Jul 05, 2019 growing up in germany in the 1930s, gert schmitz was drafted into the hitler youth, witnessed the start of world war ii, and joined the luftwaffe by the time he was 17 years old. Knappe, along with ted brusaw, has recently written soldat, a book on his experiences in the german army from 1936 to 1949. Romania was annexed by germany without struggle, and after that happened, a german officer came to his barracks. If you look at the amazon page for it the link above, under customers who bought this item also bought, you can see many more related titles. Books about ww2 from a german perspective discussion in wwii started by wd forties, feb 17, 2012. A great summary of world war two from the german perspective. The classic novel of the second world war that relates in devastating detail the 24hour story of an allied bombing raid. He was another german like sulzbach proud of his wwi service but not of.
This recasting of the war from the german perspective has been largely. Set during world war ii in germany, markus zusaks groundbreaking new novel is. Front lines answers the question if women were soldiers, what would the war have been like and opens up a new perspective. I was wondering what good wwi books from the german perspective are available. He also addresses points of view from forced labor, camp inmates, and front line soldiers, but his primary focus is what and how the german population supported and lasted through the bitter end. Jun 25, 2018 this book highlights the atrocities committed by stalin during world war 2, which rival those of the germans towards the jews during the same time period. In exploring the reality of the landser, the average german soldier in world war ii, through letters, diaries, memoirs, and oral histories, stephen g. Professor sonke neitzel used secret transcripts of german prisoners of war to create a unique portrait of the mindset of soldiers during wwii. Feb 26, 2018 this post on world war ii books is sponsored by libby. Best book i have ever read about the war was a higher call. Top five wwii movies from the german perspective cinema.
What are some good books of world war 2 from a german soldiers view. This world war ii soldiers story is dedicated to all the medics who served for us in all wars. Walter koessler took almost 1,000 images while he served in the german. Both books capture, imo the most remarkable thing about ww2, the triumphant feeling and elation the german soldier felt at the beginning of the war to then be replaced. Jul 18, 2014 this summer marks the 100year anniversary of the start of world war i. Wwi books from german perspective if this is your first visit, be sure to check out the faq by clicking the link above. Id like to recommend two books on the second world war. By wibke bruhns 2008 decades after nazi armies began their march of conquest and genocide, the german children of the. Books on world war 2 most inspiring, heartbreaking and.
Thousands of movies have been made about world war ii nearly 6,000 movies listed in imdb mention wwii as one of their plot keywords. Here are 18 world war 2 books to add to your shelf. What are some good books of world war 2 from a german soldiers. Dont miss these 100 must read world war ii books, including fiction. View profile view forum posts private message senior member join date dec 1969. Whether youre a history buff wellversed in the events of the great war, or someone who has just begun to be curious, weve got a collection of books to help you navigate the complex, fearsome, and fascinating facts and stories.
This slim volume draws on letters purportedly written by soldiers of germanys sixth army from stalingrad shortly before their surrender in 1943. These novels set during the wwii era are some of the most inspiring, heartbreaking, and powerful reads you will ever encounter and each of them gives us a new perspective on the time. This summer marks the 100year anniversary of the start of world war i. German army veteran of world war ii remembers the eastern. I was never in the service but certainly have an appreciation for those who served. Nazi germany made increasingly aggressive territorial demands, threatening war if these were not met. Wwi books from german perspective gunboards dot com. Abby merrill my name is john and i am in the united states army serving all over europe and i am only 21 years old.
The memoirs of a german soldier on the eastern front by gunter k. It involved the majority of the world s nations, eventually forming two opposing military alliances. May 08, 2015 id like to recommend two books on the second world war. Oftentimes, we learn about the evils of the third reich but told from another perspective. It is absolutely necessary to consider other sources before one could say that a nearly complete understanding of world war ii from the german perspective had been gained. Memoirs of a tuskegee airman and pow by alexander jefferson and lewis carlson. For documentaries, see the list of world war ii documentary films and the. This book highlights the atrocities committed by stalin during world war 2, which rival those of the germans towards the jews during the same time period. Koschorrek in the series of articles, great ww2 books, we shall suggest some books. The war film or miniseries must be concerned with world war ii or the sinojapanese war and include events which feature as a part of the war effort. Growing up in germany in the 1930s, gert schmitz was drafted into the hitler youth, witnessed the start of world war ii, and joined the luftwaffe by the time he was 17 years old. The personal documents of these soldiers, most from the russian front.
