World War 2 has the (dis)honour of being the world’s deadliest conflict. The war is generally considered to have begun on September 3rd 1939 following Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland, and wouldn’t conclude until August 1945 following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Estimates put deaths at 60 million over the course of the conflict, 40 million of which were civilians. The war changed the entire world forever, and newly declassified information is coming to light changing our perspectives even today. With that in mind, check out the 9 best books about World War 2 from 2022 at What We Reading.
The Lighthouse Of Stalingrad – Iain MacGregor
With over two million deaths, casualties or captures, the Battle of Stalingrad is the bloodiest battle in history. Fought between September 1942 – February 1943, it was a pivotal turning point in Great Patriotic War and stood as the symbol of Russian sacrifice during WW2.
In The Lighthouse of Stalingrad, Ian MacGregor unearths new testimonies from the soldiers present and whisks readers back to one of its crucial battlegrounds. Pavlov’s House has become an enduring symbol of the brutal nature of the conflict, and it is mesmerisingly brought to life again by MacGregor in what stands as one of the best WW2 books.
Check Out The Best Books On The Battle Of Stalingrad
Against All Odds – Alex Kershaw
Historical novelist Alex Kershaw tells the story of four soldiers displaying the utmost bravery on the battlefield in Against All Odds. One of the most sobering 2022 WW2 books follows the Congressional Medal of Honor recipients in their efforts to liberate Europe during the war’s final stages.
Utilising primary sources of material and a slew of personal interviews, Against All Odds is the definitive embodiment of American spirit and bravery. Taking place from the deserts of Morocco to the dark heartland of Nazi Germany, it makes for a gripping tale. However, it is also a story of the weight of bravery in the field, and how adjusting to civilian life plagues those who have lived the horrors of war up close.
The Island of Extraordinary Captives – Simon Parkin
Simon Parkin’s The Island of Extraordinary Captives is the remarkable story of how a Jewish orphan escaped Nazi Germany, only to be arrested in London and thrown into an internment camp.
Parkin delivers the story of Peter Fleischmann and a remarkable group of prisoners on the Isle of Man with all of the accuracy readers have come to expect from his career as an award-winning journalist. Encountering artists, musicians and intellectuals at his camp on the Isle of Man, it is one of the standout WW2 books that capture how creativity can flourish even in the darkest of surroundings.
Check out some great WW2 Historical Fiction books!
Our Man In Tokyo – Steve Kemper
Filled with suspense and intrigue, Our Man in Tokyo is the gripping story of Joseph C. Grew told by Steve Kemper. This 2022 biography follows Grew during his time as US Ambassador to Japan from 1932 up to the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The most skilled diplomat of his day, the book details how Grew saw the horrors of war coming and attempted to avert its course. But, with rising nationalism sweeping the country, his efforts turned to warnings back home as the US was forced to brace itself for the biggest surprise attack in history.
Mussolini’s Daughter – Caroline Moorehead
The acclaimed author of classic WW2 books such as A Train in Winter and The Resistance Quartet, Caroline Moorehead tells the story of Edda Mussolini, the most dangerous woman in Europe.
Edda, the eldest and favourite child of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, would become known as the ‘Lady of the Axis’. In Mussolini’s Daughter, Moorehead examines how this glamorous young woman’s narcissism and ambition helped drive the most abhorrent political school of thought. Furthermore, the author uses memoirs and archived information to paint a picture of excess and greed that would help set the world alight.
Read more: fascinating Historical NonFiction books!
Taking Berlin – Martin Dugard
Martin Dugard is the New York Times bestselling author of the Taking World War 2 book series. In his 2022 novel Taking Berlin, he details the race between the Allies and the Soviet Union to capture the Nazi capital first.
Following the liberation of Paris in 1944, Britain and the US vied for supremacy on the Western Front. In the East, the Soviets motored towards Berlin in an artillery-fuelled trail of destruction. A pulse-pounding race sweeping through the war’s most colourful leaders, Taking Berlin is a tale of how allies became adversaries during its final hours.
Check out the best Korean War Books
Wings Of War – David Fairbank White And Margaret Stanback White
Wings of War is a compelling narrative centred around innovation, determination and bravery associated with one of WW2’s little-known secret weapons.
When the Allies’ P-51 Mustang first took to the skies in early 1944, the war in the air was firmly in the hands of the Axis. Bomber raids were proving costly, and the presence of the faster, more agile Luftwaffe planes meant an invasion of France was impossible. However, through trailblazing engineers and brave airmen, the book follows how the Mustang was able to shred the Luftwaffe and clear the skies for D-Day.
Check Out The Best Midway Books
The Pope At War – David Kertzer
The third book in a trilogy looking at the papacy’s struggles against Fascism, David Kertzer’s The Pope at War puts Pope Pius VII under the spotlight. In the book, Kertzer examines how Pius VII’s secret negotiations with Adolf Hitler, ultimately failed to mount a challenge to WW2 and the Holocaust.
Pius’ decision to maintain cordial relationships with the Fascist world remains controversial. The Pope at War uses thousands of British, German, Italian and American documents as a means of better understanding the motivations behind the decisions the Holy See made during humanity’s most significant conflict.
The Daughter Of Auschwitz – Tova Friedman And Malcolm Brabant
The Daughter of Auschwitz is a 2022 WW2 book by Tova Friedman and Malcolm Brabant. Friedman is amongst the youngest survivors, surviving near-death experiences in a Jewish ghetto, a labour camp and the most infamous concentration camp from the war.
Friedman was only four years old when she was sent to a Nazi labour camp. Daughter of Auschwitz is her personal memoir. It is a heartrending read into the depths of human depravity, but one of the most powerful if we are to learn anything from the lessons of history. Yet it is also an incredible tale of survival, resilience and hopes against all the odds.
Check Out The Best WW2 Books From 2023
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
