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  • The Battle of Midway (Pivotal Moments in American History)

  • Written by: Craig L. Symonds
  • Narrated by: James Lurie
  • Length: 14 hrs and 47 mins
  • 5.0 out of 5 stars (3 ratings)

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The Battle of Midway (Pivotal Moments in American History)

Written by: Craig L. Symonds
Narrated by: James Lurie
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Publisher's Summary

There are few moments in American history in which the course of events tipped so suddenly and so dramatically as at the Battle of Midway. At dawn of June 4, 1942, a rampaging Japanese navy ruled the Pacific. By sunset, their vaunted carrier force (the Kido Butai) had been sunk, and their grip on the Pacific had been loosened forever.

In this absolutely riveting account of a key moment in the history of World War II, one of America's leading naval historians, Craig L. Symonds, paints an unforgettable portrait of ingenuity, courage, and sacrifice. Symonds begins with the arrival of Admiral Chester A. Nimitz at Pearl Harbor after the devastating Japanese attack and describes the key events leading to the climactic battle, including both Coral Sea - the first battle in history against opposing carrier forces - and Jimmy Doolittle's daring raid of Tokyo. He focuses throughout on the people involved, offering telling portraits of Admirals Nimitz, Halsey, Spruance, and numerous other Americans, as well as the leading Japanese figures, including the poker-loving Admiral Yamamoto. Indeed, Symonds sheds much light on the aspects of Japanese culture - such as their single-minded devotion to combat, which led to poorly armored planes and inadequate fire-safety measures on their ships - that contributed to their defeat.

The author's account of the battle itself is masterful, weaving together the many disparate threads of attack - attacks which failed in the early going - that ultimately created a five-minute window in which three of the four Japanese carriers were mortally wounded, changing the course of the Pacific war in an eye-blink.

Symonds is the first historian to argue that the victory at Midway was not simply a matter of luck, pointing out that Nimitz had equal forces, superior intelligence, and the element of surprise. Nimitz had a strong hand, Symonds concludes, and he rightly expected to win.

©2011 Craig L. Symonds (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

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Pacific Theatre at its Best🗾

This audio book is an absolute treat for History/World War 2 buffs. The Pacific Theatre in World War 2 was always somewhat overshadowed due to its much more dramatic events happening in the European Theatre like the D-Day Landings, The Battle of Stalingrad etc., but this book focuses purely on the War in the Pacific and the great minds who fought it. Starting in the burning embers of Pearl Harbour the book dives deep into uncharted territories of the Pacific Theatre including the ongoing cold war between the Japanese Navy and the Army, the indispensable contribution of the American Code-Breaking Machinery, Admiral Yamamoto’s brilliance, Chester Nimitz’s defiance ultimately culminating in the pivotal Battle of Midway.
The Narration is very engaging and Craig L Symonds being a Naval Historian himself brings the War in the Pacific alive in the listener’s minds.

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