I think it's Sun Tzu's The Art of War. In my opinion Clausewitz is next, but a long way from Sun Tzu.

What do you think?

Also how can we explain that a book over 2500 years old can still be seen as the best book on warfare ever?? Isn't this bizarre?

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„Solange man nicht mit dem Kopf unterm Arm rumläuft geht es doch noch!" Erwin Rommel

Great choices Andreas, a close 3rd and 4th would have to be "To Hell and Back" and "Stalingrad" respectivly by Audie Leon Murphy and Anthony Beevor.

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Although most of my book collection is on WW2, among my favorite books are on classical warfare. Dodge's Alexander is excellent, as is Caesar's Conquest of Gaul.

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'England confides that every man will do his duty' Nelson
'I'm a Norfolk man, and glory in being so' Nelson

Proud to be a GRUNT

Most of mine are also only on ww2, but there is a very thick book on the American Civil War that I have loved called: The AmericanHeritage book on the Civil War.

The think I have always loved in the book was the panoramic paintings done by David Greenspan. They show hundreds of tiny soldiers, Cavalry, Artillery, wagons, rivers, etc etc etc. Excellent book.

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

The Regiment by Farley Mowat

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Ain't no rocket scientists in the firehall

"Blood on the Shores" by Victor Leonov, I've read no better memoir to date.

[ 21 April 2002, 10:03 PM: Message edited by: Yan ]

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"This isn't Paris, you will not get through here with a Marching Parade!" Defenders of Stalingrad
"War is God's way of teaching Americans geography." -Ambrose Bierce
"Tell me what you accuse the Jews of - and I'll tell you what your guilty of." Grossman

I would like to recommend a couple books for those who like to read. Stephen Ambrose' "Citizen Soldiers" and James Bradley' "Flags of Our Fathers", (there are two versions of this book, one is a condensed version for teenages). If you want to read a long book I recommend two others, Albert Speers "Inside the Third Reich" and Butchers "My Three Years With Eisenhower".

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The soldier above all others prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war. General Douglas Macarthur

Inside the third reich is very well done--I have a copy--havent reread it for sometime as I am always reading new books.

As you might notice in other postings about ambrose on the otherhand--well--read them and you shall be forever enlightened.

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

one of the best war books i have read is one by arthur conan doyle. it is not serious but very good. its called The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard. very humorous having to deal with napoleon. a must read for doyle fans

I used to think that "All is Quiet on the Wester Front" was my favorite, although it's been 7 years since I read it.

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Living History at http://oldreliable9_47.tripod.com

Definately my favourite books:

"La bataille du France" Alistair Horne.

"Afrika Korps" (I don«t remember the author now...)

"The Swastika in the Sea" C.D. Becker

"Divine Wind" (There are three authors, an American and two Japanesse officers in charge of Kamikaze missions).

"The War Diaries" Fedor von Bock

"Hitler's Generals" (I don«t remember the author now...)

"The Second World War" Sir Winston Churchill

"AlŽxandros" Valerio Massimo Manfredi

"Napoleon" (I don«t remember the author now...)

I do not have the books right now!

I almost bought Hitlers Generals, but that time I bought Through Hell For Hitler by: Henry metelmann and Panzer Aces by: Franz Kurowski. Ive been so busy lately--that I rarely have a chance to read even a full page a day.

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

I just finished "The Last Battle" by Cornelius Ryan. I thought it was a very good insight into the last days of the war in Europe.

I have "Hitler's Generals" and was disappointed with it. It only selected a dozen generals but left out a lot of the great generals such as Heinrici. General Shorner was profiled but I do not consider him a great general. Not even Felix Steiner or Paul Hausser were profiled. Very disappointing.

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American by birth, TEXAN by the grace of GOD!

Thanks PzJgr--you might have saved me money.

Also, I too have read that excellent book: The Last Battle" Ryans detail and interveiwe with so many of its participants is unbeatable. I hope someone gets wise and reprints this very well done book.

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Look at this, they profile Keitel and Jodl. What did they do other then mimic Hitler's orders?

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American by birth, TEXAN by the grace of GOD!

Thats so true and Keitel had two nicknames by other officers that I know of. 1) Hitlers Lacky and 2) Lackeitel.

I dont remember Jodl's nickname(s)

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Yes, it was a nice book, but not an excellent one, so it is not one of my favourites.

Keitel had a lot of nicknames: die Hure, Lekeitel, die OKW Rausch...

But certainly the best of all of them is "The battle for France" by Alistair Horne.

I rembered the name of the guy who wrote "Afrika Korps" It is Erwan Bergott.

And the diaries of Von Bock are very nice also!

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"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun

I have many, many books but often return to these four accounts by men who were there :
From WWI
Her Privates We ( also published as The Middle Parts of Fortune ) by Frederic Manning ( this was a favourite of Hemingway )
Storm of Steel by Ernst Junger

From WWII
The Cauldron by 'Zeno' ( Ken Allerton )
The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

Hey! Wilkommen to the forums, Martin! We hope see you around here oftenly!

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"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun

Danke schon, Herr General !

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

Hey! Wilkommen to the forums, Martin! We hope see you around here oftenly!

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"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun

You know I've been reading German WW 2 history books for more than 35 years now and I honestly can't say which is my favorite one.....rats ! But what I will say many of those 1960's books out to be tossed right into the garbage as their info in many cases is just simply wrong. I've tended to be so cautious now with any purchase.......oooooopppppppssssss getting of topic now. Will have think about this more seriously in the days ahead.

E hhhhhhmmmmm, still wondering

Hallo, gentlemen!

I have just bought this morning "Stalingrad 1942-1943, the hellish sorruonding" (I do not know if I translated it well) by Professor Stephen Welsh. I have started reading it, but just the initial pages. It is very good until now. Most of the pictures are awesome! There is my favourite where is Hitler with his new 9 field marshalls and one Reichsmarschall, some very horrendous photos, like a frozen Generalmajor, some photos of Vasili Zaitsev (I think Jude Law was too much for him at "Enemy at the Gates"...). I shall read entirely and tell you later how it is. And if I have any chance I will scan and post some of the photos here. Copyright... Haha!

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"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

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