Nomonhan: Japan Against Russia, 1939 [Hardcover]

Alvin Coox (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1276 pages
• Publisher: Stanford University Press; First edition (June 1, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804711607
• ISBN-13: 978-0804711609
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.2 x 3.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,769,733 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Military history that passes well the test of time, July 7, 2001

By 

M. Ou Mme Michel "Mischka Yakovleff" (Angers France) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Nomonhan: Japan Against Russia, 1939 (Paperback)

Being in the French military since 1976, I have studied quite extensively the Soviets. It took me twenty years to find a book on Khalkhin Gol (the Soviet name for Nomonhan). Coox's book, though written almost exclusively from Japanese sources, showed great insight into the way the Soviet commanders were thinking at the time. Since the 90s, a number of reports have emerged, which tend to support Coox's analyses. One very good book on the subject is recent, and not a doorstopper ! It is written by a French scholar on Soviet matters, called Jacques Sappir, and the title is (in French) "La Mandchourie oubliée" (Forgotten Manchuria). Sappir elaborates on the evolution of Soviet military doctrine, and traces back the tremendous impact of BOTH Manchurian campaigns (1939 and 1945). So his work is not focused exclusively on that precise story, but it gives a much wider perspective. Coox is cited as a source. All this to say that Sappir, judging from a totally different perspective, shows how Coox was right, even despite a dearth of Soviet contemporary sources. Proof that, even without material evidence, sound analysis can supplement much missing information.

I therefore recommend reading BOTH books, probably Sappir first (for the wider picture, and because for most people who have some acquaintance with Soviet stuff, the point of departure will be more familiar). Then expand into Coox's work, to give the tactical story "as it happened", complete with great case studies of leadership, morale and propaganda, combined arms and air power, logistics, planning...

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful, thorough long, September 26, 2003

By 

Seth J. Frantzman (Jerusalem, Israel) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Nomonhan: Japan Against Russia, 1939 (Paperback)

The best and almost the only book on the conflist at Nomonhan. This was an epic battle that took place in 1939 between Japanese forces and Russians under the command of Zhukov. In this conlfict it quickly became obivous that the japanese forces were vastly inferior to their russian counterparts. Although brave the Japanese Armor, and planes and weapons were inferior. Zhukov, a military genious, eventually routed the japanese army causing horrendous losses to an army that had hiterhto only known victory against the militarily inferior Chinese.

Russia gained a hero from this conflcit, Zhukov. He was able to test his theories regarding the goruping of armor, and his victorious tactics would later be used against the Germans.

Nomonhan should have ended the superiority complex of the japanee military. They should have taken these lessons to heart. Unfortunatly the only thing they learned was that they should not try a full scale invasion of russia(this is why they did not help Hitler in 1941). They should have learned that America would have even better technology then the russians and a war with America would be disastrous.

Nomonhan is a fascinitating story of two imperial countries facing off for months of brutal fighting in which thousands perished and yet neither country declared war oin the other. This mirrors the confrontations between Russia and China in the 60s and the confrntatiosn between China and India in the 50/60s when it became apparent that the Indians were no match for the Chinese(thus shattering Nehrus nerves).

A very long book, very detailed with easy to read amps detailing the campaigns. The classic and sure to be the staple on this subject for decades to come. The other 'Nomonhan' book by Colvin is weak and inaccurate. This 'Nomonhan' is written mostly from the Japanese point of view, thats its only downside.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book On Nomonhan, March 25, 2001

By 

T. Womack (Texas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Nomonhan: Japan Against Russia, 1939 (Paperback)

If you're interested in the engagement at Nomonhan, this is an EXCELLENT source and by far the most comprehensive. However, be warned that it definitely is not "light reading" with some 1,250 pages in the soft cover edition. The only real objection I have with this book is that fact that it draws almost exclusively on Japanese records. Since it was published in the early/mid 80s before the fall of the USSR, I'm guessing Dr. Coox didn't have access to the Soviet records. As a result, one must learn to sometimes "read between the lines" and look past the "pro Japanese" slant toward the description of the battle. Still, in no way let this discourage you from checking out this book if you even have a passing interest in the subject. The detail is absolutely incredible!