Reviews (2)

One of the ten most important books on the Eastern Front in WWII: An exceptionally original and comprehensive military history.
This book is not just the only English-language book on its subject, but it stands comparison with the best English-language studies of any individual country's armed forces in WWII.
A valuable look at an often-overlooked factor in WWII...
Although Romania's contribution to World War II, both on the Axis andAllied sides, was much greater than Italy's, it has received very littleattention in the West.This is mainly because almost all Romanian actionwas on the Eastern Front, save for air actions against Western Alliedplanes raiding over Romanian oil-refining plants, and therefore got littleattention from West-oriented historians.Axworthy has remedied thissituation with this dry, thorough, careful overview of the Romanianexperience in World War II.This is a valuable reference tool, but not forpleasure reading...hopefully, the change in circumstances in Eastern Europewill eventually bring out livelier memoirs of Romanian veterans before theyall pass away. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Armata    2. Balkan Peninsula - History    3. History    4. History - Military / War    5. History: World    6. Military - General    7. Military - World War II    8. Military History - World War II    9. Romania    10. Romania.    11. World War, 1939-1945    12. European history: Second World War    13. Land forces & warfare    14. Second World War, 1939-1945   

Reviews (3)

Great Overview and Photo History
As a researcher on this topic for a relative of one of the 98th pilots lost on 1 Aug 43.I can only support and endorse the comments from tdolson@byu.edu from Provo UT , July 10, 1998 Stunning history &photography outweigh typographical errors Michael Hill has re-visited oneof the most dramatic bombing missions of World War II. It was the longestbombing mission to date in the war, by the only bomber with the range to doit. He leads you through the exact targets and squadron placements, by nameof pilot of each B-24 aircraft (178 of them), and simultaneously unfoldsthe "big picture" of the low-level raid on the oil refineries ofPloesti, Romania. At least one bomb group was told in their final briefing,"coming back today is secondary." What a nice send-off to crewswho had been training in the Libyan desert with exercises in formation 50feet above the sand dunes! This dramatic mission resulted in the loss ofover 360 crew. Some planes returned with corn stalks in their cowlings! Theextensive list of crews, by airplane, and many photographs of planes andcrews make this a must purchase for those whose relatives participated inthe raid. The main distraction from the book is the extensive typographicalerrors, inconsistencies and mis-spellings of crew names, names of planes,and so on. But I am richer and my family history is stronger because I haveread this book. Thanks, Michael, and thanks to the publisher for investingin a visually and textually compelling work. (If a second edition orprinting is planned, perhaps a re-editing to keep the errors to fewer thancan be found in this review could be undertaken.)

Well written text that is based on facts, not opinions.
This book is very well written, and the minute by minute sequence of thePloesti raid is exciting to follow. Much of the text is written in a firstperson point of view, and is not the usual boring documentation ofhistorical events. As you read through, you feel as though you are hearingthe crewman's stories firsthand. The smell of burning fuel and the heat ofthe flames is not hard to imagine, if you let your mind wander a bit. Thenumerous photographs are some of the best reproductions I have ever seen ina WW II volume. They follow the text accordingly, and are not all jammed inone spot as some books tend to do.The only "flaw", in myopinion, is the lack ofextensive interviews and photographs from theGerman and Romanian defenders on the ground at the time of the raid. Othervolumes on the Ploesti raid have touched on these interviews and photos, sothe information is out there. Perhaps a volume two on this subject willappear in the future.

