The History Book Club discussion

Thank you Bryan for putting in the reminders and helping out our new group members.

Aussie Rick, please do not forget to do the same.

Here is a new book that I am going to have to have as it's the first I have seen to offer anything on the French General, Leclerc.

by William Moore

Just ordered a copy of this new book covering the British Battalion that fought at Jarama during the Spanish Civil War.

by Ben Hughes
Description:
In 1937 a group of idealistic British volunteers sailed from England to fight the dark threat of dictatorship in Spain. In the olive groves of Jarama, near Madrid, they achieved the first victory against Franco's army. It was Fascism's first defeat. Hardly remembered today, it proved a crucial military turning point in the fight against Fascism. For the first time, Ben Hughes reconstructs the battle in a vivid blow-by-blow account, and considers its fascinating aftermath.

I've just come across this book which looks like it offers something different:


by William Urban
Description:
In the early modern world three dominant cultures of war were shaped by a synergy of their internal and external interactions. One was Latin Christian western Europe. Another was Ottoman Islam. The third, no less vital for so often being overlooked, was east central Europe: Poland/Lithuania, Livonia, Russia, the freebooting Cossacks, a volatile mix of variations on a general Christian theme. William Urban's fascinating narrative is an integrated account of early modern war at the sharp end: of campaigns and battles, soldiers and generals. Temporally it extends from the French invasion of Italy in 1494 to Austria's Balkan victories culminating in the 1718 Treaty of Peterwardein. Geographically it covers ground from the Low Countries to the depths of the Ukraine. That narrative in turn focuses Urban s major analytical points: the replacement of crowd armies by professionals, and the professionals integration into crown armies: government-supervised, bureaucratised institutions. The key to this process was the mercenary. Originally recruited because the obligations of feudal levies were too limited, mercenary forces evolved operationally into skilled users of an increasingly complex gunpowder technology in ever more complex tactical situations. By the end of the seventeenth century, soldiers were identifying with the states and the rulers they served.

At long last a new book covering a great historical battle but with little available in English:


by Raymond Jonas
Description:
In March 1896 a well-disciplined and massive Ethiopian army did the unthinkable--it routed an invading Italian force and brought Italy's war of conquest in Africa to an end. In an age of relentless European expansion, Ethiopia had successfully defended its independence and cast doubt upon an unshakable certainty of the age--that sooner or later all Africans would fall under the rule of Europeans. This event opened a breach that would lead, in the aftermath of world war fifty years later, to the continent's painful struggle for freedom from colonial rule. Raymond Jonas offers the first comprehensive account of this singular episode in modern world history. The narrative is peopled by the ambitious and vain, the creative and the coarse, across Africa, Europe, and the Americas--personalities like Menelik, a biblically inspired provincial monarch who consolidated Ethiopia's throne; Taytu, his quick-witted and aggressive wife; and the Swiss engineer Alfred Ilg, the emperor's close advisor. The Ethiopians' brilliant gamesmanship and savvy public relations campaign helped roll back the Europeanization of Africa. Figures throughout the African diaspora immediately grasped the significance of Adwa, Menelik, and an independent Ethiopia. Writing deftly from a transnational perspective, Jonas puts Adwa in the context of manifest destiny and Jim Crow, signaling a challenge to the very concept of white dominance. By reopening seemingly settled questions of race and empire, the Battle of Adwa was thus a harbinger of the global, unsettled century about to unfold.

