Recommended books on WW2 in Africa & the Mediterranean

[David W]

Jeff.

Which of the German & Italian books are also available in English language?

[Urmel]

I am not aware of any of the Italian ones being available in English.

Germany and the Second World War is available in English, but at a price. Best go to a university library for it.

GatSWW VI

Vol III

[jwsleser]

As Urmel stated, the Italian officials have not been translated. That being said, a little effort with them goes a long way.

In regards to Germany and the Second World War, Oxford is extracting their pound of flesh for the translation. If you read German, the German editions are a great value and the maps are in color. The Oxford edition copied the maps in B&W. Even when released, the Oxford volumes sold for $240 +. I didn’t pick them up, hoping the second hand market would see lower prices. Alas, this is a set that is only going up in price. I am lucky that our library has the complete set (which I Xerox the heck out off). I have decided to pass on obtaining my own set. However, these are the best in recent scholarship on Germany during the war and are a must read.

Pista!

Jeff

[farrelly]

One of the Italian OH's on Alamein has been printed in English. Its available from Italian booksellers.

[jwsleser]

farrelly

Yes, this is The three battles of El Alamein (June – November 1942) translated by Piero Crociani. It is a translation of volume III of Montanari's Le operazione in Africa settentrionale. I haven't yet obtained a copy, but I am wondering if it is only a translation of the section covering El Alamein. Volume III covers both the reconquest of the Cirenaica and Gazala, as well as Alamein. Regardless, the book is likely worth getting.

Pista!

Jeff

[Pips]

Vince O'Hara's new book "STRUGGLE FOR THE MIDDLE SEA, The Great Navies at War in the Mediterranean Theater, 1940—1945" is now out and available from the Naval Institute Press.
http://www.usni.org/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=1760

Given that there are so few unbiased books on the conflict (available in English) it is a very refreshing read ( I'm only partway through it). And it deals with the war in the Med all the way through to 1945, rather than ending with the Italian armistice.

Up till now the most accurate and balanced book I've read is "The Italian Navy in World War II" by Marc Bragadin. Although somewhat dated it does justice to Italian naval strategy and provides a fair apprasial of the Regia Marina's performance without the fanfare of the 'British superiority' biase. Other books like Jack Greene's "The Naval War in the Mediterranean 1940-1943" (reasonably fair but on the light side); J.J. Sadkovich's "The Italian Navy in World War II" (too revisionist and extreme, although thought provoking); Adm. Cunningham's "A Sailor's Odyssey" (a great naval leader but much too self-seeking) and Donald MackIntyre's "The Battle for the Mediterranean" (very much a one-eyed view, although detailed if interested in British activities).

[Gungnir]

Alamein by Stephen Bungay
ISBN: 9781854109293

-Discusses the doctrine, training, and tactics between the British and Germans... and origins
-Discusses the character/personality/style and traditions of British and German forces AND its influence and interaction with the German and British doctrine, training, and tactics
-Discusses the Rommel Myth and its influence on the Germans and their foe
-Personality/character/attitude of Rommel, Auchinleck, and Montgomery
-Discusses the equipment (artillery and armor) of the British and Germans - pros/cons, use/vaule in the desert terrain and climate, and employment of those pieces in respect to the character/personality/traditions of the German and British
-"Old School" vs. "New School" methods of fighting a mechanized mobile war - using the traditions/history of the British and German armies and formation/creation of certain units (Royal Tank Regiment, etc.)
-History (why/how) certain units were created

In April 1939, however, following a decision to create an entirely mechanized army, it was renamed the Royal Tank Regiment (RTR) and merged with the regular cavalry and territorial yeomanry regiments to form the Royal Armored Corps. Not all of the cavalrymen gave up their horses willingly, and none of them gave up their traditions. They were socially much smarter than the Royal Tank Regiment, and British tank tactics were strongly influences by inappropriate cavalry thinking. pg 31

-Showed the importance of Auchinleck, Wavell, Montgomery, and Park - and although Montgomery received credit for victory in North Africa, the victory could not have occured without Auchinleck and Park.

