Some good books about World War II?

Question

I would like to know a bit more about it. :)

Answer 1

I'm reading a book right now called "Hitler's Gift", which is about all the scientists that he expelled from Germany. I just finished a book called "The Bomber War", which was about the Allied strategic bombing campaign. It was really good. I'm going to read "Band of Brothers" by Stephen Ambrose next. (I've been on a WWII kick lately.) I read a book a long time ago called "All The Drowned Sailors" about the sinking of the USS Indianapolis. It was excellent!

If you see anything on my bookcrossing bookshelf that you'd like to read, e-mail me and I'd be happy to share.

Answer 2

World War Two was so vast there are just too many different areas to talk about.

Did you have a specific part of WW2 in Mind?
Pearl Harbor.
The Pacific War
Battle of the Atlantic
Battle of Britain
Eastern Front
North Africa
Italy
D-Day and the Normandy Invasion
Midway
10th Mountain fighting in the Appinnies Mountains
The Holocaust
Concentration Camps
US Internment of Japanese/Americans
The U-Boat war and the Convoys
Fighting in the Hedgrows of Northern France
The invasion of Norway
The Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The Development of the Atomic Bomb
and the list goes on and on

No Book that tells the story of the WHOLE war can ever begin to do justice to the subject matter

I do have a few favorites though
"Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors" by: James D. Hornfischer
3 Destroyers and 1 Destroyer Escort Defend a group of unarmed carriers from one of the most power battlegroups ever assembled by the Imperial Japanese Navy. All 4 ships are sunk but not before they completely route the Japanese fleet and sink or severely damage most of the ships. This is the United States Navy's "Finest Hour"

"Clear The Bridge: The War Patrols of the USS Tang" By Richard O'Kane
The Story of Tang and her gallant crew ranks with the most amazing of naval history. Whether rescuing Navy fliers off Truk or stalking enemy convoys off Japan, Tang carried the war to the enemy with unparalleled ferocity. Tang's skipper on all five of her war patrols, Rear Admiral Richard H. O'Kane is acknowledged as the top submarine skipper of WWII. His personal decorations include three Navy Crosses and the Congressional Medal of Honor. He retired as a rear admiral from his command of the Submarines School, Rounding out twenty years with the boats.

"Operation Drumbeat" by - Gannon, Michael
One of the best books available about this topic. Gannon describes the patrols of U-123 in great narrative form. The feeble American countermeasures against the U-boat assault are covered as well.

"Torpedo Junction" by - Homer Hickam
A solid history of the action in the first six months of WWII off the East Coast of the US--a period during which fewer than a dozen U- boats sank more Allied tonnage there than the entire Japanese navy had claimed in the Pacific.

There are many many more that I think are excellent. If you would provide further info about what spicific Area of WW2 you are interested in I will try to find for you pertinant books on the subject.
I am a USN Vet (Desert Storm) who has spent a lot of my personal time reading and researching the WW2 of my Grandfathers.

Answer 3

try the book on Hells Angels B-17 who had a more impressive record than the Memphis Belle. be certain to google and put in B - 17 otherwise you will get information on Outlaw Motorcycle Club.

Answer 4

'A world at arms' by Gerhard L. Weinberg, Cambridge University Press.

Answer 5

gerhard weinberg wrote a definitive book on the subject
a world at arms is the title