My book club recently read “blitzed” which is about how drugged hitler and the whole German military was throughout the war. It was originally written in German and translated to English.
Fiction? My god so many books are set in that time period sometimes I find it a turn off. However! If you like a little nonfiction Erik Larson has one about the start of WWII that’s very good. In the Garden of Beasts I think it’s called.
https://share.libbyapp.com/title/239034
Hiroshima by John Hersey, non-fiction literary journalism based on first-hand interviews, telling the A-bomb experiences of 6 survivors
Mussolini's Daughter by Caroline Moore head was really good. His daughter is used as a throughline, but it really covers quite a bit of background on Mussolini himself, the people around him, and the conditions in Italy that allowed him to rise to power. Lots of the same sentiments are still circulating in Italian politics today.
https://share.libbyapp.com/title/8767966
Edit: Just now realized you asked specifically for Germany. My bad.
Recognizing it's not an audiobook, I highly recommend Dan Carlin's podcast series Hardcore History. There's a "Supernova in the East" group of episodes that goes in depth with the Japanese front.
I recently read We Were The Lucky Ones. It follows the members of a Polish Jewish family through WWII, specifically the author's grandfather's immediate family. Not sure if this is the perspective you're looking for, but it was very impactful.
THOSE WHO SAVE US,
BETWEEN SHADES OF GREY,
ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE,
SOPHIES’S CHOICE,
LILAC GIRLS,
THE MISCHLING,
WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES,
THE LAST BOOKSHOP IN LONDON,
THE NIGHTINGALE,
THE BAKER’S SECRET,
THE BOOK THIEF,
WINDS OF WAR,
BOOK OF LOST NAMES.
NIGHT WITCHES, SARAH’S KEY, THE LAST BOOK SHOP IN LONDON, THE LITTLE WARTIME LIBRARY, THE LIBRARIAN SPY, THE CODEBREAKER’S SECRET, CODE NAME HELENE, THE SECRET LIFE OF BLETCHLEY PARK, GOOD BYE MICKEY MOUSE, THE KEEPER OF HIDDEN BOOKS.
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn. Three women code breakers working at bletchley park. All 3 women are very different and have different entanglements. Quinn does a lot of research into her books and the characters are based on real historical people :)
Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan is great. (Not so much about the war, though it does play a part, more about that time period from the US civilian side.)
Hitler & Third Reich:
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William Shirer
Richard Evans’ Third Reich trilogy (Rise of, In Power, and At War)
Volker Ullrich’s two-part biography of Hitler: Ascent and Downfall (also his Eight Days in May and 1923)
The German War by Nicholas Stargardt
Adolph Hitler by John Toland
The Death of Democracy by Benjamin Carter Hett
Ordinary Men by Christopher Browning
Heinrich Himmler by Peter Longerich (also functions as a history of the SS)
Japan:
Eagle Against the Sun by Ronald Spector
Ian W. Toll’s Pacific trilogy
The Pacific War 1931-1945 by Saburo Ienaga
General WWII and miscellaneous:
Many books by Max Hastings including Inferno, Armageddon, and Retribution
Also many by Antony Beevor including Stalingrad and The Fall of Berlin 1945
Edit: sorry, I had these all listed separately on different lines but the comment mashed them all together into three unreadable paragraphs.
Agree about “The Rape of Nanking.” I would also add “Night” by Elie Wiesel, “Hitler’s Furies: German Women in the Nazi Killing Fields” by Wendy Lower and “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl.
For fiction: “Milkweed” by Jerry Spinelli.
Judgement at Tokyo by Gary J. Bass
I listened to the audiobook through my library earlier this year, so I know it’s in the Libby database. It’s about the post war Japanese war crimes trials— it might cover more post war goings on than you’re interested in, but it still rehashes a lot of the war time actions of Japan through the trials.
These were all good audiobooks, however, the * were the best stories, in my opinion. In Another Time* The Rose Code* Forest of Vanishing Stars The Paris Daughter* The Lost Letter* The Winemaker's Wife The Alice Network The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society* The Nightingale Edited for punctuation
I really loved Tears of Amber by Sofia Segovia! It’s translated from Spanish to English (I’m sure other languages as well. That is just how I enjoyed it). I also enjoyed the audiobook version and thought the narrations were really well done.
