Books on the pacific war from pearl harbor to hiroshima. New ausa book program entry explores wwii in the pacific ausa. Discusses japans participation in world war ii, including militaristic advances and the bombing of pearl harbor, its alliances, the use of the atomic bomb against. It was geographically the largest theater of the war, including the vast pacific ocean theater, the south west pacific theater, the southeast asian theater, the second sinojapanese war, and the sovietjapanese war. In this balanced and thoughtful chronicle, historian and world war ii expert len deighton dares to explore intriguing questions, including why the british werent more prepared for the. The us pursued a twopronged offensive across the central and southwest. World war ii started in 1939 when germany invaded poland. Fortunately, there is no shortage of worthwhile books about the. Us assessments of japanese ground warfare tactics and the armys campaigns in the pacific theatres, 19431945. What are the best books on the pacific theater of wwii. Lets see how much you know about the pacific theatre. An excellent account of the second world war in the philippines, from the pre war american colony to the disasters of 194142, the long struggle of the resistance to macarthurs eventual return and the costly battles that followed. This brief but comprehensive survey of the war in the pacific incorporates both united states and japanese perspectives, providing a global approach to.
The americans liberally interpreted this principle, permitting an offensive war against japan as well. The combined americanfilipino army was defeated in the battle of bataan. Millions of soldiers and civilians were killed in these battles. Military history of the philippines during world war ii. List of books and articles about world war ii pacific theater. And from the attack on pearl harbor to japans signing of the instrument of unconditional surrender aboard the american battleship missouri in tokyo bay on september 2, 1945, the pacific war was essentially an americanjapanese war. The war in europe ended with germanys surrender on may 7, 1945. Great britain and france responded by declaring war on germany. I spent one memorable vacation with this book never out of my hand and imagination. Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book.
The pacific war, sometimes called the asiapacific war, was the theater of world war ii that was fought in the pacific and asia. The pacific war and consequent advances by the japanese had greatly influenced the independence movements of asian countries and ended colonialism by the west through following wars such as first indochina war. Chronology and fact book by kevin don hutchison greenwood press, 1994. Pacific fleet would lie in ruins and the united states would be at war. Touchstone to victory ballantines illustrated history of world war ii. Never before have the separate stories of fighting in china, malaya, burma, the east indies, the phillipines, new guinea, the solomon islands, and the aleutians been so brilliantly woven together to provide a clear. The battle of midway the battle that turned the tide of the war in americas favor.
The 42nd bomb group served as the only b25 mitchell outfit in the thirteenth air force during world war ii. Good books on the pacific war history fans librarything. However, like any historical film on war, the pacific leaves a lot out and, in the end, is a watered down substitute that pales in comparison to a good history book. Army in world war ii series the armys official history of world war ii commonly referred to. Korean war, vietnam, world war ii in the pacific tags. It also covers themes pertaining to societies at war, culture, the arts, and science and technology as well as international relations and the postwar world. This volume is the capstone of the war in the pacific subseries, drawing on the operational volumes that preceded it in the subseries and providing the broad perspective on japanese and allied interests in the pacific basin that shaped the war between these antagonists. The pacific concentrates on how events unfolded in the far east in the titanic struggle between japan and the forces of the united states and its allies. World war ii in asia and the pacific and the wars aftermath. Ii and see why the war was so devastating in that part of the world.
From actionpacked eyewitness accounts such as guadalcanal diary to devastating holocaust memoirs like the diary of anne frank and night to the thrilling espionage tale of operation mincemeat, world war ii is the subject of some of the most fascinating and influential nonfiction books ever written each year, seemingly dozens of new titles emerge to offer fresh perspectives and uncover. War in the pacific world war ii was the most destructive war in history. A few of my favorite books about world war ii in the pacific. Bomber aircraft 19411945 the american bomber arm excelled to new heights by the end of the war in 1945 resulting in larger, pressurized designs. In the historical abstract database, i searched for the terms world war ii and kamikaze. He was a gifted journalist, a biographer, a historian, a talented painter, and an orator of rare power. That morning, in just over an hour and a half, the planes of the japanese first carrier striking force sank or severely damaged 18 american warships lying at anchor at the pearl. The critical role of military logistics in world war ii amphibious operations in the south pacific in wwii by william l. After attacking pearl harbor, the japanese turned their attention to the philippines. The american bomber arm excelled to new heights by the end of the war in 1945 resulting in larger, pressurized designs carrying remoteoperated guns and heavier bomb loads. When germany and italy declared war on the united states days later, america found itself in a global war. It killed more people and destroyed more property than any other war.
How native american code talkers pioneered a new type of. Best books on the pacific war for reasons big and small, understandable and unjustified, the war in the pacific during world war ii has largely been overshadowed by the allies war against hitler. World war ii laid bare taschen books, an astounding collection assembled by the excellent smut historian dian hanson. Conrad stein explores the historic carrierbased naval battles, the island hopping campaigns, the home front, and the beginning of the atomic age. World war ii in the pacific the american warrior page 6. Omar bradley is the only other high ranking army officer in wwii who wrote a better history book about that war. Japanese soldiers were occupying or attacking positions from india to. Click through this timeline to see how battles dotted the pacific theatre between 1931 and 1945. Crisis in the pacific the battles for the philippine islands by the men who fought them, gerald astor. World war ii pacific theatre the best fiction and nonfiction on the war between the allied forces and japan in the pacific theatre.
