Books, Magazines & Videos
page updated 4/11/16

Here you will find a fine selection of books that will be updated on a regular basis. These are books that I have in my own personal collection, books that are on my "wish-list", and books that have been recommended to me by others. Please note that it will take a while to build this page, and it's an ongoing project that has only just begun...

I have listed a few online bookstores that carry WWII books and videos and also plan on starting a WWII video section in the very near future.

If you have any books or videos that you think would be of interest to me and/or our readers, please don't hesitate to drop me a line.

June 2007 Note: Because we discuss books on a regular basis on our forum, I will no longer add new books to this page. Here's the link...

World War II Books and Magazines - Catch the latest reviews and recommendations from myself and our members.

Great sources for WWII Books & Videos

Whenever possible, the link will take you right to the WWII section.

Borders (teamed with Amazon.com) - New and used books





Stone & Stone - They don't buy, stock, or sell books or anything else. This is strictly an informational website, designed to offer fresh news every day about WWII-related books, publishers, booksellers, book shows, and authors. They also provide a wide range of book reviews, historical essays, an online WWII order-of-battle database

Strandbooks - 18 miles of books - updated 06-24-10

Walmart

Half.com by Ebay

GPO Access - Books, Posters & CD-ROMs about World War II from the U.S. Government

Military Book Club

Barnes & Noble

Vintage Video

Military Press - Independent Publisher of Military History - added 10-06-04

US Military Video - added 03-01-06

Military Books - added 10-08-08

Antiqbook - Fine Books - Fair Prices - added 03-08-2016

Magazines


Subscribe to World War II Magazine today!

Marion's note: My article on the 540th Combat Engineers appeared in the September 2006 issue. To view this and other articles by me, please visit the 540th's History page on this site.


Army Engineer Magazine - Published six times annually on a bimonthly schedule. AEA members receive this informative publication as a benefit of membership. Articles in each issue vary according to a yearly theme schedule; however each issue always contains a wealth of engineer related information involving Army Engineer history and traditions.

Marion's note: I've had three articles published in this magazine. Please see this link for a complete listing.

Other Magazines of Interest

Military Officer - The Official Magazine of MOAA

Related to WWII Engineers

Finding Granddad's War - by Jeffrey Badger - click here to purchase

Overseas with the 540th Combat Engineers - edited by J W Robeysek - Heidelberg, Germany: Brasudruck GMbH, 1945 - Richard Horrell, historian & friend, picked up a copy and has been kind enough to loan me the book for a period of time. I painstakingly copied each page. My plan is the upload the entire book and share it with everyone. I completed the scans in November 2004. Note:  I received my own copy a year later.

The Corps of Engineers - The War Against Germany - Authors: Alfred M. Beck; Abe Bortz; Charles W. Lynch; Lidia Mayo; And Ralph F. Weld - Publisher: Department of the Army - The book describes in detail the role of the Army Corps Engineers in various campaigns, from North Africa, Italy, as well as Central and Western Europe, from 1941-1944. Includes photos, maps... - Recommended to me by Rod O'Barr. Received the book today (August 9th, 2004), and have already found it intriguing. There are numerous references to the 36th, 39th and 540th Engineers and it will be a tremendous help to me while trying to write a concise history of the VI Corps Engineers.

The Corps of Engineers Troops and Equipment - Authors: Coll, Blanche D. Keith, Jean E. And Rosenthal, Herbert H - Publisher: Department of War - Discusses development of equipment, role of the engineers, construction in ports, etc. Includes photos. - Recommended to me by Rod O'Barr. Received this book in October 2004.

First Across the Rhine - The Story of the 291st Engineer Combat Battalion - by Col. David E. Pergrin with Eric Hammel - Publisher: Pacifica Press - 1989. Is a first-person narrative by the commander of the celebrated 291st Combat Engineers, who paved the way from Normandy shortly after D-Day and raced across France and Belgium in the summer of 1944. In December of '44 they found themselves virtually alone as they stood astride the route of the panzer spearhead - The Battle of the Bulge. Weeks later the 291st was selected from among all the US Army engineer bns in Germany to throw the first bridge across the mighty Rhine River, in the face of enormous resistance.