I have just received my signed limited edition copy (500 only) of; "Radetzky's Marches" by Michael Embree. Here are some details if anyone else is interested in this conflict:

by Michael Embree
Description:
In the Spring of 1848, revolution threatened to sweep away the old order throughout Europe. In the Austrian-occupied north of Italy, newly nurtured nationalism, further fuelled by economic issues, prompted open revolt in Lombardy and Venetia. The Austrian army in Italy, commanded by 82 year old Field Marshal Radetzky, soon saw itself under further threat from the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont, that of Naples, and the Papal States, as well as thousands of volunteers, all determined to rid Italy of the occupier.Seemingly under attack from all sides, the Austrian Army was forced to concentrate in the famous 'Quadrilateral', formed by the fortress cities of Peschiera, Mantua, Legnago, and Verona, losing deserters by the thousand, to prepare for the war to follow, a war that would continue into the following year.This volume narrates the remarkable tale of how one old general quite possibly saved an empire. With iron will, the great personal affection of his men, and some luck, Radetzky maintained his army, and finally defeated his opponents. Such was the impact of the 1848 campaign, that Johann Strauss the Elder wrote the "Radetzky March", in the Field Marshal's honour!The comprehensive story of the revolts and the subsequent military campaigns is recounted here, taken from many and varied sources, including a considerable number of contemporary and first-hand accounts, as well official reports from all sides. Continuing Helion's successful series of 19th Century European campaign studies, this book will be produced in a limited-edition hardback printing of 500 copies (all individually numbered and signed by the author). "Radetzky's Marches" is profusely illustrated in both colour and black-and-white, and is accompanied by maps (some colour), charts, diagrams and extensive orders-of-battle.

Here is a book I came across today covering a post Second World War conflict rarely covered in any detail:


by Dare Wilson
Description:
The 6th Airborne Division was a major element of the British Security Force in Palestine between September, 1945 and May 1948. Faced with the unenviable task of upholding the law in a lawless country, the individual British soldier had to face continual opposition from a hostile Jewish community. This story is described by General Wilson, then a Major, who served with the division during this period.

The mission of British forces was simply "to keep the peace." To achieve this goal, the 6th Airborne Division conducted a variety of counter-insurgency operations in both urban and rural environments. These operations were designed to locate illegal arms caches, limit Jewish-Arab violence and capture dissidents who had attacked British positions. The destruction of the King David Hotel, the most famous terrorist attack of the Mandate period, is treated in great detail.

With 6th Airborne Division in Palestine 1945 - 48 is a tribute to the British soldier. It is also an excellent case study in unconventional warfare. It will be of great interest to any student of the intricate problem that Palestine presents.

I saw a copy of this book in the shops yesterday and since it covers Australians in WW1 and WW2 I figured I'd mention it in this thread:


by Peter Rees
Description:
More than 2,200 Australians died in the desert campaigns in WWI, while another 3,500 died in the desert and Mediterranean campaigns in WWII. Thousands more carried the wounds of war for the rest of their lives. Countless more were the families who mourned them. A ripple effect of grief passed down the generations. This is the story of Australia's desert wars as never before told. Using letters, diaries, interviews and unpublished memoirs, Desert Boys provides a powerful insight into the thoughts, feelings and experiences of two generations of Australian soldiers. In many cases these were fathers and sons going to successive wars with all the tragedy, adventure and hardship that brought. These are extraordinary stories of bravery and hope, of mateship and adversity a very long way from home.


Peter Rees is the author of; "The Other ANZACS", which I thought was an excellent story about Australian and New Zealand nurses during the Great War.

by Peter Rees

AR.....from what I have read, the Anzac troops kicked some butt in the desert war of WWII.....the Desert Rats. But don't know much about their history in WWI. Will be looking for that book. Thanks for that recommendation.

Peter Rees

My pleasure Jill :)

This will be a must have book for me as I have always enjoyed reading Richard Holmes history books:

by Richard Holmes
Description:
A magisterial new history of the British soldier - a man famously described by the Duke of Wellington as ‘the scum of the earth’. From battlefield to barrack-room, this book is stuffed to the brim with anecdotes and stories of soldiers from the army of Charles II, through Empire and two World Wars to modern times.

The British soldier forms a core component of British history. In this scholarly but gossipy book, Richard Holmes presents a rich social history of the man (and now more frequently woman) who have been at the heart of his writing for decades.

Technological, political and social changes have all made their mark on the development of warfare, but have the attitudes of the soldier shifted as much we might think?

For Holmes, the soldier is part of a unique tribe – and the qualities of loyalty and heroism have continued to grow amongst these men. And while today the army constitutes the smallest proportion of the population since the first decade of its existence (regular soldiers make up just 0.087%), the social organisation of the men has hardly changed; the major combat arms, infantry, cavalry and artillery, have retained much of the forms that men who fought at Blenheim, Waterloo and the Somme would readily grasp.

Regiments remain an enduring feature of the army and Lieutenant Colonels have lost nothing of their importance in military hierarchy; the death of Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe in Afghanistan in 2009 shows just how high the risks are that these men continue to face.

Filled to the brim with stories from all over the world and spanning across history, this magisterial book conveys how soldiers from as far back as the seventeenth century and soldiers today are united by their common experiences.

Richard Holmes died suddenly, soon after completing this book. It is his last word on the British soldier – about which he knew and wrote so much.

Just found this book, nice cover eh!


by David R. Dorondo
Description:
The history of the German cavalry, a combat arm that not only survived World War I but also rode to war again in 1939 Despite the enduring popular image of the blitzkrieg of World War II, the German Army always depended on horses and could not have waged war without them. While the Army's reliance on draft horses to pull artillery, supply wagons, and field kitchens is now generally acknowledged, David Dorondo's Riders of the Apocalypse examines the history of the German cavalry. Though concentrating on the period between 1939 and 1945, the book places that history firmly within the larger context of the mounted arm's development from the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 to the Third Reich's surrender. Driven by both internal and external constraints to retain mounted forces after 1918, the German Army effectively did nothing to reduce, much less eliminate, the preponderance of non-mechanised formations during its breakneck expansion under the Nazis after 1933. Instead, politicised command decisions, technical insufficiency, industrial bottlenecks, and, finally, wartime attrition meant that Army leaders were compelled to rely on a steadily growing number of combat horsemen throughout World War II. These horsemen were best represented by the 1st Cavalry Brigade which saw combat in Poland, the Netherlands, France, Russia, and Hungary. Their service, however, came to be cruelly dishonoured by the horsemen of the 8th Waffen-SS Cavalry Division, a unit whose troopers spent more time killing civilians than fighting enemy soldiers.

I am a fan of lists, here are a few that i recently found by the Historian, Max Hastings..

Five Best War Memoirs

by Vasily Grossman
by Andrew Hallam
by Cecil Lewis
by Sir Harry Smith
William Wheeler

The 10 best… books about war

by Nella Last
by Irène Némirovsky
by Philip Caputo
by Cecil Lewis
by Frederic Manning
by Winston S. Churchill
William Wheeler
by George MacDonald Fraser
by Nicholas Monsarrat
by Guy Sajer

Interesting list Tom, thanks for the post. I am sure other readers may find some books there that they didn't know about.

Here is a book due out in a few months offering something different and not usually covered in great detail:

by Paul Preston
Description:
The first, authoritative history of Spain’s darkest period. In a work of meticulous scholarship and research, Paul Preston, the world’s foremost historian of 20th-century Spain, charts how and why Franco and his supporters set out to eliminate all ‘those who do not think as we do’ - some 200,000 innocent men, women and children across Spain.

The remains of General Franco lie in an immense mausoleum near Madrid, built with the blood and sweat of 20,000 slave labourers. His enemies, however, met less exalted fates. In addition to those killed on the battlefield, tens of thousands of Spaniards were officially executed between 1936 and 1945, and as many again became ‘non-persons’, their fates as obscure as the nation’s collective memory of this terrible period.

As the country slowly reclaims its historical memory after a long period of wilful amnesia, for the first time a full picture can be given of the escalation and aftermath of the Spanish Holocaust in all its dimensions – ranging from systematic killings and judicial murders to the abuse of women and children, imprisonment, torture and the grisly fate of Spaniards in the hands of the Gestapo.

