I'm developing a very serious

[Globalti]

If nobody else has mentioned this, you need to read Stalingrad and Berlin, both by Anthony Beevor. Fascinating.

 

[dodgy]

Download Call of Duty 5 beta demo. It's set in WWII, it's just like being there*

*Sort of

 

[Auntie Helen]

In a similar vein to Schindler's List is the fantastic film 'The Pianist' which I can heartily recommend.

The recent German film 'Der Untergang' (The Downfall) is now available in the UK, I believe (not sure if it's dubbed or subtitled) but it's a brilliant film about Hitler and his bunker in the last few days of the war. It caused a bit of controversy in Germany when it was released as Hitler was portrayed with some vaguely sympathetic moments; my German friend found it really hard to watch for that reason as for them Hitler was a complete and utter monster with not a single redeeming feature. Anyway, it's a really good film and you should give it a go.

 

[PaulB]

For info on WW2 avoid anything (film or book) from the USA. They think it started in 1944 and they came over and won it in 1945.

To be fair to them, how could it have been a World War if that huge country wasn't involved until 1941 (not 44)? Still, the Irish don't even call it WWII. To them, it was simply "The Emergency".

 

[PaulB]

In a similar vein to Schindler's List

They've just released Schindler's List in Germany. Over there though, they've re-name it "The Good Old Days."

 

[yenrod]

obsession with World WarII

My wife is getting a bit concerned

I think it all stems from my thread about what the best war film was.

Since then I've found myself searching for websites and good books on the subject.

I never studyied WWII at school as I didn't pick history and the bit I did in first year was all about the French Revolution.

While I have amassed over the years a bit of knowledge about WWII, I've never really sat down and read about the actual dates, events and reasons behind certain things.

Anybody point me in the direction of some good sites or books.

In another life you may have been a soldier or something in WW2...

Ive been told that I was a pilot in WW2 and during my teenage years I had a fantastical pursuit for flying even joined the AirCadets.

I still love the idea of flying.

Though airliners scare me a bit as its too out of my control.

Theirs a lot to the past.

But even more can be said for the future.

 

[Noodley]

No need for all this reading guff. Get yourself some Airfix models, an Action Man or two with some serious costume changes, and run around going 'ahahahahahahahahaha' to imitate machine gun fire (with your hands placed accordingly)...the second world war will COME ALIVE.

 

[gbb]

No need for all this reading guff. Get yourself some Airfix models, an Action Man or two with some serious costume changes, and run around going 'ahahahahahahahahaha' to imitate machine gun fire (with your hands placed accordingly)...the second world war will COME ALIVE.

Back in ...errrrr ...circa 1973..me and a mate used to line up our Airfix models, platic toy soldiers, tanks etc etc etc on opposing sides of the street.
Then we'd (dry) mud bomb the hell out of each others armies

Christ...the mess we used to make, but no-one used to complain. Frikkin ell....if the kids did that now

 

[Noodley]

....if the kids did that now

You'd complain about them

 

[domtyler]

There are some great games for the PC that are historically accurate and totally immersive. Medal of Honour and the ilk. Can give an insight that other media cannot.

 

[Aperitif]

No need for all this reading guff. Get yourself some Airfix models, an Action Man or two with some serious costume changes, and run around going 'ahahahahahahahahaha' to imitate machine gun fire (with your hands placed accordingly)...the second world war will COME ALIVE.

You have seen me in another life Noodley - so accurate!

(Don't forget to sit in front of the telly watching all the war films blasting any Stuka, Panzer, WaffenSS or whatever, that popped into view while you shelter in the trench of settee cushions...)

 

[PaulB]

The best thing about war films is seeing Germans, particularly Nazi Germans, being shot all over the place. In my very humble opinion (and let's face it, I've got a lot to be humble about) you can never see enough nazis getting killed, can you?

 

[Fnaar]

No need for all this reading guff. Get yourself some Airfix models, an Action Man or two with some serious costume changes, and run around going 'ahahahahahahahahaha' to imitate machine gun fire (with your hands placed accordingly)...the second world war will COME ALIVE.

Don't forget "Nyaaaaaaoooooommmm nyakka-dakka-dakka" as the planes swoop and unleash their own machine gun fire...

 

[meenaghman]

I'm interested from the political angle and Irish Neutrality. DeValera was widely condemned for not siding with Britain. He also sent a note of condolence to German ambassador when Hitler killed himself. Recent documents reveal that Churchill offered him a 32 county Ireland in an attempt to get him to side with Britain... however given we'd only got rid of British rule less than 20 years previously that was never going to happen. Also it was clear from Nazi documents that Germany were prepared to go for the softer target of Ireland to launch attacks on Britain and control the Atlantic should Ireland come into the war. There were many acts of goodwill which seem not that well known such as the Donegal Corridor (Allowing Lough Erne flying boats to fly over the Republic rather than make 90 mile detour thus giving an extra 180 miles of protection) and the response of the Fire brigades from Dundalk and Dublin when Belfast was bombed. (The Belfast raids were some of the worst in the War as the NI government hadn't installed air raid shelters nor activated emergency plans leading to heavy civilian loss of life). Finally there are the soldiers from Ireland who served in both wars who are finally getting the recognition of their sacrifice, remembrance day not being an Irish tradition in the Republic. Mind you we're always up for a good fight. Its interesting that the RIR currently is seeing steady recruitment from across the border.

 

[PaulB]

A bit more on Ireland during the war though. The German national football team to this day still play in green as their preferred change strip in the event of a colour clash. This is to thank the Irish for being the fist national football team to play a competitive match against Germany after the war.

Also, Luftwaffe bomber pilots when attacking Liverpool, used to head for Dublin and then steer due east as Liverpool is on the same line of lattitude as the Irish capital and they knew their their target would be blacked out and difficult to find.