Hoi3 - Best WW2 books and movies (threads merged)

[unmerged(48627)]

Panzer Commander by Hans von Luck, a German colonels story. Very entertaining .. it starts from the start of the war until he is eventually sent home to Germany from Russia.

I second this, excelent book.

 

[unmerged(34917)]

I also recommend the JG 26 Book by Caldwell, about the war career about Jagdgeschwader JG 26 'Schlageter'. So many casualties and kills during the war... Excellent read.

 

[unmerged(52571)]

another book from shirer

I really like "The Collapse of the Third Republic: An Inquiry Into the Fall of France in 1940"
It covers the time from 1871 until 1940 and has about 1000 pages, but it really answers the question why the most powerfull armed force of that time was defeated within four weeks.

The book shines in its combination of political, social and military aspects.

 

[unmerged(132146)]

Six Armies in Normandy, John Keegan.

Has anyone read Keegan's old student's latest, D-Day: The Battle for Normandy, by Antony Beevor?

 

[Cakes]

Six Armies in Normandy, John Keegan.

Has anyone read Keegan's old student's latest, D-Day: The Battle for Normandy, by Antony Beevor?

Anything by Keegen and Beevor I've found to be very good. Have both of the above (and a lot of their other works) on my shelves somewhere.

Catch 22
The Naked and the Dead

Catch 22 is hilarious, great book IMHO.
I was distinctly underawed by The naked and the dead however. I didnt think it was up to the standard of many other books I've read.

I've got too many books (if that's possible) and for fiction I am trying to either borrow from libraries, swap with pals or get in Epub electronic format. For some WW2 books, these deserve a paper copy - Looks like I'll need a third shed soon.

Cheers,

#Cakes

 

[The Witch-King]

Six Armies in Normandy, John Keegan.

Has anyone read Keegan's old student's latest, D-Day: The Battle for Normandy, by Antony Beevor?

Yeah, reading it now, two-thirds through. It's not bad, but I must say it's quite a disappointment for a fan of his earlier works.

The major issue is that it's too heavily slanted to the Allied side. The strength of "Stalingrad" is in the vast completeness of perspective - high and low, German and Russian etc. "D-Day", however, is basically a tale of only one side of the battle. There are sections dealing with the reasoning in the German HQs and the occasional isolated additional German anecdote, but that's it. While the experience of American and British troops is very closely detailed, he never actually bothers to try and paint a picture of what the battle was like for the German soldiers.

It's also poorly edited - there are a fair number of cases of repetition in the text and also the account quite often lacks structure. This certainly takes something away from the reading experience, although it's maybe not really a huge issue for us true WW2 nerds.

In spite of these criticisms, however, the book is certainly worth reading. The details of the British and American soldiers fighting this battle in overwhelming numbers against a much more experienced foe is still absolutely fascinating. And Beevor's feeling for powerful and telling details is still impressive. Just be warned - you will feel that there is a a huge question always hanging around unanswered - namely, what was the enemy thinking and doing at the same time?

I was expecting to read it through in a week or so, but instead have actually been reading it in little chunks during a couple of months now.

 

[Harpia]

+1. Maybe too broad in scope to really be considered a WWII book, but a great read definitely.

Really nice one. +1

 

[Augustus244]

"The Blitzkrieg Myth" by John Mosier, have to read it.

 

[snoopy1710]

I'm surprised no one mentioned David Glantz yet: "When titans clashed". I have read 2-3 more books by him, all very good reads.

I will second Manstein, Guderian, Churchill, and I would like to add:

- "Japan at war", Haruko Taya Cook & Theodore F. Cook
- "Shattered sword", Parshall and Tully (an absolute must read)
- "Barbarossa", Alan Clark
- "FDR" (biography), Jean Edward Smith

Snoopy

 

[panzeroo]

the german army handbook 1939 -1945
i find an invalable historical reference when playing the germans
has orders of battle
divisional makeup and lists the regiments in all the main units
great for renaming all those brigades
also
slaughterhouse handbook of the eastern front
is another one worth looking at when playing the germans

 

[unmerged(149617)]

Only English language book/Western one? OK.

