Pacific Blitzkrieg: World War II in the Central Pacific

Published: July, 2015  Pages: 336  Features: 35 b&w photos. 5 maps. Notes. Bib. Index.

Pacific Blitzkrieg closely examines the planning, preparation, and execution of ground operations for five major invasions in the Central Pacific (Guadalcanal, Tarawa, the Marshalls, Saipan, and Okinawa). The commanders on the ground had to integrate the U.S. Army and Marine Corps into a single striking force, something that would have been difficult in peacetime, but in the midst of a great global war, it was a monumental task. Yet, ultimate success in the Pacific rested on this crucial, if somewhat strained, partnership and its accomplishments. Despite the thousands of works covering almost every aspect of World War II in the Pacific, until now no one has examined the detailed mechanics behind this transformation at the corps and division level. more... about Pacific Blitzkrieg: World War II in the Central Pacific

• History/Military Book Club Selection, 2013
• Distinguished Writing Award in Operational/Battle History, from the Army Historical Foundation, 2014
• Selected by General Raymond Odierno, 38th Army Chief of Staff, for the U.S. Army Chief of Staff's Professional Reading List, February 2014
• Crader Family Book Prize in American Values