World War II Eastern Front - Ten Essential Books

Join Cody as he discusses ten books on the Second World War's Eastern Front that every serious student of the conflict should read.

[@EuroTD87799]

Currently working my way through Citino's trilogy before moving on to Glantz's work on Stalingrad and Kursk specifically. Seems that Kansas University Press is a goldmine for all things Eastern Front. Thanks for some more recommendations!

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

Happy to help.

[@elliotstamler1244]

Thank you, Dr. Carlson, for this illuminating talk. I've read Dr. Snyder's BLOODLANDS and at least another one of his books...he's excellent. Recently completed David Stafford's book on the last hundred days of WWII in Europe...well written indeed. Best wishes in your very worthwhile endeavor.

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

Thank you.

[@davidk6269]

All things David Stahel are absolutely vital to understanding the complex nature of the Eastern Front.

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

I'm sad to say that I haven't read any of this stuff.

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

I actually read his recent book on the panzer generals on the eastern front and wrote a review for the Journal of Military History.

[@katerina81731]

Thanks, Cody! Your list helped me to choose books for my comps.

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

Happy to help! Best of luck!!!

[@davidsigler9690]

I got to know and become friends with a German soldier who fought on the Eastern Front; fought at Moscow and a few other places. He did write a book of his life, self-publishing. Interesting guy, I liked him and the conversations we would have at Barnes-Noble where we would meet up. He would be 98 next May; sadly do to the last few years we have not been able to meet up but I am sure I would have been informed if he died; I would attend the man's funeral.....those Prussians can live a long time it seems.

[@davidsigler9690]

And being Jewish myself, it was an interesting friendship for that reason alone.

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

Very interesting. Thank you for sharing.

[@paperkites9101]

Do you know the title of his book?

[@davidsigler9690]

@@paperkites9101 "Reflections Of A Young German Soldier." By. Joachim Friedrich Pusch.

[@johnthebiker300]

I have not read any of the books but I will certainly be on the lookout for some of them in the near future.

[@stevenpage9269]

Great job, as always Cody. Every wargame I've ever played of the Eastern Front always collapses due the 'the cone". I plan to grab a few of these books, for sure. Good to hear from you again, Doc!

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

Thank you, sir. Glad you liked it.

[@iansanderson2567]

Good reading list Dr Cody I have jumped over from the game channel.

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

Fantastic. Thanks for joining me here.

[@3rdmillenniumfuture607]

Hi, just a belated but appropriately timed thanks for recommending Ivan's War. Just finished it and its impact was all the greater given what is currently happening in the Ukraine. Definitely a must read imo.

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

You're welcome, sir. A great book and you are right - timely.

[@englishtom172]

Thanks for this.

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

Happy to help.

[@mikkoveijalainen7430]

Just finished reading Citino's Wehrmacht trilogy. Really liked the experience. John Erickson's works are true classics, though in my opinion pretty dry reading.

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

They are dry, but good

[@Gwahlur]

About Chris Bellamy's book in particular, I read that many years ago and remember thinking that the first part of the book is very good. The discussion about the European cone, Soviet total mobilization etc. was well done. Everything concerning post-Barbarossa matters I found very haphazardly put together and not nearly deep enough for a serious consideration. I remember thinking the author would have been better off with concentrating just on Barbarossa.

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

I don't think the book is nearly as good as some of the other studies mentioned, but I do think there is enough there that it is worth reading. I agree that the beginning of the book is better than the rest.

[@jimsmith7445]

Very intrigued... some really deep books... what did you think of "Ivan's War"????

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

I mentioned it in the list. Really enjoyed it. Very good look at the "common soldier" in the Red Army.

[@bergsteiger09]

I will have to try John Erickson's book again. Sitting on my shelf. Tried to start it a few times. Very dry-at least as far as I've gotten.

