Can anyone recommend a good novel based on the eastern front? Looking for a new book to read and would like to learn more about the eastern front.
Novels based on the Eastern Front
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Sadly I believe Forgotten Soldier has been proven to be false. A well written book nonetheless. I recently read, In Deadly Combat, tis a memoir of German soldier on the Eastern Front. I enjoyed it thoroughly. I bought my father, Panzer Leader, Heinz Guderian written. I am not informed on it though. I recommend The Russo German War 1941-1945 by Albert Seaton. English author I believe, and it is pleasantly written and many different accounts and information provided for a thorough viewpoint of the war on the Eastern front. Reaching the point where Germany fails to take Moscow early on and why. The problems within the OKW and such, as opposed to the STAVKA. Hitler sending Guderian's panzer group south, Hoth unhappy, ect ect.
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Russia's War by Richard Overy was OK just for an introduction. For something more enlightening perhaps read No Greater Ally by Kenneth Koskodan (spelling?) which is about Poland in WWII, albeit not explicitly related to the Eastern Front.
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It would be a great idea to post your references that claim this book to be false.
I read this very memorable book many years ago and I recommend it.
There is now a new 2001 edition.
Below is a review from Goodreads.com
The Forgotten Soldier
by Guy Sajer
4.33 · Rating Details · 5,323 Ratings · 277 Reviews
"This book recounts the horror of World War II on the eastern front, as seen through the eyes of a teenaged German soldier. At first an exciting adventure, young Guy Sajer’s war becomes, as the German invasion falters in the icy vastness of the Ukraine, a simple, desperate struggle for survival against cold, hunger, and above all the terrifying Soviet artillery. As a member of the elite Gross Deutschland Division, he fought in all the great battles from Kursk to Kharkov. His German footsoldier’s perspective makes The Forgotten Soldier a unique war memoir, the book that the Christian Science Monitor said "may well be the book about World War II which has been so long awaited."
Now it has been handsomely republished as a hardcover containing fifty rare German combat photos of life and death at the eastern front.
The photos of troops battling through snow, mud, burned villages, and rubble-strewn cities depict the hardships and destructiveness of war. Many are originally from the private collections of German soldiers and have never been published before.
This volume is a deluxe edition of a true classic."
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A Time to Love and a Time to Die, by Erich Maria Remarque
It's simply fantastic, well written, with a dark and biting humor and plenty of realism without being unnecessarily morbid.
It's simply fantastic, well written, with a dark and biting humor and plenty of realism without being unnecessarily morbid.
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IMO Panzer Leader is probably why Hearts of Iron does not start in 1939. The greatness of Panzer Leader is how Guderian describes how the panzer forces come to being. Really not much about the eastern front after 1941 as it more about dealing with Hitler from 43 onwards. Great read. Hans Von Luck's book is good too,not so much for the eastern front(but gives a good picture of being a prisoner of soviets after the war) but gives a great eye witness account of D Day from a German point of view.
I strongly recommend reading The Forgotten Soldier. If not true, he sure knew someone who was there.
Achtung Panzer goes well with panzer leader and was written by Guderian before the war.
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Put my vote down for "The Forgotten Soldier" as recommended by others in this thread. It's fantastic.
Also, if you're looking for a memoir from the Soviet perspective, Boris Gorbachevsky's "Through the Maelstrom" is amazing, I can't recommend it highly enough.
Also, if you're looking for a memoir from the Soviet perspective, Boris Gorbachevsky's "Through the Maelstrom" is amazing, I can't recommend it highly enough.
try reading Sven Hassel. He has 14 books, some of them are on eastern front, he is my favorite author. 
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Sven Hassel's novels as war adventures are great. Some of them take place on the Eastern Front, but not exclusively. Below is a list from the wikisite about him. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sven_Hassel
- Wheels of Terror
- Comrades of War
- March Battalion
- Assignment Gestapo
- Monte Cassino (The Beast Regiment)
- Liquidate Paris
- Reign of Hell
- Blitzfreeze
- The Bloody Road to Death
- Court Martial
- O.G.P.U. Prison
- The Commissar
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Sven Hassel is good, I really enjoyed reading 3 or 4 of his books.
Realism is a bit lacking in his books though. That's not really a criticism, it's just something to keep in mind.
Realism is a bit lacking in his books though. That's not really a criticism, it's just something to keep in mind.
Not sure that is entirely true, people who at first discredited the book have changed their mind and a specific person mentioned in the book has been found.
However even if it is not entirely accurate it does give an interesting read.
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Thanks guys! Looks like I have quite a few options to choose from. I might start by giving The Forgotten Soldier a read.
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Sven Hassel is something you should try, as indicated before, you should start with "wheels of terror" as it´s on the eastern front and you will easily get to know the characters in it. Keep in mind that´s based on Sven Hassels memories from the war, but it isn´t completly true and realistic, though what´s real and what´s not is up to you
Yeah, it'd be nice to find some novels about the fighting around the Amur region and Manchukuo (aka, the other eastern front).
You might want to try David Glantz books. Some of his deep books has full of tables, numbers and hard to understand though.
I could give this 1955 US Army pamphlet book 5 stars. There is no glorification of Nazi/Soviet super/patriot soldiers or Nazis could have won if only ... bullshits.
Just facts but writing style is interesting to read.
http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/104/104-21/cmhPub_104-21.pdf
Forgotton soldier interesting to read but more like a literature novel. I can`t comment on authenticity but nonetheless it is good novel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Forgotten_Soldier
I could give this 1955 US Army pamphlet book 5 stars. There is no glorification of Nazi/Soviet super/patriot soldiers or Nazis could have won if only ... bullshits.
Just facts but writing style is interesting to read.
http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/104/104-21/cmhPub_104-21.pdf
Forgotton soldier interesting to read but more like a literature novel. I can`t comment on authenticity but nonetheless it is good novel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Forgotten_Soldier