Hi everybody,

I am a writer and wish to set my next novel in ww2 Europe. The exact war details are not so important to the story, but places and events are. I have found plenty of information on events, but not detailed enough. Does anyone know how i might find more detailed timelines and information?
eg- exactly when and where smaller battles took place, who was involved, the outcomes, etc...
I want to find precise details so I can place a character (either an American or British soldier depending on which I could get the most relevant information about) in Nazi Germany and surrounding countries during the war. If anyone can recommend websites that might help me, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

Toucan

From one writer to another (i posted a WWII Movie Script up a couple years ago) I think its better to focus on the larger/major battles occurring then smaller ones, unless your character is directly involved in them. If he isn't, chances are he won't really know about the smaller engagements, but the larger ones more likely.

__________________

Is this something sorta like what you are looking for?

Lone Sentry: Railsplitters: The Story of the 84th Infantry Division -- WWII G.I. Stories Booklet

__________________
Best Regards,
JW

Thanks to those who took the time to reply. I really should have explained what i wanted more though. The exact role of the character will depend on what information i am able to obtain, but basically- there is a soldier who is travelling across parts of Europe (Germany and Austria especially), and he is trying to avoid the battles. Think of him like a deserter who is stuck in the nazi occupied countries, and is doing his best to avoid both german troops and allies. What i need to know is-when and where did the smaller battles occur? This way i can either describe the characters attempts to avoid these areas, or possibly involve him in teh conflict. The war is not a vital part of my story though, just a setting.

oh and to slipdigit- thanks so much for that. Things like that are pretty much what i am trying to find. Are there any other sites that you know of similar to that?

perhaps these:

The History Place - World War Two in Europe Timeline

timeline-ww2

World War 2 Timeline 1939-1945 - Worldwar-2.net

__________________

Toucan,
How what dates roughly do you what to set this story.
Then it would be easier to help.
If we knew roughly some locations and dates we could tell you what was going on then.
A few questions though , how is this "deserter" able to run around behind enemy lines?
Is he an escaped POW?
If he isn't a POW surely he'd rather be a deserter in a liberated country rather than a Nazi Occupied one, rather dangerous don't you think?

__________________

well he actually isnt a deserter, but he is on the run from a few people. I said that because i imagine a deserter would be doing evertything possible to avoid any conflict, but it may not be easy for them to just flee a country. instead perhaps they would remain in the areas until they have the opportunity to leave. I want to set it around 1943-44, around the Austrian/ German border area.

thanks for the help guys. Very much appreciated!!

In that case he'd better be shot down air-crew, those borders weren't reached until 1945 at the end of the war in Europe.

__________________

oops. hehe. well i guess i will have to rethink that part. So there were no American or British troops around that area until 1945? Where were they mainly located then?

Maps for you...

Interactive Maps of World War II

WWII Maps, Stats, Timelines

__________________