Ridgway, the 82nd airbornes first assault jumps were into sicily on 9 july and salerno on september 1943. A companion to world war ii in europe, africa, and the americas, this volume reevaluates the most enduring literature on basic aspects of the war in asia and the pacific. The central strategic principle governing allocation of resources to the two fronts provided for concentrating. Aug 19, 2015 world war ii is sometimes thought of as primarily a fight against nazi germany, with the war in the pacific as an afterthought. Winston churchill, british statesman who as prime minister of the united kingdom rallied british people during world war ii and led the country from the brink of defeat to victory. Awardwinning author alan rems brilliantly tells of the campaigns in the south pacific, a region long overlooked, offering both the big picture and the foxhole view military officer a fitting tribute to the men who fought and died in an often overlooked theater of world war ii. Also includes a timeline and other historical information. A book s total score is based on multiple factors, including. World war ii in the pacific national geographic society. The war in the pacific ended when japan surrendered on september 2, 1945.
The pacific theatre of world war ii was largely defined by the territories of the empire of japan. Extending far beyond battles and hardware, the coverage ranges from high policymaking, grand strategy, and the significant persons and. These are some topics of interest and that seem little known or of possible help in understanding the period. With unprecedented access to the veterans, rare photographs, and unpublished memoirs, voices of the pacific presents true stories of heroism as told by such world war ii veterans as sid phillips, r. Two world war ii veterans, who both fought in the battle of iwo jima, talk about their experience in the pacific theater. World war ii in the pacific social studies for kids. Entries are listed below in alphanumeric order 1toz. Hugh ambrose, son of the great wwii historian stephen ambrose, has published a book. Moreover, we forget and are reminded by an essay in the book by a world war ii marine named scotty bowers about the physical closeness that these fighting men lived with. List of books and articles about world war ii pacific. At its peak, the empire stretched throughout eastern china, southeast asia, the islands of oceania, and even the aleutian islands in north america. Infantrymen cautiously move toward an enemy machine gun position on an island in the pacific during world war ii. This is a question that has been begged by the decades of europefirst histories of great quality, but extreme focus on the the battles in the west including the germans eastern front.
Much of the fighting took place in the jungles of southeast asia and on the islands and seas of the pacific ocean. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. World war ii in the pacific was one of the most complex theaters in world history. An excellent account of the second world war in the philippines, from the prewar american colony to the disasters of 194142, the long struggle of the resistance to macarthurs eventual return and the costly battles that followed. World war ii in 1941, macarthur was named commander of the u. Not long after, japan attacked pearl harbor and the united states entered world war ii. Dec 31, 2014 see the changing front lines of world war ii in the pacific theater every single day from pearl harbor to the surrender of japan. World war ii laid the groundwork for much of the international system that exists today, especially in the pacific rim. On july 2, 1942, having decided to take positive steps to secure the lines of communication between the united states and australia, the u. Heres your opportunity to let others know your favorite books on the war that led us from pearl harbor to tokyo bay.
If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. A personal recollection of the pacific war written in 1949 by the commander of the fifth army airforce. Bold leaders, such as general douglas macarthur and president franklin roosevelt, would lead the united states to victory. Joint chiefs of staff issued a directive to the commanders in the pacific to begin offensive operations in. Overview of wwii in the pacific slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. The pacific war by costello is a similar read akin to spectors book. How native american code talkers pioneered a new type of military intelligence. Stanley sandler, one of americas most respected and bestknown military historians, has brought together over 300 entries by some 200 specialists in the field to create the first encyclopedia specifically devoted to the pacific theatre of world war ii. Read download attack on pearl harbor pdf pdf book library. When december 7, 1941, dawned in hawaii, no one expected that by the end of the day, the u. This brief but comprehensive survey of the war in the pacific incorporates both united states and japanese perspectives, providing a global approach to the asian theater of the conflict.
While this attention is both wellearned and welldeveloped. The second world war is a narrative history of world war ii by the british historian antony. John costellos the pacific war has now established itself as the standard onevolume account of world war ii in the pacific. Focusing on the british and commonwealth pows captured in singapore. And though the battle locales that constitute the war in the pacific pearl harbor, midway, tarawa, guadalcanal, iwo jima are common knowledge, locations and statistics alone cant convey what it was like to have fought in those battles. Going into combat in the solomon islands in the summer of 1943, the crusaders took part in the drive to bougainville and the isolation of rabaul. Timeline of world war ii the last true worldwide war was fought between 1939 and 1945. If you want a more detailed set of reads i would look at willmotts empires in the balance, the barrier and the javelin, the war with japan, and his battle of leyte gulf.
Despite the volumes written about world war ii, many questions remain unanswered. The commonwealth of the philippines was attacked by the empire of japan on december 8, 1941, nine hours after the attack on pearl harbor the philippines is on the asian side of the international date line. By the end of 1942, the japanese empire had expanded to its farthest extent. Selected fulltext books and articles world war ii in the north pacific. An encyclopedia military history of the united states. Alternating between the major events, beevor details operation torch, american victories in the pacific, and the soviet counterattacks on the eastern. World war ii started in europe, but spread throughout the world. Burgin, and chuck tatumwhose exploits were featured in the hbo miniseries, the pacific and their marine buddies from the legendary 1st.
Updated sep 26, 2015 start daily headlines 75 years ago. Institute for the study of war and on december 7, 1941, japan staged a surprise attack on pearl harbor, severely damaging the us pacific fleet. For americans, world war ii began and ended in the pacific. World war ii in the pacific the american warrior page 4. The united states of america controlled the philippines at the time and possessed important military bases there.
For reasons big and small, understandable and unjustified, the war in the pacific during world war ii has largely been overshadowed by the allies war against hitler. The pacific strategy, 19411944 the national wwii museum. During world war ii japan, itself a significant imperial power. See the changing front lines of world war ii in the pacific theater every single day from pearl harbor to the surrender of japan. In april 1943 the first paratroopers deployed to north africa for the invasion of italy.
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