World War II |
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Since childhood, I have been fascinated by the history World War Two. At the time, this conflict threatened to consume the entire globe. It spread like wildfire, then settled into a seemingly endless challenge of survival. Equally endless was the depth of human suffering and loss of life. In the bombings, entire cities were razed to the ground. Millions were consumed by the Nazi machine, sent to concentration camps and methodically murdered. Millions more died on the Eastern front, victims of starvation. The study of World War Two is complex. This was the first true "modern" war, and as such was extensively recorded on film, on tape and in photographs. In addition, there are massive archives of documents in many languages. The study of the war must cover land, sea and air, as well as covert operations and political climates. It would be impossible to cover them all here, so all I've attempted to do is touch upon areas that I'm particularly interested in. The war spawned infinitely diverse consequences, among which were a divided Europe, the space race, computers, cargo cults, and nuclear paranoia. I think this world we live in today is a direct consequence of the events that began with the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1937 and ended with the Japanese surrender to the USA in 1945. |
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Covert OperationsEnigma: It is undeniable that without covert operations countless more human lives would have been lost. The most famous Allied intelligence coup was the capture of the Enigma cypher machine which allowed the Allies to interpret Axis codes. It is undeniable that the ability to decypher Axis codes shortened the war, some have said by as much as two years. Black Propaganda: A British radio station broadcasting into the heart of Germany, acting as a right-wing, pro-Hitler German station, while at the same time injecting subtle items of disinformation into the mix. It was a huge success. The program was run by Selfton Delmer, the son of an Australian, who had been raised in Germany before the war. Although Delmer's books are out of print, you can read some of his exploits at the link above.
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Web sitesSome sites I have found interesting, in no particular order. Selfton Delmer, "Black Boomerang" Covert Operations Remember September 1944: Operation Market Garden |
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Excellent Books and MoviesMovies: (in order of release)Saving Private Ryan (1998): An incredible depiction of the landings on Omaha beach on D-Day 1944. This movie is not based on fact, but is well known for its realistic portrayal of warfare. A Bridge too Far (1977): Based on the book by Cornelius Ryan, this movie tells the story of Operation Market Garden, the failed Allied attempt to break through German lines at Arnhem in the occupied Netherlands in September 1944. The movie is not completely accurate, but is extremely realistic. It is as accurate as possible, given the difficulties of translating such complex subject matter to film. The Longest Day (1962): Based on the book by Cornelius Ryan, is an account of the D-Day landings in Normandy, 1944. The film is remarkably accurate, and portrays most of the important occurrences of the day, although not in any great detail. Refreshingly, all characters speak in their own languages, with subtitles in English. The usual Nazi stereotypes are avoided, and most German characters are portrayed as human beings. Many of the military consultants (Allied and Axis) who helped with the film's production were participants in the action on D-Day, and are portrayed in the film.
BooksWith the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa by E. B. Sledge Eugene B. Sledge became part of the war’s famous 1st Marine Division–3d Battalion, 5th Marines. Even after intense training, he was shocked to be thrown into the battle of Peleliu, where “the world was a nightmare of flashes, explosions, and snapping bullets.” Based on notes Sledge secretly kept, this book is written with utter simplicity and searing honesty.
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