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

It is a little dry, but packed with information. Both "The Road to Stalingrad" and "The Road to Berlin" were invaluable resources when I wrote my MA Thesis.

[@bergsteiger09]

@@codycarlsonph.d.5591 I have them both. I will try again. Also appreciate the review on Overy's Russia's War. Going to look for that one as well. Thank you for doing these lists.

[@nate3928]

Thanks for making this video. Have you happened to read any of Author Prit Buttar’s works on the eastern front? Would you recommend him as an author? I ended up reading “When Titans Clashed” and was looking to read something with both operational and personal accounts. I felt that Glantz’ work was good for an overview, but lacked those accounts to give a little more color to his work. From what I’ve seen online Prit Buttar’s works seem to have a good balance between operational and personal accounts. Just would like your opinion before I commit to buying any of his works as I’ve seen mixed reviews online. Also have you read the book “Thunder in the East” by Mawdsley? Was wondering if it was worth picking up if I’ve already read “When Titans Clasehd”. Thanks for recommending good books to read on the topic.

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

Sorry, haven’t read either.

[@Gwahlur]

Very interesting picks, thank you for the video. I subscribed to the channel. When it comes to the Eastern front, I have to ask if you read German or Russian? Not all of the interesting scholarship is translated into English.

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

If I take my time I can read passable German, but its been years since I've attempted to seriously read anything. As for Russian, I can't read it at all.

[@e-4airman124]

better rate of discussion not a run through i can follow this

[@michaelmayojr.3031]

I have listen to your Nazi Germany lectures on your Cody Carlson PHD channel. Would you include a top ten list of books on the subject of Nazi Germany? I have read books from prior decades, but nothing current scholarship. Thanks.

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

That’s something to consider. Perhaps down the line. Thanks.

[@gillesderais3848]

Could you put the titles in the description, I know it's extra work, but it would be greatly appreciated. What do you think of 'Barbarossa Unleashed' by Craig W.H. Luther?

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

I haven't read that one. Is it any good?

[@gillesderais3848]

@@codycarlsonph.d.5591 I started reading, but I'm so lazy, still have to finish 'Blood's a Rover' by James Ellroy. Barbarossa was recommended by Tim Korchnoi, a wargame YT'er.

[@randomunfunnyname8834]

Currently reading "Why Stalin's Soldiers Fought" by Roger Reese and was wondering if you had read it and if so what you think

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

I have not read that one. Good?

[@randomunfunnyname8834]

@@codycarlsonph.d.5591 I definitely recommend it, it makes good comparisons to the other Allied and Axis armies and doesn't seem biased towards any side

[@sebastianmelmoth9100]

Thanks for this. There are also good memoirs of the Östfront by Nazi and Soviet grunts who bore the brunt of the blooshed, horrors, deprivations, fatigues and pointless slaughter that epitomized the world's most horrible battle. Blood on the Snow, Red Road to Moscow, 800 Days, In Deadly Combat, For the Motherland and Forgotten Soldier (which is fictionalized) among them. People forget how hard we were rooting for Ivan and Uncle Joe back then.

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

Right. This list is concentrating on works by historians, rather than memoirs. But you are correct - there is no shortage of memoirs based on this topic. Thanks.

[@TvConfusionn]

How is forgotten soldier fictionalized

[@johngrimshaw7193]

wow your channel is so informative i already bought several of your recommendations! Death of the Wehrmacht is on the way lol

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

Thanks. Happy to help.

[@nitinkanals5087]

How about Barborossa by Alan Clark.

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

I’m familiar with it but haven’t read it.

[@voularagou5828]

Fantastic top 10..I am interesting to buy one of them from the battles from Eastern front... Who is better book?? Ivan's war life and death or Panzer leader from Heinz guderian???

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

Ivan's war by Catherine Merrindale? They are very different books. One is a war memoir and you need to read it with a grain of salt (and it can be a little dry sometimes). The other is a work by a modern historian interpreting the events. Depends on what you are looking for.

