 Artilleryman  | 03 Dec 2023 10:18 p.m. PST |
The problem with an enthusiasm for history is that you soon know 'how the story ends' whether you are at Waterloo or Stalingrad. That's the big picture at least. Reading novels set in history allows entertainment and some suspense as a good book will not reveal the (fictional) characters' fates until the end. In my time I have found some excellent novels on the Napoleonic Wars and the Second World War. The problem is that though the former are happy to give accounts from both sides, the latter conflict is a problem if you want the German viewpoint. British and American military stories are relatively easy to come by and can be very good. Trying to find a realistic balanced 'German' novel is more difficult. I do not want one where the Germans are all unadulterated swine with officers who behave in a way that would have had them shot by their own men as soon as the opportunity presented itself. Neither do I want one where the 'heroes' are all anti-Nazis who know nothing of the wrongs and atrocities being perpetrated. You get the picture I hope. The best purely military novels I have read are 'The Guardian' by Sacha Carnegie about a battalion commander in Italy (my favourite) and the 'Willing Flesh' (filmed as 'Cross of Iron') by Willi Heinrich. Both written by ex-soldiers. The Otto Fisher novels by Jim McDermott show a lot of promise but are really detective novels. So can anyone recommend novels about the German military at war which have a reasonable military accuracy and a good style? I would be most grateful. |
| DisasterWargamer | 03 Dec 2023 10:40 p.m. PST |
Perhaps a biography – like Tiger Ace – by Simpson |
 Dye4minis | 03 Dec 2023 11:22 p.m. PST |
May I suggest "Panzer Truppen 2" by Thomas L. Jentz. It primarily is translations of commanders official reports and their experience. You would learn about the frustrations of Panzer leaders under the command of Infantry officers who really do not understand the roles and capabilities of the armored force. You also will get an understanding of maintaining the vehicles and the logistical problems to keep them running. While NOT a novel, it is based upon actual happening written/translated from actual German combat leaders. Volume 1 is about the creation of the Panzer units. Another by the same author is "Tank Combat in North Africa- The Opening Rounds" It covers Operations Sonnenblume, Brevity, Skorpion and Battleaxe, Feb 1941- June 1941. Covers Allied tanks as well. Cut to the chase and give these a try. The truth is stranger than fiction. They are easy reads with stats taking up enough room in the books to act as a highly reputable reference source. Hope this helps. |
| Artilleryman | 04 Dec 2023 12:16 a.m. PST |
Though I am really after fiction, both these ideas are good for a separate pursuit. Thanks. |
| Eumelus | 04 Dec 2023 4:57 a.m. PST |
How about "The Forgotten Soldier" by Guy Sajer? link |
| RittervonBek | 04 Dec 2023 5:35 a.m. PST |
the Gunner Asch series by Hans Helmut Kirst is worth a look at. |
| Kuznetsov | 04 Dec 2023 5:55 a.m. PST |
War of the Rats: a.co/d/e5qQKjF In a similar vein, but not quite what you asked for — Days of Infamy is a 2-part novel about a fictional Japanese invasion and occupation of Hawaii: a.co/d/0j6BnIy |
| forrester | 04 Dec 2023 5:55 a.m. PST |
There's always Sven Hassel |
| Deucey | 04 Dec 2023 6:09 a.m. PST |
DC used to have a comic called Blitzkrieg. I had issue 1 as a kid. I'm not sure how long it ran. |
| jdpintex | 04 Dec 2023 6:21 a.m. PST |
Another vote for the Gunner Asch series |
| Raynman | 04 Dec 2023 8:52 a.m. PST |
Problem is you cannot find the Gunner Asch books! |
| Frederick | 04 Dec 2023 10:00 a.m. PST |
While not a novel, The Forgotten Soldier is great The Bernie Gunther series includes books with his service as a Feldgendarme – great books link |
| BuckeyeBob | 04 Dec 2023 10:06 a.m. PST |
Gunner asch books are on Amazon, both used hardbound and paperbacks. |
| rmaker | 04 Dec 2023 12:44 p.m. PST |
Look into James Benn's Billy Boyle series. |
| Porthos | 04 Dec 2023 1:19 p.m. PST |
"Gunner Asch" can be found under the author's name: Hans Helmut Kirst. The trilogy is called 08-15.Another book of him (translated) is "Officer Factory". |
| Martin Rapier | 06 Dec 2023 2:39 a.m. PST |
Charles Whiting wrote a short series of novels about a fictional unit, SS Assault Company 'Wotan', but they were pretty dreadful. Similar to Sven Hassel, but worse! Some of Len Deighton books cover things from a German pov, or at least a mix of German/British. I'm mainly thinking of "Winter" which covers a German family from 1899 to 1945, and his outstanding "Bomber" which includes characters ranging from night fighter pilots to Organisation Todt civil defence teams. |
| Artilleryman | 06 Dec 2023 8:47 a.m. PST |
Some good recommendations there. I will look them out. Thanks to all. |
looks at more open-topped German artillery vehicles.
