Fallschirmjäger.net Book Reviews
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The Perfect Nazi
The Perfect Nazi: Uncovering My Grandfather's Secret Past
by Martin Davidson
ISBN 13: 978-0425245446
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A surprising tale about a man's quest for knowledge about his grandfather's past. Surprisingly the one
photo they had from the war of his service provided some pretty strong clues: A gold party badge, SS
officer rank and an SD sleeve device! Needless to say his grandfather had a pretty deep and involved
history with the rise of the Third Reich.
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Hitlers Pope
Hitler's Pope: The Secret History of Pius XII
by John Cornwell
ISBN 13: 978-0143114000
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Yet another sordid tale of the shamfully corrupt organization, the Vatican and the Catholic church.
A well research story of the work of Alois Hudal as a proxy for Eugenio Pacelli (1876-1958), who became Pope Pius XII
and his support for Hitler's regime during the war and helping war criminals like Mengele and Eichmann escape justice
after the war. An enlightening book.
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Fighting for the Fatherland
Fighting for the Fatherland: The Story of the German Soldier from 1648 to the Present Day
by David J. Stone
ISBN 13: 978-1597971867
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[Review from Amazon] This is the most comprehensive and accessible account of the
German soldier ever published in English. It also shows, once again, the merit
of having such a history written by an author who blends military experience with
academic perception." --Richard Holmes, editor of THE OXFORD COMPANION TO MILITARY HISTORY
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Hitlers Scientists
Hitler's Scientists: Science, War, and the Devil's Pact
by John Cornwell
ISBN 13: 978-0142004807
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[Review from Amazon] Covering the dramatic rise of German science in the nineteenth century, its preeminence
in the early twentieth, and the frightening developments that led to its collapse in 1945, this is the
compelling story of German scientists under Hitler?s regime. Weaving the history of science and technology
with the fortunes of war and the stories of men and women whose discoveries brought both benefits and
destruction to the world, Hitler?s Scientists raises questions that are still urgent today. As science
becomes embroiled in new generations of weapons of mass destruction and the war against terrorism, as
advances in biotechnology outstrip traditional ethics, this powerful account of Nazi science forms a
crucial commentary on the ethical role of science.
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Hitlers Scientists
Hitler's Scientists: Science, War, and the Devil's Pact
by John Cornwell
ISBN 13: 978-0142004807
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[Review from Amazon] Covering the dramatic rise of German science in the nineteenth century, its preeminence
in the early twentieth, and the frightening developments that led to its collapse in 1945, this is the
compelling story of German scientists under Hitler?s regime. Weaving the history of science and technology
with the fortunes of war and the stories of men and women whose discoveries brought both benefits and
destruction to the world, Hitler?s Scientists raises questions that are still urgent today. As science
becomes embroiled in new generations of weapons of mass destruction and the war against terrorism, as
advances in biotechnology outstrip traditional ethics, this powerful account of Nazi science forms a
crucial commentary on the ethical role of science.
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The Real Odessa
Nazis on the Run: How Hitler's Henchmen Fled Justice
by Gerald Steinacher
ISBN 13: 978-0199576869
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[Review from Amazon] After World War II, rumors circulated that a secret organization named "Odessa" had smuggled Nazi war criminals out of Europe, a rumor further fueled by the wildly popular novel The Odessa File. But "Odessa" was nothing more than a myth. Now, in Nazis on the Run, historian Gerald Steinacher provides the true story of how the Nazis escaped their fate.
Steinacher not only reveals how Nazi war criminals escaped from justice at the end of the Second World War, fleeing through the Tyrolean Alps to Italian seaports, but he also highlights the key roles played by the Red Cross, the Vatican, and the Secret Services of the major powers. The book takes a hard look at the International Committee of the Red Cross, proving that identification papers issued by the Red Cross made it possible for thousands of Nazis, war criminals, and collaborators--including Adolf Eichmann and Josef Mengale--to slip through the hands of justice and to find refuge in North and South America, Spain, and the Near East. Steinacher underscores the importance of the South Tyrol as a "ratline" from Germany to Italy and also reveals that many figures in the Catholic Church--sometimes knowingly, other times unwittingly--were involved in large-scale Nazi smuggling, often driven by the fear of an imminent communist takeover of Italy. Finally, the book documents how the Counter Intelligence Corps and later the CIA recruited former SS men to advise U.S. intelligence agencies and smuggled them out of Soviet-occupied areas of Austria and Eastern Europe into Italy and on to South America.
Based on extensive research in newly opened archives, Nazis on the Run is the first book to provide a complete picture of this little-known story of justice denied.
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The Real Odessa
The Real Odessa: How Peron Brought the Nazi War Criminals to Argentina.
by Uki Goni
ISBN 13: 978-1862075528
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Teriffic documentation of the Catholic Vatican supported rat line spiriting Nazi War Criminals out of Europe, including various
Blakan campaign Ustaschi.
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The Storm of War: A New History of the Second World War
Historical review.
by Andrew Roberts
ISBN 13: 978-0061228599
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Great Britain's finest military historian writes his complete history of WWII.
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The Third Reich at War
Historical trilogy.
by Richard J. Evans
ISBN 10: 1594202060
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Excellent and detailed trilogy of books on the Third Reich; The Coming of the Third Reich and The Third Reich in Power
are full of eyewitness accounts and details of this historical period.
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Daedalus Returned
War memoir of Baron von der Heydte.
by Baron von der Heydte
ISBN 13: 978-0971385207
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This is an important and extremely rare WWII memoir written by a former German Fallschirmjäger Officer; Baron von der Heydte.
The Baron was in command of a battalion of paratroopers in Crete from the beginning and seven days later received the
surrender of the town. This book is the detailed account of preparation, landing and seven days of
battle. Captured in 1945 in the Ardennes the Baron was condemned for his anti-Hitler sentiments as a POW. After the war
the Baron became a professor of law at the University of Wurzburg.
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Modern irregular warfare: In defense policy and as a military phenomenon
Treatise on Irregular Warfare.
by Baron von der Heydte
ISBN 13: 978-0971385207
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Treatise on Irregular Warfare by Baron von der Heydte
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I Learned to Fly for Hitler
Autobiography of Joe Volmar.
by Joe Volmar
ISBN 13: 978-0967138909
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It’s a really good first person narrative of a young German born boy who returns to Germany just prior to WWII and
his adventures as he’s schooled in Germany and the new Reich. Especially interesting is his account of glider
training and his selection as a Komet pilot! Joe fortunately makes his way through a number of close scrapes
to survive the war and eventually comes back to America.
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HITLER'S PARATROOPER: The Life and Battles of Rudolf Witzig
Detailed biography of Rudolf Witzig.
by Gilberto Villahermosa
ISBN 13: 978-1848325593
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This book is a really great biography of Rudolf Witzig, from birth all the way through the WWII years. Most of this information
is from first hand sources and authoritative. A must have for any student of Fallschirmjäger history. The one small blemish is the
title preamble of HITLER'S PARATROOPER, a crass and clear marketing add-on from some moron at the publishing company. The book does
correctly point out that Witzig was never a party man, but simply a career soldier. An excellent book!
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The Lions of Carentan
Fallschirmjäger Regiment 6, 1943-1945
Truly excellent book with scores of new photos..
by Volker Griesser
ISBN 978-1-61200-006-0
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Covering FJR/6 in Normandy, Italy, Belgium, Russia and Holland. Especially interesting is the
coverage of von der Heydte and the last parachute mission in the Ardennes
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FALLSCHIRMJAGER: Elite German Paratroops In World War II
Lots of photos from the Balkans and Greece.
by Jon Sutherland & Diane Canwell
ISBN 184884318-6
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Good photographic history with mostly behind the lines, everyday type photos.
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The Forgotten Soldier / Le soldat oublié
by Guy Sajer
ISBN 2-221-03739-1
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While the story is about a soldier in the Grossdeutschland Division during WWII and not related to the Fallschirmjager, it is
a must read for any serious student of WWII. (The book is written under the pen name; Guy Sajer. The author is Guy Mouminoux
the son of a French and German marriage, Sajer is his mother's maiden name. M. Mouminoux has also created works under the pen
names Dimitri, and Dimitri Lahache.)
