Nonfiction World War II Books

Do you enjoy reading nonfiction books about WWII? We are sharing a huge list of nonfiction World War II books.

Fiction books are great, but our go to books will probably always be nonfiction. We love the true story. 

Although it is difficult to say reading about such a horrific event as WWII is enjoyable, it is one of our favorite time periods to read about for good reason. There is so much written on the subject.

WWII was a difficult time period. Even though it created horrible circumstances, it also created great heroes. Many innocent people suffered and died due to World War II, including those at the hand of Hitler. But many people, often everyday people, became heroes for fighting for those that couldn’t fight for themselves.

WWII teaches us so much about human nature–both the good and the bad.

Many people say that history repeats itself, and there is a lot of truth in that. Reading about history and informing ourselves of the events that have already happened helps us to avoid repeating the past. In addition, it helps shape and inspires the heroes of tomorrow.

We have read quite a few books on WWII, both non-fiction and fiction. However, the non-fiction ones are almost always our favorite.

We love to read the real story–what really happened as opposed to a fictitious story. The reality is that when a book is written well, real life will read like fiction.

However, nonfiction books unveil the extraordinary acts that really happened rather than ones that are just loosely based on things that happened. That is the case with many of the books listed below, and that is why they made our list of great Nonfiction World War II books.

The books below are all ones that we have read. Although some of them are rough and deal with very tough topics, war is a rough reality. It is not pretty.

Bad things happen to people, including women and children, but we need to know what happened to those who came before us so that we can prevent such atrocities from happening again. Reading books like the ones listed below allows us to do that.

We love finding new books as well. Do you have a few favorite Nonfiction WWII books that are not on our list?

WWII Nonfiction Books

When Books Went To War by Molly Guptill. It is estimated that Hitler burned over 100 million books. The U.S. did the exact opposite when it sent millions of books to military members serving during WWII. This book shares the story of when books went to war during WWII.

The First Wave by Alex Kershaw. My husband and Grace both enjoyed this WWII book about D-Day. I think it needs to go on my to be read list too.

Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston. This WWII memoir is about life in a Japanese Internment Campe during WWII. This is part of U.S. history that a lot of people don’t want to talk about, but it is part of our history. This book was first published in 1973 and it has stood the test of time. If you have not read this I highly encourage you to pick it up.

Every Man A Hero by Ray Lambert. This book is a little different WWII book because it is the story of a medic during WWII who was on the beaches of D-Day saving lives. There is not a lot books about medics during WWII, so this was an interesting read.

Operation Columba by Gordon Corera. This is a book about pigeons during WWII. Yes, pigeons. Did you know that pigeons played a part in WWII? This book is great not only for WWII nonfiction fans but for those that enjoy books about animals.

Home Fires by Julie Summers. This book was originally published as Jam Busters. It is the true story the Women’s Institute in Britain during WWII. This is also the nonfiction book that the PBS series Home Fires is based on.

Indianapolis by Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic. In 1946 the U.S.S Indianapolis was sailing when it was hit by two Japanese torpedoes. This is the story of the ship and the days following the attack. We have a long time family friend who has met one of the survivors which is amazing since there are only just over 300 who survived it.

A Higher Call by Adam Makos. Adam Makos is one of our family’s favorite nonfiction authors. Grace has read all of his books, my husband has read most of them, and I am on a mission to read all of his books. This book gives you a look into an encounter between an American and a German that was considered top secret by the Air Force for years.

Prisoners of the Castle by Ben MacIntyre. Did you ever watch Hogan’s Heroes? This book reminds me of a real life version of that show, but instead of a military camp, it is set in a real castle in Germany. This isn’t my favorite Ben MacIntyre book, but it is well-written and worth reading.

The Watchmakers by Harry Lenga and Scott Lenga. This is the story of brothers who used their skills and smart thinking to survive the Holocaust. This will be one of my top books of the year.