The story of the victims of Franco’s reign of terror is framed by the activities of four key men whose dogma of eugenics, terrorisation, domination and mind control horrifyingly mirror the fascism of 1930s Italy and Germany. General Mola organised the military coup of 1936 and dictated its ferocity in the north of Spain; Quiepo de Llano, the deranged ‘radio general’, ran a virtually independent fiefdom in the south; Major Vallejo Najera was a military psychiatrist who provided ‘scientific’ justifications for the annihilation of thousands; and Captain Aguilera, the Nationalist press officer, blamed the war on do-gooders’ interference with the divine process of decimating the working classes.

Reflecting more than a decade of research, and telling many stories of individuals from both sides, The Spanish Holocaust seeks to reflect the intense horrors visited upon Spain by the arrogance and brutality of the officers who rose up on 17 July 1936, provoking a civil war that was unnecessary and whose consequences still reverberate bitterly in Spain today.

by Adrian D. Gilbert

We have heard so much about the French Foreign Legion (in film and fiction) but I never really knew that much about it. This book goes into detail and it is not a pretty picture. It traces the Legion's achievements since 1831 and it might surprise you.

Another interesting book Jill. The French Foreign Legion is a fascinating subject and covers such a large area of military history.

Jill wrote: "We have heard so much about the French Foreign Legion..."

I liked these:

Diary of a Legionnaire: My Life in the French Foreign Legion by Gareth Carins
A very personal in-depth account.

Our Friends Beneath the Sands: The Foreign Legion in France's Colonial Conquests 1870-1935 by Martin Windrow

Par le sang versé : La Légion étrangère en Indochine by Paul Bonnecarrère

the most meticulous description of Dien Bien Phu (not just about La Légion):
Les hommes de Dien Bien Phu by Roger Bruge

Histoire de la Légion étrangère by Georges Blond

Thanks, Andre......an interesting subject indeed.

One of my favourite subjects as well. Can I recommend one good overview history on the French Foreign Legion by Douglas Porch:

by Douglas Porch

Here is a new book covering a terrible and sometimes forgotten conflict:


by Michael Gould
Description:
International media coverage in the 1960s and early 1970s represented the Biafran War, in which the state of Biafra attempted to secede from the Nigerian Federation, as a grand humanitarian disaster, characterised by sustained conflict, starvation and genocide. Using interviews and newly-released archival material, Michael Gould questions this depiction, examining the role of foreign parties in the conflict and the impact of propaganda upon its international reception both during and after the war. Envisaged initially by both sides as a short conflict, the war confounded all expectations, stretching on for four years. It was a 'brother's war', one which divided families, and was characterised overwhelmingly by both sides' reluctance to enter into hostilities. This book seeks to answer some of the most fundamental questions surrounding the conflict, including how this avoidable conflict came about, why the war became so drawn-out and how the leadership of the opposing Generals Ojukwu, who led the Biafran revolt and Gowon, who was President of the Nigerian Federation, defined the conflict. In the process, Gould offers a radical reappraisal of the many entrenched conceptions which currently surround the conflict. This book will be essential reading for all students of African history and politics, and post-colonial studies.

I received my copies of these two military based books recently that may interest other readers of military history:

by Tom Lewis

by Saul David

Thank you Aussie Rick as always with your posts. Do you think that the message 71 book should also go in the Africa folder.

I will place a copy over there ASAP.

I've just started reading this book that may interest those who enjoy accounts of the Reconquista. The book was first published in 1627 and written by one of the Spanish nobility who was present at the time of the War in Granada.

by Hurtado de Mendoza

This is from my current book "The War in Granada" where the author is laying out the background and reasons for the war, its makes interesting reading:

“My intention is that my readers shall see from what small causes come major crisis, wars, famines, massacres, the ruin of states and, on occasion, the fall of kings. Divine providence expects that those entrusted to govern the world should act from principle. If men look with attention at this history they will see how again and again small derelictions of principle over a long period bring about major disasters.”

