German Military Intelligence in World War II: The Abwehr by Lauran Paine

German Military Intelligence in World War II: The Abwehr by Lauran Paine this is less about German military intelligence then a biography of Admiral Wilhelm Canaris the head of German military intelligence for most of the second world war. When intelligence is discussed coverage is rather spotty. Much is made of German successes but little mention is made of their failures except for the inability to give agents enough training. The biggest shock in the book is that it does not mention at all the biggest failure of military intelligence mainly the successful disinformation campaign prior to the D-Day invasion. Cannot figure out why this would not be discussed at all.

Interesting for the biography of Canaris. Who did much to circumvent Hitler and was implicated in the bomb plot.

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Suicide Squads of World War II by Richard O'Neill

Suicide Squads of World War II by Richard O'Neill, I really wanted to like this book but I can't. The topic is interesting particularly considering the author deals not only with Japanese suicide weapons but British, Italian and German as well. The descriptions of the actual details are good but the authors often bizarre statements make the book lack credibility.

I knew I was in for rough ride when the author starts out the book by saying that he wishes the Japanese government would start funding the Yasukuni Shrine. Apparently O'Neill believes that honoring war criminals is important. Next the Fenians are described as "Irish nationalists" yes so is the IRA but they're both terrorists. Apparently only "some" Westerners believe the Japanese military was involved in "excesses" i.e. crimes against humanity. Wonder if O'Neill is one of these.

Lots of pictures which is probably a good thing because who knows what nonsense he would come up with if he had to write another 30,000 words of text.

Is available through Abebooks.



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The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde is a wonderful science-fiction novel. What if it was possible to enter books and change their outcomes? Well in this book we find out. There is also quite a bit on alternate history timelines and to top it off its quite funny. I needed some candy after what I've been reading recently.

Highly recommended I've already put in orders for the other books in the series.

Is available through Abebooks.




I have subsequently reviewed the 2nd book in the Thursday Next series Lost in a Good Book.

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Decolonization in Britain and France: The Domestic Consequences of International Relations by M. Kahler

Decolonization in Britain and France: The Domestic Consequences of International Relations by M. Kahler tries to explain why decolonization was done relatively smoothly in Britain but not so in France. The author tries to break down the barriers between international relations theorys and theorys of internal politics.

The argument is well-thought-out dealing with the various political parties and why for instance the conservative party in Britain which was pro empire actually manage to come out of decolonization stronger than the Labor Party which would theoretically get more from decolonization. The various reasons for the difficulties that France had are described. He makes a convincing argument.

An excellent book on an unusual subject. After all most books are interested in the creation of empires and not their breaking up.

Is available through Abebooks.

To Arras, 1917: A Volunteer's Odyssey by Walter Reid

To Arras, 1917: A Volunteer's Odyssey by Walter Reid is a memoir of a British soldier who was killed in the first world war. Actually calling it a memoir might be pushing it somewhat there isn't that much about the soldier more his family and the Times that he lived. I get the feeling that the author wanted to do a full-blown biography but was unable to come across enough material. Most of the usual elements in historical works on this era are present. The positive thinking Victorians dumped into a conflict that would make them and us cynical.

Nothing terribly innovative here but interesting all the same.

Is available through Abebooks.

By Permission of Heaven : the Story of the Great Fire of London by Adrian Tinniswood

By Permission of Heaven the Story of the Great Fire of London by Adrian Tinniswood is a history of the fire of 1666. Not only is there a description of the fire itself but also the machinations of the politicians afterward to rebuild London. In light of the New Orleans disaster it is interesting reading. I'm sure there's a comparative essay out there for someone who cares to write it.

Recommended.

Is available through Abebooks.

Somalia Operations: Lessons Learned by Kenneth Allard

Somalia Operations Lessons Learned by Kenneth Allard is a quite short booklet on lessons learned in the Somalia conflict. Allard is interested in analyzing the successes and failures of the American joint staff system which was in place throughout the Somali conflict. There is basically nothing on the "Blackhawk down" incident except a few passing references.

For what it is it does a decent job although there are some criticisms to be made. One is more humorous than anything else. There is constant reiteration about how US forces should never be under the command of other nations officers but there is also repeatedly crying and moaning that the other nations forces would not immediately bowdown to American command authority.

There is also a strange conclusions section which reiterate amongst other things that American forces should not be used in nation building. This is of course ok as far as it goes but this is a political choice not a military choice. Works like this should be interested in creating awareness of what needs to be done not a blanket refusal to even consider the issue. As Iraq and Afghanistan demonstrate going on about how they refused to do nation building didn't exactly stop them from attempting it there. Maybe if 10 years ago there had been a willingness to consider the difficulties and not hide their heads in the sand the forces would not be in such a big mess.

