RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ?

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/5/2011 3:44:50 AM

Johnus

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War Without Garlands (Kershaw) is good for atmosphere, but doesn't contain much discussion of strategy. Main fault is few and inadequate maps. I can't imagine why an author or publisher would think an English speaking readership would have memorized a detailed map of European Russia (or would always have a Russian atlas conveniently at hand.) This is a common failing in military history which I could never understand (a pet peeve of mine.)

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Post #: 31

RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/5/2011 4:09:28 AM

abulbulian

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Major Bong

Last year I read Erich von Manstein's "Lost Victories". In my opinion it is a very well written book that describes war from the operational side, while never getting too technical and remaining a good read from a very personal pov.

+1 good read, although the stats are a bit basis towards Germans. Was almost going to use this book as proof that captured equipment in WitE is very low compared to historical. Even so, many source still have about 2,500 tanks, of all types, captured in the 41 Kiev pocket alone. I had a few very big pockets like Kiev in WitE and never saw anything close to this in my captured tank pools. Think game models this very low and non-historical, but that's another post. Although, in all fairness a portion of that captured equipment was sent to other fronts.. like west.

Back to books... ANY book by David M. Glantz is a MUST! Starting to read To the Gates of Stalingrad (3 volume set). Mr Glantz is top notch historian and scholar. He had a very informative book on Kursk too: Battle of Kursk

< Message edited by abulbulian -- 1/5/2011 4:11:15 AM >

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/5/2011 9:42:29 AM

sebo

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These are the mandatory books and their author Viktor Suvorov - the whole truth about the Red Army http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Suvorov

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/5/2011 10:51:31 AM

Schelle

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If you can read German, I would recommend as overview the "offical war history" by the Milit�rgeschichtliches Forschungsamt: Das Deutsche Reich und der Zweite Weltkrieg, especially volume 4 (Barbarossa), 6 (1942-1943), 8 (1943-44 with new insight to Zitadelle) and 10 (1945). Volume 4 and 6 are some what dated, 8 and 10 a rather new.
I would also recommend: Johannes H�rter: Hitlers Heerf�hrer - Die deutschen Oberbefehlshaber im Krieg gegen die Sowjetunion 1941/42 (Study of the German senior commanders of the Army groups and armies during Barbarossa).
Also: Christian Hartmann: Wehrmacht im Ostkrieg: Front und milit�risches Hinterland 1941/42. A sample study of five German division (one Panzerdivion, two Infantrydivisions and a Securitydivision and a Kor�ck). Mabye you could take a look at the review in Journal of Military History Volume 74. Nr.1 January 2010.
Also: Roman T�ppel: Kursk � Mythen und Wirklichkeit einer Schlacht, in Vierteljahreshefte f�r Zeitgeschichte Nr. 3 2009 (about Legends and lies concerning the battle of Kursk. Should be read together with Mansteins Lost Victories or Guderians memories, to see what kind of disorted history the are trying to tell).
Also: Bernhard Wegener: Erschriebene Siege. Franz Halder und die Historical Division und die Rekonstruktion des Zweiten Weltkriegs im Geiste des Generalstabes, in M�ller (ed.): Politischer Wandel, organisierte Gewalt und nationale Sicherheit: Beitr�ge zur Geschichte Deutschlands und Frankreichs (shows how Halder managed to rewrite history with his former comrades in arms in service of the Americans nd how they blamed mostly Hitler for all mistakes and not themselves). Should be read together with Wood, James A: Captive Historians, Captivated Audience: The German Military History Program, 1945-1961, in The Journal of Military History, Volume 69, Number 1, January 2005, pp. 123-147.
Also: Christoph Rass: 'Menschenmaterial': Deutsche Soldaten an der Ostfront. Innenansichten einer Infanteriedivision 1939 - 1945 (the 253. Infantrydivison is here researched. Highly recommendable, but maby difficult to read).
Also: R�diger Overmanns: Deutsche milit�rische Verluste im Zweiten Weltkrieg (about German war casulties. Show also how misleading van Crefelds Fighting power is).