Auchinleck had laid out a noose which Rommel put his head into. Park tightened the rope. Montgomery's job was to kick away the trap-door beneath him. pg 207

-leadership of Montgomery, Auchinleck, and Rommel
-In dealing with the Rommel myt - the author talks about how Auchinlekc tried to destroy it or didn't beleive it since he felt that th best German generals wereon the Eastern Front and since Rommmel was not on or never on thethe Eastern Front that he was not Germany's best

[Pips]

Please don't tell me that Bungay's book has ignored the Italian forces at Alamein. They only inculded more than two-thirds of the Axis forces present there.

When are British author's going to get over their biase of Italy's part in the Desert War? You can't honestly discuss any action in the Desert without considering Italian influence, command structures, leadership, training, logistics, ground and air forces and equipment.

[Gungnir]

Please don't tell me that Bungay's book has ignored the Italian forces at Alamein. They only inculded more than two-thirds of the Axis forces present there.

When are British author's going to get over their biase of Italy's part in the Desert War? You can't honestly discuss any action in the Desert without considering Italian influence, command structures, leadership, training, logistics, ground and air forces and equipment.

My fault... I didn't mention the Italians in my post about the book (along with a lot of other things the author discussed). But yes, Bungay does include and discuss the Italian effort, etc. Although, IIRC, it is somewhat critical/negative. I read/finished this several months ago.

Anyways... I'm currently reading:

The Longest Siege - Tobruk: The Battle that Saved North Africa by Robert Lyman
ISBN: 9781405039499

Interestingly, I purchased this book at the Shrine of Remembrance while I was visiting Melbourne about a month ago. I had a feeling that I would not find this book in the US and wanted/needed to get my hands on it to increase my knowledge on Tobruk. I checked amazon later on and saw that it will not go on sale or become available until 02 April 2010! So, I lucked out.
Honestly, I do not believe it will by anymore revelaing or inspiring as other material written on Tobruk. However, once I read more of the book I will let you all know.

[stefan von ditner]

An Army At Dawn - Atkinson
The Canadians In Italy - Nicholson
Liri Valley, Ortona, Operation Husky, Gothic Line - Zuehlke
Day Of Battle - Atkinson

[Gungnir]

The Longest Siege - Tobruk: The Battle that Saved North Africa by Robert Lyman
ISBN: 9781405039499

Finished it not too long ago...

Not a bad read. It discussed the social, strategic and tactical aspect of fight for, the fight in, and Siege of Tobruk. It did not reveal anything new or or significant about the battle... I mean the social, strategic/tactical side of the battle will not change. The author of course discussed other smaller battles (platoon, team, ad hoc elements) between Anglo-Australian forces and Italo-German forces.
Great commentaries and information from/about/on:
-British/Australian artillery and crew
-ADA and crews
-Australian attitude toward: Germans, Italians, British Artillery
-Wavell, Rommel, Churchill, and of course Morshead
-Australian tactics
-Rommel/German tactics
-Stukas and air raids
-various AFVs and equipment
-88mm
-food, and what the Australians endured
-conditions, and what the Australians endured
-Tobruk the conditions, fortifications, importance strategic and psychologically/morale
-Failures and success on each side
-Patrolling and fighting
-German attitudes/respect toward Australian soldiers and fighting abilities
-British attitude/respect toward Australian soldiers and fighting abilities (quote- about them being rubbish on the parade field but defiant and fierce on the battlefield. And- unkempt and rowdy but great fighters.)

on the British artillery and ADA... and Australian attitude toward the Germans, Italians, British, about the Australians (etc.
Great commentaries in general from and/or about Churchill, Rommel, Wavell, the Australians and Germans, Tobruk, Stukas, air raids, etc.

