know this is pretty broad but I've spent the last decade or so reading up on western civ history in pretty good detail and finally made it to WWII. My typical approach to big events like this is to read a big all encompassing book (about to finish Inferno) and then read several more targeted books about specific events/battles/people whatever.
I've pretty well covered the lead up to the war but what are the some of the best books about early war, Pearl Harbor, D-Day, Eastern Front, Pacific, North Africa etc...
I've pretty well covered the lead up to the war but what are the some of the best books about early war, Pearl Harbor, D-Day, Eastern Front, Pacific, North Africa etc...
15
Posted on 12/15/21 at 9:57 pm to RandySavage
quote:
Pearl Harbor
At Dawn We Slept - Prange
quote:
D-Day
The Longest Day - Ryan
Sand and Steel: A New History of D-Day - Caddick-Adams
quote:
Eastern Front
Barbarossa - Clark
Where the Iron Crosses Grow - Forczyk
quote:
Pacific
Listen to Dan Carlin's Supernova in the East, 6-part podcast. (If nothing else, his references are a fantastic bibliography for the topic.)
quote:
North Africa
An Army at Dawn - Atkinson
Posted on 12/15/21 at 10:37 pm to RandySavage
quote:
Listen to Dan Carlin's Supernova in the East, 6-part podcast. (If nothing else, his references are a fantastic bibliography for the topic.
I can’t recommend Carlin’s entire library of Hardcore History enough. He gets some criticism for being a little simplistic, but his storytelling skills are outstanding. If you listen to podcasts, pay the $50 or so and enjoy many times over. The episodes Ghosts of the Ostfront are really, really good. They motivated me to read ‘Stalingrad’ by Anthony Beevor. One of the most brutal, bloodiest battles of the war. Excellent read.
Posted on 12/16/21 at 2:52 pm to DomesticatedBoar
I just finished Berlin Diary by William Shirer. It's really interesting to hear it from someone who was there leading up to and during most of the conflict.
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by Shirer is also essential reading for a good overview of the European side.
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by Shirer is also essential reading for a good overview of the European side.
Posted on 12/16/21 at 3:53 pm to RandySavage
quote:
Pacific,
The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors
Unbroken
Posted on 12/16/21 at 4:52 pm to theGarnetWay
For a look from the British intelligence perspective leading up to and during the war, try A Man Called Intrepid.
Any/all of the Cornelius Ryan books
I'm poorly read on the subject, but enjoyed those very much
Any/all of the Cornelius Ryan books
I'm poorly read on the subject, but enjoyed those very much
Posted on 12/19/21 at 8:10 am to theGarnetWay
Last Stand is a great read. Those men were true heroes.
Posted on 12/19/21 at 3:14 pm to RandySavage
The Rising Sun (told from the Japanese perspective).
Helmet For My Pillow and In With The Old Breed for war in the pacific.
Helmet For My Pillow and In With The Old Breed for war in the pacific.
Posted on 12/21/21 at 6:59 pm to RandySavage
We Band of Angels is actually real good. Follows some army nurses or was it navy? Anyways they were captured during The Batan death March time frame
Posted on 12/22/21 at 6:34 pm to RandySavage
For a comprehensive overview of the ETO, I'd recommend Rick Atkinson's trilogy. An Army At Dawn was very good and his 2nd book, Guns At First Light(?), was almost as good. The 3rd book, who's title escapes me, was not as good as the previous two books, but was still good.
As previously mentioned, any of Cornielius Ryan's WWII books are great.
As previously mentioned, any of Cornielius Ryan's WWII books are great.
Posted on 12/24/21 at 12:22 am to RandySavage
For a little different style with some humor included, try We Band of Brothers by Peppy Blount.
He was a successful World War Two bomber pilot who survived many challenging missions in the South Pacific and was very successful in civilian life after that.
He was a successful World War Two bomber pilot who survived many challenging missions in the South Pacific and was very successful in civilian life after that.
Posted on 12/26/21 at 9:08 am to RandySavage
quote:
Pacific
The Fighting Corsairs by Jeff Dacus
Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuckoff
Finish Forty and Home by Phil Scearce
Posted on 12/26/21 at 8:05 pm to RandySavage
Ian Toll trilogy Pacific
Rick Atkinson trilogy
Rick Atkinson trilogy
Posted on 12/27/21 at 6:33 pm to RandySavage
Clay Pigeons of St Lo
Guy takes command of a battalion right before a major offensive, and is basically told his guys are being sacrificed for the greater good of taking the objective.
Guy takes command of a battalion right before a major offensive, and is basically told his guys are being sacrificed for the greater good of taking the objective.
Posted on 12/27/21 at 6:53 pm to RandySavage
If you're interested in the battle for Midway, I highly recommend Shattered Sword. It gives you the perspective of the Japanese and the US. Great read.
Posted on 12/30/21 at 3:21 pm to RandySavage
I think there was another thread on WWII books if you want to scroll for it...
I'll second the Rick Atkinson trilogy about the US Army in the ETO.
At Dawn we Slept is also a good one. American intel flubs went back to pre-WWII days.
I haven't gotten to Ian Toll's trilogy yet, but it looks very good.
Stephen Ambrose's D-Day and Citizen Soldiers and Band of Brothers are also good.
For specific battles, A Time for Trumpets by Charles B. MacDonald is a good on one the Battle of Bulge. MacDonald was a company commander in the Ardennes. Eric Hammel wrote a trilogy on the Guadalcanal campaign if you can find it.
I'll second the Rick Atkinson trilogy about the US Army in the ETO.
At Dawn we Slept is also a good one. American intel flubs went back to pre-WWII days.
I haven't gotten to Ian Toll's trilogy yet, but it looks very good.
Stephen Ambrose's D-Day and Citizen Soldiers and Band of Brothers are also good.
For specific battles, A Time for Trumpets by Charles B. MacDonald is a good on one the Battle of Bulge. MacDonald was a company commander in the Ardennes. Eric Hammel wrote a trilogy on the Guadalcanal campaign if you can find it.
Posted on 1/1/22 at 12:13 am to RandySavage
A bridge too far
Band of Brothers
Citizen Soldiers
Pegasus Bridge
Ian Toll's Pacific Trilogy
anything by James D. Hornfischer, especially last stand of the tin can sailors
Achtung Panzer
Rise and fall of the third Reich
Guadalcanal Diary
With the old breed
Helmet for my pillow
Band of Brothers
Citizen Soldiers
Pegasus Bridge
Ian Toll's Pacific Trilogy
anything by James D. Hornfischer, especially last stand of the tin can sailors
Achtung Panzer
Rise and fall of the third Reich
Guadalcanal Diary
With the old breed
Helmet for my pillow
Posted on 1/1/22 at 12:53 am to RandySavage
I’m Harms Way about the sinking of the USS Indianapolis is a good read.
Posted on 1/2/22 at 9:36 am to RandySavage
D-Day through the Germans eyes is an amazing read. They are all somewhat short stories from the nazi front on d day. Unbelievable stories and what exactly was going through their heads..
Posted on 1/2/22 at 11:47 pm to Coach21
The above recommendations cover it so I will recommend two works of fiction- The Winds of War and War and Remembrance.
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News