What are we reading?

[ArizonaTank]

Just finished "Case White: The Invasion of Poland" by Robert Forczyk.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NJ426D3/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

Very much a military history of the conflict, with just a sprinkling of the political and social parts.

The Poles were outnumbered and outgunned. Poland never had a chance of course...but nevertheless, the Poles mostly fought hard, and in some cases, such as the Battle of Kutno (Bzura) they even gave the Germans a bit of a bloody nose. Once the Soviet Union attacked however, it was all over.

One eye opening thing for me, was the participation of German Army (Heer) units in atrocities; mass execution of civilians and prisoners. I had always assumed that it was the SS and Einsatz Truppen who were at fault, but the killing was also done by regular troops. There were some in the high command (General Blaskowitz for example) who tried to stop or slow it down, but they were frustrated by the regime...with Hitler eventually issuing a general pardon.

Another thing was how ill-prepared the Germans were for the campaign. Goebbels propaganda made it seem like the blitzkrieg was all efficiency running like clockwork. But the reality was that the Germans really hadn't figured out logistics prior to campaign. If the fighting had gone longer, the Germans would have run into severe difficulty.

I got this book because I really enjoyed the author's other book, "Case Red: The Fall of France". Case White did not disappoint. The authors prose is direct and to the point, the way I like my military histories. However some folks may find this too terse, and may want a bit more background color in their books.

I have now moved on to the authors other book, "Where the Iron Crosses Grow", the Crimean Campaign. I am about 1/3 in and enjoying it.

[al_infierno]

Thanks for the recommendation, AT.  I'd been eying Case White for a while, but your description made me take the leap O0

[JasonPratt]

Another thing was how ill-prepared the Germans were for the campaign. Goebbels propaganda made it seem like the blitzkrieg was all efficiency running like clockwork. But the reality was that the Germans really hadn't figured out logistics prior to campaign. If the fighting had gone longer, the Germans would have run into severe difficulty.

More specifically, they were running into severe difficulties by the time Stalin eventually agreed to honor his treaty and step in on the other side (to save Poland from the eeeeevil Nazis who obviously and clearly just started WW2, of course. ;) ) The Luftwaffe was basically out of bombs, and the ground forces badly needed the east thrust formations untied to help finish off Warsaw before France and the UK could get going. Stalin's assault freed up enough Nazi ground forces to put the ball over the goal. (Though I don't recall it helping with the bomber load, aside from allowing more concentration of the few remaining explosives onto Warsaw.)

[ArizonaTank]

Over the holiday weekend, the History Channel had a three part mini-series about U.S. Grant. I enjoyed it a great deal (except for the far too numerous commercials). The mini-series was written by Ron Chernow (also, interestingly Leonardo Dicaprio was one of the producers).

So I decided to get Mr. Chernow's book "Grant"

At over 1000 pages it is a bit of a monster...in a good way.

I am only a few chapters in, but having a good time with it.

https://www.amazon.com/Grant-Ron-Chernow-ebook/dp/B06W2J89PV/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=grant&qid=1591309378&sr=8-1

[Martok]

Hmm, sounds like something I might be interested in.  Please let us know if it holds up! 

[Black Robin]

Good to know your interests.

[airboy]

I'm reading Carpe Jugleum in the Diskworld series.  I'm rereading Keegan's WW1 and reading an excellent book on the Korean War.

Unfortunately, the news in the real world is so bad that I'm reading highly escapist stuff right now.  Listening to Hard Magic by Larry Correia when I drive.

[Gusington]

Dividing the Spoils was disappointing. Skimmed through another book after that on the Ptolemies which was basically a book on their Egyptian law codes and property rights :/ Oh well, they can't all be winners.

About 100 pages in on Book 4 of Harry Sidebottom's Warrior of Rome series, The Caspian Gates. One of my favorite historical series and a nice palette cleanser after the last two.

[airboy]

I've about finished "Attack on Pearl Harbor" by Alan Zimm.  It is a detailed operational assessment of the attack and defense. 

Perhaps the most interesting thing in it is that a 3rd Wave attack on the oil storage was not feasible with the amount and type of ordinance left to the Japs after the first two waves.  It also hammered Japanese fighter doctrine and how successful the handful of US Fighters were that managed to reach the air.  It contends that if the US Planes had not been packed wingtip to wingtip that the losses would have been severe to the Japanese - even given the success of the first wave attacks.

I'd always thought Japan blundered badly by not attacking the oil storage - but he gave a very detailed analysis on how easy the tanks are to build and the number of tanker trips needed to refill the system.  He thinks Nimitz purposefully lied about the potential oil losses and problems that would have ensued to keep secret the underground storage of oil being built & filled at the time of the attack - something that was top secret.

Zimm also thought the dive bombers performed very poorly compared to the level bombers and the torpedo planes.

The book is sort of dry in large stretches - but he makes his points with a lot of data and I cannot spot obvious holes in his analyses - but I'm not an expert in any of this beyond how he is employing probability theory which he has done well.

[Anguille]

Reading:

Fondation by Isaak Asimov...

[Gusington]

^Nice...one of my favorite books of all time.

[JasonPratt]

I've about finished "Attack on Pearl Harbor" by Alan Zimm.  It is a detailed operational assessment of the attack and defense. 

Perhaps the most interesting thing in it is that a 3rd Wave attack on the oil storage was not feasible with the amount and type of ordinance left to the Japs after the first two waves.

Back on an anniversary of the attack several years ago, Dad picked up a documentary somewhere (no doubt cheap) which turned out to be VASTLY much better than I was expecting; and one of the points I hadn't heard before was that going after the fuel depot would have been pointless with their remaining ammo. (If I recall correctly, the Japanese understood this and backed off intentionally, according to the doc.) Aside from their ammo being unable to crack the hardened casings very well, the facility was designed to contain and minimize any leakage and fire.

[ArizonaTank]

I've about finished "Attack on Pearl Harbor" by Alan Zimm.  It is a detailed operational assessment of the attack and defense. 

Alan Zimm also dipped his toes into the computer wargame market in the early 90s and produced probably the most accurate WWII naval surface battle game ever. The ballistics and penetration for each shot was individually calculated. The game was called: Action Stations!  I always hoped he would follow the game up as the years passed, but he never did.

https://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/action-stations

[MetalDog]

Reading:

Fondation by Isaak Asimov...

^Nice...one of my favorite books of all time.

Ditto.  I'd be reading it right this instant if my library had a copy in.  I will keep looking when I go. 

[Martok]

Reading:

Fondation by Isaak Asimov...

Cheers, Anguille!  I'm in the midst of my annual re-reading of the Foundation trilogy myself.  Am currently reading the 2nd book, Foundation and Empire.