I did find it interesting in one part… the British and Australians noticed that some bombs dropped by Stukas did not explode. Their disposal teams went to take care of them and surprisingly found sand inside the bombs and in one bomb a cardboard note: “From your friends in Czechoslovakia” - never read or heard about stuff like that before
I’ve read about British tank and vehicles crews finding encouraging notes tucked away in Shermans and other vehicles written by the Americans who built and sent them over.


So I do recommend this book

[Urmel]

Agree on this one. Lyman has managed to write a good book bringing out a new angle of the siege. He is also very responsive, and helpful.

[Peter H]

Hitler's Gulf War: The Fight for Iraq 1941 Barrie James

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hitlers-Gulf-Wa ... 184884090X

[jwsleser]

The USSME has translated part of General Montanari’s excellent Le operazioni in Africa settentrionale. The Ufficio Storico selected the Battle of El Alamein for this effort. The Three Battles of El Alamein is a direct translation of chapters VI through XI of volume III – El Alamein. In all, the translation is quite good and a great addition to any library on this(ese) battle(s).

The positive is that the book is pretty much a direct translation. I have not found any abridgement or omissions (well, not quite, see below). The translation is good and most readers will not have a problem. The main issue with the translation (this is minor) is the word order and the use of some of the more infrequent definitions of some of the English words used. A quick second reading normally will clarify the author’s intent. In terms of format, the chapter endnotes are now footnotes, a positive change in my opinion. The maps are identical, with only the captions translated. The maps themselves are in Italian, but this is a minor point and doesn’t create any problems. All the photographs from the Italian volume are included (including Gazala).

The negative. Hey, they only translated half of volume III. The first part of this volume covers Gazala. While I understand the reasoning (El Alamein being the more popular and marketable), why not translate the complete book? A reader unfamiliar with the A.S. battles might find themselves with an incomplete understanding of the condition of the two armies in June 1942. The Italian volume is 1038 numbered pages, the translation is only 564. The large map of the El Alamein position is not included, the maps being reproduced as front and end papers as in the 2nd Italian edition of volume III. The distance map on page 380 of the Italian edition is also missing. The serious issue (IMHO) are the allegati. There are 20 allegati (enclosures, normally documents) directly related to the period in question (July-November 1942) in the Italian edition, and 10 more addressing events in June. There are not provided/translated. This is a major error as one of the strengths of the Italian officials are the inclusion of these documents. I am sure cost was a factor, but it mares a significant addition to English literature on the war.

There are a few translation issues that create problems. Nafta is translated as diesel fuel. While that is a correct translation (according to my dictionary), it is clear that Montanari is speaking about bunker fuel. Any one using this version as a source for the Great Africa Settentrionale Logistics debate would be using the wrong numbers. The remaining errors are minor, but might confuse the novice reading about this theater. Sketch (skizze) 43 is labeled “The Attack of the 7th Armoured Corps…” instead of division.

I am not a student of the Alamein battles, so I can’t comment on the latest scholarship covering the battles. Montanari’s book fills significant gaps in the UK official history. Strengths in the UK official generally address only the Germans, Montanari provides insight to both Axis armies. Where volume III of the UK official states the Ariete got the worst of the exchange on 3 July (page 343, literally that is all it states), Montanari provides the details of the action to greater extent (pages 111-112).

I am still reading the book, so more examples will come to mind. No English A.S. book collection should be considered complete without this volume. Of course, no A.S. collection should be complete without the Italian officials. This translation of Montanari’s work is a must for any student of the campaign.

Pista!

Jeff

[HMan]

For something completely different:

"No Picnic on Mount Kenya: A Daring Escape, A Perilous Climb" by Felice Benuzzi

An amazing book about Italian POWs who break out of their camp -- to go on a Mt. climbing holiday.

Mt. Kenya is a difficult peak to climb with modern equipment, so you can imagine what it was like
for them. Quite the adventure!