Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 was the beginning of the United States' battle with Japan during World War II. In the months following the attack, Japan was successful in a series of victories throughout Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. Then, from May 1942 to October 1943, the Japanese and the United States engaged in a series of fierce clashes in the Southwest Pacific. Both the U.S. and Japanese forces were evenly matched, and their troops fought one another to exha...

The best balanced one-volume history of the Second World War in its coverage of all the major themes and all the fronts. Willmotts fresh insights into the war on the Eastern Front are an outstanding feature. Russell F. Weigley, author of Eisenhowers Lieutenants: The Campaign of France and Germany, 194445The Great Crusade is a single-volume tour de force combining narrative, interpretation, and insight. Willmott has written both an outstanding operational histo...

"In this first of three volumes on sea power, the author reviews the story of political, economic, and military oceanic control from the 1890s through WWI." — ChoiceThe transition to modern war at sea began during the period of the Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895) and the Spanish-American War (1898) and was propelled forward rapidly by the advent of the dreadnought and the nearly continuous state of war that culminated in World War I. By 1922, most of the elem...

In The American Military Tradition historians John M. Carroll and Colin F. Baxter gather an esteemed group of military historians to explore the pivotal issues and themes in American warfare from the Colonial era to the present conflict in Iraq. From the reliance on militia and the Minutemen of the American Revolution to the all-volunteer specialized troops of today, these twelve essays analyze the continuities and changes in the conduct of war over the past three centuries. In this comple...

The United States' involvement in World War II began with the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. But for Japan, the conflict began at a much earlier date. This book focuses on Japan and the events in its military history leading up to and including Pearl Harbor. Unique in its perspective, A Gathering Darkness shows how historical events in the 1920s and 1930s steered the country into war with America and its allies.A Gathering Darkness looks at what happened insi...

This fascinating book assesses Prussian military thinker Carl von Clausewitz's famous theory on warfare in relation to historical and modern-day conflict—and future trends.Carl von Clausewitz's On War is arguably the most important single work ever written on the theory of warfare and military strategy. In Clausewitz Reconsidered, two prominent military historians assess his theories, examining their viability at a time when asymmetric warfare and...

The respected British military historian H. P. Willmott presents the first of a three-volume appraisal of the strategic policies of the countries involved in the Pacific War. Remarkable in its scope and depth of research, his thoughtful analysis covers the whole range of political, economic, military, and naval activity in the Pacific. This first volume comprehensively covers events between December 1941 and April 1942, concluding with the Doolittle Raid on April 18. When published in hard...

"An important contribution . . . a thoughtful account of the years preceding the Second World War and, at much greater length, of the war itself." — HistoryIn this second volume of his history of naval power in the 20th century, H. P. Willmott follows the fortunes of the established seafaring nations of Europe along with two upstarts—the United States and Japan. Emerging from World War I in command of the seas, Great Britain saw its supremacy weakened throu...

The Pacific War brings together the perspectives and insights of world-renowned military historians.From the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor through the release of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the conflict in the Pacific was marked by amazing tactical innovations, such as those in amphibious warfare, and horrific battles that raged in the unforgiving climate of the island jungles.Each chapter in this book focuses on a different aspec...

From the author of Children of the Camps, a look at the disturbing activities of the Kempeitai, Japan's feared military and secret police.The book opens by explaining the origins, organization, and roles of the Kempeitai apparatus, which exercised virtually unlimited power throughout the Japanese Empire. Author Mark Felton reveals their criminal and collaborationist networks that extorted huge sums of money from hapless citizens and businesses. They ran the...

The fall of Singapore 1942 was one of the most decisive defeats of British and Commonwealth troops in the Second World War, driven primarily by Allied complacency. If you want to understand what happened and why – read Battle Story:Detailed profiles explore the military backgrounds of the Allied and Japanese leadersComprehensive maps bring you close to the action with informative details of tactical layout of Singapore IslandPhoto...

On 7 December 1941, the Japanese navy attacked Pearl Harbour. Simultaneously, they launched all-out assaults on Malaya, Hong Kong and the Philippines. Japan's sphere of influence spread at a phenomenal rates and it seemed the their dream of empire was about to be realized.Featuring remarkable photographs and useful maps*, Victory in the Pacific* examines how the tide of Japanese victory was turned. Following pivotal battles such as the Battle of Guadalcanal, the Battle of Leyte Gul...