History Books - Reading Group...

[Durandal]

I read a fair amount and there is an absolutely HUGE amount of history texts coming out in on the commercial market.

Anyone interested in doing a "get a book, read it, and compare notes" sort of thing?

Call it the "Military Photos Book Club"...

I'd like to focus on historical stuff rather than "historical Fiction" like Sharra's stuff.

The first book I'd like to suggest is Divided Loyaties: How the American Revolution Came to New York by Richard M. Ketchum

Any thoughts?

[adam_1green]

sounds good to me

[zad]

Pegasus Bridge by Stephen E. Ambrose,

A close look to the first combat action of the D day, when four platoons of D company of the british regiment 2nd Ox & Bucks reinforced with two platoons of B company of the same regiment assaulted and seized the bridges over the Orne river by crashing six gliders in front of them, securing the eastern flank of the invasion of Europe.

One curious point, in the movie "the longest journey" the actor playing the role of the commander of the force was in fact one of the officers who took part in the action.

[Durandal]

Pegasus Bridge by Stephen E. Ambrose,

A close look to the first combat action of the D day, when four platoons of D company of the british regiment 2nd Ox & Bucks reinforced with two platoons of B company of the same regiment assaulted and seized the bridges over the Orne river by crashing six gliders in front of them, securing the eastern flank of the invasion of Europe.

One curious point, in the movie "the longest journey" the actor playing the role of the commander of the force was in fact one of the officers who took part in the action.

Not a bad book. He started researching it in more detail AFTER he wrote his D-Day book.

To be honest Amrose' best book (IMO) was not military, but about railroads...

I am currently reading the book I mentioned above, but another, absolutely fantastic book about the American revolutionary war is Paul Reveres' Ride by David Hackett Fischer.

[Violet Fashion by Mindy]

My last book was

"The Cambridge History of Warfare"

Edited by Geoffrey Parker from Cambridge University.

To summerize it's a series of essays about the development of warfare in western society from Greece to the modern age. Each essay was written at the same time by various historians and provides a pretty good insight into why the West has emerged as the major force it has become.

[Buckeye67]

This is a great idea, Durandal. :)

Although, as much of an American War of Independence buff (and reenactor) as I am, given the international flavo(u)r of the forum, I'd suggest perhaps looking at books that are more appealing to a broader audience.

WW1 and WW2 would be obvious places to start looking for material. I like the suggestion for Pegasus Bridge as a start (and as a side note, THE Denis Edwards, of Pegasus Bridge fame posts over at wildbillguarnere.com as "pegasuseddie". His posts are great. :) )

[gaijinsamurai]

I think it's a great idea. Unfortunately for me, I live in Japan and my access to good military/history books is very limited.

[zad]

"Normandy 1944, Allied landings and breakout" by Stephen Badsey, published by Osprey Military.

A nice view of the whole operation since 6th of June until 25 of August. With many interesting photos and maps of the operations even in 3d perspective.

A very pleasing book in my personal opinion, a nice reading for a quiet afternoon.

[LtVacan]

Pegasus Bridge is fantastic. I finished reading it (and a few other DDay books) just before I spent the week in Benouville in 1999. They opened the Pegasus Bridge museum the day I arrived, pure coincidence. I was staying right around the corner.

There is nothing like reading about something, then touring the battleground.
I have done that many times at French and Indian, Revolutionary, 1812 and Civil War battlefields, but that was my first chance for an actual WWII battlefield.

In the UK I've visited several battlefields from Roman times through the Jacobite period, and been to the tunnels at Dover and Churchill's command center, But Normandy beats them all.

Back to books:

The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman is a must read for WWI

A Peace That Would End All Peace by (i can't remember) is the best book I ever seen on the fall of the Ottoman Empire and why the middle east the way it is.

A History of Warfare by John Keegan is a good informative read.

DDay, by Ambrose

Citizen Soldiers by Ambrose

Band of Brothers by Ambrose

Alexander Of Macedon By Peter Green

Twelve Decisive Battles by ??

It Doesn't Take a Hero by H. Norman Schwarzkopf

The Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World by Sir Edward Creasy

1777 the Year of the Hangman ByJohn S. Pancake (really, that's his name)

The Campaign That Won America by Burke Davis

Three Roads to the Alamo by William C. Davis

I could go on forever. These are all great books. Check them out, I don't think you will be disappointed.

[Hellfish]

Great idea but I honestly have zero interest in the domestic US conflicts (Revolution, Civil War, etc.). If it was expeditionary or post Spanish-American War related I'd be all over it.

[Laconian]

I just finished 1776 by David McCullough. An excellent read about Washington, Greene and probably the most important year in American history.

[Buckeye67]

So how'd we like to get this going?

I reckon we need to agree on a book, then start a thread at the beginning of each month detailing the book, perhaps a date to have it read by and then a week or two of discussion about it - then select the next month's book. Ja?

