World War 2 was one of the most devastating conflicts of the 20th century. It led to a massive shift in the world, and its effects are still felt today. The scale of the war and its destruction was so great that much of Europe was completely destroyed. World War 2 had many consequences and changes that have left a lasting legacy that is felt across much of the world to this day. Many movies, books, shows and video games have been created to reimagine and depict the conflict, and many people find media related to World War 2 to be very compelling.
What Makes Books About World War 2 So Compelling?
World War 2 was a conflict with a scale so large and massive that many people born long after the event had no way to truly imagine such a war. It was almost unimaginable for many that such a thing could have ever possibly happened. Another aspect of books about World War 2 that makes them such engaging reads is the fact that many of the books depict the heroism of the soldiers who fought tooth and nail against an oppressive and evil regime, that being Nazi Germany.
The soldiers who fought in the war were young men who gave their blood, sweat and tears to bring about peace. Those soldiers had strong values, believed in a cause far greater than them and did whatever they could to make an impact. Books about World War 2 greatly demonstrate the valor and heroism of those soldiers. As the war was so large scale with multiple theatres of war all across the world, World War 2 books often take place in different places around the world. One book about World War 2 could be based in the Pacific, and another could be based in the European theatre of war, showing the perspective of either an American soldier or even a Russian one or, in some cases, even a German soldier.
World War 2 literature has consistently been popular for so long due to the varied types of stories one can tell. In many cases, they don’t even have to be strictly war stories. They could just be stories of people trying to get by in a conflict that has completely changed their lives, as well as stories of great people who contributed through their minds to the war, such as J. Robert Oppenheimer.
What’s Beyond the Horizon: My 34 Years of Naval Service by Wayne Wright
While not strictly a book about World War 2, this book takes a look at the service of a man who enlisted in the US Navy and served for 34 years aboard ships that often saw a great deal of action during World War 2. In the memoir, he often covers the history of the ships that he served on, and it makes for quite an informative and compelling read. Much of this memoir looks at the author’s own service as well as how serving in the US Navy impacted his personal life. An engaging and powerful memoir that many will enjoy reading.
Powerful World War 2 Books That You Need To Read!
As we have discussed so far how impactful the war was, there has been a large amount of literature written on the conflict, from books that discuss the politics of the war to the battles presented from the point of view of a soldier as well as memoirs written by great leaders about the war, many great books about have been written about world war 2.
A Bridge Too Far by Cornelius Ryan
This is one of the best books about World War 2 ever written; it explores the disastrous Operation Market Garden. The book examines many of the reasons and tactical blunders that led to its failure. The book was later made into a movie. The purpose of Operation Market Garden was to invade the Netherlands to create a salient into Germany, allowing for an easier route for the Allies to invade Germany. This powerful World War 2 book looks at what happens when planning encounters reality.
The Forgotten Soldier By Guy Sajer
This powerful World War 2 memoir looks at a French man who served in the Wehrmacht (German army during World War 2) on the Eastern Front of the war. The eastern front of World War 2 was where the most horrific fighting took place, and this powerful and gripping memoir truly shows how destructive and devastating the front was. This memoir is quite dark and shows the horrifying reality of war from the perspective of a soldier caught in the middle of it. The book describes the conditions on the eastern front, the severe cold, the lack of food, as well as the constant onslaught and the years of fighting leading to a crushing defeat at the hands of the Red Army. At the start of the fighting the author was merely 16 years of age. This book truly shows the horrors of war.
Conclusion
World War 2 was quite a serious conflict that left a lasting impact that is still felt all these years later. Many great books have touched on or explored the war, books about World War 2 continue to capture the imagination of many different people. We hope that among the books we recommended, you find one that you enjoy reading!