The story of the five battles that changed Australia forever, this compelling narrative incorporates hundreds of interviews with the soldiers who fought at Kokoda, Milne Bay, Gona, Buna, and Sanananda in 1942 and 1943. Revealed are the very real and engaging experiences of Generals MacArthur and Blamey and other senior Australian commanders who sacrificed many of their senior field officers as scapegoats to protect their own positions, assisted in the making of false legends, and lied about the outcome of the men who fought ...
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The story of the five battles that changed Australia forever, this compelling narrative incorporates hundreds of interviews with the soldiers who fought at Kokoda, Milne Bay, Gona, Buna, and Sanananda in 1942 and 1943. Revealed are the very real and engaging experiences of Generals MacArthur and Blamey and other senior Australian commanders who sacrificed many of their senior field officers as scapegoats to protect their own positions, assisted in the making of false legends, and lied about the outcome of the men who fought the battles.
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This is a history of Australian military campaigns in New Guinea in WW II. A fairly small number of Australian troops defeated invading Japanese in 3 bloody campaigns. The Australian commanders in New Guinea were competent but under the over-all comand of MacArthur. Several officers were relieved because of perceived timidity - but they had actually performed well, possibly brilliantly. Far from the fighting MacArthur pushed for attacks, resulting in heavy losses which were largely unnecessary. When the campaigns were eventually successful MacArtur claimed all the credit.
The book details the campaigns and provides a tremendous amount of information about the officers and men. The author strongly favors the Australian army with the exception of the top commander who comes in for significant criticism which appears to be welll deserved. MacArthut is lambasted rather regularly for his ego and his uninformed interference with the field commanders.
I found the book fascinating because I knew so little about the fighting in New Guinea. This volume will probably become the standard Australian history of the campaigns - because of its criicism of MacArthur. the US Army is unlikely to favor it.