In case of the memories of German Generals you should be carefull in reading them. Most try to explain and excuse themselfs as unguilty of everything and had especially nothing to do with war crimes and the holocaust. In case of Manstein you should read Oliver Wrochem: Vernichtungskrieg und Geschichtspolitik: Erich von Manstein. In case of Guderian there is no serious modern critical scholary biography (yes, I mean Macksey et. al). A frist try to do this is Russell A. Hart: Guderian: Panzer Pioneer or Myth Maker? Did you now that Manstein got a bonus of 250.000 Reichsmark and Guderian 1.000.000 Reichsmark by Hitler?

Hope it helps. Sorry, if the professional historian comes through

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/5/2011 11:22:35 AM

Grymme

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Schelle

If you can read German, I would recommend as overview the "offical war history" by the Milit�rgeschichtliches Forschungsamt: Das Deutsche Reich und der Zweite Weltkrieg, especially volume 4 (Barbarossa), 6 (1942-1943), 8 (1943-44 with new insight to Zitadelle) and 10 (1945). Volume 4 and 6 are some what dated, 8 and 10 a rather new.
I would also recommend: Johannes H�rter: Hitlers Heerf�hrer - Die deutschen Oberbefehlshaber im Krieg gegen die Sowjetunion 1941/42 (Study of the German senior commanders of the Army groups and armies during Barbarossa).
Also: Christian Hartmann: Wehrmacht im Ostkrieg: Front und milit�risches Hinterland 1941/42. A sample study of five German division (one Panzerdivion, two Infantrydivisions and a Securitydivision and a Kor�ck). Mabye you could take a look at the review in Journal of Military History Volume 74. Nr.1 January 2010.
Also: Roman T�ppel: Kursk � Mythen und Wirklichkeit einer Schlacht, in Vierteljahreshefte f�r Zeitgeschichte Nr. 3 2009 (about Legends and lies concerning the battle of Kursk. Should be read together with Mansteins Lost Victories or Guderians memories, to see what kind of disorted history the are trying to tell).
Also: Bernhard Wegener: Erschriebene Siege. Franz Halder und die Historical Division und die Rekonstruktion des Zweiten Weltkriegs im Geiste des Generalstabes, in M�ller (ed.): Politischer Wandel, organisierte Gewalt und nationale Sicherheit: Beitr�ge zur Geschichte Deutschlands und Frankreichs (shows how Halder managed to rewrite history with his former comrades in arms in service of the Americans nd how they blamed mostly Hitler for all mistakes and not themselves). Should be read together with Wood, James A: Captive Historians, Captivated Audience: The German Military History Program, 1945-1961, in The Journal of Military History, Volume 69, Number 1, January 2005, pp. 123-147.
Also: Christoph Rass: 'Menschenmaterial': Deutsche Soldaten an der Ostfront. Innenansichten einer Infanteriedivision 1939 - 1945 (the 253. Infantrydivison is here researched. Highly recommendable, but maby difficult to read).
Also: R�diger Overmanns: Deutsche milit�rische Verluste im Zweiten Weltkrieg (about German war casulties. Show also how misleading van Crefelds Fighting power is).

In case of the memories of German Generals you should be carefull in reading them. Most try to explain and excuse themselfs as unguilty of everything and had especially nothing to do with war crimes and the holocaust. In case of Manstein you should read Oliver Wrochem: Vernichtungskrieg und Geschichtspolitik: Erich von Manstein. In case of Guderian there is no serious modern critical scholary biography (yes, I mean Macksey et. al). A frist try to do this is Russell A. Hart: Guderian: Panzer Pioneer or Myth Maker? Did you now that Manstein got a bonus of 250.000 Reichsmark and Guderian 1.000.000 Reichsmark by Hitler?

