Europe during WW 2

[random3434]

My daughter is starting to learn about this time in her AP Euro History class.


I love WW2 History, and love reading about all the 'behind the scenes' happenings with things like the French Resistance, the Underground, the OSS, etc.

Anyone else into WW2 History?

 

[California Girl]

She should speak to my Bro. He has an encyclopedic understanding of it... and has some awesome pics and stuff that he'd probably share with her.

 

[William Joyce]

Here's one for her reading list:

"The Origins of the Second World War", by A.J.P. Taylor.

Tell her also to check out what Charles Lindbergh had to say about WW2.

Or, Pat Buchanan's book, "The Unnecessary War."

Something tells me the AP Euro History teacher isn't going to allow those forbidden thoughts!

 

[RadiomanATL]

I was always a fan of the scientific research and way far out concepts they were trying to come up with. Many of which actually either worked, or would have worked if more time and energy were put in to the various projects.

 

[Blagger]

Apart from ancient and medieval, it's one of my favourite periods in history. It was such a turbulent and intriguing period, but a greater understanding of WWII can only be found by researching the inter-war period, that's where you'll uncover most of what drove Europe over the edge.

I have many books on the subject, but I can only guess that Echo Jnr would rather sit through my recommnedations available on DVD, rather than tackle some of the formidable tomes I possess on the subject.

1. The World at War. This 26 episode compendium covers every theatre of WWII, and is widely aknowledged to be the leading televisual resource. It was made in the '70s and contains a capturing blend of historical narrative and witness testimonies from both sides. [ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/World-At-War-Complete-Disc/dp/B00008WQ9Y"]Amazon link.[/ame]


2. Conspiracy. This HBO/BBC collaboration can only be described as bone chilling. It's a dramatization of the infamous Wannsee Conference that delves into the psychology of Nazi officials involved in the "Final Solution of the Jewish Question" during World War II. To an outsider it appears to be a very dull feature. But once you actually realsie what's being discussed, and the clinical indifference of the Nazi officials, you'll spend half your time spellbound by the sheer evil on display, and the other half hiding behind the couch. [ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Conspiracy-DVD-Clare-Bullus/dp/B0000AZVHM"]Amazon link.[/ame]


3. Hitler: The Rise of Evil. This mini-series explores Adolf Hitler's rise and his early consolidation of power during the years after WWI and focuses on how the embittered, politically fragmented and economically buffeted state of German society following the war made that ascent possible. [ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hitler-Rise-Evil-Mini-DVD/dp/B0000C669S"]Amazon link.[/ame]

 

[random3434]

Apart from ancient and medieval, it's one of my favourite periods in history. It was such a turbulent and intriguing period, but a greater understanding of WWII can only be found by researching the inter-war period, that's where you'll uncover most of what drove Europe over the edge.

I have many books on the subject, but I can only guess that Echo Jnr would rather sit through my recommnedations available on DVD, rather than tackle some of the formidable tomes I possess on the subject.

1. The World at War. This 26 episode compendium covers every theatre of WWII, and is widely aknowledged to be the leading televisual resource. It was made in the '70s and contains a capturing blend of historical narrative and witness testimonies from both sides. Amazon link.


2. Conspiracy. This HBO/BBC collaboration can only be described as bone chilling. It's a dramatization of the infamous Wannsee Conference that delves into the psychology of Nazi officials involved in the "Final Solution of the Jewish Question" during World War II. To an outsider it appears to be a very dull feature. But once you actually realsie what's being discussed, and the clinical indifference of the Nazi officials, you'll spend half your time spellbound by the sheer evil on display, and the other half hiding behind the couch. Amazon link.


3. Hitler: The Rise of Evil. This mini-series explores Adolf Hitler's rise and his early consolidation of power during the years after WWI and focuses on how the embittered, politically fragmented and economically buffeted state of German society following the war made that ascent possible. Amazon link.

Those are good, but she, like her mom, is an avid reader too.

What books would you recommend?

 

[Blagger]

Reccomended reading on the Nazis


The Coming of the Third Reich: How the Nazis Destroyed Democracy and Seized Power in Germany - Richard J Evans.

The Third Reich in Power, 1933 - 1939: How the Nazis Won Over the Hearts and Minds of a Nation - Richard J Evans.

The 'Hitler Myth': Image and Reality in the Third Reich - Ian Kershaw.

Backing Hitler: Consent and Coercion in Nazi Germany - Robert Gellately.

The German Dictatorship: Origins, Structure and Consequences of National Socialism - Karl Dietrich Bracher (I strongly reccomend this).


Books covering the resistance movement in Nazi occupied Europe.


America was largely unactive in this theatre. You're better off looking into Britain's involvement (SOE stands for Special Operations Executive, the forerunner of today's MI6).


SOE: An Outline History of the Special Operations Executive - M R D Foot.

SOE Agent: Churchill's Secret Warriors - Terry Crowdy.

 

[California Girl]

Reccomended reading on the Nazis


The Coming of the Third Reich: How the Nazis Destroyed Democracy and Seized Power in Germany - Richard J Evans.

The Third Reich in Power, 1933 - 1939: How the Nazis Won Over the Hearts and Minds of a Nation - Richard J Evans.

The 'Hitler Myth': Image and Reality in the Third Reich - Ian Kershaw.

Backing Hitler: Consent and Coercion in Nazi Germany - Robert Gellately.

The German Dictatorship: Origins, Structure and Consequences of National Socialism - Karl Dietrich Bracher (I strongly reccomend this).


Books covering the resistance movement in Nazi occupied Europe.


