I’m looking for some good books on military conflicts (wars, armed uprisings, rebellions) during the 20th century. I really enjoyed “Black Hawk Down”, and am currently enjoying a book entitled “The Soviet-Afghan War.” Furthermore, I plan to pick up the book “Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege” by Antony Beevor soon, and possibly his other book on WWII entitled “The Fall of Berlin 1945.”
So, any recommendations? I’d like to get on the American-Vietnam War, but diversity of subjects is also appreciated. Thanks.
If you don’t mind a fictionalized account of the Vietnam Conflict, try reading the Rolling Thunder series by Mark Berent. They’re out of print so your best bet would be the library.
Right nowI am working through “The Tsar’s Last Armada.” I’ll let you know how it is if I finish it. I have a bad habit of starting books while in the middle of others.
I will recommend “Gallipoli” by Alan Moorehead as a fine example of how to write about a campaign.
I reccommend the trilogy of books by Cornelis Ryan. “The Longest Day.”. “The Last Battle.” and “A Bridge too Far”
Also the highly readable works to Walter Lord “Day of Infamy” about Pearl Harbor. “Incredible Victory” the battle of Midway and “The Miracle of Dunkirk” Mr Lord died last week and we lost one of the greats.
“The Good War” by Studs Terkel - a collection of oral accounts of WW2 from combatants, civilians, brass, scientists and politicians from all. He just lets them tell their stories, and it`s completely enthralling.
“The Price of Glory” by Alistair Horne – Story of the battle of Verdun, and one of the best military books ever written. Horne also wrote some fine books on the Franco-Prussian War and on Napoleon, though they’re 19th Century. His book on the fall of France in 1940 is OK.
“The Great Anglo-Boer War” by Byron Farwell – just barely qualifies as a 20th Century war, it is a fine account of military incompetence. I recall one general who, in three instances, was in a position to destroy the Boer forces and win the battle, and, in each case, was ordered by his commander to withdraw.
An very readable account of one of General Patton’s more effective armor commanders, and the man who organized the defense of St.Vith, denying the German army the most crucial road junction during the Battle of the Bulge.
War as I Knew It by Gen. George S. Patton, a well-written memoir of Patton’s exploits during WW II.
Panzer Battles by Maj. Gen. von Mellathin (think that’s how you spell the author’s name), an account of WW II by the highest German general to fight on all fronts during the war.
James F. Dunnigan has also written several good books on war in the 20th Century.