Hope it helps. Sorry, if the professional historian comes through

Das Deutsche Reich und der Zweite Weltkrieg actually exist in translated versions as "germany and the second world" by Oxford University press. I have Volume IV. Its one of the best books i have read. At least when it comes to the background, deployements etc for Barbarossa. Vol IV (which cover the preparement for and 6-7 months of the eastern front only) is 1300+ pages. Its pricy though at about 200-300$.

But if price is no matter then i would start with this.

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/5/2011 1:46:23 PM

henri51

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To follow the war by use of maps, the West Point series (I forget the exact title-Iam at work...). is very good. I don't have the one on the Eastern Front, but the one on the Pacific War is excellent and although there is no text except for what is on the maps, the map explanations are very clear.There are accompanying textbooks that go with the map books, but I don't have any of them.

Henri

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/5/2011 2:35:38 PM

timmyab

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Panzer Battles - Mellenthin
Mellenthin was the chief of staff of 48th panzer corp from late 1942 onwards so was very much in the thick of it.The first half of the book deals with his experiences in North Africa under Rommel.

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/5/2011 4:14:04 PM

Redmarkus5

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Well said, sir.

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/5/2011 6:23:54 PM

wosung

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Books about the Eastern front?

Well, arguably the most detailed books about the American Civil War aren�t written in French but in English. Thus, for the Eastern front, this may mean you�ll get more info if you can read Russian and German. In those languages lots of works, solid ones and apologetic ones full of aganda continuously are published since 1945. Most of them are just not translated into English. Thus, from a broader international perspective, even the very well reputed David Glantz arguably has not set THE �gold standard�, only perhaps for the English language publications. Yes, he�s done a lot of research in Russian archives, but others did so as well, but they didn�t publish in English. Plus, even Glantz isn�t undisputed. I remember quite a lively debate between Glantz (or his followers) and Zetterling about Kursk.

On the other hand lots of Russian and German publications about the war have their own apologetic or retro-triumphal agenda. So it�s (always) a good idea to check out exactly who has written this stuff, when it was written and what sources and archives it is based on. The more cited files and footnotes, the better. It might not be a good idea to directly compare a book from Mr. Glantz (a third country historian, not directly involved in the matter) and Mr. Manstein (well, you all know). Those two play in different leagues and, in fact, they play different games at all.

As for archives, the German files are accessible since the war, in Germany, plus as war booty in Washington and (since the 1990s are slowly becoming accessible) in Moscow (like the Russian Archives themselves). A defeated state is the historians� best friend.

Books in English:
(in no particular order)
Germany and the Second World War: Volume IV: The Attack on the Soviet Union by Horst Boog, J�rgen F�rster, Joachim Hoffmann, and Ernst Klink (Feb 18, 1999)
(Detailed German grand operational perspective, including papers about German intel, anticipations and Allies; heavily based on German archive files)

Germany and the Second World War: Organization and Mobilization in the German Sphere of Power, Wartime Administration, Economy, and Manpower Resources 1942-1944/5 (Germany and the Second World War, Vol 5/II) by Rolf-Dieter Muller, Hans Umbreit, Derry Cook-Radmore, and Bernhard R. Kroener (Apr 10, 2003)
(Its�s the economy, stupid! Fascinating details concerning the Eastern front like manpower & personnel management, TOE planning, production �wonders�, ammo consumption by type and its tactical meaning; heavily based on German archive files)

Catherine Merridale, Ivan�s War, The Red Army 1939-1945.
(Condensed human micro-perspective relying on Russian and German archives plus on interviews)

Richard Overy, Russia�s War: A history of the Soviet war effort, 1941-1945.
(Orientation based on international secondary works)

Michael Geyer und Sheila Fitzpatrick, Beyond Totalitarianism: Stalinism and Nazism Compared, Cambridge University Press (2008)

