A book I am reading is called "The Order of the Death's Head" by Heinz Hoehne written in 1966. Althouhg it is old, it basically destroys the alibi of the German people that the SS was to blame for everything. Even then, it is the most historically accurate portrayal of the SS and its place in the hierarchy of the Third Reich that I have ever read. If you're interested in learning about the SS, it is probably the best book you could find on the subject.

Gates of Fire

Steven Pressfield

GATES OF FIRE! - STEVEN PRESSFIELD

Gods and Generals, Company Aych, Hardtack and beans and Stories they didnt write home.theses books are on the civil war and give insite to not only the officers but the rank and file and the common citizens cought up in the insanity. Stories they didnt write home devils into the many vices picked up while in army camps such as drinking, flipping of cards, gambling and frequanting houses of ill repute and and other such things. These are good books.

Well, they are Fiction and Alternative History at that, but:

How Few Remain - Basic premise...Gen Less orders during the 1st invasion of the North are not lost by the courier...result, south wins the Civil War (imagine Lincoln as a founder of the Socialist Party in the US).

Leads to the following series: The Great War, American Empire and Settling Accounts

Also Days of Infamy and End of the Begining...Japan follows up the airstrike at Pearl harbon with an invasion of the Hawaian Islands.

Here's several I consider outstanding works that I never get tired of reading:

Brave Ship, Brave Men by Arnold S. Lott. The story of the USS Aaron Ward's (DM-34) epic 52 minute battle with kamikazes off Okinawa.
Thunder Below! by Admiral Eugene B. F_l_u_c_k_e_y, USN (Ret.) A fantastic book about one of the greatest fighting submarines of WW2 as told by her famous skipper, the most highly decorated wartime submariner living today (4 Navy Crosses, MOH).
Killing Ground On Okinawa by James H. Hallas. The story of one of the bloodiest battles in Marine Corps history, the Battle for Sugar Loaf Hill.

My favorites:
The Damned Engineers (Studies in Military Engineering) by Janice Holt Giles, an unusually clear and well-written account of the scattered elements of a US Engineer battalion which ended up playing several pivotal roles at the Battle of the Bulge.
Rebels and Redcoats, by Scheer and Rankin, a retelling of the Revolutionary War, mostly in letters from participants, tied together by wonderfully clear narration from the authors. I am reading this now for about the 20th time.
The Forgotten Soldier, by Guy Sajer. An account of a half-French youngster who is at first a truck driver in a supply unit, and then ends up in the Gross Deutschland Division on the Russian Front. I am among those who believe in the authenticity of the book, although some doubt it.
The Pellopenesian War, by Thucydides. I haven't had access to a copy in years (I'm Far Away) and miss it dearly. The book has been popular for 2,400 years -that's how good it is.

Any list would be incomplete without:

Sun Tzu - The Art of War
Translated by Samuel B. Griffith

These make for some interesting reading:
‘The Rommel Papers’ by Erwin Rommel and Basil Henry Liddell Hart
‘Panzer Leader by Heinz Guderian’
‘Panzer Battles’ by F.W. Von Mellenthin
'The battle of Long Tan' by Lex McAulay
'The battle of CORAL' by Lex McAulay

This one covers a very nasty battle but load in the local light humour coming from the Diggers. It also does have some direct comments from some of the Japanese officers who survived. Not to mention a few wise cracks from US Engineers who were there also.
'Milne Bay 1942' by Barker & Knight

But unfortunately I wasted my money with this following lot. If the price I paid had been in US dollars I would have sent them up in smoke. By the time it was all converted to Aust dollars they cost too much to trash.
'World War II Infantry Tactics Squad and Platoon', Dr S Bull, Osprey
'World War II Infantry Tactics Company and Battalion', Dr S Bull, Osprey

I am currently enjoying "CRACK! and Thump","with a Combat Infantry Officer in World War II" Captain Charles Scheffel with Barry Basden; Camroc Press, LLC , Llano, Texas.

This story is told without pulling any punches of just how the conflict unfolded for this infantry soldier. It has kept my interest throughout the book. No heroics, just like it was.

Maybe not the best but an interesting one at that.

"Neither Fear Nor Hope" by General Frido von Senger Und Etterlin, the defender of Cassino.
General von Senger tells about his experiences while in command of a panzer division fighting to releive Stalingrad, in command of a corps on Sicily and later the lagest corps that was defending Monte Cassino. He provides excellent detailed examples of how he deployed armored infantry in the face of vast numbers of Russian enemy. He also relates his anymosity towards Hitler and his staff.
Steve


Quote from the book on the subject of organization of forces:
In the discussion on operations there was frequent debate over the relative value of the excessively diversified types of divisions in the German Army. I preferred the Panzer Grenadier divisions, apart form the specialized types of parachute rifle divisions and the mountain divisions, of which there was a real shortage in this theatre of war. As for the old type of infantry divisions, I was compelled to look on them as second-rate as regards their weapons, since the tank was indispensable in any attack against an enemy who used even a small number of tanks. In the wartime order of battle the infantry divisions possessed no tanks, and consequently they were inadequately organized. At this stage of the war the armored divisions seldom had more than a quarter of their full intended strength in tanks. But as their infantry strength did not exceed four battalions, an increased allocation of tanks would not have produced the correct relationship for this kind of fighting. Thus the Panzer divisions were too small, and their fighting capacity did not bear a satisfactory relation to their large supply organization and their other auxiliary weapons and services. The Panzer Grenadier divisions had the correct balance as compared with these two extremes. They possessed six battalions and as much armor as the Panzer Divisions. Hence they were more suitably organized for all kinds of use in attack and defense than other types of divisions.

