Gordon W. PrangeRezensionen

As I listened to this book, I knew that I was in deep doo-doo when the reader talked about documenting the sources...ugh, thought I, footnotes of infinite length :-( in a Senior Level Poly-Sci class. The preface took about a half hour and then the book started. It was written/read like an academic tome suitable for a 400-level class on spies in WWII and it may be suitable for such research. When the reader began to sound like Charlie Brown's teacher, I gave up and thought to myself: "I'm driving down this long road, listening to this book and I'm more bored than usual. I've got better ways to spend my time. So, I deleted the book after about an hour. DNF.

At 7:53 a.m., December 7, 1941, America's national consciousness and confidence were rocked as the first wave of Japanese warplanes took aim at the U.S. Naval fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor. As intense and absorbing as a suspense novel, At Dawn We Slept is the unparalleled and exhaustive account of the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. It is widely regarded as the definitive assessment of the events surrounding one of the most daring and brilliant naval operations of all time. Through extensive research and interviews with American and Japanese leaders, Gordon W. Prange has written a remarkable historical account of the assault that-sixty years later-America cannot forget.

DescrizioneIl Giappone, alleato della Germania nazista, si prepara ad allargare il conflitto bellico anche agli Stati Uniti. Gli americani sottovalutano il pericolo, e il 7 dicembre 1941 subiscono lo storico attacco alla base di Pearl Harbour. (fonte: Wikipedia)

Richard Sorge was dispatched to Tokyo in 1933 to serve the spymasters of Moscow. For eight years, he masqueraded as a Nazi journalist and burrowed deep into the German embassy, digging for the secrets of Hitler’s invasion of Russia and the Japanese plans for the East. In a nation obsessed with rooting out moles, he kept a high profile—boozing, womanizing, and operating entirely under his own name. But he policed his spy ring scrupulously, keeping such a firm grip that by the time the Japanese uncovered his infiltration, he had done irreversible damage to the cause of the Axis. The first definitive account of one of the most remarkable espionage sagas of World War II, Target Tokyo is a tightly wound portrayal of a man who risked his life for his country, hiding in plain sight.

The previous book “At Dawn We Slept” was a re-creation of the apocalyptic events of December 7, 1941. This provocative sequel delves even further to examine the underlying causes of Pearl Harbor and the revisionist theories that Roosevelt and other high officials knew about the attack.
With the same imposing scholarship and narrative drive that distinguished its predecessor, Pearl Harbor uncovers the secret roles played by the president, his cabinet secretaries, admirals, and generals in the weeks before the attack. Based on more than forty years of research, extensive interviews, and an insider's knowledge of the military, this book poses an explosive and highly convincing new theory of America's entry into the Pacific War. Like the very best works of history, it not only expands but dramatically deepens our understanding of the events that were once the province of myth and rumor.

insight into the perspective of WWII from the Japanese military view…This is the story of Mitsuo Fuchida, the career naval aviator - and, later, internationally known Christian evangelist - who not only led the air attack on Pearl Harbour, but participated in most of the fiercest battles of the Pacific. As well as a record of historical events, it is the personal story of a man swept along by his times.
God's Samurai is the unusual story of Mitsuo Fuchida, the career aviator who led the attack on Pearl Harbor and participated in most of the fiercest battles of the Pacific war. A valuable record of major events, it is also the personal story of a man swept along by his times. Reared in the vanished culture of early twentieth-century Japan, war hero Fuchida returned home to become a simple farmer. After a scandalous love affair came his remarkable conversion to Christianity and years of touring the world as an evangelist (the last half of the book). His tale is an informative, personal look at the war "from the other side."

Holy cats! This text is such an incredible source of historical information regarding Pearl Harbor. The book is written in an easy-to-follow narrative and all is easy to understand (not too many nautical/aeronautical terms thrown everywhere). This text covers the building up to, the attack itself and the aftermath of Pearl Harbor. It includes all the planning and trials, the espionage and war games, the powder keig build up, the devastation, and the consequences and trials that followed. This is an amazing piece of literature that should definitely earn it's place next to classics such as War and Peace. Highly recommend!

Drammatizzazione degli eventi che portarono al bombardamento Giapponese di Pearl Harbor il 7 Dicembre 1941.

An ambitious, academic work on the causes, reasons, outcomes and aftermaths of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Its probably one of the most well known events of WWII, but there was a lot that I never knew. Especially on the Japanese side, where the idea came from? how and when it was decided to go, and the logistical problems that arose. Not the least of which was that they had to completely redesign torpedo bombs, as they would not work in the shallow draft of the harbor. On the US side, I was amazed to see that bureaucracy and partisanship is nothing new and existed even during the unifying events of the war.

In the rear-view mirror of history, it is very easy to see where things went wrong and how the attack couldn't have been anticipated or prevented. In the book relatively little time is spent on the actual attak itself and the last big section deals with the aftermath, mostly around the many hearings and investigations that were undertaken to assign blame. Someone has to be blamed, right? To be honest, it was here that I tapped out and put the book down and decided to call it finished. The politics and who did what to whom, or who didn't do what to some other whom, didn't really interest me.

Despite this disappointing finish (for me), it is a worthwhile read for any history buff. Truth is always stranger and more interesting than fiction, or at least it usually is.

"He stands before the inquisitive historian in taut watchfulness, courteous, painstaking, and inscrutable, forever holding the citadel of his own personality"

6/10

S: 6/26/16 - F: 10/30/16 (127 Days)

Rated: B-

It’s not often that I get to use the word, definitive, but it certainly fits [At Dawn We Slept]. This book offers its readers everything they could possibly want with regard to the who, what, when, where, and why of the planning and execution of the raid, as well as the who, what, when, where, and why of how the U. S. failed to anticipate their actions and protect Pearl Harbor from a likely attack. It is filled with the incredible research done by Gordon Prange over almost 40 years, tracing down not only written information in letters, diaries, newspapers, magazines, and government records, but finding and interviewing well over 100 people, both in the U. S. and Japan.

