Best World War II History (nonfiction)

Readable accounts of any part of the war, but especially having to do with U.S. involvement.

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1	Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand 4.39 avg rating — 993,360 ratings score: 11,221, and 114 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest by Stephen E. Ambrose 4.44 avg rating — 136,764 ratings score: 7,703, and 79 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	The Longest Day: June 6, 1944 by Cornelius Ryan 4.34 avg rating — 25,886 ratings score: 5,972, and 62 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	An Army at Dawn: The War in North Africa, 1942-1943 (World War II Liberation Trilogy, #1) by Rick Atkinson 4.30 avg rating — 22,351 ratings score: 5,749, and 59 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa by Eugene B. Sledge 4.49 avg rating — 46,426 ratings score: 5,108, and 53 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	A Bridge Too Far by Cornelius Ryan 4.27 avg rating — 21,361 ratings score: 5,001, and 53 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Hiroshima by John Hersey 4.05 avg rating — 87,377 ratings score: 4,189, and 44 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Erik Larson (Goodreads Author) 3.89 avg rating — 216,453 ratings score: 3,873, and 40 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany by William L. Shirer 4.22 avg rating — 145,565 ratings score: 3,848, and 40 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II by Iris Chang 4.25 avg rating — 51,488 ratings score: 3,239, and 35 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944 (World War II Liberation Trilogy, #2) by Rick Atkinson 4.36 avg rating — 15,599 ratings score: 3,145, and 34 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Ghost Soldiers: The Epic Account of World War II's Greatest Rescue Mission by Hampton Sides 4.25 avg rating — 38,980 ratings score: 3,046, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	D-Day, June 6, 1944: The Battle for the Normandy Beaches by Stephen E. Ambrose 4.31 avg rating — 31,085 ratings score: 2,996, and 33 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Flags of Our Fathers by James D. Bradley 4.22 avg rating — 63,047 ratings score: 2,992, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Schindler’s List by Thomas Keneally 4.34 avg rating — 164,721 ratings score: 2,936, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer 4.39 avg rating — 11,920 ratings score: 2,792, and 30 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II by Adam Makos (Goodreads Author) 4.38 avg rating — 27,384 ratings score: 2,781, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour by James D. Hornfischer 4.36 avg rating — 11,459 ratings score: 2,637, and 28 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	Berlin Diary: The Journal of a Foreign Correspondent 1934-1941 by William L. Shirer 4.34 avg rating — 6,360 ratings score: 2,514, and 26 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Flyboys: A True Story of Courage by James D. Bradley 4.20 avg rating — 22,893 ratings score: 2,502, and 27 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	The Forgotten 500: The Untold Story of the Men Who Risked All For the Greatest Rescue Mission of World War II by Gregory A. Freeman 4.09 avg rating — 13,075 ratings score: 2,304, and 25 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank 4.20 avg rating — 4,103,275 ratings score: 2,259, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	The Guns at Last Light: The War in Western Europe, 1944-1945 (World War II Liberation Trilogy, #3) by Rick Atkinson 4.48 avg rating — 10,650 ratings score: 2,236, and 25 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	Escape From Davao: The Forgotten Story of the Most Daring Prison Break of the Pacific War by John D. Lukacs (Goodreads Author) 4.23 avg rating — 1,273 ratings score: 2,210, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	Citizen Soldiers: The US Army from the Normandy Beaches to the Bulge to the Surrender of Germany by Stephen E. Ambrose 4.24 avg rating — 24,401 ratings score: 2,134, and 23 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Enemy at the Gates: The Battle for Stalingrad by William Craig 4.23 avg rating — 14,252 ratings score: 2,108, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown (Goodreads Author) 4.39 avg rating — 355,215 ratings score: 2,060, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Operation Mincemeat: How a Dead Man and a Bizarre Plan Fooled the Nazis and Assured an Allied Victory by Ben Macintyre 4.03 avg rating — 22,770 ratings score: 2,043, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	The Second World War by Antony Beevor 4.39 avg rating — 10,504 ratings score: 2,034, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Patton: A Genius for War by Carlo D'Este 4.25 avg rating — 4,331 ratings score: 1,960, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	The Last Battle: The Classic History of the Battle for Berlin by Cornelius Ryan 4.25 avg rating — 7,029 ratings score: 1,899, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	Night by Elie Wiesel 4.38 avg rating — 1,341,385 ratings score: 1,892, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	Helmet for My Pillow: From Parris Island to the Pacific by Robert Leckie 4.23 avg rating — 24,604 ratings score: 1,892, and 21 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	A Woman in Berlin: Eight Weeks in the Conquered City: A Diary by Anonymous 4.29 avg rating — 17,246 ratings score: 1,889, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	HHhH by Laurent Binet 4.07 avg rating — 27,682 ratings score: 