Is available through Abebooks.

The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes

The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes is a massive book coming in at 280,000 words. It is on the history of the deportation of British criminals to Australia. Australian history has done its best to avoid discussing the issue. This book brings it back as the central idea in the founding of Australia with effects that can be shown to this day.

Along the way the author destroys various myths of transportation for instance that all female convicts were prostitutes actually none of the were and that most criminals were petty criminals who did not deserve transportation.

A superb work of scholarship. It cannot be more highly recommended. It is too bad that shipping costs are restrictive from Australia to Canada I would love to learn more about this topic.

Is available through Abebooks.

The Italian Boy a Tale of Murder and Body Snatching in 1830s London by Sarah Wise

The Italian Boy a Tale of Murder and Body Snatching in 1830s London by Sarah Wise is the story of a cause celeb case in Victorian England. In the 19th century there was no system set up to provide corpses for dissection besides for those who were executed. This led to body snatchers being paid for corpses the newer the better. This led to people being murdered for their bodies. The medical profession at the time turned a blind eye and was willfully ignorant about what was going on.

Don't really care for social history but this is actually done quite well.

Campaigning with Grant by Horace Porter

Campaigning with Grant by Horace Porter is considered to be one of the more important primary sources for General Grant's command style.

The book describes Porter's membership in Grant's staff in a closing stages of the Civil War. Specifically when the army of Potomac was attacking Lee and pushing South until the final surrender at Appomattox. Most secondary sources use anecdotes from this book. If you've read any Civil War history you've probably run into some of the material from this book. Not only is the book useful as a source but the writing style is much superior to many Victorian writers. There isn't as much flowery gibberish added on.

Excellent book.

Paths of Death and Glory: The Last Days of the Third Reich, January - May 1945 by Charles Whiting

Paths of Death and Glory: The Last Days of the Third Reich, January - May 1945 by Charles Whiting describes the soldiers perspective of the final campaign in World War II in the European theater. The stories of those who fought on the front lines as well as the various support troops are laid out in panoramic detail. The scope of the book is January through May of 1945.

A rather short book but excellent on the soldiers experience. There is some discussion of various actions which are not usually covered in the history of the Western allies.




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The Secretary : Martin Bormann, the Man Who Manipulated Hitler by Jochen Von Lang

The Secretary Martin Bormann, the Man Who Manipulated Hitler by Jochen Von Lang consists of a biography of Hitler's secretary and the influence he managed to wield. Bormann is one of the lesser studied members of the government of the Third Reich although as the book ably demonstrates he wielded a massive amount of power.

The author a journalist has obviously spent quite a bit of time doing research not an instant biography by any means. The book concludes with the author's investigation of the death of Bormann and the bodies eventual discovery. There is a substantial appendix including the complete text of various messages between Bormann and other Nazi officials. Refreshing to see such a large amount of primary source material in a book like this.

An excellent work on the bureaucratic infighting that took place both within the Nazi party and the government of the Third Reich.



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Afghanistan: A Military History from Alexander the Great to the Fall of the Taliban by Stephen Tanner

Afghanistan: A Military History from Alexander the Great to the Fall of the Taliban by Stephen Tanner is a decent if not terribly scholarly book on the military history of Afghanistan. Since the history of Afghanistan is usually related by various invaders this makes writing a coherent narrative rather difficult but the author does a decent job. Approximately the last third of the book is on the Soviet invasion and the Northern alliance/US invasion after September 11. The book ends on a rather sour note considering recent events. The author is rather triumphalist about the success of the Northern alliance and that there is no chance for the Taliban. It seems just about every day we're hearing about a new Canadian casualty this seems rather shortsighted of the author that the Taliban wouldn't try to come back.

Unfortunately there are no notes and a rather short bibliography but there are quite a few maps.



For more Afghanistan book reviews take a look at My Afghanistan bookshelf.

For reviews take a look at My Insurgency/Counterinsurgency, Partisan and Guerrilla Warfare bookshelf.

Lohan to Iraq

"My security guard is going to take me to a gun range... and I'm going to start taking shooting lessons. He says if I'm going to go there (Iraq) I should really know how to shoot."
-- Lindsay Lohan

Sir Robert Thompson would be proud. No more insurgency.

Humor
Iraq
War on Terror
Lindsay Lohan

White trash and rich is still white trash

Isn't a sore jaw a symptom of methamphetamine use?

Humor
Britney Spears
Video
drug
Meth

The Sling and the Stone on War in the 21st Century by Thomas X. Hammes

The Sling and the Stone on War in the 21st Century by Thomas X. Hammes is a superb book on how to defeat insurgency and terrorist threats. The author suggests that instead of preparing to fight mechanized forces such as China the US should be more concerned about creating forces which are able to defeat insurgencies. He describes insurgencies and as the fourth generation of warfare. His analysis on the different aspects of insurgency and counterinsurgency are accurate and well thought out. One criticism is that he believes that Mao was the first to come up with the idea of a guerrilla campaign. This is highly inaccurate there have been insurgencies for over 2400 years.

