What is everyone reading on WW2?

Dan W. · Post by **Dan W.** » 08 Aug 2003 15:24

Sorry if this topic is floating around out there already, I couldn't find it through a search, so I'll start a new one.

I'm currently reading "Iron Coffins" by Herbert A. Werner.

If you want to know about the huge success immediately followed by the abject failure of the U-boat war then this is an excellent read. The author's sub got stuck on the ocean floor on his first mission, and they spent 16 non-stop hours bailing water out of the sub through the torpedo tubes. Then, the crew ran from one end of the submarine to the other until it was literally rocked loose. So started his career.

He describes the heady victories early in the war until about 1943, when it all changed, and by the middle of the year it became a suicide mission to even sail in the Atlantic.

The author returns to his native Hamburg on a 30 day furlough in 1942 to find his father imprisoned by the Gestapo for having an affair with a Jewish secretary of his. It seems that he filed for divorce and wanted to marry the woman. Then, when his mother reveals the news he shows up and shows his credentials to the officer in charge, who releases his father (and is impressed to be in the company of a U-boat officer). The situation in bombed out Hamburg is very uncomfortable, and he leaves for Berlin to see his girlfriend. What he finds there leaves him shattered and disillusioned. He opts to return to his boat, and arrives still believing in ultimate victory.

Interesting that their new radar the 'Metox' on these subs gave away their positions and it was months before they were aware, after the needless sinking of many subs. The U-230 received many, many last minute messages of subs going down, usually with complete loss of all hands. His schoolmates die daily. It is incredible that this sub has survived until 1943 with all the narrow misses it has encountered. How the author survives until 1945 I have yet to find out.

What an incredible, staggering loss of life seen by these brave sailors.

subskipper · Post by **subskipper** » 08 Aug 2003 15:39

I'm currently reading Chris Mann's SS-Totenkopf - The history of the 'Death's Head' Division. So far it has been slight disappointment I’m afraid. A very superficial study of this interesting formation and its origins and much inferior to Sydnor's Soldiers of destruction dealing with the same unit. There are quite a few interesting photos in it, but I get the feeling that some of them are captioned rather doubtfully. Fortunately I have Reynolds Sons of the Reich and Tiemann's The Chronicle of the 7. Panzer Kompanie waiting in the wings, so I have some very good reading ahead of me. :)

~Henric Edwards

Juha Hujanen · Post by **Juha Hujanen** » 08 Aug 2003 16:16

Jost Schneider-Their Honor Was Loyalty!.An Illustrated And Documentary History Of The Knight's Cross Holders Of The Waffen-SS And Police.

A bid of dull to read but essential i guess.After that i will try something compleatly different.An history of Finnish heavy-metal

Cheers/Juha

Reader3000 · Post by **Reader3000** » 08 Aug 2003 19:34

"Mit Rommel an der Front", the memoirs of Hans von Luck (German title of the 2nd edition, because it sells better) and "History of the 12. SS-Panzerdivision Hitlerjugend" by Hubert Meyer (German version).

Lawrence Tandy · Post by **Lawrence Tandy** » 08 Aug 2003 19:57

Right now I am re-reading Steel Inferno by Michael Reynolds.
Too much information for me to absorb in just one reading.
Great book though.

LT

mikerock · Post by **mikerock** » 09 Aug 2003 05:52

"Seven Days in January" by Werner T. Zoepf, and I'm also working on "Last Victory in Russia" by George M. Nipe.

--Mike

slacky · Post by **slacky** » 09 Aug 2003 09:22

hi the book this moment im reading is
spear of destany by trevor ravenscroft
its about the spear that peaced jesuses side and how leaders thought time has owned it its more based on hitler in the austra when he first saw it and what happend to it after the war .if you have ever read james hurbert the spear its like that but the truth about the spear
phil

R-Bob The Great! · Post by **R-Bob The Great!** » 09 Aug 2003 10:30

Im reading Len Deighton's an objective look at World War 2 that looks at the mistakes and ironies of the war. I have only just started and thus far it has proved to be an excellent read.

Polynike · Post by **Polynike** » 10 Aug 2003 02:10

Panzertruppen 2 Jentz
German Army in World War 2 Nigel Thomas

Steel inferno was an excellent read!!!!!!

just finished panzer commander by von luck and siege of leningrad 900 days

Gille · Post by **Gille** » 10 Aug 2003 09:35

Tragedy of the faithful by Wilhelm Tieke.I'm slowly working my way through this,it's full of detail, OOB stats and combat reports.It's a well written and exciting read.Plenty of maps and photos.If you have an interest in the battles arond Narwa and the WSS this is the book for you.Mycriticism of the book so far would be that the maps would be easier to understand if they were colour coded.The pictures though good could be clearer and worst of all there is no index.For a book this in depth and expensive this is annoying especially as even Osprey books have short indexes.Despite these flaws it is an excellent book.

Benoit Douville · Post by **Benoit Douville** » 14 Aug 2003 01:22

I am actually reading about the same topic as Henric about the Totenkopf Division but instead it is written by Jean Mabire. I like this author and I am reading this book with a lot of enthusiasm.

Regards

Wulpe · Post by **Wulpe** » 18 Aug 2003 11:49

I´m currently reading Dieter Martinez´Der Gaskrieg 1914-1918. Entwicklung, Herstellung and Einsatz chemischer Kampfstoffe (Amazon)

(Gas Warfare 1914-1918. Development, Production and Application of Chemical Agents)

It´s not available in English (yet ?).

Dunkirchen1940 · Post by **Dunkirchen1940** » 18 Aug 2003 19:27

I am reading "VICTORY MUST BE OURS,Germany in the Great War 1914-1918" by Laurence V. Moyer
Great Book!

USAF1986 · Post by **USAF1986** » 19 Aug 2003 02:36

The Fate of Admiral Kolchak by Peter Fleming.

Regards,
Shawn

Dan W. · Post by **Dan W.** » 19 Aug 2003 02:42

I finished Iron Coffins, a fantastic and educational look at the virtual suicide missions of the post 1943 U-Boat service. It amazes me that this author survived the war. Incredible.

Now, am starting The Fall Of Crete by Alan Clark.