Kamis, 07 April 2011

Download Ebook The Hard Slog: Australians in the Bougainville Campaign, 1944-45 (Australian Army History Series)

Download Ebook The Hard Slog: Australians in the Bougainville Campaign, 1944-45 (Australian Army History Series)

Starting to read this book can begin your opportunity in doing this life much better. It will certainly make you resort to have more times or more spare times in reading. Alloting couple of times in a day just for reading can be done as one of the initiatives for you to finish your activities. When you will finish the night before resting, The Hard Slog: Australians In The Bougainville Campaign, 1944-45 (Australian Army History Series) is likewise a good idea to accompany you.

The Hard Slog: Australians in the Bougainville Campaign, 1944-45 (Australian Army History Series)

The Hard Slog: Australians in the Bougainville Campaign, 1944-45 (Australian Army History Series)


The Hard Slog: Australians in the Bougainville Campaign, 1944-45 (Australian Army History Series)


Download Ebook The Hard Slog: Australians in the Bougainville Campaign, 1944-45 (Australian Army History Series)

Currently readily available! The Hard Slog: Australians In The Bougainville Campaign, 1944-45 (Australian Army History Series) as one of the most wanted book on the planet. The book that is for grownups and teens are coming. You might have been awaiting this book for long moments. So, this is the correct time to obtain it. Never ever play with the time anymore, when you have the opportunity to obtain this book, why should have fun with it? When looking the title of this book here, you will straight visit this page. It will certainly locate you to make much better selection of checking out book.

Even the cost of a book The Hard Slog: Australians In The Bougainville Campaign, 1944-45 (Australian Army History Series) is so budget friendly; lots of people are truly stingy to reserve their money to buy the publications. The other factors are that they feel bad and have no time at all to visit guide store to search guide The Hard Slog: Australians In The Bougainville Campaign, 1944-45 (Australian Army History Series) to check out. Well, this is contemporary age; many e-books can be got conveniently. As this The Hard Slog: Australians In The Bougainville Campaign, 1944-45 (Australian Army History Series) and also more e-books, they can be got in quite quick means. You will certainly not should go outdoors to get this book The Hard Slog: Australians In The Bougainville Campaign, 1944-45 (Australian Army History Series)

You can alter point of exactly how reading will certainly give you far better selection. Yeah, The Hard Slog: Australians In The Bougainville Campaign, 1944-45 (Australian Army History Series) is a book created by an expert writer. You could take this kind of book in this website. Why? We offer the billions kinds as well as catalogues of guides worldwide. So, really, it is not only this publication. You can discover other book types to be yours. The way is very basic, discover the web link that we offer as well as get guide faster. Constantly attempt to be the initial person to read this publication is really enjoyable.

So, that's so clear that obtaining The Hard Slog: Australians In The Bougainville Campaign, 1944-45 (Australian Army History Series) an among analysis products will certainly provide some advantages. To get this book, simply allow join us to be participant as well as obtain the web links of every publication to serve. And afterwards, just browse through as well as get guide. It will not need much time to spend. It will certainly additionally not waste your time. Your valuable time ought to be needed by possessing this book as yours.

The Hard Slog: Australians in the Bougainville Campaign, 1944-45 (Australian Army History Series)

Review

"...excellent new book..." -Richard Tada, ArmchairGeneral.com

Read more

Book Description

This book is the first major study since 1963 of the historic Australian military campaign of 1944-1945 on the island of Bougainville in the South Pacific. Drawing on archival resources, Karl James argues that this often-overlooked part of military history played an important part in Australia's Second World War victory.

Read more

Product details

Series: Australian Army History Series

Hardcover: 334 pages

Publisher: Cambridge University Press (April 30, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 9781107017320

ISBN-13: 978-1107017320

ASIN: 1107017327

Product Dimensions:

6.3 x 1 x 9 inches

Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review:

4.0 out of 5 stars

2 customer reviews

Amazon Best Sellers Rank:

