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'45: Final Drive from the Rhine to the Baltic
A truly authentic account of what it was like to serve in the last year of World War Two.
This vivid history uncovers the final tragedies and triumphs of the Second World War before peace returned to a war-torn Europe. It is the perfect book for fans of Stephen E. Ambrose, E. B. Sledge, and Matthew Rozell.
Although there were only five months of conflict before VE-Day in 1945, this does not mean that the war became any less ferocious. From the last-ditch German offensive in the Ardennes through to crossing the Rhine, the fire-bombing of Dresden to the capture of Hamburg, this final year of World War Two was a bloody and brutal conflict where many young men lost their lives.
Charles Whiting, a veteran of World War Two and a renowned historian, recovers the lost voices of the ordinary soldiers from both sides who witnessed the final death throes of the Second World War. Drawing upon letters home, private diaries, interviews with combatants, as well as the regimental histories and journalists’ reports, has allowed Whiting to reconstruct a soldier’s-eye-view of the frontlines, from both Allied and Axis perspectives.
’45 is a unique testament to the Second World War soldier, uncovering the world in which they lived and died, the weapons which they fought with, the food that they ate, the civilians and ruins they encountered, and what the end of the war meant to them.
Praise for the work of Charles
‘provides … unique insights that most historians fail to capture’ Armor, Bryant Love
This vivid history uncovers the final tragedies and triumphs of the Second World War before peace returned to a war-torn Europe. It is the perfect book for fans of Stephen E. Ambrose, E. B. Sledge, and Matthew Rozell.
Although there were only five months of conflict before VE-Day in 1945, this does not mean that the war became any less ferocious. From the last-ditch German offensive in the Ardennes through to crossing the Rhine, the fire-bombing of Dresden to the capture of Hamburg, this final year of World War Two was a bloody and brutal conflict where many young men lost their lives.
Charles Whiting, a veteran of World War Two and a renowned historian, recovers the lost voices of the ordinary soldiers from both sides who witnessed the final death throes of the Second World War. Drawing upon letters home, private diaries, interviews with combatants, as well as the regimental histories and journalists’ reports, has allowed Whiting to reconstruct a soldier’s-eye-view of the frontlines, from both Allied and Axis perspectives.
’45 is a unique testament to the Second World War soldier, uncovering the world in which they lived and died, the weapons which they fought with, the food that they ate, the civilians and ruins they encountered, and what the end of the war meant to them.
Praise for the work of Charles
‘provides … unique insights that most historians fail to capture’ Armor, Bryant Love
232 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1985
118 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Charles Whiting
258 books52 followersCharles Whiting was a British writer and military historian and with some 350 books of fiction and non-fiction to his credit, under his own name and a variety of pseudonyms including Ian Harding, Duncan Harding, K.N. Kostov, John Kerrigan, Klaus Konrad, and Leo Kessler.
Born in the Bootham area of York, England, he was a pupil at the prestigious Nunthorpe Grammar School, leaving at the age of 16 to join the British Army by lying about his age. Keen to be in on the wartime action, Whiting was attached to the 52nd Reconnaissance Regiment and by the age of 18 saw duty as a sergeant in France, Holland, Belgium and Germany in the latter stages of World War II. While still a soldier, he observed conflicts between the highest-ranking British and American generals which he would write about extensively in later years.
After the war, he stayed on in Germany completing his A-levels via correspondence course and teaching English before being enrolled at Leeds University reading History and German Language. As an undergraduate he was afforded opportunities for study at several European universities and, after gaining his degree, would go on to become an assistant professor of history. Elsewhere, Whiting held a variety of jobs which included working as a translator for a German chemical factory and spells as a publicist, a correspondent for The Times and feature writer for such diverse magazines as International Review of Linguistics, Soldier and Playboy.
His first novel was written while still an undergraduate, was published in 1954 and by 1958 had been followed by three wartime thrillers. Between 1960 and 2007 Charles went on to write over 350 titles, including 70 non-fiction titles covering varied topics from the Nazi intelligence service to British Regiments during World War II.
