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China-Japan-Koreas
The Battle of Midway - Myths, Legends and Greatness (with Jon Parshall)
2022-04-04
Posted by:badanov

#19  And if you're wondering why I find the Imperial Japanese Army ground operations during WWII so fascinating, I often pause and wonder that myself.

It is amazing what they accomplished through 41-42 in the Pacific. It was like they were playing with all the cheat codes on. Pure aggression and a lack of giving a shit beat major European armies despite being outnumbered and under supplied.

Massive balls those guys had.
Posted by: DarthVader   2022-04-04 22:45  

#18  For the record, the latest movie Midway is absolute garbage chinese propaganda.

Made it about 2/3 of the way through before laugh out loud at the "Drunken Americans getting whiskey lucky against the arrogant Japanese."
Posted by: swksvolFF   2022-04-04 22:37  

#17  Hornfischer:

Ship of Ghosts (half about The Houston/Java Sea, half POWs of Japan in Burma)
Neptune's Inferno
Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors
The Fleet at Flood Tide

Chronologically. All are fantastic. Did all of them in Audio as that was the best block of time I had - driving. Had to pause them during traffic because they are that intense. Picked up hard backs for the library and future reference.

*looks like in a month, he has a book covering US Navy during Cold War.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2022-04-04 20:47  

#16  Chantry -- Do you know Quartered Safe Out Here, by George MacDonald Fraser (of the Flashman series)?
Posted by: Matt   2022-04-04 19:55  

#15  Thanks for those, Chantry. I've thought about the Ugaki diaries but never picked it up.

One advantage the later historians have is being able to talk in detail about the contribution of Allied intelligence.
Posted by: Matt   2022-04-04 19:37  

#14  I'm fascinated by the British Indian Army and the campaign in Burma during WWII

A couple of more about about the IJN:
Japanese Destroyer Captain by Capt. Tameichi Hara
The Japanese Navy in WWII edited by David c. Evans, it's a collection of essays by senior Japanese naval officers.
Fading Victory: The Diary of Admiral Matome Ugaki 1941-1945.

Here are two about the Japanese Army, although I haven't read either:
Four Samurai by Arthur Swinson
Tales by Japanese Soldiers by Kazuo Tamayama and John Nunneley
Posted by: Chantry   2022-04-04 19:26  

#13  You're welcome of course. A particular point of fascination is the impact of Halsey replacing Ghormley. Halsey had his flaws (the turn north, the typhoons) But I don't think even Spruance would have pulled out a victory in the Solomons.
Posted by: Matt   2022-04-04 19:22  

#12  #10 That one I haven't read. My fav about the naval battles is Neptune's Inferno, which is so well written that I was in suspense about the outcome of battles I could already diagram. "My God! They're going to sink the Sterett!"

Now I knw what I'm getting for my birthday present. Thanks!
Posted by: badanov   2022-04-04 19:13  

#11  #10 That one I haven't read. My fav about the naval battles is Neptune's Inferno, which is so well written that I was in suspense about the outcome of battles I could already diagram. "My God! They're going to sink the Sterett!"

Until I read The Imperial Japanese Navy, I did not realized just how desperate things were for the US Navy in 1942.
Posted by: badanov   2022-04-04 19:10  

#10  That one I haven't read. My fav about the naval battles is Neptune's Inferno, which is so well written that I was in suspense about the outcome of battles I could already diagram. "My God! They're going to sink the Sterett!"
Posted by: Matt   2022-04-04 19:03  

#9  Thank you again; Japanese mainland operations has been a hole I've tried to fill and couldn't find decent material.

The Soldiers of the Sun is the ticket.

But if you stumble on something more detailed, don't hesitate to let us know.
Posted by: badanov   2022-04-04 18:59  

#8  badanov-sama, I've read zilch about the army in Asia, but I find the Combined Fleet fascinating for some reason. So I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree :-)

Then you must read The Imperial Japanese Navy by Paul Dull
Posted by: badanov   2022-04-04 18:56  

#7  Thank you again; Japanese mainland operations has been a hole I've tried to fill and couldn't find decent material.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2022-04-04 18:53  

#6  badanov-sama, I've read zilch about the army in Asia, but I find the Combined Fleet fascinating for some reason. So I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree :-)
Posted by: Matt   2022-04-04 18:51  

#5  Hey, wait! Does this mean badanov is stooging for Imperial Japan now?

One of the most fascinating subjects of WWII, IMMHO, is the Imperial Japanese Army ground operations in China, 1941-1945.

I recommend: Soldiers of the Sun by Meirioin and Susie Harries which is the most thorough description of Imperial Japanese Army ground operations in China during WWII available.

And The Rising Sun by John Toland which is a less than satifying treatment of the grand strategic aspects of Imperial Japanese Army ground operations during WWII.

And if you're wondering why I find the Imperial Japanese Army ground operations during WWII so fascinating, I often pause and wonder that myself.
Posted by: badanov   2022-04-04 18:48  

#4  Already in process.

Yatanan-san?
Posted by: swksvolFF   2022-04-04 18:41  

#3  Saved for later. Thanks!
Another thumbs up for "Shattered Sword".

Hey, wait! Does this mean badanov is stooging for Imperial Japan now?
Posted by: SteveS   2022-04-04 18:29  

#2  ^ If you liked that, I highly recommend Shattered Sword by Parshall and Tully.
Posted by: Matt   2022-04-04 18:24  

#1  Fantastic hour spent.

Thank you badanov.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2022-04-04 18:13  

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