Speedy

SimonFox that Heaven and Hell sounds like a good book, you wouldn't happen to have the name of the publisher and/or ISBN number? I quite enjoy reading the personal accounts of the common soldiers. One such book that sticks in mind is 'Stoker'can't recall the author (lent it to my brother a year ago and havn't seen it since). The book is written by a bloke who was in the 6th Div 2AIF. He was captured in either Greece or Crete, later escaped from a POW camp in northern Poland an was recaptured a couple of miles from the Swiss border. Under Gestapo interogation he wouldn't tell how he got his false papers (made in POW camp and were apparently very good). Because he wouldn't talk they sent him to Auschwitz-Birkenau(Sp?) for a year. His job was to stoke the fires used to burn the bodies of the dead and from what I read in the book the bodies of the living who collapsed while working there. Anyway that is just a brief synopsis of the book and I recommend it as it is a very good read.

The following book is set on the Eastern Front but I had to mention it. The book is: Stalingrad by Antony Beevor Warning! This is one of those books that fall into the unputdownable category, do not attempt to read this book if you have to go to work in the morning. Fionn I think you would like it as it contains many first person accounts of the battle from both sides that the author uses to help explain events and conditions in Stalingrad (also breaks myths, like number of Russian deserters etc.). Another thing I got from the book that I never realised was how many Hiwis served in the 6th Army. Hence from this you realise how under reported the actual number of Axis casualties are with no accurate number of casualties for Soviet citizens fighting in the 6th Army. [This message has been edited by Speedy (edited 12-03-99).]

My interest in WW2 goes back to my childhood reading those little commando comics (heh heh). Although I am interested in the war in general, my main interest is the European theatre (inc. Africa, mid-east, and Russia). Funnily enough I only know of one relative who served in that theatre, my uncle Jimmy (great-uncle actually) he served in the 9th Australian Division (one of the Rats of Tobruk). Both of my Grandfathers served in the Pacific, one in the RAN (both surface ships and subs) and the other a mechanic in the RAAF stationed at Darwin. Don't ask me why the European theatre interests me more! Now the main reason I was writing this post, earlier this year I read one of the best ww2 history books I have ever come across:- Stalingrad by Antony Beevor. As the title suggests the book is about the battle of Stalingrad with the first 50 odd pages dealing with the lead up from operation Barbarossa. I would recommend this book to anyone with even a passing interest in the war.

A couple more tinnies wouldn't go astray.(hic!)

G'day, To start with BTS the demo looks great, congratulations on what looks to be the best computer wargame made to date. (now the gripe) My biggest dissapointment is the limited setting (western front 44-45) this is a theatre that in truth did not have a decisive effect on the ultimate outcome of the war. ( before everyone starts howling <g> I do not mean to trivialize the actions and sacrifice of those people that served in this theatre and timeframe.) I am simply saying that Germany would still have lost the war if the allies had not landed in France in 1944. I realise you had to choose this theatre to satiate your US market (which I expect will be by far your biggest market). (now to my wishlist for the sequels) CM2:- BARBAROSSA! and beyond. Yes you guessed it, the Eastern Front 41-45. I can't wait to play the Stalingrad campaign <g> CM3:- My Melancholy Duty The European and African theatres 39-44. This to include Russo-Fin war, Poland, France, Italy, Balkans, North Africa, Syria, Sudan, Crete etc, etc, etc. and the finale, CM4:- Pax Pacifica. Special note this to include China v Japan and Russia v Japan (1939 i believe?) as well as 41-45 war. What say you BTS? Cheers, Speedy PS:- I forgot to mention the expansion pack to CM3, CM3.5:- NO PASARAN! the Spanish Civil War. [This message has been edited by Speedy (edited 11-29-99).]

I am from Australia, taxes here are pretty steep to {not as bad as Denmark though <g>). Not sure exactly what the import duties here are but I expect them to be around 20-30%. Talking about revolution, we will have one here if the mongrel pollies keep increasing the taxes on grog.(we have the honour of being the biggest consumers per capita of beer in the world<G>). Had to add that after reading the foreign aid one earlier<G>.