I had the pleasure of speaking to the Colonel on the phone a few months ago. He is still amazingly spry and sharp and it was a real treat sharing a conversation with him. I was thrilled to hook him up with another member of his old unit and they will hopefully be able to meet in person in 2006.

European Theatre

- General Interest

A Half Acre of Hell - by Avis Schrorer - Galde Press Incorporated - This is the story of Avis Schrorer, a combat nurse in WWII. A lot of the book covers the struggle for Anzio. This book was suggested to me by Ken Kleinbach. Another good read. Makes you wonder how anyone survived Anzio!

Dogfaces who Smiled Through Tears In World War II - Homer R Ankrum - Graphic Publishing Company - This book chronicles the heartbreaks, hardships, heroics, and humor of the North African and Italian Campaigns of the Redbull (34th Infantry Division). Lot of details.

T-Patch to Victory; The 36th "Texas" Division": France, Germany & Austria -
by Col. Vincent M. Lockhart. 325 pages. Maps & B&W photos printed on plain paper. Staked Plains Press, 1981. The following review is written by Steve Cole:
A account of the 36th Division in France & Germany & Austria but not their earlier days when they were in Italy. It is a good read but not an extensive resource book.

A Soldier's Story - by Omar N. Bradley - Caleb Carr, Series Editor - The Modern Library, New York
I selected this autobiography at an auction held at the 101st Airborne Luncheon in April 2005. I had not read anything by General Bradley yet, so I thought this would be a fascinating read. It is! I would recommend it to anyone who has a fascination with the ETO and wants to hear what it was like from one of our top generals who fought along with leaders like Eisenhower, Montgomery and Patton.

-North African Campaign

An Army at Dawn - The War in North Africa, 1942-1943 - by Rick Atkinson - Published Henry Holt & Company - First Edition 2002

This book was highly recommended to me by several members of the 36th Combat Engineers at their September 2005 reunion. I just received my copy and it's a fine addition to my library.

In the first volume of The Liberation Trilogy, the book begins on the eve of Operation Torch, the daring amphibious invasion of Morocco and Algeria and proceeds to tell the hard fought battle across tough terrain and an even tougher enemy; Erwin Rommel, the Desert Fox and the well-trained troops of the Germany. The Allies, particularly the Americans, discover how woefully unprepared they are due mostly to their inexperience. See how North Africa becomes the proving ground for their officers as they learn to lead, and how an entire army learns to fight against defying odds.

-The Sicilian Campaign

Bitter Victory - The Battle for Sicily - by Carlo D'Este - Published by Collins - 1988.
-From Publishers Weekly
With a veritable blizzard of primary-source support, D'Este ( Decision in Normandy ) argues that the generally ignored Sicily campaign laid the foundation and set the trends for the decisive battles that were to follow in Italy and Northwest Europe.
-From Book News, Inc.
This is an even-handed, meticulously documented, and absorbing examination of the conquest of Sicily in 1943. For the first time the major military commanders who would lead the Allied victory in Europe were together.
This book comes highly recommended by Colin Hotham and many others.

-The Italian Campaign

Rock of Anzio - Flint Whitlock - An intimate account of the 45th Division from Anzio to the liberation of Dachau - Flint Whitlock is a frequent contributor to WWII Magazine

Fatal Decision - Anzio & the Battle for Rome - by Carlo D'Este - HarperCollins Publisher - This book is currently out of print, but can still be found. This book was highly recommended by John Fallon. Received it the first week of August 2004. I enjoy his writing style.

