The Second World War: Asia and the Pacific

by Thomas B. Buell

Book Overview

​*** OVER 210,000 WEST POINT MILITARY HISTORY SERIES SETS IN PRINT ​***

Beginning with a look at the readiness of the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy and the United States armed forces, this book gives a detailed account of the Allies' brutal five-year struggle with Japan. It examines the interrelationship of land, sea, and air forces as they battled over the vast reaches of the Pacific Theater of War.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0757001629
• ISBN13: 9780757001628
• Release Date: November 2002
• Publisher: West Point Military Series
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 2.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 8.5" x 11.0"

Customer Reviews

Great book on WWII

My father in law is a WWII vet and really enjoyed this book. I recommend this and the companion maps highly.

The Second World War: Asia and the Pacific (Textband)

Schnelle und gute Lieferung. Jeder Zeit wieder. Es gibt nicht besseres als diese "West Point Serie"!

Outstanding History

The West Point Word War II series is one of the best sources of history on the Second World War. The Atlases associated with each volume are a must because the text refers to them frequently. The writing style is not overly technical and explains the foundations of military doctrine followed by the respective combatants in prosecuting the conflict. The authors are able to point out the fundamental errors made by each side, the results of those miscalculations and what adjustments (if any) were made. The correct deductions are also put on display for the reader. And the authors manage to make the conflict dramatic in a professional way. For example, at the battle of Midway the Americans had put all their critical assets at risk. If all the US carriers were lost the situation in the Pacific would have been ruinous. The authors clearly point out that the Japanese fleet was overwhelming, and properly used could not have lost that battle. The American command was counting on Japanese mistakes, and the Japanese made them.Thus, the West Point historians have injected the true drama of the situation in June of 1942. A lot was on the line and the history of WWII would have been far different if the US admirals had made the mistakes instead of the Japanese.The entire series is filled with this kind of drama.The background sections which cover the road to WWII is thought provoking and shows how the outcome of the war, in many respects, was determined prior to the start of hostilities. The books cover the mental attitudes that contributed to the start of the war and the course of the conflict.The series isn't perfect. The US Army writers find a little time to subtly criticize some actions of the US Navy and US Marines. They seem to like implying the Marines were getting a lot of publicity for doing the same thing the Army was doing. This is a very minor criticism and such minor diversions do not detract at all from the superlative standards set by this very complete history.Anyone interested in WWII, its causes, conduct and outcomes, must read this set (one book covers the Pacific war and the other the European war - and there is an atlas for each of these volumes for a total of 4 books).