Customer Reviews

Six Days in June: How Israel Won the 1967 Arab-Israeli War

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is dedicated exclusively to the 1967 "Six-Day War," and I bought it with great anticipation. It's not bad, but it should have been much better. Hammel goes into details that enrich the story, but which, in too many instances, mean very little to the history of events. His prelude to the actual shooting isn't as clear nor as complete as it was expected, since he totally neglects the role of Intelligence in mapping the entire Golan Heights before 1967 and knowing exactly when and where to strike in the Sinai and deep into Egypt: that part of the war does not exist for Hammel, and without it Israel would not have won. Also, little or nothing is provided of the Arab leaders and their associates. Reading the "Arab-Israeli Reader" by Laqueur and Rubin, it's clear that Egyptians and Syrians expected a war, were relatively confident of victory, and were, in the end, totally unprepared for the swiftness and the accuracy of the Israeli blows. We get very little from Hammel, as if Israel had acted in a vacuum. The battle sections of the book are good but, again, the war ended on June 10, 1967, but it did not end, not really. Something more was needed. There was diplomacy, threats, and total confusion and incredulity in the Arab world. The book reads fast because it is well writen, but A.J. Barker's "The Arab-Israeli Wars" does a better job.

Hammel's "Six Days of War" is one of the best secondary sources available regarding the 1967 Six-Day War. It is written in a popular format rather than an academic research format although it does have extensive references and a large bibliography. The book is clearly intended for popular consumption rather than discussion of university academics. Hammel is a well-known military writer and has extensively written about WWII although this is his first foray into the volatile military environment of the Middle East.

Many read this book expecting a full account of the war including every aspect manageable: political, economic, military, etc. Hammel's specialty is military history from the tactical perspective (that is to say devoid of all but the most important political and economic factors) and this book is no exception. Hammel focuses very tightly upon analysis and retelling of the battles that occurred and the military factors that led
to them. This tendency leads Hammel to discuss the many terrorist intrusions into Israel that the Israeli military was forced to lean how to counter (a factor that contributed greatly to the effectiveness and readiness of the Israeli military), but to leave out much of the bitter inter-Arab politics preceding the 1967 Six Day War.

The book lacks footnotes, but has an excellent bibliography, which includes not only books, but periodicals and special studies. An additional bonus is a complete Order of battle for the Israeli, Egyptian, Jordanian, and Syrian forces of the 1967 Six Day War.

I definitely prefer this well-written book to but A.J. Barker's "The Arab-Israeli Wars," which shows a unsettling bias towards the Arab side of the conflict.

I highly recommend this excellent account of the 1967 Six Day War.

In addition, I recommend the 2002 "Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East" by Michael B. Oren. This book has the most up-to-date research, extensive reference, and is bound to be regarding as a classic for historians regarding the Six Day War. As much as I've characterized Hammel's "Six Days of War" as the best secondary source popular history of the war, Oren's "Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East" functions as the best secondary source academic reference of the war.

Review by: Maximillian Ben Hanan

The six days war is a pivital event in Middle East Politics after the second world war. Hammel provides an excellent detailed account of the war in six days in june.

Hammel splits the book into seven sections. The first is the road to war and gives a background into the origins in the conflict. Part two is entitled Zahal focusing on the Israel Defense Force. Countdown to War is part three and focuses on other armies like those of Egypt and Syria and the days leading up to the war. Part 4 deals with the war in the Sinai peninsula. Part 5 deals with Jerusalem. Parts six and seven deal with two of the most important issues of the war, the west bank and golan heights respectfully for these along with the gaza strip are a source for continuing conflict.

There are plenty of maps that help illustrate the history of the war. In addition, order of battle contains information on the different Israeli commands and forces involved.

Well written, informative account of the Six Day War and the events preceding it.

Cross border incursions into Israeli territory by Palestinian terrorists sponsored and supported by neighbouring Arab nations are outlined in some detail. The situation is very similar to that of today.

The author documents the UN situation and attitude in relation to these terrorist attacks. The UN response was muted even then.

The author documents the vastly outnumbered Israeli forces in comparison to their Arab counterparts and how the latter were supplemented by Iraqi and other Arab forces all eager to be part of the eradication of the Jewish state.

This is a must read for anyone interested in this ongoing conflict. Without the pre-emptive strike against Egyptian air power, the vastly outnumbered Israeli forces would have had their work cut out to survive a co-ordinated strike by the surrounding Arab nations. Unless you actually read the accounts from the time and the facts that then existed, it is easily to be mislead. The author has done a fine job here.

Interesting is the account of the Jordanian involvement, without which Israel clearly had no intent in re-taking the 'West Bank' (Judea & Samaria) or the Eastern section of Jerusalem. The detailed accounts of the Jordanian attack upon Israel thinking that the Egyptians had destroyed the Israeli air force, are worth reading in themselves.

the book is a tremendous step by step review, first of the development of the IDF and then the actual war. However, discussion of the Egyptian side and viwepoint and world reaction is superficial at best. Also, maps are imperative to follow the course of events. The maps in the Kindle version are unreadable. This is one book that should be read in paper

The book is a great read. it has tons of details that clarified a lot of daily events during the war.
I would recommend this book to any reader interested in the Middle East History.

I will keep this short. The only necessary chapter to read is on the Zahal. the IDF. Much of the book depends on silly, childish praise for the realistically superior Israeli Force. So much so that it makes for pedantic reading. I do not recommend.