How true is that and how still very relevant in today’s society.

by Hurtado de Mendoza

This account is taken from the start of the uprising:

“In Guecija, in the valley of the Almeria river, they voted to burn a monastery of Augustine friars. The friars retreated to a monastery tower so they climbed up on the roof and poured boiling oil down on them through the drains, helping themselves to the abundance of olive oil which God has made grow in those parts in order to fry and drown his friars.”

I took a moment to view the first post in this section that lists an abundance of wars starting with a) First World War and running through uu) The Second Battle of Mogadishu (2006). I’m amazed by the number of wars listed. The total figure must surpass the accumulated number of shrimp recopies recited by Forrest Gump’s good friend.

I am sure and of course that is not the complete list.

I found this book in the new releases. Looks very interesting.

The Last Full Measure: Death in Battle Through the Ages

byMichael Stephenson(no photo)

Synopsis
In this brilliantly researched, deeply humane work of history, Michael Stephenson traces the paths that have led soldiers to their graves over the centuries, revealing a wealth of insight about the nature of combat, the differences among cultures, and the unchanging qualities of humanity itself.

Behind every soldier’s death lies a story, a tale not just of the cold mathematics of the battlefield but of an individual human being who gave his life. What psychological and cultural pressures brought him to his fate? What lies—and truths—convinced him to march toward his death? Covering warfare from prehistory through the present day, The Last Full Measure tells these soldiers’ stories, ultimately capturing the experience of war as few books ever have.

In these pages, we march into battle alongside the Greek phalanx and the medieval foot soldier. We hear gunpowder’s thunder in the slaughters of the Napoleonic era and the industrialized killing of the Civil War, and recoil at the modern, automated horrors of both World Wars. Finally, we witness the death of one tradition of “heroic” combat and the construction of another in the wars of the modern era, ranging from Vietnam to America’s latest involvements in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In exploring these conflicts and others, Stephenson draws on numerous sources to delve deep into fascinating, period-specific detail—tracing, for instance, the true combat effectiveness of the musket, the utility of the cavalry charge, or the vulnerabilities of the World War II battle tank. Simultaneously, he examines larger themes and reveals surprising connections across both time and culture. What does the medieval knight have in common with the modern paratrooper? What did heroism and bravery mean to the Roman legionary, or to the World War I infantryman—and what is the true motivating power of such ideals? How do men use religion, friendship, or even nihilism to armor themselves against impending doom—and what do we as human beings make of the undeniable joy some among us take in the carnage?

Combining commanding prose, impeccable research, and a true sensitivity to the combatant’s plight, The Last Full Measure is both a remarkably fresh journey through the annals of war and a powerful tribute to the proverbial unknown soldier.

Looks good Nicole, thank you for the add.

A general reader on American military history:

For the Common Defense

Allan R. Millett

Synopsis

Millett and Maslowski have enriched what was already the best single-volume survey of American military history. Thus crisply-written, revised, and expanded edition of For the Common Defense is must reading for anyone interested in the course of that history, from the days of colonial militias to those of Desert Storm.--Sen. Sam Nunn

Here is a book full of heroes.

Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond the Call of Duty

by Peter Collier

Synopsis
Since the Civil War more than 39 million men and women have answered the call to serve. Of those, 3,440 served with such uncommon valor and extraordinary courage that they were presented with the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military award. Each of their heroic actions is as unique as the person, who performed it, and here more than one hundred of America's living Medal of Honor recipients are honored and their bravery recounted by best-selling author Peter Collier and presented in duotone portraits by award-winning photographer Nick Del Calzo.
________________________________________

My neighbor, Herschel "Woody" Williams must be in that book.....he won his MOH on Iwo Jima and is the only living winner from West Virginia. Quite a guy.

This book covers an updated history of American military engagements from 1607 – 2012.

