What Are You Reading?

David Williams Nachtjäger volume 2 1943-45. Actually a fine softback book produced through Classic Pubs classic-colour series. Profiles are beautifully done but I do not necessairly agree with the colour schemes 100 %. Actually this is pushing me to get my own work on the Ju 88G-6 and crews done up this summer...........time for another half dozen pilot/crew interviews then presto !

 

Show us the kwan, Erich!

 

Two new additions on their way to me...

Cornwell, Peter, D. and Vasco, John, J.
Zerstorer, The Messerschmitt 110 and its Units in 1940

Wolfgang Späte: Top Secret Bird - the Luftwaffe Me-163 Comet

http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=17-1125980656-0

Ultimately, the Me 163 claimed nine enemy aircraft destroyed and actually killed more Germans due to accidents. Nevertheless, the Me 163 remains one of the most famous aircraft of the war due to the sheer audacity of the design and the bravery of the pilots who dared to fly it.

 

THE U-BOAT OFFENSIVE 1914-1945 by V.E. Tarrant

Just finished very interesting full of tables, charts and statistical information a good read.

 

Kai, JG 400 scored 12 kills confirmed. I knew several of the pilots, one of them was Rudi Opitz

what a waste of an a/c ~ Me 163; no wonder many of the rocket kids went to JG 7

 

OK, thanx for the correction Erich!

 

Just finished "Rubicon" by Tom Holland, which turned out to be fantastic read on the slow decay and downfall of the Roman republic. Goes great with the TV show "Rome", to flesh out several persons there.

Have now started a Swedish book, roughly translated as Wolves of the Sea (rather lame title), by Michael Tamelander. Each chapter goes into detail about one particular aspect of submarine and/or anti-submarine warfare during the war years.

 

THE VILLA THE LAKE THE MEETING
WANNSEE AND THE FINAL SOLUTION
By Mark Roseman

Not bad a good read just wished it had more information on the background of those who attended and bit more in depth information.

 

Went to pick up a spanish phrase book tonight for the honeymoon, and had to check the WW2 section at Barnes&Noble. First time I've hit that section in many moons...
Noticed some new (?) softcover copies-
It Never Snows in September (Robert J. Kershaw), a must on Market Garden. Not sure if the softcover is new, but if so, a nice way to save a couple bucks on a superb title- another one I need to get back to and finish.
Both volumes of Tigers in Combat by Wolfgang Schneider. Must for Tiger buffs... heh, kinda funny to see those softcovers in a Barnes&Noble. They lack the color illustrations, but otherwise look superb- better typesetting than the JJF originals.

But the ones I picked up-
Also new (?) softcover of one I saw many tomes before but never picked up- With Our Backs to Berlin by Tony Le Tissier. Interesting history on the last months of the war in Europe.

And the real prize-
Blood and Iron, The German Conquest of Sevastopol, by C.G Sweeting, copyright 2005, original 2004.
NICE looking small-ish volume on the Sevastopol campaign. Tons of footnotes, looks pretty well researched. Also very nice- nearly half the book is Appendixes, and some good ones- ranks and organization of the german forces, equipment used by both sides.
And the part that made it an especially easy purchase- A full appendix on the Karl-Gereat Mortars, and a Full appendix on the 80cm Dora gun!

 

Well starting to fulfill New Year promises:

Hinchliffe
- the Other Battle.

Hinchliffe - the Lent Papers

Reschke -
Jagdgeschwader 301/303 Wilde Sau

 

Just finished one today

THE SCOURGE OF THE SWASTIKA
A SHORT HISTORY OF NAZI WAR CRIMES

BY LORD RUSSELL OF LIVERPOOL

A very good read prisoners of war, slave labour, and the concentration camps and other atrocities committed by the Nazis.

 

Kai let me recommend not picking up Hinchliffe's Schnaufer, the Lent papers are quite excellent. The Other Battle is fair; rather you pick up any one of Dr. Theo Boitens work as you will get more bang for the buck in reading and photo content. Hinchliffes Other Battle pics have all been seen before in other works and not just the nachtjagd.

finishing up another German Lufw. NF interview this week and then .......... ? probably writing two more NF Ritterkreuz winners for their thoughts on late war radar development

bis bald E ♫

 

OK!

Thanx for the tip Erich! Next time Dr Theo Boitens!

 

The Rocket and the Reich -
Peenemunde and the coming of the Ballistic Missile Era
By Michael J. Neufeld

A comprehensive account of Peenemunde and the V2 Rocket and it's legacy very interesting and a good read.

 

During the brief periods in which I had time to read on the vacation- Imperial cervecas are not conducive to reading, especially in large numbers - I finished off most of With Our Backs to Berlin by Tony Le Tissier.

VERY interesting read, especially for those with an interest in the last months of the war. All first-hand accounts, one russian the rest german. Provides some very interesting insights into how the last months went for a variety of soldiers. A variety of different points of view, many different situations.

Especially with the paperback availability- I'd definitely recommend this one.

 

Sounds good CrazyD I shall add that one to my list

 

A couple of interesting books found :

Mallmann-Showell: Hitler's U-boat Bases

Will Fowler: Kursk the Vital 24 Hours

Jean Restayn: Tiger I on the Eastern Front
( should have some nice pics )

 

Just started Voices from D-Day good book so far.
All eye-witness accounts of 6th June 1944.

By Jonathan Bastable.

 

very very good book....

 

Yea Fortune just finished book it's brilliant?