Seems like a good one Custermen

As far as fiction is concerned, I must go with ntjagg: All Quiet etc is not a recent one but remains probably the best

As for the worst, there are a whole host of predominantly UK authors who persist in talking of the "right" or the "left" flank of units when there is no map supplied, which makes it almost impossible to place the units anywhere on the compass to allow the reader to interpret the action, and renders the book - in my view - almost totally worthless

The same authors and a good few besides, also love the mostly American habit of cross referenceing rather than relating the action in chronological sequence: this makes for extemely difficult reading

On the other hand, some fiction authors (such as Stuart Cloete) have the ability to summarise a campaign in a condensed narrative that is also easy on the eye: history is far more interesting than fiction and authors need not do their best to make it a matza pudding

PS.:

also not quite new but because the style is so pulbably different I think Artyom Borovic (?) book on the Afghan War ranks amongst the best reads ever

I'm a huge fan/buff of Prussian history and I've been trying to find a copy of the book "Iron Kingdom" by Christopher Clark. Anyone read it by chance?

As for the best recent book I've read ... probably: The Third Reich in Power, 1933-1939 by Richard J. Evans. A series in production.

A book I enjoyed that covered differant areas leading upto, during and after the battle of Franklin, Tenn. As well as what was done with the earthly remains of those fallen during the later years after the war. I can't remember the authors name but the book's titled " Widow of the South"

Maybe not what you are looking for, but I encourage my guys to read Starship Troopers. If you haven't read the book, don't confuse it with the horrible movie. This science fiction book brings up a number of issues that we face as a society today (for example, the idea that one needs to serve in order to vote).

If you are looking for reading ideas, I've compiled the service's reading lists at www.militaryreading.net. Take a look. (Trust me that I'm not making any money off of the site, but if I do, I will donate it to the Semper Fi Fund)

I enjoyed The Blitzkrieg Myth as well. It brought up some often-missed points that really forced me to examine some beliefs about the ETO.

Hi folks---Just started a Christmas gift my sister sent me. So far it's interesting and I'm learning some little pieces/points of history.

"An Army At Dawn"-the War In North Africa 1942-1943, by Rick Atkinson. Some huge boo-boos by the newbies (the U.S.), British tactics/Officers and their way of doing (or not doing) things, the always confusing (and confused) French-both Free and Vichy,The Germans who I'm sure were scratching their heads saying: "What good are Italians except for making Pasta and Tomato sauce..??"

Some of this info is in the early part of the Movie "Patton", but this book seems to bring up smaller tidbits and mentions soldiers (all ranks-Armies)and the landscape/weather/geography. Haven't got to the end yet, so I can't say buy it for sure, but if your local library has it...check it out.

ADDENDUM. Just finished the book and I think you'll find it informative. He mentions the Casablanca conference with Roosevelt and Churchill and the many U.K. and U.S. Generals/Staff and the two French Generals (who didn't like each other and thought very highly of themselves.) and a parade were Generals Bradley and Patton were put on a side podium, while the non-fighting Generals who did much to prolong the battles in North Africa were put on center stage and gave some speechs.

G.I. accounts of the lousy situations/rations/weather/supplies/dunderheaded orders/food and lack of food/medicine for malaria that gave the soldiers "the runs' and vomiting/letters home to parents-family...some posthumously.


Diaries/Thoughts of senior Officers {Brit-Kraut-Yank} and reports of the treachery of the Arabs/moslems who were very much "in bed" with the Germans.

Just when I think that I know all about WW2 I read something like this book (or see something on History channel or KLCS (PBS-LA)and realize that many things are still out there to learn.

Get this book if you want to read/hear some things that don't get much coverage...Maybe...because honestly the U.S. Army was rather green and many men were killed and by all accounts ( many Generals) the performance was lacking. Churchill was not pleased with the average British soldier in North Africa, and Rommel and his staff seemed to be disgusted with the German Supply system ans Luftwaffe (or lack thereof).

This message has been edited. Last edited by: swremwin,

quote:

Originally posted by hybenamon:
Folks,

Has any member read a good military book? Or how about the worst military book you have recently read?

Hybenamon,

Some of the best would be ANY book by Kenneth Roberts, especially "Oliver Wiswell". Not only does he do a great job with the strategy and tactics of our Colonial Wars, but there is more true American History in any single page of his books than there is in the entire wizened walnut brain of Lynn Cheney. (Before anyone jumps in and accuses me of an uncalled for cheap shot, I suggest you check out her connection to the teaching of American History today.)

CJ

I agree with SWREMWIN about Atkinson's "An Army at Dawn" and if you're interested in the early phases of American involvement in WWII, check out Winston Groom's "1942" You'll put it down with a new appreciation of just how dark things really were after Pearl Harbor.

I'd also recommend "The First American Army" by Bruce Chadwick. It's an excellent account of the common soldier in the Revolution and makes you appreciate the hardships they endured beyond those of battle.

If you enjoyed Ambrose' "Band of Brothers", try "The Sky Men" by Kirk Ross. It's the story of F Co, 513th PIR of the 17th Airborne Division. Not quite equal to "BOB", but still a good read. Particularly interesting is their largely over-looked participation in the Battle of the Bulge.