Wars and ConflictsΒ permalink
WW2 book from German perspective?
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Message 1.Β
Posted by svenhassel (U3309457) on Thursday, 21st February 2008
I'm just finishing off If You Survive by George Wilson which I've found an interesting read (It's a first-person account of an American Officer in the European Campaign). I was wondering if there are any similar books out there from a german perspective that people could recommend?
In particular it's the day-to-day of the soldier and their involvment in campaigns rather than a strategic look at the overall campaigns that I'm most interested in. -
Message 2
Posted by Triceratops (U3420301) on Thursday, 21st February 2008
There's a good one from WW1 by Ernst Junger called "Storm of Steel"
Trike. -
Message 3
Posted by Tom Hreben (Ex Raybans13) (U8719631) on Thursday, 21st February 2008
here's one Huy sajer's the Forgotten soldier, it is about the authors experiences from WWII when he fought with the grossdeutschland division. also try the novels by your names sake Sven Hassel who also fought with the whermacht in WWII.
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Message 4
Posted by LongWeekend (U3023428) on Thursday, 21st February 2008
But before you read Sven Hassel, read this:
And, indeed, other discussions about who he really was.
"Invasion - They're Coming!" by Paul Carrell (a German, despite the name and the fact it was originally published in French), about the German Normandy experience is worth a look.
But, given your poster name, I suspect it won't be what you're really looking for. -
Message 5
Posted by schuhbox4 (U10370736) on Friday, 22nd February 2008
I really liked Sajer's book as well, but I've heard there is some dispute about it's authenticity as well. Regardless, I'd recommend the book.
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Message 6
Posted by White Camry (U2321601) on Friday, 22nd February 2008
I've always liked Hans von Luck's 'Panzer Commander'
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Message 7
Posted by svenhassel (U3309457) on Friday, 22nd February 2008
Thanks folks.
The Paul Carrell sounds interesting - although proving a little difficult to get hold of unless I want to get it shipped from the US. (I'll keep my eyes peeled).
Forgotten soldier it is then.
Unsurprisingly I am aware of Mr Hassel's books but depite my name they're not really my thing.
I'm looking for non-fiction which I generally find much more enjoyable and oddly enough I often find myself thinking "they couldn't make this sh*t up" when reading it. -
Message 8
Posted by stalteriisok (U3212540) on Friday, 22nd February 2008
Forgotten Soldier is the greatest book on "true war i have ever read
as indicated there are recent doubts cast on its authenticity - but no problem - if its all lies - its very realistic lies - and historically corect
(apparently he is a famous cartoonist)
sven hassel novels strike me as too twee to be anywhere near the truth
i read a book by rommels Chief of staff (Bayerlein)) which was very interesting from a german pov -
his description of the Knightsbridge box in the desert is good "fantastic discipline but pointless"
anyone got any Guy Sajer equivalants ??
ST -
Message 9
Posted by Lee (U8097024) on Friday, 22nd February 2008
I have a few books at home that will interest you,
As already mentioned, Hans Von Luck.(39-45capture-54)
Adventures in my youth,(late 44,Berlin,Capture)
Henry Mettalman(42-44,capture living in England)
Sniper (42-45 Eastern front)
Blood red snow (machine gunner eastern front)
History of a Swedish volenteer(Viking Div 45 Berlin),
Sorry about lack of info,but am at work at the moment,I have quite a few at home and will get a comprehensive list if you are interested.