1,875, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	Armageddon: The Battle for Germany, 1944-1945 by Max Hastings 4.28 avg rating — 7,382 ratings score: 1,857, and 21 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	Why the Allies Won by Richard Overy 4.19 avg rating — 2,262 ratings score: 1,790, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal by Ben Macintyre 4.14 avg rating — 19,906 ratings score: 1,790, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	The Second World War by John Keegan 4.11 avg rating — 5,029 ratings score: 1,740, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors by Doug Stanton 4.33 avg rating — 23,317 ratings score: 1,683, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Lost in Shangri-la: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II by Mitchell Zuckoff (Goodreads Author) 3.87 avg rating — 46,633 ratings score: 1,681, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Inferno: The World at War, 1939-1945 by Max Hastings 4.36 avg rating — 10,895 ratings score: 1,640, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Pegasus Bridge: June 6, 1944 by Stephen E. Ambrose 4.15 avg rating — 11,018 ratings score: 1,638, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Churchill, Hitler, and "The Unnecessary War": How Britain Lost Its Empire and the West Lost the World by Patrick J. Buchanan 4.20 avg rating — 2,010 ratings score: 1,612, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	Life After Life (Todd Family, #1) by Kate Atkinson 3.78 avg rating — 238,925 ratings score: 1,542, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	The Longest Winter: The Battle of the Bulge and the Epic Story of World War II's Most Decorated Platoon by Alex Kershaw (Goodreads Author) 4.18 avg rating — 8,360 ratings score: 1,537, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	Pacific Crucible: War at Sea in the Pacific, 1941–1942 by Ian W. Toll (Goodreads Author) 4.61 avg rating — 9,876 ratings score: 1,528, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	At Dawn We Slept: The Untold Story of Pearl Harbor by Gordon W. Prange 4.21 avg rating — 3,705 ratings score: 1,515, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	Decision in Normandy by Carlo D'Este 4.05 avg rating — 871 ratings score: 1,477, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	The Hiding Place: The Triumphant True Story of Corrie Ten Boom by Corrie ten Boom 4.48 avg rating — 350,470 ratings score: 1,416, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	When Books Went to War: The Stories that Helped Us Win World War II by Molly Guptill Manning (Goodreads Author) 3.92 avg rating — 8,457 ratings score: 1,386, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	Neptune's Inferno: The U.S. Navy at Guadalcanal by James D. Hornfischer 4.30 avg rating — 7,261 ratings score: 1,346, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	The Rising Sun: The Decline & Fall of the Japanese Empire, 1936-45 by John Toland 4.30 avg rating — 5,983 ratings score: 1,269, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	The Bedford Boys: One American Town's Ultimate D-Day Sacrifice by Alex Kershaw (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 4,654 ratings score: 1,240, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	A Train in Winter (The Resistance #1) by Caroline Moorehead 3.85 avg rating — 8,731 ratings score: 1,225, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	Retribution: The Battle for Japan, 1944-45 by Max Hastings 4.28 avg rating — 5,112 ratings score: 1,219, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	The Liberator: One World War II Soldier's 500-Day Odyssey from the Beaches of Sicily to the Gates of Dachau by Alex Kershaw (Goodreads Author) 4.29 avg rating — 6,898 ratings score: 1,206, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	Storm of Steel by Ernst Jünger 4.15 avg rating — 20,792 ratings score: 1,120, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story by Diane Ackerman (Goodreads Author) 3.49 avg rating — 91,111 ratings score: 1,011, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denise Kiernan (Goodreads Author) 3.73 avg rating — 31,527 ratings score: 988, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
61	Crabwalk by Günter Grass 3.47 avg rating — 4,072 ratings score: 934, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	The Train to Crystal City: FDR's Secret Prisoner Exchange Program and America's Only Family Internment Camp During World War II by Jan Jarboe Russell 4.09 avg rating — 2,445 ratings score: 919, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	Killing Patton: The Strange Death of World War II's Most Audacious General by Bill O'Reilly (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 27,439 ratings score: 891, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	Double Cross: The True Story of the D-Day Spies by Ben Macintyre 3.99 avg rating — 13,695 ratings score: 804, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	A World at Arms: A Global History of World War II by Gerhard L. Weinberg 4.28 avg rating — 1,386 ratings score: 677, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	We Band of Angels: The Untold Story of American Nurses Trapped on Bataan by the Japanese by Elizabeth M. Norman (Goodreads Author) 4.28 avg rating — 4,769 ratings score: 672, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz by Erik Larson (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 133,360 ratings score: 661, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	Killing the Rising Sun: How America Vanquished World War II Japan by Bill O'Reilly (Goodreads Author) 4.35 avg rating — 21,405 ratings score: 656, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
