I am just trying to see what books are out there that might have been missed. Myself, I stumbled on this book at my local Borders Book Store.
Iron Hulls Iron Hearts: Mussolini’s Elite Armoured Divisions in North Africa (Paperback)
by Ian Walker (Author)
Missing in a lot of histories on the North African camapiagn is the Italian view. Most of the view puts the Italain troops in a very negative view. This book goes over the various handicaps that the Italian armor forces had to face. Mussolini had many grandiose plans for the Italian armed forces. Considering the limited resources and industrial capability, these plans for more than the country could accomplish.
There were only 3 armored divisions, but like all Itailan units the title was larger that the unit. These divisions were only the size of British Armored Brigades. The infantry units were also similarly smaller than those of other countries. Another 3 armored divisions were planned, but the Italian industries couldn’t supply the vehicle to accomplish this and they had a hard time filling the needs of the 3 divisions already formed.
The battle history of the Ariete (Ram) Division is alot more successful than what is usually said of it. This book goes over the details of the battles and shows even with the limitation of obsolete and inadaquate equipment, they fought as best they could.
Over The Edge of the World: Magellan’s Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe by Laurence Bergreen. Pretty interesting account/narrative of the most important voyage in the Age of Discovery…260 men in 5 ships start out, 18 in 1 ship make it home after 3 years. Fascinating period in history and puts into perspective how far things have come in the last 500 years.
Uggh – I’ve been slogging through the laborious text in the “T-34 Mythical Weapon” book. I don’t think I’ll finish that.
Recently I finished Albin Irzyk’s “He Rode Up Front For Patton” which I obtained through interlibrary loan. Very good description of the US Blitzkreig in the NWE campaign and stateside training excercises. Also very informative about the “combat command” unit orgainization and how they worked.
O wait you mean about history, modeling, etc… Hmmm nothing to recent but the last one was Enemy At The Gates. Yes I read it after I saw the movie, well a couple of years after it came out. I does make me want to do a diarama about the Russian snipers in Stalingrad. It’s on the to do list.
“Commanding the Red Army’s Sherman Tanks” by Dimitry Loza. Excellent read, got several dio ideas, plus stowage ideas for the two M4A2(76)s on the shelf.
I’m almost done with “The Russian Revolution” by Richard Pipes. When that’s done I’ll start his third book in the series unless my new T-34 and Sherman book distract me away from it.
Also - found this movie (not a book) called “A Midnight’s Clear” which is a WWII flic that is supposed to be superb. It’s really hard to find and I had to resort to getting it on VHS (the DVD version was going for more than $45 on eBay last time I checked).
I just need to find a couple of hours to sit down and watch it.
A Genius for War (Biography of George Patton) by Carlo d’Este (d’Este is one of my favorite authors, his books are well researched. Don’t go by his last name, he is a retired Lt. Colonel from the US Army history branch. Unlike other biographers of Patton, he was able to interview members of the Patton family. For those historians, it is interesting with his name as it is the same as the family that were the Dukes of Ferrara during the Renaissance.)