While some have questioned the veracity of the book due to small niggling details that are left out or muddled the story which
is meant to capture the feelings and experiences of a young man in combat under horrific conditions is a masterpiece. These arguments
are a sideshow that have no place in my enjoyment of this heartfelt work. I highly
reccomend reading this book!
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Kursk Tourmente d'Acier
Graphic novel on the battle of Kursk by Guy Mouminoux
by Dimitri
ISBN 978-2723432641
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Graphic novel on the battle of Kursk by Guy Mouminoux, you'll recognize the characters from the Forgotten Soldier.
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Jump into Hell
German Paratroopers in World War II
by Franz Kurowski
ISBN 978-0-8117-0582-0
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Definitive history from the after action reports and from eyewitnesses of the Fallschirmjäger in action from the Low Countries
all the way to the end. Absolutely a must read for anyone wishing to study the Fallschirmjäger.
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They Dared Return
The True Story of Jewish Spies behind the Lines in Nazi Germany
by Patrick K. O'Donnell
ISBN 978-0-306-81800-4
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Jewish refugees from Germany recruited for covert operations. They are asked to return to Germany as spies - and they accept!
Sotries of amazing courage.
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Nazi Prisoners of War in America
by Arnold Krammer
ISBN 978-0812885262
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Research on German POW camps in the United States, including a number here in Texas by a historian at Texas A&M; in College Station Texas.
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Lone Star Stalag
German Prisoners of War at Camp Hearne
by Michael R. Waters PhD
ISBN 978-1585445455
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In depth account of the POW camp at Hearn Texas. Interviews, photographs and archaeology of
the actual camp. A great insight to a part of the war often bypassed in historical accounts.
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The West Point Atlas of War: World War II: European Theater
Great for planning your tactical scenario.
by Vincent J. Esposito (Editor)
ISBN 978-1603760232
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Maps and descriptions of the major campaigns of WWII.
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Handbook on German Military Forces
by US Government Printing Office
TM-E 30-451
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The definitive handbook on German Military Forces in WWII.
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Liederbuch der Luftwaffe
Das Lied der Front, 1940
Das Lied der Front, 1941
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Song books (lyrics to be scanned onto the songs pages soon...)
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War Games: Inside the World of Twentieth-Century War Reenactors
"Those guys need therapy."
by Jenny Thompson
ISBN 13-9781588341280
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A thorough study of reenactors and reenacting. You will recognize yourself and others (If you are in the hobby.)
Entertaining and well written tale of big egos, contratians, Ramada rangers, stitch Nazis and all of the other
truly wierd and normal forms of the folks involved in reenacting. A must read for reenactors so they know what
are getting into. I'd call it the primer on reenacting for the unintiated!
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Hunters from the Sky
The German Parachute Corps, 1940-1945
by Charles Whiting
ISBN none
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Great early work on the Fallschirmjäger, published in 1974.
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TAPPING HITLER'S GENERALS
Transcripts of Secret Conversations, 1942-1945
by Sönke Neitzel
ISBN 978-1-84415-705-1
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Fascinating insiders view into the minds of high ranking German officers af all services. The British secret service had
secretly recorded their conversations while in detention at Trent Park. Points of interest are discussions about the plot
against Hitler and attrocities being committed by the Reich.
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Hunting Eichmann
How a Band of Survivors and a Young Spy Agency Chased Down the World's Most Notorious Nazi
by Neal Bascomb
ISBN 978-0-618-85867-5
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Good account of the movements of and capture of Eichmann by agents of the Mossad. Covers details of the Catholic Churche's involvement
in his getaway and false identity papers. Good insider information on the capture more detail than the original work,
The House on Garibaldi Street,
though I guess that Isser Harel did not want to give away trade secrets when he wrote his work!
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Colditz
The German Story
by Reinhold Eggers
ISBN 987-1-84415-536-1
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The story of Coldiz prison written by the former German Security Officer. Translated by former Colditz prisoner Howard Gee.