#3,603,409 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

This is the first in depth look at this WW2 campaign since the official history was published in 1963. Even though that was an extensive account, it was grouped together with the other Australian campaigns of the end of the war. A 1983 book by Peter Charlton argued that these were unnecessary and it is this position, particularly in relation to the Bougainville campaign, that James is chiefly challenging.The controversial nature of this and the other later Australian campaigns in the islands stems from the complicated situation Australia found itself in in 1944. The biggest factor was that manpower resources were not sufficient to both maintain a large army and meet industry requirements. Even so, the Australian government fully intended to continue its full role in the war against Japan and as such, was quite perplexed when MacArthur decided to use Australian forces principally for garrison roles (in order to release US divisions for his looming Philippines return). While this seemingly let Australia `off the hook' it was not a palatable role for a country that prided itself on its military achievements. There was also the assumption that the war would continue into 1946 and that Australia would participate in the invasion of Japan. Clearing the Japanese out of Bougainville for instance, would free up the 28,000 men to be based there. All of these factors contributed to a compromise of sorts, where Australian forces, though deployed in generally secondary zones, would still engage in aggressive actions against the Japanese. The resulting operations were criticized by some, including soldiers involved, as unnecessary and wasteful `mopping-up'.The Bougainville campaign began for the Australians in late 1944, when II Corps, commanded by Lt-Gen Savige, replaced US forces. The Americans had established themselves strongly following their own arrival a year earlier but at this time, they and the Japanese, essentially kept to their own side of the island. The Australian force consisted of the 3rd Division (7th, 15th & 29th Bde's), as well as the 11th & 23rd Bdes. Savige was very mindful of limiting casualties, so all actions were to be conducted carefully. Unfortunately the Australians estimated Japanese strength at only half its actual number and opposition was quite significant. Largely this was offset by absolute superiority in the air and at sea and a functioning supply system, while Japanese numbers were cruelled by disease and starvation (evidence of cannibalism was found). The bulk of actions were typical of jungle fighting; patrols, ambushes and seizing dominating ground. There were though a number of significant battles, with the 25th Battalion's defense of Slater's Knoll and the reverse at Porten being the most notable. James does a good job in revealing the nature and stress of the fighting. There are additional sources, including interviews with veterans, that give some fresh perspectives. This included the hushed up news that men in some battalions refused orders to undertake operations.Aside from addressing the controversy, James also looks at Australia's awkward two-army structure and the records and performances of the leaders. There were egos and conflicts. Some were seeking to enhance or repair their war records. Others shared the view that the campaign was unnecessary and resented being involved. These men have my sympathy. It was the case that this campaign did nothing to hasten the Japanese defeat and that the 516 men who died (and their families) paid the highest of prices. However it was clearly untenable for Australian units to have sat safely idle while the Americans continued the fighting. While the Australian command had expected to be involved in the Philippines, it is pertinent to note that American divisions fighting there generally suffered two - three times the casualties suffered by 3rd Australian. Some US divisions on Okinawa suffered four - five times more. It seems to me a matter of being careful what you wish for. Australia's situation in 1944 was not perfect. War imposes many difficulties. However, undertaking operations like that on Bougainville were in my opinion the least worst of the options open. It is easy with hindsight to say such a thing but James makes a decent case for it.Highly recommended if the history of the Australian army is your thing.

Overall, this is a very good book. James has drawn on a wide range of sources, including interviews with veterans, official files, letters and diaries and the few secondary works on this topic, to provide a detailed and authoritative account of the campaign and the experiences of the Australian and Japanese personnel who fought in it. His narrative is clear and well written, and is illustrated with excellent maps and well-chosen photographs.In addition to his highly competent narrative of the campaign, James' also does a good job of describing the unusual difficulties the senior officers faced on Bougainville - many of them believed that the campaign was wasteful and unnecessary, and even those who supported it were constrained by directives to avoid casualties wherever possible. Not surprisingly, this led to tensions between the officers, severe mental strains on battalion and brigade commanders who were called upon to execute a difficult offensive they didn't believe in and low morale among the soldiers in some units. James' fairly assesses the performance of the commanders and units involved in the campaign, and in doing so illustrates what led some units to almost collapse during the last months of the war. He also notes, convincingly, that it was just as well that the war ended when it did given that the under-resourced Australian force was poised to attack the main Japanese defensive positions.Of course, the book has some limitations. I wasn't convinced by James' argument that the campaign was justified - while he writes that it was worthwhile to attempt to destroy the Japanese forces on Bougainville in order to free up Australian units for other campaigns, I don't see why the entire island couldn't have been abandoned given that it was of no strategic importance by 1945. If it was considered politically desirable to maintain the relatively small allied beachhead, this could have been done by a small garrison given that the Japanese forces were unable to mount any offensive operations. Other limitations to the book are that the coverage of the Japanese forces is often limited (though this probably reflects the shortage of material on this topic given that the Japanese destroyed their records before surrendering) and that the organisational structure of the Australian forces is often unclear - an appendix with orders of battle would have been invaluable. The book's relatively high price is also difficult to justify, even when its excellent production standards are taken into account.

The Hard Slog: Australians in the Bougainville Campaign, 1944-45 (Australian Army History Series) PDF
The Hard Slog: Australians in the Bougainville Campaign, 1944-45 (Australian Army History Series) EPub
The Hard Slog: Australians in the Bougainville Campaign, 1944-45 (Australian Army History Series) Doc
The Hard Slog: Australians in the Bougainville Campaign, 1944-45 (Australian Army History Series) iBooks
The Hard Slog: Australians in the Bougainville Campaign, 1944-45 (Australian Army History Series) rtf
The Hard Slog: Australians in the Bougainville Campaign, 1944-45 (Australian Army History Series) Mobipocket
The Hard Slog: Australians in the Bougainville Campaign, 1944-45 (Australian Army History Series) Kindle

The Hard Slog: Australians in the Bougainville Campaign, 1944-45 (Australian Army History Series) PDF

The Hard Slog: Australians in the Bougainville Campaign, 1944-45 (Australian Army History Series) PDF

The Hard Slog: Australians in the Bougainville Campaign, 1944-45 (Australian Army History Series) PDF
The Hard Slog: Australians in the Bougainville Campaign, 1944-45 (Australian Army History Series) PDF

Tidak ada komentar:
Write komentar

Labels