Anyone know a good World War II book? (1 Viewer)

[kewee]

I need one. Any suggestions?

 

[RebSaint]

Pick up John Keegan's The Second World War

 

[kewee]

Pick up John Keegan's The Second World War

I've thought about that one. Started to get it, but wanted to hear some suggestions from you guys. I'll trust you, being the History nerd that you are. BTW guys, feel free to keep some suggstions coming.

 

[Taurus]

Inside the Third Reich by Albert Speer is a good read from within the Nazi machine.

 

[thewyrm]

Flags of our Fathers, the Greatest Generation, mein kampf, and band of brothers.

Edit: Forgot about the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich and the Rape of Nanking.

 

[Saintman2884]

Another one may be the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, that book is very good IMHO on WWII and the coming to power for Hitler and the Nazi's. I don't know or I may have forgotten who wrote it but its a excellent read for history buffs like me or those who intend to make it their profession like Reb Saint is and like I hope to be one say.

Good luck in your search.

 

[Leastbay]

Ghost Soldiers

http://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Soldiers-Forgotten-Dramatic-Mission/dp/0385495641/ref=cm_lmf_***_3

 

[gaminerie]

Believe it or not, i liked "My War" by Andy Rooney.

If your ideas about Andy Rooney (the man) would deter you from this book, then check out any of Ernie Pyle's work.

 

[Saintman2884]

Taurus, now that you mention his name, Speer was lucky he did not get the death penalty at Nuremberg trials. A lot of his criminal actions were not known at the time of his trial and soe he got put in prison. Their is an accepted notion among historians that if his judges had known the full extent of his crimes, he would have been hung and killed for his role of slave workers and in some ways contributing to the Holocaust by building death camps to kill Jews.

But then again,a lot of Nazis got off simply because their was a lack of evidence to convict them. One good example is Speer and some top ranking German generals whose information about the Soviet Union gave them kind of a way out of getting killed and in favor with the space race that was brewing. Lets face it without men like Van Buren and his kind, we would have not beaten the USSR to the moon in 1969. Their contributions made it possible for us to win the space race in many aspects

 

[purvis_guy]

"The Great Escape" written by Paul Brickhill, this is the true story that the outstanding movie was based on.
Also, "The Bielski Brothers: The True Story of Three Men Who Defied the Nazis, Built a Village in the Forest, and Saved 1,200 Jews", written by Paul Duffy.

 

[BullDawg]

Flyboys

 

[Bayouboy]

Band of Brothers is one of the few books I've read in it's entirety......try it.

 

[saintfan]

A lot of great books have been mentioned, but to give you a book that would be meaningful requires that we know what specifically you're doing. Are you reading abouy the war in general, a specific battle or theater of operation, etc.

A couple of excellent older books that discuss certain aspects of the war are:
The Longest Day by Conelius Ryan (deals with D-Day)
At Dawn We Slept by Gordon Prange (the Attack at Pearl Harbor)
Miracle at Midway by Gordon Prange (Battle of Midway)

BTW, if you live near enough to New Orleans, a trip to the World War II Museum is definately worth a visit, plus they have an excellent selection of WWII themed books in their store.

 

[RebSaint]

Prisoners Without Trial by Roger Daniels is also a good one on Japanese-American internment.

 

[LSSpam]

Flags of our Fathers, the Greatest Generation, mein kampf, and band of brothers.

Edit: Forgot about the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich and the Rape of Nanking.

Mein Kampf isn't about World War II and is a terrible book. Important, but not very good at all.