Books in German
Wehrmacht im Ostkrieg: Front und milit�risches Hinterland 1941/42 von Christian Hartmann (Gebundene Ausgabe - 28. Juli 2010)

Unternehmen Barbarossa: Der deutsche Krieg im Osten von Christian Hartmann von Beck (Broschiert - 16. M�rz 2011)

Der deutsche Krieg im Osten 1941-1944: Facetten einer Grenz�berschreitung von Christian Hartmann, Johannes H�rter, Peter Lieb, und Dieter Pohl von Oldenbourg (Ledereinband - 16. September 2009)

Hitlers Heerf�hrer - Die deutschen Oberbefehlshaber im Krieg gegen die Sowjetunion 1941/42 von Johannes H�rter (Gebundene Ausgabe - 5. M�rz 2007)

Ein deutscher General an der Ostfront. Die Briefe und Tageb�cher des Gotthard Heinrici 1941/42. von Gotthard Heinrici und Johannes H�rter (Taschenbuch - Mai 2001)

Das belagerte Leningrad 1941-1944: Die Stadt in den Strategien von Angreifern und Verteidigern von J�rg Ganzenm�ller (Gebundene Ausgabe - 1. M�rz 2007)

Das Deutsche Reich und der Zweite Weltkrieg, 10 Bde., Bd.4, Der Angriff auf die Sowjetunion von Horst Boog, J�rgen F�rster, Joachim Hoffmann, und Ernst Klink (Gebundene Ausgabe - 1. Mai 1983)

Das Deutsche Reich und der Zweite Weltkrieg, 10 Bde., Bd.5/2, Organisation und Mobilisierung des deutschen Machtbereichs: Kriegsverwaltung, Wirtschaft und personelle Ressourcen 1942 - 1944/45 von Bernhardt R. Kroener, Rolf-Dieter M�ller, Hans Umbreit, und Milit�rgeschichtliches Forschungsamt (Gebundene Ausgabe - 1. Juli 1999)

Das Deutsche Reich und der Zweite Weltkrieg, 10 Bde., Bd.8, Die Ostfront - Der Krieg im Osten und an den Nebenfronten von Karl-Heinz Frieser, Klaus Schmider, und Klaus Sch�nherr (Gebundene Ausgabe - 2007)

An der Seite der Wehrmacht: Hitlers ausl�ndische Helfer beim �Kreuzzug gegen den Bolschewismus� 1941-1945 von Rolf-Dieter M�ller (Gebundene Ausgabe - 19. September 2007)

Die Herrschaft der Wehrmacht: Deutsche Milit�rbesatzung und einheimische Bev�lkerung in der Sowjetunion 1941-1944 von Dieter Pohl (Gebundene Ausgabe - 7. April 2008)

Das Deutsche Reich und der Zweite Weltkrieg, 10 Bde., Bd.10.1, Das Ende des Dritten Reiches � Der Zusammenbruch des Deutschen Reiches 1945 von Rolf-Dieter M�ller (Gebundene Ausgabe - 28. April 2008).

Regards

< Message edited by wosung -- 1/5/2011 6:27:40 PM >

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/5/2011 6:49:22 PM

Singleton Mosby

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I haven't seen anyone recommending Thunder on the Dnepr. I have been reading this book at the same time I have been playing the game and have to say they go very, very well together. Mind you, this book gives you a whole other view of Soviet strategy during '41 as "the authors claim that the failure of the Wehrmacht to conquer Russia during the campaign of 1941 was due to the brilliant planning of Marshals Zhukov and Timoshenko."

quote:

This book has caused me to re-evaluate my views of the 1941 part of the Great Patriotic War and my approach to creating a simulation of this campaign. The defense of the upper Dnepr has been documented in other books, but, that this defense was pre-conceived and not just spur-of-the-moment or last-ditch scrambling has never been made clear before now. I'm not sold on everything the author(s) contend. (E.g., rather than believe Pavlov was set up for failure, I'm more inclined to believe that Stalin allowed Zhukov and Timoshenko to start preparing a defense in depth in case Pavlov was wrong, which possibility showed up from the wargames, and/or in case the Germans struck while the Red Army was still being re-organized.) I perceive there were a number of reasons why the blitzkrieg failed in the Soviet Union. It is evident from the information in this book, that Soviet strategy for a defense in depth was a contributor.