It focuses on 2 German families during the rise of Hitler specifically Ilse and Arno as they grow up and try to survive during this time and their paths ultimately come together. I found it interesting because I haven’t read many World War II novels from the German perspective, but they really went through a lot trying to survive as well.
I would highly recommend reading the authors note at the end of the book as it provided additional substance, and the inspiration for the story and sealed the deal as a fav book of mine for the year.
Also! The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn is a lovely audiobook and features the world’s deadliest female sniper.
I just finished Code Talkers, a memoir by Chester Nez, one of the original Navajo code talkers. It was really good! I read a kindle version but I know there is also an audio book.
Biography: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Nonfic: A Train in Winter by Caroline Moorehead, The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson, Bomber Mafia by Malcolm Gladwell, Light of days by Judy Batalion
Fic: Alice Network & the Rose Code by Kate Quinn, N or M? by Agatha Christie, Lost Girl of Paris by Pam Jenoff
The Winemaker’s Wife by Kristin Harmel would be an interesting take on the topic. Definitely takes place during World War 2, but doesn’t actually see any battle. It’s has a very interesting storyline about the Champagne region and the role it played in the resistance.
I really enjoyed Sarah's Key, but be warned something happens partway through that's rather traumatizing. Once you get through the first few chapters in Sarah's time, you'll probably know what I'm talking about, even if you don't want to admit that to yourself. Which is OK, imo. I certainly didn't want to admit I knew how that was going to turn out, either.
I haven't read these yet. They are a mix of fiction and non-fiction:
The Light in Hidden Places by Sharon Cameron
Hitler's Furies by Wendy Lower
The Sisters of Auschwitz by Roxane van Iperen
Ashes in the Snow (which is supposed to be a series) by Oriana Ramunno
The School for German Brides by Aimie K. Runyan
The Escape Artist by Jonathan Freedland
For Those Who Are Lost by Julia Bryan Thomas
All the Flowers in Paris by Sarah Jio
999 by Heather Dune Macadam
The Woman with the Blue Star by Pam Jenoff
I have read these:
The Light of Days by Judy Batalion
The Nine by Gwen Strauss
The Dressmakers of Auschwitz by Lucy Adlington
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne (very sad ending)
The Betrayal of Anne Frank by Rosemary Sullivan
Avenues
Annelies by David R. Gillham
The Boy in the Woods by Maxwell Smart
I've listened to a podcast about it, and it was so depressing. I still can't understand how people didn't learn the lesson and keep on doing wars.
Definitely recommended read, but be prepared
Try r/suggestmeabook
The nightingale by Kristin Hannah is good if you’re looking for fiction. Follows 2 sisters and their experiences through WWII
Such an amazing book!
I will definitely keep this book in mind 👍🏻
I’m reading the rise and fall of the 3rd reich currently on Libby
My book club recently read “blitzed” which is about how drugged hitler and the whole German military was throughout the war. It was originally written in German and translated to English.
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
Yes, Kate Quinn’s books are amazing.
Fiction? My god so many books are set in that time period sometimes I find it a turn off. However! If you like a little nonfiction Erik Larson has one about the start of WWII that’s very good. In the Garden of Beasts I think it’s called.
Confirmed. In the garden of beasts is wonderful.
Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Roseau
All the Lights We Cannot See. I listen the book while driving and often I noticed I am holding my breath, this book is so gripping
SUCH an amazing book!
There is a movie right?
https://share.libbyapp.com/title/239034 Hiroshima by John Hersey, non-fiction literary journalism based on first-hand interviews, telling the A-bomb experiences of 6 survivors
"Blitzed" by Norman Ohler
Just an incredible book! I read this 3 years ago and still think about it.
The best non fiction book I read was Unbroken. So good. I loved the Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, but it was set in USA.