[@voularagou5828]

@@codycarlsonph.d.5591 Thank you very much for your answer ... I would like to ask you Ivan's war by Catherine Merrindale to describe in detail the battles of the Soviet soldiers as in Moscow ,Kursk even in Berlin????

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

Ivan’s War is more of a social history of the common soldier in the war. Less on descriptions of battles so much as detailing what life was like for these soldiers.

[@voularagou5828]

@@codycarlsonph.d.5591 Τhanks a lot

[@nitinkanals5087]

There is another book Ostkreig Hitler's war of extermination by Stephen G Fritz.

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

I haven't read that one. Good?

[@JordanRugg53]

Are you going to do one for the war in the Pacific?

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

Maybe eventually.

[@kiwigaming1605]

Agreed, a top ten list of books about the Pacific War would be great!

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

@@kiwigaming1605 Maybe after I finish my WWII lecture series.

[@JordanRugg53]

@@codycarlsonph.d.5591 and it is an amazing lecture series

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

@@JordanRugg53 Thank you, sir.

[@johnmurphy6128]

how many generals are covered in stalins generals

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

I don't recall off the top of my head. I don't have a copy of the book here, but it seems like somewhere between a dozen and fifteen or so.

[@rolfagten857]

David irving's "Rommel" book from the 1970s was good and so was Dr. Hugh Thomas' 1988 "The murder of Rudolf Hess". Good review nonetheless.

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

While Irving has been able to unearth many great documents and create some interesting perspectives of the war, his Holocaust denial means that he is a not a serious historian. As far as the Thomas book, I have not read it, but the title makes it sound like conspiracy theory.

[@Brix96]

how can a Professor recommend books to read without referring to the accounts written by the Soviet Generals,i had 4 or 5 of these Books some 40 years ago written in English published by Soviet publishers,notably in this case Marshall Rokossovskys account who is referred to by the professor,i am sure they are still available.

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

This list consists of books by historians, not memoirs or first hand accounts.

[@Brix96]

Thanks for the reply i just thought to study a war it would be best to read both sides points of view.

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

@@Brix96 You'll notice that I did not include any of the German general's memoirs, and several of the books focus on the Soviet Union's war efforts - i.e. Overy, Bellamy, etc..

[@perlefisker]

Thank you for this list - and video. The last book I will definitely find and read. I seems to have a much needed perspective - concerning the 'whitewashing of history', as you say. I would also put Ostkrieg by Stephen G. Fritz on the list for the extended plan of annihilation behind this war. Snyder has this in Bloodlands, too, but I think Fritz puts more empathy on the gradual development of it. All these books deals well with the greater picture of this colossal war - but because of the sheer scale and magnitude of it, important details go missing - details about how this war was brutally fought and had devastating impact on even the tiniest village and their civilians. To get a picture of this side of the war, I will warmly recommend the first part of Alexandra Richie's "Warsaw 1944" - about Operation Bagration. While Operation Barbarossa is getting more and more attention - Operation Bagration - and the importance of it - seems completely unknown to the West. But first and foremost I will recommend the books of Patrick Desbois. They ought to be mandatory reading in my opinion, and give a gruesomely sober account and a view into the meticulous modus operandi - not only of the Einsatzgruppen - but of the wehrmacht, too, willingly participating. Finally the list could of course want some Russian-Ukrainian-Belorussian titles. Here Vasilij Grossman's translated first-hand war diaries could be a start.

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

Thank you for the recommendations. More books for the pile!

[@PeterChoyce]

i LOVED Ivans war. Too bad not 1 of the other books u mention are free audiobooks on Utube

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

Sorry about that.

[@bronwynevans150]

I also loved "Ivan's War". Bloodlands by Timothy Snyder is available on audio. Have a look on Tim Snyder's channel.

[@codycarlsonph.d.5591]

@@bronwynevans150 Both great books.