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/5/2011 7:17:44 PM

Nikademus

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I'm not "officially" a player yet. (gotta fit WitE into the budget sometime this winter/spring) but right now i'm in the middle of Volume 2 of Glantz's massive 3 volume series on Stalingrad. Great read.....highly recommended. Explains and shows well how the Germans could hold off and routinely defeat their opponents despite the latter often having a great edge in material and men.

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/5/2011 10:48:20 PM

henri51

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quote:

ORIGINAL: henri51

To follow the war by use of maps, the West Point series (I forget the exact title-Iam at work...). is very good. I don't have the one on the Eastern Front, but the one on the Pacific War is excellent and although there is no text except for what is on the maps, the map explanations are very clear.There are accompanying textbooks that go with the map books, but I don't have any of them.

Henri

Edit: The book is "The West Point Atlas of the Second World War", and it is used to teach cadets at West Point. I found the Atlas of the Pacific War invaluable in playing WiTP-AE".

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/6/2011 6:44:23 AM

sanch

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"Russia at War", by Alexander Werth. Born in St. Petersburg, he was a correspondent in Moscow for much of the war. His viewpoint is pretty much that of the Russian people themselves. Not strong on military details, but very good on the flavor of the war from the Soviet side.

He took a road trip to the Chir River region in Feb, 1943. He was at a crossroads one night while the Russian army was streaming west after mopping up Stalingrad. His description of the bonfires for warmth and the trucks, horses, even camels all headed west and all loaded with stuff is something waiting to be put to film.

Also,"The 900 Days - the Siege of Lenngrad", by Harrison Salisbury. If you want to know what the starvation rule really means, this book is for you.

I also second "Hitler Moves East", by Paul Carell. I read it in high school, and several times since, as well as "Panzer Battles" by F.W. von Mellenthin.

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/6/2011 12:27:49 PM

abulbulian

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quote:

ORIGINAL: timmyab

Panzer Battles - Mellenthin
Mellenthin was the chief of staff of 48th panzer corp from late 1942 onwards so was very much in the thick of it.The first half of the book deals with his experiences in North Africa under Rommel.

+1 was a great read!

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/6/2011 12:38:10 PM

Fletcher

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Any one from Paul Carell, I can recommend that I have:

- Stalingrad
- Operation Barbarrosa (photo album)
- Scorched Earth

Best wishes
Fletcher

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/6/2011 2:09:36 PM

morganbj

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Fletcher

Any one from Paul Carell, I can recommend that I have:

- Stalingrad
- Operation Barbarrosa (photo album)
- Scorched Earth

Best wishes
Fletcher

quote:

Paul Carell

I also liked Carell's works. They're a little weak on the overall strategies involved, but excellent at ubderstanding what the guy with boots on the gound experienced. I also liked his books on Normandy and Afrika.

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/6/2011 3:36:36 PM

bwheatley

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quote:

ORIGINAL: timmyab

Panzer Battles - Mellenthin
Mellenthin was the chief of staff of 48th panzer corp from late 1942 onwards so was very much in the thick of it.The first half of the book deals with his experiences in North Africa under Rommel.

+1 one of my first reads years ago and it's an amazing book. He makes a point of talking about how tenacious the russians are. About the fact you must always destroy any Russian bridgeheads before night fall or the next day it will be unbreakable.

Another good read is "panzer commander" by hans von luck.