I was surprised that I grew to be so interested in some of the major players in this moment in history that I actually felt for them a great deal of sympathy or, in the case, of some, cheered them on. Through this very long book they became like family or close friends.

Of course, I’ve lived my entire life knowing much about the Pearl Harbor attack. The following are some of the things I learned which were new to me or different than I had come to believe:

Yamamoto clearly understood that Japan had no hope of ultimate victory over the United States. He perceived Pearl Harbor as a knockout punch – damage and temporary containment.

The Japanese gathered mounds of information about Pearl Harbor merely by having one of their agents drive around the area and take notes. Security was so lax that the comings and goings of all ships were published in the newspapers every morning.

Neither Short nor Kimmel were privy to the Honolulu intercepts of Japanese coded transmissions, which were translated daily, and delivered to a very select few.

The Japanese originally estimated that the Pearl Harbor attack would cost them one third of their task force because they anticipated that the U. S. would discover them and respond accordingly.

Ambassador Nomura had no knowledge of the planning of Pearl Harbor. He only learned of it after he had returned from his final trip to the U. S. Ambassador. The Japanese government purposely kept him in the dark.

As early as October 11 Japan chose the date of December 7 (Hawaii time) for the attack.

FDR did not know about Pearl Harbor prior to its occurrence. He did not intentionally suppress information in order to bring it about.

The first blood spilt was by a Japanese and first shot fired was by the U. S.

On a personal note, the book was too inclusive. The editors did the reader no favors by putting in all that was gathered. Also, I found it very annoying that they used [sic] so often when the text was grammatically incorrect, especially since Prange misused forms of bring and take.

This is an excellent, well written account of one of the most importnat battles of the 20th century. While many battles have been described as 'turning points' the battle of Midway truly can be described as a pivotal moment in recent history. Prange was probably one of the most knowledgeable writers dealing with the events leading up to Pearl Harbor and the ensuing battles and events that occurred in the Pacific War between the forces of the Empire of Japan and the United States. Prange's description of the events, strategies, tactics and ultimate outcome provide the reader with a stirring and comprehensive understanding of the magnitude of the stakes involved and the ultimate (and to pardon Walter Lord's description) ' incredible' victory achieved by the U.S. Navy. Pange provides several explanations for the American's improbable victory: superior intelligence; Japan's over confidence and luck, but what one understands from reading Prange's compelling narration is that victory was truly the result of the brave and dedicated men of the United States Navy: those members of what was truly were and remain in all our memories - the Greatest Generation.

In depth investigation and analysis. Highly recommend.

While we know that espionage was rampant, spies seldom make the history books. Great account of an area often overlooked.

1739 At Dawn We Slept: The Untold Story of Pearl Harbor, by Gordon W. Prange (read 8 Sep 1982) This is an amazing book. I found it gripping. It starts very slowly, and I thought it drug some. But as it worked up to the climax--0755 Hawaii time on 7 Dec 1941--I found it hard to stop reading. The account of the action that day is compelling. The aftermath--the investigations--is not as well-handled. I do not think the writing too well done--the judgments obtrude, some adjectives seem out of place--but the subject, and the tremendous amount of work the author has done on his subject--30 years, till his death in 1980--carry the book very well. In his conclusion the author says well: "Thus, in a special way Pearl Harbor became the turning point of the world struggle....But Pearl Harbor ensured that American strength would be concentrated into an arrow point of resolution, that the entire nation would attend as one man and woman behind the men at the front." This book has been a memorable book.

An incredibly detailed and unique look at a defining moment of the 20th century. Never before have WWII buffs had such an insight into the Day of Infamy, particularly in being able to view the lead up, battle, and aftermath from both the US and Japanese points of view. Prange's experience while living in Japan allowed him to cultivate and gather information that truly sheds new light on Pearl Harbor. In my view (as an amateur WWII historian), he permanently lays to rest the question of whether FDR had foreknowledge of the attack, though that is not the real value of this book. The true value is in the detail of planning, doubt, successes, failures, and crucial turning points throughout the narrative, particularly on the Japanese side.

For anyone interested in deeper analysis and fine minutiae of the battle, politics, and fallout, you can likely do no better.

1887 Miracle at Midway, by Gordon W. Prange - Donald M. Goldstein - Katherine V. Dillon (read 1 Dec 1984) Since on 16 Sep 1967 I read Rendezvous at Midway by Pat Frank one would think I need not read another book on that June 1942 battle, but since I so appreciated Prange's book on Pearl Harbor, which I read 8 Sep 1982, I read this book.. But this book is not well-written--it is full of mention of individual names and jumps confusedly around. The battle was a great decisive battle, and we can be glad it worked out as it did.

An amazing account of the turning point of World War II in the Pacific. If anyone is looking for some valuable insight into what turned the tides to the Americans in the Pacific after the Day of Infamy they should read this book. In no other book have I ever found such a lucid and objective discussion of the events in June 1942 at Midway then I did in this book.

Gopod as a solid work that discounts some of the more outrageous conspiracy theories. Never attribute to malice what is adequately explained by stupidity

Excellent and thorough for its time½

Excellent analysis for its publication date

Well done from the Gordon Prange team

Very useful solid thorough study of events leading to the
American failure to be prepared for the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor. In general tends to support the view that the disaster was the result of incompetence rather than a deliberate plot as some maintain.½

Everything you ever wanted to know about Pearl Harbor but were afraid to ask. Definitely puts the conspiracy theories to rest.½

The most valuable part is the extensive use of Japanese accounts. They provide tremendous insight.