2007-06-19 14:11:49 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
I like the books by Anthony Beevor. There are well-researched and written. He's one of the few to get access to Russian archives so his material is relatively fresh. Although he is controversial David Irving is another fantastic researcher and has uncovered lots of German sources. Although his concluisons in some cases can be alarming I would not dismiss his works out of hand.
John Toland is great. For good battle narrations Cornelius Ryan is fantastic.
Worst World War 2 historian? Edwin Hoyt
2007-06-19 14:31:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
To get a feel for the era and the war, particularly from an American point of view, the best book by far is "Goodbye, Darkness" by William Manchester. Churchill's books get a good feel for the big picture, and the Flags books are good, but Manchester nails the good and the bad the best. And he had a flair for telling what has happened since then.
2007-06-19 14:25:17 · answer #2 · answered by greatbigkid 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Martin Gilbert has written extensively on a variety of topics concerning World War 2; his book "The Second World War" is well regarded.
2007-06-19 14:16:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are several professional historians who write on this topic. I'll list a few:
*David Clay Large (writes mostly on the history of Germany)
*Richard J. Evans (is currently writing a trilogy about the Third Reich)
*Stephen Ambrose (guy who wrote "Band of Brothers)
*John Keegan (also writes on WWI as well).
*Richard Overy (author of "Russia's War"...pick it up, it's a great read)
2007-06-19 15:41:26 · answer #4 · answered by chrstnwrtr 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a matter of opinion. I have read books from Gordon W. Prange, Walter Lord, William L. Shirer and Stephen Amborse. I think all 4 of them wrote great books, mostly about the European theater, but they were very informative. Take your pick of this bunch.
2007-06-19 14:36:16 · answer #5 · answered by kepjr100 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
William Shirer, for the lead-up to the war.
Winston Churchill, for the conduct of the war... taken with a HUGE grain of salt. Remember, he said "History will be kind to me, for I shall write it!" He did, in 6 volumes...
Look for biographies of "Vinegar" Joe Stillwell for the China story.
"Crusade in Europe" by Dwight Eisenhower.
2007-06-19 15:27:40 · answer #6 · answered by johnnizanni 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
William Shirer "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich".
2007-06-19 14:21:51 · answer #7 · answered by MondoBlondo 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Definitely Stephn E. Ambrose- Band of brothers, Boys in blue, D-day and a bunch of others
2007-06-19 16:15:30 · answer #8 · answered by lol pirate 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Kurt Vonnegut "Slaughterhouse 5"
2007-06-19 14:14:24 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
William Shirer - i.e. "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich."
2007-06-19 14:18:21 · answer #10 · answered by 34th B.G. - USAAF 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