War at the End of the World, James P. Duffy
War at the End of the World, James P. Duffy
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War at the End of the World
Douglas MacArthur and the Forgotten Fight for New Guinea 1942-1945

Author: James P. Duffy

Narrator: Joe Barrett

Unabridged: 14 hr 6 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 01/05/2016


Synopsis

One American soldier called it "a green hell on earth." Monsoon-soaked wilderness, debilitating heat, impassable mountains, torrential rivers, and disease-infested swamps—New Guinea was a battleground far more deadly than the most fanatical of enemy troops. Japanese forces numbering some 600,000 men began landing in January 1942, determined to seize the island as a cornerstone of the Empire's strategy to knock Australia out of the war. Allied commander-in-chief General Douglas MacArthur committed 340,000 Americans, as well as tens of thousands of Australian, Dutch, and New Guinean troops, to retake New Guinea at all costs.

In this gripping narrative, historian James P. Duffy chronicles the most ruthless combat of the Pacific War, a fight complicated by rampant tropical disease, violent rainstorms, and unforgiving terrain that punished both Axis and Allied forces alike. Drawing on primary sources, War at the End of the World fills in a crucial gap in the history of World War II while offering listeners a narrative of the first rank.

About James P. Duffy

James P. Duffy is the author of over a dozen books, most on military history. His World War II titles include The Sinking of the Laconia and the U-Boat War, Target America, and Hitler's Secret Pirate Fleet. He has also written on the American Civil War and the rulers of Imperial Russia. He resides with his family in New Jersey.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Jamie

By May 1942 Japan had accomplished all of its initial objectives, ahead of schedule and at a lower than expected cost in men and material. Their empire stretched from China across to the Philippines and northern New Guinea, then up to Burma. They had the luxury of being able to strike wherever they......more

War at the End of the World: Douglas MacArthur and the Forgotten Fight For New Guinea, 1942-1945 (Hardcover)by James P. Duffy is two books. One Is very informative the other too opinionated. Douglas MacArthur became the theater commander for the South Pacific during World War II. He fought a shoestr......more

Goodreads review by Heinz

This is an excellent narrative history of the least studied aspect of the Second World War: the New Guinea/South-West Pacific theater. Following their amazing string of victories farther north in the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia, the Japanese cast their gaze towards the islands of New Britain......more

Goodreads review by Barry

Patrick Duffy does an admirable job of keeping the momentum of his book going while detailing a campaign where it was easy for both sides to get bogged down. Duffy seems to do this by paying a great deal of attention to air and sea operations as well as land battles. This is not without its downside.......more