Good read
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=von+luck&x=0&y=0

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/6/2011 3:48:00 PM

CMoore

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This isn't exactly literature, but I got it years ago to help me while playing Avalon Hills Russian Front, dug it out again for AE, since my Pacific knowledge was always lacking, and now I always have it out with WITE

http://www.amazon.com/War-Maps-September-August-Battle/dp/0517664704/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1294328553&sr=8-1

quote:

ORIGINAL: Johnnie

War Without Garlands (Kershaw) is good for atmosphere, but doesn't contain much discussion of strategy. Main fault is few and inadequate maps. I can't imagine why an author or publisher would think an English speaking readership would have memorized a detailed map of European Russia (or would always have a Russian atlas conveniently at hand.) This is a common failing in military history which I could never understand (a pet peeve of mine.)

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/6/2011 4:12:46 PM

solops

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Bryan Fugate - Operation Barbarossa - 1984 - a 'revisionist' history done after the Soviets began opening their archives. Very good, maybe the best Barbarossa book. Recasts the entire 'look' of the eastern front. A 'must' read.

Timothy A. Wray - Standing Fast: German Defensive Doctrine on the Russian Front During World War II - 1986 - US Army War College - A facscinating and compelling re-evaluation of Hitler's "stand fast" order written by a professional military man for military men.

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/8/2011 12:02:42 AM

Skacee

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I have just went over something interesting about german tactics from U.S. War Department "Handbook On German Military Forces" on internet - http://mr-home.staff.shef.ac.uk/hobbies/doctrine.txt.

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/8/2011 3:34:21 PM

Rasputitsa

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Just finished - Barbarossa, The German Campaign in Russia, Planning and Operations (1940-1942) - Dr.R. Gordon Grant, small book, looks like a low budget production. Almost entirely from the German side, as the title suggests, reviews the planning process, Fuhrer Directives, OKH orders, memorandum and letters during the lead-up and execution of the 1941 and '42 campaigns.

Doesn't go into huge detail, but you don't often see these items set out in sequence, they are usually buried in much larger books and obscured by other details.

As WiTE player and with some hindsight you wonder what they were thinking about, the assumptions made, the changing of objectives and how out of touch these directives and orders became, especially in late 1941. It like watching a slow motion train wreck. The book also indicates how weak the majority of German units had become after the winter of '41 and how desperately short of everything they were.

Finally the command crisis in September 1942, when Hitler seems to realise that the war in Russia cannot be won and that, consequently, the war is lost.

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/9/2011 5:28:59 PM

dwyche

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The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer is an excellent personal account of the life of a landser in the Grossdeutschland division

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/9/2011 8:45:23 PM

Tullius

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In German is published das "Kriegstagebuch des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht" ("War Diary of the Wehrmacht High Command". It contains many interesting background informations. Generally all german titels shoud be read with a little distance. Sometimes the author was involved in events and historians are more interested in ideology and looking only for "proper" facts. Memories of russian generals were available in the former GDR (East Germany).

< Message edited by Tullius -- 1/9/2011 8:48:10 PM >

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/11/2011 10:07:05 AM

EisenHammer

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quote:

ORIGINAL: dlazov66

Has anyone read or have an opion on� Brian Taylor two volume set:

Barbarossa to Berlin Volume One: The Long Drive East: 22 June 1941 to November 1942
(Barbarossa to Berlin a Chronology of the Campaigns on the Eastern Front 1941-45) (Vol 1) - Brian Taylor

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1862272069/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=A1BLS9JEA2NMDL

Barbarossa to Berlin Volume Two: The Defeat of Germany: 19 November 1942 to 15 May 1945
(Chronology of the Campaigns on the Eastern Front 1941-45) - Brian Taylor

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/186227228X/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=AB892GDNBN4AE

I have both of them, as a chronology your not going to get any better than this anywhere. I found both books entertaining and mostly accurate. There are some mistakes but they are minor, the books give an excellent feel of how massive the War in the East really was. IMHO they are keepers.

