Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Being in the French military since 1976, I have studied quite extensively the Soviets. It took me twenty years to find a book on Khalkhin Gol (the Soviet name for Nomonhan). Coox's book, though written almost exclusively from Japanese sources, showed great insight into the way the Soviet commanders were thinking at the time. Since the 90s, a number of reports have emerged, which tend to support Coox's analyses. One very good book on the subject is recent, and not a doorstopper ! It is written by a French scholar on Soviet matters, called Jacques Sappir, and the title is (in French) "La Mandchourie oubliée" (Forgotten Manchuria). Sappir elaborates on the evolution of Soviet military doctrine, and traces back the tremendous impact of BOTH Manchurian campaigns (1939 and 1945). So his work is not focused exclusively on that precise story, but it gives a much wider perspective. Coox is cited as a source. All this to say that Sappir, judging from a totally different perspective, shows how Coox was right, even despite a dearth of Soviet contemporary sources. Proof that, even without material evidence, sound analysis can supplement much missing information.
I therefore recommend reading BOTH books, probably Sappir first (for the wider picture, and because for most people who have some acquaintance with Soviet stuff, the point of departure will be more familiar). Then expand into Coox's work, to give the tactical story "as it happened", complete with great case studies of leadership, morale and propaganda, combined arms and air power, logistics, planning...
Click Here to see more reviews about: Nomonhan: Japan Against Russia, 1939
Click here for more information about Nomonhan: Japan Against Russia, 1939
0 comments:
Post a Comment