Pearl Harbor Papers (P) [Paperback]

Donald M. Goldstein (Editor), Katherine V. Dillon (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1999

The only book on Pearl Harbor to take the reader inside teh Japanese perspective, revealing the original Japanese documents on "Operation Hawaii."

Features a full reproduction of one of the most important documents of the war--the top-secret map drawn in great detail by Japanese commander Mitsuo Fuchida for his post-battle briefing of Emperor Hirohito.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Edited by the coauthors of At Dawn We Slept (with the late Gordon Prange), this is an invaluable collection of Japanese primary source material pertaining to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Included are monographs by Commander Minoru Genda, the tactical genius behind the attack; letters of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, who conceived the operation and pushed it through to acceptance; plus detailed war diaries that cover shipboard activities throughout the voyage to Hawaii, the December 7, 1941, attack itself, and the return voyage home. Perhaps the most remarkable document is an extended report titled "An Intimate Look at the Japanese Navy," in which "official" Japanese historian Masataka Chihaya reviews the imperial Navy's successes and failures, assesses tactics and weapons used in the war and concludes with a devastating critique of leadership blunders. The volume sets to rest the argument that FDR knew of an imminent attack because American code-breakers monitored the task force's messages; the documents establish unequivocally that radio silence was maintained. A veritable treasure trove for scholars and Pacific War buffs, this collection also includes the after-action map prepared for Emperor Hirohito, which has only recently been recovered.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The appearance of two enticing sets of historical documents will be a feast for historians, World War II buffs, and anyone else seeking insight into that momentous era. Lay readers can now read the behind-the-scenes facts and opinions upon which the history books are built. These two collections complement each other brilliantly. The Worth book offers close views of American and Japanese espionage in 1941, the clandestine code-breaking activities, the radar fiasco, and numerous other ramifications of the great attack. All the niggling questions about submarine nets, sabotage, and battle damage are discussed in satisfying detail. Goldstein and Dillon, coeditors of At Dawn We Slept ( LJ 11/1/81), ably present the Japanese side of the raid. Academic and military collections will want to acquire these books as a pair. Public libraries considering only one title face a difficult choice but will probably prefer Goldstein and Dillon's work because the Japanese perspective is less well know in this country.
- Raymond L. Puffer, U.S. Air Force History Prog., Los Angeles
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Potomac Books (December 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574882228
• ISBN-13: 978-1574882223
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #234,884 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars insight into Japanese plans, May 2, 2001

By 

John V. Seward - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pearl Harbor Papers (P) (Paperback)

The Pearl Harbor Papers is a great body of insight into the planning of the Dec 7, 1941 attack. Although some of the charts breaking down the unit compositions are redundant (due to the same information in several different accounts), a look into the mind of Minoru Genda, the brilliant planner of the strike, is invaluable. Another interesting account is the battle diary of the destroyer Akigumo, which offers a unique view from that of a screening vessel. A real good supplement to the three volumes authored by Gordon Prange about the "Day of Infamy".

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Japan's Plan For Hawaii and Greater East Asia, September 6, 2000

By 

carl (Boring, Or Usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pearl Harbor Papers (P) (Paperback)

What stopped the invasion of Pearl Harbor? Who protected the valuable oil supplies? How much did FDR know about Japan? The Japanese side of the story as told by the folks who brought to life the US side,(AtDawn We Slept, etc) Prange, Goldstein & Dillion. These source documents explain how and why the Sons of Nippon choose the course of action that resulted in the attack on Dec 7, 1941. This is the true story of the story behind the headlines and the hysteria, based on the ACTUAL historical documents. Interpret history for yourself. A must read for anyone who wants to understand today's and yesterdays JAPAN.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent appendix to At Dawn We Slept, March 17, 2004

By 

ted bojanowski (Maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pearl Harbor Papers: Inside the Japanese Plans (Hardcover)

This book can be considered an appendix to Gordon W. Prange's "At Dawn We Slept, the untold story of Pearl Harbor." As an appendix, it is not a story but a collection of whatever significant material was found in the Prange archives related to the Pearl Harbor attack. As a result, it contains maps, diaries, comments, naval statistics, and so on, which are very helpful for the military specialist. Goldstein and Dillon, the co-editors, include a number of diaries, ship logs, or journals of commanders of the Japanese fleet covering the period from their departure from Hitokappu Bay to arrival day at Pearl Harbor, and these are in some cases very routine but do allow for a look at how the Japanese fleet dealt in a day-to-day way with the long and dangerous North Pacific trip and how they handled obstacles, such as refueling, morale and heavy seas.
However, the MOST IMPORTANT and significant part of this book, in my opinion, is at the very end of the book, and consists of an in-depth analysis of the Japanese military -- their planning, their methods, their ideas, their traditional beliefs -- by Masataka Chihaya. This critical analysis -- which should be read by all students of military history -- alone is well worth the price of the book for the student of the military and military tactics. But for the reader looking for battles, maneuvers, and other such action this book would be a disappointment. I give it 5 stars for the military student, 3 stars for others...