69	A Dawn Like Thunder: The True Story of Torpedo Squadron Eight by Robert J. Mrazek (Goodreads Author) 4.32 avg rating — 811 ratings score: 639, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	To Lose a Battle: France 1940 by Alistair Horne 4.26 avg rating — 935 ratings score: 636, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
71	Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege, 1942–1943 by Antony Beevor 4.33 avg rating — 40,351 ratings score: 633, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	The Second World War: A Complete History by Martin Gilbert 4.27 avg rating — 1,913 ratings score: 614, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes 4.40 avg rating — 24,033 ratings score: 610, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
74	The Storm of War: A New History of the Second World War by Andrew Roberts 4.18 avg rating — 4,455 ratings score: 608, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
75	Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas (Goodreads Author) 4.22 avg rating — 81,095 ratings score: 606, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	The Good Man of Nanking: The Diaries of John Rabe by John Rabe 4.11 avg rating — 529 ratings score: 586, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
77	Letters From Iwo Jima by Kumiko Kakehashi 4.17 avg rating — 1,015 ratings score: 560, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	The Railway Man: A POW's Searing Account of War, Brutality and Forgiveness by Eric Lomax 4.13 avg rating — 8,037 ratings score: 552, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
79	Notes of a Sniper by Vasili Zaitsev 4.07 avg rating — 854 ratings score: 546, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	Masters of the Air: America's Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany by Donald L. Miller 4.21 avg rating — 9,727 ratings score: 535, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
81	Between Silk and Cyanide: A Codemaker's War, 1941-1945 by Leo Marks 4.25 avg rating — 2,648 ratings score: 530, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
81	The Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission to Sabotage Hitler’s Atomic Bomb by Neal Bascomb (Goodreads Author) 4.24 avg rating — 5,954 ratings score: 530, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
83	Fortress Malta: An Island Under Siege, 1940 - 43 by James Holland 4.36 avg rating — 872 ratings score: 528, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	Tears in the Darkness: The Story of the Bataan Death March and Its Aftermath by Michael Norman 4.20 avg rating — 3,211 ratings score: 523, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	Killing Hitler: The Third Reich and the Plots to Kill the Führer by Roger Moorhouse (Goodreads Author) 3.82 avg rating — 384 ratings score: 523, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	BLOOD IN ZION: How the Jewish Guerrillas Drove the British Out of Palestine by Saul Zadka 4.08 avg rating — 40 ratings score: 520, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
87	The Admirals: Nimitz, Halsey, Leahy, and King—the Five-Star Admirals Who Won the War at Sea by Walter R. Borneman 4.33 avg rating — 4,438 ratings score: 512, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
88	The Arsenal of Democracy: FDR, Detroit, and an Epic Quest to Arm an America at War by A.J. Baime 4.41 avg rating — 3,432 ratings score: 510, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
88	The Third Reich at War (The History of the Third Reich, #3) by Richard J. Evans 4.39 avg rating — 6,011 ratings score: 510, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
90	Heroes in Good Company: L Company, 86th Regiment, 10th Mountain Division 1943-1945 by Skyler Bailey (Goodreads Author) 4.74 avg rating — 23 ratings score: 500, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
91	When Titans Clashed: How the Red Army Stopped Hitler by David M. Glantz 4.18 avg rating — 1,400 ratings score: 499, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
92	Escape from the Deep: The Epic Story of a Legendary Submarine and her Courageous Crew by Alex Kershaw (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 2,519 ratings score: 496, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
93	What Soldiers Do: Sex and the American GI in World War II France by Mary Louise Roberts 3.92 avg rating — 381 ratings score: 493, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
94	Wave of Terror by Theodore Odrach 4.08 avg rating — 142 ratings score: 489, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
95	A War to be Won: Fighting the Second World War by Williamson Murray 4.11 avg rating — 1,001 ratings score: 474, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
96	Anne Frank Remembered: The Story of the Woman Who Helped to Hide the Frank Family by Miep Gies 4.30 avg rating — 66,261 ratings score: 453, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	Rommel: The Desert Fox by Desmond Young 4.07 avg rating — 976 ratings score: 451, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	Letters, 1925-1975 by Hannah Arendt 3.93 avg rating — 410 ratings score: 451, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
99	Up Front by Bill Mauldin 4.44 avg rating — 1,561 ratings score: 431, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
100	Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich by Norman Ohler 4.05 avg rating — 30,803 ratings score: 426, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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674 books · 492 voters · list created August 18th, 2009 by deleted user.

