The_ww2_library

BOOK REVIEW: “The one that got away”. During the Battle of Britain, Luftwaffe Ace Franz von Werra was shot down over England and quickly taken prisoner by a searchlight battery. This book is the story of his 2 escapes in England and a 3rd escape from a prisoner of war train in Canada where he is subjected to terrible weather and injury. Von Werra’s story was first published in the early 50’s and gives a great German perspective. James Leasors writing is great using Von Werra’s personal account and those of others that took part in this story to tell a well put together read. You can find out more about this great book and more at

German swords of World War II, a photographic reference. This is Volume 1: Army. 2 other volumes follow this.
This is a detailed reference guide to German Swords of WW2. With detailed photographs of the swords themselves,their design, portepees and the wearers military decorations. It is a brilliant reference of photographs all in one place. I also was glad to see some of the original maker advertisements.
A great reference guide for Army Swords of the Reich. For other services, see volume 2 - Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, SA, SS and 3 - DLV, Diplomats, Customs, Police and Fire, Justice, Mining, Railway etc. published by
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has sent in another suggestion that he highly recommends. “Burning Steel”.
This is the story of a tank regiment: the 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in the Second World War. Raw and visceral personal recollections from the men themselves recall some of the most dramatic and horrific scenes imaginable - the sheer nerve-wracking tension of serving in highly inflammable Sherman tanks, the sudden impact of German shells, the desperate scramble to bail out, and the awful fate of those who couldn’t. Even if they made it out of the tank, they were still vulnerable to being brutally cut down by German infantry.
Yet amidst these horrors, the humanity of these men shines through. And as we follow in their tracks, through letters, diaries and eye-witness accounts, they will change how we think about tank warfare forever.

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In the darkest months of the Second World War, Churchill approved what seemed to many like a su***de mission. Under orders to attack the St Nazaire U-boat base on the Atlantic seaboard, British commandos undertook “the greatest raid of all”, turning an old destroyer into a live bomb and using it to ram the gates of a N**i stronghold. Five Victoria Crosses were awarded — more than in any similar operation.

Drawing on official documents, interviews, unknown accounts and the astonished reactions of French civilians and German forces, The Greatest Raid recreates in cinematic detail the hours in which the “Charioteers” fought and died, from Lt Gerard Brett, the curator at the V & A, to “Bertie” Burtinshaw, who went into battle humming There’ll Always be an England, and from Lt Stuart Chant, who set the fuses with 90 seconds to escape, to the epic solo reconnaissance of the legendary Times journalist Capt Micky Burn.

Unearthing the untold human stories of Operation Chariot, Bridge of Spies author Giles Whittell reveals it to be a fundamentally misconceived raid whose impact and legacy was secured by astonishing bravery.
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Many of you asked for this book to be translated to English so you could enjoy it yourselves. Well, now Adrian Matthes has done it and here it is. Gerhard Femppel, born in Stuttgart in 1925, came from a modest background. From an early age, he was in pursuit of a career and, based on his achievements, was accepted at a NAPOLA-school. He voluntarily reported to the Waffen-SS at the age of 16 and was promoted to SS-Untersturmführer in record time. From December 1944, he was appointed platoon leader in the armoured division ‘Das Reich’ and later deployed as company commander. As a pioneer, he fought together with the SS regiments ‘Der Führer’ and ‘Deutschland’ on the Eastern and Western front. He experienced the battlegrounds of the last years of war against the enemy, firstly in the Ardennes Offensive, later in Hungary and finally in the battle for Vienna. During his time of service, he was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class, the Close Combat Clasp, the ‘Tank Buster’ sleeve stripe and the General Assault Badge.
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Number 1 in my A HIGHER CALL. This is an amazing true story and clearly, as my number 1 WW2 book it should be on your reading list. This is the story of Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler and a fateful day when their paths crossed for the first time. It follows Luftwaffe Pilot Franz Stigler through his life and helps build the story behind why he came to let the B-17 of Charlie and his crew survive the war when the reality was that he had every opportunity to destroy them. Adam Makos’ writing is amazing, he is a master storyteller and he weaves the stories of the men into a brilliant narrative of their lives and the war. There are so many things to love about this book. I have honestly read this a dozen times or more and have bought more copies than I can count for friends and family. Franz was an incredible pilot and his story is fascinating. Mixing it with the big brass like Adolf Gallant and the best Aces of the Luftwaffe he was a true veteran flying an astonishing number combat missions. He later joined Gallant in the forming of JV-44 which was made up of the best Luftwaffe fighter aces and Gorings' outcasts where they flew ME-262’s in battle as part of the final dying breaths of the Luftwaffe in WW2. If you haven't read it you really should, if you already have, then read it again, it is brilliant, it is my number 1 WW2 book.