Stunning history & photography outweigh typographical errors
Michael Hill has re-visited one of the most dramatic bombing missions of World War II.It was the longest bombing mission to date in the war, by the only bomber with the range to do it.He leads you through the exact targets and squadron placements, byname of pilot of each B-24 aircraft (178 of them), and simultaneously unfolds the "big picture" of the low-level raid on the oil refineries of Ploesti, Romania.At least one bomb group was told in their final briefing, "coming back today is secondary."What a nice send-off to crews who had been training in the Libyan desert with exercises in formation 50 feet above the sand dunes! This dramatic mission resulted in the loss of over 360 crew.Some planes returned with corn stalks in their cowlings!The extensive list of crews, by airplane, and many photographs of planes and crews make this a must purchase for those whose relatives participated in the raid. The main distraction from the book is the extensive typographical errors, inconsistencies and mis-spellings of crew names, names of planes, and so on.But I am richer andmy family history is stronger because I have read this book.Thanks, Michael, and thanks to the publisher for investing in a visually and textually compelling work. (If a second edition or printing is planned, perhaps a re-editing to keep the errors to fewer than can be found in this review could be undertaken.) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Aerial Operations    2. Aerial operations, American    3. Eastern Europe - Balkan Republics    4. History - Military / War    5. History: American    6. Military - Aviation    7. Military - World War II    8. Military History - World War II    9. Ploiesti, Battles of, Ploies    10. Ploieðsti, Battles of, Ploieðsti, Romania, 1943-1944    11. World War, 1939-1945   

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Contemporary Politics - Eastern Europe    3. Eastern Europe - Balkan Republics    4. History & Theory - General    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Sociology    7. Anthropology    8. Central Europe    9. Eastern Europe    10. Marxism & Communism    11. Multicultural studies    12. Political science & theory    13. Social Science / Anthropology / General    14. Social issues    15. Socialism & left-of-centre democratic ideologies   

Subjects:  1. 1893-1956    2. Bucharest    3. Diaries    4. Dorian, Emil,    5. History Of Jews    6. History: World    7. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    8. Intellectual life    9. Jews    10. Personal narratives    11. Romania    12. Dorian, Emil   

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Reviews (2)

Intensely informative!!
This book offers readers a look into a political system fueled by greed, corrupt from years of a communist mentality, and one being enabled to continue in the same path by NATO and the E.U. because of their own political agendas and goals.
The Troublesome Situation in Romania
Romania has long been a country that exists as an independent country but which has tended to be subservient to if not actually ruled by outsiders. At different times these rulers have Turks, Germans, Russians and others. The secret to survival of the Romanian culture has been an ability of influential Romanians to outwit powerful outsiders while attempting to accept their 'alien ways.'
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Subjects:  1. 19th century    2. 20th century    3. Eastern Europe - Balkan Republics    4. Eastern Europe - General    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. Political History    9. Politics and government    10. Romania    11. History / Europe / Eastern    12. ROMANIA_HISTORY    13. ROMANIA_POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT   

Subjects:  1. Customs & Traditions    2. Eastern Europe - General    3. Historiography    4. History    5. History - General History    6. Philosophy    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Romania    9. Social Science    10. 20th century    11. European history: c 1750 to c 1900    12. European history: from c 1900 -    13. c 1800 to c 1900   

Subjects:  1. 16th century    2. Boarding schools    3. Case studies    4. Education    5. Education And The State    6. General    7. History    8. Nationalism and education    9. Private Education    10. Romania    11. Secondary    12. Social aspects    13. Sociology    14. Transylvania   

Reviews (2)

Excellently Written
Charles King's "The Moldovans" is an excellently written history of a little known East European borderland and its intriguing people. While its physical appearance and membership in the Hoover Institute's old "Nationalities of the USSR" series may indicate dry and rigid academic work, it is certainly not.
Exceptional and thorough.
This is an exceptional and thorough review of the history of Moldova up to, during, and after the transition to independence from the Soviet Union by an outstanding scholar.While replete with scholarly notes and bibliography, it is also readily accessable to the non-specialist seeking to understand this very interesting country. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ethnic Studies - General    2. Europe - Russia & the Former Soviet Union    3. History    4. History - General History    5. Moldova    6. Sociology   

Subjects:  1. Eastern Europe - General    2. Foreign relations    3. History: World    4. International Relations - General    5. Politics - Current Events    6. Romania    7. U.S. Foreign Relations    8. United States    9. History / Europe / Eastern    10. International relations    11. USA   

Reviews (1)

A powerful prison memoir!
This is the story of a Romanian artist, a young woman who spent eight years out of twelwe in solitary confinment, for the crime of having organized a puppet show together with the wife of a disgraced Communist leader. . . Despite all of that, Lena Constante never lost her dignity or pride. . . One of the most powerful prison memoirs ever written! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Constante, Lena    6. Historical - General    7. Political Repression    8. Political prisoners    9. Romania    10. Women    11. Biography: general    12. Literary Criticism & Collections / General    13. Political imprisonment   

Subjects:  1. Elections    2. Europe, Central    3. Europe, Eastern    4. History & Theory - General    5. Political Parties    6. Political Process - Political Parties    7. Political Science    8. Politics - Current Events    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Bulgaria    12. Czech Republic    13. European history: postwar, from c 1945 -    14. Hungary    15. Poland    16. Political Science / Foreign Legal Systems    17. Political ideologies    18. Political science & theory    19. Romania   

Reviews (8)

a compelling memoir
Dr. Vlasopolos, Womens Studies Director at Wayne State University, has written an extraordinary memoir that will appeal to many audiences.Her control of language is masterful yet subtle, and Ch. 15 ("Misplacing Detroit") is perhaps the best rendering I've ever read of those of us who have lived in and left and returned to Detroit, articulating the enitre palette of emotions and of love-hate that we cherish for that city and its peoples.

Educational, with a touch of arrogance.
I selected this book because I enjoy biographies and history. I have been reading various histories of World War 2, and this book was interesting in that respect. I want to learn the "human" side of history (versus the military or government view). Ms. Vlasopolos paints a very detailed picture of life in Eastern Europe immediately after the war. A secondary, intertwined biography of her mother adds greatly and importantly to these details. I did, however, find this book difficult to follow at times. In my opinion, this book was written for Ms. Vlasopolos fellow literature experts. Numerous references to the literary works of others left me feeling fairly uneducated, my Master's degree not withstanding. I finished the book with a significant reading list that one might consider a "pre-requisite" to reading this book. My high school French failed me in a few places, as well! While I describe these concerns as shortcomings of the book, they may simply be my own. I found it amusing that while presenting stereotypes and prejudice in an appropriately negative light, the author feels it necessary to mention that she would never sleep with a Republican. I came away from this book with a feeling that, once again, a European had to point out cultural weaknesses of Americans (language, literature, and food). Perhaps that is a goal of this professor, to make the reader want to improve and learn. If so, she may have succeeded! However, she may have also put valuable educational material out of the literary reach of many.

oral transgressions
This is the most moving and meaningful memoir I have ever read. The author tells a personal history, a national and international history, as well as a short history of western thought in a way that ties together beautifully. Near the start of the book, it is said that religion is a control over what goes into and out of the mouth, and this metaphor sticks with the incredible telling/story-telling throughout. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1948-    2. American - Hispanic American    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. English teachers    6. Literary Criticism    7. Literary historians    8. Middle West    9. Personal Memoirs    10. Romanian Americans    11. United States    12. Vlasopolos, Anca,    13. Women    14. American English    15. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs    16. Biography: general    17. Immigration & emigration    18. Novels, other prose & writers: from c 1900 -    19. USA    20. Vlasopolos, Anca   

Subjects:  1. Balkan Peninsula - History    2. Civilization    3. Eastern Europe - General    4. History    5. History Of Civilization And Culture (General)    6. History: World    7. Romania    8. Romanian History   

Subjects:  1. Eastern Europe - Balkan Republics    2. Eastern Europe - General    3. Ethnic Studies - General    4. Eugenics    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. Political Ideologies - Communism & Socialism    9. Romania    10. Eugenics & breeding    11. European history: First World War    12. Inter-war period, 1918-1939    13. Population & demography    14. Social & cultural anthropology   

Reviews (1)

