This fascinating history, recounted from both the American and Japanese perspectives, follows the course of the Empire of the Sun's ultimately unequal struggle against the great allied powers. Drawing on archive material, this new history provides the reader with piercing strategic and political insights which debunk many of the enduring myths which encompass Japan's apocalyptic drive for hegemony in Southeast Asia. Why did Japan invade China? Was war with America and the British Empire inevitable? Why was the Japanese mobile fleet defeated so decisively at Midway? Why did the Japanese continue fighting when defeat was inevitable? Was Emperor Hirohito merely a puppet of the militarists? Why did the Japanese people acquiesce in the occupation of their homeland? Whilst unsparing in its treatment of Japan's ultimate culpability for unleashing the Second World War, 'Japan at War 1931-1945' is an objective appraisal of the tragedy that engulfed much of the territories under Japanese control, and eventually Japan itself.

In this absorbing new history of the 'Galicia' Division, David McCormack debunks many of the myths that have resulted in enduring controversies amongst the public, the mainstream media, academics, and politicians. 'The Galicia Division 1943-45 : Just Ordinary Soldiers?' provides an objective appraisal of the Ukrainian volunteers and conscripts that have been described as both heroes and villains in equal measure. What were the circumstances that led thousands of Ukrainians to volunteer to fight in Hitler's crusade against Bolshevism in 1943? Why did coercion replace incentivisation as a means of recruitment in 1944? Why was a decision made by the British authorities to ignore Stalin's demands for the repatriation of the division in 1945? Did the long established German military doctrine of 'absolute destruction' provide the foundations for accusations of war crimes against the division? How can the recent fetishisation of the division by Ukrainian nationalists be explained?

This highly detailed, absorbing battlefield guide is the ideal companion for anyone considering visiting the site of Hitler's `Gotterdammerung' in April-May 1945. Using his in depth knowledge as a historian and battlefield guide, David McCormack vividly describes the apocalyptic struggle played out amongst the ruins of a once great city. The author's intimate knowledge of the ground ensures that the Wagnerian climax of the Third Reich is presented in a series of dramatic tableaux which capture the regime's final convulsive death throes. Prepare for a fascinating journey across the Berlin battlefield as it is today. The Berlin 1945 Battlefield Guide: Part Two-The Battle of Berlin-is the essential guide to understanding both Hitler's downfall in Berlin and Stalin's greatest triumph.

This highly detailed, absorbing battlefield guide is the ideal companion for anyone considering exploring the terrain on which the epic battles along the Oderfront were fought between January and April 1945. Using his in-depth knowledge as a historian and battlefield guide, David McCormack vividly describes these last tumultuous weeks of the war on the Eastern Front, which saw the Red Army advance on Berlin in the face of a dogged, yet skilful German defence. Meticulous historical research, including searing eyewitness accounts and the author's intimate knowledge of the ground, have produced a guide that is both comprehensive and accessible. Prepare for a fascinating journey across the Oderfront battlefield as it is today. The Berlin Strategic Operation 1945 Battlefield Guide: Part One - The Battle of the Oder-Neisse is an essential guide to understanding the triumph of the Red Army and the final shattering defeat of the German land forces defending the approaches to Berlin.