Okinawa: Touchstone to Victory
An overview of the Battle of Okinawa, the largest amphibious operation in the Pacific, with a description of its military course, human losses and decisive influence on the end of World War II.
In Okinawa: Touchstone to Victory, Benis M. Frank analyzes one of the bloodiest and most important battles of World War II—the Allied landings and fighting on Okinawa from April to June 1945. The author chronologically traces the planning of Operation Iceberg, the landing of American forces, the fierce Japanese resistance, and the role of ground, naval, and air forces in the long campaign.
He pays special attention to the Japanese defensive strategy, the massive kamikaze attacks, the logistical challenges, and the exceptionally high military and civilian casualties that marked the battle. Frank also considers the strategic consequences of the conquest of Okinawa, its importance as a springboard for the planned invasion of Japan, and the influence of the bloody experience on later decisions by American political and military leadership, including the use of atomic weapons.
Lavishly illustrated with photographs, maps, and charts, the book provides a concise but informative account of the final operations in the Pacific War and is part of the Ballantine's Illustrated History of World War II series.
One copy is available
