Eastern Front Book

Discussion in 'The Eastern Front' started by Bob Guercio, Aug 5, 2009.

  1. Bob Guercio

    Bob Guercio Senior Member

    Hi All,

    I know very little about the war on the Eastern front and would like the recommendation of a book to read.

    My historic reading caliber is at the Stephen Ambrose level. A scholarly tome would be a bit difficult for me.

    Thanks,

    Bob Guercio
     
  2. Elven6

    Elven6 Discharged

    Are you looking for "eye witness" accounts or a "Band of Brothers" type analyization?

    I've heard great things about the following,

    German
    • Blood Red Snow: The Memoirs of a soldier on the Eastern Front
    • The Forgotten Soldier
    • In Deadly Combat: A German Soldier's Memoir of the Eastern Front
    • At Leningrad's Gate: The Combat Memoirs of a Soldier with Army Group North
    • Sniper on the Eastern Front: The Memoirs of Sepp Allerberger, Knight's Cross
    • Black Edelweiss: A Memoir of Combat and Conscience by a Soldier of the Waffen-SS
    For Russian,

    • 800 Days on the Eastern Front: A Russian Soldier Remembers World War II
    • Through the Maelstrom: A Red Army Soldier's War on the Eastern Front, 1942-1945
    • Red Road From Stalingrad
    • From Stalingrad to Pillau: A Red Army Artillery Officer Remembers the Great Patriotic War
    • Voices from Stalingrad: Nemesis on the Volga
     
  3. Bob Guercio

    Bob Guercio Senior Member

    Are you looking for "eye witness" accounts or a "Band of Brothers" type analyization?




    I still don't understand the big picture and I would rather understand that before getting into too much detail.

    As an example, consider Stephen Ambrose's book on D-Day.

    As an example of the big picture, he discusses the reasons for choosing Normandy over other invasion possibilities such as the Pas de Calais area. Another example of the big picture is his discussion of the deception measures taken by the allies.

    An example of detail which I am not looking for would be his discussion of the soldiers climbing point du hoc or specifics about the carnage on the beaches such as that of a soldier picking up his arm that had just been blown off.

    Does this help?

    Thank you,

    Bob
     
  4. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    Osprey Books Vol. 5 of their Essential History of WW2 should be the best introduction in a 96 page package with . The price here is crazy but I'm sure you'll be able to find a better deal.

    Charles Winchester's Ostfront is of the same type but double in size.

    Going for bigger ones I'd start with Albert Seaton's Russo-German War 41-45. Less maps, no photos but a fine text. Perhaps a little dated but still a good book.

    Alan Clarck's Barbarossa, 540 very full pages is of the same type of above.

    Overy's Russia's War, 432 pages, will give you a better insight of the Soviet Union at war.

    Also very interesting to you I think, outside the Eastern Front but giving a more global perspective, is Overy's Why the Allies Won. The title says it all, and I would really reccomend this.
     
  5. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Two volumes by Brian Taylor worth looking at for an almost day by day account.

    Barbarossa to Berlin: A Chronology of the Campaigns on the Eastern Front 1941-45: Long Drive East 22 June 1941 to 18 November 1942 Vol 1

    Barbarossa to Berlin: A Chronology of the Campaigns on the Eastern Front 1941-45: November 1942 to May 1945 Vol 2



    Elven, wouldn't it be best to recommend books you have read not just because
    "I've heard great things about the following..." ???
     

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