Opinions on books

[Dichotomy]

Had a little extra time today and decided to stop by Half Price books.  Unfortunately I didn't have my 'suggested reading list' with me so I picked up Winged Victory by Geoffrey Perret and American Heritage
New History of World War II by Stephen Ambrose.  I picked up another one but I'll be using it in another thread.

Thoughts?

[Simaril]

Perret writes good stuff. His particular gift is taking extensively from oral histories - as in people who were there - and weaving those stories into the bigger picture. I've read the Mighty Eighth and I think you'll like it. Good read, and well worth the discount price.

I don't think I've read "New History" but Ambrose is a pretty safe bet regardless. He is wonderful at keeping the story moving, at narrative history. My favorites of his are probably the one about the Lewis and Clark expedition, and his D Day book...and of course Band of Brothers, which goes without saying.

Except I said it.

If you haven't checked him out, you'd probably also enjoy John Keegan. Loved his "Six Armies at Normandy" during the WW2 timeframe, and you almost can't go wrong with anything he's written. Honestly probably like his stuff better than Ambrose. Wrote some classics like "The Face of Battle", "The price of admiralty". As I recall he was a professor at Sandhurst for quite a while.

[Pigslilspaz]

Michael Korda writes some good stuff, With Wings Like Eagles was extremely good, just finished it myself

[Simaril]

Oops.

I confused Perret's Winged Victory with Gerald Astor's Mighty Eighth. Don't think I've read Winged Victory.

In the words of Rosanna Rosannadanna:...................... "Never mind."

 

[Dichotomy]

Ya know what I'm really looking for is the accounts of goon pilots on the Dday invasions.  I think they are seriously overlooked. 

That said

When Adolf Hitler was first appointed chancellor of Germany by its President, the aging WWI hero Marshal Paul von Hindenburg, on January 30, 1933, did Hitler's Nazi party hold a majority in the Reichstag?

[BrownBaron]

Ya know what I'm really looking for is the accounts of goon pilots on the Dday invasions.  I think they are seriously overlooked. 

That said

When Adolf Hitler was first appointed chancellor of Germany by its President, the aging WWI hero Marshal Paul von Hindenburg, on January 30, 1933, did Hitler's Nazi party hold a majority in the Reichstag?

Actually, I believe they only held 33% of voters in Germany, which was slightly over what other parties could amass. Seeing that Nazi popular support was gradually waning, von Hindenburg appointed Hitler thinking that he would become more manageable as his parties populatiry degraded. At least, that's one theory.

[CAP1]

reach for the sky was a good read, as was combat crew.

[Lusche]

Actually, I believe they only held 33% of voters in Germany,

43%

[Dichotomy]

chart it up Snailman... 230 out of 608 seats according to the book

Next question..

What what was the contemptuous name by which Hindenburg referred to Hitler?

[Lusche]

chart it up Snailman... 230 out of 608 seats according to the book

You are correct. I had a lapse and remembered only the results of the march 1933 Reichstagswahl, 5 weeks after the "Machtergreifung"
Too long ago since I learned that stuff, I guess...

[Dichotomy]

no fair on my part I've got le book next to me.  Merry Christmas sir 

[Simaril]

Soon as he got control of the levers of government, though, he immediately started packing positions with Nazis...who then supported his edicts, and implemented the police state. Opponents were suppressed or arrested, and Voila! a one party state run by the minority party!


Rise and Fall of the Third Reich was very interesting reading, although the large swastika on the black cover meant you didn't want to carry it in the open everywhere you went...

[Wildcat1]

Had a little extra time today and decided to stop by Half Price books.  Unfortunately I didn't have my 'suggested reading list' with me so I picked up Winged Victory by Geoffrey Perret and American Heritage
New History of World War II by Stephen Ambrose.  I picked up another one but I'll be using it in another thread.

Thoughts?

i picked up a book yesterday called "A Dawn Like Thunder"

it's about US Torpedo Squadron 8, and so far it's fantastic

http://www.amazon.com/Dawn-Like-Thunder-Torpedo-Squadron/dp/B0043RT9JE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1293247748&sr=8-1

[Obie303]

Michael Korda writes some good stuff, With Wings Like Eagles was extremely good, just finished it myself

I found Korda's book a little dull.  He generalized too many key events during the BoB.  A few books I would recommend are,

The Forgotten Few-The Polish Air Force in WWII by Adam Zamoyski

The Few by Alex Kershaw (71 RAF Squadron)

These were just two of my favorites that dealt with the European Theater.  The Pacific Theater books were mostly books by Marine Corp Vets that wrote books after the war.   

I find most of my books on Ebay or Half.  Shop around. 

[IronDog]

The swastika has been around a long time,matter of fact the 45th Infantry Division patch had a yellow swastika on their patch.It was changed in the 1930's for obvious reasons.I play a Submarine sim,and I have a mod that uses the swastika.Some are offended by the swastika,and some like me could care less.
The Dawg