For the Common Defense: A Military History of the United States of America

by Allan R. Millett

Synopsis
Dubbed “the preeminent survey of American military history” (Russell F. Weigley, author of The American Way of War), For the Common Defense has established itself as an essential fixture in the field. In this major revision, authors Allan R. Millett and Peter Maslowski add the last twenty years of the story to a meticulously researched, unbiased analysis that has already withstood the test of time.
While many books cover different chapters of the nation’s military history, only this one tackles the full narrative, examining the characteristics of our evolving military policy alongside the impact that policy has had on America’s international relations and domestic development. This latest incarnation, exhaustively revised, includes updates throughout that reflect current dialogues surrounding key moments in history. In addition to replacing chapters on Korea, Vietnam, and the collapsed Soviet Union, the authors have composed new sections on the complex role of war in the United States since 1994 and the War on Terror. An extraordinary accomplishment of research, analysis, and accessible writing on everything from pre-Revolutionary War battles to the fighting in Afghanistan, For the Common Defense is as relevant and important as ever.

Scott wrote:

I just started "Invisible Armies" on the plane yesterday. What do you think of the anthology structure? Kind of nice to pick and chose time periods and people of interest....

Max Boot

This is a good site to learn about new military history titles:

http://newbooksinmilitaryhistory.com/

Thank you Bryan.

We might want to add the Boer War and the Crimean War to our folders. There are some interesting books out there about those conflicts.

Thought we had added those - great suggestion.

This is a fantastic book which looks at all those "little wars" that took place during Queen Victori's reign....and there were a lot of them. It is well worth reading.

by Byron Farwell(no photo)

The Run For The Wall is in progress as thousands of motorcyclists from all over the country head for the Vietnam memorial for Memorial Day. They passed through our city yesterday and the streets were packed with people showing their support for the memory of those who served and were lost in Vietnam. It was a stirring sight. Lest we forget.

Thank you Jill

Folks - this is a discussion thread - so if there is something in military history that you are not finding - please let us and we can help you find the thread.

Or if there is a thread that is missing - let us know your suggestion here.

The Greatest War Stories Never Told: 100 Tales from Military History to Astonish, Bewilder, and Stupefy

by Rick Beyer

Synopsis:

Search the annals of military history and you will discover no end of quirky characters and surprising true stories: The topless dancer who saved the Byzantine Empire. The World War I battle that was halted so a soccer game could be played. The scientist who invented a pigeon-guided missile in 1943. And don't forget the elderly pig whose death triggered an international crisis between the United States and Great Britain.

This is the kind of history you'll find in The Greatest War Stories Never Told. One hundred fascinating stories drawn from two thousand years of military history, accompanied by a wealth of photographs, maps, drawings, and documents that help bring each story to life. Little-known tales told with a one-two punch of history and humor that will make you shake your head in disbelief -- but they're all true!

A true classic.

The Art of War

by Niccolò Machiavelli

Synopsis

Voltaire said, "Machiavelli taught Europe the art of war; it had long been practiced, without being known." For Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527), war was war, and victory the supreme aim to which all other considerations must be subordinated. The Art of War is far from an anachronism—its pages outline fundamental questions that theorists of war continue to examine today, making it essential reading for any student of military history, strategy, or theory. Machiavelli believed The Art of War to be his most important work.

War

by Sebastian Junger

Synopsis:

In his breakout bestseller, The Perfect Storm, Sebastian Junger created "a wild ride that brilliantly captures the awesome power of the raging sea and the often futile attempts of humans to withstand it" (Los Angeles Times Book Review). Now, Junger turns his brilliant and empathetic eye to the reality of combat--the fear, the honor, and the trust among men in an extreme situation whose survival depends on their absolute commitment to one another. His on-the-ground account follows a single platoon through a 15-month tour of duty in the most dangerous outpost in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley. Through the experiences of these young men at war, he shows what it means to fight, to serve, and to face down mortal danger on a daily basis.

by Sebastian Junger

Oops wrong thread.