Nomonhan: Japan Against Russia, 1939

by Alvin D. Coox (Author)

20 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0804718356

ISBN-10: 0804718350

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From May to September 1939 Japan and the Soviet Union fought a fierce, large-scale undeclared war on the Mongolian plains that ended with a decisive Soviet victory with two important results: Japan reoriented its strategic emphasis towards the south, leading to war with the United States, Britain, and the Netherlands; and Russia freed itself from the fear of fighting on two fronts, thus vitally affecting the course of the war with Germany.

Nomonhan: Japan Against Russia, 1939

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Monumental. . . . The culmination of 35 years of research. . . . The finest English-language study written by a single author on modern Asian military history. Indeed, it is arguably a military history classic of any age and any language."
—Mark R. Peattie
,The American Historical Review

"A masterpiece of narrative, documentation, and analysis."
—Alan K. Lathrop
,Military Affairs

"This splendid book gives not only the history of the conflict but sets it against the background of Japanese, Soviet, and world politics, while providing fascinating information on the internal workings of the Japanese army prior to the Pacific War."
—Denis Sinor
,Journal of Asian History

From the Back Cover

'This splendid book gives not only the history of the conflict but sets it against the background of Japanese, Soviet, and world politics, while providing fascinating information on the internal working of the Japanese army prior to the Pacific War.' -Denis Sinor, Journal of Asian History

Paperback: 1276 pages
Publisher: Stanford University Press (September 1, 1990)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0804718350
ISBN-13: 978-0804718356
Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 2.2 x 9.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
Average Customer Review: 20 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #555,821 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #729 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > History > Asia
- #807 in Books > History > Asia > Japan
- #1433 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > History > Military

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The Japanese army left a good account of itself.

Byben-Yohananon May 3, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Detailed Study of the Nomonhan incident. It's really more like a lot of small and medium scale skirmishes for half of 1939. Despite losing diplomatically, the Japanese forces preform very well, while having lighter, and mostly inferior materiel, as well as some bad policies from military command. Disproportionate damage was done to Red army and Mongolian troops, which was quite unexpected to read. It goes into fantastic and technical detail of tactics used. This may seem a bit dry if you're looking for an engrossing narrative. But to me, the information is highly engrossing because I love reading this kind of material.
This sheds some light on why Japan viewed its Kwangtung army (stationed in Manchuria) as its best. This army so no real action against US forces in the South Pacific, and primarily remained stationed in Manchuria. Their combat record is well documented in this book.

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One of the best WWII-era operational military history books ever

ByM. Pitcavageon January 18, 2012

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Coox's magisterial Nomonhan, which has stood the test of time extraordinarily well, is not only the best study of this particular obscure border battle between Imperial Japan and the Soviet Union in 1939, it is also one of the best World War II era operational level studies (though it extends far beyond operations in its scope).

Moreover and most importantly, it is the single most impressive English-language book on the conduct of operations by the Japanese Army. Even though it describes a battle in Manchuria in 1939, anybody who reads this book will gain great insight into why the Japanese Army fought as it did (and fought so poorly) from 1941-1945. The IJA's lack of the heavy weaponry needed to conduct a modern war, its lack of emphasis on intelligence and reconnaissance, its impulsive leadership, its focus on will over weaponry, and perhaps most importantly the unusual and often self-defeating ways that the Japanese officer corps tended to react to tactical or operational setbacks, are all on full display here. Coox manages to present a portrait of the dynamics of the IJA that are almost unmatched in English.

This is simply one of the most important reads for anybody seeking to understand the Japanese Army in the World War II era. It well repays the effort it takes to read such a long volume.

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Authoratative and Expansive

ByAmazon Customeron March 21, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This book as well as anatomy of a small war illustrate the Political and Military Tensions in the Far East 1931-1939 between Japan and Soviet Russia. The information of this confrontation between Japan and Soviet Russia requires significant contemplation of the reader to discern what exactly transpired in the events, for the reason that official reports tended to be altered for effect either for Political, Military, or Publicity means. The wealth of information has to be continually compared with after action and casualty reports as well as first hand statements throughout to dissipate the Fog of WAR.
for example, units engaged may be larger than they are and considerably reinforced, as at Changkufeng and Lake Khansan. The Official Japanese reports of only the Japanese 75th Regiment holding off the Soviet 39 Corps for 10 days outnumbered 5-1 sounds heroic. Cross referencing TOP SECRET Japanese casualty reports published after the War included in this information discloses that the number of Japanese forces was 3 X what was estimated.
The most valuable information is that on Soviet Operations.

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Awesome!!,

ByHistory buffon July 1, 2012

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

The book is very well written mostly from Japanese sources & view point. It covers the incident very well. I was particulary impressed by the coverage given to the IJA's 23rd Infantry Division. The units background is covered, as is it's training, deployments, & equipment. The divisiom was woefully equiped, some or most of it's equipment dated from the Russo-Japanese War! This division was mostly destroyed.in a Sovied attack led by none other than Zhukov of ww2 fame. Who attacked using some of the armored tactics he would use against the Germans. In striking contrast the 2 armies are protraied. The Soviets having many of the elements, but not all of the them they would later use in ww2. And the Japanese, who's army was an essentially an Infantry army! The incident bloodied the Japanese so bad that they didn't attack the soviets again. Not even when they were on the verge of defeat. All of that is covered. Well worth the price & time it takes to read it. ENJOY!

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No other book

ByIrinaon September 23, 2007

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

There is to my knowlege no other book in English that has been written with such depth and research on the battle of Khalkin Gol (or as the Japanese call it -"Nomonhan") Alvin Coox has drawn from primarily Japanese sources, so the book which is a massive 1200 pages, tells the story of the conflict from the Japanese perspective. Yet it is not one-sided. The book delves into the inner workings of the Japanese and Manchurian armies' leadership and their amazingly incompetent and disasterous strategems against the Soviet Union. The author also takes us to the level of the battlefield with descriptions of the war in detail. I cannot say more, read it. It is an excellent book.

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Not merely the best--the only one!

ByCub Driveron August 5, 1999

Format: Paperback

Few in the west knew or cared that Japan and Russia fought a short but major war on the Siberian border in 1939--before the invasion and dismemberment of Poland pitched Europe into WWII.
Nomonhan had great meaning for the U.S., because it diverted Japan from its desire to fight Russia and turned it south instead toward U.S., British, and Dutch interests.
Very much worth the effort to read it.