Friday 30 August 2013

A Battle Lost? Part 7 - sources and recommended reading

I have been interested in the 1940 campaign for many years now and this is reflected in the contents of my bookshelves.  While other books have come and gone, however, one gets re-read about once a decade and referred to frequently.  So if you only ever read one book about this period make sure it is Mr. Horne's finest.  After delving deeply into the background to both the war and the state of it's protagonists, a detailed yet very readable account of the campaign itself.  It is, and is likely to remain one of my top ten books!
During the conversation at Shrivenham, a couple of people recommended this book.  I've only just begun reading it and so far the author is addressing the concept (was there one?) and overuse of the word 'Blitzkrieg.'  So far so good.
Effectively the French official history, this three volume set contains the best set of operational-level maps I have seen for this campaign.  Oh, and it's in French...
Speaking of maps, this modern (well mid-1990s) sheet covers most of the important areas.  I used it as the basis of the game, disregarding the autoroutes and scaling down many of the bigger urban areas.

6 comments:

Steve-the-Wargamer said...

An area of specific interest for me as well... based on your review I just found myself a copy of Horne on Amazon and have ordered.. I look forward to the read...

The Dancing Cake Tin said...

'Blitzkrieg' by Len Deighton is an excellent intro to the battle of France 1940. There has only been one incidence of Blitzkrieg and that is France 1940. Poland most definitely did not experience a blitzkrieg and in other war from 1940 to date has any army carried out a blitzkrieg as per the laid down conditions.

Tim Gow said...

Steve the Wargamer
A sound investment sir!

Tim Gow said...

Dancing Cake Tin
The Deighton book is indeed a good read.

Steve-the-Wargamer said...

Tim - you were bang on the money - half way through - it's a cracking read!

Tim Gow said...

Steve the Wargamer
Glad to hear it. I'm currently (re)reading another of Horne's books.