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| Retribution: The Battle for Japan, 1944-45 | 
 enlarge | Author: Max Hastings
Publisher: Knopf
Category: Book
List Price: $35.00
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Avg. Customer Rating:  52 reviews
Sales Rank: 4813
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 656
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.4
Dimensions (in): 9.5 x 6.2 x 1.8
ISBN: 0307263517
Dewey Decimal Number: 940.5425
EAN: 9780307263513
ASIN: 0307263517
Publication Date: March 18, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Hailed in Britain as “Spectacular . . . Searingly powerful” (Andrew Roberts, The Sunday Telegraph), a riveting, impeccably informed chronicle of the final year of the Pacific war. In his critically acclaimed Armageddon, Hastings detailed the last twelve months of the struggle for Germany. Here, in what can be considered a companion volume, he covers the horrific story of the war against Japan.
By the summer of 1944 it was clear that Japan’s defeat was inevitable, but how the drive to victory would be achieved remained to be seen. The ensuing drama—that ended in Japan’s utter devastation—was acted out across the vast stage of Asia, with massive clashes of naval and air forces, fighting through jungles, and barbarities by an apparently incomprehensible foe. In recounting the saga of this time and place, Max Hastings gives us incisive portraits of the theater’s key figures—MacArthur, Nimitz, Mountbatten, Chiang Kai-shek, Mao, Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin. But he is equally adept in his portrayals of the ordinary soldiers and sailors—American, British, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese—caught in some of the war’s bloodiest campaigns.
With unprecedented insight, Hastings discusses Japan’s war against China, now all but forgotten in the West, MacArthur’s follies in the Philippines, the Marines at Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and the Soviet blitzkrieg in Manchuria. He analyzes the decision-making process that led to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki—which, he convincingly argues, ultimately saved lives. Finally, he delves into the Japanese wartime mind-set, which caused an otherwise civilized society to carry out atrocities that haunt the nation to this day.
Retribution is a brilliant telling of an epic conflict from a master military historian at the height of his powers.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 47 more reviews...
 "I may be crazy, but it looks like the Japanese have quit the war..." * March 18, 2008
137 out of 142 found this review helpful
With age comes a bit of weariness, and I confess that huge books with small print have begun to intimidate me just a bit. But some of them are so well-written and so interesting that page-anxiety drops away after the first couple of chapters. So it was for me with Max Hastings' Retribution.
Retribution, which chronicles the final year of World War II's Pacific Theatre, is a companion to Hasting's Armageddon, a history of the European Theatre's final year. The new volume begins with General MacArthur's plans to retake the Philippines and ends with a quick summary of the war's effects on Japanese society and culture. In between, Hastings examines the infiltration of total warfare into everyday Japanese life; the battle for control of the sea corridors, the Burma campaign and the Aussies who fought it (which I found particularly fascinating, knowing virtually nothing about it); the air campaign over Japan, masterminded by Curtis LeMay (also an especially intriguing chapter, particularly for those who presume that the only big bomb damage in Japan were the nuclear blasts over Hiroshima and Nagasaki); the unspeakably horrific Japanese treatment of China and Manchuria; the ferocious battles on Iwo Jima (to which Hastings devotes an entire chapter); and the behind-the-scenes negotiations that led up to Japan's final surrender.
Hastings punctuates his history of the Pacific Theatre's final year with dozens of stories about individual people whose lives were affected--GIs, sailors, Japanese infantrymen and pilots, Chinese "comfort girls," generals, admirals, statesmen--and this is part of what makes his book such a fascinating read. Moreover, Hastings doesn't pull any punches in his estimation of the war's leaders. MacArthur, for example, comes off as one of the most overrated military leaders ever produced by the U.S. Hirohito also comes across badly. Despite the post-war efforts to paint him as a pacifist overwhelmed by sabre-rattling generals, Hastings argues that the Emperor advocated war right up to the end.
Three things in particular struck me in reading Hastings. The first was that bushido, the ancient code of honor embraced by the Japanese military, made life hell for ordinary foot soldiers, who could be savagely beaten by superiors for little or no reason. Apparently such abuse was seen as a way of toughening up the fighting spirit. Bushido also encouraged disdain for military technology on the part of Japanese officers. "Why do we need radar?" one of them asked. "Do we not have eyes that see perfectly well?" (p. 47) This attitude led to a constant technological lag throughout the entire war.
The second was that the Kamikaze strategy adopted by the Japanese toward the end of the war not only failed in its aim of striking fear and panic into the hearts of Allied sailors, but actually had the opposite effect. Sailors were so enraged by what they perceived as cowardly attacks that their ferocity against the Japanese intensified. As one seaman wrote, "seeing dead Japanese in the water was like making love to a beautiful girl" (p. 173). This is a point worth considering, given the current war on terrorism.
Finally, I was amazed to discover that Japanese civilians were so physically and psychologically exhausted by the war that the US occupation forces actually had to protect Japanese soldiers from their wrath when the war ended (pp. 547-48). Even before the end came, some Japanese were privately voicing reservations about the culture of bushido (p. 264). But with defeat came a desire to leave behind the old culture--to such an extent that only Japan, out of all the war's Axis powers, has refused to acknowledge any war guilt or offer reparations (p. 549).
Hastings' book is well worth reading, either straight-through or selectively. One better appreciates just how daunting a task the island-by-island Allied strategy was, as well as how hopeless (at least when viewed in hindsight) Japan's imperialistic aims were.
________
* A message to Admiral Nimitz from Admiral Richmond Turner, commander of amphibious forces during the invasion of Okinawa. Nimitz's skeptical reply: "Delete all after 'crazy'" (p. 375).
A Pacific War Classic March 19, 2008
66 out of 67 found this review helpful
I became aware of this book on the brink of its UK pubication. The UK title is: Nemesis: The Battle for Japan 1944-1945. I ended up getting the UK edition. I just didn't want to wait for the US edition, so I got it (and I live in Wyoming!). I'm glad I did. Hastings brings forth all his formidable powers, both in research, analysis and in his writing abilities.
Hastings praises the US Navy (especially the Submarine Service), condemns MacArthur (or more correctly, his oversized ego), Bill Slim is seen as one of the war's great captains (though Hastings believes Burma did little to contribute to the defeat of Japan), praises the courage of the Japanese, but damns their cruelty and their leadership's poor decisions.
Retribution is the companion volume to Armageddon. As is typical of Hastings, readers probably won't agree with 100% of his judgements and opinions. But the way he organizes his facts and presents his narrative, he presents a formidable case that's hard to deny.
What sets this book apart from the clear majority of Pacific war books, is that Hastings also has chapters on the war's neglected theaters, China and we see the war as both the Communists and Kuomintang, the Australians and of course, the Soviets. It's not just about the Americans, Japanese and to a lesser extent, the British. American readers may not agree with everything Mr. Hastings writes, but part of what makes him so interesting is that he's brilliantly provocative.
 Riddled with errors June 15, 2008
24 out of 40 found this review helpful
Hastings is one of the best authors of our time, and I have thoroughly enjoyed his previous works. So I eagerly awaited this selection by the History Book Club, in part to see what was advertised as his defense of the use of firebombing and the atomic bombs, a rarity in academe these days, but a position with which I agree. When it did, as I typically do, I did not start at the beginning, but went to what should have been my favorite part of the book, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, to see what novel ideas and theories he has.
And Hastings does have some novel ideas and theories. See if you notice a pattern:
Page 132: "[In October 1944] The Imperial Navy still disposed a force which, a few years past, had awed the world. Of ten battleships in commission at the start of the war, nine remained."
At the start of the war, the Japanese had ten battleships. In October 1944, they had nine. That much is true. The problem is not all of those nine were in commission at the start of the war. Of those ten that were, three were sunk: Hiei and Kirishima were sunk during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, and the Mutsu sunk after she exploded under mysterious circumstances at Hashirajima anchorage. So seven of that original ten were still in service. Two more were completed after the start of the war: Yamato and Musashi.
Starting on page 132: Hastings calls the Japanese operational plan at Leyte Gulf "Shogo" -- "Operation Victory." I have seen it referred to as "Sho Go," "Sho-Go," "Sho-I-Go" or Sho-Ichi-Go" ("ichi" meaning "one" -- the plan for Leyte Gulf was "Sho 1"). I have never seen it called "Shogo" before.
Page 135: The submarine attack on Kurita's Center Force off Palawan by US submariens Darter and Dace. Hastings says, "This first American success was made possible by a tactical carelessness amounting to recklessness [...]" without giving elaboration. This amounts to a drive-by. In truth, the Darter ended up running aground on Bombay Shoal and had to be destroyed after the crew was taken off by the Dace.
