WW2 book reviews

2017-11-20 An exceptional read. Far more detailed and personal than anything I’ve read so far. The one criticism is that it is clearly a novelization: which on the one hand means it is very well written, with good structure, superb descriptions, and close character engagement – but on the other, never explains how someone who claims to know little German could record so many German... Continue reading

2017-11-07 An interesting story of an RAF mechanic who spent WWII mainly in the North Africa and Italy – usually uncomfortably close to the front lines. It’s rich with anecdotes and accounts of war, which is what most readers will want – the difference being that there’s more of a working class perspective here, which especially becomes noticeable when faced with pettiness from officers. Rating:... Continue reading

2017-08-21 One of the most dramatic accounts of the WWII autobiographies I’ve read. Additionally, it allowed a real insight into the views of the German soldier of the time, instead of trying to whitewash it out with apologetics. The only negative is that it only really takes place over the last year of WWII, so it’s unfortunately limited and relatively short by comparison to some... Continue reading

2017-07-30 An interesting study of the Gestapo from remaining source materials, which mainly covers routine police and investigative work. In that regard it’s highly recommended and thorough in its coverage, and it’s put me onto a few interesting titles and autobiographies for further research. However, the one big criticism is that it is unable to describe in any real detail the relationship between the Gestapo... Continue reading

2017-06-03 I picked this up because I wanted to find out more about life in Soviet Russia, and while there is some fine detail here, there wasn’t as much as I’d hoped. At times it could be a bit rambling, and could have been better structured to flow better. However, I appreciate it wasn’t written to be widely read. Probably it’s strongest point was giving... Continue reading

2017-01-29 Another interesting WWII memoir from the British side, this time from within the Royal Navy. Having read a few accounts already centred on the North Africa campaign, it was interesting to see details outside of what I’d already read – not least the RN’s criticism of the lack of RAF, which mirrors a lot of German criticisms about the Luftwaffe. There’s a strong sense... Continue reading

2017-01-29 Feebery’s laconic humour and clear detail shine through. As a biography it is a decent and enjoyable read. However, as a WWII biography some people may find its appeal limited – except from a short stint in German-occupied France after D-Day, he never really saw action. So while he’s involved in a lot of preparations and minor incursions, this is more a soldier’s account... Continue reading

2017-01-29 I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one – an autobiography of an artilleryman didn’t seem to promise, but again, I bought it for just 99p. What I got was one of the most amazing and detailed WWII accounts I’ve read to date. Over half of the book is involved in the early years of the North African campaign, first fighting just the... Continue reading

2017-01-29 I’ve been reading a number of WWII autobiographies from German soldiers. When I saw this, and a string of similar ones for just 99p, I decided to take a punt. And I’m glad I did – it turns out this was a book I’d chased after before. However, previously it was only available as a very expensive paperback. The account overall is interesting and... Continue reading

2017-01-29 Once a Hussar ended abruptly when Ray Ellis reached home and docked at Liverpool, but there was clearly more story to tell and I was eager to hear it. It started off powerfully enough, with his growing sense of disillusionment, poor treatment by the British Army, and suffering from PTSD. This is something all too important but often missing from WWII military autobiographies, and... Continue reading