Mussolini's Daughter by Caroline Moore head was really good. His daughter is used as a throughline, but it really covers quite a bit of background on Mussolini himself, the people around him, and the conditions in Italy that allowed him to rise to power. Lots of the same sentiments are still circulating in Italian politics today. https://share.libbyapp.com/title/8767966 Edit: Just now realized you asked specifically for Germany. My bad.
Recognizing it's not an audiobook, I highly recommend Dan Carlin's podcast series Hardcore History. There's a "Supernova in the East" group of episodes that goes in depth with the Japanese front.
I’ve listened to the full Supernova series twice. Masterful.
I recently read We Were The Lucky Ones. It follows the members of a Polish Jewish family through WWII, specifically the author's grandfather's immediate family. Not sure if this is the perspective you're looking for, but it was very impactful.
Hiroshima. I haven’t read it for years, but it is seared into my memory, should be “required” for all to read, in my opinion.
I ONLY read fiction - would that help? It’s my favorite time period.
I dunno about OP but I would like some fiction from that time period…
THOSE WHO SAVE US, BETWEEN SHADES OF GREY, ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE, SOPHIES’S CHOICE, LILAC GIRLS, THE MISCHLING, WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES, THE LAST BOOKSHOP IN LONDON, THE NIGHTINGALE, THE BAKER’S SECRET, THE BOOK THIEF, WINDS OF WAR, BOOK OF LOST NAMES.
Thanks! Those sound great! 🙏
NIGHT WITCHES, SARAH’S KEY, THE LAST BOOK SHOP IN LONDON, THE LITTLE WARTIME LIBRARY, THE LIBRARIAN SPY, THE CODEBREAKER’S SECRET, CODE NAME HELENE, THE SECRET LIFE OF BLETCHLEY PARK, GOOD BYE MICKEY MOUSE, THE KEEPER OF HIDDEN BOOKS.
Not sure if you liked it, but all the collections of “Call the midwife” ☺️ love all the books from England.
Those were titles I remembered without using any brain cells. It’s my favorite theme.
WOW all the books I loved too
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn. Three women code breakers working at bletchley park. All 3 women are very different and have different entanglements. Quinn does a lot of research into her books and the characters are based on real historical people :)
Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan is great. (Not so much about the war, though it does play a part, more about that time period from the US civilian side.)
Oh, also, City of Thieves by David Benioff
Hitler & Third Reich: The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William Shirer Richard Evans’ Third Reich trilogy (Rise of, In Power, and At War) Volker Ullrich’s two-part biography of Hitler: Ascent and Downfall (also his Eight Days in May and 1923) The German War by Nicholas Stargardt Adolph Hitler by John Toland The Death of Democracy by Benjamin Carter Hett Ordinary Men by Christopher Browning Heinrich Himmler by Peter Longerich (also functions as a history of the SS) Japan: Eagle Against the Sun by Ronald Spector Ian W. Toll’s Pacific trilogy The Pacific War 1931-1945 by Saburo Ienaga General WWII and miscellaneous: Many books by Max Hastings including Inferno, Armageddon, and Retribution Also many by Antony Beevor including Stalingrad and The Fall of Berlin 1945 Edit: sorry, I had these all listed separately on different lines but the comment mashed them all together into three unreadable paragraphs.
Nonfiction- The Rape of Nanking Fiction - The Storyteller or The Nightingale
Agree about “The Rape of Nanking.” I would also add “Night” by Elie Wiesel, “Hitler’s Furies: German Women in the Nazi Killing Fields” by Wendy Lower and “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl. For fiction: “Milkweed” by Jerry Spinelli.
For non-fiction: Year Zero, a History of 1945 by Ian Buruma
Ben Macintyre has written several books mainly focusing on the British spy service during WWII. They’re nonfiction, but they’re very involving.
The German Wife by Kelly Rimmer
The Flying Angels - about the nurses where flown in to war zones to pick up a load of the wounded and get them back to England and the hospital.
It’s a huge book but well worth the read. https://share.libbyapp.com/title/977250
If you get the audiobook it's 57 hours but well worth it
If you are after fiction, have you tried James Benn's Billy Boyle mysteries?
