THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP discussion

Members can post details of WW2 books they have purchased recently, old and new titles, tell us all about them:

I purchased a nice second hand copy of this book last week, it looks pretty good and should be an interesting account:

by General S. M. Shtemenko

I just stumbled across this book and figured I would order a second-hand copy, not much about covering this subject:

by Cecil D. Eby
Description:
Hungary's place in World War II has been woefully documented because until recently any histories of the war years had to conform to Communist Party line. Originally allied with Germany to defend itself against Bolshevism, Hungary saw its army annihilated in 1943 and was subsequently invaded -- and occupied -- by the Soviets. Now fifty years after the closing of the Iron Curtain in 1948, the memories of those who endured those years can finally be shared. Cecil Eby has compiled a historical chronicle of Hungary's wartime experiences based on interviews with nearly a hundred people who lived through those years. Here are officers and common soldiers, Jewish survivors of the Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen concentration camps, pilots of the Royal Hungarian Air Force, Hungarian prisoners of war in Russian labor camps, and a host of others. We meet the apologists for the Horthy regime installed by Hitler and the activists who sought to overthrow it, and we relive the Red Army's siege of Budapest during the harsh winter of 1944-45 through the memories of people who were trapped there. Because of censorship and intimidation during the Communist epoch, most of the accounts shared here have never been told to anyone outside the subjects' families. Often the most startling stories come from ordinary citizens. We learn of Ilona Joo, who survived in a cellar while German and Russian armies used her house and garden as a battleground, and of the remarkable Merenyi sisters, who trekked home to Budapest after being freed from Bergen-Belsen. Eby also includes a rare interview with a former member of the Arrow Cross, Hungary's fascist party, which sheds new light on its leadership. From these personalaccounts, Eby draws readers into the larger themes of the tragedy of war and the consequences of individual actions in moments of crisis. Skillfully integrating oral testimony with historical exposition, Hungary at War reveals the knot of ideological, economic, and ethnic attachments that entangled the lives of so many Hungarians. The result is an absorbing narrative that is a fitting testament to a nation buffeted by external forces beyond its capacity to control.

Added TBR. You are right about few sources on this area.

Looks like a good read, maybe it could come in handy for a Hungarian theme read one month :)

Interesting for sure. I'll place it on my TBR list.

Thanks Rick added to TBR.

I'm adding it to my TBR, also. When we do the Hungarian read (May, anybody?), I would suggest the juxtaposition of Alex Kershaw's outstanding book titled "The Envoy" , much of which takes place in Hungary.

Good idea Paul, it sounds like an excellent book, one which I need to check out.

Oh well, decided to order a copy, that's your fault Paul :)

Also ordered (was already on the TBR). Sigh...

Oh dear :)

It does sound like it will be a pretty good read, I better start thinking about organising the Hungarian theme month eh!

Paul wrote: "I'm adding it to my TBR, also. When we do the Hungarian read (May, anybody?), I would suggest the juxtaposition of Alex Kershaw's outstanding book titled "The Envoy" [bookcover:The Envoy: The Epic ..."

I loved this book :)

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I just stumbled across this book and figured I would order a second-hand copy, not much about covering this subject:

by C..."

This looks amazing. I don't know anything about the war in Hungary.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Oh well, decided to order a copy, that's your fault Paul :)"

You've got a long ways to go before we're even. Jus' sayin'... :)

Hi Paul, OK, that's fair :)

Just yesterday I recieved:

by Dennis E. Showalter

Hope to finish some other books soon so I can start on this one as it looks very good.

Singleton wrote: "Just yesterday I recieved:

by Dennis E. Showalter

Hope to finish some other books soon so I can start on ..."

I love alternate history books! Please let us know how it is once you've gotten to it.

Have had this one on the reading radar for quite a while.

I picked up a nice copy of this book today, looks very interesting:


by Marcus Cowper

For those who like books covering personal accounts here are a few more that may interest you:

by Terry Charman

by Richard Holmes

by Richard Aldrich

by Richard Aldrich

by Max Arthur

Nice recommendations Rick, and I agree, reading original sources is highly rewarding.

I agree Mike, so much more can be gained by listening to the average 'Joe'. I've mentioned it a few times previously but occasionally I need to be reminded of the human cost of my reading pleasure and these accounts can bring you that realization that war isn't all pretty uniforms, heroic tales and glamour.