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/11/2011 5:33:21 PM

Davekhps

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Just wanted to mention that my Amazon copy of Volume 1 of Glantz's new "Barbarossa Derailed" showed up this week.

This thing is HUGE. And it's only Volume 1! Volume 2 will continue the story, Volume 3 will be archival German and Soviet letters, orders, and memos, Volume 4 will be all newly-commissioned maps. It's extraordinary the level of effort put into this thing, Glantz has really taken it to the next level.

(And thankfully, a hundred pages in the book is far more readable than some of his denser efforts-- I'd say more "Kursk" than "Leningrad" or "Balkans.")

I'm shocked that a guy getting that far up there in age (he's nearing 70) can still be so prolific, but it's very welcome.

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/11/2011 8:31:42 PM

Swayin

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The Battle of Kursk by David Glanz
Blood Red Snow by Gunther Koschorrek
In Deadly Combat by Gottlob Bidermann
The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer
The 900 Days: the Siege of Leningrad by Harrison Saulsbury

Just a start ... enjoy!

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/13/2011 7:05:55 PM

Zebedee

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DRZW is excellent if aging in parts now. Glantz is enjoyable and has done wonders in making some of the Soviet records accessible to non-Russian speakers.

Tooze's Wages of Destruction provides critical understanding (in English) of the more recent research into the German war economy. For those who read German and wish to track this movement away from the Speer mythology, it's worth following up on his notes and bibliography.

Harrison's work on the SU economy (eg Accounting for War) is fairly groundbreaking in reconciling Soviet figures with outside guesstimations and suspicions.

Krivosheyev presents an interesting take on Soviet losses during the war in Soviet Casualties and Combat Losses in the Twentieth Century. Sometimes flawed in methodology as far as the Soviet figures are concerned (eg NKVD losses are usually not added in) and exceptionally erroneous as far as he touches upon German losses.

Creveld's Supplying War remains seminal in its coverage of logistics though it would be worth revisiting in the light of some of the more recent archival research.

For operational history, Ziemke and Bauer's works (eg Moscow to Stalingrad: Decision in the East[/i) are excellent. Note however they focus on the operational decisions and decision making processes although this provides for some interest contrasts to the post-war works of the German generals themselves.

Bergstrom's Barbarossa: The Air Battle July-December 1941 is superb on the time period covered. Murray's Strategy for Defeat remains the seminal overview of the LW at war, albeit one which is fraying badly round some of its edges.

< Message edited by Zebedee -- 1/13/2011 7:06:51 PM >

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/22/2011 7:14:50 AM

EisenHammer

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Michael Jones The Retreat: Hitler�s First Defeat, is a good book to read for Operation Typhoon.

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/22/2011 7:49:40 AM

randallw

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quote:

ORIGINAL: solops

Bryan Fugate - Operation Barbarossa - 1984 - a 'revisionist' history done after the Soviets began opening their archives. Very good, maybe the best Barbarossa book. Recasts the entire 'look' of the eastern front. A 'must' read.

That book is from about 1983-1984; the follow up, after the fall of the Iron Curtain and all that jazz, is Thunder On The Dnepr, which I have been reading lately. Bought a used copy on the internet with a gift certificate. Net cost under $1.

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RE: Recommended litterature for eastern front ? - 1/22/2011 9:57:41 AM

von Beanie

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There's a new (2010) book that is the daily diary of a German soldier who managed to survive the first three years of the war. It is called Eastern Inferno. I highly recommend it if you can handle all of the mutilation stories.

One thing that surprised me is that he described daily Russian strafing and bombing attacks as his division (299th) approached Kiev. I had always had the impression that the Russian air force was too weak to operate regularly just after the campaign began. He also described at least two Russian paradrop commando operations that summer against the division HQ. There's lots of incredible stories in this book. It is the best firsthand account of the eastern front since Guy Sager's The Forgotten Soldier, which I would also recommend.

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