Books from the 'losing' side of a war

[Trash_panda]

There was a post previously (that I had in an open tab in my phone but its gone since), that suggested various books from the losing side of a war.

So far I've read about the German sniper in Russia and the retreat and one about a fighter pilot in the luftwaffe (he developed the idea of dropping bombs on bombers when they didn't have fighter escorts)

I've got another winging it's way to me about the Germans view of market garden but are there any others?

Also has anyone read anything from the nva/Vietnam cong side of the Vietnam war?

Thanks

[Arnold Cunningham]

I dunno - but I think a Japanese perspective of WWII would be interesting - when I was there a few years ago, a few people told me the Japanese viewed themselves as the victims of the war, which I found unexpected given they were aggressors.

[wombleh]

I read some a few years back: “ D DAY Through German Eyes - The Hidden Story of June 6th 1944” and “the last panther” by Wolfgang Faust. There’s some debate about the authenticity of them.

[Oberheim]

‘Through Hell for Hitler’ by Henry Metelmann is an interesting read. Aged only 18, Metelmann joined a panzer division in Sixth Army and was involved in the advance to Stalingrad and the subsequent bitter retreat westwards. He went through a lot, to put it mildly.

Another excellent account from the German side in WW2 is ‘Panzer Commander’ by Hans Von Luck. Quite a remarkable man who lived a long life and became good friends with several of his former enemies after the war.

[Tango13]

'The Forgotton Soldier' by Guy Sajer, questions have been asked about the authenticity though.

Also 'Iron Coffins' by Herbert Werner.

[GliderRider]

The Diving Eagle - A Ju88 pilot's diary by Peter Stahl

He describes being sent on raids over the UK with total cloud cover and no chance of finding the target, just so his commanders cound report the requisite number of sorties.

[Piersman2]

I read a series of books as a teenager by Sven Hassel, him being a Dane in the german panzer tanks.

Probably not as good as I remember them being, and probably not what you're looking for, but it was interesting to be reading about the WW2 from the 'other side'.

[MBBlat]

“Tigers in the mud” by Otto Carius

Covers a tank commander from Barbarossa until the end, but concentrating on his time in command of a squad of Tigers on the eastern front. Slightly self serving as he was apparently one of the few Wehrmacht soldiers not to see any atrocities in the Soviet Union.

[Paul Dishman]

Piersman2 said:

I read a series of books as a teenager by Sven Hassel, him being a Dane in the german panzer tanks.

Probably not as good as I remember them being, and probably not what you're looking for, but it was interesting to be reading about the WW2 from the 'other side'.

I remember reading those as a teen too. I always thought they were fiction.

[Ptolemy]

The first answer that occurred to me was

All Quiet On The Western Front.

[CouncilFerrari]

OP, I'm guessing your Market Garden book is 'It Never Snows in September?' If so, it's a fantastic book.

From the German side, and not yet suggested you've also got 'Lost Honour and Betrayed Loyalty' by Herbert Maeger, a Belgian SS soldier. Also worth reading is 'A Higher Call' by Adam Makos which gives you a German fighter pilots view as well as some focus on an extraordinary story of gentlemanly behaviour in wartime.

For an NVA/Vietcong perspective, 'The Sorrow of War' by Bao Ninh is pretty harrowing.

[Lightweight79]

Paul Dishman said:

Piersman2 said:

I read a series of books as a teenager by Sven Hassel, him being a Dane in the german panzer tanks.

Probably not as good as I remember them being, and probably not what you're looking for, but it was interesting to be reading about the WW2 from the 'other side'.

I remember reading those as a teen too. I always thought they were fiction.

Seem to remember that whilst he did serve in the German army in WW2, there are questions over how much of the books is real vs fiction, but as a boy loved reading them and regret getting rid of my full set of his books.

I'd also recommend - The one that got away by Franz Von Wera - German pilot who got shot down, went through interrogation in the UK and then sent to a POW camp in Canada and subsequently escaped through America back to Germany.

[Paul Dishman]

Lightweight79 said:

Seem to remember that whilst he did serve in the German army in WW2, there are questions over how much of the books is real vs fiction, but as a boy loved reading them and regret getting rid of my full set of his books.

I'd also recommend - The one that got away by Franz Von Wera - German pilot who got shot down, went through interrogation in the UK and then sent to a POW camp in Canada and subsequently escaped through America back to Germany.

I remember reading the Von Werra book too! Well worth reading, it was made into a film which is worth viewing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_von_Werra

[Trash_panda]

CouncilFerrari said:

OP, I'm guessing your Market Garden book is 'It Never Snows in September?' If so, it's a fantastic book.

From the German side, and not yet suggested you've also got 'Lost Honour and Betrayed Loyalty' by Herbert Maeger, a Belgian SS soldier. Also worth reading is 'A Higher Call' by Adam Makos which gives you a German fighter pilots view as well as some focus on an extraordinary story of gentlemanly behaviour in wartime.

For an NVA/Vietcong perspective, 'The Sorrow of War' by Bao Ninh is pretty harrowing.

It is, should be here on Friday. Got the ungentlemanly warfare book to read as well.

Thanks for the heads up on the nva book, seems readily available and only £3 2nd hand.

I'll compile a list of all the above books mention and people can add to it?

[PomBstard]

“Until the Final Hour” by Traudl Junge is the basis of the film “Dowfall” - she was Hitler’s private secretary for the last three years of WW2

And another vote for “All Quiet of the Western Front” - well worth a read

[Slow.Patrol]

Das Boot (The boat)

Autobiography by Lothar-Günther Buchheim a war correspondent on a U boat.

Also a film and six part series. Don't bother with the film.

[clive_candy]

Paul Dishman said:

Piersman2 said:

I read a series of books as a teenager by Sven Hassel, him being a Dane in the german panzer tanks.

Probably not as good as I remember them being, and probably not what you're looking for, but it was interesting to be reading about the WW2 from the 'other side'.

I remember reading those as a teen too. I always thought they were fiction.

Definitely fiction and massively popular at my school back in the 70s.

[Hill92]

Martin Middlebrook did a Falklands book covering the Argentine perspective:

https://www.everand.com/book/444109351/Argentine-F...

[Dan_1981]

clive_candy said:

Paul Dishman said:

Piersman2 said:

I read a series of books as a teenager by Sven Hassel, him being a Dane in the german panzer tanks.

Probably not as good as I remember them being, and probably not what you're looking for, but it was interesting to be reading about the WW2 from the 'other side'.

I remember reading those as a teen too. I always thought they were fiction.

Definitely fiction and massively popular at my school back in the 70s.

Yup I also read them in the 90's.

Josef Porter, The Old Man, Little John and Tiny


Still got mine somewhere I think

[Steve91]

My first thought was a book called 'Berlin - Dance of Death's by Helmut Altner. From the PoV of a teenage conscript in the final few weeks of the war. An excellent read (as is All quiet on the Western Front)