Hello Dioramartin,
this post is a bit old, are you still active? This is a book we used in my hometown. Really nice copy. Best regards
2 Likes
Last time I checked I am still active - which book do you mean, I’ve posted a few on this looooong thread. Drawing on right side etc.?
1 Like
Though not updated daily, this post is still alive and kicking…
After finishing the last part of the history of the 504th PIR, I started the following book:
A interesting read which gives insight in the prodeedings during the Ardennes Offensive (aka the battle of the bulge) from the German side, collated by the allied intelligence units…
4 Likes
O’Brian doesn’t conform to the norms of such novels, I seem to recall there is one in the series which doesn’t even have a major ship-to-ship engagement, let alone the mandatory climactic one. What I especially love is the humour wound into the narrative in a naturalistic manner; the job lot of cheap powder bought from a bankrupt fireworks factory for use in gunnery practice is a case in point…
Cheers,
M
2 Likes
The original title was „Jetzt gehe ich in die Schule“
that was your text:
From time to time I look at this charming little book “Now I go to School” on my miscellaneous bookshelf…
It was given to me in 1979 by the widow of a British soldier who came home in 1945, you may have noticed it was published in 1938. I wonder a lot of things about it, including how many other copies still exist
My two grandmothers learned to read with this book during World War II. The book was certainly only published in a very small edition—the district isn’t very large, and at that time, there were many small publishers.
I saw this book once, but unfortunately it was destroyed.
Best regards
1 Like
OK thanks Captain now I understand – this goes back to post #28 in this thread.
I’m surprised you say it was a small edition, I had assumed it was printed in vast numbers throughout Germany from around 1937 to 1944 (?). So presumably the main text was distributed to local publishers – perhaps with additional local content – and printed in relatively small editions.
I would think most were destroyed after the war for obvious reasons, but maybe a few still survive – quietly kept for personal childhood nostalgia rather than ideological reasons.
1 Like
Tank Combat in Spain by Anthony J. Candil
I purchased this last year and finished it about two weeks ago. The author was an armor officer in the Spanish Army, later moving to the United States. The book began as a series of history presentations for a local club. He later assembled and expanded those presentations into this book.
Unfortunately, given the gestation process of the book, it reads like a series of presentations with a large degree of overlap from section to section rather than a singular, unique narrative that builds over time towards a final analysis. The author offers his final analysis many times, in every section, but it made no sense to me.
There is much useful information, especially with regards tank deliveries over time to both sides. Every so often the author hints at something very interesting like the process of maintaining tanks, their operational characteristics in the hands of often inexperienced troops, the process of recovering and repairing enemy tanks for reuse, and tactics for defeating tanks, but commentary from contemporary soldiers and deeper examination of these subjects is rarely offered.
The book contains a short section of small pictures. In terms of presentations, they are not especially good. Most major figures from the narrative are not represented in this picture section.
The book does not contain significant technical information on the vehicles and guns involved. You will need to consult other sources for that sort of thing.
After reading this book, it becomes clear that a really good exploration of this subject needs to cover anti-tank guns, anti-tank infantry tactics, and air force operations against tanks. It needs to delve into the political situation in greater detail. It needs to provide detailed information, maps, and timelines for major battles.
Based on the bibliography, the book relies heavily on secondary sources. In my opinion, the author is somewhere in the late college stage of writing history.
In essence, this is a four or five fold repeated gloss of a much better book the author has yet to write.
5 Likes
This is on Netflix at the moment as a film, set in an alternate timeline. I would agree it is quite dark in places.
3 Likes
The Brad Pitt character is not in the book. In the book it is only the girl and the yellow robot. And the shotgun…
2 Likes
Hopefully the book is better than the movie. The movie had potential…
1 Like
Here is a review of The Electric State if you are interested.
2 Likes
Fighting Churchill, Appeasing Hitler by Adrian Phillips
This history book tells the story of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, his close friend and head civil servant, Treasury Minister Horace Wilson, and their policy of appeasement toward Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini as a means to prevent World War II. Many businessmen, civil servants, diplomats, and politicians, mostly British, are described and feature in the course of events. The primary thesis is that Treasury Secretary Wilson, a political novice acting as Prime Minster Chamberlain’s most trusted advisor, contributed greatly to cause World War II.
Events proceed in mostly chronological order with some meanderings to describe tangential topics of interest in more detail. There are a lot of people on this stage, a lot of things happening that contribute to the overall situation, and the author does not always provide the reader with enough information to keep them distinct. In some cases, the author is insulting to the players and this shatters any illusion of objectiveness. Even so, the writing is generally colorful, well edited, well paced, and moves things along. You will need to read the book for yourself to decide if the thesis is correct.
A book like this demonstrates that many people, often through seemingly innocuous actions, push along the arrow of history. Change one person, one attitude, one meeting, one decision, and the whole thing could all go very differently. I will not be surprised if, 50 years from now, a future historian writes a very similar book about world events in the 2020s.
6 Likes
Doug, that’s a fantastic book review! Thank you for sharing the objective facts about the book and providing context!
Does the author address the “theory” that Chamberlain’s “appeasement actually bought enough time” for the UK get prepared for was coming and ultimately lead to the allies prevailing?
The books and writings on the 2020’s will no doubt provide much entertainment to folks reading about them in ~2045 to 2075.
4 Likes
Thank you. I enjoy writing but am not very skilled so little efforts like this one are attempts to improve through practice. Oh, hey…just like model building!
The author expends considerable effort attempting to dismiss the, “buying time”, explanation of events as something fabricated after appeasement failed to save political careers and reputations. The subject is addressed many times, right up until the closing pages of the book taking place some months after war is declared, showing that appeasement was still on offer to the dictators even at that late date, not as a means to gain time, but as a way to end the war before it really got started for Britain and France.
Unlike many reviewers, I would not categorize this book as the definitive history of appeasement. The subject is far too big for a single, 400 page book. An immense number of relevant historical threads weave together to form World War II. For me, the author comes across as biased and that makes me wonder what he left out to support his viewpoint. However, the book is definitely well researched, contains much useful information, and showcases how easily human beings can mislead and misread one another, often times to save face, pursue selfish goals, or just because of personal obtuseness.
Yes, I am overwriting my response to you. More practice, I guess.
3 Likes
Great reply Doug, I appreciate the details.
Thank you!
Thanks Doug an excellent review. In order to write a book about WW2 (and crucially, make a dollar), several million books and 80 years later, I guess an author either has to dig up undiscovered first-hand/source documents, or come up with some revisionist theory. Not sure which category Phillips falls into.
If one considers Chamberlain’s awful situation, and in particular not knowing the future then, I don’t think he was either stupid or weak. From his perspective (and having served in WW1), uppermost was that he didn’t want to lose another million+ young men. And UK was effectively bankrupt, and way under-prepared for another full-scale war. And so was France which was (fairly logically) where another war would be fought. Chamberlain needed the French to be ready to push into Germany if war was declared. As we know the French had even less appetite for another conflict than the UK, they were 100% in defensive mode and morale was rock bottom.
Add to that the threat from Italy – as it turned out a largely on-paper threat, but who knew that in the late 1930’s? Based on Russia’s performance in WW1 Chamberlain couldn’t rely on Stalin to hold the line either, he too was in appeasement mode trying to build up his army…having just wiped out most of its senior commanders.
Personally I don’t think Chamberlain had any viable options but to play for time & hope Hitler was overthrown, which meant sacrificing Czechoslovakia et al.
6 Likes
I am in Operation Musketeer from David Lee Corley
A very good read.
1 Like