Not back in work until Monday night
Lee -
Message 10
Posted by stalteriisok (U3212540) on Friday, 22nd February 2008
norman(lee)
please elaborate with authors - all sound good
really like to read the opposition opinions
ST -
Message 11
Posted by Steelers708 (U1831340) on Friday, 22nd February 2008
Here's a few from my collection:
With Rommel in the Desert - Heinz W. Schmidt
Heaven and Hell: The War diary of a German Paratrooper - Martin Poppel
Neither Fear Nor Hope - General Frido von Senger und Etterlin
The Outermost Frontier: A German soldier in the Russian Campaign - Helmut Pabst
Tigers in the Mud: The Combat Career of German Panzer Commander Otto Carius - Otto Carius
Skorzeny's Special Missions - Otto Skorzeny
For Germany: The Otto Skorzeny Memoirs - Otto Skorzeny
The Last Knight of Flanders:Remy Schrijnen and his SS Legion "Flandern"/Sturmbrigade "Langemarck" Comrades on the Eastern Front 1941- 1945 - Allen Brandt
7,000 Kilometres in a Sturmgeschutz: The Wartime Diaries and Photo Album of Knight's Cross Recipient Heinrich Engel - Heinrich Engel
Grenadiers - Kurt Meyer -
Message 12
Posted by stalteriisok (U3212540) on Saturday, 23rd February 2008
thanx steelers
all available in uk libraries i hope ??
st -
Message 13
Posted by Lee (U8097024) on Sunday, 24th February 2008
ST
A Stranger to myself:Willy Peter Reese (Eastern Front 1941-44)
Blood Red Snow:Gunter K Koschorrek(Eastern Front 1942-45)
Twilight of The Gods:Thorolf Hillblad(Eastern Front 1944-45)Not Viking Div as I stated before but 11th SS Div Nordland
Adventures in my Youth:Armin Scheiderbauer(Eastern Front 1941-45)
Hirschfeld:Wolfgang Hirschfeld(U Boat NCO 1940-46)
I have more in the loft,but am currently recovering from the mother of all hangovers(40 yesterday!!)so am unable to get at those today.
Hope these keeps you busy,
Twilight and Hirschfeld are outstanding.
Lee -
Message 14
Posted by stalteriisok (U3212540) on Sunday, 24th February 2008
thanx nomore
i have no sympathy for your hangover - BUT just developing my own hangover after spurs result lol
do u think your books and the above can be ordered via a library ?) where did u get yours ? - amazon
st -
Message 15
Posted by Lee (U8097024) on Monday, 25th February 2008
st
90% of my books are from the Military and Aviation book society,One of those "buy a book at 10p but you have to purchase 6 in the first year at full price" jobs.
If you sift through the rubbish they send you every month,you can find some great choices,Off the top of my head,they were selling a book about a Canadian in a Panzer Div,last month !!
The rest are from Amazon,which reminds me about another book in the loft,
Five years,Four Fronts:Georg Grossjohan 1939-45,All fronts.
Must go now as I am, of course a Chelsea
Supporter.
Lee -
Message 16
Posted by White Camry (U2321601) on Monday, 25th February 2008
Anyone know of a memoir by an US-born Wehrmacht veteran? I skimmed it once years ago but, to my lasting regret, didn't buy it.
From what little I recall from the jacket blurb, he was born in the US to German parents who returned to Germany when the Depression hit. He grew up there and fought on the Eastern Front. He was taken prisoner by the British in the closing days of the war, who soon learned that he 'spoke Yank.' When he told them his story he was transferred to American custody, where he was promptly drafted into the US Army and put to work translating captured documents.
Whether or not he wore his German ribbons on his Ike jacket I never learned. -
Message 17
Posted by Lee (U8097024) on Monday, 25th February 2008
Could be the book I was telling st about.
Amazon has a book called Panzer Gunner:from my native Canada to the Ostfront and back:In action with the 25th Panzer Regiment,7th Panzer Division
1944-45, Not a Yank,but very close.
Lee -
Message 18
Posted by schuhbox4 (U10370736) on Monday, 25th February 2008
I've read Blood Red Snow and A Stranger to Myself. Both are worth reading. There is also a historical novel entitled Siege which was very good. I get most of my books through the History Book Club, but I'm not sure if it is available in the UK. In the US, the deal is 4 books for about $16 after shipping(P&P) but the great thing is there is no commitment to buy anything else.
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