Product Description

Field Marshal William Slim stands alongside Montgomery as the outstanding British field commander of World War II. Defeat Into Victory is his classic account of the Burma campaign: a story of retreat, attrition and final hard-fought victory over the Japanese. Told by a commander always at the centre of events, this is a narrative which captures both the high drama and the harsh reality of war.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #54614 in Books
• Published on: 2009-08-21
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 594 pages

About the Author

William Joseph Slim, first Viscount, was born in 1891. He took a commission in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and served in the Middle East, India and Burma, reaching Field-Marshal in 1948. His other books include Unofficial History (1959). He died in 1972.

Customer Reviews

Superb!
I have read alot of military history, however this book stands out beyond most. Slim takes us through the early, tough years, and explains how 14th Army had to be built from the ground up in patient step by step moves. Slim explains how his greatest challenge, and ultimately his greatest triumph, was convincing 14th Army they could defeat the Japanese in the jungle. The force he forged defeated the Japanese at Imphal and succeeded in driving their still mighty forces all the way back to Rangoon in what Weintraub called "14th Army's Jungle Blitzkrieg".
The challenges of supply were immense. Slim spends some time heaping laurels on both his subordinates and superiors and is quick to point out his mistakes. As someone said, there is no limit to what a man can do as long as he doesn't care who gets the credit. In the long run, Slim was perhaps the finest British general officer of the war, and could compete for the title in any army. Given the 14th Army he led was last in line for everything given demands in other theaters, his personal leadership had a huge effect on turning the tables against Japan in Southeast Asia.

Superb.
This book consists of the military memoirs of Viscount Slim. Slim was only the second British soldier in the history of the British Army to advance from the rank of Private to the rank of Field Marshal (the first being "Wully" Robertson of WW1 fame). Though less well known than Monty, in my opinion he was the best British general of WW2 and could certainly compete for the title of Best Allied General. His memoirs begin with typical modesty, outlining what he feels to be the limits of historical autobiography and memoirs. He then proceeds to detail his exploits, beginning at the time he was assigned to Burma under General Alexander. The book is important both as a work of history and as a personal memoir and is written in a witty and engaging style. It also provides various general observations on command that would be of use to any serving officer - definitely one for any young subaltern to find space for in his pack! The author pays generous tribute to those he served with and at the risk of sounding somewhat sycophantic, comes over as a true gentleman. He offers objective analysis of the non-British troops he served with and against, including Americans, Chinese and Japanese and never stints on giving praise when it is due - either to allies or the Japanese. This is a splendid memoir written by somebody who was a superb general and clearly a splendid person in his own right. If you are a military officer or have a serious interest in history this book deserves (demands!)a place on your shelf.

An absolute must read for any military enthusiast
Field Marshall Slim provides an in-depth account of this campaign from the withdrawal into India to the final defeat of Japan. The book is a must for any would-be leader of military men and is a bible for those studying leadership. The campaign is centred on the Battle for Imphal and Kohima and then the eventual clearing of Burma and the opposed crossing of the Irrawady River, no mean feat considering it is 1.5 miles wide in places! Those that read this book will not only enjoy the style but also learn the ins and out of how the campaign was run and how thin the line was between success and defeat. The more modern copies have reduced the maps which make studying them more difficult. I would therefore recommend an older copy to get the most out of the book.