The Battle of Midway

Nonfiction, History, Military, Naval, Americas, United States, 20th Century
Cover of the book The Battle of Midway by Craig L. Symonds, Oxford University Press, USA
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Craig L. Symonds ISBN: 9780199912070
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA Publication: September 7, 2011
Imprint: Oxford University Press Language: English
Author: Craig L. Symonds
ISBN: 9780199912070
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Publication: September 7, 2011
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Language: English

There are few moments in American history in which the course of events tipped so suddenly and so dramatically as at the Battle of Midway. At dawn of June 4, 1942, a rampaging Japanese navy ruled the Pacific. By sunset, their vaunted carrier force (the Kido Butai) had been sunk and their grip on the Pacific had been loosened forever. In this absolutely riveting account of a key moment in the history of World War II, one of America's leading naval historians, Craig L. Symonds paints an unforgettable portrait of ingenuity, courage, and sacrifice. Symonds begins with the arrival of Admiral Chester A. Nimitz at Pearl Harbor after the devastating Japanese attack, and describes the key events leading to the climactic battle, including both Coral Sea--the first battle in history against opposing carrier forces--and Jimmy Doolittle's daring raid of Tokyo. He focuses throughout on the people involved, offering telling portraits of Admirals Nimitz, Halsey, Spruance and numerous other Americans, as well as the leading Japanese figures, including the poker-loving Admiral Yamamoto. Indeed, Symonds sheds much light on the aspects of Japanese culture--such as their single-minded devotion to combat, which led to poorly armored planes and inadequate fire-safety measures on their ships--that contributed to their defeat. The author's account of the battle itself is masterful, weaving together the many disparate threads of attack--attacks which failed in the early going--that ultimately created a five-minute window in which three of the four Japanese carriers were mortally wounded, changing the course of the Pacific war in an eye-blink. Symonds is the first historian to argue that the victory at Midway was not simply a matter of luck, pointing out that Nimitz had equal forces, superior intelligence, and the element of surprise. Nimitz had a strong hand, Symonds concludes, and he rightly expected to win.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

There are few moments in American history in which the course of events tipped so suddenly and so dramatically as at the Battle of Midway. At dawn of June 4, 1942, a rampaging Japanese navy ruled the Pacific. By sunset, their vaunted carrier force (the Kido Butai) had been sunk and their grip on the Pacific had been loosened forever. In this absolutely riveting account of a key moment in the history of World War II, one of America's leading naval historians, Craig L. Symonds paints an unforgettable portrait of ingenuity, courage, and sacrifice. Symonds begins with the arrival of Admiral Chester A. Nimitz at Pearl Harbor after the devastating Japanese attack, and describes the key events leading to the climactic battle, including both Coral Sea--the first battle in history against opposing carrier forces--and Jimmy Doolittle's daring raid of Tokyo. He focuses throughout on the people involved, offering telling portraits of Admirals Nimitz, Halsey, Spruance and numerous other Americans, as well as the leading Japanese figures, including the poker-loving Admiral Yamamoto. Indeed, Symonds sheds much light on the aspects of Japanese culture--such as their single-minded devotion to combat, which led to poorly armored planes and inadequate fire-safety measures on their ships--that contributed to their defeat. The author's account of the battle itself is masterful, weaving together the many disparate threads of attack--attacks which failed in the early going--that ultimately created a five-minute window in which three of the four Japanese carriers were mortally wounded, changing the course of the Pacific war in an eye-blink. Symonds is the first historian to argue that the victory at Midway was not simply a matter of luck, pointing out that Nimitz had equal forces, superior intelligence, and the element of surprise. Nimitz had a strong hand, Symonds concludes, and he rightly expected to win.

More books from Oxford University Press, USA

Cover of the book Out of the Mountains: The Coming Age of the Urban Guerrilla by Craig L. Symonds
Cover of the book Following Hadrian : A Second-Century Journey through the Roman Empire by Craig L. Symonds
Cover of the book Cleopatra:A Biography by Craig L. Symonds
Cover of the book Klansville, U.S.A:The Rise and Fall of the Civil Rights-era Ku Klux Klan by Craig L. Symonds
Cover of the book American History:A Very Short Introduction by Craig L. Symonds
Cover of the book Crisis of Conservatism?:The Republican Party, the Conservative Movement, and American Politics After Bush by Craig L. Symonds
Cover of the book The Bottom Billion : Why the Poorest Countries are Failing and What Can Be Done About It by Craig L. Symonds
Cover of the book William Osler: A Life in Medicine by Craig L. Symonds
Cover of the book Norse Mythology:A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs by Craig L. Symonds
Cover of the book Exercise for Mood and Anxiety:Proven Strategies for Overcoming Depression and Enhancing Well-Being by Craig L. Symonds
Cover of the book Jefferson Davis's Generals by Craig L. Symonds
Cover of the book How Everyone Became Depressed: The Rise and Fall of the Nervous Breakdown by Craig L. Symonds
Cover of the book The Songs Of Hollywood by Craig L. Symonds
Cover of the book Unbecoming British : How Revolutionary America Became a Postcolonial Nation by Craig L. Symonds
Cover of the book The History of Jazz by Craig L. Symonds
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy