In an engrossing tale of unsung heroes and high-risk missions,
military historian Breuer (Feuding Allies, 1995, etc.) penetrates
the little-known espionage, propaganda, and guerilla operations of
the Korean war. When well-equipped, Soviet trained North Korean
troops crossed the 38th parallel on June 15, 1950, in what Breuer
calls a "second Pearl Harbor," the overmatched South Korean
defenders were quickly driven into a small pocket in southeastern
Korea called the Pusan Peninsula. There they held fast, with the
emergency support of newly arrived (but inexperienced) American
troops. The covert war began almost immediately. General Douglas
MacArthur's special warfare unit spread disinformation before his
surprise landing at Inchon in the enemy rear. Army and CIA units
trained many South Koreans and sent them North to spy and to carry
out guerrilla operations, often with great success. Yet the North
Koreans and their Chinese allies had their covert victories, too.
Communist forces often seemed to know when and where the UN forces
would attack. Breuer tracks these leaks back to the highly placed
British traitors Philby, Burgess, and MacLean, who sent copies of
US plans to Moscow. And the Communist propaganda machine lied so
effectively about American "atrocities" that some countries
demanded investigations, while, Breuer reveals, the Communist
military tortured and killed POWs (including Americans) and
civilians. While China and the Soviet Union were officially neutral
in the war's early days, Breuer finds that Chinese and Soviet
soldiers and airmen (with their equipment and supplies) were
covertly available to the North Koreans, as they were later to the
Communists in North Vietnam. Built on personal interviews and sound
secondary research, Breuer's account should please both students of
modern military history and espionage enthusiasts. (Kirkus Reviews)
Praise for The Great Raid on Cabanatuan "An exciting narrative presented by a first-rate storyteller." —Publishers Weekly Acclaim for Feuding Allies "An absorbing look at the impact of Alliance politics on the outcome of WW II." —Kirkus Reviews
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