Tags: 20th-century-history, american-history, asian-history, autobiography, biography, british-history, chinese-history, european-history, japanese-history, memoir, military-history, nazi, united-states-history, world-history

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People Who Voted On This List (492)

Susanna - Censored by GoodReads 3384 books
853 friends

Judy 879 books
8 friends

Ali 1208 books
1192 friends

Erma 469 books
210 friends

Joanne 151 books
462 friends

K.M. 145 books
7 friends

Bob 286 books
3 friends

Aco 1 book
0 friends

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Comments Showing 1-29 of 29 (29 new)

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message 1: by Wendy (new)

Jul 30, 2011 09:08PM

Great list! I'd add Winds of War by Herman Wouk, but I think this is a nonfiction list. Still, I agree, readable history is key. I do think I stumbled on a Best WWII fiction list a while ago...

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message 2: by Kenneth (new)

Jun 23, 2013 07:34PM

Interesting list, there are a number here I've been wanting to read, and a few I hadn't heard of which look interesting.

I would suggest The Secret Army, which is a little-known but fascinating first-hand account of the activities of the Polish home army by its leader after the government fled the country, including day-to-day details of the Warsaw uprising.

I am surprised to not see Beevor's Stalingrad here, but I myself cannot recommend it (I wasn't able to get through his Battle for Spain & just never had the heart to try him again)

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message 3: by Aostergren (new)

Jun 05, 2014 01:42AM

Kenneth wrote: "I am surprised to not see Beevor's Stalingrad here, but I myself cannot recommend it (I wasn't able to get through his Battle for Spain & just never had the heart to try him again) "

@Kenneth I would suggest giving Stalingrad a try. I went the other way- loved Stalingrad but had to put Battle of Spain down.

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message 4: by Felmar Roel (new)

Nov 05, 2015 01:49PM

Good list!

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message 5: by Fiona (new)

Sep 26, 2016 11:48AM

Removed The Devil in the White City. Good book but nothing to do with WW2.

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message 6: by Michele (new)

Dec 10, 2016 12:17AM

#101 - Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Book has nothing to do with WWII!

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message 7: by Theodore (new)

Jan 03, 2017 05:08AM

In my humble opinion, I think the "best of" in something as huge and sweeping as WWII doesn't mean much. These books are so wildly different, it is like asking for the best foods and then comparing pizza to ice cream--which is better?

It might be more useful to break it up under various topics, so then a debate on a book on a particular list can be discussed apples to apples.

Pacific Theater
ETO
North Africa
Autobiographies/Biographies
Atlantic War
Politics
Logistics
Armor studies

And so on.

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message 8: by Heidi (last edited Jun 15, 2017 02:17PM) (new)

Jun 12, 2017 06:38PM

I know this much is True by Wally Lamb might be a
good novel.

I have not read it. But as far as I can tell, it has nothing to do with World War II.

I have read carefully the description of it. Number 98.

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message 9: by Heidi (last edited Jun 15, 2017 02:16PM) (new)

Jun 15, 2017 02:14PM

From what I can tell, Catastrophe 1914 by Max Hastings has everything to do with World War I and NOTHING to do with World War II. Number 153.

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message 10: by Heidi (new)

Jun 20, 2017 05:05PM

I looked at number 160 Behind the beautiful forevers: life, death and hope in a Mumbai undercity.

I have read the description of it carefully. It has to do with India and seems to have nothing to do with World War II.

