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Hell to Pay
- Operation Downfall and the Invasion of Japan, 1945-1947
- Narrated by: Danny Campbell
- Length: 16 hrs and 3 mins
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Publisher's summary
Hell to Pay is a comprehensive and compelling examination of the many complex issues that encompassed the strategic plans for the proposed American invasion of Japan. U.S. planning for the invasion and military occupation of Imperial Japan began in 1943, two years before the dropping of atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
In its final form, Operation Downfall called for a massive Allied invasion - on a scale dwarfing D-Day - to be carried out in two stages. In the first stage, Operation Olympic, the U.S. Sixth Army would lead the southernmost assault on the Home Island of Kyushu preceded by the dropping of as many as nine atom bombs behind the landing beaches and troop concentrations inland. Sixth Army would secure airfields and anchorages needed to launch the second stage, Operation Coronet, five hundred miles to the north in 1946. The decisive Coronet invasion of the industrial heartland of Japan through the Tokyo Plain would be led by the Eighth Army, as well as the First Army, which had previously pummeled its way across France and Germany to defeat the Nazis.
These facts are well known and have been recounted - with varying degrees of accuracy - in a variety of books and articles. A common theme in these works is their reliance on a relatively few declassified high-level planning documents. In contrast, Hell to Pay examines the invasion of Japan in light of the large body of Japanese and American operational and tactical planning documents unearthed by the author in both familiar and obscure archives, as well as postwar interrogations and reports that senior Japanese commanders and their staffs were ordered to produce for General MacArthur's headquarters.
Hell to Pay brings to light the political and military ramifications of the enormous casualties and loss of material projected by both sides in the climatic struggle to bring the Pacific War to a conclusion through a brutal series of battles on Japanese soil.
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Whirlwind
- The Air War Against Japan, 1942-1945
- By: Barrett Tillman
- Narrated by: Mel Foster
- Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Whirlwind is the only book to examine in depth the human drama behind the most important bombing campaign in history. While the air war against Nazi Germany has been covered in-depth by many books, Barrett Tillman, a renowned authority on military aircraft and the air war in the Pacific, is the first to tackle the air war against Japan. For decades, historians and politicians have debated whether or not Japan was on the verge of surrender in August 1945---before the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
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Good, but ultimately disappointing
- By Michael on 10-16-10
By: Barrett Tillman
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Operation Barbarossa and Germany's Defeat in the East
- By: David Stahel
- Narrated by: Stewart Crank
- Length: 17 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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Using archival records, in this book, David Stahel presents a history of Germany's summer campaign from the perspective of the two largest and most powerful Panzer groups on the Eastern front. Stahel's research provides a fundamental reassessment of Germany's war against the Soviet Union, highlighting the prodigious internal problems of the vital Panzer forces and revealing that their demise in the earliest phase of the war undermined the whole German invasion.
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Best book on Operation Barbarossa so far
- By Amazon Customer on 09-14-21
By: David Stahel
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Morning Star, Midnight Sun
- The Early Guadalcanal-Solomons Campaign of World War II August–October 1942
- By: Jeffrey R. Cox
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 20 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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Following the disastrous Java Sea campaign, the Allies went on the offensive in the Pacific in a desperate attempt to halt the Japanese forces that were rampaging across the region. With the conquest of Australia a very real possibility, the stakes were high. Their target: the Japanese-held Soloman Islands, in particular the southern island of Guadalcanal. Hamstrung by arcane pre-war thinking and a bureaucratic mind-set, the US Navy had to adapt on the fly in order to compete with the mighty Imperial Japanese Navy, whose ingenuity had fostered the creation of its Pacific empire.
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Very enjoyable popular history
- By Sheldon Campbell on 08-17-19
By: Jeffrey R. Cox
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When Britain Saved the West
- The Story of 1940
- By: Robin Prior
- Narrated by: Shaun Grindell
- Length: 13 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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From the comfortable distance of seven decades, it is quite easy to view the victory of the Allies over Hitler's Germany as inevitable. But in 1940 Great Britain's defeat loomed perilously close, and no other nation stepped up to confront the Nazi threat. In this cogently argued book, Robin Prior delves into the documents of the time - war diaries, combat reports, Home Security's daily files, and much more - to uncover how Britain endured a year of menacing crises.
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Very detailed; a bit dry in spots
- By No on 09-07-15
By: Robin Prior
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Third Reich Victorious
- Alternate Histories of World War II
- By: Peter G. Tsouras
- Narrated by: David Baker
- Length: 10 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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This book is a stimulating and entirely plausible insight into how Hitler and his generals might have defeated the Allies, and a convincing sideways look at the Third Reich's bid at world domination in World War II. What would have happened if, for example, the Germans captured the whole of the BEF at Dunkirk? Or if the RAF had been defeated in the Battle of Britain?
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A fresh look at WW2 - false but makes one wonder.
- By Eggert Eggertsson on 09-05-15
By: Peter G. Tsouras
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Lonely Vigil
- Coastwatchers of the Solomons
- By: Walter Lord
- Narrated by: Norman Dietz
- Length: 11 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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From the best-selling author of Day of Infamy: In the bloodiest island combat of WWII, one group of men kept watch from behind Japanese lines. The Solomon Islands was where the Allied war machine finally broke the Japanese empire. As pilots, marines, and sailors fought for supremacy in Guadalcanal, Bougainville, and the Slot, a lonely group of radio operators occupied the Solomon Islands' highest points. Sometimes encamped in comfort, sometimes exposed to the elements, these coastwatchers kept lookout for squadrons of Japanese bombers headed for Allied positions.
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Interesting Subject
- By Martin See on 06-21-21
By: Walter Lord
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Black Thursday
- The Story of the Schweinfurt Raid
- By: Martin Caidin
- Narrated by: David Colacci
- Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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On Thursday, October 14, 1943, 291 B-17 Flying Fortresses set out for a strategic bombing raid on the factories in Schweinfurt. Sixty of those planes never returned and 650 men were lost during the course of that mission. It was the greatest failure that the United States Air Force had ever suffered and became known as "Black Thursday". Martin Caidin's Black Thursday: The Story of the Schweinfurt Raid is a brilliant account of that day that should never be forgotten. This audiobook uncovers in thrilling detail the build-up to that fateful raid.
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The Best Look at Bomb Groups of the 8th
- By Nicholas Robinson on 09-19-18
By: Martin Caidin
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Utmost Savagery
- The Three Days of Tarawa
- By: Colonel Joseph H. Alexander United States Marine Corps (Ret.)
- Narrated by: Tom Weiner
- Length: 8 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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On November 20, 1943, in the first trial by fire of America’s fledgling amphibious assault doctrine, 5,000 men stormed the beaches of Tarawa, a seemingly invincible Japanese island fortress barely the size of the 300-acre Pentagon parking lots. Before the first day ended, one-third of the marines who had crossed Tarawa’s deadly reef under murderous fire were killed, wounded, or missing. In three days of fighting, four Americans would win the Medal of Honor and six thousand combatants would die.
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The Definitive Battle History of Tarawa
- By Iain on 02-23-11
By: Colonel Joseph H. Alexander United States Marine Corps (Ret.)
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A Foot Soldier for Patton
- The Story of a "Red Diamond" Infantryman with the US Third Army
- By: Michael C. Bilder, James Bilder
- Narrated by: Johnny Heller
- Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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A rarely frank account of the US infantry experience in northern Europe, A Foot Soldier for Patton takes the listener from the beaches of Normandy through the giddy drive across France to the brutal battles on the Westwall, in the Ardennes, and finally to the conquest of Germany itself. Patton's army is best known for dashing armored attacks; its commander combining the firepower of tanks with their historic lineage as cavalry. But when the Germans stood firm, the greatest fighting was done by Patton's long undersung infantry.
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Wonderful book
- By Dr. Z on 09-16-21
By: Michael C. Bilder, and others
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Tidal Wave
- From Leyte Gulf to Tokyo Bay
- By: Thomas McKelvey Cleaver
- Narrated by: Tom Perkins
- Length: 13 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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The United States Navy won such overwhelming victories in 1944 that had the Navy faced a different enemy the war would have been over at the conclusion of the Battle of Leyte Gulf. However, in the moment of victory on October 25, 1944, the US Navy found itself confronting an enemy that had been inconceivable until it appeared. The kamikaze, meaning 'divine wind' in Japanese, was something Americans were totally unprepared for; a violation of every belief held in the West.
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Horrible writing
- By DearMrDear on 06-02-18
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Lightning Sky
- By: R. C. George
- Narrated by: John McLain
- Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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October 6, 1944. Twenty-year-old Army Air Corps Second Lieutenant David "Mac" Warren MacArthur was on a strafing mission over Greece when a round of 88-mm German anti-aircraft flak turned his P-38 Lightning into a comet of fire and smoke. Dave parachuted to safety as the Lightning lived up to her name and struck the Adriatic Sea like a bolt of flames. In minutes, he was plucked from the water - only to find himself on the wrong end of a German rifle pointing straight at his head.
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A True American Hero
- By David Kinne on 05-10-19
By: R. C. George
What listeners say about Hell to Pay
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- P. Armstrong
- 10-13-19
Precise, painstakingly all-encompassing.
This is a very detailed, no a precise accounting of the planning, and preparation for the American invasion and the defense by Imperial Japan of the home islands during the Summer of 1945.
This book lays to rest the long standing supposition that the Japanese Empire was going to surrender before the dropping of the Atomic Bombs.
A good, informative, important. and very necessary read.
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- Kevin G.
- 05-24-20
Poor choice for a audio book
The presenter doesn’t have the most pleasant voice especially when heard on earbuds.
The story is figure-dense, listening to the presenter recite numbers became tedious and then eventually lost meaning.
Also, redundant! Facts and figures and phrases repeated so often I was distracted wondering if I’d somehow jumped chapters.
All that said, a important story thoroughly reported. I just think this was better left to actually reading.
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- James
- 10-06-10
Good information; needs editing
This book describes a part of military history that is interesting, important and not adequately covered by other books. Nonetheless, the book is a bit tedious to get through due to both its organization (meandering) and its narration (humdrum). This would be an excellent book if it were half the length and reorganized.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Kad
- 05-02-21
A good telling of the moments in time.
The story here tells what the current thinking was near the end of the war, and of the great many choices and decisions that were being discussed and decided in order to defeat Japan.
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- Kate
- 05-20-21
Great if you actually like military history
I am the 11th generation to serve in the United States Navy and a great great niece of a man that never made it of the USS Arizona so I enjoy military history tremendously. I also prefer lectures because I don't need the literally equivalent of glitter and puppets to pay attention. This work is a fantastic overview of Operation Downfall and chilling to think what could have happened if the nuclear bombs had not been used.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Steve Dietrich
- 08-15-20
Great History
It's a near universal "truth" in most college history classes that the United States did not need to use the nuclear weapons on Japan to end the war. While not challenging that assumption, the author explores the challenges facing the United States and its Allies in an invasion of the Japanese homeland based on extensive research and analysis.
Few Americans recall, or ever knew that on many of the Pacific islands overrun by the Japanese after Pearl Harbor the Japanese fought to the very last man, often engaging in suicidal attacks or as a last measure of preserving honor, committing suicide. Japan had used suicide bombers effectively against the US fleet with devastating results in a number of battles.
The author details both the American plans for an invasion and the Japanese plans for defense in depth of the homeland. The logistical support required by any invading force would be highly vulnerable to suicide air attacks, especially on the thin hulled troop transports and supply ships. After landing troops would come under concentrated fire from well entrenched troops fighting to the death on their homeland.
His study of the actual invasion plans showed many defects based on the lack of accurate information by American planners on the geography of the planned invasion areas including the challenges that would be faced by Americans trying to cross rice paddies , a feature that would be remembered in horror by many who served in Vietnam.
The Japanese air forces would also have a significant home field advantage. They had planned new suicide attack aircraft that would be almost invisible to American radar and well suited for attacks against the vast array of vessels carrying supplies and troops close to the beaches.
Unlike the invasion of Normandie, the invasion fleet would need to sail hundreds if not thousands of miles in their approach. Air cover would be limited to that provided by the carriers and long range aircraft with limited ability to remain over the invading troops and ships.
Finally there's the issue of the thousands of US prisoners of war in Japan who would likely have been executed. The moment the bomb was dropped treatment of the prisoners improved. Many were near death already from starvation, disease and abuse.
The author does not dwell on two other very significant issues associated with any invasion of Japan. That thousands of US POW's would likely be killed or executed and that the Russians would also be involved in the war against Japan , but on a limited basis. However, if post WWII Europe is any indication the Russians would have played a major role in post war Japan .
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- David
- 08-09-14
This is a good piece of history.
Probably one of the least likely, or perhaps, least interesting subjects to delve in to concerning the Second World War. This books discusses contemporary perceptions, and the reality of the projected Invasion of Japan. That is important as it can frame the discussion of the US decision to use Atomic weapons against Japan. This has been dealt with in other sources, and from many perspectives. I find this a very well researched volume, using both American and Japanese sources. He may not have spent enough time discussing one of the more bizarre acts of the war, which was a partial demobilization following the defeat of Germany. He does cover the impact of that decision on the War against the Japanese quite well. This book is not speculative in nature, he looks at contemporary estimates, including how they were produced. He uses evidence from other battles against Japan (the Philippines, Saipan, Peleliu, Okinawa, etc.) to give perspective to the estimates, and context for the larger American and Japanese battle plans. Certainly, I walk away with even more respect for the Japanese, and I have a better idea of the size of the Japanese Armed Forces, at the time of the Invasion. This didn't change my mind on the use of Atomic weapons. It did remind me further of the naivete of the Americans regarding radiation given the tactical planning for the employment of further atomic weapons. I am glad that didn't happen, both for the Japanese, and for those American soldiers as well. A very interesting book. The appendix is quite dry, but still worth reading.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Daniel Comer
- 06-25-18
tons of great info, but not the best format
the book is chuck full of facts, figures, strategies, documents, maneuvers, hypothesis etc. the problem is that a book is just not the best place for it all, a video documentary series would be a much better format so all the states could be visually supported
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1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 08-10-20
Go back to school
There is no such thing as a nucUlear bomb. It’s NUCLEAR. Learn how to speak correctly...
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- Monica B.
- 01-09-21
Thank God we had nukes
My God, the invasion of Japan would have been a bloodbath beyond comprehension. It would have made the Somme and Stalingrade an easy day.
This book sheds a lot of light on why we had to use a couple of atom bombs to bring the Japanese to surrender.
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