There is one historical event that appears to catch writers’ imaginations more frequently than others when it comes to historical fiction.

One of the most well-known and significant themes in historical fiction is World War 2. 

It has been tackled by writers from a variety of perspectives, leading to a wide spectrum of critically praised works. 

It might be challenging for readers to choose what to read next because there are so many books set during or just after World War Two. This is the reason I made the list of novels I firmly feel should be read.

Check this A Bundle of Incredible Historical Novels Set During WWII list if you’re seeking recommendations.

A Bundle of Incredible Historical Novels Set During WWII

Schindler’s List by Thomas Keneally

This breathtaking book chronicles the tale of Oskar Schindler, a German war profiteer and factory owner who became the person who saved the most Jews from the death chambers during World War Two.

Keneally’s work, which masterfully captures the heroism and ingenuity of a man who chooses to do good in the face of unfathomable evil, is based on the genuine testimonies of the Schindlerjüden, or Schindler’s Jews.

Sarah’s Key by Tatiana De Rosnay

The French police detain Sarah, age 10, during the Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup in 1942 in Paris. She hastily locks her brother in a cupboard, thinking she would return, in an effort to save him.

Sarah is, regrettably, deported. Fast-forward to 2002 in Paris, when journalist Julia Jarmond looks into this traumatic era for a 60th-anniversary story.

Julia starts learning more about Sarah’s tragedy when she encounters her tales.

This book, which is superbly written and seamlessly connects the past and present, is one that everyone should read.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief is a breathtaking and stirring masterwork that is told from the unusual perspective of Death. The strength of books and the written word, as well as ordinary people struggling to survive Nazi control in a little village outside of Munich, are the main themes of Zusak’s novel. His characters are brave and real.

The book does not hold back when depicting the atrocities of war; it is frequently scary and painful, but in the end, it supports the human spirit and its unwillingness to be intimidated by evil. One of the finest books I’ve ever read, The Book Thief is a story that won’t soon be forgotten.

Beneath A Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan

Under A Scarlet Sky, which chronicles Pino Lella’s life, is one of the most well-known biographical WW2 historical fiction works.

Pino joins an underground resistance to aid Jewish families in fleeing Milan, Italy after his family home is destroyed there. He starts to fall for Anna at this point.

Pino’s parents do nevertheless recruit him as a German soldier, and following an accident, he ends up working as General Hans Leyers’ chauffeur, a powerful Nazi. Pino takes advantage of this to spy for the Allies and get back together with Anna.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

In this list of the top WW2 historical fiction novels, The Nightingale is perhaps the title that everyone loves.

The plot concerns two sisters who lived through World War Two in France. Teacher Vianne and her little daughter Sophie bid goodbye in a small village as their father and husband Mauriac go to war. After that, a Nazi soldier seeks refuge in their home, putting Vianne’s life in continual danger as she struggles to meet her basic needs.

The rebellious and flamboyant younger sister of Vianne, Isabelle, meets and falls in love with the partisan Gaetan at the same time. She joins the underground resistance, however, after Gaetan betrays her, and, like her sister, she frequently must make risky choices.

This is only the beginning of an epic tale replete with dramatic turns and heartbreaking catastrophes. What occurs will simultaneously touch your heart and shake your conscience. 

In Farleigh Field by Rhys Bowen

Being the headquarters for one of the British military forces units, Farleigh Place, the ancestral mansion of Lord Westerham, is where the book’s main action takes place. Three of Lord Westerham’s five daughters—Pamela, Margot, and Phoebe—play significant roles in the narrative.

Margot is in Paris working for the French Resistance, Pamela is at Bletchley Park deciphering German codes, and Phoebe is at home fretting over finding the body of a soldier whose parachute failed as he attempted to land close to Farleigh Place. 

As the tale develops, other subplots emerge, and towards the conclusion, they successfully tie everything together. The depth of Bowen’s study is exceptional, the writing is superb and the story is simply unforgettable.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

One of the greatest World War II novels I’ve ever read is unquestionably this one. Its Pulitzer Prize win doesn’t surprise me in the least. The plot is really moving and intriguing, and the writing is outstanding.

The stories of Werner, a German radio operator tasked with finding the French resistance, and Marie-Laurie, a blind French girl who flees from Paris to the seaside city of Saint-Malo, are expertly woven together by Anthony Doerr.

Even while the narrative itself is intriguing, it’s the character development and storytelling that will keep you turning the pages.

The Book Of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel

This novel is partially based on the document forgers who assisted children in escaping the Nazis by allowing them to enter Switzerland on new identification documents. Every reader will be delighted by this historical fiction romance that is full of family, love, and peril.

Retired librarian Eva Traube Abrams tells about the recent discovery of her book, which was oddly coded and which she had believed the Nazis had destroyed.

What details are tucked away in these pages? What revelations is she about to make?

The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

This tale is based on the actual account of Mila Pavlichenko, a former librarian who turned sniper during World War II and became known as Lady Death.

As Hitler invades Russia, Mila is forced to put her books aside and join the battle, where she develops into a skilled shooter. Mila is dispatched on a diplomatic mission to Washington, DC, where the shadow of an old foe lingers, following her 300th death.

This is possibly the best historical book you will discover. Quinn is able to create the impression that history is currently taking place. Even if they lived in very different circumstances, her characters seem like they might actually be alive. The Russian sniper’s tale was both fascinating and moving.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

Two innocent lads and two very different worlds are divided by a fence that is not completely impenetrable.

Berlin 1942: the start of the Holocaust, the midst of World War II. Bruno is the young son of a prominent German family and is just nine years old. His life goes relatively unremarkable until his father is one day appointed commander in a remote area.

For the crucial rank advancement, Bruno, his sister Gretel, and his parents are forced to move to Out-With, into a considerably smaller house, leaving behind relatives and friends.

A story about the atrocities of war and the artificial divisions that humans have created.

Have you read any of the titles on our A Bundle of Incredible Historical Novels Set During WWII list? What did you think about them?