For the love of wooden churches
Here, at long last, is a full and serious description of those most wonderful of all wooden churches, those of the Maramures region straddling the Romanian-Ukrainian border.Dr. Patterson clearly knows and loves her subject and has brought all that knowledge and love to the writing of this book.Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Christianity - History - General    3. History - General    4. History - Medieval    5. International Architecture - European    6. Maramures    7. Maramure÷s    8. Romania    9. Subjects & Themes - Religious    10. Wooden churches    11. Architecture / General    12. History Of Art / Art & Design Styles    13. Religious buildings    14. Sculpture & other three-dimensional art forms    15. c 1000 CE to c 1500    16. c 1500 to c 1600    17. c 1600 to c 1700    18. c 1700 to c 1800    19. c 1800 to c 1900   

Reviews (2)

a must for vanished Jewish East European comunities.
I was born in Radauti & fortunately left with my parents in 1959. It is a moving elegant book of a town that is usually not on the map.Wonderful pictures(Including my uncle & his family)Would love to havecontact with auther as I am doing some reasearch on Radauti. I gave out allmy copies of the book and would love to find a copy. Also would beinterested in posters of Laurence's work.

perfect
I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN FINDING INFORMATION ON THE POSTERS OF LAURENCE SALZMANN. I BOUGHT " THE LAST JEWS OF RADAUTI " POSTER, IN A POSTER SHOP IN PHIL. PA IN 1984 more or less.I'D LIKE TO FIND OUT WERE ICAN SEE (and maybe buy ) HIS COLLECTION,REDEYE141@aol.comthank you ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History Of Jews    2. History: American    3. Holocaust survivors    4. Jewish Sociology    5. Jews    6. Radauti    7. Romania    8. Ræadæau÷ti    9. Social life and customs    10. Gürsan-Salzmann, Ayse    11. Salzmann, Laurence   

Reviews (1)

A Lost War and a Lost Homeland
Balkan Nightmare undercuts expectations. It's the story of a soldier, of a concentration camp survivor, of a refugee. Unlike most war memoirs published in English, however, this is the story of a German soldier - a member of the notorious Waffen-SS, Hitler's elite troops - and his concentration camp was run by the British military. Eventually, he became a refugee from a homeland that had disappeared - Saxon Transylvania.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1925-    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Eastern Europe - General    4. History    5. History: American    6. Military    7. Military - World War II    8. Personal narratives, Romanian    9. Umbrich, Friedrich,    10. World War, 1939-1945    11. History / Europe / Eastern    12. Umbrich, Friedrich   

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Fritz, Harry B    4. Historical - General    5. History    6. History: World    7. Military    8. Military - Aviation    9. Military - General    10. Military - World War II    11. Ploieðsti, Battles of, Ploieðsti, Romania, 1943-1944    12. Prisoners and prisons, Romania    13. Prisoners and prisons, Romanian    14. Prisoners of war    15. United States    16. United States - 20th Century/WWII    17. World War, 1939-1945   

Reviews (1)

A harrowing tale of survival and rebirth
The author writes in a direct conversational way.It's a page-turner from its opening and you can't put this book down until you finish it and find out how the author's story ends.The author writes of many aspects ofpre-war Europe which were largly neglected before.This is a valuable bookwith mainly new information on the Holocaust. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Historical - Holocaust    4. History    5. History: American    6. Holocaust    7. Holocaust survivors    8. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    9. Illinois    10. Jewish Holocaust Personal Narratives    11. Jews    12. Persecutions    13. Personal narratives    14. Romania    15. Tessler, Rudolph    16. Viseu de Sus    17. Vi÷seu de Sus    18. Biography: general    19. Europe    20. Jewish studies    21. Second World War, 1939-1945    22. The Holocaust    23. World history: Second World War   

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Antisemitism    3. Eastern Europe - General    4. Europe    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. Jewish - General    9. Jews    10. Romania    11. History / Jewish    12. History of specific racial & ethnic groups    13. Jewish studies