Another suggestion, I just read where S.L.A Marshall's book Night Drop is now public domain and downloadable at archive.org. That might be a good start as well, since it's free. p-)

[RGRBOX]

I jusr finished a good book about the life of **** Winters from The Band of Brothers fame.. called "The Biggest Brother" very good book with lots of insight intoo the man..

[Buckeye67]

I jusr finished a good book about the life of **** Winters from The Band of Brothers fame.. called "The Biggest Brother" very good book with lots of insight intoo the man..

x2 - Biggest Brother by Larry Alexander is a great book about the major. Larry's also a frequent poster at both wildbillguarnere.com and major****winters.com. I had the pleasure of meeting him at the 2005 Camp Toccoa Reunion.

If you enjoyed Biggest Brother, you'll have to check out "Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major **** Winters" by **** Winters and Cole Kingseed.

I'll also suggest checking out "The Filthy Thirteen" by Jake McNiece and Richard Killblane. Jake is one of the awesomest guys I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. You'll love his story.

(Edit: Yes, "awesomest" is now officially a word. p-) )

[RGRBOX]

Thanks for the links...


x2 - Biggest Brother by Larry Alexander is a great book about the major. Larry's also a frequent poster at both wildbillguarnere.com and major****winters.com. I had the pleasure of meeting him at the 2005 Camp Toccoa Reunion.

If you enjoyed Biggest Brother, you'll have to check out "Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major **** Winters" by **** Winters and Cole Kingseed.

I'll also suggest checking out "The Filthy Thirteen" by Jake McNiece and Richard Killblane. Jake is one of the awesomest guys I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. You'll love his story.

(Edit: Yes, "awesomest" is now officially a word. p-) )

[foxtrot023]

Read the Russo German War by albert seaton
if you can, and for balance, read Istoryia or the great patriotic war both are printed in Russia, but I managed to get copies in spanish

[Hellfish]

What if we picked a short, free, online article for our first selection as a test run? We all read it and discuss it as we go along. Then we can pick a book or something...

How about this:

http://stinet.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA404449&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf

A Case Study In Leadership: Colonel Paul Emil Von Lettow-Vorbeck

Abstract: Never captured nor defeated in battle, Colonel Paul von Lettow- Vorbeck successfully fought the British for four years with virtually no external support from Germany. Through brilliant leadership and unequalled use of terrain and weapons placement Lettow-Vorbeck rapidly moved his army across the rugged terrain of Africa and conducted numerous raids and ambushes against the British in East Africa. Only after the war was lost in Europe did Lettow- Vorbeck surrender. His professionalism and leadership style earned him the utmost of respect from his adversaries. Studying Lettow-Vorbeck as a gifted military leader who conducted a strategic guerrilla campaign against overwhelming odds and continually won, demonstrates how a numerically inferior force can achieve success on the battlefield.

[titget]

I think this is a great idea!!! ^ ^^and good idea too Hellfish to start..I love to discuss books on Military History so this would be great...


I just bought this book yesterday about the Marines at Peleliu

http://ec3.images-amazon.com/images/P/0743260104.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_V66860801_.jpg

[Hellfish]

Are any of my ideas not good? :)

[foxtrot023]

Are any of my ideas not good? :)

too much work......

Read ¨Guadalcanal¨ by Richard Franks or Frank Richards, pretty interesting

[Ivan1]

I would recommend Donald R. Burgett’s Currahee!, Road to Arnhem, Seven Roads to Hell and Beyond the Rhine. Don was a member of 101st Airborne Division and writes about his training in the states and later combats on the European battlefield.

[Buckeye67]

Here's another idea I had about this.

Instead of selecting a random book, why not try to put our book selections into a broader overall context?

For example, were we to focus on WW2 & the ETO (just as an example) we could start with something about Hitler's rise to power, then invasion of Poland, France, Soviet Union then ultimately on to D-Day, Market Garden, Battle of the Bulge and so on until the war's end.

That said, I read most about D-Day and the ETO in WW2, and don't know a heck of a lot about the North Africa, the Pacific and CBI theaters. Something Pacific Theater oriented would be good (for me, anyway :) )

Anyway, I thought that putting things into a broader context would give some direction to the project and perhaps help with book selection.

Or I could just be overthinking the whole thing. :p

[foxtrot023]

Good idea,

Likewise state which theatre of operations and year interest you. For Buckeye, pacific theatre, go for Guadalcanal by Richard Frank. It covers land air and naval engagements in and around Guadalcanal.

[Hellfish]

I like that idea a lot. A good overview of the CBI theater is The Burma Road by Donovan Webster.

[zad]

Hi, I am thinking about buying this book "Pacific Alamo, the battle for the wake island" by John Wukovits, has anyone read this book? it is interesting and neutral or too patriotic, opinions?

thanks in advance

[RGRBOX]

The Pacific Theater of Operations is a favorit of mine.. I've mostly read about the island hopping of the Marines.. I have a Great Uncle who was on the Canal, Iwo, and Tarawa.. he never talked about it... in fact I only learned that he was over there after de died about 15 years ago...

