DColtman | 27 Aug 2022 3:46 a.m. PST |
Hi folks, looking for recommendations for books about the desert war – fiction or non-fiction – to help motivate two stalled wargaming projects. Something along the lines of Killing Rommel perhaps? Cheers Dave in London |
stephen m | 27 Aug 2022 4:32 a.m. PST |
I enjoyed Brazen Chariots myself. |
14Bore | 27 Aug 2022 4:41 a.m. PST |
The Battle for North Africa by W.G.F. Jackson |
Schogun | 27 Aug 2022 5:27 a.m. PST |
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4th Cuirassier | 27 Aug 2022 5:28 a.m. PST |
The Desert Generals by Corelli Barnett Alamein by Stephen Bungay Destiny in the Desert by Jonathan Dimbleby Crucible of War Vols 2 and 3 by Barrie Pitt |
Andrew LA | 27 Aug 2022 6:59 a.m. PST |
Pendulum of War – El Alamein by Nial Barr is excellent for wargamers. Lots of details about all the various battles after Gazala all the way to 2nd Alamein with maps etc For the Americans in Tunisia read An Army at Dawn by Rick Atkinson And a second vote for Barrie Pitts Crucible of War trilogy Brazen Chariots is very good if you are interested in a low level view of what is was like to command a tank |
robert piepenbrink | 27 Aug 2022 7:41 a.m. PST |
Deviating slightly from topic: if you read The Gods were Neutral, Brazen Chariots and then either Tank Action or Troop Leader, you get the range of WWII armor--in retreat and hardly even seeing the enemy (who has broken through elsewhere) in the first, in a very even battle in the second, and largely in Breakthrough/pursuit mode in the last two. Give us a range, Dave: are we fighting full-scale battles or trying to blow up a fuel dump? Anyway, allow me to add another American point of view--Combat Commander, by Robinet. He's actually commanding at regiment/combat command level in 1st US Armored Division. Relatively easy to get the hich command stuff, and there are a few "inside the turret" memoirs, but a lot of WWII wargames have about a brigade on a side, and suitable memoirs and histories are rare. |
DColtman | 27 Aug 2022 8:50 a.m. PST |
Thanks everyone – great suggestions! My two projects are skirmish and company/battalion scale, so really anything with western desert flavor to help motivate me to tackle the plastic/lead pile is welcomed! |
DColtman | 27 Aug 2022 8:52 a.m. PST |
I see that Audible has Iain Gale's Alamein in audio format. Has anyone read that? |
advocate | 27 Aug 2022 9:50 a.m. PST |
"Alamein to Zem Zem" by Keith Douglas is a wonderful memoir, but you might want to balance it with "An Englishman at War: The Wartime Diaries of Stanley Christopherson DSO MC & Bar 1939-1945", at least the desert sections. |
Korvessa | 27 Aug 2022 10:00 a.m. PST |
You could always watch old episodes of Rat Patrol! |
d88mm1940 | 27 Aug 2022 10:21 a.m. PST |
The old Ballantine's illustrated history of World War II books have a number of delightful, if dated, books about the war in the desert. As low as $5 USD on Amazon. |
Frederick | 27 Aug 2022 2:00 p.m. PST |
If you can find a copy, Sands of Valour by Geoffery Wagner – this is a very atmospheric book about a British armoured regiment; very authentic including class issues in the British army, the difficult relations between the Brits and Egyptians, the technical troubles with British cruiser tanks – great read |
Dave Jackson | 28 Aug 2022 5:51 a.m. PST |
can't argue with any of these good choices. |
Martin Rapier | 28 Aug 2022 7:39 a.m. PST |
I always found "Tobruk" by Field Marshal Lord Carver rather good. "With Rommel in the Desert" by Hans(?) Schmidt is also rather good. Alan Moorsheads "African Trilogy" |
TangoOneThreeAlpha | 28 Aug 2022 10:46 a.m. PST |
Hi Another vote for "With Rommel in the Desert" by Heinz Werner Schmidt, he was an aide to Rommel and then commanded a mixed company of anti-tank guns. Really good 'feel' for what it was like on the German side. Cheers Paul |
Marc33594 | 28 Aug 2022 12:46 p.m. PST |
On the lighter side, and there was a lighter side, two by Spike Milligan: Monty His Part In My Victory AND Rommel? Gunner Who? |
La Fleche | 28 Aug 2022 9:53 p.m. PST |
G Patrol by Michael Crichton-Stuart Desert Duel: New Zealand's land war in North Africa, 1940-43 by Matthew Wright Desert War: The Battle of Sidi Rezegh by Peter Cox |
jgawne | 29 Aug 2022 6:05 p.m. PST |
The Spike Milligan books are some of my favorite WW2 memoirs of all time. |
Andy ONeill | 09 Sep 2022 2:12 p.m. PST |
No love for the Don? Donald Featherstone's Tank Battles in Miniature Vol 1: A Wargaming Guide to the Western Desert Campaign 1940-1942 Borrow from a library or friend. Great in parts. |
AndreasB | 16 Sep 2022 6:34 a.m. PST |
The Battle for North Africa by W.G.F. Jackson +1 on this one, old but best 1-volume overview. All the best Andreas |