Very few movies show the second world war from the perspective of nazi germany. In this installment, i learned about the war from the german perspective. My name is john and i am in the united states army serving all over europe and i am only 21 years old. Understanding world war ii through the eyes of german soldiers lse.
Jun 14, 2012 i got to interview a world war 2 vetran and heres what he had to say many more parts to come enjoy. For short films, see the list of world war ii short films. This book focuses on the german home front during the end of the war period, specifically from the perspective of the general citizenry. Okay this may seem a little odd, but i am looking for a romance novel set in the wwii era that preferably happens in germany or has to do with a german. Four siblings wrote hundreds of letters to each other during world war ii. The 9 most essential world war ii books americas military. As for the two ive read, keegans book is a good overview of world war one, but is not an all enclusive volume. The forgotten soldier by guy sajer a member of the grossdeutchland division on the eastern front. Soldiers perspective a world war ii soldiers story. What are the best childrens books on the second world war. An incredible true story of combat and chivalry in the wartorn skies of world war ii if i could. German soldier speaks about world war 2 terranitup. Understanding world war ii through the eyes of german soldiers.
Fritz provides the definitive account of the everyday war of the german front soldier. Those who could, including my grandfather, were given a choice to join the german army, or stay in the. German soldiers who took part in operation barbarossa, hitlers 1941 invasion of soviet russia. The second half gives the chronological events of the war. His country suffered at least 20 million casualties in world war ii, which took a global toll of about 70 million. The museums russia section features german maps and reconnaissance books for the invasion of the soviet union, a strong selection of posters, weapons, relics from stalingrad that include a german soldiers winter outfit, and. Stalingrad follows a platoon of wehrmacht soldiers as theyre transferred from sunny north africa to the eastern front, and shows the platoons descent into despair and death as the tide of war turns against them. German soldiers of world war ii institute for historical. The soviet union the international museum of world war ii. On late notice, i need a book with war and battle in it. Are there any good books on ww2 from the germans point of. Only in recent years has a more nuanced view emerged, as represented in films like downfall and the recent television series generation war, both of. Then instruct students to take a virtual field trip of the united states world war ii museum.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. There are a number of books in english, and in german for example, by the german sociologist harald wenzler that are crucial and more critical. Almost all of them were made from the point of view of the allied forces. Not to be confused with another novel with a similar name, this book is amazing, enriching, and well worth a read.
The soviet soldier had nothing to gain or prove by dying for the motherland so late in the war. The german soldiers of world war ii have often been portrayed, both during the war and in the decades since, as simpleminded, unimaginative and brutish. Are there any good books on ww2 from the germans point of view. While ive been away ive been occupied reading before i started hitler and his generals with john keegans the first world war and lyn macdonalds 1914. Even so, losses among the three red army fronts involved in the operation from april 16 to may 8 totaled more than 300,000 menover 10 percent of their total strength. One of these is 1993s stalingrad, which depicts the battle from a german perspective. Alois dwenger, writing from the front in may of 1942, complained that people forgot the actions of simple soldiers. World war ii is also known as the second world war. Reflections of a german soldier, 19361949 by siegfried knappe is also a great book. Germany signed a nonaggression pact with the soviet union and invaded poland on 1 september 1939, launching world war ii in europe. I read the first 2 parts of solider stories and i enjoyed them. One german soldier who fought during the battle for berlin was siegfried knappe. For many decades after the end of world war ii wwii, a broad popular narrativereinforced through thousands of films and bookscast the german military as unthinking tools of nazi ideology. The photos are superb, all the items are original and the chosen uniforms diverse enough to make you the reader, well breathless with every turn of the page.
