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Defeating Lee: A History of the Second Corps, Army of the Potomac
Am about 1/4 of the way through. It reminds me of Wert's "The Sword Of Lincoln" in that this is not a blow-by-blow military history as the campaigns are discussed in only very general terms. Emphasis is placed on personalities, organization and morale. However, it is fast moving and very readable.

I'm gnawing through Meat Grinder: The Battles for the Rzhev Salient, 1942�43 by Prit Buttar. If you know his writing style, you know he throws in dates, units' names and numbers, and names of cities/villages at every possibility. MEAT GRINDER is highly detailed, informative yet hard to read, unlike Anthony Beevor's or Roger Moorhouse's books

Yes, I know how you feel. I felt like that when I read his book; "The Reckoning: The Final Defeat of Army Group South, 1944". A bit like David Glantz!

Darya Silman wrote: "I'm gnawing through Meat Grinder: The Battles for the Rzhev Salient, 1942�43 by Prit Buttar. If you know his writing style, you know he throws in dates, units' name..."
I initially felt the same way about "The Polar Bear Expedition" especially since all of the cities were Russian and some of the names just really started blending together.

I have just started to read this one..

Dipanjan wrote: "I have just started to read this one..

"

Sounds like an interesting book Dipanjan, I hope you enjoy it!

I'm starting today an ARC, Cassino '44: The Brutal Battle for Rome by James Holland. It will be released in November 2024

I'm deeply immersed in reading "FDR's LAST YEAR, April 1944-April 1945," by Jim Bishop, which had been a best seller in the U.S. during the early 1970s.



The book shows, month by month, from late March 1944 to April 1945, the life that President Franklin D. Roosevelt led, with the Yalta Conference as a climax, and on to Roosevelt's death, age 63, at Warm Springs, GA, on April 12, 1945. It's a fascinating and compelling story.

Started on "Italian soft-skinned vehicles of the Second World War" Volume 2 by Ralph Riccio, Mario Pieri and Daniele Guglelielmi.

Well, some good books being read at the moment; Cassino '44 is due in September in the UK, by the way. There's a series of spoilers available on James Holland's "We Have Ways of Making You Talk" podcast.

I've picked up Ian Shaw's On Radji Beach; almost certainly not the happiest book, but hopefully up to scratch with his other works.

Some great books being mentioned here, all sound like excellent reads!

Sailed through "On Radji Beach"... a very good read, though not necessarily always uplifting (obviously). Mr Shaw does a great job of contrasting the pleasant time the nurses had in Singapore before the Japanese assault with the hell they went through afterwards. The place sounds quite idyllic...

They were female, they were white and they were officers, and in colonial Malaya and Singapore this meant that they were thrice-blessed. These qualifications allowed them to become honorary members of the more salubrious European clubs on the peninsula and on the island. In Singapore, they could join the Europeans-only Tanglin Club, probably the most exclusive club in that part of the world. In Kuala Lumpur, the equivalent was the Selangor Club, known to the locals as ‘The Spotted Dog� because its mock-Tudor features were painted black and white. At such clubs, the nurses met and mingled with the colonial gentry, planters, managers, advisers, bureaucrats and the like. In Malacca itself, the nurses were in constant demand, drawn in to what must have been a new set of experiences for many that propelled them a long way up the social ladder. They attended sampan parties, chicken suppers at the famous and historic St John’s Fort, and tennis parties on the courts next to their hospital. There were dances and dinners, and parties at pools and mansions. One of the girls wrote home that: ‘The local residents were all anxious to entertain us, and did so liberally. We thoroughly enjoyed those festivities, which included curry tiffin, almost a rite on Sundays, at which one consumed the hottest of curries at midday, followed by a sweet “Guala Malacca� which by virtue of its icy coldness, formed a delicious contrast.�

Well worth a read, if you can find a copy.

On Radji Beach

Jonny wrote: "Sailed through "On Radji Beach"... a very good read, though not necessarily always uplifting (obviously). Mr Shaw does a great job of contrasting the pleasant time the nurses had in Singapore befor..."

Thrice-blessed!

Idyllic until the Japanese arrived. Great post Jonny!

Jonny wrote: "Sailed through "On Radji Beach"... a very good read, though not necessarily always uplifting (obviously). Mr Shaw does a great job of contrasting the pleasant time the nurses had in Singapore befor..."

Sounds a fascinating read, Jonny. I enjoyed Missing: War, Sacrifice and the Search for Justice by Ian W Shaw last year. Must read more of his work.

If you enjoyed On Radji Beach, you might enjoy Sisters in Captivity by Colin Burgess. Such a powerful book.

I just finished reading Kokoda Legend: Captain Sam Templeton by David Howell

My review: /review/show...

Nice review Rowan, thanks for sharing!

This cover is of the recent reprint. I'm lucky enough that a friend lent me his father's 1945 copy, who was in the regiment. He made various notes on the actions he was involved in as a 19yr old. So that is really cool.