First of all, DO NOT read "Berlin, the downfall" without taking it with a big spoon of salt.

Second, I recommend "When Titans Clash". Or any book by David M. Glantz. He is probably one of the very few Western writers who have very little bias.

Well I for one would be interested to hear about titles from "behind the Iron Curtain." That's a perspective not often mentioned -- or pursued, but probably because many in the west are afraid of the history being rewritten to suit those in power.
Not that that ever happens in the west....

 

[unmerged(165848)]

If you like WWII fiction, I highly recommend The Moscow Option, The Eagle Has Landed, and The Eagle Has Flown.

 

[Apikoros18]

One thing hasn't jumped out on me from this list, what are some good biographies of WWII Figures?--- My favorite would have to be American Caesar by William Manchester. MacArthur was brilliant---but crazy. It's hard to be humble when you know you're great, I guess. (Frank Lloyd Wright)

 

[unmerged(109424)]

Well I for one would be interested to hear about titles from "behind the Iron Curtain." That's a perspective not often mentioned -- or pursued, but probably because many in the west are afraid of the history being rewritten to suit those in power.
Not that that ever happens in the west....

Oh, there are so many. We have statistics research (numbers), doctrine research and comparisons, the general history, biographies.. Et cetra. The problem is you don't know Russian.

However, if you want I can recommend this Soviet film about the war (and it's not particularly biased, it is actually pretty critical against Soviet High Command), "Освобождение" or Liberation. It is about the entire war.

 

[Apikoros18]

Follow up to Best WW2 Books--- Same thread but movies

My all time Fave:

The Longest Day-- Cast includes, well, everyone who was anyone during that period.

Tied for second: Patton and Stalingrad.

 

[unmerged(132146)]

Anything by Powell and Pressburger.

Also: The Cruel Sea (Battle of the Atlantic), The Gift Horse (only film about destroyers for bases deal, well, about one of the destroyers), Battleground (about the Battle of the Bulge)

 

[Scryder]

My all time favorites are:
A Bridge Too Far - all star cast and brilliant story (actually I understood this film better after playing HoI3, before I didn't really understand what XXX Corps really meant. )
Tora! Tora! Tora! - Still the best Western adaptation of the attack on Pearl Harbor, IMO
Patton - Pure Genius! Great acting by George C. Scott
MacArthur - Don't know why I like this one, but I do...

Others I liked:
The Enemy Below
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of Midway
The Desert Fox
Stalingrad
Das Boot
Battle of River Plate
The Longest Day
The Thin Red Line (I know it's a bit of a modern anti-war film, but I still enjoyed it...)

There's probably a ton more, but these are just ones of the top of my head. War films were my favorite genre when I was younger, so I've seen a lot of them...

 

[Erebos]

Bridge on the River Kwai

 

[spoff]

First, Das Boot. I just love Jürgen Prochnow in this one. And theres just something about U-boats..

Tuntematon Sotilas(Unknown Soldier), made in 1954 by Edwin Laine and its remake made in 1987 by Rauni Mollberg. Allthough this is Finnish production, some may still know it. Somewhat realistic view to the Finnish-Soviet conflict between 1941'-1945'.

Talvisota(Winter War), 1989. Also a Finnish title. Exellent movie to see what we really were against in the winter of 39'.

A bridge too far. God i love those tanks! Tanks, tanks, there are tanks everywhere! And ofcourse the cast. Sean Connery, Michael Caine and Anthony Hopkins just to mention few.

Bridge over river Kwai. Does this need explanations?

And finally, The Eagle has Landed. I think this is Michael Caines one of the best war movies.

 

[debeli_manekeni]

Book - History of ww2 by Basil Liddell Hart

Movie- I like production of Band of brothers;
The Longest day and Battle of Britain