Page 138: Hastings claims that light cruiser Noshiro was sunk by US carrier aircraft during Kurita's transit through the Sibuyan Sea on October 24. During this enounter, the Musashi was sunk and the heavy cruiser Myoko so badly damaged she had to retire.
Page 159: Hastings claims that the light cruiser Noshiro was sunk again on October 26 as Kurita retreated through the Sibuyan Sea. In truth, this was when the Noshiro was actually sunk. She was undamaged during the attacks on October 24.
Page 144: Hastings touches on the entire "Fuso-Yamashiro thing" -- the controversey over which battleship was sunk where in the Battle of Surigao Strait. Hastings claims that Jesse Coward's eastern destroyers launched torpedoes and at 3:08 am "heard a single explosion aboard a Japanese ship, probably Yamashiro." He later states that a torpedo from the Monssen of Coward's western destroyers left the Yamashiro "crippled," and continues:
The next American destroyer attack, by Squadron 24, probably achieved two hits. It is still disputed whether battleship gunfire or torpedoes were responsible, but what is certain is that the battleship Fuso, laid down in 1912, caught fire and broke in two after a huge explosion. Bewilderment persists about how readily such a hugh ship succumbed, but senility plaintly rendered it vulnerable.
The Fuso-Yamashiro controversy involves whether or not the Fuso took a torpedo hit at about 3:09 am (Hastings says 3:08) from the destroyer Melvin of Coward's destroyer group. No one that I am aware of has alleged that Yamashiro took that torpedo hit at that time. Moreover, the account from the Melvin alleged "two large and separate explosions seen." It was Japanese heavy seaplane cruiser Mogami that saw only one explosion.
There is indeed a dispute as to whether Fuso was sunk by torpedoes or gunfire, as Hastings claims, but the dispute concerns whether she took that torpedo and dropped out to explode and break in two, or if it was Yamashiro that dropped out to explode and break in two while Fuso continued onward to face the US battleline where she would receive concentrated gunfire from US battleships and cruisers.
By Hastings' description, Fuso has taken no gunfire, and the tropedo hit that she is believed to have received Hastings instead says was received by the Yamashiro. By Hastings' timeline, Fuso has taken no definite damage. Hastiongs has garbled the controversy and, in the process, garblesd the account of the Battle of Surigao Strait.
Pages 146 and 147: Hastings' timeline of Shima's torpedo atatck is also all wrong. Hastings has Shima launching a torpedo attack on radar contacts that turned out to be the Hibuson Islands (the humor of war), then seeing the two burning halves of the Fuso, mistaking them for separate ships. At that point he turned his force around, during which time his flagship Nachi collided with the Mogami.
What actually happened is that Shima saw the Fuso, mistaking the two halves to be burning ships, and the burning Mogami. Passing the Fuso, he saw the radar contacts and decided to launch a torpedo attack on them while hiding behind the glare of the Mogami. he mistook Mogami to be stationary when she was moving southward, and the Nachi then "skidded" into the Mogami. Aftwer receiving this damage, as well as the earlier torpedoing of the light cruiser Abukuma, and with no definite intelligence aside from the apparent annihilation of Nishimura's force, Shima withdrew.
Page 156: Hastings continually gets the names of two of Taffy 3's escort carriers wrong. He calls the Kitkun Bay the "Kitgun Bay" and the Kalinin Bay the "Kallin Bay."
Page 157: Hastings states the Japanese heavy seaplane cruiser Chikuma was sunk by bombs and aerial torpedoes. He goes on to describe the sinking by Japanese gunfire of the US escort carrier Gambier Bay. Except the Gambier Bay was sunk by the Chikuma; several pictures from the battle off Samar show the Gambier Bay under fire with the Chikuma vuisible in the distance. Hastings messed up the timeline again.
These are just the mistakes and omissions I found in one chapter. Basic things like events, timelines and ship names. Is this the result of poor editing or poor research?
What other factual errors are hidden in this book? Can I trust Hastings general writing, themes and opinions (usally very, very good) when there is so much erroneous with this thin slice?
 Hastings Stumbles April 2, 2008
19 out of 43 found this review helpful
Let me preface my remarks by saying that I am a big Max Hastings fan. I find his writing superb, his narrative riveting and his facts enlightening. However, Retribution misses the mark.
The War in the Pacific is not as linear as the European theatre. No straight line maps work to enlighten the reader of positions and strategy. The messiness of the Pacific campaigns makes writing about it difficult. However, a master like Hastings should be able to overcome these obstacles. He fails to do so here.