The 141st regiment of the US 36th infantry division was the one about wiped out during the Rapido River battle. My friend's father joined just after that as a replacement in time for Monte Cassino.




Five Years, Five Countries, Five Campaigns: An Account of the 141st Infantry in World War II

carl wrote: "This cover is of the recent reprint. I'm lucky enough that a friend lent me his father's 1945 copy, who was in the regiment. He made various notes on the actions he was involved in as a 19yr old. S..."

Very nice copy that you have Carl, a unique edition with those notes eh!

Indeed AR!

In regards to an attack that led to Germans getting close enough to use bayonets, penciled in the margin is " MEAN MEAN MEAN" .

Now starting MASTERS AND COMMANDERS: How Four Titans Won the War in the West, 1941 - 1945 by Andrew Roberts.

The four titans in question are FDR, Churchill, Brooke, and Marshall. My knowledge of Brooke was basically zero when I started the book but the first forty pages or so give a lot of insight into his character. I hope the rest of the book continues this trend on the other three as well.

James wrote: "Now starting MASTERS AND COMMANDERS: How Four Titans Won the War in the West, 1941 - 1945 by Andrew Roberts.

The four titans in question are FDR, Churchill, Brooke, and Marshall. My knowledge of B..."

I hope you enjoy the book, James. Let us know how it goes!

I've just started reading; "Red Phoenix Rising: The Soviet Air Force in World War II" by Von Hardesty. I've had this book sitting waiting to be read since around 2012.

Red Phoenix Rising: The Soviet Air Force in World War II by Von Hardesty

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I've just started reading; "Red Phoenix Rising: The Soviet Air Force in World War II" by Von Hardesty. I've had this book sitting waiting to be read since around 2012.

[bookcover:Red Phoenix Risin..."

Only 12 years? That's not very long at all!!

Read this one back in the 90's--a good overview of the VVS before much of the information on Russian forces and such was readily available.

Marc, I have the revised and updated edition and so far, it's been quite an interesting account.

I recently finished the german edition of Albert Speers Spandau: The Secret Diaries. The Book is not that super interesting by itself, but it gives an insight how Speer downplayed his role in the third Reich and managed to become a respectable conservative figure in post-war West-Germany.

A few years back, i've read the autobiography of Marcel Reich-Ranick, a famous German-Polish literary critic who recalls a party he attended at his publishers mansion. During the Party he and his wife are casually introduced to Albert Speer. No one seemed to mind that Ranicki, who is a Jewish man, that lost almost his entire family during the Holocaust, might take offense in casually meeting a convicted war criminal. I always wondered about that.

The Book also contains an interesting Scene where Speer recalls spending christmas with Spanish-republican forced laborers in France. He later tells Hitler about the meeting who begins speculating about using those leftwing prisoners against Franco at a future date. Hitler apparently believed that the fascist Spanish Falange Party will eventually rebel against Franco, and he could use the Spanish Prisoners to bolster their forces. I want to research this further, because the Spanish civil war is one of my favorite Subjects, and I never even heard about those plans.

I have started this one. This appears to be a sound biography of Richard Sorge, the communist spy who had changed the fate of the battle of Moscow...

Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir By One of the Original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII I just started this book. It is an autobiography of one of the original Navaho code talkers.

Cracking on with James Holland's Cassino '44: The Bloodiest Battle of the Italian Campaign; interesting assessment of Mark Clarke so far; let's see if he survives the post-Gothic line debacle intact.

Jonny wrote: "Cracking on with James Holland's Cassino '44: The Bloodiest Battle of the Italian Campaign; interesting assessment of Mark Clarke so far; let's see if he survives the post-Gothic l..."

My copy arrived a few days ago, it's now sitting on the bookshelf with the rest of my James Holland's books.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Ian wrote: "I am currently reading "The Lighthouse of Stalingrad" by Iain MacGregor. So far (60 some pages in) the book covers the basic failed Operation Barbarossa, campaigns in the south near Sev..."

I remembered someone replied to my post about this, so I wanted to come back! It took me longer than expected but I finished it and loved it! I hope you do too

That's good to hear Ian, thanks for the update on the Stalingrad book (which I haven't read yet).

I have read very little on the subject this year but now I have gathered pace, especially that I'm now on 5 month paternity leave.

I'm currently (and finally) reading last of the Richard Evans' third Reich trilogy:
The Third Reich at War


I just completed Robert Forczyk's (my first) Tank Warfare on the eastern front, here are my fresh thoughts of it.
/review/show...
And earlier this autumn I completed David Stahel's 5 book series of the 1941 Eastern front with Retreat from Moscow, my thoughts here.
/review/show...

While I'm finishing the trilogy, I'm going to read two more books about the subject of Germany in WW2. Other is a re-read of Beevors Berlin that I last read 10 years ago and the other is
Soldaten: On Fighting, Killing, and Dying, The Secret WWII Transcripts of German POWS


Maybe next year I can join those monthly theme reads again.

Some very good reading there Perato! The final book in Richard Evans' third Reich trilogy is an excellent account.

Well done on finishing off the Evans trilogy Perato, I'd thought they were excellent. I've got "Soldaten" in the to buy list, so I'll be interested to hear what you think.

This afternoon I've started --

Night Fighter by Wing Commander J. R. D. Braham.

Manray9 wrote: "This afternoon I've started --

Night Fighter by Wing Commander J. R. D. Braham."

Another interesting book by the sounds of it MR9!

Now heading into the last forty pages or so of THE LAST HILL by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin (2022).

Basically this is a recap of the exploits of the 2nd Ranger Battalion from its founding at Camp Forrest, Tennessee to its training in Britain and then its battles at Point du Hoc on D-Day, at the submarine pens at Brest, and then at Hill 400 in the Hurtgen Forest.

An enjoyable read so far. I hope the last few chapters have a strong finish.

James wrote: "Now heading into the last forty pages or so of THE LAST HILL by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin (2022).

Basically this is a recap of the exploits of the 2nd Ranger Battalion from its founding at Camp For..."

I hope you enjoy the book to the very last page James!

I just finished reading Destroyer Captain. It is about the life and death of Cdr. Ernest Evans who skippered the USS Johnston at the Battle of Leyte Gulf. It has the best modern naval battle descriptions I have read in a long tme.

Mike wrote: "I just finished reading Destroyer Captain. It is about the life and death of Cdr. Ernest Evans who skippered the USS Johnston at the Battle of Leyte Gulf. It has the best modern naval battle descri..."

Sounds like an interesting book, glad you enjoyed the account Mike!

Mike wrote: "I just finished reading Destroyer Captain. It is about the life and death of Cdr. Ernest Evans who skippered the USS Johnston at the Battle of Leyte Gulf. It has the best modern naval battle descri..."

Unfortunately there has not been a USS Evans since the old Dealey-class DE was stricken in seventies. Evan was a genuine fighting sailor who was a credit to the U.S. Navy. There should always be a USS Evans under the flag of the U.S.

Now about one hundred pages into TOWER OF SKULLS (2020) by Richard B. Frank, which covers the Pacific war from July 1937 up to May 1942.

The author is supposedly going to focus not just on the military aspects of the Pacific war but also provide insight as to how the other countries within Asia (India, China, Korea, French Indonesia, etc.) were affected by the conflict and the political maneuvering by the main combatants.

It's been good reading so far, and the book is supposed to be the first of a trilogy. So I may have to make some space on my bookshelves for the next two volumes.

Good to hear you are enjoying the book, James. I have a unready copy ready to go. I was thinking of waiting until the second volume was published so I know that I won't be left stranded in case something happened.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Good to hear you are enjoying the book, James. I have a unready copy ready to go. I was thinking of waiting until the second volume was published so I know that I won't be left stranded in case som..."

Rick:

From looking at Frank's track record, it looks like on average it has taken 7 - 9 years between his publications, not including a 13 year gap between Tower Of Skulls and his previous book. So as much as you and I would like to get ahold of the second volume in the trilogy, I think it is still several years away from seeing print.

Damn, that's not good news!

started reading PRISONERS through HERITAGE: Life for Japanese Americans in WW2

So while it started out well enough I ended up setting it aside fairly quickly. I don't know if it is just the editing for the Kindle version but when it came to Pearl Harbor being talked about I was thinking I was reading historical fiction instead of history. The book says the Japanese attacked with Jet Fighters, Bombers and torpedo bombers. Jet Fighters? Then a couple of pages later it talks about there were 80 Battleships. Eight of those Battleships were heavy and were either heavily damaged or destroyed. ??? Unless every warshipp in Peril was a battleship I think the numbers were skewed.

I just read back to back The Rifle and The Rifle 2. I do a lot of my reading while I'm driving, so i mostly use audio books. Talk about an emotional roller-coaster, major tear jerker. Andrew Biggio is a very good writer.

Andrew wrote: "I just read back to back The Rifle and The Rifle 2. I do a lot of my reading while I'm driving, so i mostly use audio books. Talk about an emotional roller-coaster, major tear jerker. Andrew Biggio..."

That's good to hear that you enjoyed those books. I was thinking of getting the first volume for my dad as a gift.

Finished this one last week:
The Arms of Krupp: The Rise and Fall of the Industrial Dynasty that Armed Germany at War

An audiobook of more than 45 hours. The family Krupp was with me during lots of walks and commutes. But the author keeps you interested. When you start the book you have an admiration of the first Krupps, quickly turning into repulsion when you read the stories of the slave labor they employed during WWII. The personal stories of the slave labourers were disturbing.