-Southern France/Central Europe

Riviera to the Rhine - The European Theatre - US Army in WWII - Authors: Jeffrey J. Clarke and Robert Ross Smith - Publisher: The National Historical Society - The book covers the invasion of Southern France and examines the 6th Army Group, and the two armies under General Devers' leadership; the 7th Army led by General Alexander M. Patch and the French 1st Army under the leadership of General Jean de Lattre de Tassingny. - Received this book on August 24, 2004. From initial perusal I can tell that it has some of the finest maps I've seen in a long time, great photos and tons of detail. This book was recommended to me by Dick Fietz. He also recommended another book in the series, The Last Offensive.

-Normandy

Decision in Normandy - by Carlo D'Este
-Drew Middleton, NYT Book Review
The best-researched, best-written account of [the Normandy campaign] I have ever read.

Ranger Units

Darby's Rangers 1942-1945 - Mir Bahmanyar - Osprey Publishing - This is the book that Rene Rousselle suggested that I read. I found out that the 540th and the 36th had fought along with the Rangers in a couple of campaigns. A good quick read.

Self-Published

The Hunter and the Hunted - A Combat Soldier's Story - Bennett J Palmer, Sr - My dear friend Ben put his heart and soul into this first person account from the eyes a young kid in the "fighting 36th Infantry Div". Live with him through training, the harshness of the desert in North Africa, the months of grueling pain in Italy, the landing in southern France and the great push to Germany. Click here for information on how to purchase the book and visit his page, Memories of Bennett Palmer. Note: My dear friend passed away in 2005 and he is dearly missed by me.

101st Airborne Division

I've had the great honor of meeting Don Burgett, 101st Airborne, 506 PIR, A Co., back in December 2004, when he graciously invited me to his house for a morning visit. Don has written four fantastic first person books and is in the process of writing two more. I've read hundreds of WWII books and Don's books are amongst the very finest. He has a way of making you feel as though you are right there with him, and I highly recommend you get the entire set. Don, thanks for making me an honorary member of the 101st!

Currahee! A Screaming Eagle at Normandy - Donald R Burgett - foreword by Stephen Ambrose - Presidio

The Road to Arnhem - A Screaming Eagle in Holland - Donald R Burgett - Presidio

Seven Roads to Hell - A Screaming Eagle at Bastogne - Donald R Burgett - Presidio - Ballantine Books

Beyond the Rhine - A Screaming Eagle in Germany - Donald R Burgett - A Dell Book

It is with absolute pleasure that I add the books of George Koskimaki , 101st Airborne, 506 PIR, to this page. I met George for the first time in February of 2005 at a monthly meeting of the Michigan Chapter of the 101st Airborne. Since that initial introduction, George and I have exchanged letters and talked over dinner, at which time he so graciously lent me some of the interview questions that he used to research and compile the thousands of pages of his wonderfully documented books, so I could glean some tidbits of wisdom in the research and writing of my future books on the VI Corps Engineers. I would like to thank him for his pearls of wisdom and for taking the time to mentor me. Your help and kindness will never be forgotten.

D-Day With the Screaming Eagles - George Koskimaki - Publisher: Casemate Publishers and Book Distributors

Hell's Highway: Chronicle of the 101st Airborne Division in the Holland Campaign, September-November 1944 - George Koskimaki - Publisher: Casemate Publishers and Book Distributors. I am currently reading this book and it is utterly fascinating. The book chronicles the 612 people he interviewed, including paratroopers, citizens of Holland who lived through the experience, underground members and more. A must read!

The Battered Bastards of Bastogne: A Chronicle of the Defense of Bastogne, December 19. 1944-January 17, 1945 - George Koskimaki - Publisher: Casemate Publishers and Book Distributors

Behind Hitler's Lines - Thomas H Taylor - Ballantine Books
Just received this book as a birthday present from my step-daughter and son-in-law. I haven't had a chance to crack it open yet because I'm currently reading Omar Bradley's book. It is the true story of the only soldier, Joe Beyrle, to fight for both America and the Soviet Union in World War II. Joe recently passed away and I am looking forward to reading this book, which is told in part by Joe himself. Currahee!