So many recently released documents have made for several great recent histories of the Pacific war. Revisionist histories placing more critical light on the failures of Halsey and the role of Hirohito make for important reading. Nothing in Retribution rises to that level. After so many pages of text I found nothing new in Retribution to justify its writing or reading. I expected so much and got so little.
Sure a work by Hastings is important in and of itself to justify purchasing Retribution. However, if you are looking for new insights, prepare to be disappointed.
ONE OF THE BETTER CURRENT WORKS IN THIS AREA. July 23, 2008
16 out of 19 found this review helpful
This was quite a read and I must say that it has been sometime now that I read a work in which I gleaned so much information from. Like another reviewer here, I am getting a bit long in the tooth, and when I first picked this book up I was a bit discouraged at the weight, length, fine print, etc. But, like the other reviewer, once I read the first few pages, I was hooked.
Retribution, The Battle for Japan, 1944-45 by Max Hastings is the study of and chronology of the last year of the war in the Pacific. As with Hasting's companion work, Armageddon, the author has given us a sweeping overview of who, what, where, when and, most importantly, why, events were the way they were, and has done it quite well. While certainly addressing the overall "big picture," this writer/historian has placed special emphasis on the view of the common soldier and sailor, the grunt on the ground, the blue jacket on the sea and the air crews, all whom did their part. One of the more unique features of this book is that the author has given all sides of the war, not only the allies side, but that of the Japanese also. Another feature I loved, and learned so much from, was the author's coverage of the war in China, Burma, Thailand, Russia, Australia and the involvement of each of the countries and the extent of their involvement. He has also recorded extensive interviews with members of the civilian population, on all sides, caught up in this horrible conflict. The entire work is filled with page after page of the personal stories of the men and woman who were directly involved in these world changing events.
The author has addressed problems in this work that are still with us today. Having read quite extensively in this area, I found little to criticize as to his facts and the conclusions he came to. I feel the hard core reader and student of WWII will probably not learn many new facts, per se, but do feel the author does a wonderful job of putting everything in perspective. As an example; the author dose make a very good case for the justification of dropping "the bombs," but on the other hand, well presents the arguments that are still raging against their use, and when they were used. Also, this writer is certainly no fan of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, and does have some rather harsh things to say concerning a number of the military leaders on both sides, and from all countries involved. This may well offend some fans of these men, but again, the author well documents his opinions. Of course, like any work of history, by any historian, one should not take just their word for it completely, and certainly should seek out the opinions of others before the mind is made up, as it were. Each individual must study, read and form their own opions as to some of these controversies, keeping in mind at all times that hind-sight is great and it is much easier to judge now than it was then. We must look at the entire situation through their eyes, and not ours, and not judge decisions made them, using the values and criteria of today. While the author has indulged himself to some extent in this, he has been quick to point it out when he did it.
This book not only addresses the actual battles during this time period, but gives us a great look at the political situation which was going on behind the scenes, and how they effected the front line and support troops who where actual there. From a personal point of view, I found this to be fascinating.
This is a very readable book. There are a couple of things to remember though. This is a British author, therefore the syntax and vocabulary is a bit different and does take some getting use to. Secondly, no work of this size and scope will be completely with out error in minutiae. If you are one of those that has problems and is willing to write an entire work of because the author recorded that the 76th Battalion did such and such on 4 August, and it was actually the 77th Battalion that did it on 3 August indyrsf, then you may have trouble. I am certainly no expert, far, far from it; even I spotted a few flaws. Of course I do not recall a single history book after years of reading that I did not find as such. These few flaw, and they are few, should not in anyway distract from the overall work. If you are that hung up on such matters, you should research and read the after action reports yourself.
Now as to the opinions the author has come to; you may or may not be in agreement each and ever time. I personally found this to be a good thing as it stimulates further research. I will say though, that the author has back up his opinions quite well. Of course as I am in agreement with almost all of them and I suppose that it is easier for me to say.
A ward of warning: Some of the action and events described here are quite graphic. Atrocities committed by both sides are documented, but those committed by the Japanese are of particular note. It should also be noted that the author is quite anti-communistic and anti Soviet. I.e. Stalin. I had to laugh at a friend recently who read the same book and made the statement that Hasting is quite left wing in his writings and opinions. This could not be farther from the truth and I really had to question if the man had actually read this work or the author's other works.
All in all this was a great read. I enjoyed ever page and do recommend it highly.
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