One of his publishers, Easingwold-based Rupert Smith of GH Smith & Son said he was a quiet man and prolific writer.
"He's one of a band of forgotten authors because he sold millions of copies and still, up to his death was doing publishing deals.He was the kind of man who was very self-effacing, one of Britain's forgotten authors, still working at 80 years of age, with his nose down and kicking out books."
Charles Henry Whiting, author and military historian died on July 24 2007, leaving his wife and son.
Born in the Bootham area of York, England, he was a pupil at the prestigious Nunthorpe Grammar School, leaving at the age of 16 to join the British Army by lying about his age. Keen to be in on the wartime action, Whiting was attached to the 52nd Reconnaissance Regiment and by the age of 18 saw duty as a sergeant in France, Holland, Belgium and Germany in the latter stages of World War II. While still a soldier, he observed conflicts between the highest-ranking British and American generals which he would write about extensively in later years.
After the war, he stayed on in Germany completing his A-levels via correspondence course and teaching English before being enrolled at Leeds University reading History and German Language. As an undergraduate he was afforded opportunities for study at several European universities and, after gaining his degree, would go on to become an assistant professor of history. Elsewhere, Whiting held a variety of jobs which included working as a translator for a German chemical factory and spells as a publicist, a correspondent for The Times and feature writer for such diverse magazines as International Review of Linguistics, Soldier and Playboy.
His first novel was written while still an undergraduate, was published in 1954 and by 1958 had been followed by three wartime thrillers. Between 1960 and 2007 Charles went on to write over 350 titles, including 70 non-fiction titles covering varied topics from the Nazi intelligence service to British Regiments during World War II.
One of his publishers, Easingwold-based Rupert Smith of GH Smith & Son said he was a quiet man and prolific writer.
"He's one of a band of forgotten authors because he sold millions of copies and still, up to his death was doing publishing deals.He was the kind of man who was very self-effacing, one of Britain's forgotten authors, still working at 80 years of age, with his nose down and kicking out books."
Charles Henry Whiting, author and military historian died on July 24 2007, leaving his wife and son.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 21, 2024
A bloody, violent period of unimaginable horror
The invasion at Normandy was just the start. Here is the story of the deadly eleven months that led to the end of WW Ii in Europe. The combat was cruel, gory and broke
some men mind’s before their bodies were destroyed. Many personal tales of combat and the uncertain times between the battles make this a tremendously moving book.
The invasion at Normandy was just the start. Here is the story of the deadly eleven months that led to the end of WW Ii in Europe. The combat was cruel, gory and broke
some men mind’s before their bodies were destroyed. Many personal tales of combat and the uncertain times between the battles make this a tremendously moving book.
August 23, 2025
From a different angle
At Times disillusionment searingly honest. Soldies not always disciplined o heroes. It certainly shows there is no glory in war This is lesser known history. Well worth reading
At Times disillusionment searingly honest. Soldies not always disciplined o heroes. It certainly shows there is no glory in war This is lesser known history. Well worth reading
October 19, 2025
1945 Final Drive
The final push from June 1944 beginning at Normandy to the war's end at the Baltic Sea in May 1945. A collection of soldiers' views of the final year of World War Two at all European fronts and battlefields!
The final push from June 1944 beginning at Normandy to the war's end at the Baltic Sea in May 1945. A collection of soldiers' views of the final year of World War Two at all European fronts and battlefields!
February 17, 2025
a good read
Well written about the end of the war that began in 1914 thanks to two mad men, Kaiser Wilhelm and Hitler. Two huge egos and very little else.
Well written about the end of the war that began in 1914 thanks to two mad men, Kaiser Wilhelm and Hitler. Two huge egos and very little else.
September 30, 2025
Well Done!
This is so well written. You feel that you are there. It is written in a way that you almost feel the pain and the triumph the men felt.
This is so well written. You feel that you are there. It is written in a way that you almost feel the pain and the triumph the men felt.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews