Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23858 in Books
• Published on: 2000-01-07
• Binding: Paperback
• 427 pages

Synopsis
'A brilliant and compelling book which must rank, even by the standards Max Hastings has set, as a masterpiece' - Professor Michael Howard, London Review of Books. On 25 June 1950, the invasion of South Korea by the Communist North launched one of the bloodiest and most devastating conflicts of our battle-scarred century. The seemingly limitless power of the Chinese-backed North was thrown against the ferocious firepower of the UN-backed South in a war that can be seen today as the stark prelude to Vietnam. Max Hastings, the acclaimed author of "Overlord and Bomber Command", has drawn on first-hand accounts of those who fought on both sides to produce this vivid and incisive reassessment of the Korean War, bringing the military and human dimensions of the conflict into sharp focus. 'Excellent, readable history by a master of the genre' - "Daily Mail." 'The description of the stand of the Gloucesters on the Imjin is exemplary. Hastings has spared no pains to dig deep in search of the real truth, and to seek out and interview those who took part in the events he chronicles with such finely balanced judgement' - Field Marshall Lord Carver, "Times Literary Supplement."

Customer Reviews

A good account of an overlooked conflict.
The Korean War is to some extent an overlooked war considering its importance and scale. This might be because it was the last big war before widespread television or because the result was inconclusive or because coming so soon after the Second World War it was simply eclipsed. Max Hastings sets out to redress the balance in this work about the confrontation between the USA and its Western Allies versus China and North Korea.

The book can essentially be divided into three parts. First of all is an account of the events that ultimately led up to war starting with the Japanese invasion back in the late 19th century. The second part is a chronological narrative of the military conflict itself, this takes up the bulk of the book obviously. Finally Hastings analysis specific aspects of the war, such as the impact of air power, intelligence and the treatment of prisoners by both sides. Most of the primary research is derived from interviews with survivors so the story is told through the eyes of soldiers, officers and civilians from many countries with illuminating anecdotes breaking up the straightforward recitation of events.

The war itself appears almost a morality tale about hubris. Although it ultimately ended in a stalemate both sides squandered opportunities to settle on far more favourable terms than they eventually got. After the sneak attack by North Korea almost succeeded in taking the whole peninsula the American led UN force rallied strongly and pushed the communists out of South Korea and deep into the North. Had MacArthur not tried to go for total victory then China would not have been sufficiently concerned to enter the war. This precipitated a panicky retreat by the American army (though the Marines were much more disciplined), all the way back down the peninsula. Here China failed to use it's advantage to secure a diplomatic victory and tried to rout the UN from Korea, but the UN again regrouped under a new General, Matthew Ridgway and drove the Chinese back over the 38th parallell. This time much to the dismay of the US officers, Washington decided against going for a total victory and sought a truce based on the status quo. Achieving the status quo cost the lives of over 30000 UN troops, hundreds of thousands of Korean civilians and hundreds of thousands if not millions of North Korean and Chinese soldiers.

In 2008 the Iraq war commands public attention despite being a relatively small war, yet at the time the Korean War attracted surprisingly little attention in the West apart from frustration and confusion about why they were fighting to support an impoverished hell hole governed by the corrupt and brutal Syngman Rhee. From a contemporary prospective it is not hard to see why the War was seen as a squalid and pointless stalemate that should never have been fought. With the benefit of almost 60 years of hindsight though, where we can see the difference between the free and prosperous South and the horrific North the cause is much clearer. It signaled that the West was willing to fight overt aggression by the Communists and it helped sow discord between the two Communist powers of China and the USSR.

the War that hasn't ended.
An excellent apraisal of the korean war, with inside stories and insight into why it happened (Occupation since early 20th Century) until the ceasefire (Not outright victory). A British view and focus actually adds to the book. Where else can you find such details. the Americans are seen to be disinterested in the Korean perninsula, only in fighting the Commies, and learning next to nothing in the process. Sadly Viertnam had all the signs that Korea had for them, but there they carried on because they seemed to belkieve that Korea was a war they won.

Hastings shows that no one won this war, as the diving line stayed almost exactly as it was after 3 years. Only so many millions dead. the human tradegy for the Chinese is covered, and most revelatory is the story of MacArthur and his plan for 26 atom bombs to be dropped on China! Needless to say Truman sacked him on the spot, yet for Truman too the war caused him to plummet politically.
At the eand we can see why North Korea lives of propoganda still form the war, and way the stalemate allowed such dictators immunity to do exactly what they wanted ever after. An important read, mostly because the issues are still not settled and, yes, it could all happen again.
The aftermath for South Korea is not covered much, leaving out the socialogical changes that led to Chruistian belief later expanding there.What comes through, though, is that the South korean leader (Syngman Rhee)at the time was just as much a dictator as that in the north.

A fantastic look at modern warfare
Where to start. The Korean war was the real start of the Cold war. No more arguements across the Atlantic but an exchange of gunfire across the trenches of a country that hardly any of the soldiers actually came from. To write about this complexed conflict an indepth study and review would be required, who is better suited for the job than Max Hastings (First English man into Port Stanly after its capture by the Argentinian's in '82)
This book looks critically at every aspect of the rather bizarre conflict, thats all I can say really because it diggs deep into conflict and answers most of questions about it.
It is higly critical of the Americans and some of the flak I feel was unjustified and it does go into great depth about British service men when they only had a brigade in Korea rather than a division or army! But from a practicle point of view it saves time asking locals rather than travelling ot Korea to ask about the war! This was the prelude to disaster for America (Vietnam) a terrible waste of money for Russia (which could't afford a war) and the first time the British worked under the Americans in a war they were thrown into. Finally and still stranger is the fact that the Korean war still goes on today. Only a cease fire 50 years ago stopped it which is still in place today. To conclude buy this book if your 1)interested in the cold war 2)Interested in the British involvemnt in Korea or 3)Like to read books that give a unilatteral view of the biggest waste of money men and effort since the discovery of America!