Hey. I'm always trying to expand my library regarding history. So, can you guys tell me wich books are a must have?? what do you consider to be a good book and what books should I stay away?



Cheers...

Too many to mention both ways. Thats why I buy all mine locally. I like bookstores-maybe too much!

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David

"It is history that teaches us to hope"
Robert E. Lee

Miguel -- A lot depends on which aspects of the War you want to study and on your level of knowledge already. Can you post a bit more detail about your interests and your level of familiarity with the War?

Cheers!

Well, I go mainly with strategy, politics, hardware, human side behind the war (soldiers point of view, concentration camps,...)... Everything goes really. I'm quite familiar with the subject. I have some books on the subject and (re)read them all several times.

Right now, I'm looking for a good book on Russian tanks.
I have one from Osprey that explains the evolution of Russian armor since the end of WWI to the end of WWII. Quite good for explaining the basis and how they came to be but, too little info on the tanks themselves (how they behaved, optics, materials that compose the armor).

Now I didn't said right away what I was looking for as I love to find new books so if you guys just happened to point some interesting books I'd be like a kid in a candy store!

Now, TA thanks for that list. It has some god books that I'll definatly buy. But you must be careful with some of those books (I've already read a few) namely vegetius! Don't take by letter what he says. I also would advise you to get (if strategy is your thing) :

Aeneas Tacticus: How to survive a Siege
Xenophon: Cavalry commander
Homer (yes Really!)
Onasander: The General
Arrian: Anabasis
Polybius.

Now, these books must also be regarded with much attention as they are a bit biased (mostly towards Romans) but, their knowledge is unique!



Cheers...

Don't forget Asclepiodotos! But T.A.Gardner's list is a pretty good one, really, Vegetius or no Vegetius who anyway is somewhat irrelevant for WW2 purposes, or isn't he?

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I don't think Vegetius is irrelevant. None of the ancient authors are they provide the bases and teach you to think not in devisions but in armies. And how to know that it's not the size of the army that matters. It's no good having a 200K strong army if you can only properlly feed and equip 40K.
For more recent tactics you always have Achtung Panzer
btw, is there any book about strategy from Manstein?


Cheers...

If you can stand any more from him after 'Lost Victories' then you're a better man than I am .
(And welcome aboard Miguel.)

Cheers,
Adam.

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"Wars cannot be fought with dream stuff" - Sir Percy Hobart.

Were you actually able to complete that insomniac's delight, Adam?

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Best Regards,
JW

At least Count Galeazzo Ciano's memoirs are cut off earlier

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I got through it Jeff, but the last third was through sheer bloody-mindedness so I don't think I took much in.
You know that "no sodding way is this B*****d beating me!" feeling?

Cheers,
Adam.

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"Wars cannot be fought with dream stuff" - Sir Percy Hobart.

That's about where I closed the kivvers on that book. Glad is wasn't just me that found his minimis opus deleterious to reading enjoyment.

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Best Regards,
JW

interested in Russian Tanks eh ? try some of the russian web-sites and there are plenty of them to choose from. even Missing-lynx.com - homepage

a modelling site but some very knowledgeable chaps that eagerly will help out for your textual needs on armor both Allied/German

Oh I know about the sites I just like to have everything in paper format.
Recently bought Germanys Panther Tank: The Quest for Combat Supremacy and Germany's Tiger Tanks D.W. to Tiger I: Design, Production & Modifications now, websites may have a lot of info (one of my favs is Guns vs Armour 1939 to 1945) but they don't have the amount of detail I need


Cheers...

not so much the web-site but asking the forum members for their books on the shelf ~ Titles.

personally I do not believe what I read on web-sites except for the very scant few, as you say would rather have the book form in hand and easily available right off the shelves

Here's four that I consider absolutely essential for anyone interested in British Armour development:

Mechanised Force (British Tanks between the wars) - David Fletcher
The Great Tank Scandal (British Armour in the Second World War V.1.) - David Fletcher.
The Universal Tank (British Armour in the Second World War V.2.) - David Fletcher.
Mr Churchill's Tank - David Fletcher.

Can you detect a theme there? .
The first three are in the excellent HMSO series, published in the 80's and crying out for a reprint (I warn anyone hoping to find them for a reasonable price that it can take a long time, though 'Mechanised force' is normally OK and there's a very reasonably priced 'Universal Tank' on abe at the moment. 'The great tank scandal', as ever, is up for silly money).
The last covers the Churchill in fascinating detail, with Fletcher's usual in depth and highly readable style, and is currently in print by Schiffer.

Cheers,
Adam.

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"Wars cannot be fought with dream stuff" - Sir Percy Hobart.