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message 11: by Michele (new)

Aug 20, 2017 09:39PM

#153 - Catastrophe 1914: Europe Goes to War
by Max Hastings

WWI book NOT WWII

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message 12: by Heidi (new)

Aug 20, 2017 11:18PM

Then you agree. I mean--1914--it is pretty obvious.

I can't delete it because I am not a librarian.

Are you a librarian and can you delete it?

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message 13: by Heidi (new)

Aug 20, 2017 11:22PM

Or perhaps you have a librarian friend you can ask to delete it.

160 is also definitely not WWII.

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message 14: by Michele (last edited Aug 21, 2017 03:08AM) (new)

Aug 21, 2017 03:03AM

#67 - Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
#99 - I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb

Both are fiction.

Heidi, you could try putting a post in the librarian group, asking for help with this list. Your 160 is now 161 btw.

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message 15: by Bernard (new)

Sep 26, 2017 02:55PM

I can't believe "PATTON'S WAY" by James Kelly Morningstar is not listed here. It is an extremely well researched and well written book. It describes how General Patton developed his theory of war-fighting and then applied them to achieve brilliant success during his campaigns of WWII. His methods were never understood by his contemporaries who attributed his success to luck. Even most of today's historians do not fully grasp Patton's methodology. Patton's opponents understood him very well though. They named Patton's 3rd Army "Army Group Patton" and after the war, almost all said "Patton, he was your best!" Patton's Way is a must read for any student of WWII and especially those seeking to learn how and why Patton achieved his great success in World War Two.

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message 16: by Heidi (new)

Sep 26, 2017 03:00PM

so add it yourself. Don't you know how to do it.

Heidi

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message 17: by Heidi (new)

Sep 26, 2017 03:06PM

Michele

When I have asked librarians for help in the past, I have sortof been ignored and given a bad time so I don't intend to do that.

Why don't you ask some librarian for help.

Heidi

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message 18: by Bernard (new)

Sep 26, 2017 08:38PM

Heidi wrote: "so add it yourself. Don't you know how to do it.

Heidi"No Heidi, I don't. Can you tell me how to do it? Thank you for the reply.

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message 19: by Bernard (last edited Sep 26, 2017 09:14PM) (new)

Sep 26, 2017 09:13PM

Heidi, I saw how to get the book listed. I didn't see it before. It's my first time with "good reads", I just stumbled onto this today. The book is listed but the picture did not appear. Maybe it will later. Anyway, It's a very good book and a tremendous amount of research went into it. I know because my son wrote it.

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message 20: by Heidi (new)

Sep 26, 2017 09:57PM

Actually, I decided to add it for you although if you would add it yourself it would be nice because I am at the limit of 100 books that any one individual can add.

I realize if it is your first time you wouldn't know how to do add books.

What you do is hit Add books to this list at the upper right of the list and then type in the book title and author and then hit vote for this book.

Good luck

Heidi

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message 21: by Heidi (last edited Sep 26, 2017 10:02PM) (new)

Sep 26, 2017 10:01PM

Add books to this list is right to the right of All Votes

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message 22: by Teddy (new)

Jul 26, 2018 08:56PM

I read a book that I loved and can't remember the title:

it was about a family who lived in eastern Germany ...they left their home and walked towards Berlin thinking they would be safe there...with them was a Scottish paratrooper who had taken refuge with them...both father and older brother had gone to fight on the eastern front

if this is familiar to anyone, I would appreciate knowing the title

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message 23: by David (new)

Jun 04, 2019 05:20PM

Great list! I noticed the book Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer was on this list. Can you remove it, it has nothing to do with WWII.

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message 24: by David (new)

Jun 04, 2019 06:19PM

Also, Black Hawk Down is not a WWII book. I'd be happy to edit this list, I'm a librarian but I believe the author of the list would have to give me those rights.

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message 25: by Heidi (new)

Jun 05, 2019 03:51PM

David

You can send a letter to the author of this list and
ask for their permission.

Although the author is shown as deleted user
I believe the author of this list is Susanna censored
by Goodreads.

Heidi

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message 26: by Heidi (new)

Jun 05, 2019 05:14PM

David

As a librarian I believe you can delete books
if you do it according to the rules you don't
absolutely have to ask the creator of the list.

Heidi

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message 27: by Mike (new)

Sep 01, 2020 03:45AM