OYENTE

Chris Hummel

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  • 65
  • votos útiles
  • 152
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Honest, No Frills Account Still Holds Up

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 07-05-25

Wilson's straightforward, war-focused memoir of his experiences has rightly been praised. With dramatic but never overdone accounts of battles, wounds, and death, Wilson tells his story of a replacement officer serving in two different divisions after D-Day. He does an exceptional job showing the high casualties in his units, especially among officers, giving an especially chilling (in more ways than one) account of the terrible toll of the fighting in the Hurtgen Forest prior to the Battle of the Bulge. Wilson, still in his early 20s by the end of the war, shows the effect of nearly 8 months of almost unbroken frontline service on both his physical and mental well-being, ultimately resulting in his emergence of a different and often more forceful and confident human being. Given that this was written fairly early among the "last narratives" of frontline soldiers and officers (in the 1980s), it isn't surprising that it doesn't comment much on the long term emotional effects of the war on Wilson and he shows a middle of the road view on what is today called PTSD. While noting that some men never recovered from their war experiences and that each man has a breaking point past which they could not psychologically endure, he also states (and I think accurately and honestly in this case) that men sometimes used "combat fatigue" as an excuse to avoid frontline service. Company Commander would be a good book to read alongside this account. Highly recommended.

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Detailed, But Not Boring, Assessment

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 06-19-25

Well sourced follow up to this controversial incident, it provides an adequate description of the massacre to set up what follows. Manages to make what might have been a painful discussion of the Massacre's political and legal fall out interesting, though the narrators often well done characterization can be a little over the top at times.

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Fun, Fairly Light Listening

Total
4 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
4 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 06-19-25

Convincing proof, drawn largely from online newspapers, that "urban legends" are probably as old as civilization. If I have any real complaint, it might be that some incidents/legends are so short or seem to amount to running jokes more than full blown stories.

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Well-written Valuable History

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 05-22-25

A good knowledge of the Persians is vital to understanding ancient history. This is a great place to start. Based on careful research, good historical imagination (in the best sense), and realistic analysis, the author provides a corrective both to the Herodotan view that the Persians were oppressors determined to destroy Greek culture or an entirely peaceful and beneficial presence to their subject peoples. Very highly recommended.

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Highly Recommended

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 05-15-25

Aly's vital and challenging work successfully argues the connection between early German anti-semitic policies and the nationalist policies of various countries, political leaders, and parties. This includes population exchange policies, especially after WW1, and a growing anti-semitic emphasis generated by Jews' perceived economic and educational success, especially in Eastern European countries like Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, and Lithuania, but also visible in France and the Netherlands to some extent. Though never losing sight of Nazi Germany's responsibility for the Holocaust, Aly persuavily argues for coinciding goals of the much of the nationalist leadership and populist supporters of many of these nations in seeing the Jews excluded from the national circle of identity, if not outright eliminated. In some cases, this resulted in direct participation in the killings (notably in Romania and the Baltic States), in others, more or less voluntary assistance in locating, assembling and deporting Jews to their ultimate fate by extermination (as in Poland and France). Everywhere anti-semitism influenced local leaders and populations, Aly argues, this greatly assisted Nazi perpetrators, in contrast to the relatively few places (such as Denmark and parts of Italy, for example) where these sentiments did not exist in in powerful or popular circles. Aly further concludes that the rise of better educational opportunities and popularly elected governments actually provided new outlets for anti-semitism based on envy and resentment of Jewish (perceived) success or advantage. Democracy and dictatorship worked hand in hand in some cases to produce the Holocaust, with the obvious preconditions provided by war and social conflict. So too did Nazis often enroll or at least silence people and governments in occupied Europe by sharing the material and financial spoils of appropriating Jewish property and wealth. Once corrupted, few would speak out for the preservation of the Jews, also demonstrated in the often negative reception Jewish survivors received when they attempted to resettle in their pre-war homelands. A sobering and highly recommended work.

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Useful Review of an Underexamined Period

Total
4 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
4 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 05-07-25

While those with a strong background in the Russian Revolution and the origins of Weimar Germany may be familiar with some of what the book covers, even those with broad knowledge of European history are likely to find something new to them here. The main focus is the pivotal period of 1917-1923, when remarkable numbers of new countries were formed, borders established, and often a surprising number of casualties were inflicted in little known conflicts. In addition to filling in the blanks of historical knowledge for many of us (from Finland to Turkey, from Romania to Greece), this work also points us toward the common impact of the Great War on (especially eastern) Europe's history and government. Though you will want to learn more about these countries, this is an excellent start.

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Deep and Engaging

Total
4 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
4 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-17-25

Fine work, as usual, by this author. Strathern's interesting, balanced, and un-sensationalized account of this famous/infamous family shines a spotlight on a fascinating era in Italian history. He places Machiavelli, Da Vinci, and other key figures successfully and seamlessly into his account and goes far to explain both the author of The Prince and later scholars' fascination with this daring and conniving would-be dynasty.

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Fine Account of Both Australians and Japanese

Total
2 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
2 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-12-25

Cameron provides a solid, colorful, and detailed account about the Japanese and Australian fighting for New Guinea in 1942 incorporating, whenever possible, the perspectives of both armies. Drawing from official accounts, reports, and soldiers' letters and diaries, he brings to life and important story that most Americans know very little about--but should. While not sparing some discussion of Japanese atrocities, he does a good job of showing the Japanese troops as human beings who themselves suffered in the fighting and the uniquely challenging conditions of the time and region. If there is anything that might be missing for a reader unfamiliar with the Australian role and New Guinea's place in the Pacific War it would be a more general overview to provide more context to the less initiated. This seems mainly directed at an Australian audience with some preknowledge of these broader campaigns. Still, I would recommend this as a fine addition and general introduction to the Japanese-Australian conflict in the Pacific.

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A Classic Worth Reading

Total
3 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
4 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 03-14-25

Toland's award-winning history of World War 2 from the Japanese perspective, first published in 1970, remains well worth reading for anyone truly interested in the war in Asia and the Pacific. Some terminology is a bit dated ("Oriental" is used a number of times), but Toland's overall approach provides meaningful insight into Japan at war. His major contribution, beyond a number of revelations that have become a standard part of the historical literature (such as the poor translations between countries that contributed to conflict) is to prevent the war at a personal level. From political and diplomatic leaders to individual soldiers and survivors of bombing, Toland reminds readers of the fact that Japanese were people of a very different culture from their opponents but still individuals who made both good and bad decisions. While pursuing accurately and matter of faculty, the author still brings the reader closer to sympathizing with the Japanese as a people confronted with a set of difficult realities. He doesn't ignore Japanese atrocities or failings, but doesn't demonize them either. While major areas of the historical record have been more closely analyzed and developed in recent decades, Toland provides a great introduction to these issues to the general reader, including thoughtful and moving looks at the consequences of Tokyo firebombings and Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

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Solid Effort with Great Last Chapter

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 02-13-25

Being a historian who has read much about Reconstruction in the past few years, I find Egerton to have done a clear, solid, and straightforward job with the period. His set up of the last period of the war and (no surprise, given some of his other work) of the approach and importance of black Union troops and veterans is very strong and provides good context for his detailed discussed of what another author has called "the war after the war." His argument that the Johnson administration frittered away a major opportunity to remake the country is well taken (if not original), as is his formulation of the post 1865 era in the South as a continuing of war by other means with no clear endpoint before the mid 20th Century Civil Rights era. Perhaps the most useful part of the book is the final chapter, which carries Reconstruction forward into the 20th Century and has a discussion of both white and African-American authored history, drama, and filmmaking that taught me a lot. I had no idea Black film pioneer Oscar Michaud made a film in 1920 in response to Griffith's Birth of a Nation and similarly racist films. The book is well worth reading for either general readers or historians of the era. Highly recommended.

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