Synopses & Reviews
Packed with rich detail and analysis of what often transpired when merchant ships were sunk by U-boats, this dramatic book highlights the hazards of World War II at sea. At its center, James P. Duffy relates the story of the sinking of the British liner
Laconia by the German U-boat
U-156.
On September 12, 1942, as Laconia sailed crowded with 1,800 Italian prisoners of war, 103 Polish soldiers, 286 mostly severely wounded British military personnel, 80 civilians, and 463 officers and crew, she was hit by two torpedoes fired by U-156. Laconiaand#8217;s captain ordered the vessel abandoned, and within an hour, she sank. Perhaps surprisingly, the German U-boat then surfaced and sent a signal that brought two other U-boats, an Italian submarine, and three Vichy French warships to assist with rescue operations.
The rescue operation by German ships and the subsequent bombing raid by Allied aircraft are both compelling stories and events that had major repercussions for the conduct of the war.and#160;In the wake of the incident, German admiral Karl Dand#246;nitz issued instructions known as the Laconia Order demanding that all attempts to rescue survivors from Allied merchant ships be ended. The order provoked an international outcry against inhumane treatment of survivors stranded at sea. After the war, Dand#246;nitz was charged with and acquitted of war crimes in connection with this order.
Review
“[A] strong, well-written resource about the Navajos role in the Allied victory . . . Astounding facts, as well as stirring personal accounts of battle, make for fascinating, educational reading.”—Booklist Booklist
Review
“This book presents readers with a fine combination of Navajo history and culture and background information about World War II in the Pacific. . . . The well-written text . . . stresses the fact that the Navajo developed the code themselves rather than just using the language as it is normally spoken. Sidebars add interest and details to the text. Maps and vintage photos are well placed and fully documented.”—School Library Journal School Library Journal
Review
andquot;A fascinating and little-known story.andquot;andmdash;David Sears, author of Such Men as These: The Story of the Navy Pilots Who Flew the Deadly Skies over Korea
Review
andquot;Ross Coen has written an extremely well-researched and carefully documented book.andquot;andmdash;Lee Juillerat, regional editor of the Klamath Falls (OR) Herald and News
Review
andquot;This story about a little-known failed military excursion by the Japanese will appeal to general history readers as well as military history buffs.andquot;andmdash;John Rodzvilla, Library Journal
Review
andquot;An excellent look at the history of the U-boat war, this will prove reward reading for anyone interested in the Second World War or submarine operations.andquot;andmdash;NYMAS Review
Review
andquot;Fu-goand#160;is an engaging, thorough narrative that adds to the historiography surrounding World War II.andquot;andmdash;Luke Griffith, H-War
Synopsis
On February 23, 1945, U.S. Marines claimed victory in the battle of Iwo Jima, one of the most important battles in the Pacific islands during World War II. Instrumental to this defeat of Japanese forces was a group of specialized Marines involved in a secret program. Throughout the war, Japanese intelligence agencies were able to intercept and break nearly every battlefield code the United States created. The Navajo Code Talkers, however, devised a complex code based on their native language and perfected it so that messages could be coded, transmitted, and decoded in minutes. The Navajo Code was the only battlefield code that Japan never deciphered. Unsung Heroes of World War II details the history of the men who created this secret code and used it on the battlefield to help the United States win World War II in the Pacific.
Synopsis
On February 23, 1945, U.S. Marines claimed victory in the battle of Iwo Jima, one of the most important battles in the Pacific islands during World War II. Instrumental to this defeat of Japanese forces was a group of specialized Marines involved in a secret program. Throughout the war, Japanese intelligence agencies were able to intercept and break nearly every battlefield code the United States created. The Navajo Code Talkers, however, devised a complex code based on their native language and perfected it so that messages could be coded, transmitted, and decoded in minutes. The Navajo Code was the only battlefield code that Japan never deciphered. "Unsung Heroes of World War II" details the history of the men who created this secret code and used it on the battlefield to help the United States win World War II in the Pacific.
Synopsis
Near the end of World War II, in an attempt to attack the United States mainland, Japan launched its
fu-go campaign, deploying thousands of high-altitude hydrogen balloons armed with incendiary and high-explosive bombs designed to follow the westerly winds of the upper atmosphere and drift to the west coast of North America. After reaching the mainland, these fu-go, the Japanese hoped, would terrorize American citizens and ignite devastating forest fires across the western states, ultimately causing the United States to divert wartime resources to deal with the domestic crisis. While the fu-go offensive proved to be a complete tactical failure, six Americans lost their lives when a discovered balloon exploded.
Ross Coen provides a fascinating look into the obscure history of the fu-go campaign, from the Japanese schoolgirls who manufactured the balloons by hand to the generals in the U.S. War Department who developed defense procedures. The book delves into panic, propaganda, and media censorship in wartime. Fu-go is a compelling story of a little-known episode in our national history that unfolded virtually unseen.
About the Author
Deanne Durrett has published numerous nonfiction books and biographies for children and young adults, plus two “as told to” memoirs for adult readers. For more information about Ms. Durretts books please visit her Web Site at http://www.deannedurrett.com.