The story they tell of service, sacrifice and trauma was hidden away in an abandoned storage unit until now. I believe that true heroism lies in bearing this dreadful everyday life. Fritz does an impressive job of detailing what war was like for the average german soldier on the front lines in world war ii. Jan 15, 2005 many veterans have told many stories at the world war ii history roundtable at fort snelling, but never from this perspective. Paper wars drawn from letters, diaries and memoirs, this impressive study presents a rounded, detailed picture of the daily life of the landser. Wwi books from german perspective anyone know of some good wwi books written from the german perspective. The world war ii generation was indeed very special as are all those who risk their lives for america. The german perspective history of world war ii study program. Remembering world war i with 10 astounding books barnes. He does a great job of bringing together numerous personal letters, diaries, and memoirs into a comprehensive, wellorganized, and highly readable account. As the title says, im looking for books from the germans perspective during world war ii. What are some good books of world war 2 from a german. Oct 03, 2018 this series of books on world war 2 follows three girls who have their reasons for fighting. Macdonalds book covers the opening months of the war from the briitsh veterans position.
They discover the roles that define them on the front line in the war. Both books capture, imo the most remarkable thing about ww2, the triumphant feeling and elation the german soldier felt at the beginning of the war to then be replaced by the creeping feeling of doom as the tide of war turned. I signed up for this war to pay back the respect for people who have fought and died fighting for our freedom. War stories with a twist a german soldiers perspective star tribune january 15, 2005 chuck haga posted on 01152005 5. Then again, german children usually visit holocaustrelated places at least twice before they finish school, so maybe that does more than any statement condemning the german people in full for world war ii and the final solution to prevent another war or. Whether youre a history buff wellversed in the events of the great war, or someone who has just begun to be curious, weve got a collection of books to help you navigate the complex, fearsome, and fascinating facts and stories of the devastating conflict that shook the world. One of the few memoirs of combat in world war ii by a distinguished africanamerican flier, this book is also perhaps the only account of the africanamerican experience in a german prison camp. Walter warda, a soldier in the german army during world war ii, was captured by the red army in 1944 and held in soviet pow camps until 1950. The culmination of five years worth of research, craigs sweeping historical narrative brings to life the brutal siege of stalingrad, a grueling battle between german and soviet forces that lasted from august 1942 to february 1943, resulted in nearly 2 million casualties. I dont like books that are overwrought or the cover something common. Interview with world war ii german officer siegfried knappe. Koschorrek fought a desperate battle against the russians on the eastern front, he was secretly making a diary of his horrific experiences. An incredible true story of combat and chivalry in the wartorn skies of world war ii if i could only own one book about the war it would be that one. Stephen fritz examines nearly every imaginable aspect of the life of the average german landser during the second world war.
Which wwii movie, made from a nazi german point of view. World war, 19391945personal narratives, german, world war ii. Hundreds of fascinating images taken by a german soldier reveal life in enemys trenches. It was the most widespread war in history, and directly involved more than 100 million people from over 30 countries. By downloading libby to your smartphone, you can access thousands of ebooks and audiobooks from your library for free anytime and anywhere. And the reallife dramas of the hellhole that was stalingrad, recorded on scraps of paper and handed over to his mother on his trips home through. The bestknown is probably the forgotten soldier by guy sajer. Ask them to write a tribute to their relative that might be an appropriate reading to commemorate veterans day at the world war ii museum. At the time of the battle, he was a major and the operations officer of the lvi panzer corps.
The first half of the book talks about the soldiers and their trainingperformance. Dec 06, 2017 four siblings wrote hundreds of letters to each other during world war ii. The culmination of five years worth of research, craigs sweeping historical narrative brings to life the brutal siege of stalingrad, a grueling battle between german and soviet forces that lasted from august 1942 to february 1943, resulted in nearly 2 million casualties, and turned the tide of war against hitlers regime. Make your next great read one of these essential world war ii books.