[baboon6]

I like that idea a lot. A good overview of the CBI theater is The Burma Road by Donovan Webster.

I would recommend Burma:The Longest War by Louis Allen and also Defeat Into Victory by Viscount Slim. Other good books I've read about this campaign are Beyond The Chindwin by Bernard Fergusson and The Road To Mandalay by John Masters. Both are autobiographical, the first detailing the experiences of a column commander in the first Chindit expedition, the second a Brigade Major/brigade commander in the second operation, followed by Lt. Col. Masters' service as chief of staff of a division in the 1945 Burma campaign.

Edit:
I googled Webster's book and it looks like "how Stilwell conquered Burma", conveniently ignoring the fact that most of the fighting was done by British and Indian troops, and that Stilwell's Chinese were generally useless. Ever heard of the 14th Army? I think you watched that Erroll Flynn film too many times.

[Hellfish]

Yeah, the chindits were very interesting. Thanks for the book ideas!

[Buckeye67]

If we want to do a "book discussion group" type of thing, and we want to start with the Pacific Theater (at the risk of being too "ameri-centric" :p ) - what about starting with the event the drew the US into the war? - Pearl Harbor

Is there a "definitive" book about December 7th, 1941? If so, we could go with that, and say for the month of July that's the "discussion group" book to read. Then give folks two or three weeks to read it and then have a week or so of discussion. Once we get the book decided on, we can post a separate thread for the actual discussion of the book.

So how's Pearl Harbor sound as a starting point? And if that's cool, does anyone know what the "definitive" Pearl Harbor book is (if there is one)?

[Atlantic Friend]

"Making Friends with Hitler : Lord Londonderry and Britain's Road to War", by Ian Kershaw. Extremely interesting picture of Britain's aristocratic and political elite.

[Atlantic Friend]

Is there a "definitive" book about December 7th, 1941?

I don't think there is A book with the definitve Truth about any event, but on this topic I'd strongly recommend :

- The Imperial Conspiracy, by David Bergamini
- The Pacific War, by John Costello
- Hiro-Hito, the Ambiguous Emperor, by Edward Behr

[foxtrot023]

If we want to do a "book discussion group" type of thing, and we want to start with the Pacific Theater (at the risk of being too "ameri-centric" :p ) - what about starting with the event the drew the US into the war? - Pearl Harbor

Is there a "definitive" book about December 7th, 1941? If so, we could go with that, and say for the month of July that's the "discussion group" book to read. Then give folks two or three weeks to read it and then have a week or so of discussion. Once we get the book decided on, we can post a separate thread for the actual discussion of the book.

So how's Pearl Harbor sound as a starting point? And if that's cool, does anyone know what the "definitive" Pearl Harbor book is (if there is one)?

Sorry about the begining, but for the ending you should read Richard Franks ¨Downfall- The end of the Japanese Empire¨

[Violet Fashion by Mindy]

A good book I read is

"U-977 - 66 Tage unter Wasser"

By Heinz Schaeffer a WW2 German U-Boat commander. It's basically a bio of his ww2 service from being a cadet, serving on a U-Boat and eventually taking command.

[Icarus1]

I just read the biography of Hans-Ulrich Rudel, the highest decorated german soldier. Soemtimes it's a pretty interesting read from a man who saw all aspects of the eastern front. He was shot down several times and had to fight back to the own lines. He flew although Hitler gave him different orders and he was quite an ace of a pilot. But what the book totally forgets is that Rudel was an absolute fanatic, he was also one of the pilots who wanted to commit suicide after the war and fly into an enemy positions. Some good reads, but always see it under the perspective that Rudel wants to show a picture of himself as a daredevil (which is surely was) but also of one just defending his country, but he was a true fanatic of Hitlers soldiers.

[Durandal]

This is a great idea, Durandal. :)

Although, as much of an American War of Independence buff (and reenactor) as I am, given the international flavo(u)r of the forum, I'd suggest perhaps looking at books that are more appealing to a broader audience.

WW1 and WW2 would be obvious places to start looking for material. I like the suggestion for Pegasus Bridge as a start (and as a side note, THE Denis Edwards, of Pegasus Bridge fame posts over at wildbillguarnere.com as "pegasuseddie". His posts are great. :) )

Well, lets decide on a book then. I'll try to finish up on the one I am reading right now...

You all know my suggestion, but I am game for anything else...

Requirements are: non-fiction, military (we can be loose about this if it discusses social impact on or by the conflict), written or translated into English (since this is an English forum).

Those are the three requirements...

I'll entertain World War II or I for the first book, but then its a different period.

Reading length is 3 weeks or month, majority decide followed by a one week discussion. We then throw out a suggestion and the group picks using the survey function of the forum.

How does that sound guys?