Thomas F. (hardtack) -
I am a bit leery of the statement "The Untold Story of World War II" as part of the title. This is because many books on the "Code Wars" were published long before 2001. In fact, I'm always leery of any book with a title which includes "The Untold Story."
A reviewer's comments in the description states "...no one with the slightest interest in World War II or in the origins of the Cold War can afford to ignore [this book]." Frankly, I think anyone with a slight interest in World War II would, after reading this book, never read a book on World War II again. The author supposedly concentrates on the U.S. success in breaking the Japanese code, a project called "Magic." However the book's confusing beginnings jump around a lot chronologically, as if the author can't wait to get to those parts he is most interested in, some of which have no relation to the breaking of codes.
For example, he spends scores, if not a couple of hundred, pages on the relationship of General Eisenhower with Field Marshal Montgomery and Prime Minister Churchill which really had nothing to do with the codes. This, as much of the rest of the book is covered in boring repetition and excruciating detail. In fact, I got to the point where I was simply scanning pages to get to something he hadn't already covered numerous times. Then he also goes into detailed discussion of whether Eisenhower should have let Montgomery drive into Germany alone, or continue Ike's policy of a "broad front approach," something numerous other historians have praised Eisenhower for. This also had nothing to do with "Magic."
Where the author adds to the history of the war is proving, once and for all, "Magic" allowed the Allies to win the war in the European theater. This was due to the continuous stream of messages from Japanese diplomats in Europe sending detailed information on German and Italian strategy, troop movements and such back to Japan using their American-broken codes. As a result, we almost always knew, at least on a general basis, what the Germans were planning or meant to do. This is the real value of the book for those interested in the history of World War II.
After the German defeat, the Americans continued to listen to the 'secret' Japanese messages detailing how they were planning to butcher hundreds of thousands of Allied prisoners, force the Allies to suffer horrendous casualties---far more than had been lost by the U.S. and Britain in the war so far---invading Japan, while also resulting in the death of the Japanese nation. He provides this information to prove, once again, that America was in the moral right to use the atomic bomb.
Personally, I know if the two bombs had not been dropped, I wouldn't be here, as my father was in the Pacific fighting the Japanese. And you should read the countless memoirs of the troops coming from Europe who knew they were on their way to their deaths in the Pacific.
The author also uses "Magic" intercepts to show how the Japanese planned to reverse the history of the War and make it look like the Americans started it. It's amazing how many clueless Americans continue to fall for this distortion.
A reviewer's comments in the description states "...no one with the slightest interest in World War II or in the origins of the Cold War can afford to ignore [this book]." Frankly, I think anyone with a slight interest in World War II would, after reading this book, never read a book on World War II again. The author supposedly concentrates on the U.S. success in breaking the Japanese code, a project called "Magic." However the book's confusing beginnings jump around a lot chronologically, as if the author can't wait to get to those parts he is most interested in, some of which have no relation to the breaking of codes.
For example, he spends scores, if not a couple of hundred, pages on the relationship of General Eisenhower with Field Marshal Montgomery and Prime Minister Churchill which really had nothing to do with the codes. This, as much of the rest of the book is covered in boring repetition and excruciating detail. In fact, I got to the point where I was simply scanning pages to get to something he hadn't already covered numerous times. Then he also goes into detailed discussion of whether Eisenhower should have let Montgomery drive into Germany alone, or continue Ike's policy of a "broad front approach," something numerous other historians have praised Eisenhower for. This also had nothing to do with "Magic."
Where the author adds to the history of the war is proving, once and for all, "Magic" allowed the Allies to win the war in the European theater. This was due to the continuous stream of messages from Japanese diplomats in Europe sending detailed information on German and Italian strategy, troop movements and such back to Japan using their American-broken codes. As a result, we almost always knew, at least on a general basis, what the Germans were planning or meant to do. This is the real value of the book for those interested in the history of World War II.
After the German defeat, the Americans continued to listen to the 'secret' Japanese messages detailing how they were planning to butcher hundreds of thousands of Allied prisoners, force the Allies to suffer horrendous casualties---far more than had been lost by the U.S. and Britain in the war so far---invading Japan, while also resulting in the death of the Japanese nation. He provides this information to prove, once again, that America was in the moral right to use the atomic bomb.
Personally, I know if the two bombs had not been dropped, I wouldn't be here, as my father was in the Pacific fighting the Japanese. And you should read the countless memoirs of the troops coming from Europe who knew they were on their way to their deaths in the Pacific.
The author also uses "Magic" intercepts to show how the Japanese planned to reverse the history of the War and make it look like the Americans started it. It's amazing how many clueless Americans continue to fall for this distortion.