Since most of those books above are more British based, for our American members, Gerald Astor has published some great WW2 oral histories, here are a few that I have or have read:

& & & & & plus many more by Gerald Astor

I have a copy of around here somewhere. But thank goodness you listed all the others. I was running out of books I need to buy. ;)

Always happy to help Mike, you know that :)

His book on Okinawa; Operation Iceberg and his account of the 8th Air Force were both very good accounts.

Every month Amazon puts a few books on sale, and this month has a few WWII selections for $3 or less:

I've read Rise and Fall of the Third Reich and have The Gathering Storm, but if anyone has read any of the others, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Hard to pass up books when they're that price (and when I already have the ereader)!

Nice haul A.L. :)

Thank you A.L. for helping me lower the remaining amount on my B&N gift card. Bought The Last Jew of Treblinka and Escape from Sobibor for my NOOK for $2.99 apiece.

Wouldn't want that gift card to go unused, would we? (not that that's likely to happen)

I just order these books ,Attack on Yamamoto,The Berlin Raids(Bomber Command Winter43/44,Signal,Hitlers Wartime Magazine,GI'S War,DDay(Warren Tute&Others....$21.62....granted.. these are used/good condition..but how can you beat these prices...standard shipping INCLUDED...(BetterWorldBooks.com.)......

You lot are not helping me to stop buying :)

A.L. wrote: "Every month Amazon puts a few books on sale, and this month has a few WWII selections for $3 or less:
[bookcover:Haven: The Dramatic Story of 1,000 Worl..."

I read the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich when I was 17, then read it again as I was writing "The Swastika Tattoo," my novel about a German POW camp in Phoenix during WWII. William L. Shirer was an incredible reporter. I just bought the book again in the 50th anniversary edition because it's printed in bigger type than my beat-up paperback from 1960. Wish I had waited for the sale.

Geraldine wrote: I read the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich when I was 17, then read it again as I was writing "The Swastika Tattoo," my novel about a German POW camp in Phoenix during WWII.

That's an impressive read for a 17-year old, Geraldine! If you like William Shirer, you may want to keep your eye out for . I've seen the ebook (and of course grabbed a copy) on sale for a few bucks. Don't think it's on sale now, but maybe sometime in the next year or so...

A.L. wrote: "Every month Amazon puts a few books on sale, and this month has a few WWII selections for $3 or less:
[bookcover:Haven: The Dramatic Story of 1,000 Worl..."

Thanks for the post on the Amazon bargains A.L. There are some good selections this month.

Not today but earlier this week I hit the jackpot at the secondhand bookshop. After my trade credit for six fiction books, I got these all for $11 out of pocket and all in like-new condition.

, , , , , and . I was quite proud of myself and very grateful to the individual who had recently brought in the heaps of WWII books for trade. Alas, I had to leave quite a few behind....

Some good books there Chrisrie, nice haul to add to your library :)

Good score Christie!

My copies of A Dance with Death and The Envoy both arrived today and both look pretty good - now I just need to find the time to read them!

by Anne Noggle

by Alex Kershaw

Seriously wanting to get

It covera all the Soviet units that woman served in, bombers, fighters, etc. It should make for interesting reading.

Nice buys there Dr. Michael!

Thanks Aussie Rick. Purchased this today:

Dr. Michael wrote: "Thanks Aussie Rick. Purchased this today:"

Looks like another good book!

Those look like good books Dr. Micheal esp the one on Slapton Sands

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "My copies of A Dance with Death and The Envoy both arrived today and both look pretty good - now I just need to find the time to read them!

[bookcover:A Dance with Death: Soviet Airwomen in World ..."

I can recommend "The Envoy" very highly.

This arrived today - a second-hand bargain: by Toby Thacker. I have the author's , which I enjoyed greatly.

Geevee wrote: "This arrived today - a second-hand bargain: by Toby Thacker. I have the author's [b..."

Oh, that sounds really good. Must add to TBR :)

Looks good Geevee.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: " Dr. Michael wrote: "Thanks Aussie Rick. Purchased this today:"

Looks like another good book!"

I am currently reading it, chapter by chapter. Should alsmost say "struggling through it" but that doesn't do the book credit. It is a really interesting read, a source of very detailed information, but not a swift, easy read.