Facing the Mountain by Daniel James Brown. Daniel James Brown has become a must buy author for our family. This book is the true story of Japanese American heroes in WWII. Many of their families were put in concentration camps all over the U.S., yet they choose to fight for the country they loved. This will be one of my favorite books of the year.

The Happiest Man of Earth by Eddie Jaku. Eddie Jaku survived Auschwitz and yet he called himself the happiest man on earth. His story is one of survival, but it is also a story of gratitude. If you think we live in the most difficult time ever, this book will put things into perspective.

Flag of Our Fathers by James Bradley. This book is about the men behind the famous picture of the flag being raised on Iwo Jima. It was one of Grace’s favorite books the year she read it.

Voices of the Pacific by Adama Makos. I have already stated that Adam Makos is one of our favorite nonfiction authors. In this book he shares the story of fifteen marines that fought in the Pacific during WWII. There are many books set in Europe during WWII, but this one gives you a look at the fight in the Pacific. It is well written and worth reading.

Guerrilla Wife by Louise Reid Spencer. This is one of Grace’s all time favorite books. It was originally published in 1945 and is the personal story of a woman, her husband, and her friends as they survived the Japanese take over of the Philippians. 

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. This is the story of Louis Zamperini life is one of my all time favorite books. It is a powerful story with amazing writing. This book is a true story, but it reads like a novel. I did not want to put this book down. If you have not read this one it is well worth reading. This is a great book for someone that does not read a lot of nonfiction, but wants to read more of it.

Devil At My Heels by Louis Zamperini. Unbroken is Louise Zamperini’s story written by Laura Hillenbrand but this is Louis Zamperini’s autobiography. It is his story written in his words. It was published in 2003. Unbroken is the more popular version of Louis Zamperini’s story, but Grace says this one is better.

All the Gallant Men by Donald Stratton. This is a memoir written by a survivor of the USS Arizona. It gives you an eye witness account of Pearl Harbor. It is an unforgettable story of survival.

Helmet for My Pillow by Robert Leckie. First published in 1957 this is a classic WWII book. The HBO mini-series The Pacific is based on this book.

Spearhead by Adam Makos. Yes, another Adam Makos. He really does make history come alive. This book is about Clarence Smoyer a Sherman Tank gunner during WWII. It is a powerful story that you won’t forget.

Frozen in Time by Mitchell Zuckoff. This is a WWII story that very few know about. It is about Greenland during the war. Greenland was an important island because they predicted weather. Whoever controlled Greenland would know more about the weather and would have an advantage over their opponent.

Once Upon a Town by Bob Green. This book is a little different because it is set in America. Nebraska to be exact. This is a heartwarming story of how a small town in Nebraska made a difference in the soldiers fighting in WWII. This small American town sacrificed what little it had to show it cared about those fighting in the war.

The Mathews Men by William Geroux. This is the story of the Merchant Marines and a family of seven brothers and other men from Mathews County Virginia who fought during WWII. Grace really enjoyed this book because there is not a lot written about the Merchant Marines during WWII.

All But My Life by Gerda Weissmann Klein. This is the memoir of Gerda Weissmann Klein who’s life was shattered when the Nazis entered Poland. This book published in 1957 is her story of survival. She was an ordinary girl who survived unimaginable circumstances.

Never Call Me a Hero by N. Jack “Dusty” Kleiss. This book is Dusty’s account of WWII and The Battle of Midway, which is often called the greatest naval battle in history. This book is a memoir, but it is so well researched, which is not the case with many memoirs. Grace considers this one of her all time favorite nonfiction WWII books. She recommends it all the time.

50 Children by Steven Pressman. This is the story of an American couple who rescued Jewish children during WWII. It is a powerful story of sacrifice, determination, and how a couple of people can impact a lot of lives.

Indestructible by John R. Bruning. This is Pappy’s story of survival in the Pacific, Papa New Guinea, and the Philippians during WWII. It is a well written story of survival, bravery, and one of the worst concentration camps of the war. Grace read this book back in 2019 and loved it.

The Edge of Terror by Scott Walker. Grace read this as a teenager and she credits it with being the book that gave her a love of WWII Pacific history. This book is the story of people in concentration camps, survivors hiding in jungles, and men who didn’t surrender to the Japanese. 

A Stranger To Myself by Willy Peter Reese. This book may not be the best written book, but it is a fascinating look at WWII because it is written by a German soldier. It gives you a look at WWII that very few books do.

Irena’s Children by Tilar J. Mazzeo. This is the remarkable story of a woman who helped rescue 2,500 children during WWII when the Nazis occupied Poland. This is a story of sacrifice and bravery that you will not forget.

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I Could Never Be So Lucky by Gen. James H. Doolittle. This book was published back in 1991. Grace read it in 2017 and really enjoyed it. It is not only Dolittle’s memoir of WWII it is about growing up in Alaska, trick flying, and more.

No Ordinary Joes by Larry Colton. This is book is a tough read because of the subject, but it is a good read. It is about submarines and Japan and four men who endured unimaginable circumstances during WWII.

Flyboys by James Bradley. This book is the story of nine Navy Flyers and Marine Pilots during WWII. It is an amazing story of war and friendship. It is another tough read, but is a good one.

Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends by William Guarnmere. An amazing story of two paratroopers during WWII. If you enjoyed the book Band of Brothers I think you will enjoy this one.

The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman. This is the story of zookeepers who hid over three hundred people in their zoo during WWII. If you love books about animals this is one you will probably enjoy.

Elephant Company by Vicki Croke. This book is part war story and part animal story and it is totally different than any other WWII book that I have read. It is about Burma during the war and how elephants were used to fight the war. I read this book back in 2015 and it is a book I still recommend and talk about.

Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxes. Multiple people in our family have read and loved this one. This book is one of my favorite WWII books. It is the story of a pastor and author who works to overthrow Hitler. There has been some controversy around this book, but it is still one of my favorites. It has over 5,000 five star reviews on Amazon, so I am not the only one that loved it.

When the Germans Came by Duncan Barrett. This is for fans of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. It is the real life story of life in the Channel Islands under the Nazi occupation.

Helmets and Lipstick by Ruth G. Haskell. This book is a great read for anyone who loves to read about the women that helped win WWII. This is a memory of an army nurse. Grace says it reads like novel.

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. A classic WWII book that I have read at least three times over the years. If you have not read this it is an amazing story of survival during WWII.

Alice’s Piano by Melissa Muller. If you love music this is a book I think you will love. It is the story of Alice, a piano player. Her skills as a piano player helped her survive the war and concentration camp. I read this back in 2016 and it quickly became one of my favorite WWII books.

My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me by Jennifer Teege. I don’t think this book as gotten the attention it deserved. It was published back in 2016. The author, Jennifer Teege finds out that her grandfather was one of the notorious Nazis in Schinlers list. Her grandfather, would have in fact killed her. I could not put this down. I read it in two days. If you enjoy little known WWII stories this is a good read.

The Real X-Men by Robery Lyman. If you love WWII books that are a little different this book is for you. This book is about the mini submarines and the underwater war during WWII.

Dutch Girl by Robert Matzen. This book is for fans of Audrey Hepburn and Hollywood stories. It is about how Audrey Hepburn and her family during the war. Audrey Hepburn’s son said the war made his mother who she was.

Measure of a Man by Martin Greenfield. This is the story of an Auschwitz who became one off America’s best known tailors. I don’t think this got a lot of attention when it was published in 2016 and I don’t understand why. I really enjoyed this story of overcoming the odds and living the American dream.

It Happened In Italy by Elizabeth Bettina. Did you know that there was a Jewish prisoner of War camp in Italy? This is the story of Italians who risked their lives to save others. This book is the little known stories of Jews in Italy during WWII.

What are your favorite WWII Nonfiction books? It is impossible to list them all, so we would love for you to leave your favorites in the comments.

 

Published November 2019. Updated November 2022.