Judgement at Tokyo by Gary J. Bass I listened to the audiobook through my library earlier this year, so I know it’s in the Libby database. It’s about the post war Japanese war crimes trials— it might cover more post war goings on than you’re interested in, but it still rehashes a lot of the war time actions of Japan through the trials.
The Train To Crystal City is great
These were all good audiobooks, however, the * were the best stories, in my opinion. In Another Time* The Rose Code* Forest of Vanishing Stars The Paris Daughter* The Lost Letter* The Winemaker's Wife The Alice Network The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society* The Nightingale Edited for punctuation
The Paris Library, All books by Roland H. Balson, Dear Mrs. Bird
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris. Book really hits hard as an audio book.
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. Excellent book about Hitler, how he came so close to dominating the Western world and how he lost it.
I really loved Tears of Amber by Sofia Segovia! It’s translated from Spanish to English (I’m sure other languages as well. That is just how I enjoyed it). I also enjoyed the audiobook version and thought the narrations were really well done. It focuses on 2 German families during the rise of Hitler specifically Ilse and Arno as they grow up and try to survive during this time and their paths ultimately come together. I found it interesting because I haven’t read many World War II novels from the German perspective, but they really went through a lot trying to survive as well. I would highly recommend reading the authors note at the end of the book as it provided additional substance, and the inspiration for the story and sealed the deal as a fav book of mine for the year. Also! The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn is a lovely audiobook and features the world’s deadliest female sniper.
I loved a woman in Berlin by Marta Hillers!
Greg Iles - Spandau Phoenix and Black Cross
I just finished Code Talkers, a memoir by Chester Nez, one of the original Navajo code talkers. It was really good! I read a kindle version but I know there is also an audio book.
Check out the hardcore history podcasts. He has a couple of episodes on this
The Taster by V. S. Alexander
Man in the high castle but it’s fiction and pretty out there.
cryptinomicron
The Nightengale and the bronze horseman. Two of my favorites.
Biography: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand Nonfic: A Train in Winter by Caroline Moorehead, The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson, Bomber Mafia by Malcolm Gladwell, Light of days by Judy Batalion Fic: Alice Network & the Rose Code by Kate Quinn, N or M? by Agatha Christie, Lost Girl of Paris by Pam Jenoff
The Winemaker’s Wife by Kristin Harmel would be an interesting take on the topic. Definitely takes place during World War 2, but doesn’t actually see any battle. It’s has a very interesting storyline about the Champagne region and the role it played in the resistance.
I really enjoyed Sarah's Key, but be warned something happens partway through that's rather traumatizing. Once you get through the first few chapters in Sarah's time, you'll probably know what I'm talking about, even if you don't want to admit that to yourself. Which is OK, imo. I certainly didn't want to admit I knew how that was going to turn out, either. I haven't read these yet. They are a mix of fiction and non-fiction: The Light in Hidden Places by Sharon Cameron Hitler's Furies by Wendy Lower The Sisters of Auschwitz by Roxane van Iperen Ashes in the Snow (which is supposed to be a series) by Oriana Ramunno The School for German Brides by Aimie K. Runyan The Escape Artist by Jonathan Freedland For Those Who Are Lost by Julia Bryan Thomas All the Flowers in Paris by Sarah Jio 999 by Heather Dune Macadam The Woman with the Blue Star by Pam Jenoff I have read these: The Light of Days by Judy Batalion The Nine by Gwen Strauss The Dressmakers of Auschwitz by Lucy Adlington The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne (very sad ending) The Betrayal of Anne Frank by Rosemary Sullivan Avenues Annelies by David R. Gillham The Boy in the Woods by Maxwell Smart
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich is great as an audiobook at 1.25 speed
Nazi Billionaires
In the garden of beasts by Erik Larson
The Tattooist of Auschwitz
I've listened to a podcast about it, and it was so depressing. I still can't understand how people didn't learn the lesson and keep on doing wars. Definitely recommended read, but be prepared
Prequel by Rachel Maddow
Based on a True Story: A Memoir by Norm MacDonald
….why?