America was largely unactive in this theatre. You're better off looking into Britain's involvement.


SOE: An Outline History of the Special Operations Executive - M R D Foot.

SOE Agent: Churchill's Secret Warriors - Terry Crowdy.

Spooky, every one of those are books that my WWII history buff bro would recommend. Like you, he said that, in order to understand the conflict, Mini EZ should read up on the Third Reicht before the war to put it into context.

Weird.

 

[WillowTree]

To me the best book ever written on the subject is "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

 

[Blagger]

Remember when I used to pull your hair on the bus to school, California Girl...

 

[California Girl]

Remember when I used to pull your hair on the bus to school, California Girl...

I didn't catch the bus. Were you the kid I hit with a banana in Sister Paul's class?

 

[Modbert]

I'd recommend some books by Antony Beevor.

For books that take place around or during that time period by him:

The Battle for Spain: The Spanish Civil War 1936–39.

Stalingrad

Berlin: The Downfall 1945

D-Day: The Battle for Normandy

Paris After the Liberation, 1944–1949

He is a very detail heavy author, but they are all suppose to be excellent reads. I've read Stalingrad which was fantastic.

I'd also recommend:

The Complete Maus: A Survivor's Tale by Art Spiegelman

 

[Modbert]

Although it's fiction, I'd have to say a great read is Mother Night by Vonnegut. I know a lot of people who love Slaughterhouse Five, however I have to say my favorite by him is Mother Night.

 

[California Girl]

I'd recommend some books by Antony Beevor.

For books that take place around or during that time period by him:

The Battle for Spain: The Spanish Civil War 1936–39.

Stalingrad

Berlin: The Downfall 1945

D-Day: The Battle for Normandy

Paris After the Liberation, 1944–1949

He is a very detail heavy author, but they are all suppose to be excellent reads. I've read Stalingrad which was fantastic.

I'd also recommend:

The Complete Maus: A Survivor's Tale by Art Spiegelman

I read D-Day: The Battle for Normandy just before we went. Great book. Made the visit much more impactive to understand what happened before going.

 

[Modbert]

One other thing, a bit off-topic but if Mini Echo and you are avid readers of history then there are some other books I can recommend.

The Theodore Roosevelt Trilogy by Edmund Morris. Three of the most entertaining books I have ever read. The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, Theodore Rex, and Colonel Roosevelt.

I'm currently making my way through Colonel Roosevelt but it is an excellent read about perhaps the most interesting President in this country's history.

King Leopold's Ghost: The Plunder of the Congo & the 20th Century's First Great International Human Rights Movement by Adam Hochschild

John Adams by David McCullough

Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond.

Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond

The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History by John M. Barry

They're all actually fairly "long" reads (ranging from 400+ pages to over 800) and many are detail heavy but all are excellent.

 

[konradv]

My parents had an interesting perspective in the war living as teens in occupied Europe.

The invasion was less stressful than liberation, because the "blitzkrieg" was over in days, while liberation involved a longer period, including high altitude bombing that effected the civilian population more.

Young men were convinced to join the German Army to "fight Communism". They were never seen again, undoubtedly occupying unmarked graves on the Eastern front.

Dealing on the black market was a way of life. My mother's oldest brother was charged with going out to the farms with the family tobacco ration to trade for extra food. Whenever he was late they assumed he'd been picked up by a German patrol, but it was always a flat tire or hiding in the woods from a patrol. He made it through the war.

A major theme in my life growing up was that wasting food was a major sin. Whenever we'd be somewhere and saw food wasted, my parents would shake their heads and say, "Americans, it's because they've never been through a war". Apparently, whatever deprivation rationing may have imposed on the American people, it paled in comparison to what happens when enemy tanks roll down your street.

 

[editec]

Here's one for her reading list:

"The Origins of the Second World War", by A.J.P. Taylor.

Tell her also to check out what Charles Lindbergh had to say about WW2.

Or, Pat Buchanan's book, "The Unnecessary War."

Something tells me the AP Euro History teacher isn't going to allow those forbidden thoughts!

Haven't read Buchanan's book yet but it is on my to read list.

Responsibility for the German's having started the second world war really belongs to London and Paris, AFAIC.

There was NO excuse for Hitler's holcausts, of course, but given that the allies of WWI totally screwed Germany at the treaty of Versaillies, I am somewhat sympathetic to the German's complaints about being STABBED IN THE BACK.

Because they WERE stabbed in the back, folks.

When they signed the end of hostilities, they signed on to the general theme of Wilson's 14 points.

And then at the treaty every one of those 14 points was violated in the terms of the treaty.

The French and to a lesser degree the Brits made the second world war INEVITABLE.

 

[rightwinger]

I would have her watch episodes of Hogan's Heroes

 

[zzzz]

For younger folks history can be kinda of stale and uninteresting. I have found that one way of creating interest in a period or incident is having them read a historical novel of the time or incident. And for World War II the 2 novels by Herman Wouk, "The Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance" are very powerful historical novels. The movies made from the novels were not nearly as good. But reading these 2 novels gives a good understanding of what it was like to be in the war from several different perspectives. Beautifully written and the images and sense of desperation of the Holocaust as experienced by some of the characters were very sobering. These are not small books and reading them gives the reader a sense of knowing the characters that a movie cannot give you.

It is a historical fiction but a must read for everyone.

 

[ginscpy]

Lifes Picture History of WW2 - put out in the early 1950s (still topical) -probably the best single source for BIG ONE buffs. Not that there aren't a whole lot of others.................

Probably out of print today.