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Miniatures Adventure => The Second World War => Topic started by: Partizanmeister on August 29, 2016, 09:37:28 PM

Title: May 1940 campaign - reading recommendations?
Post by: Partizanmeister on August 29, 2016, 09:37:28 PM

Hi all, just back from my holidays where I read Alistair Horne's 'To Lose a Battle' - good read, stronger on the background politics and high level stuff than on battlefield descriptions (where he tends to rely on Rommel and Guderian's accounts). Also feels a little dated, having been written in the seventies. Any recommendations for more recent evaluations of the campaign? I see there's a new book out 'Blitzkreig' in September, but anything else recent or decent would be appreciated. Thanks!

Title: Re: May 1940 campaign - reading recommendations?
Post by: Morgan on August 30, 2016, 01:01:16 PM

I recently read "Dunkirk" by Hugh Sebag-Montefiore and found it fascinating. It actually covers the entire campaign, not just the last days in Dunkirk. Lots of first-hand front-line accounts and generally very 'read-able'.

Title: Re: May 1940 campaign - reading recommendations?
Post by: Partizanmeister on August 30, 2016, 03:34:49 PM

Thanks, I've ordered the Dunkirk volume, and had forgotten that Len Deighton wrote an account too, might get that too. Anyone read the German account by Karl-Heinz Freiser? Bit expensive but wondering if I should go for that too. Seem to have lost my copy of Guderian's 'Panzer Leader' so might get that with some birthday money...  ;)

Title: Re: May 1940 campaign - reading recommendations?
Post by: levied troop on August 31, 2016, 07:22:35 PM

The books mentioned above are all excellent.  I'd add the relevant books from the Battleground Europe series:
http://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Battleground-Books-WWII/s/27

Good on first hand accounts of the action.

Title: Re: May 1940 campaign - reading recommendations?
Post by: Iain on August 31, 2016, 09:58:22 PM

Airey Neave's Flames of Calais is superb.  I also recently read and enjoyed J M Langley's Fight Another Day - mostly about his time as POW but has a section on Dunkirk too.  For a broader sweep, James Holland's War in the West has had great reviews (but I've not read that one yet).

Title: Re: May 1940 campaign - reading recommendations?
Post by: c0cky30 on August 31, 2016, 10:30:15 PM

The Blitzkrieg Legend by Karl-Heinz Frieser.