The Department of Defense's technology fetish is analyzed and is described as stupid. Much is made of the concept of the revolution in military affairs and the unwillingness of its supporters to consider American failures since Vietnam.

The book also contains a list of recommendations that the military can use to become more adaptable. The policy changes make sense we can only hope someone is listening.

Very highly recommended.




For more Iraq book reviews take a look at My Iraq bookshelf.

For reviews take a look at My Insurgency/Counterinsurgency, Partisan and Guerrilla Warfare bookshelf.

The Thirty Years War and the Conflict for European Hegemony 1600-1660 by S. H. Steinberg

The Thirty Years War and the Conflict for European Hegemony 1600-1660 by S. H. Steinberg is a revisionist history of the 30 years war. Unlike most history texts the author describes the conflict not as a religious war but as power politics. He also takes a skeptical view of the level of destruction wrought upon Germany. He makes a convincing case that the level of destruction has been exaggerated by various historians who had an ax to grind.

The book is quite short and contains a decent summary which can help illuminate the often confusing different alliances and phases of the conflict.

The Nazi Revolution: Hitler's Dictatorship and the German Nation by Allan Mithcell

The Nazi Revolution: Hitler's Dictatorship and the German Nation by Allan Mithcell contains both journal articles and excerpts from larger works. The title does a good job of summarizing the contents. We get a little bit of everything in this book. The standard topics are covered. This is the third edition. In the preface it says that selections were not chosen solely to provide a contrast with each other. All are supported by research. Strangely many of the sources do seem to act as mere opposites of one another. Particularly when dealing with Hitler several the selections use a psychological approach which is problematic. After all it's not as if he can be interviewed.

Interesting but I probably won't be reading it again soon. Decent if slightly dated section on further reading.


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The Vikings by Johannes Brondsted

The Vikings by Johannes Brondsted is an old but still relatively serviceable history of the Vikings. The book originally published in 1960 was published prior to the discovery of Viking ruins in North America so the section on North American colonization is speculative. That being said the book holds up relatively well in its other sections. Not only does the book deal with the modern Norwegians and Danes but Sweden as well. This is quite unusual most books on the Vikings are only interested on the Vikings impact on Britain and France not Russia or Spain. The book contains sections not only on raids but on religion, art and literature in other words the standard social history topics.

A decent summary providing more than a description of Viking atrocities.

The Death of Adolf Hitler Unknown Documents from Soviet Archives by Lev Bezymenski

The Death of Adolf Hitler Unknown Documents from Soviet Archives by Lev Bezymenski is one of the stranger books in my collection. This book originally published in English in 1969 contains supposedly the Soviet autopsy reports of Hitler, his wife and Goebbels his wife and children. Besides the documents we get the story of how the bodies were found as well as the identification and autopsys. The book is an interesting example of Soviet propaganda towards the West at the time. The author makes allusions to various dastardly deeds of the Western allies and NATO. It's considered to be more propaganda then history and should certainly be treated with a grain of salt. More of a conversation piece then perhaps anything else.

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The Duel The Eighty-Day Struggle Between Churchill and Hitler by John Lukacs

The Duel The Eighty-Day Struggle Between Churchill and Hitler by John Lukacs describes the 80 days between Winston Churchill becoming PM and the German attack on the Soviet Union. Basically the book consists of a dual character study of the two combatants with reference to the political and military actions occurring on both sides. The book lays out in excellent detail some things which are usually passed over in other histories mainly Churchill's time as PM between the fall of France and the Battle of Britain.

Highly recommended!



For more WWII book reviews take a look at My World War II bookshelf.

Supplying War :Logistics from Wallenstein to Patton by Martin Van Creveld

Supplying War :Logistics from Wallenstein to Patton by Martin Van Creveld is a classic work on logistics. The book describes the challenges that various military's have had in supplying their units throughout history. The starting point of the study is the 30 years war and ends at the end of World War II. The book demonstrates that many of the often held judgments about the effects of logistics on campaigns is incorrect. He uses archival sources as well as deductive reasoning to come to these conclusions. His arguments are well argued and are convincing. One of the more interesting points of analysis is that until World War I food specifically forage for horses was more difficult a supply then ammunition for the guns. This changed in World War I. Most of the planning for various wars did not take into account the logistical difficulties. Even the Normandy campaign which was micromanaged from a logistical perspective had serious logistical problems.

An excellent book if you haven't read it you should.