Number 2 in my PARACHUTE INFANTRY. David Webster was a fantastic writer and is able to describe his WW2 experiences in amazing detail, you can almost picture the battlefield in Holland or the half destroyed house they use as an OP in Haggenau. Webster was there and was part of the fighting first hand with the rest of E Co. and the 101st. He writes with such clarity and purpose that you are drawn into the lives of the Easy Company men and all that they endured during the war. For such a well known unit this book will add more information and perspectives for fans of the Band of Brothers series. This book is an amazing look at a paratroopers life on the frontline in WW2 and is delivered with such richly detailed and descrptive writing. A definite must for anyone with an interest in WW2.

Number 3 in my THE BEDFORD BOYS. This amazing book is about the 19 young men from Bedford, Virginia who died in the first wave of the assault on Omaha Beach on D-Day. They were from A Company of 116th Regiment of the 29th Infantry Division. AS the battle progressed more Bedford Boys would come to die fighting the Germans in Europe. This book is written from the accounts of survivors and the families and friends of those who fell in battle and it is hard to put down once you’ve started. Its writing is well researched, gripping and filled with sorrow all at the same time. The stories of men's lives cut short to fight for the freedom of people in a foreign country are heroic and tragic. It also covers the home front and the impact on a small community as it deals with losing so many of its boys. Fantastic and one everybody should be reading.

Number 4 in my PEGASUS BRIDGE. This is an amazing book and Stephen Ambrose does an brilliant job in telling the story of Major John Howard and D Company of the Ox & Bucks. This small group of Paras landed in Gliders at the Orne River and canal bridges in a coup de main operation on D-Day. The Orne River and canal bridges at Benouville were crucial to the success of the British bridgehead on D-Day and beyond. This is truly an amazing moment in history. The people in this book pulled off an amazing operation, Jim Wallwork who landed his Glider within meters of the objective, Maj. John Howard who led his men in their training and in the assault. And sadly Den Brotheridge, arguably the first D-Day casualty. This book is fantastic and if you haven't read it, you should grab a copy today. You'll be yelling Ham and Jam too..!!

Number 5 in my THE JERSEY BROTHERS. The story of 3 brothers journey through the war is beautifully put together, Sally Mott Freemans' research has been thorough and her storytelling is superb. With all 3 brothers serving in the US Navy and fighting in the Pacific, this book has it all. You see the war through unique perspectives during 1941, to Bill planning the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, this book is action packed and will keep you wanting more. With the youngest brother Barton captured by the Japanese, his 2 older brothers quest to find him is daunting yet unrelenting. Sally Mott Freeman has done a fantastic job putting this amazing story to paper. You don't have to be a War enthusiasts to read it, this book is for everyone.

Number 6 in my THE RIFLE by Andrew Biggio is an amazing collection of personal histories, carefully gathered and put together in what is an insightful and powerful book. But it is so much more than that. And, to truly understand what I mean it helps if you have followed the journey of as Andrew meets the Veterans to find their stories. In my mind Andrew Biggio has been able to curate a new 21st century experience that I find truly fascinating. We all watched Band of Brothers on our TV’s, we read the book and felt more connected to the veterans of Easy Company because of that link. And for those of us lucky enough to have met veterans we have read about, it is a personal experience that brings us closer to the history, experiences and individuals of the greatest generation. Andrew Biggio has supersized this and has been able to connect tens of thousands of people with these great men and their history. Like many of you I have followed on Instagram for a long time. I’ve watched him speak with the veterans, he took me into their living rooms, placing the rifle in their hands, and I heard them tell their stories in their own words. When you couple this with a book that documents these men’s service in detail, you have a truly unique experience. It provides an emotional link with these soldiers. You cannot help but feel connected to their personal experiences. We see them as men, fathers, husbands and elderly men whose legacy and history is now captured, preserved and presented in a unique and powerful way. The writing is interesting, gripping and empathetic. Biggio’s own service allows him insights into the veterans’ psyche and the stories that he tells on paper for these men feel personal and told with care. This book is all the adjectives we usually use to describe books, but most importantly it’s real. Great job Mr Biggio, I highly recommend this book and hope many more can enjoy it and the journey of the rifle.

Number 7 in my WN62. The author Heinrich Severloh was stationed on Omaha Beach at WN62 (Wiederstandsnest) on D-Day and is said to be responsible for up to 1500 US casualties. His book WN62 is an amazing read and an absolute must for any WW2 history buff or D-Day enthusiast. The German perspective of D-day is very interesting and paints a different picture than you may think as they were under supplied and low on manpower. The detail is incredible, the ferocity of battle is gripping and at the same time heartbreaking to read. A very important account from my perspective as not many D-Day veterans from the German side have put pen to paper as MrSeverloh has done. A very important book to read and one that will help shape your understanding of D-Day history.