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In Deadly Combat
A German Soldier's Memoir of the Eastern Front
by Gottlob Herbert Bidermann
ISBN 0-7006-1016-2
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Author's account of his story of combat on the Ostfront during WWII. Hard to put this book down, incredible account.
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When the Afrika Korps Came to Texas
Southwestern Historical Quarterly Vol LXXX, No. 3, January 1977
by Professor Arnold P. Krammer
ISBN - none -
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Good article covering German Afrika Corps POWs in Texas during WWII. Cover art is
painting by POW R. Lubos of Mexia Internment Camp (1945) painted on a window shade
as the canvas. POW Hulmut Mahlo presented the painting to the JT Bounds family,
for whom he had worked, when the camp was closed. (Courtesy Mrs. JT Bounds,
Tehuacana, Texas. The book also includes photos from Camp Swift TX, where the
Salerno +65 battle was held in 2008.
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Vom Schiffsjungen zum Fallschirmjäger General
by Lieutenant General Hermann Bernard Ramcke
ISBN - none -
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Autobiography of General Hermann Bernard Ramcke covers his career from world war one to world war two up until 1942.
German text with some fallschirmjäger photos included. Published in January 1943 by Verlag die Wehrmacht, Berlin.
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Hitler's Jewish Soldiers
The Untold Story of Nazi Racial Laws and Men of Jewish Descent in the German Military
by Bryan Mark Rigg
ISBN 978-0-7006-1178-2
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Examines the wartime service of men who were classified as Jews or partial-Jews (Mischlinge)
by the Nazi racial laws 1930s. These men were decorated veterans and high-ranking officers and
even generals and admirals.
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Black Edelweiss
A Memoir of Combat and Conscience by a Soldier of the Waffen-SS
by Johann Voss
ISBN 0-9666389-8-0
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Author describes his service in the Waffen SS Gebirgsjäger Regiment 11 (6th SS Mountain Division Nord). Written
in secret while he was a POW in the US from 1945-1946. Describes his angst over being labelled a member of a
criminal organization while trying to reconcile his soldierly service against the Soviets in northern Karelia
and Finland and also combat against US forces in the Vosges and in the Saar-Moselle triangle in 1945.
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Deutsche Soldaten
Uniforms, Equipment & Personal Items of the German Soldier 1939-45
by Agustín Sáiz Martínez
ISBN 978-1-932033-96-0
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This is an incredibly detailed book on the life, equipment and accoutrements of the ordinary German soldier.
It is full of detail colour photos and descriptions of equipment. It is an absolute must for the collector
or reenactor. I highly recommended it!
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JUNGVOLK
The Story of a Boy Defending Hitler's Reich
by Wilhelm R. Gehlen & Don A. Gregory
ISBN 978-1-932033-87-8
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This is a really well told first person account of WWII through the eyes of a child growing up during the war. The everyday situations and even the
accounts of what would seem to be the mundane give a terrific view into the real world of life in a small German town during these times. I enjoyed
every minute of this really good book. Highly recommended to any student of history.
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SOLDAT
Volume Eight, Fallschirmjäger
by Chris Mason
ISBN 1-57510-078-9
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The essential reference for a Fallschirmjäger reenactor. Pictures and descriptions of equipment and Fallschirmjäger history. Accuracte and
well researched.
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German Paratroops
Uniforms, Insignia & Equipment of the Fallschirmjager in Wwii: Uniforms, Insignia & Equipment of the Fallschirmjager in World War II
by Robert Kurtz
ISBN 9-780764-310409
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Another great reference for a Fallschirmjäger reenactor. Pictures and descriptions of clothing and uniforms of the Fallschirmjäger.
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Fallschirmjäger
by Branislav Radovic
ISBN 0764325655
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Over 160 images from the files of the Bundesarchiv, most that I've not seen in other works. Mostly full page and
details of various uniforms and equipment, helmets with various painted camouflage schemes, wire and covers. Lots
of small everyday life details captured in photos.
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